CHERYL SCHWEIZER

GCSO seeks public's aid in finding missing Othello-area man

OTHELLO — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help in finding an Othello-area man who has been missing since Aug. 4. Audel Espinoza-Duenas, 43, was last seen near his home in the 7700 block of Road 12 SW, about five miles south of the Potholes Reservoir, wrote Kyle Foreman, GCSO public information officer. He was last seen about 7:40 p.m. that day. “He does not have any history which would lead investigators to suspect he disappeared due to his own decision,” Foreman wrote. Espinoza-Duenas is about six feet tall, weighs roughly 240 pounds and was last seen wearing blue work overalls. “To ensure a secure investigation, there is information about this case we cannot share publicly and questions we cannot currently answer,” Foreman wrote. Anyone with information on Espinoza-Duenas is asked to contact the GCSO, 509-762-1160, or email [email protected]. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

MLSD Learning Services Center gets new landmark

Student-built sculpture a work of 'perseverance'

MOSES LAKE — The entrance to the Moses Lake School District Learning Services Center is now identifiable by a stack of books. Okay, not actual books, but a book sculpture constructed by students at the Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center. “It’s pretty cool-looking, isn’t it?” former MLSD Board Member Vickey Melcher said. The metal statue was installed Monday afternoon while an interested audience of MLSD personnel watched. A crew from Miers Construction, Moses Lake, moved the sculpture into place. Melcher said the project started when the district offices moved from their former location on Ivy Street. The sculpture depicts two books leaning against each other and sitting on a third book. Former MLSD administrator Dave Balcom said the design was a collaboration between skills center students, instructors and former MLSD superintendent Josh Meek...

Mattawa revisits regulating adult entertainment

MATTAWA — The regulation of adult entertainment in Mattawa was the topic of discussion at Thursday’s Mattawa City Council meeting. “I think we need some kind of protection for the city,” Councilmember Wendy Lopez said. “Regardless, we’re still going to have problems, so I still think we need something in play. So we can take action if something happens.” Thursday’s discussion followed a previous conversation at the July 21 council meeting, after city officials learned that a local business had hosted performances of an adult nature. City attorney Kathryn Kenison said the question of adult entertainment has been extensively adjudicated, and cities can’t prohibit it. It can, however, be regulated. Lopez said she felt the regulation was a good idea...

‘We have kids out here enjoying themselves’

Games and fun at first ever National Night Out in Mattawa

MATTAWA — Children and adults got a chance to look at law enforcement and fire vehicles - lights flashing and everything - play games and run in and out of a big sprinkler, courtesy of Grant County Fire District 8, at the first ever National Night Out in Mattawa on Aug. 2. Mattawa Police Chief Robert Salinas organized NNO in Mattawa, having been part of similar events when he worked in Granger, Ellensburg and Toppenish, he said on Aug. 2. National Night Out gives law enforcement and fire agencies a chance to talk to people in their communities, he said. . .

Quincy school board passes $74.14M budget

QUINCY — The Quincy School District will operate with a budget of about $74.14 million for the 2022-23 school year. Quincy School Board members approved the budget, in part based on student enrollment, with a unanimous vote at the regular meeting July 26. “It’s a crystal ball,” said Quincy superintendent Nik Bergman of the yearly enrollment projections. “You never know.” Of the total, about $62.86 million is in the district’s general fund, which pays for most operations and maintenance. State funding for education in Washington is based on the number of students in school. Quincy district officials are projecting district-wide enrollment will be the equivalent of 3,140 students. The funding mechanism means that district officials must estimate enrollment before the school year begins. “We budget very conservatively. We feel that’s the prudent thing,” Bergman said...

