CHERYL SCHWEIZER

Moses Lake man arrested after high-speed chase

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man was arrested and booked into the Grant County Jail early Saturday morning after leading Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a high-speed chase on Interstate 90 late Friday night.

One killed in Sunday collision on SR 283

UPDATE: QUINCY — An investigation by the Washington State Patrol is underway following a head-on collision early Sunday afternoon that killed driver of one of the vehicles. EPHRATA — Drivers are being advised to avoid State Route 283 south of Ephrata due to a serious two-car collision that is fully blocking both lanes as of 2 p.m. Sunday.

Sale ends Quincy port’s attempt to develop Bishop Rec Area

QUINCY — The sale of a piece of Port of Quincy property signals the end of an attempt to establish a recreation area near Crescent Bar. Port commissioners approved the sale of what was known as the Bishop property Sept. 11. “(The property) was sold to a private party,” said Port Commission Chair Curt Morris.

Early morning search warrant served in Quincy

QUINCY — The Quincy Police Department is asking for the public’s help in an investigation that so far has resulted in the execution of a search warrant in the 100 block of L Street Southwest.

City and Port of Ephrata to join forces on grant application

EPHRATA — The city of Ephrata will partner with the Port of Ephrata to apply for a grant that would pay most of the cost of analyzing city and port infrastructure needs. Ron Sell, Ephrata planning director, said the city would pay half of the required match, about $10,000, if the grant is awarded.

ROAD REPORT: Road resurfacing to continue in Moses Lake next week

MOSES LAKE — Drivers using Moses Lake’s downtown streets should be prepared for some delays or find routes around some streets as crews continue to resurface downtown streets, East Hill Street and East Wheeler Road.

New Grant Transit center to open next week

EPHRATA — The new Grant Transit Authority transit center in Ephrata should be ready for bus passengers Monday. Transit Authority General Manager Eric Loomis said next week’s opening is the first phase of a longer-term plan.

Moses Lake council weighing water concerns

MOSES LAKE — Water use, guaranteeing water supply and making sure there’s enough water as Moses Lake grows was the subject of an extensive discussion during a daylong planning session of the Moses Lake City Council Tuesday. City Engineer Richard Law said staff members are studying water rates and working on an overall plan for the water system to help make some of those decisions easier. “They’re coming together,” Law said.

Ag contributions recognized at FCAD in Quincy

QUINCY — The contributions of Quincy’s farmers and agricultural workers were recognized with a parade and a big party at Farmer Consumer Awareness Day Sept. 13.

Warrior Journeys returns with help of Wahluke Alumni Association

MATTAWA — Graduates of Wahluke High School are working to form an alumni association, and one of their first projects is the revival of a favorite high school program. Veronica Quintero, who’s one of the people working on the alumni association, said the group is looking for WHS graduates who want to participate in Warrior Journeys. Wahluke High School principal Cody Marlow said Warrior Journeys was started by former WHS counselor Jan Phillips. “(Phillips) had the idea of bringing Wahluke alumni to speak to current students,” Marlow wrote in response to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald. “We had everything from college students to entrepreneurs to CEOs. After Mrs. Phillips retired Warrior Journeys stopped happening.”

Proposals sought for old Royal City Library building

ROYAL CITY — With a new Royal City Library open and operating, Royal City officials are asking residents for proposals on uses for the old one. Already on the table is a pending offer from an existing landowner to swap the property.

‘Right there’ on construction of new GCAO shelter

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Animal Outreach directors hope to start construction on a new shelter by the end of the year. Outreach board president Sara Thompson Tweedy said the construction permit is pending approval from the city of Moses Lake. “As soon as we get that permit, then we’ll be able to line up our contractors,” Thompson Tweedy said.

South Grant Co. forum examines challenges, opportunities

MATTAWA — Improvements to state Route 243, more options for solid waste disposal, increased housing in southern Grant County, and more apprenticeship and job opportunities for young people. Those were among the recommendations that emerged from a forum sponsored by the South Grant County Chamber of Commerce Sept. 10.

Community learning centers coming to Othello schools

OTHELLO — The Othello School District will be implementing new before-school and after-school programs for elementary and middle school students with the help of a five-year, $2.5 million federal grant. Josh Meek, OSD executive director of teaching and learning, said the “community learning centers” will start in January 2026.

