Some road projects done, others still in progress

VANTAGE — At midsummer, many road construction projects are winding down, done or almost done, while longer-term projects are in high gear.

Yonezawa roundabout construction could start mid-2025

MOSES LAKE — A new roundabout could be coming to the intersection of Yonezawa Boulevard and State Route 17 sometime in 2025, the preliminary step to development of property on the east side of SR 17. Moses Lake city officials will apply for additional funding to help pay for the project later this year.

Samaritan Healthcare in black for first half of 2024

MOSES LAKE — Even with the additional expense of construction, increased staff costs and additional bad debt, Samaritan Healthcare is in reasonable financial shape. Samaritan generated a profit of about $1.15 million in June, and for the first six months of 2024, Samaritan was $1.67 million in the black, according to hospital district staff.

Moses Lake council accepts sleep center grant

MOSES LAKE — The city of Moses Lake will continue to operate the Open Doors Sleep Center, but Moses Lake City Council members want more information on the city’s options in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision issued last month. Council members voted 5-2 Tuesday to accept an emergency housing grant which will provide funding through July 2025. Council members Dustin Swartz and Victor Lombardi voted no.

Blankenship still has projects to see through, he says

RITZVILLE — Dan Blankenship said he decided to run for a second term as Adams County Commissioner because there’s still work he wants to do. “I’ve got some projects that I’ve gotten started that I just want to see through,” he said. “I think my skill set still applies to the job. I think we’re having some successes.”

Revisions proposed to Othello home-based business ordinance

OTHELLO — The Othello Planning Commission will have a public hearing Aug. 19 to take public comment on a proposal to revise the ordinance governing home businesses.

Weise looks at balancing needs, resources if reelected

RITZVILLE — Jay Weise said he planned to run for a second term as Adams County Commissioner when he was elected in 2020, because it takes a while to learn the job and do it effectively. “There’s a whole bunch of stuff you don’t know,” he said.

JR Simplot donates $50K to CAA

Students, parents and coaches turn out to show appreciation.

MOSES LAKE — The word went out from coaches and advisors - the JR Simplot company was stepping up to help out the Moses Lake School District extracurricular program with a $50,000 donation. The coaches and advisors suggested the students should turn out to show their appreciation.

Major upgrades coming to Westshore Drive next summer

MOSES LAKE — Drivers who use Westshore Drive can get an overview of the work planned for spring 2025 along Westshore Drive, and get their questions answered, at a meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Moses Lake Country Club, 1373 at Road F.2 NE.

Upgrades included in Quincy 6-year parks plan

QUINCY — New playground toys, more park benches and picnic areas in most Quincy parks, a new park on Sixth Avenue Northeast and new baseball and softball fields with lights are among the components of the city’s updated comprehensive parks, recreation and open space plan.

Yonezawa roundabout workshop set

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake residents are being invited to an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Moses Lake Civic Center to learn more about a proposed project to build a roundabout at Yonezawa Boulevard and South Pioneer Way.

Rivard wants changes to Adams Co. government

OTHELLO — Adams County Commission candidate Hank Rivard said he believes county government should be run differently. Rivard is running against incumbent Jay Wiese. “There are a lot of things that need changing,” Rivard said.

Road construction scheduled in Soap Lake

SOAP LAKE — Crews have started work on two major street improvements in Soap Lake, and a third is scheduled to start next month. The installation of a lighted crosswalk at Southeast Third Avenue and South Daisy Street (State Route 17) has been completed.

Small cities in Grant Co. see crime trending down

MOSES LAKE — The communities are smaller, so the incidents are fewer, and the percentage changes look more dramatic. But cities in Grant County are for the most part following the same trend in declining crime as the rest of Washington.

Grant PUD fiber buildout scheduled for October completion

EPHRATA — The buildout of the Grant County Public Utility District fiber network should be complete by late October.

Transparency, accountability critical, incumbent commissioner says

EPHRATA — Rob Jones said he’s running for a second term as Grant County Commissioner because there are some important initiatives coming up and projects he wants to see through.

Crime trending down in Othello, Ritzville

OTHELLO — With a few exceptions crime in Othello and Ritzville is following the statewide trends - crime rates are going down. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs released its 2023 report last week, which included data for most cities statewide, including both Adams County cities.

Fire district proposals, commission races to be decided in Grant Co.

