Columbia Basin Herald

September 11, 2022 4:40 p.m.

EHS gets first athletic trainer

EPHRATA - On Sept. 9, Ephrata School District announced the hiring of Marissa Cox who will be the district’s first certified athletic trainer and will also teach sports medicine at the high school. “We are extremely excited to welcome Marissa to our team,” wrote Bryan Johnson, Ephrata High School Athletic Director, in the release. “Pairing her skills as a certified athletic trainer with hands-on learning provides a huge benefit for our students, our student-athletes and our school district.” ...

September 9, 2022 1:25 a.m.

Staying put

Housing worries rise, but there’s help

MOSES LAKE — It’s the nagging fear every homeowner has when economic times become hard: What if I can’t keep my home? That’s something quite a lot of people are worried about, said Nik VinZant, an analyst with QuoteWizard in Seattle. According to a survey done by QuoteWizard, 17% of people in Washington state are worried about losing their homes in the near future. “Basically, what we did is we looked into US Census Bureau data,” VinZant said. “This is part of the household pulse survey that goes out every couple of weeks and has been going out ever since the beginning of the pandemic. We were actually able to figure out, how many people are behind on their mortgage, how many people are behind on their rent? And then, of those people who are behind on either rent or their mortgage, how many of them feel that they should be either evicted or face foreclosure within the next two months?” That’s not to say that those people are objectively in imminent danger. The same survey showed that only 2% of Washingtonians are actually behind in mortgage payments. But sometimes, perception looms large and can help bring about the very thing people are worried about, Vinzant said...

September 9, 2022 1:25 a.m.

Washington pro-sports summary for Sept. 9

Mariners wrapping up, Storm winding down and Seahawks ready for kick-off

WASHINGTON STATE – Washington’s sports teams have been busy over the past week, with the Mariners entering the final stretch of the regular season, the Storm battling against the Las Vegas Aces and the Seahawks preparing for kickoff of the 2022 season.

September 9, 2022 1:20 a.m.

Adams Co. Fire District 5 keeps busy

Three Wednesday fires keep first responders moving in Adams County

OTHELLO — Adams County Fire District 5 crews responded to two house fires, one of which destroyed the house, and a brush fire in the space of about 12 hours Wednesday. Strong winds rekindled the brush fire briefly Thursday morning. . .

September 8, 2022 3:40 p.m.

ACSO to take concealed carry applications at fair

RITZVILLE — The Adams County Sheriff’s Office will be accepting applications for concealed pistol permits at the Othello Fair next week, according to a social media post by the ACSO. Applicants can stop by the Sheriff’s Office booth at the fair with a completed, unsigned application, a state-issued photo ID and the appropriate fee, the post said. Fingerprints will be taken on-site. The fee is $49.25 for a new paper permit and $59.25 for a hard card, according to the post. Only Adams County residents are eligible, the post added. Residents of other counties must apply in their own jurisdiction. The Washington CPL application can be found at https://bit.ly/WACPL.

September 8, 2022 3:39 p.m.

Yakama Nation gets funds for sex offender registration

YAKIMA — The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation have been awarded a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to keep sex offender registrations current, according to a press release.

September 8, 2022 1:25 a.m.

'A best friend who won't tell anyone your secrets'

Horse lovers head to Ritzville for the Wheat Land Communities' Fair

RITZVILLE — Briger Peterson has a short and pithy description of what a horse is. “A best friend who won’t tell anyone your secrets,” the 14-year-old said, ready to demonstrate her bareback riding skills during the second day of the Wheat Land Communities’ Fair in Ritzville on Friday. Phil Peterson, who manages the Iron Legacy Ranch south of Ritzville along with Heidi Tracy, leaned against the wire around the equestrian pen. Many of the horses in Friday’s competition came through Iron Legacy, Tracy explained, as she too leaned on the wire to watch the kids fit and show their animals. “They’re just so good for the kids,” Tracy said. “They teach them how to think outside themselves, teaching them to be selfless.” ...

September 8, 2022 1:25 a.m.

Grant Co. development remains active

Applications 'ebb and flow' year over year

EPHRATA — Building development in the unincorporated areas of Grant County through the end of August is a little slower than it was through the same period in 2021, but is still fairly lively, according to county officials. “(Development) is still going strong, not only in the county but our partner cities, too,” Grant County Director of Development Services Chris Young said. The development services department provides a monthly update of building permit applications in the unincorporated areas, which Young presented to the Grant County Commissioners Tuesday. As of the end of August 2022, the county had received 144 applications for new residences in unincorporated areas. That compared to 181 applications in the same period in 2021. The report showed some variations in the number of applications received each month, compared year over year. There were 27 residential construction permit applications submitted in March 2022, compared to 21 in March 2021. There were 14 submitted in April 2022, compared to 27 in April 2021...

September 7, 2022 4:01 p.m.

Othello Huskies Sports Schedules 2022

Othello Huskies sports schedules for fall 2022.

September 7, 2022 3:55 p.m.

Royal Knights Sports Schedules 2022

Fall 2022 sports schedule for the Royal Knights, including football, volleyball, girls soccer and cross country.

September 7, 2022 3:33 p.m.

COVID-19 update

Additional death reported in Adams County

RITZVILLE — Adams County Health Department administrators have reported another death related to COVID-19, raising to 39 the number of coronavirus-related deaths in Adams County since the pandemic began in 2020. “A male, age 83, died of cardiac arrest and pneumonia secondary to the COVID-19 virus,” according to an ACHD press release. “According to the available records, of the 15 most recent COVID-19 deaths in Adams County none were fully vaccinated against this disease,” the release said. The last reported coronavirus-related death reported in Grant County was announced Aug. 18 in a weekly update from the Grant County Health District. The patient was a woman in her 80s who had an underlying health condition, according to the health district release...

September 7, 2022 3:21 p.m.

RCPD gains officer, opts to buy patrol car

ROYAL CITY — Royal City got a new police officer Tuesday evening and will be getting another patrol vehicle as well. Officer Hanna Soelter was sworn in at the Royal City City Council meeting Tuesday by Mayor Kent Anderson. Soelter spent three weeks starting in late July in training with the Moses Lake Police Department, then spent another three weeks with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Royal City Police Chief Rey Rodriguez said at the meeting. She’s spent the last two weeks riding with Rodriguez, he said, and will do so for about three more before going on patrol on her own. “She's doing very well,” Rodriguez said. “I'm just kind of riding along and guiding her. She's very up-to-date with her revised codes, her laws (and) procedures. So (she’s) just getting the experience out there.” ...