Dent discusses fires, gangs and non-partisan teamwork
MATTAWA – Representative Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, is running unopposed for reelection, and despite a lack of opposition opted to participate in a Sept. 12 candidate forum organized by the South Grant County Chamber of Commerce, the Wahluke School District and the Columbia Basin Herald. “It's always good to see folks that you represent,” Dent said. “One of the things that was really passionate for me when I first ran, and still is, is that I want to be accessible to people. That's why I'm here. To be accessible.”
Sipping and strolling through downtown Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE – Third avenue filled with old fashioned cars, people with tote bags, badges and wine glasses and the sound of live music from Lake City Blues for the Sip and Stroll event. The event, paired with Art on Third leading to a variety of different activities for participants to enjoy.
Care Fair highlights local nonprofits
MOSES LAKE — As the Sip & Stroll was bustling outside, people wandered into the youth dynamics building to check out local nonprofits at the third annual Care Fair. According to the event organizer, Michaelle Boetger, Moses Lake has around 70 nonprofits.
WA Supreme Court candidates discuss justice
MATTAWA — A Washington State Supreme Court judge’s seat has opened, and this time, instead of the governor filling the position, the voters will. Candidates Sal Mungia and Dave Larson joined several other candidates for a Sept. 12 forum to discuss various elections on the November ballot.
'You want the best, pay the best'
33,000 Boeing employees strike, 800 in Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE – More than 33,000 Boeing employees are officially striking as of Sept. 13 at midnight after a Sept. 12 vote saw union members reject a contract proposal from their employer. Machinists voted 94.6% to reject the contract and 96% in favor of striking, according to IAM District 751.
Burgess, Castro discuss county issues
MATTAWA – Republican candidates for Grant County Commission Seat 1 faced off to answer questions at Wahluke High School Sept. 12 to determine which of them will take on the role after Commissioner Danny Stone opted to forego a reelection bid.
Jones, Henderson discuss priorities for Grant Co.
MATTAWA – At Wahluke High School Sept. 12, the two candidates for Grant County Commissioner Position 2, incumbent Republican Rob Jones and Republican David Henderson discussed their policies around various subjects.
Driver crashes into Moses Lake business
MOSES LAKE – A Moses Lake business suffered broken windows and other damage when a driver hit it with his car Wednesday night.
Boeing employees vote to accept new contract, or strike
MOSES LAKE – Employees at Moses Lake’s Boeing facility voted on Thursday whether the new contract offered by Boeing is acceptable or if they should reaffirm a strike. Employees originally voted on the strike on July 17 before the contract proposal.
Residents, first responders observe Patriot Day
Local firefighters, police officers, students and residents gather for ceremonial rememberances
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake first responders – and future first responders – paid tribute Wednesday to their predecessors who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.
Sessler focused on economy, national security, dams
MOSES LAKE — Jerrod Sessler said he considers himself "regular guy." Sessler said he has a commitment to public service and the importance of representing the people's interests and his experiences as a father, husband and veteran have shaped his outlook on the pressing issues facing America.
Driver hits, damages Papa’s Casino, Ten Pin
MOSES LAKE – Owners of Papa’s Casino are still assessing the damage after a truck ran into the side of the building Wednesday morning.
FIRE REPORT: Two fires contained Wednesday
MOSES LAKE – The various fires listed below are active Washington. The largest fire reported is the Retreat Fire at 45,601 acres and the smallest is the Blewett Fire at 15 acres.
Ephrata PD seeks candy donations
EPHRATA – The Ephrata Police Department is asking for candy donations for their Halloween Trunk or Treat event. Last year the event was funded by a Walmart grant, however, there have been some challenges getting the grant again this year.
Grant Co. considers fair safety
MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Commissioners recently convened a meeting with Jim McKiernan from the Grant County Fair and Moses Lake Police Department and Grant County Sheriff's Office officials to discuss safety for the 2025 Grant County Fair.
FIRE REPORT: Fire season continues throughout state
MOSES LAKE – The various fires listed below are all ablaze in Washington. The largest fire reported is the Retreat Fire at 45,601 acres and the smallest is the Wynnie fire at 12.2 acres. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, there are around 55,450 acres actively burning in the state as of Tuesday afternoon.
MLSD increases police presence in response to threats
MOSES LAKE – On Thursday, Moses Lake School District released two statements about potential threats at Vanguard Academy and Frontier Middle School.
FIRE REPORT: Four MLFD firefighters badged, statewide fires continue burning
MOSES LAKE – Four probationary firefighters at Moses Lake Fire Department have received their official firefighter badges after completing their first year at the department, according to an MLFD press release.
