Fatality accident victims identified

SOAP LAKE - The Grant County Sheriff’s Office has identified the victimes in a fatality collission on Road B Northwest just north of Road 19 Northwest Tuesday...

At-home COVID-19 tests available free of charge

OLYMPIA – Washington State Department of Health will continue to provide free COVID-19 home test kits to residents at least through the end of 2022, despite the end of federal financial support for testing programs. With upper respiratory season at a high peak, at-home tests offer a way for individuals to check their COVID status without needing to access the healthcare system. Washingtonians can order up to 10 free at-home test kits per month through the “Say Yes! COVID Test” program. To order, visit sayyescovidhometest.org. The kits are delivered to the requester’s home or work address, free of charge...

Building permits for Oct. 15 - Nov. 4

GRANT COUNTY - The permits below have been issued for unincorporated Grant County in accordance with local regulations and permitting processes.

Gathered in Gratitude

Community comes together to support seniors at McKay

LAKEVIEW — The McKay Foundation, partnered with the Columbia Basin Foundation, held the second annual Gathered in Gratitude fundraiser at the Lakeview Golf and Country Club on Sunday. “We’re really trying to focus on the needs of our senior residents and trying to build for the future, and so a project like this, it just kind of showcases for everyone what our potential is,” said Corinne Isaak, executive director of the Columbia Basin Foundation. The event raised money for McKay Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center and was also meant to raise awareness about the center and all that it does and has done over the last year to improve the lives of its residents. The evening started out with a silent auction and social time, followed by dinner and a live auction...

Basin sports schedule for Nov. 23-29

As fall sports enter its final two weeks of the season, winter sports competitions in the Basin begin as soon as next week. Check out this week’s sports schedule, including two state football semifinal games being played in Moses Lake. Saturday, Nov. 26 No. 1 Odessa vs No. 5 Liberty Bell - 1B state semifinals playoff game, kickoff at 12 p.m. at Lions Field in Moses Lake. No. 1 Royal football vs No. 12 Freeman - 1A state semifinals playoff game, kickoff at 3 p.m. at Lions Field in Moses Lake. Tuesday, Nov. 29 Royal girls basketball at Newport - 7:30 p.m. Warden girls and boys basketball at Cashmere - 5:45 p.m., 7:15 p.m. This week’s tournaments 1A State Football - includes Royal.

Law enforcement records for Nov. 23

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

Icy roads likely a factor in fatal collision

EPHRATA - Icy conditions Tuesday afternoon resulted in a collision just northeast of Ephrata where one person was injured and another was killed. A release by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office at 11:30 a.m. said the accident occurred on Road B NW between roads 18 and 20 NW. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene and the injured passenger was transported for non-life-threatening injuries. The release stated the road was to remain closed until 3 p.m. Tuesday. GCSO Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman said investigators believe the icy canal bridge surface played a role in the collision.

SR 17 accident leaves one dead

SOAP LAKE - An Ephrata man is dead after a single-vehicle crash Monday night just south of Soap Lake. Washington State Patrol Public Information Officer Collin Cumaravel said that David Neilan, 61 of Ephrata, was driving a 1997 Ford Ranger northbound along SR 17 when it left the roadway and rolled. The accident occurred at 10:15 p.m. at milepost 73 and blocked the roadway for several hours. Neilan was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. The cause for the accident is still under investigation but the release said he was not wearing a seatbelt. Rebecca Pettingill may be reached at [email protected].

Vaccinations encouraged in face of early flu season

SEATTLE — Physicians are bracing for a difficult winter, according to a statement from the Washington State Medical Association. In separate press releases, the Washington Department of Health and WSMA both advised Washington residents to get vaccinated for the flu. The number of cases of respiratory syncytial virus is rising steeply, especially in children, the statement said. Flu season has also come early this year, the WSMA wrote, and there is a danger of an increase in COVID-19 as well. Pediatric hospital beds are filling quickly, according to the statement, and sick children are boarding in emergency rooms.

Mosbrucker named WPUDA Legislative Champion

OLYMPIA — State Rep. Gina Mosbrucker, R-Goldendale, was recently named 2022 Legislative Champion by the Washington Public Utility Districts Association, according to a statement from the representative’s staff. The award honors a member from the Washington State Legislature or U.S. Congress for their commitment to public utility districts...

SLPD issues warning regarding catalytic converter thefts

SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake Police Department issued a warning to the public that catalytic converter thefts in the area have been increasing and recommended that residents be extra vigilant. The SLPD advised the public that if they see a parked car that they don’t recognize late at night, they should call police. The thieves may also be on foot with backpacks and/or tools in hand. The release stated that the uptick in the thefts has happened in both Soap Lake and Ephrata.