Rising costs, decreasing revenue have impact on Samaritan financial picture

MOSES LAKE — It’s been an economically bumpy 2022 for Samaritan Healthcare, and the tough economic times contributed to the decision by hospital board members to delay the start of construction of a new Samaritan Hospital. Joe Kunkel, the consultant working with the hospital on the construction project, said the cost-benefit analysis is the same for Samaritan as for any business, or even a home loan. “There’s the capital cost of the project itself,” Kunkel said. “But then there’s the underlying feasibility study that says to the (lender) that you have an operation that can pay the mortgage.” . .

Chief for a Day, lots to do at Quincy National Night Out

QUINCY — The Chief for a Day was sworn in - by a judge, too - there were police cars and police motorcycles, fire trucks, games, fun cars, hot dogs and ice cream. . .

Quincy hospital design set to start in September after primary vote

Unofficial results show 64% of voters approving of bond funding

QUINCY — The first phase of designing a new Quincy Valley Medical Center is tentatively scheduled for early September after Tuesday’s election results indicate likely final approval of a $55 million bond proposal for Grant County Hospital District 2. “Once (certification) is behind us, we’ll be setting the wheels in motion,” Quincy hospital administrator Glenda Bishop said Wednesday. “And then we will follow the lead of the team that we’ve put in place, and who I have tremendous confidence in.” Bishop said some planning has started and will ramp up after the election is certified Aug. 16. Initial results show that voters are approving a construction bond proposal for a new hospital.. The proposal had received 951 yes votes and 531 no votes as of Tuesday night, about 64.3% voting yes. Because the proposal was a revenue measure, it required at least 60% yes votes to pass...

Up from the ashes

Garza family reopens Jab Fitness a year after devastating fire

OTHELLO — Jab Fitness co-owner Jonathan Garza said he smelled the smoke, but didn’t think anything of it at first.

Rectenwald to remain as interim Grant Co. sheriff through Nov.

EPHRATA — Ryan Rectenwald will continue as interim Grant County Sheriff through mid-November when the 2022 election is certified. Rectenwald’s appointment to the interim position was approved unanimously by the Grant County Commissioners Monday. Rectenwald had been serving as sheriff since July 1, when former sheriff Tom Jones retired. Jones announced earlier this year he was not running for reelection. Three people are running for the position, including Joe Kriete, currently the chief deputy for investigations, former Mattawa Police Chief Joe Harris, and James Baker, a Moses Lake-area farmer...

MLSD board reviews 22-23 proposed budget

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District officials are projecting enrollment in preschool through high school to be the equivalent of 8,028 students for the 2022-23 school year. Stefanie Lowry, MLSD director of finance, reviewed the proposed budget for the new school year for the Moses Lake School Board at the district’s regular meeting Thursday. Including all funds, the 2022-23 budget is projected to be about $49.4 million. That includes about $17.94 million in the general fund, which pays for most school operations and personnel. Lowry said the actual P-12 enrollment for the 2021-22 school year was the equivalent of 7,993 students, less than the budget projection of the equivalent of 8,060 students...

ICE officer arrested in Othello child sex trafficking investigation

OTHELLO — A 47-year-old Ellensburg man was arrested by Othello Police officers Tuesday in connection with an incident where he allegedly traveled to Othello to pay for sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Quincy council approves downtown revitalization plan

QUINCY — A plan that provides a framework for possible improvements to downtown Quincy was approved by the Quincy City Council on July 19. The downtown revitalization plan was approved on a 5-1 vote, with Councilmember Dave Dormaier voting no. “Each of the projects will still have to be vetted again to go out for design and construction,” Municipal Services Director Carl Worley said. “We would look at things again, and if there was something that just wasn’t going to work, if it was identified in the plan, that doesn’t mean we have to do it. It’s not anything in concrete.” ...

QVMC board selects architect

Hospital project still dependent on bond approval

QUINCY — Quincy Valley Medical Center commissioners have selected Trinity:NAC, Spokane, to design the new Quincy hospital, if the project moves forward. “This is all contingent on the bond levy,” Joe Kunkel, the consultant working with the hospital district on the project, said. “So, negotiating the agreement, this all stops Tuesday if the bond agreement doesn’t fall in our favor.” ...

