Adams Co. unemployment continues to fall

ELLENSBURG — Unemployment in Adams County fell to 3.8% in June 2022, the fifth straight monthly decline this year, according to preliminary data published by the Washington State Department of Employment Security last week. According to the report, the preliminary unemployment rate is significantly lower than the 5.2% posted in June 2021, with year-over-year unemployment figures posting declines for the last 15 months. The decline in unemployment comes even as the county’s civilian workforce grew 7.8% in June 2022 when compared with June 2021, the report noted. However, despite those figures, the report noted that the total Adams County civilian workforce is still smaller in June 2022 than it was in June 2019 prior to the shutdowns in early 2020 in response to the outbreak of COVID-19. It also stated that 10,937 county residents were counted in the civilian workforce in June 2022 compared with 11,163 in June 2019. Nearly every non-farm employment sector posted gains in employment, the report said. However, the number of workers in the county’s mining, logging and construction sectors fell by 27.3% in June 2022 to 80 from 110 the same month in 2021. The report noted that 90% of workers listed as employed in manufacturing work in food processing, with total manufacturing employment rising 5.3% to 1,200 jobs in June 2022 from 1,140 jobs the previous year. “Year over year, manufacturing employment in Adams County has increased in each of the past 14 months,” the report said.

MLPD raises money to help people in need

MOSES LAKE — If you were expecting Moses Lake Police Department officers in shorts and tank tops with sponges and buckets washing cars, well, it wasn’t that kind of fundraiser the MLPD held Monday afternoon at Sun Splash Car Wash on N. Stratford Road. “We’ve been wanting to do this for a year or two. But then when COVID hit, we weren’t really getting anyone out here,” said Sun Splash Manager Taylor Peterson. “We support the police and this one to get them out here and kind of give back and help them out in any way we can.” So Peterson offered the car wash to the MLPD to help raise money for the Blue Bridge Program, a privately funded initiative that gives every patrol officer a prepaid debit card loaded with $100 to help people in need of everything from gas in the tank to a meal. In addition, Sun Splash donated $1 from every car wash on Monday to the MLPD, with officers taking donations for the program as well. “It's all privately funded. There's no tax dollars that are involved in the program. So it has to be pretty self-sufficient,” said MLPD Capt. Mike Williams...

DOC to examine women’s prison practices

TUMWATER — The Washington State Department of Corrections has been handed an evaluation of the needs of the newly-created Women’s Prison Division, according to a press release from the DOC. The study, called the Gender Informed Practices Assessment, is a comprehensive assessment that identifies areas of opportunity to develop a more robust gender-responsive program and takes a compressive systemic look at women’s prison practices, from admission to release, the DOC wrote. This assessment was originally set to begin more than two years ago, but COVID-19-related delays pushed it back to October 2021...

Moses Lake physician surrenders medical license

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake osteopathic physician has agreed to surrender his credential to practice medicine in Washington, effective Sept. 1. Dr. Allen Quinn also has agreed to never resume the practice of medicine in Washington, according to an agreed order issued July 14 by the Washington Department of Health. Quinn cannot practice medicine in Washington in any capacity, including temporary, emergency or volunteer practice, the DOH order said. Quinn had been subject to a previous DOH agreed order placing some requirements on his practice. “Respondent has failed to comply with all the terms and conditions of the September 2013 agreed order. Specifically, the evidence indicates that Respondent continued to treat and prescribe controlled substances to non-hospice chronic pain patients, contrary to the restrictions imposed in the September 2013 agreed order,” according to the July 14 order...

Two Soap Lake fires under investigation

SOAP LAKE - Two fires over three days in the same area of Soap Lake are suspected to be arson, according to Grant County Fire District 7 Chief Kirk Sheppard, who said both fires are suspicious. “There was nothing in the area to start an accidental fire,” Sheppard said. The first fire started about 10 p.m. Friday evening off Lakemore Drive between the road and Highway 28. The fire burned about one acre, heavily damaging the Soap Lake events billboard, and was brought under control by GCFD7 with mutual aid from the Ephrata Fire Department. Mutual aid support was requested due to concerns of wind driving the fire. Sheppard said the scene was cleared by 11:15 p.m. The second fire broke out about 4 a.m. Monday morning, this time from Canna Street S. “The point of origin of the two fires are less than 100 feet apart,” said Sheppard...

Two victims perish in camper trailer fire

WHEELER — A fire early Monday at an RV park has claimed the lives of two people, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.. At around 3:45 a.m., GCSO deputies, as well as firefighters with Grant County Fire District 5 and the Moses Lake Fire Department, responded to a report of a fire in the Cougar Campers RV Park. When theft arrived, first responders found a fifth-wheel trailer fully engulfed in flames, the statement said. After extinguishing the fire, firefighters found two bodies believed to be the occupants of the trailer. The bodies are in the care of Grant County Coroner Craig Morrison, where they will be identified and an autopsy will be performed. The Grant County Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire, the statement said.

