BASIN EVENTS CALENDAR: March 21-29, 2025

COLUMBIA BASIN — The sun is shining; the cranes are in flight and there’s a host of things to do in the Basin this week. Here are a few:

Teen writers wanted for library fiction contest

WENATCHEE — North Central Washington Libraries is accepting submissions for the 2025 Teen Short Fiction Competition. NCW Libraries oversees the operation of libraries in and near Grant County, among others.

Ephrata High’s Smith named student of the month

EPHRATA — Devin Smith, a sophomore at Ephrata High School, has been recognized as one of the EHS February Students of the Month, a recognition bestowed by his teacher, Scott Sandberg. Sandberg, who teaches cyber security and serves as the Future Business Leaders of America advisor, highlighted Smith’s exemplary performance and dedication both in and out of the classroom as the primary reasons for his nomination.

Legals for March, 20 2025

WA gun bill could have major implications for Grant Co. Fair

OLYMPIA — A Washington State Senate bill to ban firearms in public areas where children may be present had its first hearing in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee Tuesday. More than 50 people were scheduled to testify regarding the bill during the committee meeting.

Packed house for Cellarbration 2025

Scholarship fundraiser draws a crowd to support Big Bend students

MOSES LAKE — Keynote speaker Aldo Farias said the money donated during the Cellarbration for Education dinner benefiting the Big Bend Community College Foundation was more than a donation.

Infant attacked by dog, alive and receiving care

MOSES LAKE – Friday at around noon, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a dog attack incident involving a four-week-old baby boy. The minor was brought to Samaritan Hospital prior to police contact.

OUT AND ABOUT with STEVE CAMERON: Seahawks seek stars, but could Shedeur be it?

We haven’t done an “Out and About” column in ages, and all sorts of unique things have popped up in the meantime. So, why not take a stroll to hither, thither and yon, and see what’s up?

FIRST RESPONDER FOCUS: GCSO Sgt. Gary Mansford prepares to step into new role as undersheriff

EPHRATA — If Gary Mansford wasn’t planning on a career in law enforcement, other people certainly were planning it for him. “I got pulled over by a state patrolman one day, and he said that he was told by his sergeant that if anybody's seen me, they were to pull me over and tell me that I needed to test for the State Patrol,” Mansford said. “I knew the patrolman and I knew his sergeant, so I looked into the State Patrol, and then Mike Shay and Dean Mitchell from Moses Lake (Police Department), they were both talking to me as well. So, I tested and got hired by the (Grant County) Sheriff's Office.”

Precautionary transports after collision near Othello

OTHELLO — Two people were transported for examination as a precautionary measure after one driver allegedly ran a stop sign and hit the other car near Othello Sunday night.

Vicki Dale Weitzel

1956 — 2025

Vicki Weitzel, 68, a longtime resident of Grant County, passed away on March 9, 2025, surrounded by her family after a long hard-fought battle with Vascular Dementia.

Local law enforcement responds to shooting at Hiawatha homeless camp

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Police Department responded to a call for gunshots fired, just past noon Friday at the Hiawatha Lake homeless camp, near the 1000 block of North Frontage Road East in unincorporated Moses Lake.

Grant PUD financials solid with above-projected revenues

EPHRATA — Higher-than-anticipated revenue is projected to make 2024 a good year for the Grant County Public Utility District. Wholesale and contracted power sales are projected to end 2024 at $286.5 million, once the books are fully balanced. That's $196.3 million over the initial budget projection. Angelina Johnson, PUD deputy treasurer, said that may be a short-term advantage though.

Moses Lake man arrested in connection with March 8 shooting

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man was arrested Friday in connection with a March 8 shooting on Stratford Road in Moses Lake. Luis Medina, 27, was arrested in Moses Lake and booked into the Grant County Jail on suspicion of first-degree assault and drive-by shooting, said Moses Lake Police Department Captain Jeff Sursely in a press release.

Triple play

EHS Spring Showcase features series of one-act dramas

EPHRATA — Audiences at Ephrata High School’s Spring Showcase will be in for a three-fer when EHS Drama presents three one-act plays. “I had another show in mind,” Director Marla Allsopp said. “But I never quite know what I’m going to have for audition, so I always have some (other scripts) kind of in the back of my mind. I didn’t get the right combo or number of kids for the show I was thinking of, and I had these kind of sitting there. (I said), “I would really love to do these shows I’ve had for a couple of years, and I finally have the right group to do it.’” With a cast of 10, several students appear in two plays, and one, senior Monty Muir, is in all three.

Weather for the week of March 17, 2025

Weather for the week of March 17, 2025

Not-so-smooth road ahead: Report says WA's highways among the worst in the nation

(The Center Square) – Washington state has some of the worst-performing, least cost-effective roads and bridges in the nation, according to Reason Foundation’s “28th Annual Highway Report," released Thursday. The Los Angeles-based libertarian think tank gave the Evergreen State an overall ranking of 47 out of 50 states.

Law enforcement logs for March 14, 2025

The reports below were provided by the sheriff's office or police department indicated. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

DV suspect arrested near Grand Coulee Wednesday

GRAND COULEE – On Wednesday, Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call on State Route 174 East regarding a domestic violence incident. “Deputies answer many domestic violence-related calls daily,” GCSO Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman said. “This one escalated to a high level and required several deputies and other officers to help capture this suspect.”

Help is available for problem gambling

OLYMPIA — Some people, when they go to the store for milk and coffee, pick up a lottery ticket at the same time. Some people like to spend a day or a weekend at a tribal casino. Some people like to vacation in Las Vegas. And for most folks, that’s just fine. But for other people, any of those things is the first step into a very dark place.