Kovalenko named new Midway Elementary principal

MOSES LAKE — Russell Kovalenko has been selected as the new principal at Midway Elementary in Moses Lake.

15U Riverdogs prepare for regional play

EPHRATA – Following a sweep in the 2022 North Washington Babe Ruth State Tournament, the 15U Columbia Basin Riverdogs will be heading to Kelso for the regional matchups. The winner of regionals will qualify for the 15U World Series in Stafford, Virginia next month. “We got them prepared for the state tournament the week before, and it ended up working in our favor,” 15U Riverdogs Head Coach Jaime Vela said...

Mounted shooter event hits Warden

WARDEN – Twenty-eight riders made their way to Warden over the weekend for the Clean Shooter Buckle Series meet, a mounted shooter match where riders use Colt .45s while riding a horse.

Q&A with Grant County Commission candidates

GRANT COUNTY - Incumbent Cindy Carter has two challengers, Jeff Foster and Dan DeLano, for her current seat on the Grant County Commission. All three are running as Republicans.

Alkali Lake searched for man suspected of drowning

ALKALI LAKE - Alkali Lake, one of several lakes north of Soap Lake going through the Coulee Corridor, was the site of several searches over the weekend in hopes of recovering a Soap Lake man who was suspected of drowning Saturday evening.

Three-digit national suicide prevention number established

OLYMPIA — A new nationwide three-digit number has been established for those needing assistance with a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide, according to a press release from the Washington Department of Health.

Othello car show features slow drags, poker run

Saturday event seeks to entertain while raising money for local causes

OTHELLO — The slow drags are back on Othello’s Main Street Friday night, and Kiwanis Park will host all kinds of cool cars Saturday, as the All City Classics car show returns to town.

Cornerstone of faith

WARDEN - The original cornerstone of the Warden Community Church, built more than a century ago by German Congregationalists settling the plains of Eastern Washington. The Warden Community Church is one of three congregations that work together to operate the Warden Food Bank. For more information on the food bank, pick up the July 18 edition of The Columbia Basin Herald.

Building permits for July 15, 2022

City of Moses Lake, unincorporated Grant County

Moses Lake volleyball camp brings together young athletes

MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake High School hosted a volleyball skills camp this week, bringing in over 60 participants from grades 5-8. The Lil Mavs camp was held from Tuesday-Thursday this week, put on by the Moses Lake volleyball coaching staff. “We’re re-establishing it,” Moses Lake Volleyball Head Coach Krystal Trammell said of the camp. “We haven’t had it because of Covid, and so with the new program we’re trying to establish our program culture.” ...

Grant Co. Commissioners Court approves sale of bonds for jail project

EPHRATA — Grant County Commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday authorizing the issue of up to $90 million in limited tax general obligation bonds to pay for law and justice projects, including a new Grant County Jail. The vote was unanimous...

Tigers and Jacks booster clubs hold golf tourney

SOAP LAKE – The booster clubs of Ephrata and Quincy high schools held their second annual Battle of the Boosters golf tournament on Thursday, raising money for the school’s athletic programs. The tournament was held at the Lakeview Golf & Country Club in Soap Lake and will alternate sites each year. Brent Weber, president of the Tiger Booster Club and a 2000 Ephrata alumni, said that the idea was brought up to combine it with the Quincy booster club last year...

WA farmers plant fewer acres of spring wheat in 2022

OLYMPIA — Despite a cooler and wetter spring and early summer, farmers across Eastern Washington have planted fewer acres of Spring Wheat in 2022 when compared with 2021, according to a report issued at the end of June by the Northwest Regional Field of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service...

Murray legislation fails to get unanimous Senate approval

WASHINGTON, DC — A speech by an Oklahoma senator stopped an attempt by Washington Senator Patty Murray and co-sponsors to get unanimous consent to pass a bill related to women traveling for abortion services...

Q&A with Adams County Sheriff candidates

ADAMS COUNTY - The race for Adams County Sheriff attracted two candidates, incumbent Dale Wagner and Matthew Carlson, currently an officer with the Ritzville Police Department. Both are running as Republicans. The Columbia Basin Herald submitted four questions to each candidate and asked them for a brief biography. Their answers have been lightly edited for clarity and length. Candidates were both given a maximum of 200 words to respond to each question and a deadline to respond which they both met...

Othello Food Bank looks to keep the lights on

Food distribution continues as nonprofit seeks funding

OTHELLO — Othello Food Bank director Sharon Mobley was loading the truck Tuesday morning, getting ready for a delivery. Supplying the food is one of the less challenging parts of running the facility, she said. “People kind of forget - you’ve got to keep the lights on,” Mobley said. “We’ve got to keep the refrigerators and freezers going, gas in the truck to pick up all the food. People don’t always think about those things.”

Law enforcement logs: July 15, 2022

COLUMBIA BASIN - The information below was provided by the respective law enforcement agencies, as noted. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Moses Lake celebrates 2 new businesses

MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce celebrated two ribbon cuttings this week to honor the opening of Kris Skin Care and Professional Dentures. The two businesses hope to become long-standing parts of the Moses Lake community.

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.” ...

ML Council approves 2022 chip seal work

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake City Council voted unanimously to spend nearly $1 million on the city’s 2022 chip seal and crack sealing efforts on 38 streets — including the entirety of W. Peninsula Drive — inside the city. “This is part of an ongoing pavement preservation program,” City Engineer Richard Law told council at a regular meeting on Tuesday. “The more we can keep routine maintenance on the street, the longer the substrate and these streets will last.”