Roundabout construction at SR 17 and Grape Dr. to start next week

MOSES LAKE — Construction is scheduled to start Monday on a new roughly $2.3 million roundabout at the intersection of State Route 17 and Grape Drive in Moses Lake. Construction is expected to take about four months, with completion scheduled for August, according to a press release from the Washington Department of Transportation...

Bourbon & Bowties brings in more than $200K

Residents step up to support building new hospital

MOSES LAKE - The second annual Bourbon & Bowties Gala was held April 29 at the Grant County Fairgrounds where members of the community came together to financially support the building of a new Samaritan medical center. Gretchen Youngren, Chief Development and Communications Officer for Samaritan Healthcare said their goal for the night was to raise $100,000. That night they raised about $216.000. This amount however, is prior to any costs and expenses. All proceeds from this year’s event will go toward the building of a new hospital...

SBA offering disaster loans to businesses that support farmers

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — Nonfarm businesses in Grant and Adams counties are now eligible to apply for low interest loans from the Small Business Administration to help cover drought-related losses in 2022. According to an SBA press release, the loans are available to farmers in 20 counties in Oregon, Washington and Northern Idaho, and follow a disaster declaration from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on April 22, 2022...

The ins and outs of dairy goat ownership

For the more adventurous pet owner, there are many advantages to owning goats, including companionship, land management by grazing, and milk production. While companionship and grazing come naturally to these critters, potential owners interested in collecting dairy from their goats need to take into consideration additional factors to encourage lactation and ensure that their goat’s milk is safe for consumption. Dr. Evelyn Mackay, a clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, says that the production capacity of a dairy goat depends on their breed, management, and nutrition...

'This is so cool'

Children and moms step out for Touch-A-Truck fundraiser

MOSES LAKE — A large collection of trucks and big vehicles gathered in the parking lot behind Moses Lake Presbyterian Church on Saturday for the Touch-A-Truck fundraiser. Ladder engines from the Moses Lake Fired Department and Grant County Fire District 5, a Moses Lake Police Department armored BearCat, a Grant County Sheriff’s Office patrol and rescue boat, a Grant Transit Authority bus, even an 80-foot Genie lift, a big red tractor, and a giant Lakeside Disposal and Recycle garbage truck were all part of the event. Attendees could hear the same words spoken by young ones across the gravel parking lot even as a steady drizzle fell: “Cool! This is so cool,” the children said...

Study: Americans want big tech to compensate small papers

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans want Congress to intervene in the conflict between small news publishers and “big tech” companies like Google and Facebook, according to a press release from the News Media Alliance. The release cited a survey of 1,000 adults in the United States that indicated that 70% supported Senate Bill 673, called the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act. The bill is designed to allow small and local publishers to band together to collectively negotiate fairer terms for use of their content by big tech platforms, according to the release...

Wash. AG sues USPS over vehicle purchase

OLYMPIA — Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is suing the U.S. Postal Service for deciding in February to replace up to 165,000 USPS vehicles with gasoline-powered models rather than with electric vehicles. Ferguson, who has filed suit against the Postal Service in U.S. Court in California, said the decision by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy violates the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to do a proper environmental review of the purchasing decision and examine alternatives, according to a press release from the attorney general’s office...

USBR to finish Grand Coulee firehouse

GRAND COULEE — The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced Thursday it has reached an agreement to finish construction of the Grand Coulee Fire Station following two previous contract terminations with construction companies, according to a USBR press release. The 22,000-square-foot station is expected to cost $14.2 million, and should take about 12-18 months to complete once construction begins, the bureau said, noting that a construction schedule has yet to be set...

Legals for May, 2 2022

Grant County proclaims Municipal Clerks Week

EPHRATA — The Grant County Board of Commissioners has declared May 1-7 Municipal Clerks Week, according to a proclamation issued by the commissioners Thursday. The proclamation described the office of the municipal clerk as the oldest among public servants, and cited clerks’ responsibility as the professional link between citizens and government and the “information center” for local governments. The proclamation also expressed appreciation for clerks’ neutrality and impartiality. There are 14 incorporated cities and towns in Grant County, according to the U.S. Census, as well as parts of a 15th, Coulee Dam.

Legals for April, 29 2022

Two injured in Mattawa area accident

MATTAWA — Two people were transported to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland after the semi one of them was driving ran off the road and rolled off the highway about 12 miles south of Mattawa Thursday morning. Brandi Miller, 27, San Antonio, Texas, was driving south on State Route 243 about 7 a.m. when she ran her truck off the road, according to a press memo from the Washington State Patrol. She overcorrected and the truck rolled, the memo said. Both Miller and her passenger, Zechariah Tuttle, 37, Springfield, Missouri, were injured. Miller was wearing a seatbelt, but Tuttle was not, the memo said. Miller was charged with driving with the truck’s wheels off the roadway.

Enrollment deadline approaching for WA college savings program

OLYMPIA — The annual enrollment period for people who want to start a 529 education savings plan will end May 31. The Guaranteed Education Tuition plan allows families to buy tuition units that can be used in the future to pay costs associated with college or post-secondary training. The current price is $114.01 per unit, and people have until June 25 to buy units at that price and add them to an existing account, according to a press release from WA529. The funds can be used to pay for college tuition, trade school fees and other expenses associated with post-secondary education. They can be used at most four-year universities, technical schools, community colleges or other continuing education institutions around the country.

USDA Issues health alert for possibly tainted meat

WAHSINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service on Wednesday issued a health warning for ground beef produced by JBS Foods subsidiary Empire Packing and sold in Washington and Oregon in December 2021 after some of the meat tested positive for E. coli O26.

Quincy murder suspect turns himself in

QUINCY — The Quincy Police Department has announced the arrest of Horacio Morales Perez, 18, of Quincy who turned himself in early Wednesday.

Local 10 and under fastpitch takes Invite

SELAH - This past weekend the Washington Rage 10u Fastpitch Club won the Sunshine Invite In Selah. The Rage went 5-0 over the course of the weekend beating Oregon East out of Pendelton, OR. in the championship by a score of 11-10. This is their second championship win in the last 5 tournaments. The team is composed of players from Ephrata and Moses Lake.

Police records for April 27, 2022

EPD, MLPD, jail

Columbia Basin sports schedule April 27-May 4

Baseball, softball, soccer

Vekich appointed to Maritime Commission

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Longshoreman and former Washington legislator Max Vekich has just been sworn in and the newest member of the Federal Maritime Commission, according to a press release from Sen. Maria Cantwell. According to the press release, Vekich in the first maritime commissioner to have served on the International Longshore and Warehouse Union’s executive board and is also the first from Washington state. With Vekich’s swearing in, Democrats now hold a majority of seats on the Federal Maritime Commission, the news release said. The commission is responsible for regulating agreements between exporters and shipping companies, according to the press release. The U.S. Senate confirmed Vekich to the post in a 51-43 vote in February, Cantwell’s office said.

WSU appionts new Ag dean

PULLMAN — Washington State University announced in a Monday press release that Wendy Powers was named the dean of WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences. “Discovery in this college touches all corners of Washington, and I am excited by the opportunity to harness that potential,” Powers said in the release. “What's really drawing me is the chance to make a difference for all Washingtonians by supporting advancements and sharing new ideas in agriculture, natural resources and the human sciences.” ...