EMRY DINMAN

Eighteenth coronavirus-linked death reported in Grant County

An eighteenth Grant County resident has died due to complications as a direct result of the coronavirus, the Grant County Health District reported in a Tuesday evening press release.

Coronavirus: 14 new cases in Grant County

There were 14 cases of the coronavirus reported in Grant County on Tuesday.

Lingering smoke a concern in wine business: Grapes may, or may not, be affected

As smoke from wildfires blankets the West Coast, some Columbia Basin wine grape growers and makers are watching vineyards with concern, uncertain if the 2020 vintage will be made less palatable by “smoke taint.”

Police records for Sept. 16, 2020

Police records for Sept. 16, 2020

After 4 years of chasing fleeing suspects, K9 Chicka to spend more time chasing balls

After four years on the force, K9 Chicka of the Grant County Sheriff’s Office has retired to a life of sunbathing and tennis balls, her first handler and now-owner Sergeant Ric Char said in an interview.

Moses Lake moves forward with programs to fight homelessness

As the city of Moses Lake moves closer to building a managed homeless camp serviced by HopeSource, city officials have also been working with that agency and county officials to convert a hotel into an emergency shelter and affordable housing units.

Schools that had planned on in-person learning closed by wildfire smoke

In Moses Lake and Royal City, where local school districts have begun or were about to begin limited in-person education, classrooms were closed not by the coronavirus, but by smoke billowing from fires across the West Coast.

Coronavirus: New cases reported over weekend

There were 97 cases of the coronavirus reported in Grant County over the weekend, including new cases in nearly every community in central and southern Grant County, according to the Grant County Health District.

Wahluke staffer honored after 30 years with school district

After 30 years of service to the kids and community of the Wahluke School District in a number of different roles and at a number of different schools, staffer Alicia Cantu retired recently and was presented with the Crystal Apple Award by district officials.

Coronavirus: 42 cases reported in Grant County, 2 in Adams

There were 42 new cases of the coronavirus reported in Grant County Thursday, including 16 in rural Grant County near Othello, 15 in Royal City, six in Moses Lake, three in Ephrata and one in Warden, according to the Grant County Health District.

Two weeks into school year, coronavirus detected in Royal School District

Five cases of the coronavirus associated with the Royal School District have been detected, according to Grant County Health District.

Two dead after Sand Dunes off-road vehicle collision

Two Western Washington men driving off-road vehicles died near Moses Lake Saturday after they collided on Sand Dune Road Southeast about one mile west of Potato Hill Road, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday evening.

Sheriff's Office's K9 Chicka retires after four years

After four years of service in the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, K9 Chicka is headed for retirement, the sheriff’s office announced Wednesday.

Two more coronavirus-linked deaths reported in Grant County

Local health officials announced the deaths of two Grant County residents linked to coronavirus, the 16th and 17th, including a man in his 30s with no known underlying conditions, according to a press release from Grant County Health District.

Coronavirus: 15 cases confirmed in Grant County

There were 15 cases of the coronavirus confirmed in Grant County Wednesday, including eight cases in the Quincy area, five cases in Moses Lake, and one case each in Warden and Ephrata, according to the Grant County Health District.

Moses Lake man arrested after police locate drugs, stolen guns and vehicles

A Moses Lake resident was arrested Friday morning after police located drugs, stolen guns and stolen vehicles while conducting a search warrant in the 12000 block of Heritage Lane Southeast, according to police records.

Moses Lake man arrested after allegedly shooting at girlfriend

A Moses Lake man was arrested Saturday after reportedly shooting at a vehicle containing his girlfriend, according to police.

Moses Lake asks residents to think before flushing

Moses Lake’s city government is asking residents to think before they flush, after seeing a recent increase in non-flushable items causing blockages and pump failures in the city’s wastewater system.

Moses Lake woman who fled police in stolen car sentenced to over four years

A Moses Lake woman has been sentenced to a little more than four years in prison after pleading guilty to a June incident when she fled police at high speeds in a stolen vehicle.

