Wapato man receives 50-year sentence for three homicides

SPOKANE — A Wapato man who pleaded guilty earlier this year to three counts of second-degree murder on Yakama tribal land has been sentenced to 50 years in federal prison, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington in Spokane. Clifton Frank Peter, 37, pleaded guilty earlier to killing three people with a shotgun following what the press release called a day spent consuming alcohol and playing video games in his house located inside the boundaries of the Confederated Bands and Tribes of the Yakama Nation. The names and ages of the victims were not given in the press release. Peter was arrested by Yakima County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Yakama Nation Police. “Three people are dead. Two children have been orphaned without any immediate family in the United States. A family patriarch will never see his grandchildren graduate from high school or walk his daughter down the aisle,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref in the press release. “Violence like this is not normal and cannot be normalized.” ...

More battery manufacturing likely in Moses Lake

WOODINVILLE — Group14 Technologies, which makes components for rechargeable batteries, announced Wednesday it has raised $400 million to help build a major production facility in Moses Lake. “We’re now ready to go large scale in Moses Lake,” said company co-founder and CEO Rick Luebbe. “That’s based on the commercial facility that we stood up and got running here last year.”

Ephrata SD selects new Parkway principal

EPHRATA - The Ephrata School District announced via a press release that current Grant Elementary School Dean of Students Jeremy Vasquez has been selected to fill the role of principal at Parkway Intermediate School. “I am very honored and excited to assume the position of Parkway Intermediate School Principal. As a lifelong teacher, coach, community member and parent, I have a vested interest in the success of the Ephrata School District and the Ephrata community at large,” Vasquez said in the release...

Ready for summer

Moses Lake FFA, horticulture students plant downtown flower boxes

MOSES LAKE — Jacob Knight explained the layout - the ornamental grass in the middle of the flower container, with the sweet potato vines and petunias in opposite corners. Knight, a student at Moses Lake High School, was among the MLHS horticulture class and FFA members who worked their way down West Third Avenue and adjoining side streets planting flower containers Thursday morning...

Huskies take victory over Ellensburg on the pitch

ELLENSBURG - The Othello boys soccer team took a 3-0 victory over conference opponent Ellensburg High School on April 19. “Our defense did not allow very many shots on goal as junior Erick Sandoval made zero saves in the first half at goal and Freshman Ismael Torres had four saves in the second half for the shutout,” Othello Head Coach Bernie Garza wrote in an email to The Columbia Basin Herald...

Birth announcements for March in the Columbia Basin

Samaritan Hospital March 11 Brenda Botello and Eduardo Garcia-Gonzalez, Moses Lake, daughter Petra Guadalupe Garcia-Gonzalez, 7 pounds 5 ounces. Karen Gibbins Castro and Wesley Gibbins, Moses Lake, daughter Leticia Isabella Gibbins, 7 pounds 6 ounces. March 12 Dania and Levi Bisnett Cyrus...

Moses Lake native looks to Marine Corps for unique challenges

MOSCOW, Idaho — To say that Moses Lake native Abram Ramirez likes a challenge is an understatement. A sophomore at the University of Idaho, Ramirez is pursuing a degree in animal and veterinary...

MLCA/CCS baseball returns after 5-year hiatus

Lions fall to Billygoats in doubleheader, but happy to be on the diamond

MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School baseball team is back in action after half a decade. MLCA/CCS Athletic Director Josh Kast said this is the first baseball season for the school in five years...

Ephrata SD looks to hire girls wrestling coach

New position set to support 'long legacy of excellence'

EPHRATA - Ephrata High School announced in a press release on April 7 that they are looking for their school’s first girls wrestling coach. The release states that Ephrata High School is seeing a rising number of young women turning out for its wrestling program. To meet the growing demand, the Ephrata School District is searching for its first varsity head coach for its girls wrestling program...

Grant County revamps processes in wake of audit findings

EPHRATA — Grant County officials will introduce new procedures when awarding federal funding following a finding from the Washington Auditor’s Office that county officials didn’t have adequate supervision of funds distributed for COVID-19 relief. The cause, according to the audit report, was...

WSU introduces new women’s golf coach

PULLMAN - Washington State introduced new women’s golf coach Sofie Aagaard Wednesday as the seventh women’s golf coach in the program’s history....

REC, Ferroglobe announce supply chain partnership

MOSES LAKE — REC Silicon announced on Monday that it has reached an agreement with UK-based Ferroglobe, which provides metals and materials for high-tech electronics, to create a U.S. solar supply chain. “It is imperative that the solar manufacturing industry grows and diversifies,” said James A. May II, CEO of REC Silicon, in the press release.

Social media threat causes modified lockdowns at four Othello schools Monday morning

OTHELLO — Four Othello schools were placed on a modified lockdown Monday morning after a social media message allegedly threatened McFarland Middle School. Othello School District officials instituted a modified lockdown at McFarland, Othello High School, Desert Oasis High School and Lutacaga Elementary. In a modified lockdown students and teachers stay in the classroom while classes keep going, and all doors are locked and monitored. “A high school kid made a social media threat,” said Othello Police Chief Phil Schenck...

Jones announces July 1 retirement

EPHRATA — Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones announced on Tuesday that he will retire effective July 1. “After some soul searching, a lot of discussion and support of my family and thoughts about the ‘next phase’ of my life, I have made the decision to retire from my position as elected sheriff and from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office,” Jones wrote in a formal statement issued to GCSO deputies and staff Tuesday morning...

Deadline to apply for Wolf Advisory Group extended

OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has extended the deadline for members of the public interested in applying to serve on the citizen committee that advises WDFW’s Director on wolf conservation and management until June 13, according to a release by the WDFW...

Quincy School District superintendent contract extended

QUINCY — Quincy School Board members have extended the contract of Superintendent Nic Bergman through June 2025. Board members approved the new contract unanimously at their regular meeting Tuesday. “Implementing the strategic plan is going to be my work,” he said Wednesday...

MLFD, GCFD5 respond to fire behind Safeway in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Crews from the Moses Lake Fire Department and Grant County Fire District 5 responded to a major fire in a 10-acre lot south of Wheeler Road between Safeway and Samaritan Hospital on Wednesday afternoon at around 1 p.m. “We concentrated on this area,” said Moses Lake Fire Department Deputy Chief Pete Kunjara as he stood near a fire truck parked alongside the field and motioning toward the rear of the Safeway. “Trying to protect the Safeway and the hospital.” ...

Newhouse, Murray focus on flawed VA records rollout

RICHLAND — Both Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Yakima, and Sen. Patty Murray devoted time following the 4th of July holiday pressing the Veterans Administration to improve the way it cares for the country’s veterans...

Walla Walla native makes rodeo world finals

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - Walla Walla native Derek Kolbaba earned his spot at the 2022 Professional Bull Riders World Finals in Fort Worth Texas scheduled to start May 13. Only 40 riders have qualified to compete at the international competition and only two come from the Pacific Northwest, Kolbaba being one...

SLSD selects superintendent finalist for negotiations

SOAP LAKE - The Soap Lake School Board has offered the superintendent position to Kim Casey. The position was left open unexpectedly earlier this year after the resignation of former Superintendent Sunshine Pray. “We honestly really believe we've got a real solid candidate and we're really pleased to get Kim and at least offer the job and have the opportunity to do it,” said Board President Curt Dotson...