‘Expect the unexpected’
Warden volleyball team prepares for tougher season to get to state
WARDEN – The Warden volleyball team will have a tougher season this year to prepare for the challenging games they plan on competing in during playoffs, then eventually state, according to Warden volleyball Head Coach Shanna Golladay.
MLSD accepts two new student board members, passes Title IX resolution
MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School Board passed one resolution, introduced two new student board members and continued discussing facility usage fees Thursday evening during the board’s regular meeting.
FIRE REPORT: Heat warning issued for Grant, Adams
MOSES LAKE — The National Weather Service’s Spokane bureau released a statement saying there will be a heat wave Thursday through Saturday that could cause increased fire risks.
Newhouse hosts telephone town hall
MOSES LAKE – Congressman Dan Newhouse held a live telephone town hall meeting Wednesday night, engaging with residents from Central Washington's Fourth Congressional District. “Thank you for joining me this evening. I want to hear what’s on your mind,” he said.
FIRE REPORT: Blewett Fire closes U.S. 97
MOSES LAKE – Fires throughout Washington continue to burn and one new fire began Wednesday, though they were relatively small as of press time. The Blewett Fire closed U.S. 97 Wednesday afternoon, despite being only 15 acres. The blaze was uncontained as of press time, and had started shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Grant Co. public works director resigns
EPHRATA – Grant County Public Works Director Sam Castro resigned and will complete his last day Friday, according to Grant County Commissioners Danny Stone and Cindy Carter.
Tiger spirit to wave in the wind
EPHRATA – One hundred, bright orange or black flags, adorned with the letter “E” will start waving in the wind decorating Basin Street on various occasions.
Warden Community Days filled with community
Gators, motorcycles, horses and visitors fill local town with festive attitude
WARDEN – Cheers chanted, horses galloped and motorcycle engines roared down Second Street in Warden Monday. In celebration of Labor Day, the town had a three-day celebration.
FIRE REPORT: Four fires contained Labor Day weekend, including Kachess Complex
MOSES LAKE – Significant progress was made over the weekend as firefighters were able to bring four wildfires under control around Washington.
Health District hosts community resource fair at McCosh Park
MOSES LAKE – Purple and white flags decorated the lawn at McCosh park Saturday for National Overdose Awareness Day. The purple flags represent the 254 lives saved from an overdose and the 108 lives lost to overdose, from 2018 to 2022 in Grant County. The statistics come from reports to the Grant County Health District, according to Mariah DeLeon, the organizer of the event.
Ritzville Rodeo celebrates 54 years
Cowboys, cowgirls, livestock and breast cancer awareness
RITZVILLE – The sounds of cheering, the cracking of pop cans and pools of pink shirts and cowboy hats fill the stands.
Moses Lake man sentenced for shoplifting
EPHRATA – James Douglas Clary, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree burglary and one count of third-degree theft on Aug. 27.
Soap Lake aims to build on last year’s wins
SOAP LAKE -- The Soap Lake Eagles will be fun to watch this season, head coach Garrett Devine said. Devine says that they have a lot of the same players returning this year and he plans on building on what they learned last year.
“If it sounds too good to be true, it is.”
Police urge people to hang up, prior to becoming the next victim of a scam
MOSES LAKE – Police departments across the country, including those in Grant County, have reported a rising incidence of scam calls targeting vulnerable individuals, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman.
Playing some good old Ephrata football
EPHRATA – The Ephrata Tigers will start the season with strong senior leadership and up and coming players according to head coach Patrick Mitchell. Last year the team had a 6-4 season and Ephrata were the first in its district.
FIRE REPORT: 1,600 acres burned in Adams Co.
RITZVILLE – The Schrag Road Fire began at around 12:19 p.m. on Tuesday. The fire burned 1,600 acres according to NIFC. It also leveled two older unopposed buildings, according to the Adam’s County Sheriff’s Office. ASCO believes the fire was started by a farmer mowing.
New school year, new playground for Tiger Club Preschool
EPHRATA – This last summer, crews moved play equipment from city property onto school district property at the Tiger Club Preschool, according to a press release from Ephrata School District.
MLSD begins school year
Interim superintendent addresses public concerns
MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake interim superintendent, Carol Lewis released a statement on Aug. 23 for the celebration of back to school. The statement begins by saying that the financial situation the MLSD is in is not the fault of students, staff, school administrators or the community and measures are being taken to regain financial traction, according to Lewis.