Community rallies to support Moses Lake girl fighting bone cancer

Members of the community came to Mi Cocinita in Ephrata Saturday afternoon to share tacos and margaritas in support of a 14-year-old Moses Lake girl recently diagnosed with stage-four bone cancer.

Othello officer remains on desk duty during investigation of use-of-force incident

An Othello police officer remains on desk duty during a standard investigation into a August 5 incident in which the officer fired eight shots at a fleeing suspect believed to have been armed with a gun.

Royal City school nurse prepares to face new challenges, keep students healthy

School nurses will face challenges this year in Royal City and Moses Lake, the only major public school districts in Grant County that have opted for some degree of in-person learning to start the school year five months into the coronavirus pandemic.

Governor’s office: Currently no plans to push Grant County to Phase 1

MOSES LAKE — The office of the governor does not currently have plans to push Grant County back to Phase 1, external relations director Nick Streuli said in an interview Wednesday.

Moses Lake School District faces likely budget pinch, layoffs

MOSES LAKE — With around 6 percent fewer students expected to enroll with Moses Lake School District this school year, the district faces the prospect of having approximately $5 million less to work with in its upcoming budget, Superintendent Josh Meek said in a Wednesday interview.

Moses Lake Mayor: State may revoke Phase 2 if numbers do not improve

MOSES LAKE — Governor Jay Inslee has indicated to local elected leaders that Grant County has one month to improve its coronavirus numbers or risk moving back from Phase 2 of the state’s four-stage reopening plan, Moses Lake Mayor David Curnel said Tuesday.

MLSD urged by 23 health care providers to reconsider in-person classes

MOSES LAKE — An open letter signed by 23 local health care providers urges members of the Moses Lake School Board to reconsider its decision to move forward with an in-person education option despite public health warnings.

Authorities: Man arrested after chase

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man was arrested over the weekend after reportedly ramming a Grant County Sheriff’s deputy’s patrol car and leading deputies on a pursuit through Moses Lake on Saturday morning, according to law enforcement.

MLSD enrollment to drop; 1/3 expected to choose all instruction in person

MOSES LAKE — The largest portion of students in Moses Lake School District will be learning all-online when the school year begins, according to numbers provided by Superintendent Josh Meek.

Coronavirus: New cases reported over weekend

MOSES LAKE — There were 74 new cases of the coronavirus confirmed in Grant County over the weekend, including 25 cases in the Quincy area, 22 cases in Moses lake, 12 in Royal City, five in Warden, four in Ephrata, three each in the Mattawa area and the rural Grant County area near Othello, according to Grant County Health District.

Coronavirus: 18 in hospital

MOSES LAKE — There were 28 new cases of the coronavirus reported in Grant County on Thursday, including cases in Ephrata, Mattawa, Moses Lake, Quincy, Royal City, Soap Lake and Warden, according to Grant County Health District.

Sixth death attributed to coronavirus reported in Adams County

OTHELLO — A 45-year-old Othello man died late last week due to a COVID-19 infection, the sixth Adams County resident to die after testing positive for the virus in just over three weeks, the Adams County Health Department said in a press release.

State allows limited opening of museums, bowling alleys, agritourism locations

OLYMPIA — Counties in Phase 2 and Phase 3 of Washington’s four-step reopening plan will be able to open doors to museums, bowling leagues and agritourism, Gov. Jay Inslee announced in a Thursday statement.

School nurses to face new challenges in districts with in-person education

School nurses, at the front lines of the fight against the virus in classrooms this school year for districts that opted for in-person education, will face new challenges in the coming months.

Coronavirus: New cases reported

MOSES LAKE — There were 30 cases of the coronavirus confirmed in Grant County, including 15 in Moses Lake, seven in the Quincy area, five in Ephrata, two in the Mattawa area and one in Royal City, Grant County Health District reported Tuesday.