A little bit of everything

Quincy Hardware and Lumber offers friendly variety - and furry friends

QUINCY — Quincy Hardware and Lumber owner Tina Stetner - along with Sophie the dog, because Sophie is part of the crew at QHL - greeted a couple of customers who walked in on a Wednesday morning. “You guys need anything?” Stetner asked. “We’re just doing a little shopping,” one of the customers replied, while the other had spotted Sophie. “Is that a store dog?” the second customer asked. “They have a store cat, too,” the first customer said. Cheeto is the cat, and he was sleeping in the basket at the top of his cat tree, right next to the rack of sun hats. And the sun hats are right across the aisle from the box of flip-flops, which are right across the aisle from the display of power tools. Quincy Hardware and Lumber is the sort of store that has a little bit of everything...

Julio Rodriguez returns to lineup, Mariners beat Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Star rookie Julio Rodriguez got two hits in his return to the Seattle lineup and the Mariners took over the first wild-card position in the American League by beating the Texas Rangers 6-2 on Friday night.

Mariners reinstate All-Star Julio Rodríguez from 10-day IL

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners reinstated All-Star center fielder Julio Rodríguez and catcher Curt Casali from the 10-day injured list on Thursday ahead of a lengthy road trip.

Seahawks QBs Lock, Smith hope for edge in preseason opener

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The biggest question surrounding the Seattle Seahawks enters a new phase this weekend, one where the variables are out of their control.

Pet of the Week: Rullon

Rullon is a young shepherd dog that is still very puppy like and full of exuberance. He’s very smart and willing to learn but he’s sensitive and responds to the littlest cues. Rulan is ready for new adventures in his life and would love to be with someone that has an active lifestyle. Rulan is neutered, microchipped and up to date on all vaccines. Call Adams County Pet Rescue at 509-488-5514 for more information about adopting Rulan or other four-legged friends. ACPR is located at 1961 W. Bench Road in Othello. Hours and other information are available at https://adamscountypetrescue.com.

Riverdogs fall in World Series quarterfinals

EPHRATA – Following clinching a place in bracket play Wednesday with a 7-5 win over Farmers Baseball, the Columbia Basin Riverdogs fell to the Southeast Tropics 3-1 on Thursday evening. After stranding two runners in the bottom of the second inning on a double play, the Southeast Tropics rode their momentum in the bottom of the second inning. The Tropics took a 1-0 lead on a fielder’s choice, sending Drew Klipfel home. The Riverdogs matched the score on a Blaine MacDonald RBI single, which sent Gavin Burns home. The score was locked at 1-1 until the fifth inning. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Tropics sent a ball over the right field wall for a two-run home run by Hayden Nazarenus, giving Southeast a 3-1 lead. In the top of the seventh inning, with the game on the line, the Riverdogs had the bases loaded after two walks. However, the Riverdogs were unable to mount a comeback, wrapping up their World Series appearance. Stay tuned for full coverage of the remaining games in the World Series, taking place tonight and Saturday afternoon.

Insurance and wildfires

Mitigating risks and ensuring proper coverage

MOSES LAKE — A lot of things can damage a home, but according to insurance agent Steve Crapson, fire is different. “You can save a lot of stuff from water, but you can’t save stuff from fire,” Crapson said. “Once it's burnt. It's gone forever. Those memories, those are the part of the cost that you can't recoup ever. Pictures, sentimental quilts, those kinds of things. They never can be redone.” Crapson, an exclusive agent for Allstate Insurance, said it’s better for homeowners, especially those living in the countryside, at the edge of towns, and in high-risk areas far from a rapid fire department response, to approach fire risk more with prevention rather than recovery in mind. In 2021, wildfires consumed more than 1.9 million acres in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, according to a press release from the Northwest Insurance Council. Even with 2022’s cooler and wetter spring, this year’s fire season is already upon us...

Vantage fire close to contained, but fire danger remains high

COLUMBIA BASIN — While fire crews in Kittitas and Yakima counties are close to fully containing both the Vantage Highway and Cow Canyon fires, blazes elsewhere in the region are prompting state and local officials to mobilize firefighters as this year’s wildfire season continues. According to Ryan Rodruck, a spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the Vantage Highway fire, which broke out on Aug. 1 near Vantage, is 90% contained and has burned more than 30,000 acres. The Cow Canyon fire, which has burned nearly 6,000 acres on the boundary between Kittitas and Yakima counties, is about 80% contained, Rodruck added. “They made significant progress toward containment, and both are in mop-up phase. They still have a few more areas,” Rodruck said. Late Wednesday, however, the Washington State Patrol issued notices that firefighters and state resources were being mobilized to fight two new fires — the Canyon Road fire in Yakima County near Grandview and the Mohr Fire in Douglas County...

