NANCE BESTON

Grant County primary turnout slips from 2022 levels as officials look ahead to November election

EPHRATA — Grant County's voter turnout in the 2026 primary election finished at nearly 34%, a figure county election officials describe as typical for a primary election but lower than turnout seen four years ago.

Grant County Fire District 7 seeks voter approval for replacement EMS levy

SOAP LAKE — Voters in Grant County Fire District 7 will decide this November whether to approve a six-year replacement Emergency Medical Services levy that would increase the district's rate from $0.25 to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

Washington’s three largest wildfires continue to influence air quality across Grant and Adams counties

MOSES LAKE — The three largest wildfires currently burning in Washington state remain the Sinlahekin Fire in Okanogan County, the Kaiser Canyon Fire on the Colville Reservation, and the Little Giant Fire in Chelan County. Together, the fires have burned more than 428,000 acres and continue to generate smoke that is affecting air quality across portions of North Central Washington, including Grant and Adams counties.

Man arrested after alleged sword threats, assault on officer; K-9 assists in capture

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man accused of threatening another person with a sword and later assaulting a police officer was arrested after a confrontation with law enforcement in which a police K-9 was deployed, authorities said.

WA gas prices climb, nat'l average remains over $4

MOSES LAKE — Gasoline prices continued their upward trend across Washington and the Columbia Basin over the past week, mirroring national concerns about tightening fuel supplies and rising crude oil costs. According to AAA data released Monday, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Washington rose to $5.19, up 5 cents from $5.14 a week ago. In Grant County, prices increased 10 cents to $5.15 per gallon, while neighboring Adams County saw an even larger jump of 20 cents, climbing to $5.21 from $5.01 a week earlier. Nationally, however, the average price edged down slightly to $4.06 per gallon, compared with $4.09 a week ago.

No-confidence vote in Grant County sheriff’s administration drew support from majority of participants

EPHRATA — Newly-released public records show that 31 members of the Grant County Sheriff's Office Deputy Sheriffs’ Association voted no confidence in Sheriff Joey Kriete's administration in June, while six expressed confidence and 10 abstained. The records confirm the outcome of the vote but do not disclose the concerns that prompted it.

Martinez, Thompson advance in tight 13th District State House race

OLYMPIA — Deanna Martinez and Joshua Thompson will advance to the general election for Washington's 13th Legislative District Position 2 seat after emerging as the top two vote-getters in a three-way Republican primary. The seat was formerly held by Alex Ybarra, who is running for state senate during this election.

New fence improves playground safety at Sage Point Elementary

MOSES LAKE — A new fence at Sage Point Elementary School is helping create a safer playground environment for students, thanks to a partnership between local businesses and the Moses Lake School District.

Burn ban remains in effect; officials warn of fines, criminal penalties

MOSES LAKE — Grant County residents are being reminded that a countywide burn ban remains in effect through the end of September as officials warn that violating the restriction could result in fines, criminal charges and, in some cases, jail time.

Raap, Durfee advance to general election in Grant County Commissioner race

EPHRATA— With only about 150 ballots left to count in Grant County as of Aug. 13, Kelly Raap and Shannon Durfee appear headed to the November general election in the race for Grant County Commissioner Position 3. The election results will be certified on Aug. 18.

‘Most big repairs start out as small repairs’

Local handyman builds business by helping homeowners tackle repairs before they become problems

MOSES LAKE — When Uziel Ortega launched Steadfast Home Services earlier this year, he wasn't sure whether the phone would ring. After leaving a stable job and betting on himself, the Moses Lake resident spent his first weeks as a full-time handyman driving around town, studying material prices, watching instructional videos and waiting for customers. "I probably got three calls in the first couple of weeks," Ortega said. "I was a little nervous." Those worries didn't last long. Months later, Ortega has grown Steadfast Home Services from a one-man operation into a team with two full-time employees and one part-time worker serving homeowners across the Columbia Basin. Along the way, he has built a reputation for tackling everything from door installations and flooring projects to minor plumbing, drywall and home maintenance repairs.

