Warnick busy in second week of session

OLYMPIA — Sen. Judy Warnick (R-Moses Lake) has introduced several new bills in the last week and has two of the bills she proposed earlier are progressing in committee. “I had a hearing on both of those (bills) and so they are on their way,” Warnick said. “Hopefully they'll get out of committee.” ...

Cougars run away with wins over Walla Walla Valley

WARDEN – Both the Cougar boys and girls basketball teams won convincingly over Walla Walla Valley Academy on Thursday night, with the girls dominating to a 64-23 victory and the boys winning 70-50. The Warden girls led by 14 at the end of the first quarter thanks to three-pointers by Lauryn Madsen, Quinn Erdmann and Jlynn Rios, and continued to keep their foot on the gas to cruise to a 34-14 halftime lead.

Police at Warden schools following non-specific threat

WARDEN — Security was heightened at the Warden School District joint campus following the report of a non-specific threat late Thursday. The threat was later determined not to be credible, according to Warden Police Chief Rick Martin...

Odd jobs

Moses Lake's Home Electrical tackles the strange stuff

MOSES LAKE — James Anderson likes odd jobs. And sometimes they get pretty odd. Anderson is the owner of Home Electrical Services, based in Moses Lake. The name may sound pretty ordinary, but HES’ repertoire is anything but. Anderson prides himself on taking on jobs other places don’t want to do. “We recently did a churro line in Connell,” Anderson said. “And we had to set it all up and hook it up for him. It was a two-year project. It took two years to get it done. We just finished it.” ...

Samaritan officials look to gather community reaction at open house

MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare officials displayed their proposals for a new Samaritan Hospital at an open house Wednesday evening, part of their ongoing effort to solicit public opinion and ideas on the project. Samaritan commissioners originally approved the construction of a new hospital in late 2018, and groundbreaking tentatively was scheduled for summer 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic discombobulated that timetable. In addition, Samaritan was affected by the same changes that hit healthcare systems nationwide. Hospital board chair Katherine Christian said officials wanted to come back to the community and explain the new realities...

Remembering Bennie Brown

Local anesthesiologist honored by family, friends, community

MOSES LAKE — Martha Wong, a retired registered nurse who worked for years at Samaritan Hospital, has some fond memories of Bennie Brown. “Our eldest daughter was born blind and had to have three eye surgeries,” Wong said. “And she told me Mr. Brown was the one who made her feel safe. She was 8 years old and had to have an eye muscle repaired, and she said he held her hand and talked to her, told her everything that was going on.” Wong, 70, said her daughter, now 45, remembered Brown — who worked as a nurse and anesthesiologist at Samaritan from 1962 until his retirement in 1998— holding her hand and telling her to count down as the anesthesia took effect. “She said ‘I knew I was safe because My. Brown was taking care of me,’” Wong related. It’s not the only memory Wong has of Brown. When she was 16, and a candy striper — a volunteer nurse at Samaritan — he was there to help teach her, including letting her sit in on a gall bladder operation. “He talked me through every step of the process, and even let me help him with little tasks,” she said. “He was a good teacher. An excellent teacher with a funny sense of humor. He’d make you laugh.” Wong was only one of many people who gathered at the Moses Lake Adventist Church on Saturday, Jan. 7, to honor Bennie Brown and his life of service to the community, Brown died in November 2022 at the age of 92 at his home in Oregon, where he moved several years ago to be closer to his three daughters Daina Haas, Tammy MacPhee and Linda Brown.

Rukke named acting pipeline safety director

LACEY, Wash. — The Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission has named Scott Rukke acting director of the commission’s pipeline safety division, according to a commission press release...

USDA published final organic enforcement rule

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday published the final revision of its updated rules for the production, sale and certification of organic farm and food products, according to a USDA press release issued Wednesday...

Ephrata OKs agreement with Desert Plains developer

MOSES LAKE — The Ephrata City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved an agreement with the developer of a large, proposed 329-lot subdivision to cover the cost of negotiating a developer agreement with the city. “One of the clauses (in the development agreement) was reimbursement of the city consultant in developing that agreement,” said Ephrata City Attorney Anna Franz after the meeting...

