Black History Month celebrated at B&G clubs of the Columbia Basin

MOSES LAKE – The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin invited Maryamu Givens to speak about Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday Friday as part of a presentation for Black History Month.

Moses Lake man pleads guilty to possession of child pornography

OTHELLO — A Moses Lake man will be sentenced April 8 after pleading guilty to three counts of possessing sexually explicit images of children Tuesday. Dustin Blaske, 40, pleaded guilty in Grant County Superior Court to three counts of first-degree possessing depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He was caught following an investigation in 2021, according to a release from the Othello Police Department.

Soap Lake appoints mayor pro tem, council member steps down

SOAP LAKE — Karen Woodhouse was named mayor pro tem at the Feb. 5 Soap Lake City Council meeting. The council passed Woodhouse’s appointment unanimously. Council Member JoAnne Rushton also gave the council a letter prior to the meeting stepping down from her role on the council, opening a city council spot, according to Mayor Peter Sharp.

Tigers honored for academic success

EPHRATA – Ephrata High School recognized hundreds of students for their academic efforts last semester with the Ephrata School District releasing EHS’s honor roll. The listing includes 18 seniors who made a 4.0 or better grade point average.

COLUMN: Supporting addiction prevention for youth

The epidemic of drug addiction we are currently experiencing demonstrates the need for local communities all around the country to act. It’s natural for many people to think treatment centers, jail, and increased enforcement are the solution. While those options are important and necessary, prevention is a fiscally responsible and effective long-term solution that should be a major focus for our community. This is the first article in a series I am writing to share what substance use prevention is, and why we know it works.

Soap Lake council members earn certifications

SOAP LAKE — Soap Lake City Council Member Susan Carson recently earned a Certificate of Municipal Leadership from the Association of Washington Cities, a program designed to enhance the skills and effectiveness of elected officials across the state, according to an announcement from Soap Lake Mayor Peter Sharp. Carson and other city leaders have completed extensive training in key areas essential to effective municipal leadership.

MLSD levy passing

Oft-debated ballot measure appears to have gained sufficient voter support after long year.

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District Educational Programs and Operations levy was leading with yes votes by 58.77% on Tuesday night when 10,058 of the ballots were counted. The next ballot count will be Feb. 13. “First, I would like to thank the community and those that supported the school district and the board in this effort,” MLSD Board Chair Kirryn Jenson said. “We are thrilled to have made great strides in earning back the trust of our community. We are committed to continuing transparency and accountability. We will be focused on responsibly funding education and improving student achievement and success.”

Grant Co. working to update plan to address homelessness

EPHRATA – Grant County has announced its intention to hire a strategic planning consultant to help develop its updated Homeless Housing Five-Year Strategic Plan. The deadline for proposals is 3 p.m. March 12 with a completion target for the updated plan in December 2025.

'We don't have to hate each other just because we disagree'

Lt. Governor-led Project for Civic Health promotes bipartisanship and civil conversations

MOSES LAKE – In a time marked by increasing polarization and divisive rhetoric, the Project for Civic Health in Washington state aims to foster respectful dialogue and collaboration across party lines.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: We can communicate better

Yesterday, we published a story on Lt. Governor Denny Heck’s efforts to improve civic engagement and discussion in Washington at both the state and local levels. Monday, we published a story about a protest held in Moses Lake last Saturday wherein participants were saying Hispanic people are important to the community and shouldn’t be arbitrarily deported.

‘Cat roundup’ under consideration in Othello

OTHELLO — Othello city officials will review the cost of doing a “cat roundup” to remove feral cats, spay and neuter them, then release them back into neighborhoods. Cats were part of a discussion of animal control by the Othello City Council Monday. Mayor Shawn Logan said a cat roundup probably wouldn’t be a one-time event, if city officials decide to go ahead.

Voters rejecting Wahluke capital levy request in early results

MATTAWA — Wahluke School District voters are saying no to a proposal that would help pay the balance of a loan taken out for improvements at Mattawa Elementary School and pay for upgrades to fire and security alarm systems in four district buildings. “I guess it means we have to weigh staffing against these capital upgrades, and how much more can we cut?” said Wahluke Superintendent Andy Harlow.

Safer Internet Day promotes education around children using tech

MOSES LAKE – Today is Safer Internet Day, the global observance is a time to bring attention to internet crimes against children and what can be done to reduce the risk of a child becoming a victim online. “Be a part of your child's life and make sure that you talk with them about the dangers that lurk on the internet,” Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman said. “Have a discussion with your children about the dangers of the internet. Explain to them that there are good things and explain to those there are bad people out there looking to cause harm.”

Moses Lake Air Show to move to different dates for 2025

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Air Show will move to a new weekend in 2025 and change back to a Friday-Saturday show. Rich Mueller of the air show’s board of directors (and the airport director for the Port of Moses Lake) reviewed the 2024 event and talked about some of the changes coming for 2025. He spoke during the regular port commission meeting Monday morning.

Legals for February, 11 2025

MLSD levy decision tomorrow

MOSES LAKE – Voters must cast their votes by 8 p.m. Tuesday evening in the Moses Lake School District’s educational programs and operations levy. Initial results will be available that night, though a final count will take a bit due to Washington’s mail-in voting system. The levy proposal is for four years.

Mavs’ Koziol signs with Dordt University

MOSES LAKE – Baseball season in the Columbia Basin is still about a month away from beginning, but there’s already one Moses Lake baseball player making waves – senior Holden Koziol, who had his signing ceremony Thursday to play baseball at Dordt University. “I’m full of excitement,” Koziol said. “Ready to move on and go to the next thing, go play college ball. A little bit nervous, going to be far from home, but it’s a new adventure. Get to learn about a different part of the country.”

Immigration protest held in Moses Lake Saturday

MOSES LAKE – Saturday afternoon, around 250 people gathered in protest of immigrant deportations on the sidewalks along North Stratford Road in Moses Lake. According to several protesters, there were sightings of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement trucks spotted in both Othello and Warden Friday and Saturday. However, this information could not be confirmed by press time. The Columbia Basin Herald will have a follow-up article regarding the issue.

Quincy man faces controlled substance homicide charge

QUINCY – On Thursday, Abraham Cristobal Flores Velazquez, 32, of Quincy was arrested for controlled substance homicide in relation to a Yakima overdose death. The arrest was made by Yakima County’s Law Enforcement Against Drugs task force, after which he was transferred to detectives from the Grant County Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team, also known as iNET,and booked in the Grant County Jail.

Legals for February, 10 2025