Moses Lake looks to plan ahead for financial sustainability

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake residents will be asked to weigh in on the opportunities and choices – possibly some tough choices – facing the city in 2026 and beyond. City manager Rob Karlinsey said residents will be asked for their thoughts on the future during the budget process and in early 2026.

ROAD REPORT: Chip-sealing coming to downtown Moses Lake next week

MOSES LAKE — Chip-sealing is scheduled to begin in the downtown area of Moses Lake sometime during the week of Sept. 15. East Hill Avenue and sections of East Wheeler Road are being chip-sealed this week. Drivers should be prepared for temporary detours and traffic control while chip-sealing is underway.

Efforts to promote water conservation coming to Quincy

QUINCY — Water is a critical commodity throughout the Inland Northwest, and it’s even more critical in growing cities like Quincy. City officials are working on a program to encourage city residents to conserve water, starting with a booth at Farmer-Consumer Awareness Day. Bob Davis, water program manager for the city, said he’s going to be wearing an, um, eye-catching costume.

Farmer Consumer Awareness Day returns to Quincy on Saturday

QUINCY — The agricultural industry – and agricultural bounty – of Quincy and its surrounding area will be celebrated at the annual Farmer-Consumer Awareness Day Saturday. Leia Watkins, FCAD president, said recognizing agriculture and the contributions of farmers is as important as ever. “Especially in this day and age, so many people don’t understand the importance of agriculture,” Watkins said.

Mattawa clinic puts levy proposal on November ballot

MATTAWA — Grant County Hospital District 5, also known as the Mattawa Community Medical Clinic, is asking voters to consider a proposal to change the amount of money collected through the hospital district levy in the Nov. 3 general election. District 5 Commissioner Barb Davis said the “levy lid lift” would raise the amount of money collected through the clinic’s existing maintenance and operations levy.

OTHELLO CITY COUNCIL POSITION 1 Q&A: Dorow vs. Camp

OTHELLO — Incumbent Genna Dorow is being challenged by Kelli Camp for Position 1 on the Othello City Council. The Columbia Basin Herald provided identical questions to each candidate that included a word limit.

Future of Moses Lake to be discussed at daylong council meeting

MOSES LAKE — The future of Moses Lake, and how to plan for it, will be the subject of a daylong Moses Lake City Council meeting Sept. 16. City Manager Rob Karlinsey said Moses Lake has some challenges ahead, and planning for them will make it easier to meet them. “The morning will be spent going through capital improvement plans,” Karlinsey said. “(In the afternoon) we’re going to be talking about the water systems plan. And then we’ll be talking about the water resources strategy, and that, to me, is going to be a highlight of the day. What are we going to do wean ourselves off this reliance on the deep basalt aquifer?”

QUINCY CITY COUNCIL POSITION 5: Dormier and Shelton

QUINCY — Incumbent Dave Dormier is being challenged by Pete Shelton for Position 5 on the Quincy City Council. The Columbia Basin Herald gave identical questions to each candidate, with a word limit.

Othello Fair & Rodeo coming Wednesday

Fair may be small, but it makes up for it with friendly atmosphere, welcoming community

OTHELLO — Longtime volunteer Becky Flint said there’s just something about the Othello Fair. “We may not be the biggest, but we definitely are the friendliest,” she said.

No injuries in separate shots-fired incidents

MOSES LAKE — No injuries were reported in separate disturbances that involved shots fired in Moses Lake and Quincy late Saturday and early Sunday.

Mattawa officials discussing food-based fundraising rules

MATTAWA —Mattawa residents will be asked for their opinions on possible changes to existing ordinances to regulate the sale of food-based fundraisers by groups and individuals at a community meeting sometime this fall. Mattawa City Council members continued an ongoing discussion Thursday about what should and should not be allowed.

Fire alarms but no fire at Moses Lake civic complex Friday

MOSES LAKE — An electrical interruption triggered fire alarms in Moses Lake municipal buildings Friday night but didn’t cause any damage.

Shell of new Quincy pool scheduled to arrive this month

QUINCY — While it’s not scheduled to open until next summer, the new Quincy Aquatic Center will really start taking shape this fall. Construction crews started excavating the site in July, and Quincy Parks and Recreation Director Russ Harrington said there’s been a lot of progress below ground level.

Arrests made in Mattawa homicide

MATTAWA — Two juveniles have been arrested and booked into the Chelan County Juvenile Detention Center in connection with the murder of a Mattawa man Aug. 17. The Mattawa Police Department announced the arrests Thursday night.