Affordable housing legislation introduced in Olympia

OLYMPIA - Two new pieces of legislation, House Bill 1401 and House Bill 1402, will allow the development of affordable housing to be more accessible for cities and counties around Washington...

Agriculture bills being considered by WA Legislature

OLYMPIA — Several agriculture-related bills have been introduced in the 2023 session of the Washington Legislature, which started last week. Topics include fur farming, alternative energy resource impacts and pesticides...

Bill to pay incarcerated workers passes House Committee

OLYMPIA - The House Community Safety, Justice, and Reentry Committee voted 6-3 in favor of passing HB 1024, an act that would ensure incarcerated workers are paid state minimum wage, among other things...

Bill proposed to create Boys and Men Commission

OLYMPIA — A statement by Rep. Mary Dye (R-Pomeroy) on Wednesday announced the introduction of a bill that would create a new Washington State Commission on Boys and Men. "There are many issues that impact men and boys. Yet, there is no unified voice that would tackle these issues at the state level," wrote Dye, in the statement. "If adopted, this legislation would create the first-of-its-kind boys and men's commission in the nation right here in Washington state." ...

Sunday fire destroys home near Mattawa

MATTAWA — A Mattawa-area home was destroyed in an early evening fire Sunday Grant County Fire District 8 Chief Matt Hyndman said no one was injured. “They were all at church, and unfortunately came home to their house burned down,” Hyndman said...

Seahawks keep Pro Bowl K Jason Myers with four-year contract

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks locked up one of their potential free agents, signing Pro Bowl kicker Jason Myers to a four-year contract on Wednesday. Myers is coming off one of the best seasons of his career in which he made 34 of 37 field goal attempts, led the NFL in scoring with 143 points and was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second time in his career.

Farm internship bill moves forward in WA Senate

OLYMPIA — A substitute bill expanding the farm internship program passed through the Senate Committee on Labor and Commerce Tuesday. “One of the most important challenges we face is the preservation of farming in Washington and making sure that the next generation is ready to step up with knowledge of modern farming techniques, sustainability strategies and knowledge of how to run a successful farming business,” said Sen. Nikki Torres (R-Pasco), a primary sponsor of the bill...

MLPD intervenes in multiple catalytic converter thefts

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Police officers detained and arrested two suspects early Wednesday morning after interrupting an attempt to steal a catalytic converter on Valley Road, according to an MLPD statement. “These cat thefts are killing us,” said Police Chief Kevin Fuhr. “Last year, we had more than 100 calls about catalytic converter thefts just in Moses Lake.” ...

MLPD seizes thousands of fentanyl pills following Saturday arrest

MOSES LAKE — The arrest of a Moses Lake man Saturday morning resulted in the seizure of more than a half-pound of fentanyl pills as well as additional fentanyl powder and a half-pound of methamphetamine, according to a statement from the MLPD. “It’s a huge deal. Fentanyl is running rampant not just in Moses Lake, but in the entire state,” said Police Chief Kevin Fuhr. “Three thousand pills for us is a good haul.” ...

Buzzing on Broadway

The Hive continues tattoo legacy of nearly 30 years

MOSES LAKE — The Hive, an eye-catching yellow building along Broadway Avenue in Moses Lake, is home to tattoo artist and owner Shawn Willmorth. “I’ve always known since I was about 12 years old that (tattooing) was what I wanted to do and mainly, I blame rock ‘n’ roll and Harley Davidson,” said Willmorth. “Secondly, my stepdad was a tattoo collector so I was exposed to that pretty early on.” ...

Quincy examines pool, water, sewer issues

QUINCY — Quincy city officials are beginning the process of planning for water and sewer projects designed to upgrade the city’s utility systems. Quincy City Council members voted Tuesday to advertise for proposals for a number of studies, including one that would analyze the city’s existing sewer system. Quincy Administrator Pat Haley said in an earlier interview that the city has reached 85% of its sewer capacity. When that happens the city is required by the Washington Department of Ecology to conduct an analysis of the system and options for enlarging it...