CHERYL SCHWEIZER

Schoesler arrested, cited for DUI

RITZVILLE — Washington State Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, was cited for DUI after he attempted to leave the Wheat Land Fairgrounds Saturday evening.

Work progressing quickly on new Quincy hospital

QUINCY — If the project stays on schedule, the new Quincy Valley Medical Center should be treating patients by summer 2025. Project manager Joe Kunkel said there’s progress outside and inside the new building.

Vantage Bridge construction to shift to seven days per week

VANTAGE — The unofficial end of summer also means the winding down of most road construction projects, but some are still ongoing and drivers should plan for some delays through the end of October.

Quincy football coach thinks players can meet challenges of new league

QUINCY — It’s not only a new season but a whole new league for the Quincy football team. Coach Russ Elliott said the Jackrabbits’ success or failure might be more about themselves than their opponents.

Huskie football team looking to return to state playoffs

OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies started the 2023 football season with a team dominated by sophomores and a lot of unknowns; they finished with a 7-3 record and a state playoff appearance. So, in 2024, Othello starts with high expectations and – well, some unknowns.

2 arrested for suspected car theft, assault in Quincy

QUINCY — A Moses Lake man and Moses Lake teen were arrested on suspicion of robbery and assault after they allegedly stole a car, crashed it and ran away, with one suspect knocking on doors in a Quincy neighborhood asking for a ride.

Samaritan construction remains on schedule, on budget

MOSES LAKE — If construction of Samaritan Hospital stays on schedule, the first patients will be treated in the new facility in early March 2026. Joe Kunkel, a consultant on the project since its inception, told Samaritan commissioners Tuesday that planning for the move will start soon.

Quincy to study possible water project partnership

QUINCY — The city of Quincy could be working with two local businesses to build a facility to treat water used in food processing. The city will sign an application for a $20 million grant as part of a project with Ag-Iris, a consortium representing Quincy Foods and Lamb-Weston.

Longtime Ritzville Police Chief to retire Sept. 30

RITZVILLE — A first review of applications for the job of Ritzville Police Chief is scheduled for Sept. 3. Ritzville Mayor Scott Yaeger said there are three applicants. The new chief will replace longtime Chief David McCormick, who announced his retirement earlier this year.

Royal SD adapting to declines in enrollment

Administration adjusts budget to address decline in student body

ROYAL CITY — Royal School District officials are projecting lower enrollment for the 2024-25 school year. The budget approved by the Royal School Board projects enrollment at the equivalent of 1,611 students, about 14 students below the 2023-24 budget and 22 students below actual average enrollment for the last school year. District superintendent Roger Trail said smaller enrollments may be the wave of the future.

Boys & Girls Clubs will continue at MLSD

Memorandum worked out between organizations to support after-school programming.

MOSES LAKE — Officials from the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin and the Moses Lake School District are scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding later this week allowing operation of the Boys and Girls Clubs locations at four MLSD elementary schools.

Warden School District unveils updated strategic plan

WARDEN — The Back-to-School open house for Warden School District students included a look at the district’s updated strategic plan. Warden Superintendent Scott West said the plan’s goal is to ensure Warden students can do what they want when they leave school.

Enrollment decline projected in Othello School District budget

OTHELLO — Othello School District officials are projecting lower enrollment for the 2024-25 school year and expect enrollment to keep decreasing in the future. District officials will sponsor a question-and-answer session on the 2024-25 budget for Othello School Board members and district patrons 1 p.m. Thursday in the district office, 1025 South First Ave. Amy Suarez, OSD executive director of business services, said it’s time to start looking at the future and getting ready for it. “I want to take you back to last year when we said, ‘We’re going to kick the rock down the road a little bit.’ This year we’re going to pretend that rock is a soda can. What happens when you kick it down the road? It explodes and goes everywhere. That’s what we’re trying to prevent,” Suarez said during a budget presentation Aug. 12.