EPHRATA — Grant County voters will receive ballots this week for the primary election Aug. 5. Two county commission seats, two requests for increased fire district levies (called a levy lid lift) and one fire district EMS levy will be on the ballot in addition to federal and state offices.

Local legislators, bipartisan politicians call for reason in wake of attempted assassination

MOSES LAKE — Seeking ways to reduce the political temperature in a presidential election year, how to apply lessons learned in other political forums, improving security during a presidential campaign are among the topics being discussed by federal and state legislators following the attempted assassination Saturday of former President and Republican nominee Donald Trump.

‘When will it end?’

Hot weather set to hang out across Columbia Basin this week.

MOSES LAKE — Yes, yes, it’s summer and hot weather is to be expected. And yes, hot sunny days are what everyone is thinking about in January when it’s 15 degrees and dark by noon, or so it seems. But still - at this point in the heat wave, there’s one question on everyone’s mind.

Crime trending down in Moses Lake, Ephrata

MOSES LAKE — Crime trends in Moses Lake and Ephrata seem to be following the rest of the state - they went down between 2022 and 2023. A report on crime trends throughout the state, including individual cities, was released last week by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.

Work scheduled for SR 26 this week

OTHELLO — Drivers should plan for delays along State Route 26 between Interstate 90 and Othello for about a week beginning Tuesday.

Crime mostly down in Grant and Adams, report says

EPHRATA — While crime went up in some individual categories in the unincorporated areas of Grant and Adams counties between 2022 and 2023, overall it was on a downward trend, according to information released Tuesday by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.

Ephrata intersection closed Tuesday for bridge work

EPHRATA — Drivers should plan alternate routes to get in and out of downtown Ephrata next Tuesday as Washington Department of Transportation crews work on the bridge over the railroad tracks at the intersection of state Route 282 and state Route 28.

Ephrata-Soap Lake Ag Boosters in need of donations

EPHRATA — Organizers of a fund to support 4-H, Grange and FFA participants from Ephrata and Soap Lake at the annual stock sale during the Grant County Fair said the fund needs donations.

Burgess says planning for growth part of Grant Co. Commission's job

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Commission candidate Kevin Burgess said county and city governments need to think ahead when planning for growth. Burgess is running for the seat in Commission District 1; Danny Stone, the incumbent, did not file for reelection.

Budget approved for first phase of new Othello animal shelter

OTHELLO — A new animal shelter is in the works for the city of Othello. The Othello City Council approved a $340,000 budget for the initial phase of the construction at its regular meeting Monday, after some discussion of options, landscaping, philosophy and cost.

Statewide crime mostly down, still higher than 2019

LACEY — While crime in most categories declined in Washington between 2022 and 2023, crime rates are still higher than they were in 2019. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs released crime data for 2023 Tuesday.

Nation’s birthday draws big crowd to Othello

OTHELLO — It was a good day for a birthday party. Othello residents and visitors turned out for the parade and filled Lions Park for the annual July 4 celebration - games, a car show, sports tournaments, food, live music, fireworks - sponsored by the Othello Chamber of Commerce.

Moses Lake council postpones EMS presentation

MOSES LAKE — A presentation by owners of Lifeline Ambulance to the Moses Lake City Council scheduled for tonight’s council meeting has been postponed. Mayor Dustin Swartz said Monday he didn’t know when it might be rescheduled. “(Lifeline representatives) have met and had conversations with staff,” Swartz said.

National Weather Service issues fire weather alerts

MOSES LAKE — Hot weather and windy conditions will lead to an increased potential for wildfires at least through Thursday, according to information from the National Weather Service Monday.

Contract awarded to clean up property south of Mattawa

MATTAWA — A piece of derelict property south of Desert Aire is scheduled for cleanup with the work to be completed by Aug. 23. Grant County Commissioners awarded a contract for $81,150 to Groat Brothers, Woodinville, to remove, among other things, tires and abandoned cars from the land, known as the Engle property.

Record-breaking heat this week

MOSES LAKE — The heat wave that was supposed to end by midweek is going to behave like an unwanted guest - stay around longer than first anticipated and leave very slowly.

One arrested for July 4 shooting near Othello, rest of Basin relatively quiet

OTHELLO — An Othello-area man was booked on suspicion of first-degree assault following a shooting July 4 near Othello.

