NANCE BESTON

Gasoline prices show spring surge, recent pullback across WA and U.S.

MOSES LAKE — Gasoline prices across Washington state, the nation, Grant County, and Adams County have followed a similar trajectory in the first five months of 2026: a steady climb through late winter and early spring, a peak in mid-May, and a modest decline heading into June, according to data from AAA. According to data compiled weekly since early January, prices began the year at relatively moderate levels before rising sharply through March and April. In Washington, the statewide average climbed from $3.84 per gallon on January 5 to a peak of $5.78 by May 18, marking an increase of nearly $2 per gallon in just over four months. Nationally, prices rose from $2.81 to $4.52 over the same period.

‘Keep those sparks off the landscape’

Burn restrictions take effect in Grant County as fire season arrives early

EPHRATA — An annual burn restriction is now in effect across unincorporated areas of Grant County, as local fire officials warn that an already active and unusually dry start to the season could lead to a challenging summer. Under county ordinance, outdoor burn restrictions automatically begin June 1 and remain in place through September 30 each year, limiting most types of open burning during the height of fire season. The restriction is part of the Grant County Fire Hazard Code and is intended to reduce human-caused wildfires during the driest and most dangerous months.

New Wyndham Microtel opens in Ephrata, welcomes guests ahead of schedule

EPHRATA — A new Wyndham Microtel has officially opened its doors in Ephrata, offering travelers a modern place to stay while marking a major milestone for a local family behind the project. The 81-room hotel, located just off State Route 17 near Walmart, began accepting guests late last week – roughly two months ahead of its original schedule. The project, led by local businessman Dave Canfield and his family, represents both a business investment and a personal legacy rooted in the community.

Connelly Park closed indefinitely after storm caused extensive damage

MOSES LAKE — Connelly Park will remain closed for the foreseeable future after a powerful windstorm swept through the area Thursday night, uprooting dozens of massive trees, damaging infrastructure and leaving park officials focused on safety and recovery. Initial estimates place the damage at approximately $50,000, largely due to cleanup costs and structural repairs, according to Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District General Manager Sam Castro. However, he is working alongside an assessor who may value the damage to be more, he said.

Grant County Board of Health urges local kratom bans amid rising concerns

EPHRATA — The Grant County Board of Health is calling on cities, towns and county commissioners to prohibit the sale and distribution of kratom products, citing increasing public health concerns and a rise in related poisonings.

Reports of downed power lines, lightning-caused blazes in Grant Co.

MOSES LAKE — At around 8:20 p.m. a storm rolled into Moses Lake causing power lines and trees to go down and several small lighting-cause blazes, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman.

New managing editor brings decades of journalism experience to Columbia Basin Herald

MOSES LAKE — When Ken Smith talks about journalism, he doesn’t just describe a career – he describes a lifelong pursuit shaped by risk, reinvention and a deep belief in the value of local news.

Lowell Allred sworn in to Columbia Basin Hospital Board

EPHRATA — Columbia Basin Hospital has appointed Dr. Lowell Allred to fill a vacant seat on its five-member Board of Commissioners, following the February resignation of Commissioner Catherine Snyder. Allred brings decades of medical experience to the role. He worked as a primary care physician in private practice for nearly 30 years before joining Columbia Basin Hospital, where he practiced for another decade prior to retiring about three years ago. Allred said he was encouraged to apply for the position by a former commissioner and saw it as an opportunity to stay involved in the medical community.

Spring Fest closes on high note with Sunday night concerts

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Spring Fest wrapped up Sunday night with a lively finale at McCosh Park, where country artists Hunter Hayes and Chase Matthew brought large crowds together for an evening of music, community and celebration. Blankets covered the grass, fans packed into the pit, and the aroma of carnival food lingered in the warm evening air as the final performances capped off the multi-day event. By the time Matthew took the stage, the park was filled with an energized audience ready to close out the festival. He immediately connected with the crowd, pausing at one point to create a memorable moment for social media. In a TikTok filmed during the show, he asked concertgoers to hide their phone lights before dramatically revealing them all at once as the camera turned – prompting cheers and a dazzling display of lights across the park.

Memorial Day ceremony honors 500 veterans at Ephrata Cemetery

EPHRATA — American flags fluttered in the breeze Monday morning as community members gathered at Ephrata Cemetery to honor fallen service members during a Memorial Day ceremony organized by American Legion Post 28. Rows of white crosses marked the graves of veterans, creating a solemn backdrop as about 100 attendees came together to remember those who served. The ceremony included remarks, a memorial prayer, and a traditional three-volley salute from commanders. Mike Montaney of American Legion Post 28 opened the ceremony by reflecting on the sacrifices made by service members throughout the nation’s history

Sticker Shock Campaign promotes safe choices during Memorial Day weekend

SOAP LAKE — Members of the Soap Lake Prevention Coalition partnered with Grant County Fire District 7 and Akins Fresh Market last week to carry out the annual Sticker Shock campaign, a community effort aimed at discouraging adults from providing alcohol to minors and promoting safe decision-making. Held Thursday and Friday ahead of Memorial Day weekend, the campaign invited customers at Akins Fresh Market to place brightly-colored reminder stickers on cases of alcohol. The stickers, designed by local youth and Fire District cadets, serve as a visible prompt to think before purchasing alcohol for underage individuals.

