NANCE BESTON

Moses Lake detectives recover $50,000 buried in field after hotel theft

MOSES LAKE — After days of searching in the summer heat, on Friday, July 31, Moses Lake police detectives recovered approximately $50,000 that had been stolen from a hotel guest and buried in a field near Interstate 90, bringing a successful conclusion to an investigation involving what police described as both forensic evidence and persistent detective work.

FIRE REPORT: Kaiser Canyon Fire containment grows as crews brace for weekend winds

NESPELEM — Firefighters battling the Kaiser Canyon Fire, now the largest wildfire in Washington state, continue to make progress on containment despite persistent hot and dry conditions and the threat of stronger winds this weekend.

4 Republicans pitch different approaches to growth, spending and agriculture in Grant County Commissioner race

MOSES LAKE — With ballots due Aug. 4, voters in Grant County Commissioner District 3 have four Republican candidates to choose from: Shannon Durfee, Kelly Raap, Seth Weeks and Janice Flynn. The candidates appeared at a recent Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce forum, where each introduced themselves, answered a personalized question and then addressed a common question about managing the county's rapid growth, particularly around Moses Lake.

'It begins with integrity'

Young entrepreneur builds painting business while helping homeowners protect their investments

MOSES LAKE — When Simon Ribellia started painting homes at age 15, he wasn't planning on making it a full-time career, let alone starting his own painting business. Today, at 23, Ribellia owns Marian Painting LLC, a company he founded in August 2023 that has grown from a one-man operation working out of a Prius into a business with about 15 employees, four vans and multiple crews providing home exterior and interior painting. Like many tradespeople, Ribellia learned the craft on the job. After finding summer work with a local painting contractor as a teenager, he spent years learning the industry before launching his own company at age 20.

Warden closes out its five-week-long summer school program with a splash

WARDEN — Warden Summer School wrapped up Thursday with a field day full of water balloons, relay races, wet sponges, laughter and plenty of smiles, bringing an energetic close to five weeks of learning, creativity and exploration.

Warden City Council appoints Joseph Elizalde as Assistant City Administrator

WARDEN — The Warden City Council has appointed Joseph Elizalde as the city’s assistant city administrator, positioning the longtime Warden School District employee to take over as city administrator when Kriss Shuler retires this fall.

Sheriff candidates outline priorities, leadership styles at candidate forum

MOSES LAKE — With less than a week remaining before ballots are due for the Aug. 4 primary election, Grant County voters had an opportunity to hear directly from the three candidates seeking to become the county's next sheriff during a recent Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce candidate forum. Incumbent Sheriff Joey Kriete, Moses Lake Police Department Sgt. Darrick Gregg and Grant County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Josh Sainsbury each answered questions about leadership, accountability, employee morale, training, jail operations and public safety.

Soap Lake water shows elevated - but not dangerous - PFOA

SOAP LAKE — A routine drinking water test in Soap Lake found levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a type of “forever chemical,” slightly above Washington state's action level, prompting public notice from city officials.

Grant County Auditor candidates discuss transparency, public records

EPHRATA — Three Republicans are seeking the Grant County Auditor position: appointed incumbent Shannon Falstad and challengers Andrew Koeppen and Darci Homesley. To help voters compare the candidates, each was asked the same question and given an equal opportunity to respond. Homesley did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

COLUMN: What would happen if we assumed the best about each other?

Anger has become one of the easiest emotions to find. Open social media, turn on cable news or scroll through the comments section of almost any public discussion, and you will find people questioning one another's motives, intelligence and character. Somewhere along the way, disagreement became evidence that someone must be selfish, ignorant or acting in bad faith. But what would happen if we assumed the best about each other instead? Living in the Columbia Basin offers a useful perspective on that question. Unlike larger cities where people can disappear into their own circles, we live in communities where our paths cross repeatedly. We attend the same football games, shop at the same grocery stores, volunteer for the same fundraisers and support the same local businesses. Before anything else, we are neighbors.