CHERYL SCHWEIZER

Grant County Jail construction second phase start dependent on permit approvals

EPHRATA — The first phase of construction of the new Grant County Jail - demolition and site preparation - was supposed to start next week, but cooperative weather meant the project actually started in late January. Grant County Central Services Director Tom Gaines said footings, foundations and walls tentatively are scheduled to start going up in March or April. When foundations will start going in and walls going up depends on the approval of a state-required environmental review. That process is still ongoing. “We’re digging the sewer line right now,” Gaines said. “A lot of the demolition is done.” The new jail will be at the location of the old Ephrata Raceway, at the intersection of State Route 282 and Nat Washington Way. The track and pits, the bleachers, the announcer booth and the concession stand have all been removed. As an old racetrack the site had contaminated dirt that had to be removed, Gaines said, and all that work is completed too.

Moses Lake, Wahluke levees failing in updated election results

EPHRATA — A two-year educational programs and operations levy in the Moses Lake School District is failing, and so is a capital levy proposal in the Wahluke School District, in updated vote totals from the Feb. 13 special election released Friday afternoon.

Quincy schools take a close look at security

QUINCY — Presentations for Quincy School District parents and secondary students on what to do in the case of a shooter at school are scheduled for March 27 and 28. Jesus Villahermosa, a nationally recognized expert, will talk to students March 27 and parents and district patrons March 28.

Young Life group wants to encourage connection

MOSES LAKE — Christopher Voigt and Lisa Naydenov said the goal of the Young Life group they lead is to connect with teens who otherwise might not have many connections. “I guess nowadays, kids don’t really have a sense of belonging,” Voigt said. “They’re friends with everyone on social media, but they don’t have that tight-knit group of friends in person. We want to be (a resource) for the kids in relationship building. Our goal is to build relationships with kids who may not have in-person relationships otherwise.” Naydenov said it’s rooted in the Christian faith and is open to all teens, regardless of personal beliefs. “It’s a faith-based organization. We are adults trying to get into the kids’ world, trying to meet them where they are. We try to get to know them, to earn trust with them, to walk beside them in life,” she said.

Tabletop exercise discusses expectations and responses for when the unthinkable happens

EPHRATA — Emergencies do not respect time or place, and sometimes the unthinkable happens. Ephrata School District officials already have thought about the response if the unthinkable happened at Ephrata High School, but how would they get the information out to parents and district patrons? Getting the word out was the subject of a tabletop exercise with ESD officials, law enforcement and firefighters and the district’s insurance carriers Thursday.

Silica Road Northwest, West Baseline Road work to start in March

QUINCY — Drivers in the area of Silica Road Northwest, West Baseline Road and Sunland Estates will experience traffic delays beginning in mid-March. Construction crews will widen a section of Baseline Road and a section of Silica Road, along with resurfacing another section of Silica Road, all around the Gorge Amphitheater. “So come mid-March, you’ll see that we’re already doing prep work on (West) Baseline, east of Silica (Road), about a mile,” said David Bren, Grant County engineer. “Because we’re going to widen Baseline and add a center lane – a queuing lane, a turning lane – too. So Baseline is going to be redone and widened, and it’s going to be restriped so it has a center turning lane.” Silica Road north and south of the entrance to the amphitheater also will get some work.

Soap Lake reviewing shoreline development regulations

SOAP LAKE — More research is underway, but when it’s done Soap Lake residents will get a chance to register their opinions on updated development regulations along the lake shoreline.

Ephrata 2nd, Royal 3rd, Quincy 4th in Region 4 girls wrestling

QUINCY — The Ephrata, Royal and Quincy girls wrestling teams finished second, third and fourth in the Region 4 2A/1A/2B/1B tournament Saturday at Quincy High School. The Wahluke girls took home a 12th-place finish.

Three Quincy wrestlers advance to state

QUINCY — The Quincy Jackrabbits boys wrestling team qualified three wrestlers for Mat Classic XXXV at the Region 4 1A tournament at QHS last Saturday.

