CHERYL SCHWEIZER

Othello splash pad construction on schedule for spring 2026

OTHELLO — The construction of a new splash pad in Othello’s Kiwanis Park is still on track to start this spring. Construction originally was scheduled for 2025, but Mayor Ken Johnson said the need for state agency approval slowed down the project. “I’m excited for that to finally happen,” Johnson said.

Big street projects coming to Quincy in ’26

QUINCY — Drivers going around Quincy can expect some delays as road projects ramp up around Lauzier Park, along a section of M Street Northeast and sections of A Street Northeast this summer. City Engineer Ariel Belino said some big projects are planned for those locations.

Planning a healthy move underway at Samaritan

MOSES LAKE — Finishing work is still underway, but there’s plenty of activity at the new Samaritan Hospital on Clover Drive. Patients will start being treated at the new facility at 7 a.m. March 7. Joe Kunkel, the consultant who’s been working with hospital officials on the project since its inception in 2018, said the timing is crucial. “That’s the switchover time,” Kunkel said.

Respiratory illnesses rising in Grant Co.

MOSES LAKE — As of the first week of February there has been one flu-related death in Grant County during the 2025-26 flu season. Lexi Smith, communications coordinator for the Grant County Health District, said it’s been a pretty active respiratory illness season so far.

Bridge deck repairs Monday at Hiawatha Road Northeast overpass

MOSES LAKE — Drivers who are using the Hiawatha Road Northeast overpass as the detour route to Moses Lake should be prepared for delays Monday while Washington State Department of Transportation crews make repairs to the bridge deck. Drivers can expect flagger-controlled traffic on the overpass from about 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to a WSDOT press release. Lauren Loebsack, communications manager for WSDOT’s North Central region, said the Hiawatha Road overpass is showing signs of damage, although not as severe as the now-closed Hansen Road Northeast overpass. “It’s definitely got some deterioration on it as well,” she said.

Council discusses options to ensure Moses Lake water supply

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake City Council members discussed ways and means of obtaining more water and making more efficient use of water at a lengthy special meeting Tuesday. Mayor Dustin Swartz said water is a problem throughout the Columbia Basin, and cities, counties, ports and other entities would benefit from a common effort.

Inattention causes driver to hit GTA bus, GCSO says

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man received a traffic citation Tuesday night after he T-boned a Grant Transit Authority bus near the scene of a previous collision on Patton Boulevard.

Grant County PUD rates to increase April 1

EPHRATA — Rates for all classes of Grant County Public Utility District will increase in 2026, but the percentage of increase won’t be the same for all customers. The new rates will go into effect April 1. Utility district commissioners voted in November 2025 to change the way rates are calculated, a change Commissioner Tom Flint said he supports. Flint said he’s been on the commission for 25 years, and the Jan. 27 vote was the second time he voted in favor of the rate proposal. “This is a great opportunity. It protects the core customers, it increases the rate that non-core customers, large industrials are going to pay, and it’s going to be substantially above what the core customers pay,” he said. “It’ll give (industrial customers) a 10-year forecast that they’ve been asking for.”

Two arrested after chase north of Ephrata

EPHRATA — A Wenatchee man and a Moses Lake woman were arrested and booked on suspicion of burglary after allegedly breaking into a residence in Douglas County and trying to elude law enforcement in Grant County Monday afternoon.

Adams County receives more money for jail project

RITZVILLE — Adams County has received an additional $2 million through the federal appropriations process for upgrades at the Adams County Jail. Adams County Commissioner Dan Blankenship said the money will help pay for the second phase of jail improvements.

Upgrades coming to The Gorge Amphitheater

GEORGE — New improvements and previously requested upgrades are scheduled for the Gorge Amphitheater starting in 2026. Grant County Planning Director Jim Anderson-Cook said county officials have approved plans from Live Nation, the venue owner, to add some upgraded camping sites, what Anderson-Cook called “glamping” sites, and a new water reservoir.

Two Grant County solar farms under construction

QUINCY — Construction has started on two solar electrical generation facilities in Grant County, with five more in the permitting or planning phase.

Air quality monitoring routine, Ephrata School District officials say

EPHRATA — The heating-cooling system at Ephrata Middle School is working as designed, according to Ephrata School District officials, and the building has not seen extended periods of elevated levels of carbon dioxide.

Warden man arrested for alleged burglary

WARDEN — A Warden man was arrested on suspicion of burglary after Warden Police Department officers allegedly found him inside an empty residence.

