Sun City Cycle & Sports: Moses Lake shop offers repair, new and used bikes

MOSES LAKE — The Columbia Basin has a new place to buy, sell or repair bicycles. “It was a service we wanted to offer the city of Moses Lake that it didn’t previously have,” said Andrew Spark, co-owner of Sun City Cycle & Sports. “I've had a lot of people walk in, not really to buy anything, just to say ‘We're so happy you're here now. We don't have to take our bikes to Wenatchee, Tri-Cities or Spokane.’”

Grant Co. opioid overdoses up in 2025

MOSES LAKE — With seven months of the year done, the number of overdose deaths in Grant County is running ahead of the same period in 2024. KC Sherwood, death investigator for the Grant County Coroner’s Office, said as of the end of July, Grant County has had 27 overdose deaths. “Last year, I think our total was 34. And we’re at 27 (cases) already,” Sherwood said. "There are more deaths due to overdoses than there were in the past.”

Thousands ticketed under new construction zone speeding program

OLYMPIA – It's summer time and that means construction across Washington. Ninety days after a new camera monitoring program was launched in the state’s work zones, the Washington State Patrol said in a recent press release that there’s a significant problem with speeding in work zones. “The first few months of the program confirm what statistics show and what our workers have been saying - too many people speed through work zones,” said Washington Secretary of Transportation Julie Meredith. “We hope this changes driver behavior – that people slow down, and everyone comes home safe at the end of the day.”

Synthetic opioids driving increased overdoses

MOSES LAKE — More – and more powerful – controlled substances are making their way into the Columbia Basin, and that trend is making itself felt in overdose deaths and nonfatal overdoses. Mariah Deleon, harm reduction coordinator for the Grant County Health District, detailed some of the statistics. “Between 2016 and 2018, there were 19 deaths (in Grant County). Then, between 2021 to 2023, there were 63 deaths,” Deleon said.

GCSO's Kriete elected VP of law enforcement association

EPHRATA — Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete has been elected vice president of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. “I am honored to represent the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs in this new capacity as Vice President,” Kriete said. “I look forward to working alongside my peers across the state to support law enforcement excellence and strengthen public safety in all our communities.”

Mark Randall Call

1950 — 2025

We are sad to announce the passing of Mark Randall Call on July 20, 2025. He was our brother, uncle and dear friend. Mark was born on February 23, 1950, in Pasco, Washington to Mark and Lucille Call. In 1952, the family moved to Quincy, Washington, where Mark lived most of his life.

Crime declining, drugs climbing locally, statewide

OLYMPIA — In the 2024 Crime in Washington report published by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, released Monday, a noticeable decline in crime rates across various categories was reported. Various police chiefs and Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete said trends found within the report were mostly reflected locally.

Othello pool bond headed to Nov. ballot

OTHELLO — Othello residents will be asked to approve or reject a $3.55 million construction bond to make repairs and upgrades to the Othello Community Pool. The bond will be on the ballot in the Nov. 4 general election. The unanimous decision from the Othello City Council came after a lengthy discussion of the options. “I don’t think this is a very easy decision,” said Chris Dorow, the chair of a committee tasked with looking at the options.

Building permits for July 25, 2025

City of Moses Lake Hayden Homes, 4300 block of Cove West Drive, new residence, $311,655.49. Pro Made Homes, 4200 block of North Sandy Court, fence, no valuation given. Jennifer Bell, 800 block of North Paxson Drive, plumbing, no valuation given. Carlos Socorro, 5400 block of Owen Road, addition, $20,000.

‘Everyone Has a Why’

Campaign seeks to bring opioid addiction out of the shadows

MOSES LAKE — The reasons for addiction are many, but everybody has one. That’s the point of a campaign by the Grant County Health District to highlight opioid addiction and overdoses. It’s part of a two-phase campaign to explain some of the reasons behind addiction, and encourage people to seek help. “It can be loss, or pain, or struggle, but everyone has a reason that they may start using substances,” said Lexi Smith, communications coordinator for the Grant County Health District. “But on the flip side of that, everyone has a reason that they don’t, or that they choose to help someone who does.” The tagline for the Everybody Has a Why campaign is “Make addiction a conversation, not a secret,” and removing the shame of seeking help is a primary aim.