A challenging game

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School Board member Amy Breitenstein tries - and alas, fails - to pull the paper from between two cups, one of the games school board members played with Endeavor Middle School students at the regular meeting Thursday. A busload of EMS students came to the meeting with teachers, staff and EMS principal Abe Ramirez to give a presentation on the school to board members.

Counselors detail MLSD bullying prevention efforts

MOSES LAKE — Counselors reviewed programs used by the Moses Lake School District to combat bullying in a presentation to the Moses Lake School Board Thursday. “I can tell you with assurance that all counselors employed by the Moses Lake School District care very deeply about this topic,” said Columbia Middle School counselor Chris Mason.

Success celebration

Moses Lake students celebrate hard work, overcome challenges at Open Doors graduation

MOSES LAKE — The diploma Kadence Spencer received Thursday night was the visible symbol of hard work and success.

Busy summer of roadwork coming to Soap Lake

SOAP LAKE — It’s going to be a bumpy ride in and through Soap Lake this summer, literally and figuratively. City streets are scheduled for extensive repairs and new crosswalk lights, and a major project is scheduled for state Route 17, just north of the city limits.

Quincy City Council scrutinizes fire agreement

QUINCY — Determining how much to pay for fire protection services was the subject of a lengthy discussion at the regular Quincy City Council meeting Tuesday.

Olympic stumble: Rent control bill passes House appropriations, fails in Senate appropriations

OLYMPIA — Legislation that would place a limit on raises in rent in Washington faces an uncertain future after a bill failed to advance in the Washington Senate.

Bullying at Frontier points toward frustrations for parents

MOSES LAKE — Harassment or bullying at school often leads to unknown territory for parents, who don’t always know what school officials can do, and may not be able to find out what they are doing. School officials can’t always answer parents’ questions, even in the case of recurring incidents.

Royal girls dominate in win, take league title

ROYAL CITY — The Royal girls basketball team dominated from the opening tip, taking a 75-25 win over the Wahluke girls Friday.

Multi-decade Grant PUD project three-quarters complete

EPHRATA — A decades-long project to upgrade turbines and generator units for both dams owned and operated by the Grant County PUD is three-quarters complete. Upgrades to the fifth of 10 generator-turbine combinations at Priest Rapids Dam are done.

Hard-fought Royal-Wahluke game ends in 50-42 Knights victory

ROYAL CITY — A lot of times intense, hard-fought games come down to one or two things that do or don’t go right. In Royal’s 50-42 boys basketball win over Wahluke Friday, Knights coach Greg Jenks said some rebounds went Royal’s way, and Warrior coach Clayton Buck said some shots didn’t go Walluke’s way.

Moses Lake port officials start fuel cleanup study

MOSES LAKE — A fuel tank leak at the Port of Moses Lake that occurred in the mid-1990s will be the subject of a new study and possible additional cleanup. Port directors approved a contract for further evaluation of the site, called Pumphouse 1, at the regular meeting Jan. 22.

Grant Co. extends marijuana production moratorium

EPHRATA — The Grant County Commissioners have extended the moratorium on establishing new marijuana production or processing operations in unincorporated areas of the county for another six months.

No recounts for Grant Co. in Nov. general election

EPHRATA — While there were two races that might’ve qualified for an automatic recount after the November 2023 general election, in the end neither of them did.

Curtain to rise on Masquers production of ‘Harvey’ next week

SOAP LAKE — The tale of a nice but eccentric fellow, his boon companion – a six-foot, three-inch invisible pink rabbit – and his scheming relatives comes to Masquers Theater this February with the troupe’s production of “Harvey.” Director Pat Rosman said the 2023-24 season is one of classic plays, and “Harvey,” which premiered in 1944 and ran more than four years on Broadway, is a theater staple. Elwood P. Dowd (Dave Stearns in the Masquers production) is a very nice fellow who likes a drink or two – or more. And then there’s his friend Harvey, the invisible one, the tall pink rabbit. They go everywhere together.

