CHERYL SCHWEIZER

School supply giveaway for children of veterans at Big Bend CC

MOSES LAKE — Children of military veterans will be eligible for free school supplies to start the year at the first “Back to School Brigade” August 21 and 22 at Big Bend Community College. The supplies distribution is sponsored by the college’s Veteran Resource office. Distribution will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days at the college’s Transitional Studies building (building 7700). Parents must bring a military ID, DD Form 214 or driver’s license showing veteran status, along with a bag or backpack. Supplies will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, said Tiffany Sukola, BBCC communications coordinator. Supplies are reserved for dependents of veterans, active-duty military, guard and reserves, as well as the children of “post-9/11 wounded, ill or injured” veterans. Children must be attending elementary, middle school or high school in the 2018-19 school year to be eligible. Big Bend’s distribution is part of a nationwide program sponsored by Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization designed to support active-duty military and their families and veterans and their families. More than 60 Back to School Brigade events are scheduled across the country. People who want more information can contact the college’s public information office, 509-793-2312.

Friday standoff in Moses Lake ends peacefully

Othello School Board approves 2018-19 budget

OTHELLO — The Othello School Board approved a $66,297,998 budget for the 2018-19 school year at the regular board meeting Monday.

Good food for good causes at the Grant County Fair

MOSES LAKE — There‘s a lot to see and do at the Grant County Fair, enough to make a person hungry. So - where’s a good place to eat?

Vote on new Grant PUD class scheduled for Aug. 28

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners will approve, reject or send back for more work a proposal for a new “emerging industries” rate class at the Aug. 28 commission meeting. Opponents and proponents of the new Class 17 had something to say about the proposal at the commission’s Aug, 14 meeting. The proposal was prompted by a flood of requests for service in summer and fall 2017, and been the subject of exhaustive study. Many requests came from people in the cryptocurrency industry, which uses relatively new technology to process transactions and information. That led PUD employees to propose a separate class for businesses using new technologies - or new kinds of businesses - which includes an assessment of risk. The resulting proposed rates are higher than the existing Class 1 and Class 7, where most of the businesses are now. Utility district employees are recommending that the rates be phased in over a three-year period for existing customers. Emily Smith, representing the Grant County Economic Development Council, said the council was in favor of the new rate class. “We strongly support the immediate implementation of Class 17,” Smith said. Grant County has missed out on opportunities for new business due to the uncertainty over the power supply and cost, Smith said. Jeff Bishop, executive director of the Port of Moses Lake, cited businesses that had considered locating in Grant County but in the end had gone elsewhere, one to Portland and another to Georgia. Bishop said the uncertainty around electrical supply also is affecting the decisions of businesses that want to expand in Grant County as well. Port of Moses Lake commissioner Kent Jones said in his opinion the uncertainty has had a negative effect on attracting and retaining business. Current cryptocurrency owners protested that the Class 17 rates were too high, and had suggestions they said would alleviate some of the risk for PUD. Jonathon Toomin had a proposal for revised rate class, suggesting an upfront yearly fee and a curtailment policy. Aiden Kilek proposed letting the existing customers stay in their current rate class and adding a premium for risk factors. Brian Snyder said he thought the Class 17 proposal was flawed, putting unprecedented rate increases on Class 17 customers. He asked why existing cryptocurrency customers couldn’t be left alone; they are no threat to other customers, he said.

New rate class discussed at PUD meeting

EPHRATA — Qualifying existing customers would be phased into a new Grant County PUD “evolving industries” rate class over a period of three years, if commissioners follow the recommendation of PUD staff. A review of the options was part of the regular commission meeting Tuesday.

New psychiatric nurse-practitioner at Samaritan Healthcare

MOSES LAKE — Mental health nurse-practitioner Teresa Hutsell has joined the staff of Samaritan Healthcare. Hutsell will be a practitioner in the Behavioral Health unit at Samaritan Clinic. She’s been working at the clinic for about a month, she said.

Inland Cellular still working to restore voice service

SPOKANE — Inland Cellular customers may see a resumption of voice service by late Monday evening, according to a press release issued by the company Monday afternoon.

