Green hired as chief of Quincy PD

QUINCY — Ryan Green was sworn in as the new Quincy Police Department Chief at the Quincy City Council meeting Tuesday. Green had been serving as the interim chief following the resignation of Kieth Siebert in February. Council members voted 5-0 to approve a contract with Green and appoint him as the new chief...

MLIRD funding bill faces glitch

Grant County treasurer concerned about change

MOSES LAKE — A bill sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick (R-Moses Lake) and intended to fix the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District’s current inability to assess, recently passed the state Senate but may have hit a snag as it goes on the state House of Representatives. “We may not have gotten it right,” said Warnick during a phone call early Wednesday from Olympia, where the state legislature is currently in session...

Stepping out into nature

Local Audubon Society seeks nature lovers, mentors

MOSES LAKE — The Central Basin Audubon Society is looking for a few good volunteers. “You don’t have to be a teacher,” said Gayle Talbot, president of the local Audubon Society. “You can be a person who’s just interested in children and interested in the environment.” Every year, society volunteers lead field trips for elementary school students to the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, which covers about 30,000 acres between Moses Lake and Othello, mostly south of Potholes Reservoir, to see a relatively undisturbed example of the local environment and the wild creatures that live there or migrate through, said Talbot.

Law enforcement logs for March 9

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 chamber officially opens new offices

MOSES LAKE — After a couple of years of wandering in the wilderness — well, working from home, actually — the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce finally has new office space on Broadway Avenue near downtown Moses Lake. “This office came available, and it was remodeled, so we didn’t have to do anything to it,” said Debbie Doran-Martinez, owner of Cornfusion Gourmet Popcorn and the chamber’s executive director. “We could just move in and start operations.” ...

Man sought in Okanogan couple’s deaths

SPOKANE — The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a man in connection with the murder of a couple in Okanogan County in February 2022...

St Patrick’s Day dinner and Auction set for March 18

EPHRATA – Annual St Patrick’s Day Girls State and Boys State Dinner and Auction is coming up soon...

'You gotta protect your noggin.'

Keeping safety in mind when heading out to play in the sand.

MOSES LAKE - With warm weather getting closer, it’s about that time of year to break out outdoor toys and enjoy the sunshine. It is also important to remember to be safe while out riding on ATVs and off-road vehicles, whether that’s in the sand dunes near Moses Lake or other locations. Grant County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jesse King, who oversees ORV safety programs for the department, said there are laws and safety steps things to keep in mind when out riding. While he said that he has not seen too many issues with people out in the dunes he emphasized that it is important to follow the laws...

Othello Community Hospital announces births

OTHELLO – The births below were reported by the Othello Community Hospital. The Columbia Basin Herald congratulates the parents on their new arrivals.

Sun Tribune events calendar

The public events below are coming up in the southern portion of Grant County or in Adams County in the near future.

Basin sports schedule Mar. 8-14

COLUMBIA BASIN – Spring sports season has arrived here in the Basin, with many schools beginning competition as soon as Friday...

ADUs dominate Mattawa council housing discussion

MATTAWA — The possibility of “accessory dwelling units,” and how to enforce regulations on construction and development, was the subject of a lengthy conversation at the March 2 meeting of the Mattawa City Council...

Bill would make WA clergy mandatory reporters of abuse

OLYMPIA — A bill currently making its way through the Washington State Legislature would require clergy to report child abuse, neglect or sexual abuse to the authorities, according to a press release from bill author and sexual abuse survivor Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle...

Tenant protection bill passes WA House

OLYMPIA — The Washington House of Representatives last week passed a bill to protect tenants from unreasonable damage claims, according to a statement from Rep. My-Linh Thai’s (D-Bellevue) office...

Burglary suspect nabbed via footprints in snow

SOAP LAKE — Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a man Monday morning for a burglary near Soap Lake...

Cougars, Huskies on to Pac-12 tournament

LAS VEGAS – With the regular season coming and going, the Washington State Cougars and Washington Huskies now prepare for the 2023 Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament in Las Vegas starting on Wednesday...

Driver’s ed to teach sharing road with trucks and buses

OLYMPIA - Driver’s education courses will include guidance about sharing the road with big trucks and buses if a bill approved by the Washington House gets an OK from the Senate...

Banks Lake drawdown brings warnings to stay away

COULEE CITY — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office is warning people to stay off Banks Lake, according to a GCSO statement...

Sackmann named to American Angus Association

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The American Angus Association announced last week that Nia Sackmann of Warden has been named as a new junior member of the association, according to a press release...

Malnutrition bill passes WA House

OLYMPIA – House Bill 1274, a bill to help prevent child malnutrition, passed the Washington House unanimously Saturday. “While a child malnutrition field guide seems like a small step, it's a step we can take right now to ensure that when these state agent visits happen, they can take immediate action. No longer can anyone have the excuse that they didn't know what child malnutrition looks like,” said Representative Travis Couture (R-Allyn), in a release by his office...