Moses Lake Education Association approves agreement with MLSD

MOSES LAKE — Members of the union representing Moses Lake School District teaching (certificated) staff approved a one-year agreement Tuesday with the Moses Lake School District for the 2024-25 school year. With the union approval, the memorandum of understanding is submitted to the Moses Lake School Board; a vote to approve or reject is on the MLSB Aug. 22 agenda. Moses Lake Education Association President Heather Whittall said 388 teachers, about 90% of MLEA members, cast a vote.

Quincy SD implements AI policy, other districts exploring similar action

QUINCY — The Quincy School District will add the use of artificial intelligence to the list of online uses subject to district policy, beginning with the 2024-25 school year. The rise of AI presents challenges for schools that QSD officials said needed addressing, and school districts across the Columbia Basin are reviewing policies and determining how they want to address it.

Quincy School District to restrict use of cell phones

QUINCY — Student use of cell phones in the Quincy School District will be restricted during the school day under the provisions of a new policy to be implemented Nov. 12. “We would kick it off right after parent conferences,” said Quincy Middle School Principal Scott Ramsey during a presentation at the Aug. 13 Quincy School Board meeting. Quincy Superintendent Nik Bergman said different restrictions will be implemented at different grade levels.

Workshop on Grant PUD rate policy Tuesday

EPHRATA — Grant County Public Utility District customers are being invited to attend a workshop on future electrical rates and rate-setting policy at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the PUD main office in Ephrata, 30 C St. SW.

Little change in enrollment forecast in Quincy School District 2024-25 budget

QUINCY — Quincy School District officials are estimating enrollment will not change much between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years. The 2024-25 QSD budget estimates enrollment at the equivalent of about 3,100 students.

‘It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year’

Effort by nonprofit food vendors at Grant County Fair yields good return

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Lions lion ears were a hit. “I’ve been waiting for these,” a customer said, as she sat down at the picnic table.

ROAD REPORT: Repaving work underway on Road H SE

POTHOLES RESERVOIR — Drivers thinking of using Road H Southeast between Potholes Reservoir and Othello should be prepared for delays as the road gets rebuilt.

MLSD, Teachers Association reach tentative agreement

MOSES LAKE — Members of the union representing Moses Lake School District teachers will vote Aug. 20 on a tentative agreement with the district. Depending on the outcome of the teachers’ vote, the agreement could be considered by the Moses Lake School Board at its Aug. 22 meeting.

Wilson Creek School District to implement four-day week

WILSON CREEK — The Wilson Creek School District will hold classes four days per week for the 2024-25 school year. Students will attend classes Monday through Thursday, with the school day beginning a few minutes earlier and ending a few minutes later.

Experienced eye, cool head needed in lamb competition

MOSES LAKE — That lamb just would not behave. It didn’t want to enter the arena for market lamb competition. It didn’t want to follow the other lambs as the judge sent them around in a circle. Its owner, Liam Segura Jones, tugged and pushed, and the lamb pushed back and escaped.

Othello to start municipal fire department

OTHELLO — The city of Othello will be starting its own fire department before May 2026, when its current contract with Adams County Fire District 5 expires. A proposed increase in the contract price for 2024 and beyond and resulting negotiations went to mediation.

Grant County Fair opens today for five-day run

MOSES LAKE — Measuring the ingredients for the first batch of elephant ears – no, no, Lion ears – was not an exact science. The proportions of spices added to the mix might’ve been off a little bit. But Susan Hickok, who was leading a refresher for the volunteers in the Moses Lake Lions Club booth at the Grant County Fairgrounds Monday morning, was philosophical. “It’s day one. That’s how it is,” Hickok said. The Lions were installing their cash register, vendors were working to set up their booths in the Commercial Building, entries were being dropped off in the Agriculture and Arts and Crafts buildings. The Grant County Fair starts its 2024 run today.

Wenatchee Valley Medical Group makes $25,000 CAA donation

MOSES LAKE — A $25,000 donation from the Wenatchee Valley Medical Group helped push a fundraising effort for Moses Lake School District's extracurricular activities to the $450,000 mark. The group leading the fundraising drive, Community Athletics and Activities, began raising money in late June, following the rejection of an educational programs and activities levy proposal. Typically all extracurricular activities are funded through the levy. Luther Thompson, a family practice physician at the Confluence Health clinic in Moses Lake, said WVMG is the largest physician group in the Confluence Health system. Thompson is a member of the board, and said the initiative came from the physicians in Moses Lake.