Two arrested on narcotics charges after search of Moses Lake residence

MOSES LAKE — Two Moses Lake men were arrested and booked into the Grant County Jail on suspicion of distributing narcotics following the search of a residence on Kathy Drive in Moses Lake Thursday.

Road projects scheduled for Grant, Adams counties in 2026

GEORGE — While the Washington Department of Transportation doesn’t have a lot of roadwork projects scheduled for the Columbia Basin in 2026, a multi-year project will be starting up for the season in about a month. Construction on the Vantage Bridge will be in its third year. “Construction resumes in March,” said Summer Derrey, assistant communications manager for the South Central region of the Washington Department of Transportation.

2 MLFD officers promoted

MOSES LAKE — Two Moses Lake Fire Department officers were recognized for recent promotions with a longstanding fire service tradition at the Moses Lake City Council meeting Tuesday. Newly promoted Captain Lynn Dodd and Lieutenant Mike Miner each received the badges for their new offices from members of their families.

Confluence opens new facility for pre-surgical patients

WENATCHEE — A new clinic designed to make it easier for patients to get all the tests they need prior to surgery at Central Washington Hospital was celebrated with a ribbon cutting Tuesday.

Repair, replacement under consideration for Hansen bridge

MOSES LAKE — The Hansen Road overpass could be closed for a maximum of about 24 months. Chris Keifenheim, North Central Region administrator for the Washington Department of Transportation, said Tuesday that DOT officials are considering repairing it or replacing it, but would prefer to replace it. Either solution, he said, will keep the bridge closed for a while.

Othello to ask for extension of ACFD 5 contract

OTHELLO — Othello city officials plan to restart conversations with Adams County Fire District 5 on a possible contract to provide fire service for the city. Mayor Ken Johnson said he and Othello City Council members met with ACFD 5 commissioners earlier this month.

New facility to support military coming to Port of Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — The Port of Moses Lake has been awarded a $1.2 million loan from the state Community Aviation Revitalization Board to help pay for upgrades to the area used for military exercises. Kim DeTrolio, the port’s director of finance and administration, said the upgrades will include a building for use by military units on site.

Adams County Auditor will not seek reelection in 2026

RITZVILLE — Adams County Auditor Heidi Hunt announced Tuesday she would not be running for fourth term. “It’s just a good time to step aside,” Hunt said.

Hansen overpass timeline still undetermined

MOSES LAKE — The timeline and cost for repair – or replacement of the Hansen Road overpass west of Moses Lake will depend, in part, on whether the Washington State Department of Transportation decides to repair or replace it. Either way, said Chris Kiefenheim, administrator for WSDOT’s North Central Region, the overpass will be closed for a while.

Watershed music festival canceled for 2026

GEORGE — The three-day Watershed country music festival, one of the major events at the Gorge Amphitheater near George, has been canceled for 2026. The venue is owned by Live Nation, and its owners said during a November presentation on company earnings that at least for now, amphitheaters aren’t as popular as some other venues.

Spring water forecast uneven, drought continues

SPOKANE — Warmer than normal temperatures in December and January may have consequences next spring with lower than normal runoff. Joey Clevenger, meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Spokane, said there’s been plenty of precipitation in the Pacific Northwest, but it’s not been falling as snow. Water levels in the snowpack are measured as a “snow water equivalent,” and in a lot of Central and Eastern Washington, that’s low.

Installation of new Road L NE roundabout set for spring

MOSES LAKE — The final phase of traffic upgrades and revisions along East Wheeler Road is scheduled for February or early March. The installation of a new roundabout at Road L Northeast will require some detours, said Levi Bisnett, project supervisor for Moses Lake Public Works.

Coulee City man arrested on stalking, harassment charges

COULEE CITY — A Coulee City man was booked into the Grant County Jail Jan. 21 on suspicion of stalking and harassment after he allegedly threatened two people and displayed a rifle. Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a residence on Road 36 Northeast, according to a GCSO release.

North, Larson Heights elementaries focus of community meeting Monday

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District patrons are being invited to a meeting Monday discuss a recommendation to rebuild North Elementary School. The district’s Facilities Advisory Committee also recommended closing Larson Elementary and moving its students to the rebuilt North Elementary. “The committee recommendation for our next elementary school is to build on the north end of town,” said Ryan Shannon, MLSD director of public relations. “We’re going to go over the items that led to that recommendation, which includes the information from the demographer (who) provided detailed information on all of our schools and the areas around those schools, and people looking at growth patterns and looking at where the need is based off of a number of different factors, including age of (district) buildings.” Shannon said MLSD will be eligible for state funding for North and Larson Heights due to their age. North Elementary dates from 1951, and Larson Heights originally was built in 1956. District patrons approved a local construction bond in 2017, with some of the money allocated to elementary construction. Since the bond approval there has been discussion about building a new elementary school, with Mae Valley being the most frequently mentioned location. Shannon said circumstances have changed, especially with the availability of state financing.