Mobile rec van brings fun to the Moses Lake parks

MOSES LAKE — It’s just fun to stack up a bunch of big plastic cups and knock them down. It’s just as much fun to play a supersize connect the dots game. . .

‘We are looking at the potential for record heat’

Near-record temperatures forecast for the week

MOSES LAKE — It being July and North Central Washington being desert country, it’s to be expected that it’s going to be hot sooner or later. And it will be hot, darned hot, although temperatures are forecast to moderate at least a little bit by the weekend. Steven Van Horn, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Spokane, said the Moses Lake and Wenatchee areas will be the first to experience the hottest temperatures, but it will get hot region-wide. “There’s a very high heat risk for the central and north central parts of the state,” Van Horn said.

Mattawa increases dog license and impound fees

MATTAWA — Mattawa City Council members have increased dog license and dog impound fees as part of a review of the city’s fee schedule. “The current (fees) are not covering our costs,” Public Works Director Juan Ledezma said prior to the vote.

Mattawa council considers regulating adult entertainment

MATTAWA — Mattawa City Council members will consider possible ordinances to regulate the operation of businesses offering adult entertainment. Council members asked for regulation options after a discussion at the regular meeting Thursday. “If we were to have adult entertainment within the businesses, we need policies that would allow law enforcement to enforce regulations on it,” Celaya said...

Basin Community Theatre presents ‘Cinderella’ this weekend

MOSES LAKE — The classic story of a selfless but unappreciated stepchild and how she lives happily ever after comes to the Moses Lake High School theater this weekend in the Basin Community Theatre children’s production of “Cinderella.” The curtain goes up at 7:10 p.m. tonight and 1:10 p.m. Saturday...

Video released of July 10 Stratford Road shooting, chase

QUINCY — The team investigating an officer-involved shooting on Stratford Road on July 10 has released a video of the incident. The video released Wednesday by the Quincy Police Department, which is the lead agency investigating the incident, shows the initial contact between Grant County Sheriff’s Deputy Tyson Voss and the suspect, Robert Gwinn “Voss’s body camera is activated as he attempts to stop Gwinn, who is traveling in a Nissan passenger vehicle,” according to the QPD media release...

Commissioners opt to continue offering QVMC credit

QUINCY — Grant County Commissioners denied a recommendation from the Grant County Finance Committee to immediately reduce to zero the interest-bearing warrant - a type of government loan - balance available to Quincy Valley Medical Center. Commissioners had previously committed to a four-year agreement to bring the QVMC warrant balance to zero. “We made a commitment with the December letter,” Commissioner Cindy Carter said Wednesday...

New members appointed to Grant County Board of Health

EPHRATA — Changes in state law have resulted in two new members on the Grant County Board of Health, with two more to come. Legislation passed in 2021 required a board with an equal number of elected officials and people who do not hold elective office. “The intent was to bring citizens alongside elected officials to govern local boards of health,” said Theresa Adkinson, Grant County Health District director...

Urban growth area application slows Grant County Jail project

EPHRATA — County officials are working on the application needed to add the site of the new Grant County Jail into the city of Ephrata’s urban growth area. Inclusion in the UGA is a necessary prerequisite to building the jail on the selected site...

Q&A with Grant County Commission candidates

GRANT COUNTY - Incumbent Cindy Carter has two challengers, Jeff Foster and Dan DeLano, for her current seat on the Grant County Commission. All three are running as Republicans.

Othello car show features slow drags, poker run

Saturday event seeks to entertain while raising money for local causes

OTHELLO — The slow drags are back on Othello’s Main Street Friday night, and Kiwanis Park will host all kinds of cool cars Saturday, as the All City Classics car show returns to town.

