MLSD welcomes back most students Wednesday

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District welcomed back first through sixth graders and freshmen for the first day of school Wednesday. The seventh, eighth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth graders return to school Thursday.

SOAP LAKE MAYOR: Candidates Q&A

SOAP LAKE – There is one candidate and one write-in candidate for the Soap Lake mayoral race. Incumbent Peter Sharp is the only candidate listed on the ballot. However, Karen Woodhouse is running as a write-in candidate.

Groff students begin school at three different buildings today

MOSES LAKE – As Groff Elementary gears up for the start of the 2025-2026 school year, starting today, the community is navigating transitions following the temporary closure of its original facility due to construction deficiencies. The school is currently operating out of Vanguard Academy, Garden Heights Elementary and Longview Elementary while repairs and legal proceedings continue regarding the original building.

OTHELLO SCHOOL DISTRICT DIRECTOR DISTRICT 3: Candidates Q&A

OTHELLO – There are two candidates running for the Othello School District Director District 3 position in this year’s election. These candidates are Birdie Fought and Juan “Jerry” Garcia. Both candidates were given the questions below and given identical deadlines and word count restrictions for their answers. Garcia did not respond within the given deadline of Aug. 25 at 12 p.m. which resulted in his answers not being published.

Driver safety a focus as school begins

MOSES LAKE – As schools across the Columbia Basin reopen this week, law enforcement officials are emphasizing the importance of road safety for students, parents and motorists alike. Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman is urging everyone to remain vigilant as the school year begins.

Moses Lake City Council Q&A

MOSES LAKE – There are two candidates running for Moses Lake City Council position five including Joel Graves and Jim Perez. Both Graves and Perez were concurrently presented with the questions below and given identical deadlines and word count restrictions for their answers. Both submitted their responses in a timely manner.

Blue-Green algae blooms still present in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Health District issued a water quality warning for North Moses Lake and Lewis Horn for blue-green algae.

Wahluke community to hold prayer vigil on first day of school

MATTAWA — It’s no secret that young people starting the school year face a lot of negative influences. Some folks in Mattawa plan to counter some of that negativity with prayer.

GALLERY: Grant County Fair 2025

MOSES LAKE – The barns are closed. The Spaceburger booth is cleaned up and quiet. The rodeo grounds are recuperating, though likely spruced up already, knowing the fairgrounds crew, and another Grant County Fair and Moses Lake Roundup season is behind us. Here are a few glances at what this year’s fair and rodeo offered. The Columbia Basin Herald sends our congratulations to all the 4-H, Grange and Future Farmers of America competitors who worked hard to earn recognition this year. Well done, and we look forward to seeing next year’s crop of agriculture enthusiasts showing off what they can do.

EPHRATA MAYOR Q&A: Steve Oliver

EPHRATA - Steve Oliver is running for the mayor’s seat in Ephrata against incumbent Mayor Bruce Reim. Both Oliver and Reim were concurrently presented with the questions below and given identical deadlines and word count restrictions for their answers. Oliver’s responses are below. Both submitted their responses in a timely manner.

Ritzville’s new chief has spent a lifetime in the police arena

RITZVILLE — On the wall behind Ritzville Police Chief Mike Suniga’s desk, there’s a quote from Theodore Roosevelt. “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better,” it reads in part. “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who … does actually strive to do the deeds.”

Othello Library provides free fun

OTHELLO — Othello Library branch manager Georgia Reitmire said the library offers something people can’t get just anywhere. “We’re a free place to have fun,” she said. Technology has changed the way libraries do business, she said, but not their purpose.

Grant County Fair safety measures effective, organizers say

MOSES LAKE – While there were some minor heat injuries and a few mischievous teens during the 2025 Grant County Fair as of Saturday afternoon, the event went off without any serious incidents according to fair organizers and law enforcement. In part, that’s due to added security measures taken over the past year.

Law enforcement focused on impaired drivers

Drunk or high driving will be the focus for police in Grant County through Sept. 1

MOSES LAKE — Grant County law enforcement agencies are participating in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” emphasis patrols through Sept. 1. The campaign started Aug. 13.

Nonprofits the heart of community life

Celebrating the organizations that uplift the Columbia Basin on National Nonprofit Day

MOSES LAKE — It takes a lot of people, many of them working for nothing, to make a great community. This weekend will be a chance to honor those folks. Aug. 17 is National Nonprofit Day, a day set aside to recognize those organizations that serve their communities, from the big nationwide charities and advocacy groups to the small local service club. The one thing they all have in common is their impact on the communities they serve.

Moses Lake Demo Derby concludes

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Demo Derby held the second half of its events Wednesday night with more drivers, dirt and another round of demolition. “It’s always easier on the second day because everybody is going with the flow already” said Aaron Schrodt, organizer for the Moses Lake Demo Derby. “Everybody did great, we had a couple roll roll-overs, but everybody was safe.”

Legals for August, 15 2025

First day of the Moses Lake Demo Derby

MOSES LAKE – The first night of Miner Services’ Demolition Derby kicked off Tuesday with a variety of racing and knockout events, concluding with a last man standing demo derby with Seth Dompier coming out on top. “It’s just a great time,” said Dompier. “It’s a lot of fun coming out here with your friends and a lot of good people (and being) in front of the fans and just having a great time wrecking some cars.”

Amazon warehouse opening in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE – Amazon has opened a warehouse at 5451 North Owens Road in Moses Lake and is currently hiring.

WA launches online Narcan finder amid rising overdose deaths

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health has unveiled an online tool designed to help residents swiftly locate free naloxone, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, including those related to fentanyl. The only place for residents in both Grant and Adams Counties to get free naloxone is the Grant County Health District, 1038 Ivy Ave. in Moses Lake. There are no locations in Adams County.