Grant commission candidates discuss issues

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Commission candidates Amador Castro and Kevin Burgess both described themselves as hard workers and said they would be committed to doing the job during a Moses Lake forum Monday.

'Once you’ve dealt with bees, it gets in your blood'

Barbara Caylor’s lifelong dedication to community and bees

OTHELLO — Barbara Caylor said her late husband Ken was the kind of guy who didn’t have much time for leisure. “He was interested in being involved in something to keep him busy,” Barbara Caylor said. “He was a man who never sat around idle very long – he was always doing something.”

Grant PUD budget hearings Tuesday

EPHRATA — The Grant County Public Utility District will hold two public hearings Tuesday to discuss the proposed PUD budget for 2025. Hearings are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., both at the commission hearing room at the Ephrata headquarters, 30 C St. SW. A virtual option is available; information on joining is available on the PUD website, www.grantpud.org.

Isaacson challenging District 16 incumbent

WALLA WALLA — Kari Isaacson said the most important issues facing the 16th Legislative District are infrastructure and managing growth. Isaacson is running for the district’s Senate seat. A Democrat, she’s challenging Perry Dozier, the Republican incumbent.

Dozier running for new term as District 16 senator

WALLA WALLA — Perry Dozier said inflation and the cost of housing, goods and services are imposing increasing burdens on Washington residents, and the Washington Legislature should do what it can to address that. Dozier is running for the Washington Senate from the 16th District, which includes a small slice of Grant County.

Lack of bus drivers has Basin districts looking for solutions

MOSES LAKE — A lack of qualified drivers forced a short-term cancellation of bus routes in one local school district; other local districts have been forced to come up with what some school officials called creative solutions to meet student transportation needs. The Moses Lake School District canceled bus routes a couple days last week due to a lack of qualified bus drivers. Claren McLaughlin, MLSD marketing and public relations specialist said canceling routes, at least for now, was a short-term phenomenon.

Fewer projects, but drivers should be mindful of ongoing roadwork

MOSES LAKE — Multiple road construction projects in Eastern Washington may impact drivers during travel over the next few weeks.

Blood donations always needed

MOSES LAKE — Accident victims. Cancer patients. Surgery patients. They all need blood during treatment – and sometimes the supply of it gets low. Really low. Kristin Conner, communications manager for Vitalant, a nonprofit organization that sponsors blood drives in Grant and Adams counties, estimated about 3% of the eligible U.S. population donates blood each year.

Section of Columbia Way to close next week for rail work

QUINCY — The railroad crossing on Columbia Way near the intersection with Division Street East will be closed to traffic beginning Monday. The closure is projected to last through early December.

Strategic planning begins for Mattawa Community Medical Center

MATTAWA — Staff and commissioners of the Mattawa Community Medical Clinic will discuss ideas for the future at a strategic planning session this weekend.

Adams Co. commission candidate would focus public safety

RITZVILLE — David Lobe of Ritzville said he’s running for Adams County Commissioner to address what he considers public safety needs. Lobe said that to him, two issues are paramount. “My number one first priority – very passionate on this – is reopening the Adams County Jail,” he said. “(And) the condition of our roadways, in my opinion, is a huge concern.”

Celebration of Quincy heritage at Quincy Valley Museum

QUINCY — It was a beautiful day, warm but not too hot – which was good news in the summer kitchen. The Celebration of Harvest and Culture at the Quincy Valley Historical Society and Museum Saturday highlighted the people that built Quincy and the way they built it. Quincy is more than a century old, and the day featured demonstrations of everyday life back in the day, from washing clothes to sharpening knives to cooking in the summer kitchen. Volunteers Terri Wilson and Pam Nutter were cooking sausage and sauerkraut on the wood stove in the summer kitchen, the old-school way of cooking on hot days. A wood stove pumps out a lot of heat, so rather make it even hotter in the house by cooking in the kitchen, pioneers built another kitchen in a separate building.

Grant PUD rate policy proposals get further review

EPHRATA — Residential and agriculture customers would be the first customers to receive the benefits of lower-cost Grant County Public Utility District electricity, according to proposed revisions to PUD rate policy reviewed by commissioners last week. A final draft of the revisions is scheduled to be submitted to commissioners in November, with approval by the end of the year. Chief Customer Officer Ty Ehrman said the latest revisions reflect the direction given by commissioners after their review of previous drafts. The PUD owns and operates Wanapum and Priest Rapids dams. Power from the two dams, called the Priest Rapids Project, is cheaper because the PUD owns and operates them.

Softball for a good cause at Battle of the Badge

MOSES LAKE — It was a battle of two evenly matched teams, but the Moses Lake Police Department took a one-run win over the Grant County Sheriff’s Office in a softball game for a good cause.

Present and future part of new Quincy Valley Medical Center

QUINCY — Quincy Valley Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Glenda Bishop said watching as the new QVMC is built emphasized the fact this is a project for the future as well as today. “(Recently) as I pulled into the parking lot I looked up at the new hospital and the full impact of what this means for our community hit me in a powerful way,” Bishop wrote in answer to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald. “Our generation, our workforce, our voters, our contractors are accomplishing something that will meet healthcare needs into the next several decades.”

