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...

Firefighters keep battling Vantage fire, Lind fire out

Wet spring adds fuel to region's fire season, officials say

GRANT COUNTY — While the fire that threatened the Adams County town of Lind has been extinguished, firefighters still continue to battle a fire in the hills north of Vantage and have that blaze 75% contained, according to a spokesperson for the Washington Department of Natural Resources. “That’s good news,” DNR spokesperson Janet Pearce said of the Lind fire. “It was contained as of Aug. 4.” The Lind fire consumed roughly 2,500 acres south of town, according to Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner, destroyed six homes and eight garages and outbuildings. The fire, which broke out Thursday, prompted local officials to issue an evacuation order last Thursday for the entire town. However, the evacuation order was eventually restricted to residents in the southern portion of Lind, and was fully lifted on Friday when the fire was contained, Wagner said. “The Adams County Posse assisted with security and guarded the burnt out buildings over the weekend,” Wagner said. “One individual was found doing something he shouldn’t have.” Wagner said he would release more details about the incident later. According to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, a joint operation overseen by major federal land management agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of Interior, a collection of state agencies and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, reported that firefighters continued to battle the Vantage Highway fire. The fire, which erupted on Aug. 1 near Vantage, has burned more than 32,000 acres north of I-90 and west of the Columbia River in Kittitas County...

Ag officials warn against rabbit virus

OLYMPIA — Officials with the Washington State Department of Agriculture have confirmed the presence in the state of yet another highly infectious animal disease with the discovery of two cases of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type 2, also known as RHDV2, in a single household in Thurston county in late July. In a press release issued last week, WSDA said the confirmation of the Thurston County cases follow the discovery of RHDV2 in King County in May and two Oregon counties in late July. WSDA said in response, state officials and rabbit owners need to improve biosecurity in order to limit the spread of the disease. “Stopping this disease from spreading starts with rabbit owners employing biosecurity measures such as limiting contact with wild rabbits, isolating new rabbits from existing ones for 21 days, paying attention to where feed is sourced from, and keeping your rabbits housed off the ground or indoors,” Washington State Veterinarian Amber Itle said in the press release...

Eagles begin fall camp

Annual transition allows new leaders to step forward

CHENEY – Following a long offseason, Eastern Washington hosted its first full team practice of the season. The Eagles, coming off a 10-3 season and an appearance in the second round of the FCS Playoffs, lost key offensive starters in quarterback Eric Barriere, left tackle Tristen Taylor, running back Dennis Merritt and receiver Talolo Limu-Jones. “(It’s) always a transition year, because you lose the top-end seniors or you lose some guys,” EWU Head Coach Aaron Best said. It’s a different year because you had a combination of spring and fall guys last fall, so it is different that way, but it’s kind of a more normal fall (now).” Several players have stepped up into more leadership roles, something he likes to see in his teams, Best said. “The guys that took over for the senior class that left have been yearning to lead,” he said. “They led all spring; they led all summer, and I’m excited to see them lead this fall for their first real opportunity when they’re keeping score.” ...

BBCC releases spring academic lists

MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College released its spring president’s and vice president’s lists. According to Big Bend’s website, students who make the president’s list must complete 12 or more graded credits with a GPA of 3.75 or above. Students who make the vice president’s list must complete 12 or more graded credits with a GPA between 3.33 and 3.74...

Law enforcement logs for July 29, 2022

The items below are consolidated reports from Columbia Basin law enforcement agencies. All those named as defendants or suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Jay Ryder Griffin

March 7, 1940 - July 20, 2022

Jay Ryder Griffin, 82, of Prosser, passed away at Prosser Memorial Hospital on July 22, 2022.

Lucha in Moses Lake

Mexican wrestling makes its Moses Lake debut

MOSES LAKE — There have been a lot of grand openings, ribbon cuttings and celebrations for new businesses in Moses Lake, but nothing quite like the shindig Paul Carney threw to mark the formal opening of EDUBS C/S at 1102 W. Broadway Avenue last Saturday. “It’s a great day today,” said Yesenia Guzman, an insurance agent with Comparion Insurance in Moses Lake. “It’s hot out here, we’ve got some misters out over at our tent, but absolutely, it’s a wonderful day today.” ...

Basin students make EWU Dean’s List

CHENEY - Eastern Washington University released its dean’s list for the spring quarter 2022. Nearly a hundred Basin students made the list. EWU policies require an undergraduate student who earns 12 quality hours and receives a GPA of 3.5 or better to be placed on the Dean's List.

Grant Co. fair cancels poultry showings and auctions as bird flu persists

MOSES LAKE — Organizers of this year’s Grant County Fair have canceled in-person poultry exhibitions and auctions this year in response to the ongoing avian influenza outbreak. “We made the decision to pull the plug on in-person showing of birds,” said Grant County Fairgrounds Director Jim McKiernan. “We don’t want to be the reason there’s a major outbreak.” ...

19 Basin students make Spokane CC honor roll

SPOKANE - Spokane Community College released its honor roll list for the 2022 spring quarter, which ended in June. Nineteen Basin students made the list...

Q&A with Grant County Assessor candidates

James Liebrecht is running against incumbent Melissa McKnight for the position of Grant County Assessor. Each candidate was presented with four questions and an opportunity to provide a short bio to introduce themselves to the voters in the county. Their responses are noted below for our readers and have been lightly edited for clarity...

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...

Ralph Enzler

Ralph Lewis Enzler passed away on June 5, 2022, at the blessed age of 94.

Quincy resident makes dean's list

ROCHESTER, New York - Bailey Kehl of Quincy was named to the Dean's List at Rochester Institute of Technology for the Spring 2022 Semester. Kehl is in the international business program.

AG Ferguson says sorority must refund UW housing fees

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced on July 6 that Alpha Omicron Pi, a national sorority, must refund or waive the housing fees it unlawfully charged dozens of University of Washington students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

WCC announces conference basketball matchups

SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA - The West Coast Conference released matchups for the upcoming 2022-2023 men’s basketball season on Tuesday. Conference matchups include 16 games between teams in the conference.

Food, fireworks and music

Moses Lake Freedom Fest takes over McCosh Park

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake marked America’s founding over the weekend with Freedom Fest, a three-day celebration held in McCosh Park. The crowd wasn’t as big as at the record-setting Spring Festival the town held over Memorial Day weekend, which included a carnival, car show and basketball tournaments. “It’s been really slow,” said Cynthia Small, owner of Smulligans Pizza & BBQ, as she dished out brisket sandwiches and lemonade Saturday. “Springfest was huge, so we expected the same.” “It came in spurts,” added employee Kris St. George...

ML student makes Wheaton College dean’s list

WHEATON, ILL. — Moses Lake High School graduate Zach Henninger made the Spring 2022 Wheaton College dean’s list, according to a college press release. To earn a spot on the Wheat College dean’s list, an undergraduate must maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale and carry a full course load of 12 or more credit hours, the press release said.