Election 2023 results

EPHRATA — Voters in Grant and Adams counties selected mayors, decided city council and school board races, and chose commissioners for port, fire and hospital districts in the general election Tuesday. Only contested races are listed. Races in districts that span more than one county include results from all counties. As of Election Day, voter turnout was 19.3% in Grant County and 21.2% in Adams County. The results below are unofficial and reflect ballots counted as of about 8:30 p.m. Election Day. Vote totals will be updated periodically until the election is certified Nov. 28.

Law enforcement records for Nov. 8, 2023

Ephrata Police Department, Grant County Jail

Othello Port approves 2024 budget, in good financial position

OTHELLO — The Port of Othello approved its 2024 budget during the Oct. 31 regular Board of Commissioners meeting, after minor discussion and adjustment of some budget items. Port Executive Director Chris Faix explained the budget compared to the previous year. “I think we're up just a little bit … between 5% and 10% up on the budget,” Faix said. “And we do have our water tower project starting next year, and we have that airport project that's going to be (starting) and that's mostly grant money.”

Quincy Valley Medical Center board approves third phase of construction contract

QUINCY — Quincy residents are beginning to hear and feel, if not yet see, construction on the site of the new Quincy Valley Medical Center. The site has been cleared of three buildings, some trees and grass, and Tony Sanchez of Graham Construction said Monday that the next task is installing the pilings to support the new building, called geopiers. “We drill eight to 10 feet (in) depth, fill them with rock and crush them down,” Sanchez said.

ECBID accepts $32.8 million award for Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program

OTHELLO — During the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District Board of Directors Nov. 1 meeting, the board officially accepted an award of $32.8 million in appropriations to further the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program, according to a Monday announcement from the ECBID. According to the announcement, the award is a record amount in state funding for the OGWRP. “This award is the result of the consistent hard work of a number of key partners and is a significant step forward in building out the OGWRP systems,” said ECBID Board President Duaine Anderson in the statement. “This effort has been decades in the making, and we’re thrilled to see this project progress in such a significant way.”

Ready — Aim — Tater! — Potato Days return to CB Tech

MOSES LAKE — The fifth graders counted it down. “Four, three, two,” they chanted - but the countdown was put on hold. The French fry launcher had to build up sufficient pressure. Once it did the fifth graders were free to resume the countdown, with the help of a Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center student

Legals for November, 7 2023

Mattawa Council approves annual property tax levy, budget

MATTAWA – The Mattawa City Council unanimously passed a resolution during Thursday’s regular meeting to approve the 1% annual levy increase to the city’s property tax collection after a public hearing on the resolution, as well as the city’s preliminary budget.

Eugene Clinton Claassen

May 2, 1946 — Oct. 30, 2023

Eugene “Gene” Clinton Claassen, 77, passed away on October 30, 2023, at his home in Marlin, Wash. He was born May 2, 1946, in Omak, Wash., the second child of Clinton and Evelyn Claassen.

Samaritan culture, staffing, public perception discussed at candidate forum

MOSES LAKE — Four candidates for Grant County Hospital District 1, which oversees Samaritan Healthcare in Moses Lake, addressed voters at a candidate forum Oct. 24.

Moravida '23

Festival combines cultures to create an event anyone can enjoy

MOSES LAKE – The 2nd Annual Moravida Festival was held Saturday, October 28th at the Grant County Fairgrounds with a pre-party kickoff dance held the night before. This was a family-friendly event meant to be a gathering place to commemorate lost loved ones and celebrate Hispanic culture.

Soap Lake council schedules special budget meeting

SOAP LAKE — Soap Lake City Council members will review and discuss the municipal 2024 budget at a special meeting at 5:30 Wednesday at the Soap Lake Community and Senior Center, 121 Second Ave. SE.

Vanguard gets creative for kids’ Halloween event

MOSES LAKE — Spiders, cows, ghosts and the occasional giant chicken took over Vanguard Academy Tuesday for the school’s Halloween trick-or-treat event...

Principal motivations

Warden High principal, former MLSD teacher pushing academics, job training forward

WARDEN – Now entering her third year as Warden High School Principal, Katie Phipps said she finally feels like she has found her footing. Phipps moved to Warden High in 2021 from the Moses Lake School District. Phipps explained how she came into the position, transitioning from Moses Lake, where she taught at Frontier Middle School and then Moses Lake High School. Phipps said she has been in education for twenty years.

Moses Lake Presbyterian marks 115 years Sunday

MOSES LAKE — The roots of Moses Lake Presbyterian Church run deep, a fact that the church will celebrate Sunday with a special service on its 115th birthday.

Legals for November, 3 2023

Wahluke School Board members discuss state of the district at forum

MATTAWA – The South Grant County Chamber of Commerce’s Oct. 25 candidate forum at Wahluke High School featured a discussion between candidates for the Wahluke School Board and Superintendent Andrew Harlow about what is going on at the district.

Prometheans help Ephrata teachers reach students

EPHRATA – Last year, the Ephrata School District received a grant of about $110,000 to ensure all of their classrooms were equipped with Promethean digital boards – the digital descendent of a chalkboard – and the training for staff to utilize them in the classroom.

Legals for November, 2 2023

Late goal seals fate for Mavs

MOSES LAKE — While the Mavs and Rams remained tied at one through most of the second half, a late West Valley (Yakima) goal sent the Rams into the next round of the Columbia Basin Big 9 district tournament, ending Moses Lake’s season. “We worked hard, looked like we wanted it, we just couldn’t string the passes together unfortunately,” Moses Lake coach Alysha Overland said. After a fast start to the first half for the Mavs, West Valley tied the game in the 34th minute after a through ball got past the Maverick defense, and following a pileup in front of the Moses Lake net, was shot in past the keeper for a goal.