MLPD officers prevent carjacking, rescue children

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Police officers foiled an attempted carjacking Tuesday, saving two children who were in the vehicle according to an MLPD statement. Around noon, an off-duty police officer spotted Salvador Harguideguy, whom he knew to have felony warrants, near Ivy Avenue in Moses Lake. The officer contacted the department and officers set up a perimeter around the area, according to Moses Lake Police Chief Kevin Fuhr...

Inslee appoints Doyle to building code council

OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee announced on Tuesday he has appointed longtime building industry professional Daimon Doyle to the Washington State Building Code Council. Doyle is a builder, Life Director for the National Association of Home Builders and a former president of the Building Industry Association of Washington, with 30 years of experience in residential construction and a specialty in environmentally efficient, green building, according to a press release from Inslee’s office.

Internet outages pepper Grant and Douglas counties Wednesday

COLUMBIA BASIN — A Douglas County Public Utility District work crew accidentally cut a fiber optic line feeding into Grant County on Wednesday, causing problems for Internet and cell phone service for some customers across Grant County. “A main fiber line that feeds into Grant County was cut in Douglas County,” wrote Grant County Public Utility District Ryan Holterhoff in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald. “Douglas County PUD’s fiber crews are on-site actively working to repair the issue.” “They will need to fix the conduit and pull and splice new fiber to restore service,” Holterhoff added. Holterhoff said the work should be completed and full Internet and cell phone service restored by 1 a.m. Thursday. The outages were patchy and sporadic, Holterhoff said, affecting some service providers but not others, and some areas of Grant County and not others.

USDA to issue aid to growers impacted by natural disasters

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Monday that it will make $6 billion in relief payments to commodity and specialty crop growers affected by natural disasters in 2020 and 2021. The goal is to offset losses from reduced yields and lower prices, according to the announcement...

Newhouse pens bill to keep China from buying US farmland

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Dan Newhouse announced Thursday that he is introducing a bill that would prevent individuals or organizations associated with the government of the People’s Republic of China from buying any public or private agricultural land in the United States, as well as from participating in any U.S. Department of Agriculture programs with the exception of food safety inspections...

Columbia Basin Memorial Day observances

COLUMBIA BASIN — People around the Basin will gather to honor fallen servicemen and -women on Monday, as is traditional for Memorial Day...

Washington Nitro National returns in May

Multiple competitions set for event

SUNNYSIDE – The Washington Nitro Nationals, formerly Northwest Nitro Nationals, is returning to the Rattlesnake Ridge ORV Park, about 18 miles north of Sunnyside, May 6-8 after a two-year hiatus, according to a press release from event organizers.. “This is hillclimbing at its best,” spokesman John Nyboer said. “Come watch...

National Public Health Week recognizes outstanding work in Washington

OLYMPIA — April 3-8 is National Public Health Week, a time to celebrate the dedicated people working to improve public health across the country and here in Washington, according to a press release from the Washington Department of Health. This year’s theme is “Public Health is Where You Are,” recognizing ways we can make our communities healthier and stronger. Each day this week, the Washington Department of Health has focused on various issues crucial to promoting better health and wellness, including accessibility, combating climate change, dealing with the ongoing public health crisis of systemic racism, and understanding the strain the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on public health workers. “From the shores of Puget Sound to the summit of Mount Rainier, our public health workers protect and improve the health of all people and places,” said Dr. Anthony L-T Chen, director of health at Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. “Where we live, work, learn, pray, and play determines our health. Together, we strive for healthy people in healthy communities.”

Canal breach washes out roadway south of Quincy

GEORGE — The failure of an irrigation canal early Friday morning washed away a portion of Frenchman Hills Road west of Dodson Road and forced county officials to close a stretch of the road, according to a post on the Grant County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. According to GCSO spokesperson Kyle Foreman, a little after 12 a.m. Friday...

