EMRY DINMAN

Contesting discipline, Moses Lake officer claims department bias

Francis describes discipline as ‘selective’

Newhouse joins call to reconsider abortion ruling

MOSES LAKE — Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., joined 206 other members of Congress on Thursday in calling for the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider the right to abortion laid out 47 years ago by Roe v. Wade.

Newhouse applauds U.S. removal of terrorist leader

MOSES LAKE — Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, Friday applauded the Trump administration’s assassination of Iran’s top general, who the Pentagon has said was actively developing plans to kill Americans abroad.

Quincy man arrested after road rage shooting

MOSES LAKE — A Quincy man was arrested over the weekend after allegedly firing shots out of his moving car at a vehicle that passed him on state Route 17 roughly eight miles northwest of Moses Lake.

Two people dead after Sunday collision in Adams County

MOSES LAKE — Two people are dead after a Sunday night collision in Adams County caused by a driver traveling the wrong way on U.S. Highway 395 eight miles south of Lind.

It’s official: Allison Williams will be Moses Lake’s first female city manager

Allison Williams will be Moses Lake’s first female city manager

MOSES LAKE — It’s official — Allison Williams has signed her contract to be the next city manager of Moses Lake. Williams, expected to start her new job Jan. 27, will be the first woman ever to serve in that role.

Staples rooftop burglar pleads guilty

EPHRATA – One of the two Soap Lake men caught by police in April and suspected of attempting to break into Staples in Moses Lake by lowering themselves in through the roof has pleaded guilty.

Moses Lake man who attacked cop sentenced

MOSES LAKE — One of two Moses Lake men accused of assaulting an officer who was attempting to disperse a crowd that had gathered around another officer pleaded guilty earlier this month.

Woman sentenced to 10 days for attempted burglary

Also forced to relinquish guns

Ybarra resigns from Quincy school board

Reflects on 8 years of service

Local legislators reserving judgment on Shea report

MOSES LAKE — Local legislators, though expressing concern, are reserving judgment until they can further review a state House report that accuses Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley, of engaging in “domestic terrorism.”

After Supreme Court punts on the homeless, cities are left with tenuous status quo

MOSES LAKE — The Supreme Court’s refusal last Monday to review last year’s Boise decision maintains the right of homeless individuals to sleep on public property if there are no shelter beds available.

Local law enforcement agencies buy presents with needy children this week

GRANT COUNTY — Law enforcement agencies across Grant County will be celebrating Christmas early this week as they buy presents for area kids for their eighth annual Shop With a Cop.

Woman who kicked arresting officers sentenced to year in prison

EPHRATA — A 26-year-old Ephrata woman will spend just over a year in prison after stealing a vehicle in October, attacking officers when they attempted to arrest her and shouting that she was going to kill them.

Tour bus driver dies after collision with school bus

QUINCY — A tour bus operator died Friday after the vehicle he was operating rear-ended a school bus that was disabled in the westbound lane of Road 5-Northwest.

Mr. Leighton’s last Noel: Beloved music teacher announces retirement

MOSES LAKE — At 3 p.m. Tuesday, there are only a few hours left before showtime, and Dan Leighton flits about Moses Lake High School’s gym trying to get everything in place.

Tip-a-Cop: Law enforcement to serve diners at Rock Top Thursday

MOSES LAKE — Diners walking into Rock Top Burgers and Brew Thursday shouldn’t be alarmed by police activity in the restaurant — Santa, who will also be in attendance, isn’t in any trouble.

2018 was a very bad year for youth suicides in Grant County

GRANT COUNTY — In Grant County, a county with just under 100,000 residents, more young people under the age of 19 died by suicide last year than in any other county of its size, according to data collected by the Washington State Department of Health.

Moses Lake man pleads guilty to child porn

Thousands of files found

Moses Lake man gets over a year in prison for statutory rape

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man will spend just over a year in prison after pleading guilty to statutory rape of a minor in connection with an incident from 2017.

Spate of suicidal juveniles reported locally since October

MOSES LAKE — In Moses Lake, a community on edge after a string of youth suicides in recent years, police have responded to at least four reported incidents of a suicidal juvenile since October, including at least one recent suicide attempt.

Wreaths Across America ceremonies, honoring deceased veterans, start Dec. 14

EPHRATA — Around 700 deceased veterans interred in Moses Lake, Ephrata, Soap Lake and Quincy cemeteries will be honored with wreaths placed by their gravestones Dec. 14 and 15 by the Columbia Basin Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol Ephrata.

Desert Aire drive-by shooter sentenced to 4 months

DESERT AIRE — A 22-year-old suspected member of the Norteño gang has been sentenced to four months in jail for shooting at a rival gang member and his girlfriend in an occupied vehicle in Desert Aire last May.

Moses Lake nursing home to host blood drive

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake nursing home Columbia Crest Center will be opening its doors for a Vitalant blood drive Dec. 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Alien in possession of firearm charges dropped against abuser

QUINCY — A Quincy resident and non-immigrant alien pleaded guilty to fourth-degree domestic violence assault, avoiding a felony charge of alien in possession of a firearm after a plea agreement.

Chief Moses’ four-legged therapist is having an outsized effect in his first year

Chief Moses’ four-legged therapist is having an outsized effect in his first year

MOSES LAKE — Amid the din and mild chaos of over a hundred young students chatting during the first lunch period at Chief Moses Middle School, the youngest professional at the school walks past a school resource officer, sniffs the air, and begins strolling between the aisles.

Westside Republican seeks end to ‘sanctuary state’ policy

OLYMPIA — State senator and 2020 gubernatorial candidate Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, is planning to drop a bill today that, if passed, would roll back “sanctuary state” protections for people in the country illegally.

