Ephrata and Quincy police blotters for July 10, 2025

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

Legals for July, 10 2025

Two women found dead in Larson area home

MOSES LAKE — The identities of two women found dead July 5 in a house near Moses Lake were released Wednesday. J’Lene Ludtke, 46, and Haley Mathison, 23, were found dead early on the morning of July 5 in a residence in the Larson area north of Moses Lake. Josh Sainsbury, chief deputy of emergency operations, said there’s no evidence of foul play. The cause of death for both women is still undetermined, pending the results of toxicology tests, said Casey Sherwood, a death investigator with the Grant County Coroner’s Office.

MLPD conducts operation near Samaritan Hospital

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Tactical Response team is conducting an operation near Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake close to the intersection of E. Wheeler Road and S. Buchanan Street. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Sleep Center clients, law enforcement adjusting after closure

MOSES LAKE – With the closure of the Moses Lake Sleep Center on June 30, the homeless community in Moses Lake, residents and law enforcement are adjusting to the change in resources serving the unsheltered. “I think the big thing is any time we change anything in law enforcement, we try to make the first period while everybody’s getting used to it to be about education and we’re definitely doing that now,” said Jeff Sursely with MLPD. “A lot of our focus now has been educating people as they transition to a time period where there isn’t a sleep center.”

Legals for July, 9 2025

Special Olympics prep for Cop and Fire on Top

MOSES LAKE – Basin Special Olympics teams prep for their annual Cop and Fire on Top fundraiser July 18 starting at 10 a.m. and lasting until 4 p.m. outside of the Moses Lake Walmart.

NEWS BITES: July 7, 2025

GRAND COULEE – At 11 p.m. July 5 Coulee Dam Volunteer Fire Department was paged for a brush fire near the intersection of State Route 155 and Columbia Avenue. They requested mutual aid and Grand Coulee and Electric City Volunteer Fire Departments were summoned. With a response of numerous wildland trucks, structure engines, water tenders, an ambulance and numerous firefighters and police officers the fire was contained and put out, according to a release from Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire and EMS.

Legals for July, 8 2025

Church fire and wildfires take center stage week of July 4

MOSES LAKE – A church fire and two small wildfires set the backdrop for the weekend of July 4 in the Moses Lake area and the Columbia Basin starting last Wednesday and continuing through the evening of July 4.

Ephrata to purchase former Rite Aid building for municipal use

EPHRATA — In a move to enhance municipal services and meet the growing needs of the community, the Ephrata City Council approved a motion to purchase the former Rite Aid building located at 250 Basin Street. “We are really excited to see what this new space will do for the city,” Ephrata Mayor Bruce Reim said.

New owners celebrate first anniversary at Basin RV

MOSES LAKE — Basin RV has been under new ownership for a year now, and the owners are getting more involved in the community, sponsoring the Brett Reese Memorial Car Show, the Sand Scorpions Bounty Hole, the Cowboy Breakfast and more. “We’ve got five kids ourselves,” said owner RJ McFadden. “They all go to school here in town. So camping in our community is kind of our thing, spreading the dollars here.”

Fire destroys home in Lind

LIND – On July 5 at 2:30 a.m. Adams County Fire District 2 was dispatched to a yard fire in the 200 block of E 2nd St. Upon arrival it was determined the fire had spread to the house and the fence of a neighboring house.

Soap Lake Conservancy meeting highlights challenges for lake health

SOAP LAKE – The Soap Lake Conservancy held a special meeting Saturday to discuss Soap Lake water level trends. The meeting brought in experts from the Washington Department of Ecology, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District. “A couple of years ago, a few of the people in this room started calling the Department of Ecology with concerns,” DOE Eastern Region Contact, Jaime Short said. “The lake level was going down. What's going on?”

One dies in canal accident near Ephrata

EPHRATA – Kevin Kershaw, 55, of Yakima was attempting to drive his 2025 GMC Sierra on the canal road when he attempted to turn around and lost control of the vehicle Thursday. The vehicle slid into the canal and Kershaw was found deceased downstream from the vehicle.

Mattawa crash injures one

MATTAWA — A Renton man was transported to Kadlec Regional Medical Center Wednesday after he drove off the road and rolled his semitruck. Kibret Ghulbet, 39, was driving south on State Route 234 about 13 miles south of Mattawa Wednesday when he ran off the road, according to a press memo from the Washington State Patrol. Ghulbet overcorrected and rolled his truck. The crash closed SR 243 for about four hours.

Moses Lake facility among those affected by Group14 layoffs

MOSES LAKE — An undisclosed number of employees received layoff notices from the Group14 facility in Moses Lake July 1. Moses Lake facility manager Don Kersey said construction on the facility is continuing. “We did have a layoff (July 1),” Kersey said. “We can’t get into numbers, but we did rebalance our workforce to ensure the long-term resilience (and) competitiveness of our business. (The layoffs were) not just here in Moses Lake, but Group14 here in Washington state. It’s very unfortunate.”

Local doctor finds new calling with Eudaimonia

MOSES LAKE – Dr. Hollie Matthews has begun a new journey in the medical field by opening Eudaimonia Medical Spa at 124 E Third Ave #212. Her goal is to provide services that guide her patients toward optimal health and personal fulfillment. “I’m learning a lot about business, which I had never been interested in,” said Dr. Matthews. “I always say I’m a scientist first, now a businesswoman, which was not an expectation, but I just would like to be able to stay open and still help some people.”

Darnold could revive the Seahawks

MOSES LAKE – As we creep closer to the start of the NFL season, fans across the league will be clamoring to see how their team’s retooled rosters will fare against the competition. One player that will be viewed under a microscope by fans this season is Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold. Darnold had been labeled a draft bust after failing to live up to the expectations of the New York Jets. After short stints with the Panthers and 49ers, Darnold signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings. Up until that point, he had never thrown more than 19 touchdowns in a season.

GALLERY: A look back at June 2025

COLUMBIA BASIN — June marked the end of the school year and the beginning of summer in the Basin. Here’s a look back at some memorable moments.