Synthetic opioids driving increased overdoses

MOSES LAKE — More – and more powerful – controlled substances are making their way into the Columbia Basin, and that trend is making itself felt in overdose deaths and nonfatal overdoses. Mariah Deleon, harm reduction coordinator for the Grant County Health District, detailed some of the statistics. “Between 2016 and 2018, there were 19 deaths (in Grant County). Then, between 2021 to 2023, there were 63 deaths,” Deleon said.

Primary election ballots due Tuesday

MOSES LAKE – Voting for the primary election is coming to a close Tuesday. For those who would like to vote in the election, ballots need to be postmarked on or before Aug. 5, according to Grant County Auditor Michele Jaderlund.

Legals for August, 1 2025

Lightning causes fire at Moses Lake cold storage facility

MOSES LAKE – A structure fire at a Moses Lake cold storage warehouse in the 3200 block of Road N Northeast Thursday afternoon appears to have been caused by a lightning strike, according to a City of Moses Lake press release.

Basin residents targeted with phone, door-to-door 'PUD' scams

EPHRATA — Franklin Public Utility District and Grant Public Utility District are alerting residents to a surge in phone scams aimed at obtaining personal information. Customers have reported receiving calls from individuals impersonating utility employees, asking for assistance with an "indoor pollution survey." However, authorities confirm that the calls are fraudulent.

Moses Lake city offices closed for Fuhr memorial

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Police Department office will be closed Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday to allow MLPD officers and staff to attend the service for former Moses Lake Police Chief Kevin Fuhr.

Soap Lake School District passes balanced budget

SOAP LAKE – With major facility upgrades and full staffing on the horizon, the Soap Lake School District has approved a balanced $12.5 million budget for 2025–26.

Ephrata SD passes 2025-26 budget

EPHRATA – The Ephrata School District Board of Directors unanimously passed the district's 2025-26 budget at its regular school board meeting Monday. “The process of developing a quality budget that's fiscally responsible, but also responsive to the needs of your staff and your students, is always incredibly challenging, but I feel very blessed to be in a position where we truly believe we're going to be able to do those things again,” Superintendent Ken Murray said.

First responders to connect with communities at National Night Out

COLUMBIA BASIN — Police, firefighters and other agencies will have a chance to rub elbows with the communities they serve next week at National Night Out. “Anytime you can engage (with) the officers (when they’re not) having to enforce the law brings out a better goodwill towards the community,” said Ritzville Police Chief Mike Suniga. “I think it's great for each other to see the human side instead of just the work side.”

Basin thunderstorms possible Thursday and Friday

MOSES LAKE — One more day of hot weather will be followed by a gradual temperature drop down into the mid-80s by next week, but there is the chance of thunderstorms between today and those cooler temperatures.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Public service and transparency...

Transparency is a word that gets thrown a lot these days. From the perspective of a newspaper editor, it’s become something of a talking point with little substance from a lot of elected officials. We hear it from Congressional folks on both sides of the aisle while at the same time those you and I have elected to serve us at city hall, in county courthouses, in Olympia and in Washington D.C. simply do everything they can to control the message in a way that is the furthest thing from transparent.

Legals for July, 31 2025

Othello man arrested in stabbing incident

OTHELLO — An Othello man was booked on suspicion of first-degree assault-domestic violence after he allegedly stabbed his partner then fled the scene Tuesday. Gilberto Valdovinos-Medina, 36, was arrested after he was found hiding in a house in Moses Lake, according to a release from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. He allegedly stabbed his partner during a dispute at a residence in the 700 block of South Thacker Road southeast of Othello.

GCSO's Kriete elected VP of law enforcement association

EPHRATA — Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete has been elected vice president of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. “I am honored to represent the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs in this new capacity as Vice President,” Kriete said. “I look forward to working alongside my peers across the state to support law enforcement excellence and strengthen public safety in all our communities.”

Public’s help sought in determining identity of John Doe

QUINCY — Quincy Police Department officers are asking for the public’s help in determining whether or not a body found in Georgia in 2009 is a man who had ties to Grant County.

Crime declining, drugs climbing locally, statewide

OLYMPIA — In the 2024 Crime in Washington report published by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, released Monday, a noticeable decline in crime rates across various categories was reported. Various police chiefs and Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete said trends found within the report were mostly reflected locally.

DMLA debuts new digs, merch

MOSES LAKE — The Downtown Moses Lake Association has a new home, and it comes with sunshine. “The old location was kind of dark, and it didn’t have any windows,” said DMLA Event Specialist Sarah Page. “And now we have six beautiful, big windows.” This year, the DMLA has moved from the back hallway of the Desert Plaza Building at West Third Avenue and South Alder Street to its home at 205 S. Division St., the same location that housed the DMLA’s business incubator, the Obra Project. That incubator, which was designed to grow small businesses, proved successful enough to be retired, Page said. “A lot of their businesses flourished and have been able to get their own spots,” Page said.

New Othello Police Department officer sworn in

OTHELLO — Oscar Munoz returned to his hometown to start his law enforcement career. Munoz was sworn in as the newest Othello Police Department officer Monday.

Grant PUD examining rate structure changes again

EPHRATA — A new rate structure might be coming to Grant County Public Utility District customers in 2026, and customers will be able to tell PUD commissioners what they think about it beginning in September. Commissioner Tom Flint said electrical rates will be on an upward trajectory, given substantial increases in demand and increased costs to produce electricity.

Two fires in the Basin over the weekend

WILSON CREEK — Two small fires happened over the weekend, with one fire Saturday on Road O Northeast and Road 30 Northeast between Wilson Creek and Coulee City and another near Sunday near Lind.