Ballots mailed for February levy elections

EPHRATA — Voters in seven Columbia Basin school districts will decide the fate of educational programs and operations levies in a special election Feb. 10. Both Grant and Adams counties have ballot dropoff boxes at numerous locations, which will be open until 8 p.m. on Election Day. People who are mailing a ballot should think about mailing it back well before Feb. 10 to ensure that it’s counted. Elections officials at the Grant County Auditor’s Office said the US Postal Service has suggested voters allow at least seven days. “If you are filling out your ballot day of (the election), the safest thing to do is to drop it off in a ballot box or bring it to the elections office,” said Elections Deputy Rebecca Pettingill of the Grant County Auditor’s Office. “That way there’s no question it will be on time.”

Ephrata School District voters to decide fate of $75 million construction bond

EPHRATA — Ephrata School District patrons will be asked to accept or reject a $75 million construction bond proposal in the Feb. 10 special election. The district would use the money to pay for upgrades at Ephrata High School and replace Parkway Intermediate and Grant Elementary schools. Ephrata does qualify for state school construction money for all three projects. Because it’s a construction bond, the proposal will require yes votes from 60% of the voters to pass. Ephrata Superintendent Ken Murray said in an earlier interview the three buildings are inadequate to house the existing student population. “We have a large portion of our students in portable are alternative spaces that traditionally are not used as classroom spaces,” Murray said.

Aaron Garza selected as Othello Police Chief

OTHELLO — New Othello Police Chief Aaron Garza said he likes serving his community.

Othello School District to offer four-year EP&O levy

OTHELLO — Othello School District voters will decide the fate of a four-year educational programs and operations levy in a special election Feb. 10. Ballots are being mailed this week. Typically, Othello has submitted a three-year levy to voters, but Othello Superintendent Pete Perez said there are no guarantees when it comes to state funding. “I think it's certainly the unease around finances in the state of Washington for schools,” Perez said. “We were trying to look for a little more predictability and stability, and so the community group felt like four years was the appropriate amount of time for us to consider.”

New location, new look for Othello Library

OTHELLO — The Othello Library is attracting a lot of attention in its new space. “Everybody comments on how beautiful it is, and how fresh it is, and that it looks great, and that they’re really happy,” Othello Head Librarian Georgia Reitmire said. “One of our customers came in this morning, and she said, ‘Everybody in town is talking about the new library.’ And I thought, ‘That is amazing.’” The library moved to its new location, 125 E. Hemlock St., in December. While the new and old libraries are about the same size, the new library adds meeting rooms and updated spaces students can reserve to study. “We’re way busier than we used to be. Way busier,” said Jenny Nayala, library customer service specialist.

GCSO, Wenatchee PD activity spark ICE rumors in Quincy

QUINCY — Rumors that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were in Quincy on Thursday are unfounded, said Quincy Police Chief Ryan Green. However, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office did arrest a Quincy man during a traffic stop at the Jackpot Food Mart Thursday.

Royal schools EP&O levy on Feb. 10 ballot

ROYAL CITY — Royal School District voters will be asked to accept or reject a two-year educational programs and operations levy in a special election Feb. 10. If it’s approved, the levy would replace an existing levy approved by voters in 2024.

Quincy voters to consider school EP&O levy Feb. 10

QUINCY — Ballots are scheduled to be mailed next week for a special election that will decide the fate of a four-year educational programs and operations levy proposal from the Quincy School District. If ballots are mailed, they must be postmarked by Feb. 10.

Kriete, Sainsbury to run for Grant County Sheriff

EPHRATA — Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete will face a challenge from a GCSO officer in the race for sheriff this year. Kriete announced his intention to run for a second term as sheriff Monday; Josh Sainsbury announced he was running for sheriff Tuesday.

Swartz chosen for second term as Moses Lake mayor

MOSES LAKE — Dustin Swartz will be serving as Moses Lake mayor for the next two years. Swartz was reelected by Moses Lake City Council members on a 5-1 vote Tuesday. Council member Victor Lombardi voted no, after nominating Mark Fancher for the mayor’s job. Fancher, however, declined.