July 4 celebration fills Othello park

July 4 celebration fills Othello park

Repairs, restoration of Grant Co. Courthouse exterior nearly done

EPHRATA — Repairs to the steps and sections of the exterior of the Grant County Courthouse are almost complete. Construction crews have been working on the terracotta panels on the ground floor exterior, the columns and portico, and the decorative elements around the top floor.

Road construction projects to resume Monday

SOAP LAKE — The slope stabilization project on State Route 17 north of Soap Lake is scheduled to be finished sometime between late August and early September. The project area is the section of SR 17 from Soap Lake to the Lake Lenore Caves, where the road runs between Soap Lake or Lake Lenore and the rock embankment. The idea is to stabilize the rock face.

Moses Lake likely eyeing contracted EMS services

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake City Council members may be considering eliminating the city-funded ambulance service and hiring a private contractor, according to a statement released by the Moses Lake Firefighters Local 1258.

Quincy’s Nancy Schanze retires after 32 years with the city

QUINCY — Nancy Schanze has deep roots in Quincy. “We moved there when I was five,” she said. “I was a 12-year senior. I raised my daughter there, and I have sisters that live there with their families. We’re a Quincy family.”

Triple-digit temps incoming

Summer heat to hit the Columbia Basin hard this weekend

MOSES LAKE — It’s to be expected, of course – it is summer, after all. What the National Weather Service is calling a “long-duration heat wave” is forecast to arrive Friday. Joey Clevenger, meteorologist with the NWS office in Spokane, said the heat will stick around at least through the beginning of next week.

Construction cost for new Grant Co. Jail finalized by late July

EPHRATA — The actual cost of the new Grant County Jail should be finalized around the end of July. County officials are forecasting it will come in below the guaranteed maximum price of $131.56 million.

Sidewalks, street rebuilds in Mattawa 6-year plan

MATTAWA — Improvements are planned to Mattawa’s Riverview Avenue in 2025, the first project in the city’s updated six-year street plan.

Suds 'N Sun by the lake

Annual Soap Lake festival to kick off this weekend

SOAP LAKE — A three-on-three tournament on the new basketball court, a car show, the Seattle Cossacks motorcycle drill team, a parade, the second annual Soap Box Derby and fireworks are among the attractions at the annual Suds ‘N Sun celebration in Soap Lake Saturday. It’s sponsored by the Soap Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Unemployment rate creeps up in Grant, Adams in May

MOSES LAKE — Unemployment in Grant County in May was higher than in some neighboring counties but lower than in others. Adams County's unemployment was lower than most of its neighbors, according to data released by the Washington Employment Security Department last week.

MLSD seeking to sell two land parcels

Grant County interested in one of the two as it plans new morgue

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School Board will hold a public hearing at its July 25 meeting to take public comment on a resolution to declare two parcels of district property surplus. Board members approved the resolution at their regular meeting Thursday.

BOOM: Moses Lake ready to get patriotic for July 4

MOSES LAKE — The nation’s birthday will be celebrated with the sounds of the 133D Army National Guard Band and a fireworks display over Moses Lake July 3. “Red, White and Boom!” also will feature food vendors and the Moses Lake Recreation Department’s mobile recreation van in the park Wednesday evening.

Fireworks regulations vary around Columbia Basin

MOSES LAKE — Fireworks are a big part of celebrating the nation’s birthday. However, different towns, and Grant County, have different rules for setting off fireworks.

Sabin resigns, Lewis named interim MLSD super

MOSES LAKE — Acting Moses Lake School District Superintendent Carol Lewis has been selected as the interim superintendent for the 2024-25 school year. Lewis was appointed to the position after Moses Lake School Board members accepted the resignation of former superintendent Monty Sabin.

Dementia at home

How to set up a house to be safe for those suffering from cognitive decline

MOSES LAKE — A dementia diagnosis is a tough thing to hear, and it changes things all around the patient. Those changes extend all the way to how a patient’s home is arranged. “Most homes are not designed with the needs of someone living with dementia in mind,” wrote Jennifer Reeder, director of educational and social services for the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

Chip seal project will cause delays on Highway 97A

CHELAN — Drivers on US Highway 97A should be prepared for delays as construction crews work on chip-seal projects between Chelan and Wenatchee. Crews will be repairing sections where drivers have worn down the pavement, starting July 1 and 2, according to a press release from the Washington Department of Transportation. After July 2 work will be suspended until July 8 and then will continue through the week of July 11. Crews will be chip-sealing from 7 a.m. to about 5 p.m.