Grant helps fund WSU residency program at Samaritan

MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare and Washington State University have received a $750,000 federal grant to begin planning for residency program at Samaritan. Students in the family medicine program at WSU’s Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine will receive some of their training in Moses Lake.

Audit shows $32K misappropriated from East Adams hospital

RITZVILLE — A former employee at East Adams Rural Healthcare misappropriated about $32,000 in 2023, according to a report released Thursday by the Washington State Auditor’s Office. The report said the former accounting clerk pleaded guilty to four charges in April 2024 and served 60 days in jail.

Royal City Lions Park Phase I upgrades near completion

ROYAL CITY — A new soccer field in Royal City’s Lions Park should be ready for use in early October. “The project is not complete, (but) the major part is complete,” Royal City Mayor Mike Christensen said. “The turf is down; the fence is in.”

Smoke forecast to stick around through Friday

MOSES LAKE — Wildfires and light winds have combined to produce poor quality throughout Eastern Washington, a situation that is forecast to persist for a few days. “We’re kind of under this stable (air) layer,” said Charlotte Dewey, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Spokane. “We don’t have a lot of (air) mixing near the surface.”

Options under discussion for former Red Rock Elementary building

ROYAL CITY — The condition of the former Red Rock Elementary building, and its eventual fate, is prompting discussion among Royal City residents and city officials. “We’ve had some concerns with people continuing to break in,” said Royal City Mayor Michael Christensen. The building, located at the intersection of Calla Street and Hawthorne Avenue Northwest, originally was sold in 2005 by the Royal School District, according to records from the Grant County Auditor’s Office. The property is held jointly. Any plans to remodel or use the property haven’t materialized, Christensen said.

Food fundraisers are important part of Warden Community Days

WARDEN — It is true the line at the Warden High School Class of 2026 booth was not as long as that at the Queen of All Saints Catholic Church booth. Nevertheless, by 12:30 p.m. it was clear the seniors had underestimated the demand. “We’re running out of pizzas already,” said Bryce Cox, who oversaw the seniors’ pizza fundraiser.

Othello Chamber celebrates start of school with community

OTHELLO — Technically summer has a couple more weeks to run – Sept. 22 is officially the first day of fall – but summer seems to end when school opens. Othello schools opened last week, but the Othello Chamber of Commerce couldn’t let summer go without one last party.

Anchor AS becomes majority shareholder in REC Silicon

MOSES LAKE — Enough shareholders responded to an offer to buy outstanding shares of REC Silicon to increase the proportion of shares owned by Anchor AS to more than 50%. Anchor AS is a subsidiary of the Hanwa Group, which owned about 45% of REC Silicon previously.

New Columbia Basin Railroad owners assume operation

MOSES LAKE — The owners of Jaguar Transport Holdings, Joplin, Missouri, officially took over operation of the Columbia Basin Railroad Thursday. The owners of Jaguar Transport announced they were buying CBRR in mid-July. “We take a disciplined approach to acquisitions, and this opportunity – backed by proven success, strong infrastructure, a dedicated team and a growing customer base – truly excites us,” said Jaguar Chief Executive Officer Stu Towner in a press release announcing the change. Jaguar did not respond to questions from the Columbia Basin Herald about the purchase. The sale was completed in mid-August.

Road report

Construction suspended for Labor Day weekend, but some restrictions still in place

VANTAGE BRIDGE — Most road construction will be suspended during the Labor Day weekend, although lanes and sometimes roads will still be closed. “All four lanes across the Vantage Bridge will reopen by 7 a.m. Friday, Aug. 29,” according to a press release from the Washington State Department of Transportation. “Travel will return to one lane in each direction by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2.” Road construction in Grant and Adams counties is in full swing:

Some Banks Lake boat ramps closed next week due to drawdown

GRAND COULEE — Some boat ramps around Banks Lake will be closed over the Labor Day weekend due to lower water levels. According to a press release from the US Bureau of Reclamation, water levels could start dropping as early as Aug. 27 and will continue into the first week in September. Erika Lopez, office of communications for the bureau, said it happens every year in late August and early September.

Temporary traffic revisions planned for Ephrata’s A Street SE

EPHRATA — Traffic revisions are coming to the intersection of Nat Washington Way and A Street Southeast in Ephrata during the times parents are dropping off or picking up students at Ephrata Middle School. Mayor Bruce Reim said he hoped the traffic revisions would be very short-term.

