CHERYL SCHWEIZER

Soup on Saturdays

Moses Lake woman finds calling in volunteer project

MOSES LAKE — Trinette Mullineaux said she’s seen some hard times herself, so she wanted to do something to help the people that use the Open Doors Sleep Center in Moses Lake. That’s why she started her volunteer project Soup on Saturdays. “It’s near and dear to my heart to help the homeless,” she said...

Capturing savings

Grant Co. Jail plans to be reviewed for possible cost savings

EPHRATA — Grant County officials and contractors working on the construction of a new Grant County Jail will meet next week for what Grant County Central Services Director Tom Gaines called a value engineering exercise with the goal of cutting costs. “We are already starting to look at value engineering (in the design plans),” Gaines said...

Quincy HS soloists to 'Sing' for the community

QUINCY — Students in the Quincy High School choral department will show their skills in a pair of outdoor concerts at 7 p.m. tonight and Friday at the Quincy Valley Historical Society and Museum, 415 F St. SW...

OPD Chief Phil Schenck retires

OTHELLO — It was through a partnership with the Othello School District that Othello Police Chief Phil Schenck found what he wants to do next.

City council, school board seats on ballot in Adams County

RITZVILLE — Mayoral seats, city councils, school boards and hospital boards are among the offices open for election in Adams County in the November general election. The filing period is May 15-19. Some of the offices come with a filing fee, which must be paid at the time of filing. Residency requirements also are different for different offices. Four Othello City Council seats will be on the ballot in 2023. In Othello all council seats are at-large, open to anyone who lives within the city limits. The incumbents in the four open seats are Angel Garza, Jon Erickson, Mark Snyder and Danae Valdez. Ritzville, Washtucna and Hatton will be choosing mayors in 2023. Linda Kadlec is the incumbent in Ritzville, Rhea Isaac in Hatton and Brian Hille in Washtucna.

Rehaume selected as interim Othello police chief

OTHELLO — Othello Police Department Assistant Chief David Rehaume has been named as the interim chief while city officials conduct a search for a permanent replacement. Rehaume will take over June 1. “He’s been a 30-year-plus member of the Othello Police Department,” said Mayor Shawn Logan prior to Rehaume’s appointment by the Othello City Council. “This will be the second time in the last 10 years that we’ve sworn Dave in as our interim police chief. He certainly knows the department, he certainly knows what is expected and he knows what the responsibilities are.”

School board seats open in all Grant Co. districts

EPHRATA — School board positions in all local districts will be open in the November general election. Filing week for all positions opens May 15 and continues through May 19. All school board positions are nonpartisan. If a position attracts more than two candidates, it will be on the ballot for the Aug. 1 primary election. All seats on the Moses Lake School Board represent specific director districts, and candidates must live within that district to contest the position. Three seats are open in 2023; the incumbents are Shannon Hintz, Susan Freeman and Alana DeGooyer. Hintz represents Director District 1, Freeman Director District 3 and DeGooyer Director District 5. Descriptions of director districts are available on the Moses Lake School District website.

Filing period next week for hospital, port, fire district positions

EPHRATA — Washington has a wide array of publicly-administered districts that manage all kinds of things, from hospitals to airports. Grant County has its share of them, and the filing period for the seats in those districts opens May 15 and will be open through May 19. Some of the positions have filing fees, which are due at the time of filing. Some districts have specific director districts, which means candidates for those seats must live in that director district. Others have some at-large seats, which means candidates can live anywhere in the district. More information on qualifications is available from the Grant County Auditor’s Office. Grant County port districts mostly are involved in economic development, and there are open seats in 10 of them.

Lots of opportunity in FFA, 4-H programs

MOSES LAKE — Medical Lake High School ag teacher and FFA advisor Jennie Wagner said some of the people in the Medical Lake HS FFA chapter will go on to careers in agriculture, and some of them won’t. All of them, however, have picked up important skills through FFA - something that’s also true of the young people in the 4-H clubs she used to lead. “I think people, a lot of times, think FFA is just all those kids (raising) animals, or they wear those blue jackets,” Wagner said. “But what it really does is, it allows them to try things out in a safe environment and have experiences they wouldn’t get (in other clubs). Because it covers so many avenues, from public speaking to learning parliamentary procedure, raising animals, evaluating livestock, just tons of stuff.” ...

