Fentanyl

What is it?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine. Pharmaceutical fentanyl was developed for pain management treatment of cancer patients, applied in a patch on the skin. Because of its powerful opioid properties, Fentanyl is also diverted for abuse. Fentanyl is added to heroin to increase its potency, or be disguised as highly potent heroin. Many users believe that they are purchasing heroin and actually don’t know that they are purchasing fentanyl – which often results in overdose deaths.

'Rainbow fentanyl'

Drug panic obscures real dangers of contaminated drug supply, experts say

PHILADELPHIA — As Halloween approaches, the federal government has been warning parents of a spooky new danger: Drug cartels are using rainbow-colored pills and powders that look like candy to introduce children to highly addictive synthetic opioids. One taste could kill. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s press releases in recent months have warned that drug dealers are using the pills’ appealing bright colors to entice children and young adults into addiction. A slew of news outlets and national legislators have seized on the idea, with some advising parents to check their children’s Halloween candy, just in case...

Picture perfect

Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center raises $43,000 for 3-D ultrasound machine

MOSES LAKE — Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center had an ambitious series of goals as it prepared for this year’s fundraising banquet. “This is the biggie. We need $43,000 for a new ultrasound machine,” said Marc Newman, author and president of Speaker for Life, during his keynote speech at Saturday’s fundraiser. “For $43,000, we can get a new ultrasound machine that will be a massive game changer. … You want to save more kids? We need the tech to do it.” It was a long list. In addition to raising the money to keep Crossroads going for the next year, the center was also seeking $1,000 for a new computer, $800 for chairs for consultation rooms, $5,000 for a conference table and $17,000 to finish covering the costs of hiring a bilingual client resource specialist. By itself, those things would be a big ask. But they weren’t everything the organization sought from attendees of its annual fundraising banquet in the 4-H Building at the Grant County Fairgrounds on Saturday.

Devils, Lions advance in 1B district tourney

MOSES LAKE – Wilson Creek, Soap Lake and Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School all played in the second round of the 1B District 6 Tournament Thursday night, with the Devils and Lions both advancing to next week’s semi-final round at Entiat. The No. 4 seed Devils faced off against the No. 5 seed Soap Lake Eagles to begin the tournament, with Wilson Creek earning a 3-1 win. “The girls knew it was do-or-die, pretty much,” Wilson Creek head coach Christa Christopherson said. “You either go and play the best that you can, or you go home.” Wilson Creek jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the match, winning the first set 25-17 and the second set 25-18. The Devils were able to jump out to early leads in both sets, leading by as much as seven in Set 1 and as much as eight in Set 2...

Samaritan approves wage increase, effective Sunday

MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare employees, except hospital administrators and staff physicians, will receive a 3.5% raise, effective Oct. 30. Hospital commissioners approved a recommendation made by administrators at the regular commission meeting Tuesday. Steve Brooks, Samaritan’s chief human resources officer, said the raise will help retain current staff and make Samaritan a more attractive alternative in the search for employees. “We’re going to make sure we’re competitive with the local market,” he said. Brooks estimated the pay increase would cost Samaritan about $149,000 per month on an annualized basis. It would add up to about $1.8 million per year...

Boeing donates $5M to WSU for student success center

PULLMAN - Washington State University announced a $5 million investment from The Boeing Company to establish a new student success center in the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture on WSU’s Pullman campus. “The impact of this generous commitment from Boeing is incalculable, accelerating the Voiland College’s ambitious plan to modernize its facilities to meet the current and future needs of WSU’s engineering and design students,” said WSU system president Kirk Schulz in the release. “We are grateful for Boeing’s remarkable investment and look forward to the Boeing Center for Student Success having a lasting impact on the academic experience and careers for generations of Voiland College students.” ...

Grant Co. emergency management coordinator talks safety, preparedness

SOAP LAKE - Emergency Management Specialist Kyle Foreman with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office gave a presentation about emergency preparedness in Soap Lake Wednesday evening to prompt residents to learn about emergencies they might encounter and how to be prepared for them. “Have an emergency plan,” Foreman said. “Know what they’re going to do if an emergency strikes.” The presentation had a small but curious crowd, who were engaged in knowing how to better prepare themselves and their families in case of an emergency. Foreman spoke about many important steps, tips and suggestions for people of different backgrounds, abilities and ages. “We encourage all citizens to be prepared and self-sufficient,” said Foreman...