Capital levy goes before Wahluke voters

MATTAWA — Wahluke School District voters will decide the fate of a four-year capital levy request in a special election Feb. 13. Ballots for the election were mailed late last week.

Funding research, educating public among jobs of potato commissions

KENNEWICK — Look at the pictures, and farming seems timeless: tractors and dramatic sunsets and all that. But like all other industries, farming is subject to change – and in the last half-century those changes have been big ones. Potato farmers, like farmers and growers in every other agriculture sector, have had to adapt and change with the times. There are visible signs of changing times. Rob Wagstaff’s family has operated a farm near Nyssa, Oregon for generations. Wagstaff, a member of the Oregon Potato Commission, keeps track of his acreage, and the map is dotted with the names of the people who used to farm that land. “We go to our acreage map, and we have about 53 that we have got from different people,” he said. “You’ve got 50 families that used to be there that aren’t there anymore.”

Grant PUD rates to go up 3%

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD customers will see an increase in their electrical rates beginning April 1. Utility district commissioners approved an overall 3% rate increase, averaged across all rate classes, on a 3-1-1 vote Jan. 23.

Framing starts new Samaritan Hospital

MOSES LAKE — The walls are rising at the site of the new Samaritan Hospital. The steel framing started going up about Jan. 19.

Potato Chip Challenge tests chip knowledge

Attendees have a bit of crispy fun at the Washington-Oregon Potato Conference.

KENNEWICK — Gustavo Garcia and Eric Toews took their time over the Potato Chip Challenge, thinking it over, going back for seconds just to be sure of their answers. Alas, it didn’t really help all that much.

Intermittent closures scheduled for Soap Lake road project

SOAP LAKE — State Route 17 will be closed to traffic intermittently during the first phase of a project to remove rocks and stabilize the cliff face from Soap Lake to Lake Lenore Caves. The first phase is scheduled to begin in mid-February.

New QVMC framing starting soon

QUINCY — Construction of the new Quincy Valley Medical Center should reach an important milestone early next week. “Steel starts going up a week from today,” said Joe Kunkel, the project manager, during the QVMC commission meeting Jan. 22.

Potatoes front and center

KENNEWICK - Oregon and Washington potato commissioners dish up a baked potato lunch at the 2024 Washington-Oregon Potato Conference on Wednesday. The potato bar is a longstanding tradition at the annual conference, traditionally served by the commissioners. The menu used to feature new varieties in development, giving farmers a chance to test them out before they went on the market. But Ann Van Dyke of the Washington Potato Commission said the conference got so big that researchers couldn’t supply that many potatoes.

‘Bright Star’

Quincy Valley Allied Arts to present tale of redemption

QUINCY — Quincy Valley Allied Arts will tell a story of love, bad choices, their consequences and ultimate redemption starting Friday night. “Bright Star” will run for three weekends, with a matinee Feb. 10, at the Quincy High School Performing Arts Center, 403 Jackrabbit St. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 2 and 3, and Feb. 9. A matinee is scheduled for 2 p.m. Feb. 10. Director Brian Higgins said he was attracted to the story by the journey taken by the characters.

MLSD levy proposal put to voters in February

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District voters will be asked to accept or reject a two-year educational program and operations levy request in a special election Feb. 13. Ballots are being mailed this week.

Donations still important for Moses Lake Food Bank

MOSES LAKE — The need for the services provided by the Moses Lake Food Bank is year-round. From that it follows that the food bank needs donations year-round.

Ballots coming for levy proposals in local districts

EPHRATA — Ballots will be mailed to voters Jan. 24 for the Feb. 13 special election that features educational program and operations levy requests in a number of school districts.

Mattawa PD Chief Robert Salinas led by example

MATTAWA — Officers with the Mattawa Police Department posted a message to MPD Chief Robert Salinas on the department’s social media Wednesday. “Thank you for your service, dedication and friendship,” it said. “Time will pass, but your memory will live forever. Rest easy, Chief Robert Salinas. “Your shift is over. We have the watch.”