'We are not stalling': Othello PD Chief on investigation of embattled wrestling coach

OTHELLO — The Othello Police Department is not stalling on its investigation into allegations that the local high school girl’s wrestling coach had a sexual relationship with a student, OPD Chief Phil Schenck said in a recent interview, rejecting a statement made by the coach’s attorney.

Ybarra appointed to replace Manweller

EPHRATA — County commissioners from Grant, Kittitas, Lincoln and Yakima counties voted Monday to appoint Quincy resident Alex Ybarra to the state legislature. Ybarra will replace outgoing Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Cle Elum, whose resignation amid a series of sexual harassment scandals was effective Monday.

Old Hotel December Artist of the Month

The Othello Old Hotel has named Robert and Judy Smitha the December Artists of the Month, and will be displaying the husband-and-wife duo’s art throughout the month.

Royal City seeking new councilmember

The Royal City Council is going to enter the new year short one councilmember, and is currently soliciting applications from individuals interested in filling the position.

Mattawa Shop with a Cop

Mattawa will be holding its first annual Shop with a Cop event Dec. 22, with support from members of the Mattawa Police Department and community.

Royal continues to improve roads

For a second year in a row, Royal City will be undertaking significant improvements of its city roads with a sizable grant from the Washington Transportation Improvement Board.

A heart for giving in Royal Slope

For the 4th year, Royal Community Hugs is working to build relationships in the Royal Slope community and assist families in need during the holiday season, and program organizers are still soliciting donations in order to increase the potential benefit.

Mattawa looks to the legislature to make filling agency easier

To combat the difficulties Mattawa has had filling its Civil Service Commission, the town is deploying municipal lawyer Katherine Kenison to lobby the legislature to simplify the process during the upcoming legislative session.

Othello Community Christmas Basket charity soliciting donations

For the 44th year in a row, the Othello Eagles Lodge, Moose Lodge, Lions Club and Adams County Fire District #5 are coming together to support the annual community Christmas basket charity, which provides food and blankets to families in need in time for the holidays.

Skip the long lines and shop small this weekend

OTHELLO - If, after a relaxed evening with family and way too much warm food this Thanksgiving, it doesn’t sound like a pleasant follow-up to cram into a big box store and fist fight over a discount flat screen TV on Black Friday, the City of Othello has a markedly more laid-back option: Shop Small day.

Othello names Mike Blickfeldt November Artist of the Month

Local photographer Mike Blickfeldt has been named the Othello Old Hotel’s November artist of the month, and his landscape and nature photography is currently on display at the Old Hotel Art Gallery through the end of the month.

Shop Small Day follows Black Friday in Othello

OTHELLO - The Othello Chamber of Commerce and the Old Hotel Art Gallery are partnering with local businesses throughout Othello for Shop Small day on Nov. 24, the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Halloween activities in the Southern Columbia Basin

Families in southern Grant County and Adams County looking for events to take their children to this Halloween have plenty of options to choose from, whether in Mattawa, Royal City or Othello.

Stinky cloud leaks from Taco Bell after line is broken

MOSES LAKE - A two-inch gas line was broken at the Maiers Rd. Taco Bell in Moses Lake at around 10:30 a.m. Friday, temporarily causing a stir as fire crews and law enforcement arrived on-scene to coordinate traffic and evacuate a nearby hotel. A spokesman for Cascade Natural Gas, which owns and operates the gas line, said that the break was caused by a contractor digging a trench.

CBHA checks car seats for safety then dances with kids at Saturday's event

The Columbia Basin Health Association and Central Basin Traffic Safety Task Force held a free car seat check-up event Saturday, inspecting car seats for safety and giving away new car seats in exchange for unfit ones.

She worked to defeat a Tacoma Democrat accused of sexual misconduct. Now, she's after Manweller.

Jessica Gavre, who accused Tacoma Democrat Rep. David Sawyer of sexual harassment and then raised money to unseat him in the primaries this August, has turned her attention to another embattled Washington politician: Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Cle Elum.

House Republican Leadership calls for Manweller's resignation

In light of recent allegations of statutory rape levied earlier today against Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Cle Elum, and detailed in an extensive report by the Northwest News Network, state House Republican Leadership has called on Manweller to resign from his position in the legislature.

Measure would raise sales tax in Adams County to support law enforcement

A measure on the November ballot will ask Adam County residents to approve a .03 percent increase in sales taxes to help support law enforcement and the county’s criminal justice system.

Wahluke Slope Fire in mop-up stages as officials weight restoration options

A brush fire that started Friday night burned at least 13,000 acres along the Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge, torching both slopes of the National Wildlife Refuge’s mountain range.

Othello group quilts for the greater good

OTHELLO — Every Wednesday morning, a dozen or so ladies circle a table in the Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Othello and create quilts, assembly-line style, with a mission of providing “warmth locally and around the world.”

Wahluke goes back-to-school

MATTAWA — Students in Mattawa’s Wahluke School District had their first day of classes last Tuesday, and with another school year comes another round of changes at schools across the state. What’s new at Wahluke?

Latest on the Wahluke Slope Fire: over 12,000 acres burnt, 75 percent contained

A brush fire that started Friday night burned at least 12,000 acres along the Saddle Mountain area north of Wahluke. As of noon on Sunday, the fire was 75 percent contained and mostly tamped out, except for small smoldering hot spots.

A new year at Royal School District

ROYAL CITY — As summer starts its slow spill into fall, another school year has begun at the Royal School District and students are heading to their classrooms.