Soap Lake SD superintendent resigns

SOAP LAKE - In a Statement from the Soap Lake School Board on March 11, the board announced that it has accepted Soap Lake School District Superintendent Sunshine Pray’s immediate resignation. Pray’s resignation comes amongst three...

Marsha Bright

July 23, 1946 – March 5, 2022 Marsha Bright 75, passed away peacefully in her sleep, Saturday March 5, 2022. Marsha was born July 23,1946 in Yakima WA.

Friday morning fire destroys shed, chicken coop

MOSES LAKE — A Friday morning fire in the backyard of a residence destroyed a shed containing a chicken coop but caused no injuries and only slight damage to permanent structures, according to Moses Lake Fire Department Deputy Chief Pete Kunjara. The fire in the 300 block of W. Loop Drive was reported at about 8:40 a.m., Kunjara said, and city fire crews responded quickly, dousing the fire by 9 a.m. “When we got there, the shed was fully involved,” Kunjara said. “Our crew did a very good job on it.” Kunjara said no one was at home at the time, and the MLFD had been unable to contact the residents yet. Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at [email protected]

Basin students make Spokane CC honor roll

SPOKANE - Spokane Community College released its winter quarter honor roll list on April 14. Ten students from the Columbia Basin were recognized by the campus for academic excellence. SCC listed 1,986 students on its honor roll for the 2022 winter quarter, which ended in March. The honor roll lists those students who achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or above, according to the release...

Boys and Girls Club holds virtual egg hunt

MOSES LAKE — The weather may have turned wonky for Easter weekend, but that won’t stop the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin from having their Easter egg hunt, according to an announcement by Rich Comeaux of Moses Lake. That’s because the whole event is virtual. Participants can start the hunt by going to https://satellitestreet.com/bngclub, which leads to a virtual tour of the club’s McGraw Clubhouse on Paxson Drive in Moses Lake. There they can navigate the classrooms, halls and grounds of the clubhouse and find little hidden eggs. Clicking on an egg will reveal a piece of a 21-letter password. Once the password has been unraveled, the victorious egg seeker can enter it at https://satellitestreet.com/bng-photos to see some photos taken by club members. Comeaux created the hunt as a way of showcasing the work the Boys and Girls Club ids doing in the community, the announcement said. Check out our Friday Lifestyle section (Page B2) for more Easter events for the family.

SLPD recovers stolen vehicle

SOAP LAKE - Over the weekend, two Soap Lake Police Officers recovered a stolen vehicle out of Grand Coulee, while on patrol. In a social media post, the department states that on March 5, officers Trevor Jones and Justin Rowland were on patrol for the city. At approximately 8:20 a.m., Jones was checking...

4 injured in accident north of Othello

One cited for excessive speed

OTHELLO — Four people were injured in a three-car accident at the intersection of S.R.17 and Hermann Road late Sunday that left the main road between Othello and Moses Lake blocked for more than an hour, according to the Washington State Patrol. According to the report...

Dog and cat vaccinations, Ephrata dog licenses available Saturday

EPHRATA — Microchipping and some vaccinations will be available for cat and dog owners, and Ephrata residents will be able to purchase discounted dog licenses, at an event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Ephrata Recreation Center, 112 Basin St. SW. The event is hosted by...

Five Wildcats named All-Americans by CRAA

ELLENSBURG - Central Washington University had five women’s rugby players selected to the D1 Elita All-American lists by the College Rugby Association of America, the university announced Tuesday...

Community and tech colleges executive director announced

OLYMPIA — A press release by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges on June 7 stated that Paul Francis had been selected as the board’s next executive director...

Forecasters issue flood watch for Columbia River

VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — Unusually heavy rain and a melting snowpack have pushed the Columbia River to near flood stage from Vancouver to Longview, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters issued a flood watch early Sunday for areas along the Columbia in the greater Vancouver and Portland metro areas, as well as along the lower Columbia and Interstate 5 corridor in Cowlitz County, the Columbian reported.