Nat Washington House earns national historical recognition

'We are on the map'

EPHRATA — A house in Ephrata that preserves the legacy of one of Washington state's most influential families will soon receive national recognition. The Nat Washington House has been approved for a William G. Pomeroy Foundation Hometown Heritage Marker, making it one of few sites in Washington state to receive the distinction. The marker, funded by the New York-based foundation, is currently being manufactured and is expected to be unveiled during a public dedication ceremony in October.

Mason’s Place opens in new location

More space with larger kitchen

MOSES LAKE — For Heather Mason, the opening of Mason’s Place’s new location is about more than fresh paint, expanded seating or future menu offerings. It is the culmination of more than a decade of relationships, regular customers and community support that helped transform a small coffee shop’s dream into one of Moses Lake’s most popular third spaces. After 11 years in the Smith Martin Building, Mason’s Place has moved into a larger standalone space that allows for a full kitchen, room to grow and new opportunities to serve customers. But as she looked around the café shortly before opening day, Mason said what struck her most was not the renovation itself.

Ephrata businesses rally for Spokane wildfire victims

EPHRATA — As Spokane-area communities begin the long process of recovering after a series of wildfires, one Ephrata business owner is bringing Grant County residents together to help.

MLSD encourages families to prepare early for 2026-27 school year

MOSES LAKE — With the first day of school less than a month away, Moses Lake School District officials are encouraging families to begin preparing now by reviewing transportation information, updating student records and establishing routines that will help students transition back into the classroom successfully.

Two dead in DUI crash near George

GEORGE — A suspected wrong-way impaired driving crash on Interstate 90 west of George left two passengers dead and injured three others Saturday afternoon, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Gas prices remain stable this week

MOSES LAKE — Gasoline prices in Grant and Adams counties remained relatively stable over the past week, even as fuel costs across much of the country continued to move lower, according to data from AAA.

Fire engine struck while crews battle vehicle fire near Moses Lake; driver injured

MOSES LAKE — A driver was injured Monday evening after a passenger vehicle collided with a fire engine that was helping protect firefighters battling a vehicle fire on SR 17 north of Moses Lake, authorities said.

Mattawa man drowns in irrigation canal

MATTAWA — An 18-year-old Mattawa man died early Sunday after falling into an irrigation canal while trying to free a vehicle that had become stuck in a canal chute in rural Grant County, authorities said.

Washington’s three largest wildfires top 390,000 acres as smoke forecast worsens across Central Wash.

MOSES LAKE — Washington's three largest wildfires have burned more than 390,000 acres and continue to challenge firefighters as smoke from the blazes is expected to push air quality across much of central Washington into unhealthy and very unhealthy levels this week. The largest of the fires, the Sinlahekin Fire in Okanogan County, has burned 141,411 acres since lightning sparked the blaze on July 26. The fire was 42 percent contained Monday, with approximately 1,560 personnel assigned to the incident, according to InciWeb.

McKinney, Duresky emerge as frontrunners in Washington's 4th Congressional District race

MOSES LAKE — Republican Amanda McKinney and Democrat John Duresky emerged as the top two candidates in Washington's 4th Congressional District primary, according to results released Aug. 7 by the Washington Secretary of State, setting up a general election contest centered on water, agriculture, health care and economic issues in one of the state's most politically significant districts.

Grant County primary election voter turnout low – but expected to climb

13,000 ballots have been counted with at least 3,400 remaining

EPHRATA — While Grant County's initial voter turnout appeared to be among the lowest in Washington state following Primary Election Day, local election officials say the numbers do not tell the full story yet.

Ephrata PD’s Smith honored with Three Pillars award for service

EPHRATA — Ephrata Police Officer Zach Smith was recognized Wednesday by the Ephrata City Council as the recipient of the city's 2026 Three Pillars Award, an honor given to employees who exemplify the city's core values of doing the right thing, trusting and being trustworthy, and committing to the cause.

Soap Lake Councilmember Gorman resigns

SOAP LAKE — Soap Lake City Councilmember Judith Gorman resigned at the end of the Aug. 5 regular council meeting during closing comments, leaving a vacancy on the council of five.

