EMRY DINMAN

A new home: How a Ukrainian refugee settled in Grant County

MOSES LAKE — One of only two refugees resettled in Grant County last year, 21-year-old Ukrainian-born Vitalii Kuzhel already thinks he’d like to spend the rest of his life in Moses Lake.

Windstorm downs power poles, causing Adams County blackouts

OTHELLO — Power outages ripped across the region Sunday in the wake of a fierce windstorm. The wind knocked down a number of distribution power poles near Othello and knocked out power for Adams County, according to officials with utility company Avista.

Man cited in non-injury rollover crash

MOSES LAKE — Eastbound traffic on Interstate 90 was backed up shortly before noon Thursday after a two-car collision resulted in one vehicle on its side blocking the exit at milepost 176, near Moses Lake.

Work release center inmates to move to jail

Change triggered by unexpected staffing shortage

Appeals court lets man withdraw guilty plea to murder charges

SPOKANE — A state appeals court has allowed a Grant County man to withdraw his guilty plea for the 2015 killing of two of his coworkers in Royal City, court documents show.

Moses Lake man arrested after allegedly threatening to burn home down

MOSES LAKE – A Moses Lake man was arrested Friday on suspicion of threatening to burn down a home he co-owned with a woman, reportedly complying with police only after K9 intervention, police said.

Moses Lake man arrested after Ernie’s Truck Stop robbery

MOSES LAKE – A Moses Lake man was arrested early Tuesday morning on suspicion of robbing a gas station for a six-pack of beer, according to police officials.

Former Spokane-area coach pleads guilty

SPOKANE — A former Ferris High School assistant football coach pleaded guilty this week to soliciting sex from underage Moses Lake and Spokane girls in 2018, The Spokesman-Review reported.

Applications open for Citizen Academy

MOSES LAKE — Applications have opened for the fourth annual Columbia Basin Multi-Agency Citizen Academy, which offers a chance for civilians to learn about law enforcement work from officers from across Grant County.

Moses Lake man appeals sentence

EPHRATA — A Moses Lake man has filed to appeal a nearly nine-and-a-half-year prison sentence after being convicted at the end of January for accidentally shooting his girlfriend in the back.

Congressional Art Competition open for submissions

WASHINGTON, D.C. — High school students in Washington’s 4th Congressional District, represented by Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., are invited to submit entries to the sixth annual Congressional Art Competition for Central Washington.

Council hesitates as proposed rec center price tag rises

The Moses Lake City Council on Tuesday tabled a decision to amend a contract for the firm designing a proposed 30,000-square-foot recreation center, after a member expressed concerns about the project’s costs.

Moses Lake issues Kindness Week, Day proclamation

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake on Tuesday at the city’s regular council meeting joined Grant County and the state of Washington in issuing proclamations naming the week of Feb. 16-23 as Kindness Week and Feb. 17 as Kindness Day.

Frustration, concerns as education on law delayed

Many providers are still unaware of new law allowing parents to force teens into mental health treatment A long time coming A long way to go

17-year-old arrested after gun incident

MOSES LAKE — A 17-year-old was arrested on charges of first-degree assault early Sunday morning after reportedly pointing a gun out of the window of a car he was driving, according to police.

Suspects reportedly scam change dispensing machine

MOSES LAKE — Move over, quarter-on-a-string, and make way for $5-dollar-bill-on-some-tape.

‘Being Earnest’: Moses Lake High School play ‘inspires absolute confidence’

MOSES LAKE — A week before the opening night of Moses Lake High School’s production of “The Importance of Being Earnest,” the cast and crew were hard at work perfecting a most earnest performance.

Man gets 35 days in jail after pleading guilty to assault

GRAND COULEE — A Grand Coulee man was sentenced to 35 days in jail after allegedly assaulting a bar patron and responding officers and offering to pay an officer if he would decide not to press charges, according to court documents.

WA politicians respond to Trump’s acquittal, conduct

WA politicians respond to Trump’s acquittal, conduct

WASHINGTON D.C. – Responding to impeachment charges against President Donald Trump and Wednesday’s acquittal on both counts, both United States senators from Washington, as well as the congressman representing the Columbia Basin, have issued statements or press releases.

ML woman gets state, county to sign kindness proclamation

EPHRATA — A Moses Lake resident’s hard work and persistence have convinced the state of Washington, Grant County and soon possibly Moses Lake and other towns to declare a kindness day and week.

State Supreme Court: Prosecutor’s office can’t handle murder retrial

EPHRATA — The Washington State Supreme Court has upheld an appeals court decision that ruled the entire Grant County Prosecutor’s Office must be recused from handling the retrial of a Montana man who was previously convicted of first-degree murder of an Ephrata man.

Deputy prosecutor declares candidacy for judgeship

EPHRATA — Kevin McCrae, a Grant County Chief Deputy Prosecutor and Moses Lake resident, has declared his candidacy for Grant County Superior Court Judge, in the seat currently held by Judge John D. Knodell.

Two violent incidents at MLSD schools Friday

MOSES LAKE — Amid increasing attention turned to cases of assault at Moses Lake schools, police were called out to both Frontier Middle School and Larson Heights Elementary School on Friday night for reports of students acting violently.

