Legals for February, 21 2024

State proposes pesticide restrictions

OLYMPIA — Neonicotinoid pesticides are known for their harmful effects on the nervous systems of insects and a proposal in the state Legislature calls for banning them for household use. “About 1/3 of our agricultural sector needs pollination to thrive, and our pollinators, bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds in this state are under more and more threat,” said prime sponsor Sen. Marko Liias, D–Edmonds. Others, however, say blaming household use of pesticides on a decline in bee populations mischaracterizes the current research. Allan Felsot, a professor of environmental studies at Washington State University, said focusing on habitat restoration is essential to save pollinators, arguing that allocating taxpayer dollars to this bill would be a waste as it fails to address the impacts on bee populations.

Judy Caroline Ploghoft

February 24, 1941 – January 31, 2024

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Judy Caroline Ploghoft, 82, who passed away on Jan. 31, 2024, while at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Washington after suffering a stroke. She was a resident of Moses Lake, Washington at the time of her passing. The oldest of six children of Earnest and Ethel Bendixen Montague, Judy was born on February 24, 1941, in Ontario, Oregon. To find farmwork, the family moved between Vale and Nyssa, OR, before settling in Payette, Idaho. Judy attended Eastside and Westside elementary schools in Payette. She also attended The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was baptized on Sept. 18, 1949, in Ontario, Ontario. The family moved to Moses Lake, Washington in 1952. Hers was the first class to attend Chief Moses Middle School and she was part of the 1959 graduating class of the newly-built Moses Lake High School. She was also a 1959 graduate of the Grand Coulee Stake Seminary Program.

Grant County Jail construction second phase start dependent on permit approvals

EPHRATA — The first phase of construction of the new Grant County Jail - demolition and site preparation - was supposed to start next week, but cooperative weather meant the project actually started in late January. Grant County Central Services Director Tom Gaines said footings, foundations and walls tentatively are scheduled to start going up in March or April. When foundations will start going in and walls going up depends on the approval of a state-required environmental review. That process is still ongoing. “We’re digging the sewer line right now,” Gaines said. “A lot of the demolition is done.” The new jail will be at the location of the old Ephrata Raceway, at the intersection of State Route 282 and Nat Washington Way. The track and pits, the bleachers, the announcer booth and the concession stand have all been removed. As an old racetrack the site had contaminated dirt that had to be removed, Gaines said, and all that work is completed too.

Columbia Basin Project bill moves forward in Olympia

OLYMPIA- Proposed legislation, House Bill 1752, authorizes the United States Bureau of Reclamation to seek approval to change the number of acres it can irrigate within the Columbia Basin Project to allow a more flexible and sustainable use of water resources, as long as it meets specific criteria.

Quincy schools take a close look at security

QUINCY — Presentations for Quincy School District parents and secondary students on what to do in the case of a shooter at school are scheduled for March 27 and 28. Jesus Villahermosa, a nationally recognized expert, will talk to students March 27 and parents and district patrons March 28.

GCSO looks back and plans forward

EPHRATA – The Grant County Sheriff’s Office saw successes and challenges during Sheriff Joe Kriete’s first year in office in 2023. Kriete said he’s overall very proud of his department and has a deep appreciation for the support county residents generally show him and his officers.

Young Life group wants to encourage connection

MOSES LAKE — Christopher Voigt and Lisa Naydenov said the goal of the Young Life group they lead is to connect with teens who otherwise might not have many connections. “I guess nowadays, kids don’t really have a sense of belonging,” Voigt said. “They’re friends with everyone on social media, but they don’t have that tight-knit group of friends in person. We want to be (a resource) for the kids in relationship building. Our goal is to build relationships with kids who may not have in-person relationships otherwise.” Naydenov said it’s rooted in the Christian faith and is open to all teens, regardless of personal beliefs. “It’s a faith-based organization. We are adults trying to get into the kids’ world, trying to meet them where they are. We try to get to know them, to earn trust with them, to walk beside them in life,” she said.

Lions defeat Eagles in Central Washington 1B title game

WENATCHEE – A 25-point first quarter jumpstarted the Lions in their district championship win over Soap Lake Thursday night, defeating the Eagles 78-45 and advancing to the 1B Boys State Basketball Tournament.