City council seats open in all Grant County towns in November election

EPHRATA — Mayoral and city council seats throughout Grant County will be on the ballot in the November 2023 general election. Candidate filing week will be May 15-19. All city council positions are non-partisan. Some seats have a filing fee, which must be paid at the time of filing.

Samaritan financial picture improving

MOSES LAKE — After a couple of financially challenging years, Samaritan Healthcare’s fiscal picture seems to be improving. Chief Executive Officer Alex Town, reviewing the financial results for March, said the hospital generated a net income gain of about $1.2 million for the first three months of the year. “For us, in my opinion, (the March financial report) sets the tone that we are finally hitting the curve and heading in the right direction,” he said...

Wahluke students eye opportunities on Outdoor Career Day

MATTAWA — There are many different ways to find and train for a career, and there are lots of careers out there. That includes jobs young people might never have considered. Showing young people what’s possible is part of the motivation behind Outdoor Career Day at Wahluke High School.

Othello council approves dispatch service agreements

OTHELLO — If all agencies approve the interlocal agreements, the city of Othello will continue to provide dispatch services for Adams County Fire District 5 and Othello Community Hospital, but the cost will go up. Othello City Council members unanimously approved dispatch agreements with both agencies Monday. “This three-year agreement includes an increase of 8% in 2023, and 3% in 2024 and 2025,” David Rehaume, Othello Police Department assistant chief, told council members. “This increase is necessary due to our increased costs for personnel.” ...

Candidate filing opens May 15

RITZVILLE/EPHRATA — Positions on city and town councils, school boards, fire and hospital districts will be among the offices open for election in November 2023. Filing week for those positions begins May 15, but people can file by mail from now until the end of the filing week, according to information from the Grant County Auditor’s Office. City council seats are open in every community in Grant and Adams counties, along with the mayor’s jobs in Mattawa, George, Soap Lake, Grand Coulee, Warden, Ritzville, Hatton and Washtucna. Positions also will be up for election in local school districts, most hospital and fire districts, and most port districts...

Grant PUD recreation surveys begin this month

EPHRATA — Starting this month, people using Grant County Public Utility District recreation facilities will be asked to participate in an in-person survey. Shannon Lowry, PUD license compliance and lands services manager, said it’s a survey the PUD is required to conduct every three years. “This is a big year for us,” Lowry told PUD commissioners April 11. “We’ll spend a lot of time out there talking to people.” ...

Looking back

Information sought on a long-gone piece of Moses Lake history

MOSES LAKE — In 1940 Moses Lake was a tiny little farm town that had, as they say, a lot of potential. By 1960 Moses Lake realized some of that potential, and the local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter is looking for people to help document one of the major signs of that growth - one that has completely disappeared. Stephanie Massart, a member of the DAR Karneetsa chapter, said its members are hoping to hear from people who remember Victory Village...

Design of new Quincy Valley Medical Center released

QUINCY — Cost estimates for the new Quincy Valley Medical Center should be available by mid-May. Preliminary exterior design drawings of the building were released late last week, and hospital officials will be hiring electrical and mechanical contractors. “It definitely feels real now,” said QVMC commissioner Anthony Fernandez during an April 24 meeting of the hospital district commission. Hospital district voters approved a construction bond for up to $55 million in August 2022.

Moses Lake FFA plant sale does brisk business

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake High School FFA co-advisor Tony Kern, busy helping a customer, had a one-word reaction to the early Friday morning crowd at the annual FFA plant sale. “Incredible,” Kern said.

'The work really now begins'

Groundbreaking could come in late summer for new Samaritan Hospital

MOSES LAKE — The dirt won’t be flying for a while, but the work will ramp up on the construction of the new Samaritan Hospital. “The work really now begins,” said Chief Administrative Officer Alex Town...

Mountain View Elementary to get cooling upgrade

QUINCY — The cooling system at Mountain View Elementary will get an upgrade during the summer. Quincy School Board members voted Tuesday to award a $383,838 contract to a Kennewick company for new system components...

Voters approving Samaritan Hospital construction bond

MOSES LAKE — A $130 million construction bond request to pay part of the cost of a new Samaritan Hospital is being approved by hospital district voters. “On behalf of our board, the staff and all of us at Samaritan Healthcare, we are grateful for the incredible support from our community,” said Chief Executive Officer Theresa Sullivan in a statement Wednesday morning. “Thank you.” ...