Missing man found deceased near Summer Falls

COULEE CITY — Investigators from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office have recovered the body of Anthony Mann, 39, of Coulee City Sunday morning. Grant County Coronor Craig Morrison confirmed the identity of the victim after he conducted an autopsy.

Spring Fest continues to grow; minimal crime incidents

MOSES LAKE — Despite large crowds and a full weekend of entertainment, law enforcement officials say crime at the 2026 Moses Lake Spring Festival remained relatively low, with only a handful of notable incidents reported.

Nat Washington House in Ephrata honored during Historic Preservation Month celebration

EPHRATA — History came to life in Ephrata this week as state and local historical organizations gathered at the Nat Washington House to celebrate Historic Preservation Month and recognize the legacy of one of the region’s most influential figures.

Missing Moses Lake man found deceased near Summer Falls

COULEE CITY — Investigators from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office have recovered the body of what is believed to be Anthony Mann, 39, of Moses Lake, who was reported missing May 15 from Moses Lake. “We all hope that there would have been a happier ending, but we hope that finding his body and bringing him home helps to bring some comfort to his loved ones,” GCSO Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman said. Mann’s vehicle was found unoccupied three days after he was reported missing near Trail Lake, according to Foreman.

Wildland Fire in rural Mae Valley contained Sunday night

MAE VALLEY — A fast‑moving rangeland fire that scorched an estimated 25 to 30 acres east of Moses Lake was brought under control Sunday evening, according to Grant County Fire District 5 Battalion Chief Travis Svilar.

Two suspects in custody for 2021 Moses Lake homicide

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Sheriff’s Office has two suspects in custody related to the 2021 homicide of Kristopher Vincent, 24, of Moses Lake.

Soap Lake City Council approves 2026 budget amendment; Fourth of July fireworks set for Suds-N-Sun event

SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake City Council unanimously passed a budget amendment, a fireworks contract for the Fourth of July and the Suds-n-Sun event application at its regular council meeting May 20.

Ephrata City Council seeks federal grant for street safety action plan

EPHRATA — Ephrata is taking its first step toward a long‑term strategy to improve roadway safety after the city council unanimously approved applying for a U.S. Dept. of Transportation Safe Streets for All planning grant at its May 20 meeting.

A decade of impact

Marla Allsopp steps down as Ephrata High School drama director

EPHRATA — After 10 years of shaping students, building a program and creating a lasting sense of belonging, Marla Allsopp is stepping down as drama director at Ephrata High School.

City of Ephrata to recognize Poppy Days, honor veterans with proclamation

EPHRATA — The City of Ephrata is set to formally recognize Poppy Days from May 16 through May 30 with a mayoral proclamation highlighting the importance of honoring veterans and remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The proclamation, presented by Mayor Steve Oliver, encourages residents to wear a red poppy in recognition of veterans and to reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day beyond a single holiday. “Unfortunately, our veterans only get one real day, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day,” Oliver said. “But it really doesn’t explain how much time should be dedicated to remembering all the good things they did for us. This is a small gesture to make sure that we are thinking about them more often than just those two days a year.”

Ephrata School District earns clean audit for 2024-25 fiscal year

EPHRATA — The Ephrata School District received audit reports with no findings for the 2024–25 fiscal year from the Washington State Auditor’s Office, according to the auditor's office.

Vantage Road SW to remain closed indefinitely

QUINCY — Vantage Road SW is closed indefinitely west of Silica Road SW to both motorists and pedestrians, according to Grant County Public Works.

Quincy man pleads guilty in $70,000 fraud case

QUINCY — A Quincy man has pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $70,000 from an elderly woman he was hired to help with yard work, according to a Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Moses Lake FFA students bring blooms downtown with student-grown flowers

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake FFA students filled more than 130 downtown flowerpots Tuesday, continuing a two‑decade partnership that brings student‑grown color to the city’s core.

Fuel prices slightly elevated this week

MOSES LAKE — After weeks of steady increases, fuel prices across Washington and the nation largely held steady this week. Locally, however, drivers in Grant and Adams counties continue to feel the slow climb, with prices ticking up for the second week in a row. According to AAA, fuel prices in both counties rose slightly — by five to six cents — continuing a gradual upward trend. “The national average price of gasoline spent much of last week drifting lower after jumping early in the week, as oil prices softened on hopes that diplomatic progress between the U.S. and Iran could help ease supply concerns,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

Quincy man arrested for 2025 murder

QUINCY — Lorenzo Longoria, 41, of Quincy has been booked into Grant County Jail for murder in the second degree regarding a case that began in May 2025.