New flag in Moses Lake

Moses Lake markes 40 with Yonezawa sister-city relationship

MOSES LAKE — There’s a new flag on display in the Moses Lake City Council chambers. During a regular meeting of the Moses Lake City Council on Tuesday, Ginny Hirai and Terry Moore, both members of the Moses Lake - Yonezawa Sister City Committee, formally unfurled a Yonezawa city flag that will now be on permanent display in Moses Lake City Hall. “I want to thank the city of Moses Lake for accepting this flag from our sister city Yonezawa, Japan,” Hirai told council members. “To have it displayed here in this room will have a special meaning too, and our future visitors from Japan will appreciate seeing it here.” ...

DEA sets prescription drug take back day

GRANT COUNTY — The Drug Enforcement Agency is encouraging people with old, expired or unused prescription drugs to bring them into their local police departments on Saturday, Oct. 29, as part of the agency’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The DEA, which is responsible for enforcing the nation’s federal drug laws, holds Take Back Days twice a year, according to an agency press release. During the last Take Back Day on April 22, the DEA said it collected more than 720,000 pounds of expired, unwanted and unused prescription medications. Since starting Drug Take Back Day in 2011, DEA said it has collected more than 15.9 million pounds — nearly 8,000 tons — of old and unneeded prescription drugs. The goal is to give people the opportunity to clean out medicine cabinets by giving them a safe and legal way to dispose of old and excess prescription drugs...

Q&A with Grant County Commissioner candidates

GRANT COUNTY - With the general election just days away, the Columbia Basin Herald submitted some follow-up questions to the candidates running for public office. Incumbent Grant County Commissioner Cindy Carter and challenger Jeff Foster each got the same questions. Their answers are below and have been lightly edited for clarity and to fit in the available space. The Herald appreciates both candidates’ timely responses...

Collier off IR; Brown, Homer return to practice

SEATTLE – Seahawks defensive end L.J. Collier was activated off of Seattle’s injured reserve on Wednesday, and cornerback Tre Brown and running back Travis Homer both were designated to return to practice. Collier, who has an elbow injury, has been out since Seattle’s second preseason game against the Chicago Bears. The 2019 first-round pick out of TCU was designated to return to practice earlier this month but suffered a thumb injury which set him back. In Collier’s three seasons as a Seahawk, he has three sacks, 33 tackles and three passes defensed in 37 career games. Homer missed the previous four games with a rib injury that he suffered in Seattle’s loss to Atlanta on Sept. 25. Brown returns from the team’s physically unable to perform list after a knee injury from last season. Both Brown and Homer will not count toward Seattle’s 53-man roster until they are added to the active roster. Brown had elevated himself into a starting role with the Seahawks last season before his knee injury. In five games, the then-rookie out of Oklahoma had 10 total tackles and one pass defended. Homer is a former sixth-round pick out of Miami who had 16 yards on four carries in three games this season. The fourth-year veteran also has four catches for 33 yards this year.

New-look Cougs strive to push for NCAA tourney

SAN FRANCISCO – With all the turnover that the Cougars have faced this offseason, including bringing in six new players to replace four transfers, Efe Abogidi moving to the NBA’s G-League and Michael Flowers graduating, the Cougars remained excited about the upcoming season at Wednesday’s Pac-12 Media Day. “We talk about having great attitudes, working hard, guys having pride in being a Coug, and the group that's behind has done the same,” WSU head coach Kyle Smith said at Pac-12 Media Day on Wednesday. “We're just going to look a little different.” The Cougs lost their top-four scorers from a season ago, with Flowers graduation, guard Tyrell Roberts transferring to San Francisco, guard Noah Williams transferring to Washington and Agogidi in the G-League. “We're just a different team,” Smith said. “Despite our talent is different. We have a little bigger guards, I think. Our frontcourt is a little more skillful. I think our group's more skillful.” ...

Mavs look to break Big 9 tie

Moses Lake team works to recover from loss, prepare for ground-dominant Eastmont

MOSES LAKE – The 6-2 Mavericks return to Lions Field on Friday after a 41-35 road loss to West Valley (Yakima) last week, with the loss creating a three-way tie for the lead in the Columbia Basin Big 9 Conference. Joining Moses Lake with a 4-1 record in league play is Sunnyside, who the Mavericks defeated two weeks ago, and Eastmont, who they play on Friday. “Mondays suck after a loss, it is what it is,” Moses Lake head coach Brett Jay said. “You come in and it takes a while to shake it, and the only way to shake it is by getting back to work. We know that we feel the mistakes that were made were preventable by us playing our technique and our fundamentals better.” Freshman quarterback Brady Jay, Brett’s son, entered the game for the Mavericks on Friday, completing 15 of 27 passes for 172 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Senior quarterback Brock Clark, who also plays linebacker for the Mavericks, had two sacks against West Valley...