Grant Co. Commissioners Court approves sale of bonds for jail project

EPHRATA — Grant County Commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday authorizing the issue of up to $90 million in limited tax general obligation bonds to pay for law and justice projects, including a new Grant County Jail. The vote was unanimous...

Q&A with Adams County Sheriff candidates

ADAMS COUNTY - The race for Adams County Sheriff attracted two candidates, incumbent Dale Wagner and Matthew Carlson, currently an officer with the Ritzville Police Department. Both are running as Republicans. The Columbia Basin Herald submitted four questions to each candidate and asked them for a brief biography. Their answers have been lightly edited for clarity and length. Candidates were both given a maximum of 200 words to respond to each question and a deadline to respond which they both met...

Othello Food Bank looks to keep the lights on

Food distribution continues as nonprofit seeks funding

OTHELLO — Othello Food Bank director Sharon Mobley was loading the truck Tuesday morning, getting ready for a delivery. Supplying the food is one of the less challenging parts of running the facility, she said. “People kind of forget - you’ve got to keep the lights on,” Mobley said. “We’ve got to keep the refrigerators and freezers going, gas in the truck to pick up all the food. People don’t always think about those things.”

Quincy School Board considering property sale

QUINCY — Quincy School District officials have not set a timeline for the proposed sale of 155 acres south of the current Quincy city limits to the Port of Quincy. “We’ll determine the timeline of the sale (during negotiations),” QSD Superintendent Nic Bergman said...

Grant County employment keeps rising

OLYMPIA — Grant County’s nonfarm employment increased for 14 consecutive months, April 2021 to May 2022, and the labor force expanded from June 2021 to May 2022. How long the growth will continue is uncertain, however, according to an analysis from the Washington Employment Security Department.

Time Out Pizza looks for a consistent slice in Othello

OTHELLO — Timeout Pizza co-owner CJ Garza said the crucial ingredient in making good pizza isn’t so much an ingredient as good habits of mind. “I think what makes good pizza is to have consistency,” Garza said. “Yes, the ingredients matter. All that stuff matters, but I feel like consistency in our prep, in our ovens – everything kind of ties in, the cheese, the sauce amount. It all matters, but being consistent day in and day out is really important.” ...

Mattawa council approves annexation application moratorium

MATTAWA — Reversing a decision made June 16, Mattawa City Council members have voted to impose a moratorium on applications for annexation of property into the city. The vote at the regular council meeting July 7 was unanimous.

QPD close to full strength after Diaz sworn in

QUINCY — Jessica Diaz was sworn in as the newest Quincy Police Department officer during the regular Quincy City Council meeting Tuesday. Diaz was sworn in by QPD Chief Keith Siebert before an audience of family, friends and fellow officers.

Quincy swim team helps connect community

QUINCY — Communities big and small are held together with lots of little connections, groups that get together to do - well, whatever, from a service club project to a program at the museum. The Quincy swim team teaches children how to swim, of course, and gives its participants a chance to get a taste of competition. But it also is one of those little connectors that plug back into the bigger community. Kirsten Escure, taking over the coaching duties on a Friday morning, said the program is returning in 2022 after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I think we’re right at 40-ish (participants),” Escure said...

Usage increasing at Moses Lake Food Bank

Donations sought to help with summer demand

MOSES LAKE — Even in the summer, the Moses Lake food bank is still busy. Moses Lake Food Bank Director Peny Archer said more people seem to be using the food bank in summer 2022. “Our numbers are starting to climb again,” Archer said...

Multi-Agency Communications Center: Emergency dispatch requires ‘a special kind of person’

It takes a special kind of person to be a 911 dispatcher, says Dispatch Supervisor Jennifer Pitt, who has worked at the Multi-Agency Communications Center for about 17 years.

Othello man dies from wounds sustained in June 26 shooting

OTHELLO — Charges are pending against two Othello boys in connection with the death of an Othello-area man following a shooting June 26...

Jazz Silva: Life experiences lead to career in law enforcement

Jazzlyn Silva had some bumpy times when she was young. The help she got to get through those times influenced her choice of career.