Dept. of Education extends student loan pause

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Education has issued a 60-day extension of the pause on student loan repayments as officials in the administration of President Joe Biden consider how to respond to recent judicial rulings blocking the administration’s attempt to forgive a portion of student loans nationwide. According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Education, the current suspension of student loan payments is set to end on June 30, 2023. However, if current litigation challenging the president’s ability to forgive loans is resolved by that date, student loan payments will resume 60 days after that, the press release said...

Ephrata hosts active shooter roundtable exercise

First responders gather to learn preparedness tools and prep for what they hope never happens

EPHRATA — The Ephrata School District hosted a number of first responders, emergency personnel and district staff Monday for a tabletop exercise to prepare involved agencies as well as identify any places for improvement in the case of an active shooter incident at the high school. “The worst time to be shaking hands is when you show up at the disaster,” said Kyle Foreman, Emergency Management Specialist with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. “So we all took the effort to meet so we gain familiarity with not only each other but with what each other's policies are, what limitations we have and what strengths we can all bring to the effort because it takes an entire community to make this successful.” The Ephrata School District, Ephrata Fire Department, Ephrata Police Department, City of Ephrata Public Works, Grant County Sheriff's Office, American Medical Response Grant County, Washington State Department of Transportation Eastern Region HQ and Washington Emergency Management Division all participated in the event...

RECAP: Kraken get back in the win column, ‘Hawks rest over bye

SEATTLE – The Kraken got back to their winning ways, Seahawks rested over the bye week and the Mariners will have new faces next season. Check out this week’s pro sports recap for Washington’s teams...

Analysis: Russell Wilson trade looks like Herschel Walker's

DENVER (AP) — The most lopsided trade in NFL history sent Herschel Walker to Minnesota for two fistfuls of players and draft picks that served as the pillars of the Dallas Cowboys' dynasty of the 1990s. The Russell Wilson trade isn't quite so cockeyed, but eight months in it sure looks as one-sided as any deal since the Walker washout that Jerry Jones immediately dubbed "The Great Train Robbery."

Daiyan Henley named finalist for Butkus Award

CHICAGO - Washington State linebacker Daiyan Henley was named a finalist for the 2022 Butkus Award, The Butkus Foundation announced Tuesday. The Butkus Award is presented annually to the best linebacker in college football. Note on criteria: The Butkus Award is focused on recognizing linebackers who consistently play off the ball on their feet in a two-point stance in traditional LB form. (Outside linebackers primarily rushing the passer in 30 fronts are regarded as pass rushers, not linebackers.) Henley is one of five finalists, the only player from the Pac-12 Conference and is the first Butkus Award Finalist in program history.

William (Bill) Arthur Mackey

William (Bill) Arthur Mackey, 77, passed away Nov. 19 in the comfort of his own home. A funeral will be held Saturday, Nov. 26 at 2 p.m. at the Rose Street Chapel, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1036 W. Rose Ave. Everyone is welcome to join in the celebration of his life. Interment to follow at Pioneer Memorial Gardens. Bill was born Jan. 19, 1945, in Seattle, Washington, son of the late Arthur and Eleanor Mackey. The family moved to Moses Lake when he was 6 years old and he has called Moses Lake his home since then. Bill attended Knolls Vista Elementary and Frontier Middle School, and graduated from Moses Lake High School in 1963. After high school he attended Columbia Basin Technical College and earned his associate's degree. He worked for many years at A&H Printers, Biffanos, Webco, Walmart, and his favorite job, running the concession stands for Moses Lake High School and Big Bend Community College. He also enjoyed being a volunteer firefighter for many years as well as volunteering at the Grant County Fair, and as a 4-H leader for the 89ers 4-H club.

Drought aid deadline approaching

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The deadline to apply for aid from the Small Business Administration in Adams, Lincoln, Grant, Okanogan, Spokane, Stevens and Whitman counties is set for Dec. 19 for small nonfarm businesses who depend on agriculture-based communities for their livelihood, according to an SBA press release. “SBA eligibility covers both the economic impacts on businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers that have suffered agricultural production losses caused by the disaster and businesses directly impacted by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the applicant suffered any property damage,” SBA Director Tany N. Garfield said in the release...

State increases revenue projection by $762M

OLYMPIA - The state is increasing its projections to $63.9 billion as of Nov. 18 – an increase of about $762 million when compared to initial projections released in July, according to a press release from the Washington Office of Financial Management...

CenturyLink penalized for rate increases

LACEY – The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has upheld a $226,000 penalty assessed against CenturyLink and its five subsidiaries for raising rates without informing the UTC, according to a UTC press release...