Interior framing, landscaping underway at new Samaritan Hospital

MOSES LAKE — The first layer of asphalt is down in some sections of the parking lot and a lot of the windows are in. And yes, that is landscaping going in on sections of the property. If the project stays on schedule, the first patients will be entering the doors of the new Samaritan Hospital in early March 2026.

Remodeled ER at Columbia Basin Hospital set for spring 2025 completion

EPHRATA — An updated emergency department at Columbia Basin Hospital is scheduled for completion by spring 2025. Rosalinda Kibby, CBH chief executive officer, wrote that the remodeling project has several goals.

Reykdal talks constants and change in education

ELLENSBURG — Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal said there are constants in education – but education is changing too, and it’s happening at an accelerating rate. Reykdal spoke to students at Central Washington University Wednesday.

Vantage Bridge work may cause weekend delays

VANTAGE — With about four weeks to go in the road construction season, projects are coming to a close around the region. A few roads are still subject to delays, or slowdowns, or otherwise interruptions, the busiest being the Vantage Bridge.

Water fight benefits Quincy Special Olympics

QUINCY — Water was flying, and police and firefighters (and the occasional bystander) were getting soaked in a good cause Saturday morning at the “Fire and Cop on Top” event in Quincy. Quincy Police Department officers, firefighters from Grant County Fire District 3 and Washington State Patrol troopers had a water fight with anybody who decided to come by to benefit the Quincy Special Olympics.

Infrastructure, including jail, area of focus for Blankenship

RITZVILLE — Adams County Commission candidate Dan Blankenship said he believes the biggest projects and the ones he wants to work on if he’s elected, focus on infrastructure. Blankenship, the incumbent, is running for a second term, challenged by David Lobe, Ritzville.

Information sought in Othello-area drive-by

OTHELLO — Investigation is still ongoing into a drive-by shooting late Friday night that left two teenagers injured.

Boeing announces new contract offer

SEATTLE — The Boeing company has set a Friday deadline for a response to what a press release called its “best and final” offer for a new contract. Information on the new offer was released Monday. The strike by members of IAM 751 and W24, the unions representing machinists, has stopped work at Boeing facilities nationwide, including its facility in Moses Lake.

Penalty kicks carry Quincy over Lakeside on the pitch

QUINCY — Goalkeeper Aylen Garcia stopped two penalty kicks to give the Quincy High School girls soccer team a win over Lakeside High School of Nine Mile Falls, Idaho, Saturday afternoon.

Second phase set to develop Drumheller Road

MOSES LAKE — Grant County officials are starting the first phases of a multiyear project to improve a road that would connect Mae Valley to Ephrata.

Group14 receives federal grant, plans to expand

MOSES LAKE — Battery materials manufacturer Group14 has received grant for up to $200 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to expand its operations in Moses Lake. The company and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced the grant in a press release Friday.

ROAD REPORT: Construction winding down, but not done yet

MOSES LAKE — Road construction is winding down as summer turns into fall, but some projects are still underway.

Vehicle theft suspect turns self in

WARDEN — The Adams County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in finding a man being sought in connection with alleged vehicle and trailer theft.

Info sought in Moses Lake drive-by

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Police Department is asking for help in finding a vehicle that might be linked to a drive-by shooting Sept. 8.

New Quincy finance director looking to serve community

QUINCY — Carrie Lnenicka said her job as Quincy finance director gives her the chance to do what she really wants to do. “Serving the community in any way that I can is really my calling, I feel,” Lnenicka said. “I think for me, it’s serving – and not only serving, but serving in a way that is honorable and transparent, and with integrity to the community, who works really hard. I’m a taxpayer myself and I work really hard. Everybody does. I really want to be a transparent servant,” she said.

'Every car has a story'

Looking at what a car hobby does for owners’ wellbeing

MOSES LAKE — The nickname for Paul Brumley’s 1964 Chevrolet Impala is kind of a family joke. “Over Budget,” it’s called. But Brumley’s mom Janice said it’s worth every penny.

Othello ordinance on supervising minors provokes spirited debate

OTHELLO — A spirited debate on a proposed “failure to supervise a minor” ordinance ended with a 6-1 Othello City Council vote to approve the measure, but with some revisions. Council member John Lallas voted no.

Commercial development proposed in Mattawa

MATTAWA — A developer has purchased land and announced tentative plans to build a convenience store at the intersection of State Route 243 and Road 24 Southwest in Mattawa. Mattawa city officials will consider a request for a variance from Unity Partners, Kennewick, that would reduce the number of required parking spaces around the business.

Jack of all trades

Quincy’s Stephanie Boorman wears many hats

QUINCY — Stephanie Boorman said the city clerk’s job in Quincy is slightly different than other cities Quincy’s size. “There are many people that will tell you that we are a small city with big city (challenges). tasks and projects that you would see at the big city level. Not many cities, for example, have their own industrial (wastewater) treatment facility, definitely not a (water) reuse facility, either. There are a lot of things that smaller cities don’t typically see that we encounter,” Boorman said.

