EMRY DINMAN
Staff Writer
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Police records 12/4-12/9
Police reports
One dead, three injured in Sunday collision
GRANT COUNTY — A Mattawa woman died Sunday night and another three people were injured in a three-vehicle collision on state Route 243 south of Mattawa, according to the Washington state patrol.
Moses Lake Parks and Rec director to retire after 30 years of service
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Parks and Recreation Director Spencer Grigg, who has served in the position for 15 years and worked with the department for three decades, has announced his retirement.
Three more COVID-19 deaths reported in Othello
The Adams County Health Department on Tuesday reported three COVID-19-related deaths of Othello residents, bringing the total coronavirus deaths in the county to 14.
Stratford Road lanes to close for sidewalk work
MOSES LAKE — Commuters can expect long delays Tuesday as they travel on Stratford Road, as multiple lanes will be closed between Mart Road and Knolls Vista Drive for sidewalk work, according to a press release.
Grant County Sheriff's Office closed to public due to coronavirus cases
GRANT COUNTY — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office in Ephrata will be closed to the public Tuesday until further notice, as four members of the Corrections Division have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a press release.
Police records for 12/2 - 12/6
Police records
Mattawa woman dies, three injured in Sunday night collision
A Mattawa woman died and another three people were injured Sunday night in a three-vehicle collision on state Route 243, south of Mattawa, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Local scouting group funds program with Christmas' iconic conifer
MOSES LAKE — In a little lot lined by chain-link fences on East Broadway Avenue, volunteers with the Moses Lake outpost of a worldwide Christian scouting organization were quickly selling the last of their Christmas trees in what is the group’s largest fundraiser of the year.
Teenager hospitalized after Saturday morning shooting north of Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE — A Mattawa teenager was hospitalized early Saturday morning and later released after a reported shooting in the Larson community north of Moses lake, according to a Grant County Sheriff’s Office release. No one else was reportedly injured.
Police records for 11/30-12/1
Police, arrest records
Samaritan beds occupied by confirmed COVID-19 patients up
MOSES LAKE — Though there is additional room, the number of beds occupied by patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 at Samaritan Hospital has quadrupled since Nov. 16, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Ten more COVID-19 deaths reported, seven from local eldercare facilities
Ten deaths related to COVID-19 were reported in Grant County on Thursday, bringing the total to 54, according to Grant County Health District.
Police records for 12/1
Police records for 12/1
Moses Lake man sentenced to 67 months in prison for arson
MOSES LAKE -- A Moses Lake man was sentenced to 67 months (about 5 1/2 years) in state prison last month, after a jury found him guilty of setting fire to his father’s vehicle and boat in March and endangering a nearby residence in the process, according to court records.
Opening of Moses Lake managed shelterless camp delayed again
MOSES LAKE — The opening of the Moses Lake sleeping center, a managed camp for those without shelter, located on the corner of East Broadway Avenue and state Route 17, has been pushed back to next week due to delays in acquiring all of the required facilities, according to a city official.
Project postcard: Local museum, artists, youth collaborate to show gratitude to seniors
“We hope these postcards bring a smile to those who receive them. The designs were created by local artists and colored by members of the community,” Boyd said. “The people who made these cards were really excited to be able to reach out and connect with people who may be isolated at this time.”
Troopers find surprise in abandoned boat
MOSES LAKE — Four week-old kittens, too young to have opened their eyes, were discovered Friday in an overturned boat that had been abandoned on the side of Interstate 90 and rescued by responding members of the Washington State Patrol.
Dent recognized with national award for support of agriculture
Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, was recognized in September with a national award for his support of the agricultural industry in the state legislature, according to a Wednesday press release.
Outbreak in Moses Lake nursing home grows to 80 cases
An additional 19 staff members at a Moses Lake nursing home have tested positive for the coronavirus since an outbreak was reported Friday, a spokesperson wrote in an email Tuesday.
George mayor arrested, accused of pointing gun at woman
The mayor of George, Washington, was arrested by Grant County sheriff’s deputies Tuesday, after allegedly pointing a gun at a woman while intoxicated, according to a sheriff's office spokesperson.
Man in custody after standoff, use of gas
A Quincy man is in custody after allegedly barricading himself in a home until officers deployed CS gas early Tuesday morning, according to law enforcement officials.
Seven COVID-19 cases linked to 300-person wedding
COLUMBIA BASIN — As of Tuesday, seven cases of the coronavirus in Adams County were linked to the Nov. 7 Ritzville-area wedding reported to have had around 300 attendees, according to health officials.
Senior project-turned-fundraiser trots into its 10th year
On a cold November morning, Kelsie Eddie stood in the parking lot of a local church wearing a splay-eyed turkey hat she bought from Amazon, jumping up to hand off t-shirts to participants in the 10th Annual Turkey Trot.
Police records for 11/23
Police records
Two injured after allegedly unsecured load comes loose
Two people driving eastbound on state Route 28 west of Quincy received minor injuries after a pickup truck driving westbound lost its load of wooden poles.
Virtual speaker to present Washington 'women warriors' from history
The Moses Lake Museum and Art Center will host writer Mayumi Tsutakawa on Dec. 10 to present the stories of five Washington “women warriors,” in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage.