Grant County Sheriff’s Office recommends safety measures for GC Fair

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office will be giving out free wristbands to parents and guardians who stop by the GCSO booth at the Grant County Fair. Family members will be asked to write the phone number of the child’s caregiver on the wristband to make it easier to reunite children and their families if somebody goes astray. It’s one of the safety tips released Monday by Kyle Foreman, GCSO public information officer. Foreman also suggested parents and caregivers take pictures of their children when entering the fairgrounds, another way to identify any children that get lost.

Ceremony at Ephrata Armory signals change of command

EPHRATA — Golf Company, the Ephrata unit of the Washington Army National Guard, received a new commander in a ceremony Saturday morning that included a literal handing over of the unit emblem

Back to school

Quincy students get ready for school at health fair, school opening dates announced

QUINCY — There’s still some summer left, but it won’t be long. Quincy Community Health Center helped children and families get ready for school with backpacks and pencils, health and resource information, fire hats and the chicken dance at the Back-to-School Health Fair Tuesday. Mary Jo Ybarra-Vega, outreach and behavioral health coordinator for QCHC, said it’s of of the organization’s recognition of National Health Center Week, and a longtime tradition in Quincy. “Every year we do a back-to-school health fair, and we’ve been doing it, I think, 20 years now,” she said.

Moses Lake Industries donation helps ML fundraising effort reach first goal

MOSES LAKE — A $55,000 donation from Moses Lake Industries helped an organization raising money to support extracurricular activities in the Moses Lake School District to reach its first – but not its last – milestone. Ryan Carpenter, president of the Community Athletics and Activities organization, said the donation guarantees that extracurricular groups will have enough money for their activities in the 2024-25 school year. “We have our base budget goals met,” said CAA secretary Eva Olson. While announcing the donation Friday, MLI President Hiroyuki Era said his family moved to Moses Lake when his children were in elementary school.

Most primary races unchanged as more votes counted

Voter turnout remains low in Grant, Adams counties

EPHRATA — Most primary election races in Grant and Adams counties remain unchanged after additional votes were counted during the week.

Chip-sealing scheduled for SR 26 next week

OTHELLO — Drivers on State Route 26 between Othello and Vantage should be ready for occasional delays starting Monday through Aug. 22 as construction crews work on pavement repair. “Travelers will encounter pilot cars and flagger-controlled traffic while contractors perform chip sealing work during daylight hours,” wrote Sebastian Moraga, communications officer for the Washington Department of Transportation.

Grant PUD seeks public input on rate policy changes

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD customers are being invited to give their opinions about proposed changes to rate-setting policy during August and early September. Public comments can be submitted now through the PUD website, and at the PUD commission meeting Aug. 13 for starters.

Soap Lake School District approves '24-25 budget

SOAP LAKE — While Soap Lake School District officials expect to have the equivalent of 455 students from kindergarten through high school during the 2024-25 school year. The Soap Lake School Board approved the budget at a special meeting July 29.

Primary voters choose gubernatorial, congressional candidates

Both major parties frustrated with lack of voter turnout for Tuesday election.

MOSES LAKE — Washington voters chose candidates for governor, U.S. Senator and House of Representative seats, along with other state offices, in the primary election Tuesday. Grant and Adams County voters each cast ballots for two county commission races.

Changes planned for Wahluke elementary schools

MATTAWA — Elementary school will look a little different in the Wahluke School District this fall. District officials will divide elementary students by grade levels with each of the three elementary schools housing different grades.

Hourathon fundraiser brings in $100K to support MLSD students

MOSES LAKE —The total kept climbing – about $44,000 after half an hour. Ten minutes later Moses Lake High School and Vanguard Academy students had broken the $50,000 barrier and then some. “Fifty-five thousand, one hundred (dollars),” said Manny Melo, who was keeping track of the running tally during the “Hourathon” Monday night in the MLHS gym. “Nice work.”

