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Getting the right amount of homeowners insurance

MOSES LAKE — For a lot of people, their home is the most valuable thing they’ll ever own. And when you have something valuable, naturally, you want to protect it. But how much homeowners insurance do you need? There’s a common misconception that homeowners insurance is based on the market value of the home. That’s not how it works, say the experts. Rather, it’s based on what it would cost to rebuild or replace what’s damaged...

Landowner asks for intervention in dealing with RVs used as homes

MOSES LAKE — The owner of the properties along North Central Drive where a number of homeless have parked their RVs has given permission to a group of volunteers to post “no trespassing” signs and has asked the Moses Lake Police Department to do something about the situation, according to an email provided to the Columbia Basin Herald...

Legals for April, 21 2023

George City Council considers security agreement

GEORGE — The George City Council discussed, but did not decide on, a novel offer from the Port of Quincy at its monthly meeting Tuesday evening. The proposal is an interlocal agreement between the city and the Port, said Mayor Gerene Nelson in a separate interview Thursday. Under the agreement, the Port would supply six hours a day of security service to the city, to stave off graffiti, petty theft and the like. The Port has started to offer security services to businesses within the port district, but this would be the first such agreement with a municipality. “Nobody else has done that,” Nelson said. “So we're the guinea pigs, and that's part of my hesitancy. I need to make sure everything is carefully done.” ...

Judging chili

Ten recipes accompanied by six kinds of cornbread entered into Monday cookoff

MOSES LAKE — Rich Mueller has some advice for anyone looking to judge a chili cookoff. “I’m going to put away any predispositions,” said Mueller, who runs the Grant County International Airport for the Port of Moses Lake. “I see some chilis over there that would not normally be my go-to chilis, but I’m just going to forget all that right now.” ...

Community honor

Longtime volunteer recognized with ‘Pride of Quincy’ award

QUINCY — Charles Sepulveda Sr., a longtime Quincy resident and volunteer, who Mayor Paul Worley said had a big impact on the community, was honored at the Quincy City Council meeting Tuesday. “The ‘Pride of Quincy’ is an honor to remind people of someone from the community who’s really done something, participated and made Quincy a better place,” Worley said...

Law enforcement logs for April 20

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...

2 injured in Broadway Ave. accident

MOSES LAKE — Two people were injured in a three-car accident on Broadway Avenue on Thursday, April 13, with one driver taken to Samaritan Hospital, according to Moses Lake Police Department Capt. Mike Williams...

Legals for April, 19 2023

Keeping the foundation

New Country Deli owners look to preserve menu, serve community

EPHRATA – Country Deli on Basin Street in Ephrata was recently bought by siblings Gabriela and Jeovani Dircio. The pair said they’re committed to staying the course and keeping the current menu the same while doing a bit of a refresh in other aspects of the business. “It’s a great place,” said Gabriela. “We were raised in Ephrata and Grant County and Country Deli holds a lot of great memories to ourselves and the community.”

Health clinic provides care for pets and their people

SEATTLE — Whether she’s living out of her car or crashing on a friend’s couch, Grace Stroklund can’t contain her smile when she’s greeted after a hard day’s work by her dog, Nugget. Homeless in the greater Seattle area for half of her life, Stroklund, 28, who works as a line cook, said when it comes to veterinary care for the 6-year-old Jack Russell terrier mix that brings her so much joy, she “would do anything.”

Mavs’ comeback falls short, lose to Richland 11-9

MOSES LAKE – The final score of Wednesday’s fastpitch softball matchup between Moses Lake and Richland doesn’t tell the full story of the game, as the Mavs nearly pulled off a come-from-behind victory after being down 11-0 at the bottom of the third inning. Richland defeated the Mavs 11-9, remaining undefeated on the year. Moses Lake fell to 8-2.

Cleanup time

MOSES LAKE — Jennifer Shipman and her daughter Tiffany were busy helping sweep the alley between Broadway and Third Avenue Saturday morning, all part of the effort by both the Downtown Moses Lake Association and the City of Moses Lake to clean up the city. “I try to help whenever I can,” said Shipman, a commercial loan officer with Banner Bank in Moses Lake. “Whenever I can fit it into my schedule, I try to help out.”

Local law enforcement hopes for expanded vehicle pursuits

OLYMPIA – The passage of Senate Bill 5352, which reinstates some circumstances in which law enforcement can pursue a vehicle, has many law enforcement agencies saying the bill is a start but is not enough. “This definitely puts things in a step in the right direction for sure,” said Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete. “It really does. And I think we knew as far as law enforcement executives, we were not going to turn the page all at one time. We knew it was going to be bits and pieces every year – that a year goes by with data that's collected to show that in 2021 a really big mistake was made.”

Substantial vehicle purchases recommended for MLSD

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District should start buying some vehicles, not just buses but also work trucks and vans, district officials said during the Moses Lake School Board meeting Thursday. “The moral of the story is that (the district’s transportation fleet) is aging,” said Jeremy O’Neil, the district’s chief operations officer. “Investments need to happen.”

Mollahiettes reign on

MLHS dance and drill team brings home two state championships

MOSES LAKE — It is one of the ironies of state competition that the biggest meet of the year is also the last performance for the team - the last one ever. Molahiettes team co-captain Payten Chlarson said that fact struck home as the team waited to perform at the WIAA Dance/Drill State Championship last month. “When we’re on deck, that’s when you realize that’s your last time doing that routine,” Chlarson said. “The last time you’re ever going to be on the floor with that team and that group of girls, (and) especially for the seniors, the last time you’re ever going to be on the floor. So it was like a bittersweet thing. But it’s nice knowing that you worked so hard to get to that point where you can go out on the floor. So it’s a good feeling.” ...

Dryland gardening

Event looks at landscaping in the age of climate change

MOSES LAKE — A whole new dimension of gardening will be on display in Moses Lake next week. “We’re looking at the gardening effects of climate change, for the public to learn about how climate change is going to affect gardening,” said Mark Amara, with the Washington State University Extension Grant-Adams Master Gardeners. The Columbia Basin Conservation District and the Master Gardener program will host the sixth annual Columbia Basin Eco-Gardening Symposium on April 22, which is also Earth Day. The event, held at the Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center, goes from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will include speakers, vendors, exhibitors and even a few door prizes.

Legals for April, 14 2023

Moses Lake considers water conservation

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake City Council has delayed consideration of major changes to the city’s water conservation ordinance to May after council members expressed concern over how the new conservation rules would be enforced and the council’s ability to review the rules in the future. “There should be a sunset clause to revisit this,” said Mayor Don Myers during the roughly two-hour-long regular council meeting on Tuesday. Utility Services Manager Jessica Cole told council members the proposed changes would make current water conservation requirements year-round, limit summer lawn watering and irrigation to three days per week, prohibit watering between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on watering days, ban it outright on Monday, limit the amount of water people can use on their lawns after a rainstorm and require immediate repairs to leaky water pipes.

Kimberly Bender's law increases penalties for custodial misconduct

OLYMPIA — On March 30, Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law an act that increases the penalties for the crime of custodial sexual misconduct in the second degree. Substitute Senate Bill 5033 changes the classification of second-degree custodial sexual misconduct from a gross misdemeanor to a class C felony. The change increases the maximum confinement from 364 days to five years, and the maximum fine from $5,000 to $10,000. The change also means that those found guilty of custodial sexual misconduct in the second degree would serve their sentence in a state correctional facility instead of a county jail, according to Moses Lake Police Chief Kevin Fuhr.