Quincy celebrates farmers

QUINCY — The contribution Quincy-area farmers make – locally and beyond – was recognized at Farmer Consumer Awareness Day Saturday. The annual event seeks to help area residents understand the hard work that goes into producing the food that goes into our grocery stores.

Quincy updates food truck ordinance

QUINCY — More options will be available for food trucks to operate in Quincy following revisions to the city’s itinerant vendor ordinance approved Sept. 3. The ordinance actually addresses all itinerant vendors, but some of the restrictions effectively prohibited food trucks most of the time. That prompted a question from council member Dave Dormaier during an Aug. 20 discussion on the proposed changes.

Moses Lake wins first home game of the season

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake High School football team overcame a slow start and some early-season miscues to take a 30-23 win over the North Creek Jaguars in the first home game of the year.

Warden receives $9.8 million to fund water system upgrades

WARDEN — The city of Warden has received funding from the Public Works Board to pay for upgrades to the city’s water system.

Alternative routes suggested for Vantage Bridge travel

QUINCY — The Washington Department of Transportation is installing additional signs to inform drivers of delays at the Vantage Bridge. Construction is ongoing at the bridge seven days per week through Nov 1.

Moses Lake water quality subject of ‘State of Our Lake’ meeting

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake and Grant County residents are being invited to learn about efforts to improve Moses Lake water quality at the annual “State of Our Lake” meeting at 6 p.m. Monday in the council chambers at the Moses Lake Civic Center, 401 S. Balsam St. Ron Sawyer, president of the Moses Lake Watershed Council, said the lake is the focus of a lot of work, some completed, some ongoing. “We try to focus on reducing nutrient inputs into the lake,” he said.

Moses Lake cross country competes in Hawaii meet

Runners raised money for two years to pay for trip

MOSES LAKE — After two years of fundraising, the Moses Lake High School cross-country team will be running in Hawaii Saturday.

Ephrata receives $6M for sewer treatment upgrades

EPHRATA — The Wahington Public Works Board has awarded funding for ongoing sewer system upgrades in Ephrata. The board awarded $6.05 million to pay for part of a project to rebuild and refurbish parts of the city’s wastewater treatment facility. The awards were announced Monday.

Quincy legends added to Wall of Fame

QUINCY — Athletic legends at Quincy High School were recognized with inclusion on the QHS Wall of Fame during an induction ceremony Sept. 6. Devin Howe, Wade Gebers, Franciso Alejandrez, Manny Ybarra Jr., and the 1997 boys 4x400 boys relay team were recognized during halftime of the Quincy-Selah football game. “I have a lot of good memories,” Ybarra said of his career at QHS. “I remember the good people of Quincy behind us. “It’s fun growing up in a small town,” he said.

Design work begins on Adams County bridge project

RITZVILLE — Construction will start in fall 2025 on the first of six bridges that will be rebuilt to accommodate widening the East Low Canal. Adams County Commissioners awarded a $157,000 contract Tuesday for what Adams County Public Works Director Todd O’Brien called preliminary engineering.

Vantage Bridge work slows I-90 travel

Travelers encouraged to utilize alternate routes while construction continues

VANTAGE — Washington Department of Transportation officials are recommending that drivers look for routes across the state that avoid the Vantage Bridge on interstate 90 on weekends through the end of the construction season in late October. The first weekend of work on the bridge resulted in major traffic delays Friday night.

Syringe program part of larger drug mitigation effort

MOSES LAKE — The complexities that substance abuse leaves in its wake present a challenge to public health organizations as well as individuals and families. Grant County Health District officials work to address the challenge with a program designed to reduce the effects, not only on substance users and the people around them, but also on everybody else.

Jacks fall to Selah in season opener

QUINCY — The return of Quincy Jackrabbits football to the Central Washington Athletic Conference got off to a rocky start with a 59-0 loss to Selah in the season opener Friday at the Quincy High School stadium. “Really rocky,” said Quincy head Coach Russ Elliott. “I don’t think we’ve looked that bad – I can’t remember looking that bad.”

Vernita Bridge resurfacing completed as construction season slows

MATTAWA — An ongoing project to resurface sections of state Route 24 reached the Vernita Bridge yesterday. The bridge was part of a regionwide chip-seal project and was resurfaced Wednesday and Thursday.

Quincy girls soccer brings experience to new league

QUINCY — The Quincy Jackrabbits girls soccer team will take the field with a mix of experience and younger players and a roster of about 50 girls – oh yeah, and they’re going to be competing in a whole new league.

Grant PUD still accepting input on proposed rates

EPHRATA — Grant County Public Utility District customers will have chances to comment on proposed changes to the policy for setting rates at PUD commission meetings in September and October. A revised rate-setting policy proposal is scheduled to be submitted to commissioners in November.