Huskies dance team brings home second straight state title

OTHELLO — A state-winning dance routine takes commitment and discipline, a team that’s ready for 6 a.m. practices - no, not 6 a.m. for the Othello High School dance team. “Five a.m.,” five members of the team said in unison...

'Super crucial'

Local plant sales support Future Farmers of America, ag programs in local schools.

MOSES LAKE — Gardeners can get a head start on their flower arrangements and vegetable gardens, and help a good cause besides, this weekend. Future Farmers of America chapters in Moses Lake, Quincy, Othello and Ephrata are sponsoring their annual plant sales, with the money raised going to chapter activities and to restock the greenhouse next year. “It’s super-crucial,” said Moses Lake High School FFA member Samantha Underwood. “It funds almost everything. Every profit that comes out of this greenhouse goes back to FFA (or) back into our sale next year.” ...

Mattawa awards well rehabilitation contract

MATTAWA — A Mattawa city well that had stopped working will be put back in service. Mattawa City Council members voted unanimously Thursday to award a contract of about $185,000 to Empire Well Drilling, Wenatchee, to start working on rehabilitation of the well located in Hund Memorial Park. “The bad news is, you got one bid. The good news is, it was pretty close to what we thought the project was going to cost,” said Steven Wagner of Gray & Osborne, the consulting engineers for the project...

Stopping time

Grant County Historical Society and Museum opens May 5

EPHRATA — The Grant County Historical Society and Museum will open for the 2023 season May 5. The museum’s main building is only the first stop of its extensive collection – and its collection is not just exhibits on a shelf. It’s full-fledged buildings, some of them original. “We have 37 buildings out there,” said museum employee Patty Thornton.

Grant PUD finishes 2022 in the black

EPHRATA —The Grant County PUD both generated more revenue and spent more in 2022 than the forecasts in its 2022 budget. John Mertlich, senior manager of financial planning and analysis, said the PUD finished the year about $90.4 million in the black. The 2022 budget projected the PUD would finish the year with about $76 million in the black...

Royal recognition

Hard work pays off with state titles for Knights dance team

ROYAL CITY — Royal High School dance coach Makynlee Myrick said winning a state title is sweet, and community recognition makes it even sweeter. The Knights brought home their second straight state title in 1A/2A/3A military dance competition and finished second in the kick competition. “It’s really cool to get recognition from our town,” Myrick said. “Dance has never been a big thing in our community, so I feel like the state titles have gotten our girls recognition for all the hard work they’ve put in. People are noticing these girls are really talented and that we’ve built up a program over the years.” ...

Donations about $59,800 for Friends of Healthcare campaign

MOSES LAKE — As of Friday, the Friends of Healthcare committee had spent about $43,700, over half in in-kind contributions, according to the Washington Public Disclosure Commission. The committee was formed in support of the construction bond request submitted to voters by Samaritan Healthcare.

Repairs approved for Quincy Aquatic Center

QUINCY — The intricate process of building a new Quincy Aquatic Center is underway – in a way – and in the meantime, a section of the existing pool will be getting some repairs after Quincy City Council members approved purchasing a new water heating system for the water slide section of the pool. “As many of you remember, the 22-year-old boiler on the slide side quit running the last couple weeks of the summer last year,” explained Russ Harrington, the city’s recreation director...

Quincy man sought in connection with East Wenatchee murder

EAST WENATCHEE — A Quincy man is being sought by Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies in connection with an April 17 shooting that left an East Wenatchee man dead. Juan Carlos Vasquez-Hernandez, 35, is being sought on charges of complicity in second-degree murder.

Community honor

Longtime volunteer recognized with ‘Pride of Quincy’ award

QUINCY — Charles Sepulveda Sr., a longtime Quincy resident and volunteer, who Mayor Paul Worley said had a big impact on the community, was honored at the Quincy City Council meeting Tuesday. “The ‘Pride of Quincy’ is an honor to remind people of someone from the community who’s really done something, participated and made Quincy a better place,” Worley said...