Group14 obtains, leverages new investments

WOODINVILLE — The owners of Group14 Technologies have announced the company has acquired full ownership of its facility in South Korea. The company also obtained additional funding from the previous co-owner of the South Korea property and other investors, according to a company press release.

Salaries for Adams Co. elected officials under discussion

RITZVILLE — Adams County commissioners decided to delay consideration of an ordinance to revise the way salaries for county elected officials are established. Board Chair Mike Garza emphasized the ordinance was still a work in progress after rumors about the proposed changes brought about half a dozen to the commission meeting Tuesday. “It’s not set in stone yet,” Garza said.

Wahluke schools budget for declining enrollment

MATTAWA — The general fund for the Mattawa School District will be about $51.5 million for the 2025-26 school year. That’s slightly higher than the 2024-25 budget, but district superintendent Andy Harlow said the district is seeing a trend of declining enrollment. He cited the incoming kindergarten class as an example. “I would say the last two years have been about 180 (students). Now we’re looking at bringing in 134-136,” he said.

Othello Library provides free fun

OTHELLO — Othello Library branch manager Georgia Reitmire said the library offers something people can’t get just anywhere. “We’re a free place to have fun,” she said. Technology has changed the way libraries do business, she said, but not their purpose.

Grant PUD budgets for projects in 2026

EPHRATA — Grant County Public Utility District customers will have through Dec. 9 to submit their comments on the 2026 PUD budget. The PUD’s preliminary budget projects about $236.9 million in hand at the end of the 2026, but Public Information Officer Christine Pratt said the final budget could, and will, look different. “Department budgets are still being written, so those numbers are sure to change,” Pratt said in answer to an emailed question from the Columbia Basin Herald.

Law enforcement focused on impaired drivers

Drunk or high driving will be the focus for police in Grant County through Sept. 1

MOSES LAKE — Grant County law enforcement agencies are participating in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” emphasis patrols through Sept. 1. The campaign started Aug. 13.

Property purchased for new Grant County Morgue

MOSES LAKE — Construction on a new Grant County morgue is scheduled to start this fall. County officials interviewed possible contractors Aug. 14, with the selection announced in late August or early September. “We would expect to make a decision on a general contractor pretty rapidly,” said Tom Gaines, Grant County Central Services director.

New Grant County prosecutor sets goals

EPHRATA — Brandon Guernsey was sworn in Aug. 4 as the new Grant County Prosecutor. He replaces Kevin McCrae, who announced his resignation in May, effective Aug. 3. Guernsey said he has set some goals for the prosecutor’s office, one of the most important being to improve morale. The prosecutor’s office does not have a sufficient staff of attorneys, he said, and he wants to remedy that. “For me personally, cracking down on drugs and gangs,” he said. “That’s really where my passion is, to stop drug cartels from destroying our lives.” Attorneys in the prosecutor’s office, he said, should be accessible. “We should be holding ourselves accountable to the community,” Guernsey said.

Hit-and-run east of Othello injures four

OTHELLO — Four people were transported to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland after they were injured in a crash about 20 miles east of Othello Wednesday. One of the drivers involved in the three-car collision fled the scene. Nelly Kereiyian, 32, Pullman, and Timothy Oronge, 41, Everett, a 6-year-old boy and a 10-year-old boy were transported to Kadlec after the van they were in rolled down an embankment, according to a statement from the Washington State Patrol. Passengers Fatina Jepleting, 26, and Erick Kayioni, 37, both of Pullman, were unhurt, the WSP wrote. Kereiyian was driving east on state Route 26 at the Highway 395 overpass at about 5 p.m. Wednesday when a vehicle heading stopped at the top of the Highway 295 offramp pulled out in front of her, the statement said. Kereiyian attempted to avoid the vehicle and lost control, crossing into the eastbound lane.

Schoonover Road construction begins, other road projects progressing

RITZVILLE — A section of Schoonover Road north of Ritzville is closed to traffic as construction crews start work on a complete rebuild. Schoonover Road is closed from Rosenoff to Rehn roads. “Currently the contractor has ground the existing pavement and is working on clearing vegetation on the shoulder, and will then begin the earthwork portion,” wrote Adams County Engineer Scott Yaeger in response to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald. Construction is scheduled for completion Nov. 4. The old road surface will be removed, the roadbed rebuilt with improved drainage, the road widened, and guardrails added where needed, Yaeger said in an earlier interview. It’s the first year of a multiyear project; the first phase project cost is about $3.13 million.