Firefighters battle overnight blaze at Job Corps dormitory

MOSES LAKE — Firefighters from Grant County Fire District 5, the Moses Lake Fire Department and the Ephrata Fire Department battled an overnight structure fire at a dormitory building at the Columbia Basin Job Corps Center Wednesday, extinguishing the blaze after nearly 14 hours of operations.

Man arrested for target shooting alongside road in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Police Dept. received a report Thursday afternoon alleging a man had a gun on Pritchard Road, next to Love’s Truck Stop, according to a statement from MLPD.

Ephrata Library to close for renovation; pop-up branch to maintain limited services

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Public Library will temporarily close Aug. 10 as crews begin a $631,000 interior renovation aimed at modernizing the facility and creating new spaces for community gatherings, children, teens and remote work.

Preliminary primary results set stage for November races across Columbia Basin

EPHRATA — Initial results from Washington's Aug. 5 primary election show several closely watched races beginning to take shape across Grant and Adams counties, though thousands of ballots remain to be counted before results are certified Aug. 18.

Kriete and Gregg separated by 6 votes in sheriff's race

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete and challenger Darrik Gregg are separated by just six votes in the initial results of the 2026 primary election, setting up what appears to be a closely watched race heading into November.

Moses Lake Firefighters respond to Job Corp dorm fire

MOSES LAKE — A fire started at the Moses Lake Job Corp early this evening. All staff and students were evacuated, and nobody was injured, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Crime rates down in Basin, FBI report suggests

EPHRATA — The Columbia Basin saw significant decreases in certain types of crimes over the last year, according to data from the FBI National Incident Based Reporting System released Tuesday.

FIRE REPORT: State resources mobilized as Spokane area fires grow; Governor declares statewide emergency

SPOKANE — State and local firefighting resources continue battling the Spokane Area Fires after Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency Aug. 1 amid what state officials describe as a record-setting wildfire season driven by drought, extreme heat and high winds.

Grant County voters urged to return primary election ballots before Aug. 4 deadline

EPHRATA — With just days remaining before Washington's Aug. 4 primary election deadline, Grant County election officials are encouraging voters to return their ballots as soon as possible to ensure they are counted. Ballots must be postmarked by Aug. 4 or deposited in an official ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day, according to Grant County Elections Deputy Rebecca Pettingill.

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.

10 congressional candidates outline priorities at Moses Lake forum

MOSES LAKE — Ten of the 11 candidates running for Washington's 4th Congressional District appeared at a candidate forum in Moses Lake, offering voters a wide range of perspectives on economic development, agriculture, government spending, water policy, immigration, health care and political reform ahead of the primary election. Zac Rossi, no party preference, was not in attendance.

Auditor candidates discuss modernization, customer service

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

Man injured after being run over by Grant PUD truck near Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — A 61-year-old man was injured Monday morning after being run over by a Grant County Public Utility District maintenance truck along a power line service road northwest of Moses Lake, according to a statement from Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Washington gas prices fall from spring highs, remain above national average

MOSES LAKE — Gasoline prices across Washington have eased significantly since reaching their highest levels of 2026 in late spring, though drivers in the Evergreen State continue to pay about a dollar more per gallon than the national average.

Commissioner candidates discuss what distinguishes themselves

EPHRATA — Four Republican candidates are seeking election to Grant County Commissioner Position 3 in the upcoming primary: Shannon Durfee, Kelly Raap, Seth Weeks and Janice Flynn. To help voters compare their priorities and approaches to county government, each candidate was asked the same question and given the same deadline to respond. Durfee, Raap and Flynn submitted responses by the deadline; Weeks did not respond.

Grant County auditor candidates discuss experience, qualifications

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

Commissioner candidates discuss public safety, county services

EPHRATA — Four Republican candidates are seeking election to Grant County Commissioner Position 3 in the upcoming primary: Shannon Durfee, Kelly Raap, Seth Weeks and Janice Flynn.