Healthy Lake Tracker active for 2025

MOSES LAKE — People who are planning a day out on Moses Lake can check levels of blue-green algae toxins at their destination with the help of a joint project of the Grant County Health District and the Columbia Basin Conservation District. The Healthy Lakes Tracker is an interactive map that measures blue-green algae levels at six points around the lake. Lexi Smith, GCHD communications coordinator, said blue-green algae is common in lakes across the state.

Looking at ag mental health

New Washington report highlights need for behavioral health resources in farming and ranching

OLYMPIA — Improving mental health services for farmers and agricultural workers – and working to reduce the factors that lead to mental health challenges for them – are among the recommendations of a report issued by a Washington legislative task force working on the issue.

Ephrata works on several city improvement projects

EPHRATA — The City of Ephrata has been busy with a variety of projects this year. Water, sewer and roads have all been areas addressed in 2025. “We finished our street and sewer projects for this year,” City Engineer Shawn O’Brien said. “We'll continue working on street maintenance and sewer maintenance, but those are all projects for next year.”

MLHS Pals Club fundraiser supports special needs athletes

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake High School Pals Club held a Unified Booster fundraiser outside of Moses Lake’s Crumbl Cookie Tuesday evening from 5-8 p.m. to raise money for Unified Basketball and Soccer for the 2025/26 school year. “This is just one of our fundraisers we did this year, it was our second Crumbl Cookie fundraiser,” said Sarah White, Mavs’ assistant coach for unified sports.

Othello’s Old Hotel’s class offerings to grow

OTHELLO — The Old Hotel Art Gallery’s art classes are in full swing, and soon there will be more to choose from. “The kids really seem to enjoy them, and adults too,” said the gallery’s director, Samantha Copas.

COLUMN: Welcome home Eugenio Suarez

On July 31, the Seattle Mariners went all in on their season by trading for Eugenio Suarez. The Mariners are having an impressive season. Currently, they’re fifth in the American League, and the game differential between the teams above them is not far apart. If a few games go their way, they could be sitting in the top three.

Ephrata Police Department logs for Aug. 7, 2025

The reports below were provided by the Ephrata Police Department. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. July 22 Report of indecency in the 200 block of Parkside Place. Reporting party said neighbor exposed himself this morning.

100-acre fire in N. Grant County sparked Wednesday

ELECTRIC CITY — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 2 “Get Set” evacuation orders for both Electric City and Delano as a wildfire moves through the area as of 3:58 p.m. Wednesday.

Shot fired, nobody hurt in Knolls Vista altercation

MOSES LAKE — A weapon was fired but nobody was hurt during an incident Tuesday afternoon in the Knolls Vista neighborhood of Moses Lake, according to the Moses Lake Police Department.

Rock Bottom Rocker in need of support

EPHRATA – The Rock Bottom Rocker Pet Pantry, a local backyard rescue based outside of Soap Lake, has two community events on the horizon – including a pop-up vendor event in August and a large garage sale at the end of September. President Shawna Kluge said she is also in need of volunteers and donations before the events.

Moses Lake man arrested in attempted murder case

MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Sheriff’s Office arrested 27-year-old Luis Angel Ortega Tuesday morning after an what investigators describe as an attempted murder last Friday night. Ortega is lodged in Grant County Jail for suspicion of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon, first-degree robbery, and second-degree attempted murder.

‘Clear sign of energy mismanagement’: Washington gas prices trending up

(The Center Square) – While gas prices in Washington state fluctuate, they have increased overall compared to last year, with drivers enduring some of the highest fuel costs in the nation. According to AAA, the average price of standard, or regular grade, gas in Washington is $4.39 per gallon as of Friday morning, up slightly from last week’s $4.388. However, prices have increased substantially compared to last year, when gas was $4.243.

Cougars bolster name, image, likeness efforts

PULLMAN – In an effort to stay ahead of the evolving collegiate athletics environment, Washington State Athletics continues to bolster its Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) efforts with a new multi-faceted approach, including the creation of two NIL positions, to support Cougar student-athletes.

Janice (Mary) Fitterer

1947 — 2025

Janice Marie “Mary” Fitterer (Ivey), 78, was born at the Bremerton Naval Hospital in Bremerton, Washington on July 31, 1947, to Cecil White Ivey and Iris Ione Ivey (Stanton).

Building Permits for Aug. 8, 2025

Unincorporated Grant County July 19-25

Grant, Adams primary election results 2025

EPHRATA - The primary election was held Tuesday in Washington state with statewide voter turnout at roughly 18.58% of the Evergreen state’s 4.4-plus million voters casting ballots. That amounts to a bit more than 822,000 votes cast.

Firefighting challenging, interesting, rewarding, ACFD 5 chief says

OTHELLO — It’s getting busier in Adams County Fire District 5, at a time when it’s more difficult to find volunteers. Chief Tom Salsbury said July 2025 was almost a record month. “(In June) we had 53 calls, and (in July) we had 58 calls,” Salsbury said. “Our call volume has really, really gone up from what it used to be.”

Keeping an eye on the Basin’s at-risk species

MOSES LAKE – A number of animal species in Washington State are listed as threatened or endangered on the state or federal level including species native to the Columbia Basin region including Grant and Adams Counties. “We protect them on our state land,” said Nicole Jordan from Region 2 of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. “There’s different categories, there’s endangered, protected and threatened, there’s protected and sensitive and there’s just protected in general.”

Meagan Karstetter ready to compete in senior season

MOSES LAKE — For Meagan Karstetter, the Carroll College 2025-26 women's basketball season will not be taken for granted. In her first three seasons with the Fighting Saints, she had to fight for her spot each year – but she would not change a thing. “I'm feeling like it's going to go fast," Karstetter said. “I got to make the most of it, but we brought some new transfers in. I think we'll end up back in Sioux City."

Washington athletes nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year award

MOSES LAKE – On July 30, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced eight conference athletes were nominated for the NCAA’s Woman of the Year award. Four nominees are from Washington schools, according to a statement by GNAC. One nominee being Sunny Huerta from Central Washington. “I'm so happy for Sunny to be nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year,” Central Washington Head Women’s Basketball Coach Randi Richardson said. “During her time here at (Central Washington University) she has worked incredibly hard in the classroom and on the court to achieve all that she has been able to achieve. She has always embodied all the qualities of someone wearing a Wildcat uniform we could ever want.”