4 to vie for title

Contestants will take to the dais over the weekend for the Moses Lake Distinguished Young Woman program Saturday

MOSES LAKE — The title of Moses Lake Distinguished Young Woman will go to one of four high school juniors at the annual program scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at the Moses Lake High School theater, 803 E. Sharon Ave...

Mavs athletes sign college letters of intent

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake High School senior Sydney Macdonald will be running track for Eastern Washington University next year, and her twin brother Blaine will be playing baseball for Big Bend Community College. The Macdonalds signed letters of intent for their respective colleges Wednesday. “I’ll be doing the heptathlon,” Sydney Macdonald said...

Dress Express helps make memorable prom

MATTAWA — Johanna Bucio had a hard time coming to a decision on her dress for the Wahluke High School prom - there were so many choices. In the end she chose a short dress in a deep cinnamon red, with layers of tulle in the skirt that gave it some drama. It wasn’t sparkly; the bag and shoes she chose will provide that. “I like the color,” she said...

Construction begins on new Othello EMS facility

OTHELLO — For years, Othello Emergency Medical Services administrators saved money for a new ambulance hall, and on Monday EMS and Othello Community Hospital officials broke ground on the new facility. Jim Lomax, EMS coordinator, paid tribute to the EMS crew. “My wonderful staff, who have supported me so well for so long and made me look good,” Lomax said as he introduced them. “They do an awesome job under the worst circumstances, and they all deserve this wonderful place.” The project budget is $4.2 million, Lomax said. For that money, OCH and the EMS crew will get a significantly bigger ambulance hall...

Vantage Bridge to be resurfaced

Construction work on I-90 crossing of Columbia River starts this year, continues to 2026

VANTAGE — Preliminary work, with some minor impacts on traffic, will begin later this summer on a project to replace the road surface of the Vantage Bridge. The major work - which will have major effects on traffic - begins in spring 2024 and will continue through fall 2026...

Substantial vehicle purchases recommended for MLSD

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District should start buying some vehicles, not just buses but also work trucks and vans, district officials said during the Moses Lake School Board meeting Thursday. “The moral of the story is that (the district’s transportation fleet) is aging,” said Jeremy O’Neil, the district’s chief operations officer. “Investments need to happen.”

Mollahiettes reign on

MLHS dance and drill team brings home two state championships

MOSES LAKE — It is one of the ironies of state competition that the biggest meet of the year is also the last performance for the team - the last one ever. Molahiettes team co-captain Payten Chlarson said that fact struck home as the team waited to perform at the WIAA Dance/Drill State Championship last month. “When we’re on deck, that’s when you realize that’s your last time doing that routine,” Chlarson said. “The last time you’re ever going to be on the floor with that team and that group of girls, (and) especially for the seniors, the last time you’re ever going to be on the floor. So it was like a bittersweet thing. But it’s nice knowing that you worked so hard to get to that point where you can go out on the floor. So it’s a good feeling.” ...

Painting the town

Street painting project part of efforts to spruce up Quincy downtown street

QUINCY — The downtown project designed to spruce up Quincy’s Central Avenue South started at street level. Artwork, literally at the street level, was painted on Central Avenue in Quincy based on plans to spruce up downtown. “What really inspired it was the revitalization plan that the city of Quincy has, which mentioned adding a mural to these intersections, as well as some gateway features,” Marissa Lopez of the Better Block Foundation said. Volunteers and employees of a Dallas-based organization were out in the middle of Central Avenue Thursday morning, carefully taping off squares and triangles in the intersection at C Street SE and Central. Paint rollers in hand, volunteers and Better Block employees were filling in the design with bright orange and blue, yellow and green paint. The crews spent part of Wednesday afternoon installing signs and sculptures at three downtown intersections. Lopez said the company was in Quincy a couple of years ago, painting the street along B Street SE and sponsoring the first B Street block party. The company was hired for the return project.

Quincy Schools buildings go on the market

QUINCY — Quincy School District officials will start advertising the existing district office and the former support services buildings for sale. A public hearing on the proposed sale at the Quincy School Board meeting Tuesday didn’t generate any comment for or against it...

New basketball court coming to Mattawa

MATTAWA — Mattawa’s Hund Memorial Park will get a new basketball court through a partnership between the city and the Paul Lauzier Foundation. Mattawa City Council members approved the purchase of basketball hoops for the project at a regular meeting Thursday. Public Works Director Juan Ledesma said buying hoops was part of the city’s responsibility for the project. “How it’s built into the bid packet was that we would provide (the hoops) for them,” Ledesma said...