Columbia Basin cautioned to prepare for possible freezing rain

MOSES LAKE — Getting out and about on Friday might be a challenge throughout the Columbia Basin, with the arrival of yet more precipitation, but this time with the chance of it falling as freezing rain.

GC Fire District 8 residents to vote on EMS levy Feb. 13

MATTAWA — Voters in Grant County Fire District 8 will be asked to accept or reject a six-year emergency medical services levy request in a special election Feb. 13. If it’s approved, the levy would replace the district’s existing levy, approved in 2018. The levy rate would continue at 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. Fire District 8 is about 248 square miles, encompassing the city of Mattawa, Desert Aire and surrounding orchards, farms and wildlands. Chief Matt Hyndman said in an earlier interview that more than half the district is owned by the federal or state governments.

Pursuit of the dream continues

Program commemorates work, impact of Martin Luther King

MOSES LAKE — The life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was commemorated with music, poetry and a reading of King’s 1963 speech at the Lincoln Memorial – commonly referred to as the “I have a dream” speech – in a ceremony Monday.

New hospital will impact Samaritan bottom line in 2024

MOSES LAKE — While revenues for Samaritan Healthcare are projected to increase in 2024, Samaritan’s budget will reflect the current project of a new hospital, and will be in the red as a result.

Tech tune-up: MACC upgrades designed to make emergency response easier all around

MOSES LAKE — Emergencies are no respecters of time, place, or circumstances. With that in mind, operators of the Multi-Agency Communications Center are working on upgrading technology to make it easier for people to report an emergency, and for dispatchers to get the information emergency responders need to know.

Severe winter weather incoming

Columbia Basin to see more cold with added factors of snow, wind and possible freezing rain

SPOKANE — It being January and being winter, there’s some good weather news and some bad weather news. The good news is that temperatures are forecast to rise above freezing, at least a little. The bad news is the forecast is for nasty, messy, slippery weather.

Honoring MLK

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake residents stepped out to celebrate the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday Monday.

Residents asked to use online option for non-emergency situations

MOSES LAKE — Officials at the Multi-Agency Communications Center are asking people calling the non-emergency line to use the website’s reporting app instead.

Quincy school program takes students into community

QUINCY — A program that focuses on using a student’s interests to help them connect with school is having some success at Quincy Innovation Academy. How the “Big Picture Learning” program will work next year is still to be determined, since funding for some parts of the program come from a state grant that’s expiring.

CUTTING THE RIBBON: Podium Physical Therapy

MOSES LAKE — Podium Physical Therapy co-owner Ryan Carpenter, center, cuts the ribbon on his business Thursday, surrounded by family, staff and Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce members.

Spud-focused: Research results among subjects at 2024 Washington-Oregon Potato Conference

KENNEWICK — Research into potato pests and disease, new labor rules in Washington and innovations in the potato industry will be among the topics covered at the Washington-Oregon Potato Conference Jan. 23 through 25 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick.

SR 17 repaving set for Moses Lake area

MOSES LAKE — Work is scheduled to start about April 1 on a project to repave a section of State Route 17 where it runs through Moses Lake.

Soap Lake School District levy on ballot Feb. 13

SOAP LAKE — Soap Lake School District voters will be asked to accept or reject a four-year educational programs and operations levy in a special election Feb. 13. Ballots will be mailed later this month. District Superintendent Aaron Chavez said the levy, if it’s approved, will replace the existing levy. Property owners in the district would pay $2.29 per $1,000 of assessed property value if the levy is approved, the same rate as the current levy. “The board decided to keep it at $2.29 because they feel the way the economy is right now, we don’t want to overburden our taxpayers,” Chavez said.

Precautions will prevent plumbing headaches caused by winter weather

MOSES LAKE — It’s going to be cold outside for the next few days - like, single-digit cold - and that can mean bad things for water pipes. And bad things for water pipes mean bad things for homeowners and tenants.