City to revise parking time limits

MOSES LAKE — The parking situation in downtown Moses Lake may get a little easier, under new regulations the city is considering. Some downtown businesses have complained to the city that there’s no place for their employees to park, and others have complained that downtown employees are taking up spaces that customers could be using. “Customers were saying things to me that they got a good parking spot and they usually don't, or they had to go around the block a couple of times to pull up and find a parking spot, or they had to park (farther away),” said Magen Evans, owner of Hello Nature, which opened in November at 312A S Division St., in the space formerly occupied by Sears. “So I kind of started keeping an eye on the cars out there. But I noticed that all 10 spots (in front of the store) were full, and it seemed to be the same cars every day, and sometimes some would swap out and different ones would come in. And they were here from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. typically, and they weren’t leaving.”

Japanese beetle open house to be held Thursday

PASCO — The Washington State Department of Agriculture will host an open house Thursday in Pasco to discuss plans for eradicating the Japanese beetle, according to an announcement from the WSDA.

University: ‘Hateful’ actions in Coeur d’Alene left players shaken

Mayor Hammond, others apologize, some call for stronger stances against racism

The incidents occurred shortly after the traveling party arrived in the area to participate in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament’s first and second rounds hosted by Gonzaga University in Spokane.

Firearm theft reporting now mandatory in WA

OLYMPIA — Gun safety legislation requiring the reporting of lost or stolen firearms has been signed into law as of Tuesday. The new law passed through the Washington Legislature as House Bill 1903 and was sponsored by Rep. Liz Berry, D-Queen Anne, and requires that a report be made within 24 hours. “States with these laws have a 30% lower risk that guns will be purchased in that state and recovered after a crime in another state,” Berry said. “By giving law enforcement the tools they need to identify and investigate patterns of gun trafficking our communities will be safer. This bill will save lives.” While Berry said she feels it will save lives, the National Rifle Association has said that the bill punishes law-abiding gun owners who have been the victims of a crime with fines of $1,000.

Legals for March, 22 2024

Inslee signs bill creating stricter penalties for animal cruelty

OLYMPIA — Washington House Bill 1961, aimed at deterring acts of animal cruelty through increased criminal penalties for perpetrators, has been signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee, according to a March 14 announcement from the Washington State House Republicans. Under HB 1961, all instances of Animal Cruelty in the First Degree – which is already a class C felony – will now be classified as a seriousness level III offense. The statement said this reclassification ensures perpetrators of these crimes will be held accountable by removing the possibility of inconsistent and potentially lenient sentencing. The statement said judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys will have a clear understanding of the severity of these offenses and the corresponding penalties, leading to more equitable justice for animal victims.

Othello Sandhill Crane Festival this weekend

OTHELLO — Birds, lectures, birds, tours, birds, geology, birds, activities, birds and all things birding await birdwatchers at the 2024 Othello Sandhill Crane Festival, scheduled for Friday through Sunday in Othello.

Building trust in police a key goal, Lovick says

OLYMPIA – Sen. John Lovick describes himself as a Black man with brown skin who wore a blue uniform for a combined 37 years as a former state trooper and Snohomish County Sheriff.

Firefighter memorial, public land housing bills signed into law Wednesday

OLYMPIA — Two bills requested by the Department of Natural Resources, House Bill 2003 and House Bill 2091, were signed into law Wednesday, according to a Wednesday announcement from the Washington Department of Natural Resources.

Mattawa passes dangerous dog rules

MATTAWA — The Mattawa City Council voted unanimously Thursday to approve new codes regarding the city’s animal control operations and the designation of potentially dangerous dogs, as well as restrictions for problem dog owners. City Attorney Katherine Kenison introduced the changes to the code. “This ordinance is in response partially to your current animal control ordinance, which doesn't really address the potentially dangerous dog component of dangerous dogs under the state statute, and it didn't define a process for how you're handling potentially dangerous dogs,” she said. “You've had, as you've heard, some more activity with your dogs at large, which has resulted in a few incidents where there has been some human contact with the dogs.”

Huskies golf coaches discuss new season

OTHELLO – Trevor Salsbury and Heather Ochoa, head coaches of the Othello Boys and Girls Golf teams respectively, discussed how they feel going into the new season and what they expect this year to look like. “I’m hopeful,” Salsbury said. “We're very young this year; I lost three of my seniors last year who were my three feeding golfers and it's kind of a rebuild year. But we have a lot of young golfers who are doing well and I have one senior who's doing pretty well. I’m just hoping that they continue to progress throughout the season…They’re taking instruction very well, they're eager to get better, so I think they're on the right path.”

Same-day report required for stolen guns

OLYMPIA – When a student at Seattle’s Ingraham High School was shot and killed two years ago, an investigation revealed the gun used in the crime was stolen. Now, advocates from that community are speaking out and asking that more be done to curb the use of stolen firearms.

Royal City Council votes to support GCHD

ROYAL CITY — Royal City will kick in to fund the Grant County Health District this year, the Royal City City Council affirmed March 5. “Every fall I send a letter out to all the cities with an agreement asking for $3 per resident for public health services in your community,” Theresa Adkinson, GCHD administrator, told the council. “As of today … we’re already at $139,000. So our cities have really stepped up.”

Legals for March, 8 2024

Law enforcement reports for March 8, 2024

The reports below were provided by the sheriff’s office or police department indicated. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Ephrata PD Feb. 28 Report of damage to a fence in the 300 block of Sixth Avenue Southeast. March 1 Report of a speaker stolen from a business in the 1300 block of Nat Washington Way.

Fentanyl crisis in WA needs a turning point, so what is being done?

SEATTLE —Washington came to understand the scope and severity of the state's fentanyl crisis in 2023 more than any other year. Statistics have gone from bad to worse: Fentanyl set a record of fatal overdoses in 2023, with 1,082 — a 51% increase over record-setting 2022.

Law enforcement logs for March 1, 2024

The reports below were provided by the sheriff’s office or police department indicated. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Moses Lake Council hears downtown parking frustrations

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake City Council got an earful at its regular meeting Tuesday night, as owners and employees of downtown businesses expressed their feelings about the two-hour parking limit in the city’s center.

LETTER: Code update, enforcement needed for vacation rentals

Dear Editor, We recently submitted this letter to the City of Moses Lake, City Council, Planning Commission and Ms. Kirsten Peterson, who’s the Community Development Director. We felt it was important to share with you and the community because it is such a timely issue. The letter is as follows:

Othello Food Bank doing well, finances stabilized

OTHELLO – Othello Food Bank Board Chair Adam Janes, pastor of Othello Christian Church, spoke to the Othello City Council during Monday’s regular meeting to provide an update on the organization and its financial status heading into 2024.