Ephrata resident arrested for 26 counts of livestock theft

EPHRATA – Last Wednesday, Grant County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies and Crime Reduction Team deputies acted on a tip from the Washington State Department of Agriculture about individual stealing cattle.

Arthur Sergio Castro

July 9, 1955 — July 6, 2025

Arthur was born to Cesar and Victoria Castro, who immigrated to Moses Lake from Mexico in 1949. The couple settled in a small farmhouse off of Stratford Road near Crab Creek. Arthur, the fifth of eight children, grew up a farm kid with his brothers and sisters. The Castros raised animals and young Art would fetch fresh milk from the farmer down the road. He and his brothers loved fishing near the creek and Art became an avid bass fisherman as an adult. Once, near Block 40, Art reeled in a largemouth bass that weighed nearly 12 pounds. Throughout his childhood and teenage years he worked construction jobs, drove potato trucks and learned mechanics. He graduated from Moses Lake High School in 1974 and soon after met the love of his life, Salina. Art and Salina were married in Moses Lake in 1979 and would raise four children in the Knolls Vista neighborhood.

Report: WA among states with major funding gap in needed bridge, road improvements

(The Center Square) – A new report from The Pew Charitable Trusts finds Washington among U.S. states struggling to make the investments necessary to preserve and maintain transportation systems, including roads and bridges. “A situation that in turn threatens economic development, the safety of millions of drivers and residents, and the long-term sustainability of public budgets,” according to the report. In fiscal year 2024, the latest year of available data, states spent about $247 billion – roughly 8% of their total expenditures that year – on roadway assets.

Climbing to new heights in Landfall Games’ ‘Peak’

MOSES LAKE – There have been a variety of cooperative games released in the past couple of years including an indie game released last month called “Peak” made by Aggro Crab and Landfall games. “Peak” presents players with both a challenging and rewarding gameplay loop and is worth the try for anyone interested in a unique take on the action-adventure genre.

Dent, Franz say bipartisan support led to progress in WA wildfire response

MOSES LAKE – Getting anything done in politics takes solid relationships and the ability to reach across political divides, regardless of how partisan the overall conversation is. Former Washington Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz, a Democrat, and local State Representative Tom Dent, a Republican, and their successes in advancing wildfire management are a prime example of that, they say. “Everything, from what I learned and how quickly we were able to make the changes and get results, is based on relationships,” Franz said in a late June interview. “It’s based on valuing other people’s opinions and their experience and their expertise.”

MLPD blotter for July 14, 2025

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

Local hospitals face 'challenging financial landscape' after Big Beautiful Bill passage

MOSES LAKE — The recent approval of new federal Medicaid rules will affect local hospitals and medical providers. What that impact will be, however, is still unclear. “So much is still unknown,” Glenda Bishop, chief executive officer for Quincy Valley Medical Center, wrote in reply to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald. “We simply do not have enough data to predict with accuracy any outcomes.”

Legals for July, 11 2025

COLUMN: Name, image and likeness is good for college sports, just mismanaged

In the last few years of collegiate sports, we have seen name, image and likeness, NIL, completely flip the sports world on its head. Many fans across social media and in discussions have made claims that it has ruined the sports they love.

Francis 'Frank' Bodway III

1942 – 2025

Francis “Frank” Bodway III passed away at home after a short battle with cancer at the age of 82. Frank was born on August 27, 1942, to Francis Bodway II and Helen (Branniger) Bodway in Riverside County, California. He was raised in Petaluma, California where he attended & graduated from Catholic School, he then joined the Navy and served from 1960-1963 where he took part in nuclear bomb testing.