Moses Lake man arrested in connection with November murder

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man has been apprehended in California by the U.S. Marshal’s Service in connection with a November 2023 murder in Montlake Park.

Primary ballots due today

Commissioners, other offices on Grant, Adams election rosters

EPHRATA/RITZVILLE — Voters will narrow the field for a number of state offices in the primary election, but most local offices only have one or two candidates. Ballots must be returned today by 8 p.m. or postmarked with today’s date.

New Soap Lake superintendent happy to be back, focused on wise budgeting

SOAP LAKE — New Soap Lake School District Superintendent Angela Rolfe said she and her administration are focused on responsible budgeting and that she's glad to be back in the district. “The Soap Lake School District has really always felt like home to me, so I was really excited to be able to come back,” Rolfe said.

Energy production focus of Newhouse visit

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners met with US Congressman Dan Newhouse Thursday to discuss the permitting process for a small modular nuclear reactor and some of the challenges and concerns that come along with the project. Newhouse also toured the Port of Moses Lake to discuss the need for energy and how to produce it.

Wahluke balances budget

Declining enrollment leads to reduced income, fewer staff and options

MATTAWA — The Wahluke School District will not have to use any of its reserves for operations in the 2024-25 school year, but declining enrollment required staff reductions to meet that target. For 2024-25, the district general fund is budgeted at about $50.92 million. The general fund pays for most school operations, from staff salaries to buying supplies.

ROAD REPORT: Soap Lake streets projects underway

Other transportation projects continue statewide

SOAP LAKE — Curbs and gutters are going in along a section of Soap Lake streets that provide access to East Beach Park. The curbs and sidewalks are part of an upgrade to the streets next to the park, which includes paving sections of First Avenue Northeast and North Canna Street.

Othello pool issue requires transparency, committee chair says

OTHELLO — Chris Dorow said he wants the process followed by the community group looking at options for a possible new Othello swimming pool to be as transparent as possible. Dorow is the chair of the “Aquatic Task Force,” which was formed after city officials announced the pool would not open in 2024 due to damage that may have been caused by faulty construction. The damage was discovered in April.

New QVMC about halfway to opening day

QUINCY — After 11 months, the new Quincy Valley Medical Center is about halfway to its opening day. Groundbreaking on the project was September 2023, and Project Manager Joe Kunkel said the new QVMC will be open for business early next summer.

‘Hourathon’ fundraiser Monday to support MLSD athletics, activities

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake High School students will be on the phones Monday evening raising as much money as they can to help pay for extracurricular activities in the 2024-25 school year. Students will be setting up in the MLHS gym and hitting the phones from 7 to 8 p.m.

Othello pool issue remains undecided

OTHELLO — A report detailing the damage to the Othello Community Swimming Pool should be delivered to city officials in a few weeks. Othello Mayor Shawn Logan said the pool was evaluated July 26 by an engineer with the city’s insurance company.

Othello council accepts annexation request

OTHELLO — A request to annex about 750 acres into the city of Othello along Bench Road will be considered by the Othello City Council. Council members voted to allow Skone and Connors Partners LLC to move forward with its request at its July 22 council meeting.

Two Moses Lake gravel streets to be paved

MOSES LAKE — Sections of two gravel roads in Moses Lake will be paved with storm drains, curbs, gutters and sidewalks added next month. A contract for about $798,800 for the work was awarded July 9 to Hurst Construction, Wenatchee. The project also includes site preparation for additional streetlights and other infrastructure improvements.

Exterior, interior construction on schedule at new Samaritan Hospital

MOSES LAKE — Exterior insulation is almost installed, the exterior water barrier is making its way around the building, and windows are being installed in some sections of the new Samaritan Hospital. “There is a lot of work going on right now,” said Abram Jenks of the Klosh Group, the consultants working with Samaritan Healthcare on the construction of the new hospital. “There are over 180 people (working on site).”