Jail visiting hours limited by short staff

EPHRATA — Due to staffing shortages, visitation hours for maximum and medium security inmates at the Grant County Jail will be cut nearly in half, according to officials with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Hundreds attend Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo Banquet

MOSES LAKE — Around 200 people piled into the Columbia Basin Elks Lodge for the 2020 Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo Banquet, in celebration of major sponsors and as a chance to highlight important people involved with the rodeo.

Hearing the call: MACC Dispatch is the hub of first response

MOSES LAKE — “I can’t understand you when you yell into the phone, I need you to breathe,” a dispatcher at the Multi Agency Communications Center, also known as MACC Dispatch, says calmly into the receiver.

ML man sentenced to year in prison for child porn

EPHRATA — A Moses Lake man was sentenced to just over a year in prison this week for possession of dozens of sexual images and videos of children.

Discrimination suit filed against city

MOSES LAKE — Nearly nine months since she and two other women filed tort claims against the city of Moses Lake, former assistant planner Billi Jo Munoz has filed suit against her former employer.

Salazar’s departure followed conflict

MOSES LAKE – Before resigning from his position as Moses Lake’s human resources director, Carlos Salazar raised concerns about whether top officials had given raises to themselves and favored departments.

Second building burns down at Moses Lake homeless camp

MOSES LAKE — A second outbuilding burned to the ground early Tuesday morning in a homeless camp established on a property owned by local landowner Mick Hansen.

New ML city manager sworn in

MOSES LAKE — The first woman to take the top administrative position at the city, Allison Williams took her oath of office Monday as Moses Lake’s new city manager.

Moses Lake’s HR director resigns

MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake Human Resources Director Carlos Salazar has resigned from his position, effective immediately, after being put on administrative leave Dec. 3 for alleged dishonesty and failure to perform duties.

Vote on fire impact fees unlikely soon

MOSES LAKE — A vote on fire impact fees is unlikely until February at the earliest, after city officials announced at the most recent Moses Lake City Council meeting that an oversight prompted tabling the proposal.

Discrimination claims against Moses Lake mostly unresolved

MOSES LAKE — Eight months after the city of Moses Lake acknowledged that tort claims had been filed by three women alleging sexual harassment and abuse by top city officials, attorney Corbin Earl says some claims have gone to mediation and more have been added.

On point: The two leading ladies of Ballet Academy of Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — “Stop dancing like you’re apologizing for being here!” shouts Rian Miles, shortly before she’s drowned out by the opening lines of Rihanna’s “Only Girl.”

ML woman sentenced in EBT-drug scheme

A Moses Lake woman has been sentenced to just over a year in prison after pleading guilty to three elements of an alleged scheme to trade drugs for EBT cards, having avoided over a dozen other charges recommended by investigators.

ML man sentenced for child porn

Faces 80 months in prison

Country Sweethearts benefit auction set

MOSES LAKE — Country Sweethearts will gather hand in hand at the Grant County Fairgrounds on Feb. 1 for the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation’s 11th annual benefit dinner, dance and auction, raising money to support cancer patients locally.

Largest crowd in years packs Moses Lake MLK Jr. celebration

MOSES LAKE — Over a hundred men, women and children, black and white, of varied faiths and creeds came together Monday night to fill the Moses Lake Civic Center auditorium in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.

In new book, Moses Lake author decries the American health insurance system

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake pharmacist Shawn Needham has worked in the healthcare industry since he graduated from the University of Washington in 1994, and in the ensuing decades, he’s witnessed what he sees as a breakdown in the system.

Burglar hits Moses Lake bar Saturday

Makes off with flavored vodka, whiskey and money

ML man gets 51 months for eluding, strangling and more

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man will serve 51 months in prison after pleading guilty to a slate of crimes committed over the course of two months.

Moses Lake man sentenced to 108 months for stolen guns

MOSES LAKE – A Moses Lake man and documented gang member has been sentenced to 108 months in federal prison after having been found in possession of stolen firearms, prosecutors announced Tuesday night.

Ephrata woman among injured in head-on collision

TRINIDAD – An Ephrata woman and an East Wenatchee man were both sent to hospitals with serious injuries after a head-on collision on state Route 28 several miles west of Trinidad in Douglas County.

Fire impact fees tabled again

MOSES LAKE — The decades-long debate over fire impact fees did not reach a conclusion at Tuesday’s city council meeting after a technical error forced the council to table the ordinance yet again.

Curnel named mayor of Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — David Curnel was sworn in as mayor of Moses Lake by Judge David Estudillo during Tuesday’s city council meeting after receiving unanimous support from his fellow council members.

Moses Lake council to consider fire impact fees and more Tuesday

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake City Council will meet tonight to discuss a number of issues, including fire impact fees that have sparked tension between builders and the fire department, and renewal of its waste collection contract, among other topics.

Moses Lake to select new mayor, deputy mayor

MOSES LAKE – Along with seating its newest city council member, the Moses Lake City Council will be selecting the next mayor and deputy mayor at Tuesday’s regular meeting.

Man robbed after trying to buy sex

MOSES LAKE – A Moses Lake woman was arrested early Monday morning on suspicion of agreeing to sell sex to a man and participating in robbing him at gunpoint with the aid of three other men.

A little library stands tall in a Moses Lake neighborhood

MOSES LAKE — Just in front of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Moses Lake, atop a post, with steepled roof, arched windows and a simple wooden cross, stands a mini-church which acts as a mini-library.