Traffic revision will make Quincy street right turn only

QUINCY — Signs are scheduled to start going up this week on a traffic revision at the intersection of State Route 28 and First Avenue SW in Quincy that will eliminate left turns onto SR 28 from First Avenue SW. That section of SR 28, where it runs through Quincy, also is designated as F Street SW...

Othello continues water project research

OTHELLO — Water supply and getting additional water were the subject of a substantial discussion at Monday’s Othello City Council meeting. Council members approved a $25,000 contract with Aspect Consulting LLC, and council member John Lallas said the contracted services will build on work already done. “This is in addition to the previous study we already paid for,” Lallas said. “They compiled a bunch of data. Now they’ve got to do further work with that data to satisfy the requirements of continuing (the project).” ...

Fire season approaching

Preparation can help reduce the potential for damage from wildfires, say firefighters.

MOSES LAKE — It’s spring at last - sun, warmer temperatures, longer days. Unfortunately, spring brings with it an increased risk of wildfires, even in early spring. “We’re starting to have wildland fires and we’re in April. The vegetation is starting to dry out,” said Cpt. Travis Svilar of Grant County Fire District 5. People whose residences could be vulnerable to wildfire can - and should - take precautions to make their property less susceptible, according to local fire officials. Grant County Fire District 3 Chief Tony Leibelt said the potential for people to get in the way of a fire has increased as development has pushed further and further into previously undeveloped land. He cited the Wenatchee area as an example, with more homes being developed among stands of trees...

Changes recommended to Quincy sewer accounting

QUINCY — Auditors with the Washington Auditor’s Office recommended city of Quincy officials “strengthen internal controls” over billing for its wastewater treatment system in a management letter attached to the city’s 2020-21 audit released last week...

Samaritan Healthcare construction bond goes to voters

MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare voters will be asked to approve or reject a $130 million construction bond request in a special election April 25. Ballots were mailed to voters late last week, according to officials at the Grant County Auditor’s Office. If the bond is approved, property owners would pay $1.10 per $1,000 of assessed property value. If it’s approved, the owner of land assessed at 250,000 would pay $275 per year, and the owners of property assessed at $300,000 would pay $330 per year. The bond has a 30-year payback provision. Samaritan Hospital commissioners voted to approve the construction of a new hospital in October 2018. Chief Executive Officer Theresa Sullivan said that originally district officials and commissioners thought a bond wouldn’t be required to help pay for the project...

Relevant classic

Mavs drama students to present ‘Little Women’

MOSES LAKE — The classic tale of four sisters growing to adulthood comes to the Moses Lake High School stage this week. The MLHS production of “Little Women” opens Friday at the theater, 803 E. Sharon Ave. “Little Women” is the story of the March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, growing up in a small Massachusetts town during the Civil War. The family has its challenges - their father is a military chaplain, off on the front lines, and even when he’s home there’s not enough money...

Quincy’s main street to get new look

QUINCY — Central Avenue North in Quincy will get a new color scheme next week. Volunteers will be painting the street and storefronts and adding planters and benches along Central Avenue April 12 and 13. Cari Mathews, executive director of the Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce, said the project is a joint effort between the Chamber, the Better Block organization of Dallas, Texas, and Microsoft. “Wednesday and Thursday we’ll be painting the streets,” she said...

Interstate 90 interchanges to be repaved

MOSES LAKE — Work is scheduled to start sometime in April on a Washington State Department of Transportation project to repave six traffic interchanges - on-ramps and off-ramps - along Interstate 90 between Quincy and Warden. Jeff Deal, WSDOT engineer on the project, wrote in an email to the Herald that most work along I-90 in Grant County would be the interchange repaving.

Othello, Mattawa, Ritzville projects included in House, Senate capital budgets

MATTAWA — Projects in Mattawa, Othello and Ritzville could receive funding through the Washington Legislature’s biennial 2023-25 capital budget. Capital budget proposals for each legislative district were released by the Washington House and Senate last week. The budgets released last week are proposals only; the projects that make the final list will depend on negotiations between the House and Senate. House and Senate capital budget proposals differ because each chamber has different spending limits.