Newhouse named chairman of Western Caucus
U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, has been named the chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus for the 117th Congress after receiving the unanimous support of the caucus’ executive committee.
Local health care groups gather donations for local food banks
For the 20th Annual Turkey Drive hosted by local health care providers, residents hoping to help stock the local food bank’s pantry traveled to the organizations themselves in the spirit of giving.
One injured, Stratford Road closed after shooting
Stratford Road in Moses Lake was closed near the intersection of Harris Road Sunday night while law enforcement investigated a shooting in which at least one person was injured.
Moses Lake business adapts to restrictions
A circus tent was pitched outside of the Ten Pin Tap House in Moses Lake and construction workers laid flooring Thursday in what will be that company’s largest attempt yet to move its casino operations outdoors in the face of a state mandate banning indoor operations.
Royal City man arrested during search warrant
ROYAL CITY - A Royal City man is in custody after police served a search warrant at his residence and reportedly seized more than 10 pounds of marijuana, a little more than 4 grams of methamphetamine and a stolen pistol.
The right time, the right place: An off-duty volunteer firefighter saves a life hanging on the edge
GRANT COUNTY - When Daniel Baergen, a volunteer firefighter of over 20 years with Grant County Fire District No. 6, left church Sunday morning with his wife, Dawn Baergen, they had hoped to make a quick trip to the grocery store and get back home in time for the Seahawks game.
Health officials monitoring ‘Ephrata Covid Homecoming 2020’
Grant County Health District officials confirmed Thursday they are aware of an Ephrata event held at a home on Saturday, referred to by organizers as “Ephrata Covid Homecoming 2020,” which had approximately 50-100 attendees.
Deputy injured in Ephrata shooting
MOSES LAKE — A Grant County Sheriff’s deputy was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries after Jesus Torres, 24, reportedly shot him in the foot while fleeing law enforcement early Wednesday morning.
Deputy shot, hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries Wednesday morning
A Grant County Sheriff’s deputy was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries after Jesus Torres, 24, reportedly shot him in the foot while fleeing law enforcement early Wednesday morning.
"We're scared": Health officials ask residents to stay home this Thanksgiving
Health officials in Grant and Adams counties are seeing potentially the largest rise in coronavirus cases since August and are urging local residents to stay home this Thanksgiving, cautioning that indoor gatherings already have been a major source of new cases.
Moses Lake parks hosts online Rocket League tourney
MOSES LAKE — Since many traditional classes were canceled by the pandemic, Moses Lake Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting an online video game tournament Thursday and Friday.
Ritzville wedding superspreader linked to secondary outbreaks
The impact of a Ritzville-area wedding nearly two weeks ago continues to grow as officials get a better understanding of how many people have become infected.
Overwhelmed Grant County health officials cannot keep up contact tracing
Overwhelmed by a surge of coronavirus cases, the Grant County Health District cannot perform contact tracing and asks people infected with the coronavirus to self-isolate and contact possible infectees themselves.
County may close drop boxes in Mattawa, Coulee City
GRANT COUNTY — Residents of the Mattawa or Coulee City areas soon may have to subscribe to curbside trash service or travel farther to dispose of their garbage, after the county Solid Waste Advisory Committee’s recent recommendation to close trash “drop boxes” in those communities.
Moses Lake museum closed until Dec. 15
The Moses Lake Museum & Art Center and Visitor Information Center closed Monday and won’t reopen until Dec. 15 in compliance with Governor Inslee's shut down order, according to a press release.
Moses Lake to freeze new annexations until next summer
There will be a freeze of new annexations into the city of Moses Lake through June 2021, after city council members unanimously approved a moratorium at Tuesday’s council meeting.
Moses Lake decides against increasing health district contributions
Moses Lake will not be allocating additional tax dollars to the Grant County Health District, council members decided at last Tuesday’s council meeting.
As COVID-19 cases rise, Samaritan Healthcare still has capacity
While coronavirus cases are surging throughout the country, and some hospital systems are becoming overwhelmed, Samaritan Healthcare still has sufficient capacity to handle its current caseload, according to a hospital spokesperson.
State Republicans say they've been iced out of decision making, call for special session
Following announced restrictions Sunday morning for restaurants and other businesses by Gov. Jay Inslee, Washington Republican legislators quickly issued statements reiterating requests for the governor to involve them in the decision-making process and to call a special session of the legislature.
"It's a nightmare": Some wonder if their businesses will survive renewed shutdown
“It will be very, very challenging to make the business profitable,” said Emmy Winzler, manager at Evolve Fitness in Moses Lake.
During the worst days, tow truck drivers to the rescue
One written by a Yakima woman is directed to Vista’s owner, Derek Bjork, asking him to pass along the writer’s thanks to Robbie Rowe, the driver that had picked up her daughter and granddaughter when they ended up stranded on the side of the highway about eight miles east of Ritzville.
Déjà vu: Panic buying, not supply chain disruption, wiping out some store shelves
Eight months into the COVID-19 pandemic, grocery store toilet paper shelves are looking a lot like they did in April, for largely the same reasons: supply chains are stable, but a spike in hoarding and panic buying is driving the temporary shortages, experts say.
State to set up COVID-19 testing sites throughout Grant County, Othello
COVID-19 testing sites throughout Grant County and in Othello next week focused on agricultural workers, but will be open to the general public.