Fish and Wildlife asking for feedback on updated fishing app

OLYMPIA — Fishing fans in Washington will get a chance to test a revised app from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife that provides the latest information on fishing regulations.

Easter planning under way

Othello approves Easter egg hunt, waives event fee

OTHELLO – During Monday’s regular meeting, the Othello City Council voted to approve the facility use agreement for the Othello Holiday Committee’s free community Easter egg hunt event and to waive the full event fee.

Legals for February, 16 2024

Port of Mattawa to sell wastewater treatment plant

MATTAWA — Port of Mattawa Commissioners voted unanimously during Monday’s regular meeting to allow Executive Director Gil Alvarado to move forward with the sale of the port-owned wastewater treatment plant, located on Road 23 Southwest. “Frankly, that type of facility is better managed in the hands of folks who are in that industry,” Alvarado said. The other reason the port is selling the facility is because its expenses are outpacing its revenues, Alvarado said. “The way the port operates, with that wastewater treatment facility you have two wine-crushing companies. One is J&S (Crushing), and you have Milbrandt/Wahluke (Wine Co.). So both of those folks, because at the time one of them did not have the ability to discharge its waste when it crushed (grapes), basically, we would enter into a lease with them,” Alvarado said. “They would lease part of our wastewater facility. We would take their waste, process it, and spray it within a certain time frame. J&S decided to part ways with the port and create their own system.”

Silica Road Northwest, West Baseline Road work to start in March

QUINCY — Drivers in the area of Silica Road Northwest, West Baseline Road and Sunland Estates will experience traffic delays beginning in mid-March. Construction crews will widen a section of Baseline Road and a section of Silica Road, along with resurfacing another section of Silica Road, all around the Gorge Amphitheater. “So come mid-March, you’ll see that we’re already doing prep work on (West) Baseline, east of Silica (Road), about a mile,” said David Bren, Grant County engineer. “Because we’re going to widen Baseline and add a center lane – a queuing lane, a turning lane – too. So Baseline is going to be redone and widened, and it’s going to be restriped so it has a center turning lane.” Silica Road north and south of the entrance to the amphitheater also will get some work.

Ephrata moves forward with water system upgrades

EPHRATA — The City of Ephrata has a few projects in the works relating to the city’s water system. At the Feb. 7 city council meeting, two more contracts relating to the overall planned maintenance and improvements of the system were approved by the council.

ACH sends five wrestlers to 1B/2B Mat Classic

COULEE CITY – After sending two wrestlers to the Mat Classic a year ago, the Warriors will send five to Tacoma this week; senior Everett Wood (157), senior John Pierce (175), junior Jack Molitor (120), freshman Porter Wood (138) and freshman Noah Butler (215)

LRS sends four wrestlers to Tacoma

Smith, Tracy aim for repeat placings

RITZVILLE – After taking fifth as a team at Saturday’s 1B/2B Region 3 tournament in Spangle, the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos will take four wrestlers to this week’s Mat Classic at the Tacoma Dome.

Legals for February, 15 2024

WSD awarded $47K for digital equity initiatives

WARDEN — The Warden School District was recently awarded two grants totaling about $47,000 through the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, both as part of OSPI’s digital equity and inclusion initiatives.

LETTER: Seniors and caretakers deserve fully funded Medicaid

I am the assisted living facility administrator of a small, non-profit facility called The Cambridge, which is the only long-term care center serving Columbia Basin seniors in the Quincy area. I take great pride in helping meet the needs of seniors in the end-of-life transition with dignity, honor and service. But the state’s underfunding of Medicaid puts that quality of care at risk as it’s nearly impossible to offer competitive wages to workers. While deeply rewarding, caring for our seniors is often difficult and draining work deserving of more than minimum wage. The state currently only pays 79% of the Medicaid hourly wages needed to care for a beneficiary in assisted living, threatening the financial stability of our facility. As state lawmakers draft and consider their budgets this month, I urge them to fully fund Medicaid at 100% for the sake of our community’s seniors and their care providers.