Warden community survey underway

WARDEN — Warden School District patrons have about another week to participate in an open survey designed to find out what they think about the district now and where it might be headed.

Cowboy Breakfast draws big crowd

MOSES LAKE — It was darn warm out there, but that didn’t stop people from filling the tables at the annual Cowboy Breakfast Friday morning.

Unemployment up in June

MOSES LAKE — Turmoil in Grant County’s manufacturing sector led to a slight increase in the unemployment rate in June 2018, when compared with June 2017. Unemployment was 5.1 percent in June 2018, compared to 4.9 percent in June 2017.

Grant County Fair begins Tuesday

MOSES LAKE — Exhibitors have worked with their show animals, gardeners have picked their best fruits and vegetables, bakers have experimented with their best recipes. There’s prep work at the food booths and the rodeo arena. It’s time.

Apple crop forecast at about 131 million boxes

YAKIMA — The 2018 Washington apple crop is projected to clock in at about 131 million boxes of fresh-packed fruit, according to the estimate released Tuesday by the Washington State Tree Fruit Association.

Goehner, Diamond, Steele, Starratt top 12th District primaries

EPHRATA — Chelan County Commissioner Keith Goehner, Dryden, will face retired physician Ann Diamond, Mazama, for the open Washington House of Representatives seat in the 12th District. In the race for the district’s second House seat, incumbent Mike Steele, Chelan, will face Valerie Sarratt of Twisp.

Othello School Board to convene community committee

OTHELLO — The Othello School Board will form a community committee to study the district’s facilities and make recommendations to accommodate future needs, possibly including a new construction bond. That followed the release of a draft analysis that estimated it would take about $32.6 million to convert the district’s four existing elementary schools and McFarland Middle School to a kindergarten through eighth grade format. The report was discussed at a special board meeting and workshop Saturday morning.

Cowboy breakfast set for Friday

MOSES LAKE — It’s one of those Old West traditions, the crew gets together for a good breakfast before the work starts. The annual Cowboy Breakfast is scheduled for 7 to 10 a.m. Friday at Sinkiuse Square next to the Moses Lake post office.

Classic rodeo fun at Omak Stampede

OMAK — Ridin' and ropin' for four nights of rodeo, the world-famous Suicide Race across the Okanogan River, the annual Western and Native Art Show, the Colville Confederated Tribes Indian Encampment - wow. And that's not even all the events in Omak during the annual Omak Stampede, scheduled for Aug. 9 through 12 in Omak.

Tariffs unsettle hay market

MOSES LAKE — In any war, real or metaphorical, somebody gets caught in the crossfire. And in the 2018 trade wars, that could include Washington agricultural exports. Like hay.

Samaritan finishes the first half of 2018 with a profit

MOSES LAKE — The first half of 2018 has been a profitable one for Samaritan Healthcare. Net income was $2,314,446 for the first six months of 2018.

Risk, revenue discussed at Grant PUD workshop

EPHRATA — Jobs, revenue and risk were among the topics during a wide-ranging discussion of a proposed new Grant County PUD rate class at a commission workshop Tuesday.

Phase-in recommended for new PUD rate class

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD employees will recommend phasing in the new “emerging industries” rate class over a period of three to four years. That announcement came during a workshop on the proposed emerging industries class for PUD commissioners Tuesday.

Moses Lake church sponsors dental clinic

MOSES LAKE — It may have looked like the Crestview Christian School on the outside, but on Friday and Sunday half the building was a dental clinic.

Warden School Board OKs 2018-19 budget

WARDEN — Warden School Board members approved the district’s 2018-19 budget, but not before a discussion of the effects of the Running Start program on Warden High School.

Othello School Board OKs teacher contract

For the Sun Tribune

Gym shell arrives at MLCA

MOSES LAKE — Administrators at the Moses Lake Christian Academy couldn’t check the mail because the package was too big, but they were awaiting a delivery. They had been assured it was on its way. Soon – no exact date, but soon.

Market Day attracts customers to downtown Quincy

QUINCY — Good deals were available all up and down Central Avenue Saturday morning as the Quincy Business Association sponsored its fifth annual Market Day.

