NEWS BITES: Aug. 26, 2024

NEWS BITES: Aug. 26, 2024

Tigers head back to class

EPHRATA – Ephrata School District Superintendent Ken Murray welcomed staff back to campuses last Tuesday as they went back into classrooms to finish preparations for the upcoming school year.

Legals for August, 26 2024

STUDIO BASIN: Ephrata library, MLSD budget and the Moses Lake Roundup

MOSES LAKE -- On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN podcast, Managing Editor Rob Miller is joined by Regan Shannon, a sophomore at Ephrata High School and freelance writer who wrote a story on summer programs at the Ephrata Public Library. Miller also recaps the Moses Lake School Board passing its budget for the upcoming school year.

Cox appointed interim Soap Lake City Administrator

SOAP LAKE – Peter Sharp ran his first regular Soap Lake City Council meeting as the Mayor Pro Tempore after former Mayor Allen DuPuy resigned earlier this month. There were 23 people in attendance outside of the council, police, fire department and public officials.

FIRE REPORT: No new Washington fires Thursday

MOSES LAKE – Washington saw no new wildfires emerge prior to press time Thursday, though several fires continue to burn in the state.

Law enforcement logs for Aug. 23, 2024

Law enforcement logs for Aug. 23, 2024

Legals for August, 23 2024

K-9 program presentation at Ephrata gathering

EPHRATA – An event requiring three K-9 handlers, and two K-9 officers took place at Sun Basin Plaza Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. Fortunately, it was for a meet and greet with the public, hosted by the Ephrata Public Library.

FIRE REPORT: GCFD 3 receives $553,000 in grant funds

QUINCY – Grant County Fire District 3, which serves the Quincy area, has received $553,000 through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, according to an announcement from the district. GCFD 3 wrote in the statement that it plans on using the funds to get a new water tender to replace their aging one.

Whooping cough infections rise in Grant Co.

GRANT COUNTY – The Grant County Health District is responding to a concerning spike in whooping cough, also known as pertussis, cases, with 28 infections confirmed since June, according to an Aug. 21 press release. This outbreak, largely linked to several Slavic churches in Moses Lake and Soap Lake, raises alarm as 22 of the identified cases were traced to these communities.

NEWS BITES: Aug. 22, 2024

NEWS BITES: Aug. 22, 2024

Almira grain elevator catches fire

ALMIRA – Grant County fire District 6 and Lincoln County Fire District 8 responded to a fire at the grain elevator in Almira shortly before 5 p.m. Wednesday, according to a news brief released by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Recount required in Commissioner of Public Lands race

OLYMPIA – The Office of the Secretary of State has mandated a manual recount for the Commissioner of Public Lands election across all Washington State counties, according to a statement from the Benton County Auditor’s Office. Each county will conduct the recount independently, according to the statement. According to state administrative rules, all counties will certify their recount results on Sept. 3. The Secretary of State's office will then certify the statewide results on Sept. 4.

Nine minor party or independent candidates qualify for WA presidential ballot

OLYMPIA — Nine minor party and independent presidential nominations have qualified for inclusion on Washington’s General Election ballot scheduled for Nov. 5, according to a statement from the Office of the Secretary of State.

GALLERY: A week at the fair

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Fair left vivid images for all of us. Here are a few our reporters picked up over the five days of the annual community celebration.

Aug. 21 News Bites

GRAND COULEE – The Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department trained on Friday night with attack hose lines and different types of nozzles according to a department press release. “Great time training and learning hoses and nozzles,” the statement reads.

Adams County Pet Rescue to sponsor spay, neuter clinic

OTHELLO – The Adams County Pet Rescue will sponsor a low-cost Fall Fix Fest on Sept. 20 and 21 at Othello Fairgrounds.

FRESH NEWS: Fish moving out of the weeds at Potholes

The current water level on Potholes Reservoir is 1,028.9 feet, dropping 1.4 feet this past week. We are currently 2.4 feet above low pool. The water temperature on the main lake is right around 75 degrees. The water temperatures in the sand dunes are in the upper 70s to low 80s. As the water drops the bait fish and bigger fish begin to move out of the weeds into the main channels and to the face of the sand dunes. Starting now, fish both the face of the sand dunes and back in the dunes. The largemouth bass fishing has been excellent this week! Fish frogs or Spooks early and late and always have a Senko rigged to follow up on missed fish. Fish the face of the sand dunes. Throw 1/2-ounce jigs, swim jigs, jerkbaits, chatter baits, Senkos, spinnerbaits, frogs and Texas-rigged plastics. Fish are in 1-12 feet of water. Lots of 1- to 3-pound fish are being caught with a few in the 4- to 5-pound range. The largemouth and most species are moving out to the face of the dunes, but many bass will stay in the dunes year-round.

FIRE REPORT: Royal Slope EMS trains on Vantage Bridge

ROYAL CITY — Royal Slope Fire Rescue EMS participated in rope rescue training on the I-90 Vantage Bridge on Tuesday. The training was hosted by Garco Construction with the Washington State Department of Transportation and Grant County Fire District 8 also attending. “It was good to practice using the resources on the bridge before something happens,” Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman said. According to a statement from the GCSO, the training simulated how firefighters will access and remove a bridge maintenance employee who falls from the bridge deck onto lower portions of the bridge.