Giving back

Law enforcement works to support community during holidays

COLUMBIA BASIN — Several local law enforcement agencies are putting on charitable drives for the upcoming holiday season. The Moses Lake Police Department’s Fifth Annual Tip-a-Cop night hosted at Rock Top Burgers and Brew in Moses Lake raises money for the department’s Shop with a Cop Program. Members of the MLPD, Warden Police Department and Grant County Sheriff’s Office along with Columbia Basin...

CDC announces $60M given to Wash. agencies

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced it is awarding Washington state public health departments over $60 million in grants to strengthen the state’s public health workforce, infrastructure, and capacity. “This pandemic has made it painfully clear these are exactly the kind of investments we need to be making every year,” said U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee...

Confluence names new chief of nursing, vice president,

WENATCHEE — Kelly Allen has been named as the chief nursing officer for the Confluence Health system. She has been working as the assistant to the CNO for about a year, according to a statement from Confluence...

Grant PUD commissioners vote to increase rates

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD customers will see an increase in their electrical rates, effective April 1, 2023. Utility district commissioners approved a 3% overall rate increase at the regular meeting Tuesday.

Man arrested after standoff in Grand Coulee

GRAND COULEE - A man is in jail for several charges after a standoff with police Monday evening. According to Grand Coulee Police Chief John Tufts, the incident started about 3:30 p.m. when two bail bondsmen went to a Grand Coulee residence to arrest Christopher Scott Morgan, 38, on a Spokane County warrant...

Winter storm watch issued for Basin

SPOKANE — The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch Monday for large parts of the Columbia Basin. A winter storm watch means that conditions are favorable for a winter storm event that is a threat to life or property, according to the National Weather Service website, but that the event’s occurrence, location and timing are still uncertain...

Wagner leads in ACSO race

RITZVILLE — With an estimated 800 ballots left to count, incumbent Dale Wagner is leading challenger Matthew Carlson in the race for Adams County Sheriff. In vote totals released Tuesday night, Wagner had 1,091 votes (56.24%) to 832 (42.89%) for Carlson. To date, there are 17 write-in votes. Wagner is running for his third term. “I am happy with the results thus far,” Wagner wrote in response to an email from the Herald. “I am excited to continue to press forward with the work of our office. Our campaign support has been great.” ...

Mena sworn into office

OLYMPIA - State Representative Sharlett Mena (D-Tacoma) was sworn into office on Saturday by Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Steve Gonzalez. “As the child of Mexican immigrants and the first person in my family to go to college, I am focused on pursuing policies that will empower working families to prosper,” said Mena in a release by Washington House Democrats. “I am excited to get down to Olympia and get to work building a Washington that works for everyone.”...

Grant Co. resident sought to serve on Hanford board

EPHRATA – The Grant County Board of Commissioners issued a press release that they are looking for one interested citizen, residing in Grant County, to serve on the Hanford Advisory Board. The release states members appointed to the HAB assist the Washington State Department of Ecology, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and the United States Department of Energy to develop consensus policy recommendations and advice in regard to the short and long-term Hanford cleanup process. ...

One dead in collision east of Quincy

QUINCY — One person is dead and another injured after a head-on collision near Quincy Tuesday night. According to a press release by the Washington State Patrol, a 23-year-old Ephrata resident was driving a 2015 Subaru Impreza westbound on state Route 28 at about 9 p.m. The driver of the Impreza veered into the eastbound lane at milepost 32, near Road O east of Quincy, colliding head-on with a 2002 Honda Accord driven by a 17-year-old Ephrata resident...

George collision victims identified

GEORGE - The seven people involved in the collision just east of George Tuesday morning have been identified by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office...

I-90 near Snoqualmie Pass to be diverted for repaving

HYAK – The Washington State Department of Transportation issued a release stating that a section of Interstate 90, 10 miles east of Snoqualmie Pass will be diverted for repaving on Sept. 27. The release states DOT maintenance crews need to repave the asphalt directly under the Cabin Creek interchange on Interstate 90 at exit 63. For the safety of crews, because the section is so narrow, both lanes of westbound I-90 at exit 63 will be diverted over the off- and on-ramps. The diversion will start at 3 a.m. on Sept. 27 and work is scheduled to be complete before 1 p.m. Travelers will need to plan for added travel time but cross-bridge traffic will be prohibited to improve traffic flow from I-90. Loads over 12 feet will also be prohibited. The speed limit will be reduced and enforced by Washington State Patrol who will be onsite during the work.

GALLERY: Local sports

COLUMBIA BASIN – Almira/Coulee-Hartline and Soap Lake wrapped up spring practices with a jamboree in Coulee City over the weekend, while the 18U Columbia Basin River Dogs hosted the Jerry Henderson Memorial Tournament in Ephrata. Check out these photos from the tow events over this past weekend.

Livestock identification bill signed into law

OLYMPIA – Thursday, a bill sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick (R-Moses Lake) was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee, coincidentally on Beef Day at the Capitol. The bill was coincidentally signed into law during Beef Day at the Capitol, which Inslee mentioned, Warnick said. “It was almost like somebody planned that,” said Warnick...

Bill abolishing advisory votes passes WA House

OLYMPIA – The State House of Representatives passed legislation Monday, sponsored by Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-Bellevue), to remove the state’s requirement for advisory votes on revenue legislation...

Traffic revision will make Quincy street right turn only

QUINCY — Signs are scheduled to start going up this week on a traffic revision at the intersection of State Route 28 and First Avenue SW in Quincy that will eliminate left turns onto SR 28 from First Avenue SW. That section of SR 28, where it runs through Quincy, also is designated as F Street SW...

Moses Lake cleanup set for Saturday

MOSES LAKE — The city of Moses Lake and the Downtown Moses Lake Association is looking for volunteers Saturday to help clean up downtown...

Applications open for broadband funding grants

OLYMPIA — The Washington Public Works Board is currently accepting applications for broadband construction funding offering a total of $13.5 million in low-interest loans for projects in unserved areas of the state, according to an announcement from the Washington Department of Commerce...

Fire destroys home south of Warden

WARDEN — An early morning fire on Tuesday gutted a house on Road 9 SE south of Warden, according to Warden Police Chief Rick Martin. Martin said no one was injured in the early morning fire, and the owners of the house were out of town.

DCYF Receives $4M grant to support early learning

OLYMPIA - The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families has received a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support early learning across the state...