Grant County PUD has plenty of customer requests

EPHRATA — While cryptocurrency is causing all the buzz, other customers are being attracted to Grant County by, among other things, inexpensive electricity. That’s according to a quarterly power delivery report at Tuesday’s meeting of the Grant County PUD commissioners.

Grant PUD revenue below budget projections

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD revenue for the first half of 2018 was below budget forecasts in five of the nine major rate classes. The only class to exceed the budget target by more than six percent is Class 7, large general service. Typically cryptocurrency operations have been allocated to Class 7.

Picking on cherries Growers caught in international trade war

ROYAL SLOPE — Cherry season 2018 is winding down; it looks like a big crop and a good quality crop – but while that’s important it’s not the most important thing about cherries right now.

Facility analysis to be submitted to Othello School Board

OTHELLO — Othello School Board members will review recommendations for changes to district facilities, and eventually district patrons will get a look at those recommendations also.

Triple-digit heat coming this week

MOSES LAKE — Make sure the air conditioner is tuned up, and lay in a supply of cold water. It’s going to be hot for the next week. Darn hot, like triple-digit hot.

'Hidden animals' subject of lecture at museum

MOSES LAKE — A lecture on animals that could be out there is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday at the Moses Lake Civic Center Auditorium. It’s part of the summer exhibition of stories about Sasquatch at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center.

Painting party removes graffiti

MOSES LAKE — The first coat of paint wasn’t quite enough. Vandals left graffiti on a building in front of Peninsula Elementary, and while the letters were covered over, it was still possible to read it.

Moses Lake physician surrenders medical license

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake physician has agreed to give up his license to practice medicine. Physician David Earl agreed to surrender his license July 17, and has 10 days to transfer his patients to other doctors and close his practice, according to a press release from the Washington Department of Health. Earl said he would give up his license during a six-day disciplinary hearing before the Washington Medical Commission. A receptionist at Earl’s clinic said there would be no comment. “In the case of Dr. Earl, the WMC spent significant time and resources over a period of years in an attempt to improve his practice to safe levels. Unfortunately, it became clear that his practice concerns and boundary violations could not be addressed and the WMC invoked (the state regulations governing) license surrender, to which Dr. Earl agreed,” wrote Micah Matthews, WMC deputy director. The hearing involved charges of unprofessional conduct filed in June 2017, related to the treatment given to 18 patients and the sale of property of another patient. The report also said Earl had failed to comply with a prior order issued by the commission. The unprofessional conduct charge was in connection with Earl’s treatment of a woman described as Patient A, who was 82 years of age when Earl became her physician in 2013. Earl arranged to buy the woman’s house, in partnership with a friend. The commission said Earl’s “involvement in Patient A’s personal affairs, at a time when she was by definition a vulnerable adult, was below the standard of care. Respondent (Earl) was in a position of trust and influence as the patient’s physician, and took advantage of that position to gain undue influence in the patient’s financial matters to gain ownership of her property.” The commission statement said Earl’s “medical records of his treatment of Patient A reflect poor quality of office visits, and show more of a concern for Patient A’s living and financial situations than her health. Documentation of office visits was inaccurate, contradictory, incomplete and misleading.” The commission statement also charged Earl with “irresponsible behavior” in prescriptions for Patient A, giving the patient early refills “without a documented reason for the increased use.” The commission statement alleged Earl had not provided adequate treatment for a 63-year-old woman whom he treated from June 2015 until her death in May 2016. The woman had been treated for substance abuse, but the medical commission statement said Earl had prescribed medications that “were not a good choice for medication for a patient with a history of alcoholism or other substance abuse.” Earl “misrepresented either that he reviewed (the woman’s previous physician’s) records or that he had no notice of Patient B’s history of substance abuse,” the commission statement said. “Respondent’s record keeping and tracking of medications make it difficult to track Patient B’s treatment and were below the standard of care.” The statement cited 17 people Earl had treated for chronic pain, and said his treatment “failed to meet the standard of care and placed the patients at risk of harm.” The medical commission statement said Earl had not met the conditions of an earlier order, issued in 2012. That order was issued to “address practice below the standard of care with five patients and charting so grossly inaccurate and misleading that it amounted to misrepresentation of the patient consultations and evaluations.” Earl’s license was placed on probation, and he was required to attend additional training. The report said Earl was in compliance at the first review, but out of compliance by the third review and never got back in compliance. Under the conditions of the order, Earl cannot practice medicine in Washington, “including any temporary, emergency or volunteer practice.”