Quincy School District superintendent contract extended

QUINCY — Quincy School Board members have extended the contract of Superintendent Nic Bergman through June 2025. Board members approved the new contract unanimously at their regular meeting Tuesday. “Implementing the strategic plan is going to be my work,” he said Wednesday...

Rectenwald appointed as interim Grant County Sheriff

EPHRATA — Grant County Undersheriff Ryan Rectenwald has been appointed as the interim Grant County Sheriff. Grant County Commissioners approved the appointment Tuesday.

Quincy Valley Medical Center officials to meet with prospective architects

QUINCY — Quincy Valley Medical Center officials will meet July 6 with three architectural firms to select one to design a new Quincy hospital.

‘This is going to take some getting used to’

Migrant program initiative helps students see better

MOSES LAKE — Nallely Escobedo said she didn’t realize for a long time that her vision wasn’t really that good. “I thought everyone just saw how I saw,” she said.

‘Pieced Together’

Fairgrounds mural is completed

MOSES LAKE — The last piece of a project to add art at and around the Grant County Fairgrounds has been completed.

Gamble Sands Golf Resort

Columbia Basin links style golfing

BREWSTER — Gamble Sands Golf Resort is a direct descendant of golf courses of old - and a worth-the-trip destination for Columbia Basin golf enthusiasts. “It’s a true links-style design,” said Brian Benitz, director of sales and marketing for Gamble Sands. “It’s a throwback to the original design of golf courses.” The course is located at 200 Sands Trail Road near Brewster. It was designed by golf architect David McLay Kidd, also known for his design of the first course at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon. “(Kidd) is a genius. Everything he does is good,” Benitz said...

'It Feels Amazing’

Open Doors graduates receive diplomas

MOSES LAKE — Kekuni Robello-Dorsey expressed a common feeling of the students who earned a high school diploma or GED, or both, through the Open Doors Program sponsored by the Moses Lake School District. “It feels amazing,” Robello-Dorsey said. More than 40 students donned caps and gowns for the graduation ceremony at the Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center Thursday. Family and friends filled almost every seat. “I’m blown away right now at the number of people that have come to support these kids,” said Open Doors counselor Annie Hindman in her speech during the ceremony...

State laws force change in Samaritan financial assistance rules

MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare will change some of its patient financial assistance provisions July 1 in response to changes in Washington law. The changes will affect the number of patients receiving treatment at the hospital who qualify for full assistance, as well as patients who qualify for some assistance. Jen Charlo, director of patient financial services and patient access for Samaritan, said hospital officials were, and are, committed to helping patients find ways to pay the bills. “If there’s an avenue (for assistance), we will help them,” Charlo said. “It all comes down to people applying. We will help them if we can.” ...

Booked! Schedule full for 2022 Grant County Fair

MOSES LAKE — The 2022 Grant County Fair will have a lot of things for people to do. “The fair schedule is full. We are absolutely packed,” said Grant County Fairgrounds Director Jim McKiernan. McKiernan gave an update on fair preparations in a report to Grant County Commissioners Tuesday. The fair is scheduled for Aug. 16 through 20...

Man injured in Washtucna park shooting

WASHTUCNA — A Washtucna man was booked into the Adams County Jail on suspicion of first-degree attempted murder after he allegedly shot a man in the Washtucna park early Monday morning.

Mattawa council rejects annexation moratorium

MATTAWA — Mattawa City Council members decided not to impose a moratorium on annexation proposals. The vote was 4-2 at the regular council meeting June 16.

Just part of the family

Practice pays off with first in state for local musician

MOSES LAKE — Eli Legault said music is just part of the family. Legault, a freshman in the Moses Lake High School music program, took first in his division in the guitar category at the State Solo and Ensemble Competition in Ellensburg earlier this spring. Legault said his interest in music and in guitar started at home...