Ybarra introduces bill to roll back special fuels tax

OLYMPIA — A bill to repeal a “special fuels tax” imposed in 2025 on diesel and other fuels was introduced for the 2026 Washington legislative session by 13th District representative Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, Tuesday.

Othello city administrator search will start in town

OTHELLO — Spencer Williams was appointed as interim Othello city administrator Monday, but not before a discussion on who the city administrator should be. Council member Marc Spohr said he thought it should be new mayor Ken Johnson.

Othello museum to extend season

OTHELLO — Operators of the Othello Community Museum want to take advantage of upgrades to its heating-cooling system by opening earlier in the year and staying open later. “Our season will be longer, hopefully April to October. But we’ll still be open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays,” said project Manager Rebecca Mohs.

Basin health care 2025 review

New facilities, expanded services, election challenges seen over the course of last year

MOSES LAKE — A new hospital opened in Quincy; construction was mostly completed on the new Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake. Columbia Basin Hospital voters rejected a request for a construction bond. Columbia Basin health care organizations experienced ups and downs in 2025.

Contract awarded for Othello fiber project

OTHELLO — Delays slowed the project down, but a section of Adams County south of Othello will be getting access to fiber this summer. Adams County Engineer Scott Yaeger said the work could start as early as next month.

Fire agencies encourage smoke detectors after recent deaths

MOSES LAKE — Firefighting agencies are encouraging the public to make sure they have smoke alarms installed in their homes after two locals were killed in a Jan. 7 home fire. Grant County Fire District 3 Chief Dave Durfee said sometimes people misunderstand fire risks and fail to take appropriate precautions.

Quincy annexes M Street NE property

QUINCY — New housing, sidewalks and curbs will be coming to a piece of undeveloped property on M Street Northeast as part of an annexation agreement approved Jan. 6 by the Quincy City Council.

Victims identified in fatal Moses Lake house fire

MOSES LAKE — The victims in an early-morning house fire in Moses Lake Wednesday have been identified. Tim Catlin, death investigator with the Grant County Coroner’s Office, said the victims were Nikki Leggett, 30, and Zaccari Miller, 29. “The cause of death for both is going to be asphyxia due to inhalation of smoke,” Catlin said.

Williams named interim city administrator in Othello

OTHELLO — Finance Director Spencer Williams will be appointed as interim city administrator while Othello city officials look for a permanent replacement. Mayor Ken Johnson said the search is just getting started.

Seven Basin school districts to run EP&O levies in February

EPHRATA — Voters in seven Columbia Basin school districts will be asked to accept or reject educational programs and operations levy proposals in a special election Feb. 10. Ephrata voters will decide on a construction bond in the Ephrata School District, and Warden district patrons will consider a proposal for technology improvements. Votes must be postmarked by Feb. 10, and mailing them at the post office on Election Day doesn’t guarantee that, said Ben Rodwell, elections deputy with the Grant County Auditor’s Office. “I would say (mail the ballot) at least a week early,” Rodwell said. “I wouldn’t recommend mailing it the day of the election.”

Bad debt, charity care expenses rising at local medical facilities

MOSES LAKE — For everyone in healthcare, from patients to hospitals to medical professionals, the challenge is who pays the bill. Sometimes the answer is that some or all of the bill doesn’t get paid, and the hospital or clinic has to absorb the costs. Janette Townsend, chief financial officer at Confluence Health, and Alex Town, chief administrative officer at Samaritan Healthcare, said it’s becoming a bigger problem. “Both bad debt and charity care have gone up in the last few years,” Townsend wrote in response to questions from the Columbia Basin Herald. “Bad debt has increased 214% and charity care has increased 63% from 2023 to 2025.”

Two dead in early morning Moses Lake house fire

MOSES LAKE — Identification is pending for two people killed in an early-morning fire Wednesday in Moses Lake. Moses Lake Fire Department Chief Art Perillo said the fire was reported about 1:50 a.m. near the intersection of Miller Drive Northeast and Highland Drive Northeast. The report said people were still inside the residence, he said. Crews from MLFD and Grant County Fire District 5 responded. “Upon arrival, crews found the residence heavily involved in fire and immediately initiated fire suppression and search operations,” Perillo wrote in a press release. “While crews were able to bring the fire under control quickly, two occupants were found deceased inside the home. Two additional occupants were able to escape the residence.”