Career exploration at BBCC

MOSES LAKE — The detectives were on the case.

Classes, jam sessions, dances at fiddlers event

MOSES LAKE — The subject was pretty technical. The instructor was demonstrating the best way to hold a violin bow (or a fiddle bow) to facilitate changes in tempo. At first glance not the sort of topic to cause music to break out all over. But music broke out all over.

23rd annual Spud Run car show coming this weekend to Othello

OTHELLO — Kiwanis Park in Othello will be packed wheel-to-wheel with sweet rides this weekend. The 23rd annual Othello Spud Run is scheduled for Friday night and Saturday.

Lisa Pearce new Othello schools business director

OTHELLO — Lisa Pearce is the new executive director of business services for the Othello School District. She will start at the beginning of September.

Lectures scheduled on Sasquatch legend

MOSES LAKE — An Idaho State University professor who has studied the legend of Sasquatch will give two lectures on his research in August. Tickets are on sale now for both lectures, scheduled for the Moses Lake Civic Center, 401 S. Balsam St.

Crescent Bar project almost complete

EPHRATA — Construction on improvements to Crescent Bar are almost but not quite finished, and the Grant County PUD is beginning to see some money from campground, golf course and special event fees. Public lands and recreation manager Shannon Lowry said the utility only received one response to its request for proposals to manage the PUD’s facilities at Crescent Bar.

Othello SD, teachers union reach tentative agreement

OTHELLO — Members of the Othello Education Association have ratified a new three-year contract with the Othello School District. Othello School Board members must approve the agreement before it goes into effect.

Hot weather is going to stick around

MOSES LAKE — The current heat wave is forecast to last through at least Wednesday or Thursday, with temperatures 95 degree-plus.

Keeping cool is easier at the pool

MOSES LAKE — Okay, it is mid-July, so it’s reasonable to expect triple-digit temperatures. The question is, how to stay cool? Or at least, stay cooler?

Grant PUD close to completing repair work at Priest Rapids Dam

Water level could be raised before year's end

EPHRATA — The water levels behind Priest Rapids Dam, lowered in response to leaks discovered in March, could be raised back to normal operating levels before the end of the year. Repair work should be completed within the next month, said Rich Wallen, director of power production for the Grant County PUD.

Budget proposal presented to Othello School Board

OTHELLO — Othello teachers, administrators and support staff – along with school employees statewide – will receive raises as part of sweeping changes in state-funded school support. The salary information was part of a budget workshop for Othello School Board members Monday.

New PUD rate class decision delayed

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners will delay a decision on a new “emerging industries” rate class to give PUD employees more time to come up with options for existing customers. That decision followed almost two hours of public comment at the commission meeting Tuesday.

Fireshed

MOSES LAKE — Rappers KJ52 and Aaron Cole and singers Yvonne Munoz and Christian Cuevas will be among the featured acts at the Fireshed contemporary Christian music concert scheduled for Friday and Saturday at McCosh Park. The first acts take the stage at 2 p.m., with the final performers at 8 p.m. each day.

Othello School Board, city officials talk land

OTHELLO — The need for more water storage brought Othello city officials to the Othello School Board meeting Monday to talk about land for a new water tower.

Revised PUD application fees proposed for industrial customers

EPHRATA — Revisions to the application process – and application fees – for Grant County PUD industrial customers could go into effect in August. Shane Lunderville of the PUD detailed the proposal at the regular commission meeting Tuesday.

Lisa Pearce new Othello schools business director

OTHELLO — Lisa Pearce is the new executive director of business services for the Othello School District. She will start at the beginning of September.