Grant PUD considering Wanapum Dam embankment analysis

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners will consider a proposal to hire the engineering firm Gannett Fleming to analyze the right embankment at Wanapum Dam to determine if it is at risk for erosion. If approved, the 10-year contract would cost a maximum of $15 million. “Our embankments were built well, and with the best practices of the time they were built,” said Rebecca Simpson, PUD engineering manager. Utility district engineer Logan Castle said during a presentation at the commission meeting Tuesday that the analysis would focus the embankment on the Grant County side, and would look at the potential for what Castle called internal erosion. Christine Pratt, PUD public information officer, said there is no risk to the public, but that utility district officials want to ensure the embankment remains stable. However, the construction method meant that some of the work was done in the water, what Simpson called,” in the wet,” which limited the options. Some sections of the embankment are at higher risk than others, she said...

Grant Co. Fire District 7 keeps busy

SOAP LAKE - Only 11 days into August, Grant County Fire District 7 has been busy. They have responded to several incidents and received the items from a grant they were selected for. GCFD7 Chief Kirk Sheppard said so far this month the department has responded to 18 calls; 11 for EMS, two smoke investigations and five fires. He said they usually have 28 to 34 calls a month but in June and July they have had 57 calls each month. With the 18 calls as of Aug. 11, he expects them to be in the 50s by the end of the month. “The thing in this community is probably 70% of our call volume is an EMS call,” Sheppard said. One of the first major fire incidents this month for the department occurred on Aug. 2. At about 7:15 a.m GCFD7 was alerted to a report of an outside fire at Road B.5 NE, east of Soap Lake, according to a release by GCFD7...

ACSO arrests man in connection with trespass

RITZVILLE — The Adams County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man wanted in connection with trespassing following last week’s fire south of Lind. In a statement, ACSO deputies arrested Richard Dean Hendrickson, 35, of Lind, for second-degree criminal trespass, and booked him into the Adams County Jail on Wednesday afternoon. Hendrickson was sought after ACSO deputies responded to a report of criminal trespass in the 300 block of S. Van Marter Avenue on Aug. 6, and was again spotted in Lind on Tuesday, Aug. 9, when he fled, according to the ACSO posting. According to the statement, while fleeing, Hendrickson violated two no-contact orders and was already wanted for two previous no-contact order violations. Because Hendrickson already has two felony convictions for similar offenses, the ACSO posting said the current charges could be increased to a felony from a misdemeanor.

MLHS Alumni donate to cancer foundation

MOSES LAKE — Members of the Moses Lake High School class of 1982 wanted to do something special to mark their 40th reunion. “Our class has been really tight,” said Rich Victor, one of the organizers of this year’s reunion. “There’s a lot of us that are lifetime Moses Lakers and we got through kindergarten all the way up to 12th grade.” In fact, Victor said the class is more like a family. “A family that gets along, for the most part,” he said. So at their big reunion soiree the last weekend of July, a three-night affair that included live music, graduates raised $1,500 for the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation and another $500 for MLHS athletics programs. “We had a donation jar out. People just listened to the music, had a great time having some beverages and we filled up the donation jar,” Victor said...

GCSO identifies driver, victims in fatal crash

MOSES LAKE — Investigators with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office have determined who was driving the vehicle during a single-car accident on July 30 west of Moses Lake that left one person dead and three injured. According to a GCSO statement, investigators determined that Kari S. Ortega, 22, of Moses Lake, was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier west on South Frontage Road near Hiawatha when she failed to negotiate a curve. That prompted her to lose control of the car, which rolled several times and ejected all four occupants. The GCSO said Armando D. Lopez of Quincy died at the scene, while Christopher Rios Chavez, 18, of Quincy, was admitted to a Spokane hospital for treatment, as was an unnamed 14-year-old girl from Quincy, who has since been admitted to a rehabilitation center for treatment of her injuries. In its post, the GCSO said it continues to investigate the accident.

End of an era

MOSES LAKE - Crews work to remove the Chiefs sign from the front of Moses Lake High School Wednesday. The school district was forced to change its mascot to the Mavericks after a state law was passed requiring public entities to review their usage of Native American imagery and receive permission from the nearest tribal authority to continue using Native themes. The tribes of the Colville Reservation declined to allow the continued use of the Indigenous imagery to all requesters earlier this year.