FIRE REPORT: Schrag Road fire in Adams Co. contained
RITZVILLE – As of 7 a.m. Wednesday morning, state-mobilization resources took command of the Schrag road fire and will remain on the scene for the rest of the day for mop-up as needed, according to Adams County Fire District 2.
FIRE REPORT: Two fires sparked in Grant Co., one in Adams
MOSES LAKE – A fire blazed up in Adams County shortly after noon Tuesday. The fire burned around a five mile stretch of land, according to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and closed at least one lane of I-90. Two older unoccupied buildings were lost to the fire, according to ACSO.
MACC dispatch supervisor retires after 34 years
MOSES LAKE – Becky Stokoe, Multi Agency Communications Center 911 supervisor and former longtime dispatcher retired Monday. Stokoe worked as a dispatcher for 34 years, starting in 1988. She was one of the original MACC dispatchers, beginning that role in 1998. “I liked, you know, helping people and making sure all the responders made it home at night and keeping them safe,” Stokoe said. “I'm going to miss it very much.”
FIRE REPORT: Cold front to elevate fire conditions in Grant and Adams Co.
MOSES LAKE – According to the National Weather Service’s Spokane office, there will be a cold front blowing through the region with high winds that will elevate fire conditions.
MLSD passes budget, appoints new board member
MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake School District passed its budget Thursday night meeting in which all four school board members voted yes on the budget proposal. A double maintenance and operations levy failure and accounting discrepancies caused significant difficulty in establishing a budget for the 2024-25 school year.
More than $20K in drugs confiscated at Bass Canyon concert
GEORGE – Over the weekend, a concert event held at the Gorge Amphitheater saw an extensive narcotics investigation led by multiple law enforcement agencies, according to a press release from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
Cox appointed interim Soap Lake City Administrator
SOAP LAKE – Peter Sharp ran his first regular Soap Lake City Council meeting as the Mayor Pro Tempore after former Mayor Allen DuPuy resigned earlier this month. There were 23 people in attendance outside of the council, police, fire department and public officials.
FIRE REPORT: No new Washington fires Thursday
MOSES LAKE – Washington saw no new wildfires emerge prior to press time Thursday, though several fires continue to burn in the state.
FIRE REPORT: GCFD 3 receives $553,000 in grant funds
QUINCY – Grant County Fire District 3, which serves the Quincy area, has received $553,000 through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, according to an announcement from the district. GCFD 3 wrote in the statement that it plans on using the funds to get a new water tender to replace their aging one.
Taylor resigns from Soap Lake Council
SOAP LAKE – In the closing comments of the Aug. 21 Soap Lake City Council Meeting, Council Member Leslie Taylor resigned from the council. Taylor’s term was set to expire in 2027.
MLSB interviews potential members
MOSES LAKE — On Tuesday night the Moses Lake School Board had a special meeting to hire a new school board director to fill the seat left vacant by Kevin Fuhr’s resignation in June. The MLSB interviewed five candidates, each giving an opening statement and answering six questions.
Adams County Commissioner incumbents lead in final primary results
RITZVILLE — The Adams County Auditor certified the election results for the Aug. 6 primary election on Aug. 20. There are 8,117 registered voters in the county. There were 2,560 ballots counted which was 31.54% of voter turnout.
FIRE REPORT: Royal Slope EMS trains on Vantage Bridge
ROYAL CITY — Royal Slope Fire Rescue EMS participated in rope rescue training on the I-90 Vantage Bridge on Tuesday. The training was hosted by Garco Construction with the Washington State Department of Transportation and Grant County Fire District 8 also attending. “It was good to practice using the resources on the bridge before something happens,” Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman said. According to a statement from the GCSO, the training simulated how firefighters will access and remove a bridge maintenance employee who falls from the bridge deck onto lower portions of the bridge.
Burgess, Jones leading in Grant County primary
EPHRATA — The Grant County Auditor certified the election results for the Aug. 6, primary election on Aug. 20. There were 48,753 registered voters and 17,308 ballots counted, which was 35.5% of voter turnout. Commissioner District 1 had three candidates and 6,128 votes. Kevin R. Burgess, Republican, had the most votes at 3,036. Followed was Amador J. Castro, Republican, with 1,823 votes. Dave Bren, Republican, withdrew from the race before the primary but after the ballot was printed. He received 1.239 votes. There were 80 write-in votes. Commissioner District 2 had two candidates and 4,680 votes. Rob Jones, Republican, received the most votes at 2,857. David Henderson, Republican received 1,717 votes. There were 106 write-in votes.