Port of Moses Lake passes reporting audit

MOSES LAKE — The Port of Moses Lake recently passed an audit of the municipality’s financial reporting for the 2023 calendar year, according to a report from the Washington State Auditor’s Office.

Kevin J. Fuhr

1967 — 2025

Kevin was born March 13, 1967, in Redondo Beach, California, to Steve and Sharon Fuhr. He was the oldest of four siblings, brother Danny, sisters Stacey and Cindy.

Remembering Chief Fuhr

Local law enforcement leader passes, leaving a legacy of service, kindness and community.

MOSES LAKE — Kevin Fuhr, it’s generally agreed, was a force of nature. “Man, that guy just kept moving,” said Moses Lake Police Chief David Sands, who succeeded Fuhr as chief in 2023. “I know there were times he probably relaxed, but by and large, he was always on the go.”

NEWS BITES: July 28, 2025

EPHRATA — Grant County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Josh Erickson recently earned Certified Jail Manager certification through the American Jail Association.

Cowboy Breakfast in new hands this year

MOSES LAKE — ’Round these here parts, the Cowboy Breakfast is almost as much of a tradition as the rodeo. So when the Kiwanis Club wasn’t able to organize it this year, the Chamber of Commerce saddled up. “The Rodeo Association came to us and we said ‘Sure. We don’t want to see it go away,’” said Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce Director Debbie Doran-Martinez.

Moses Lake Police Department logs for July 28, 2025

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Police Department provided the incident details noted below. Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Legals for July, 28 2025

Two Moses Lake annexations under consideration

MOSES LAKE — Two separate property owners have requested annexation into the city of Moses Lake, and Moses Lake City Council members have agreed to consider the requests. Vivian Ramsey, interim community development director, said considering the request does not mean the properties will be annexed.

Othello man convicted of sexually abusing child

RITZVILLE — A sentencing date will be announced in August in the case of an Othello man convicted Thursday of sexual assault of a child.

Civil Air Patrol cadets take to the skies over Ephrata

EPHRATA — There couldn’t have been a better climate to teach teenagers to fly in. “We’ve had really good weather,” said Civil Air Patrol Lt. Col. Kathy Maxwell. “Usually by now we’ve had a smoke day or a windy day, or an overcast day.” The CAP cadets are wrapping up the second week of this year’s Desert Eagle National Flight Academy, held every year at Camp Boucher at the Port of Ephrata. Nineteen cadets from around the country, plus one from Japan, came to Ephrata to learn the basics of flying: airplane systems, pre- and post-flight procedures, navigation. In between they’re flying around the Ephrata Airport, first with instructors, then finally solo. The skies between Ephrata and Moses Lake are pretty mellow for flying, but that doesn’t mean there will be no surprises, cadets said.

Legals for July, 25 2025

Ephrata Police Department logs for July 24, 2025

Ephrata Police Department

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: It takes a community...

Often, the folks here at the Columbia Basin Herald refer to getting the paper put together and out the door as a “daily miracle.” Every day, stories fall through for different reasons, plans have to be adjusted, and unexpected events come along to throw a wrench in the proverbial works. There are two groups of people outside of our organization who help us make that miracle happen by providing us with the information we need to complete stories or start a story in the first place. Public information officers and those that offer news tips. Public information officers – or community engagement specialists, media representatives or any of a number of other fancy titles that mean public information officer – are godsends to a journalist. Folks like Kyle Foreman at the Grant County Sheriff’s Office; Susan Scheib at Columbia Basin Hospital; Sarah Morford and Ryan Shannon at the Ephrata and Moses Lake school districts, respectively; Gretchen Youngren at Samaritan Hospital; Cpt. Jeff Sursely at the Moses Lake Police Department; Matt Killebrew and his team at Big Bend Community College; or, folks like Cpt. Troy Froewiss who landed in the role because he was in charge of the shooting incident in Ephrata this past Sunday.

Legals for July, 24 2025

Irrigation canal critical to Yakima Valley is at risk of failure after wildfire damage

A 115-year-old canal in the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District that was severely damaged during the Rimrock Retreat Fire last year is now at imminent risk of failure. Fixing the 12-mile waterway will cost an estimated $229 million and involve work spread over more than a decade. But if the canal suddenly goes out of service, officials say it could cause up to $3 billion in losses over three years for 35,000 acres of farms and 28,000 acres of orchards in the Yakima Valley that are part of the irrigation district. Surrounding communities also rely on the canal to deliver water to fire hydrants and other municipal fire suppression systems.

Community comes together for Daniel Alcala’s family following shooting

EPHRATA — In the wake of a shooting incident in Ephrata July 20, the local community is rallying around the family of Daniel Alcala, who was fatally shot during an altercation at a gas pumps. Alcala, 30, was a husband and father to three children. According to the Grant County Coroner Investigator Maxwell Yoder, his death resulted from multiple gunshot wounds. The death has officially been ruled a homicide, according to a statement from the City of Ephrata.

Fiscal Fallout: Washington ‘in the worst budget crisis we've ever had’

(The Center Square) – Last month, the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council reported that Washington faced running out of money by 2027. With the passage of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the state now faces the loss of billions in Medicaid funding that could exacerbate Washington’s fiscal woes in the upcoming legislative sessions.

Ephrata Library set for major renovations next spring

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Public Library is gearing up for significant renovations aimed at modernizing the facility and enhancing services for its patrons this upcoming spring. “This comprehensive project is an extension of our ongoing branding efforts, and it will be a significant upgrade that brings our spaces up to date,” Supervising Librarian Aaron Loeffelbein said.

Grant County Commissioners announce appointment of replacement prosecuting attorney

Grant County – Grant County Commissioners announced Tuesday they have selected Brandon Guernsey as the Grant County Prosecuting Attorney succeeding Kevin McCrae. Guernsey will be appointed effective August 4, 2025. “(Brandon Guernsey) is the selection we made after the interview process and after recommendations, meeting with people, and kind of doing our due diligence on trying to select the new prosecuting attorney,” said Grant County Commissioner Rob Jones. The Prosecuting Attorney Applicant interviews concluded Monday after the BOCC met with three candidates that the Republican party had put forward, said Jones. The commissioners presented each candidate with a series of 14 questions.

Legals for July, 23 2025