Moses Lake Community Coalition invites public to meetings

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Community Coalition is inviting members of the public to join its monthly meetings, on the third Thursday of each month, including the first meeting of the fiscal year this Thursday from noon to 1 p.m.

Moses Lake man’s very bad day brightened by the service, commitment of first responders

MOSES LAKE — The sun had just crested the horizon July 8 when Moses Lake firefighters, already awake in the wee hours of the morning, heard the call piped into the station: structure fire at the Lakefront RV Park.

Soap Lake, Wilson Creek schools opt for online instruction

GRANT COUNTY — Superintendents from both the Soap Lake and Wilson Creek school districts have announced that classes will begin all-online in September, according to videos posted to social media.

Coronavirus: 147 new cases

MOSES LAKE — There were 147 cases of the coronavirus confirmed in Grant County over the weekend, the most for a single update, the Grant County Health District reported Monday.

Police have a name for body found

QUINCY — Police on Monday named the person — Abel Vargas, 29, of Quincy — whose body was found Friday in the area of Rocky Avenue Northeast, according to a Quincy Police Department statement. Vargas was reportedly shot once in the head.

Grand Coulee Dam power plant to be renamed after Ephrata men

The Third Power Plant of Grand Coulee Dam will be renamed the “Nathaniel ‘Nat’ Washington Power Plant,” in honor of the father-son duo and Ephrata men who were pivotal in the creation of the nation’s largest power station, the U.S. Department of Interior announced Aug. 12.

Coronavirus: 62 cases in Grant County, 21 in Adams County

There were 62 new coronavirus cases reported in Grant County on Thursday, including 26 cases in the Quincy area, 21 in Moses Lake, six in Royal City, five in Warden, three in Mattawa and one in Ephrata, according to Grant County Health District.

Love’s Travel Stop open house looks at road options

MOSES LAKE — An engineering firm presented its plans during a Thursday open house for a proposed Love’s Travel Stop off eastbound Interstate 90 near milepost 174, including major transportation improvements and modifications in that area.

Free gun storage event next Saturday

MOSES LAKE – Free lock boxes and trigger locks will be given away in the parking lot of Sportsman’s Warehouse from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, for the third annual Safe Firearm Storage Giveaway.

Hundreds recover from coronavirus

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Health District said Monday that there have been 688 county residents who have recovered in the last two weeks from an earlier diagnosis of the coronavirus. Patients are considered recovered 28 days after testing positive for the virus, though they may still have symptoms or long-term health effects, the district added.

Gov. Inslee: Agricultural events allowed, but only without spectators

OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday announced new guidelines for agricultural events, such as livestock exhibits or sales, in counties currently in Phase 2 of the state’s four-phase reopening plan.

Ephrata bar raises over $7,500 for local man’s medical expenses

Ephrata bar raises over $7,500 for local man’s medical expenses

EPHRATA — Dozens of attendees packed 12 Hawks Bar and Grill in Ephrata on Friday, buying drinks and T-shirts in support of Tanner Williams, a 26-year-old local who suffered a devastating accident that left him hospitalized and partially paralyzed.

Quincy, Ephrata school districts to start year largely online

GRANT COUNTY — With the school year fast approaching, and a strong suggestion from state officials that Grant County is not ready for in-person education, more school districts are opting for all-online starts to the school year.

Larson community home damaged in overnight drive-by shooting

MOSES LAKE - A home in the Larson community was damaged Thursday night during a drive-by shooting, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Moses Lake woman sentenced to over a year for driving under the influence

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake woman with a history of driving offenses was sentenced to 15 months in prison for driving while under the influence in connection with a May incident when her blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit, according to court documents.

Coronavirus: 58 new cases in Grant County

MOSES LAKE — There were 58 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus reported in Grant County on Thursday, including 18 new cases in Moses Lake, 11 in Warden, nine each in the Quincy and Mattawa areas, five in Ephrata, two in Royal City, and one each in Soap Lake, Wilson Creek and the rural Othello area of Grant County, according to Grant County Health District.