LETTER: Judges support Gigliotti for Superior Court Judge

Casting an informed vote in a judicial race is often challenging. Judges are required to be non-partisan and must refrain from making statements or promises that could compromise their ability to act as a neutral decision maker. Unless you know the candidates personally, or have the chance to watch them in court, it can be difficult to decide who to vote for...

Supporting Ben

Community steps up to help teen injured in car wreck

EPHRATA - After 17-year-old Ben Belino was injured in a wreck Oct. 10, the Columbia Basin community has stepped up to support Belino and his family. “It’s really overwhelming the support that we’re receiving from everybody,” said Ariel Belino, Ben’s father. “There are people that we don't know that know us (that have reached out and shown support) and we’re so thankful and grateful. It’s amazing how the community stepped up.” Ben was seriously injured when he was hit head-on while traveling on State Route 28 near Quincy. An oncoming car veered into Ben’s lane and hit him. The other driver died as a result and Ben was transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.....

Soap Lake center to hold pancake fundraiser

SOAP LAKE - The Soap Lake Community and Senior Center will be hosting a pancake breakfast fundraiser this Saturday. The fundraiser will be from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at 121 Second Ave SE, and will cost $10 for adults and $5 for children.

Soap Lake food bank holds Thanksgiving food drive

SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake Food Bank is holding a food drive for items it can use to provide a Thanksgiving meal to those it serves. According to a statement from the food bank, it serves on average 200 clients every week. The food bank’s service area includes Soap Lake, Marlin, Wilson Creek and Coulee City. The food bank is asking specifically for donations of instant potatoes, yams, beets, stuffing mix, cranberries, turkey or chicken broth, crispy fried onions, olives, pie filling, cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soups and evaporated milk. Items are needed by Nov. 22 and can be dropped off at the Soap Lake Food Bank, located at 325 Main Ave. E. The food bank is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and can also be reached at 509-246-0164 for any questions.

Preview: Cougars to take on No. 14 Utah, QB Rising

PULLMAN – Both No. 14 Utah and Washington State are coming off of bye weeks ahead of their Thursday night matchup in Pullman, something that allowed extra time for players and coaches on what would have been a short week. “We started last Wednesday, had a great practice in the snow on Saturday, and now we’re ready to go,” WSU head coach Jake Dickert said at a press conference Monday. Before the bye, the Utes defeated then-No. 7 USC in a 43-42 comeback win where quarterback Cameron Rising had a one-yard rushing touchdown to take the lead in the final minute. Rising, a two-year starter, is a dual-threat at the position with 1,855 yards and 15 touchdowns as a passer and 308 yards and six touchdowns as a runner. Against the Trojans, he threw for 415 yards and two touchdowns, adding 60 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. “This guy does it all,” Dickert said. “If they need to run him 20 times, he’ll do that and he’ll do it physically. If he needs to throw it 40 times, he’ll do it. If they need to (run a) play-action pass and run the ball, I think he can do that as well.”

Quincy seeks general contractor for hospital project

QUINCY — A request for proposals for a general contractor to build the new Quincy Valley Medical Center could be issued by early December. Joe Kunkel, the consultant working with hospital officials on the project, said whether or not the RFP goes out in December depends on approval of a district request to the Capital Projects Advisory Review Board. “This is a state agency that gives the opportunity to public agencies like yourself to use a construction management-general contractor approach in lieu of doing a hard bid,” Kunkel said. Normally a public works project is designed first, then is advertised for bid, Kunkel said. Quincy hospital district officials want to hire a general contractor to be part of the design process. “So they can help as you are (designing) this, they can do estimates throughout the project, they can do constructability reviews as your project is being designed,” he said.

ML City to acquire new water right

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake City Council voted unanimously at a regular meeting on Tuesday to spend roughly $762,000 to acquire an irrigation water right for 50 acres located just north of the Port of Moses Lake. “That, unfortunately, is what water costs,” said City Council Member Mark Fancher. “I don’t think it’s a bad market price.” The council approved the purchase of the right, which comes from a shallow well and provides 220.9 acre-feet per year to 50 acres near the intersection of Stratford Road and Road 10 Northeast, as part of an ongoing effort to secure shallow well water rights to improve the city’s water supply and eventually reduce the amount of water the city draws from its deeper wells. City Engineer Richard Law said most of the city’s current wells are deep wells, drilled down into the basalt layer, and tap fossil water that is at least 10,000 years old and not being replenished. The shallower wells, which tap an aquifer just below the surface, were used extensively when the region was initially settled, but were replaced by the deeper wells because the quality of the deep water was better.