News bites for May 16

Below are a collection of announcements from first responder agencies that serve the Columbia Basin. These reports are based on press releases and media statements made by those agencies.

Legals for May, 16 2023

E. Nelson Road light being replaced

MOSES LAKE — Drivers can expect flaggers controlling traffic at the intersection of State Route 17 and East Nelson Road Wednesday or Thursday. Washington State Department of Transportation crews will be replacing the light on the east side of the intersection...

Community remembrance

An Idaho mining town remembers to never forget the Sunshine Mine disaster 51 years later

BIG CREEK, Idaho – The morning of Tuesday, May 2 marked the 51st anniversary of the disaster that claimed 91 lives at the Sunshine Mine in Silver Valley, Idaho. Hundreds of people, including those in the mining community, students, and family members made their way to the memorial statue at the bottom of Big Creek to celebrate, remember, and mourn those lives lost. With the air of grief still lingering over the Silver Valley’s mining community from the death of 26-year-old Blaik Nutting just 21 days prior, that Tuesday was a somber reminder that even with the advances in technology and safety, accidents can and do still happen - and that the most important thing that comes out of the mine each day is the miner...

Meeting the unique needs of donkeys

Owning any animal can be both challenging and rewarding. Although they have a reputation for being stubborn, donkeys can make great additions to an animal herd. But owners should first understand what it takes to keep them healthy before buying one...

News bites for May 15

A roundup of news stories from area first response agencies.

Legals for May, 15 2023

Legals for May, 11 2023

Legals for May, 10 2023

Legals for May, 9 2023

Lots of opportunity in FFA, 4-H programs

MOSES LAKE — Medical Lake High School ag teacher and FFA advisor Jennie Wagner said some of the people in the Medical Lake HS FFA chapter will go on to careers in agriculture, and some of them won’t. All of them, however, have picked up important skills through FFA - something that’s also true of the young people in the 4-H clubs she used to lead. “I think people, a lot of times, think FFA is just all those kids (raising) animals, or they wear those blue jackets,” Wagner said. “But what it really does is, it allows them to try things out in a safe environment and have experiences they wouldn’t get (in other clubs). Because it covers so many avenues, from public speaking to learning parliamentary procedure, raising animals, evaluating livestock, just tons of stuff.” ...

Legals for May, 8 2023

Legals for May, 5 2023

Residents object to RV parking in dog park

City looks to old police shooting range possibility

MOSES LAKE — At a nearly two-hour-long public meeting of the Moses Lake Ad Hoc Homeless Committee, residents expressed nearly universal opposition to using some of the city-owned land near the dog park as a temporary parking place for RVs used as residences, many of which are currently parked on stub-outs along Central Drive.

Inslee announces that he will not seek reelection

SEATTLE (AP) — Washington Gov. Jay Inlsee, a Democrat who sought to make the state a leader on progressive policies from climate change to gun violence prevention, said Monday he will not seek a fourth term in office...

Legals for May, 1 2023

Governor signs My Health, My Data Act into law

OLYMPIA – Thursday, Governor Jay Inslee signed House Bill 1155, the WA My Health, My Data Act into law. The bill is aimed at protecting Washingtonians' personal health data. “As a mother and a pharmacist, I recognize the importance of protecting our health data and access to comprehensive health care,” said prime sponsor Rep. Vandana Slatter, D-Bellevue. “As a woman and a legislator, I am honored to have sponsored the My Health, My Data Act in the House to protect all Washingtonians' health and data privacy in Washington state, including reproductive and gender-affirming care.” ...

I-90 upgrades

Construction coming to east-west thoroughfare vital for Washington travel, economy.

GRANT COUNTY — Travel along I-90 between Ellensburg and North Bend through Snoqualmie Pass will be interesting for the next few years as the Washington State Department of Transportation prepares for the next phase of improvements to the eastbound section of the interstate and replaces the Vantage Bridge. “It’s the primary east-west corridor for the state,” said Madison Scully, a design project engineer with WSDOT, during a Moses Lake City Council meeting on Tuesday. “It’s very important for the state.” ...

Moses Lake council, business owners discuss homelessness concerns

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake City Council is going to look at places to park RVs used as residences — including next to the current city dog park on N. Paxson Drive — in early May following a lengthy discussion of the homelessness situation in Moses Lake at its regular Tuesday meeting. “There are not a lot of good solutions,” said City Manager Allison Williams. “That would be a temporary location to deal with RVs until they move along.” ...

Moses Lake continues to address RVs being used as residences

MOSES LAKE — The city of Moses Lake is preparing to post “No Trespassing” signs along Central Drive and the Moses Lake Police Department is preparing eviction notices for the owners of the nine RVs now parked along the street, according to an email exchange between City Manager Allison Williams and property owner Ted Yao. “Your rep has authorized our trespass and ‘No Trespass’ signage is being prepared,” Williams wrote in the email exchange with Yao on Friday. “Our police department is preparing notices to vacate your property that will be delivered to those who are there. The notice is required and will provide 30 days to vacate.” ...