Built on trust

All American Plumbing Services delivers quality work across the Basin

MOSES LAKE — From emergency repairs to full home repiping, All American Plumbing Services LLC has quietly built a reputation across the Columbia Basin for doing things one way: the right way, owner Steve McUne said. McUne, who is approaching nine years in business this September, says that commitment to quality and honesty has been at the core of his work since day one. “I will only do quality work. I will not do sloppy work,” McUne said. “It doesn’t matter what you do – show pride in your work. I’m proud of the work that I do.”

Soap Lake looking to seat salary commission

SOAP LAKE — The City of Soap Lake is seeking residents to serve on its newly reactivated Salary Commission, a citizen-led body responsible for reviewing and setting salaries for the city’s elected officials. The city is encouraging registered voters who live within city limits and are not related to or employed by city officials to apply. The commission, once seated, will evaluate compensation for the mayor and city council, compare Soap Lake’s pay structure with similar cities, and adopt salary schedules in accordance with state law.

Community encouraged to spot warning signs at gang awareness presentation

MOSES LAKE — Preventing youth violence and gang involvement requires a coordinated effort between families, schools and law enforcement, said Hunter McLeod, threat assessment coordinator with the North Central Education Service District. “This should be a group effort,” said McLeod. “We want to provide families and community members with tools – strategies they can use at home – even if gang activity isn’t directly impacting their household.” McLeod and Ray Lopez, school resource officer with the Moses Lake Police Department, led a gang awareness presentation at Vanguard Academy last week, aimed at helping families better recognize risk factors and prevent youth involvement in gangs.

MLSD hiring 7 elementary assistant principals, financially unrelated to classroom staffing

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District is moving to add assistant principals at seven of its largest elementary schools, a step district leaders say is driven by rising student support needs and longstanding requests from staff — not by cuts to classroom teachers. The district has posted assistant principal openings at Sage Point, Garden Heights, Lakeview Terrace, Longview, Peninsula, Groff, and Park Orchard elementaries, all of which will have enrollments ranging from roughly 316 to 449 students in the 2025–26 school year, according to district data.

Common Grounds: Coffee with district leadership set for Friday

MOSES LAKE — Superintendent Carol Lewis says the district’s new community coffee series is designed to make space for candid conversations about school priorities and levy commitments. “Sometimes there’s a lot of information out there and not always enough opportunity for people to ask questions and have face‑to‑face conversations,” Lewis said. “This event gives us a chance to have honest conversations about the commitments we made through the levy, where we are with that work, and what planning for the 2026–27 school year looks like.” The first Common Grounds – Coffee with District Leadership gathering will be held Friday, May 15, at 7:30 a.m. at Vanguard Academy, 740 E. Yonezawa Blvd.

‘Gather, laugh and be together’

EMS courtyard dedicated to Travis Eloff’s legacy of inclusion

EPHRATA — A space originally created to bring students together through inclusive play and learning now carries a deeper meaning at Ephrata Middle School. On May 8, the Ephrata School District formally dedicated the school’s inclusive courtyard playground to Travis Eloff, a teacher and special education director who served the district for 31 years. Eloff passed away in 2024. Family members, colleagues and community members gathered to honor Eloff’s legacy and the impact he made on generations of students. District officials said his work was grounded in a belief that inclusion is more than a location.

Warden City Council passes parking regulation ordinance

WARDEN — After several meetings of discussion, the Warden City Council unanimously approved a new parking regulation ordinance Tuesday night during its regularly scheduled meeting. Council members said the new rules come after ongoing complaints from residents about vehicles being left parked for days or even weeks at a time, taking up limited spaces in front of businesses and the Warden Public Library. “I think it is long overdue,” Council Member Agapito “Speedy” Gonzalez said. “We have had habitual people parking and staying. We need to address that.” The ordinance goes into effect May 17.

Ephrata schools offer free summer meals to any kid in need

EPHRATA — The Ephrata School District will again offer free summer meals to all children 18 and younger — including those who do not attend Ephrata schools – through a mix of on‑site service and grab‑and‑go meal boxes funded entirely by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program. The district will operate three open sites beginning June 15: on-site meals at Columbia Ridge Elementary and Ephrata High School, and a non‑congregate, drive‑thru pickup at Ephrata Middle School. All meals are free regardless of family income. Food Service Director Alain Black said the district’s goal is simple: make sure children across the region have consistent access to nutritious food when school is out.

Agencies acknowledge communication failures during Mattawa wildfire

MATTAWA — A fast‑moving wildfire that burned nearly 3,100 acres near state Route 24 on Sunday night prompted a four‑hour highway closure – but no public alerts from either the Washington State Patrol or the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, despite both agencies’ long‑standing practices of issuing emergency notifications. Both agencies now say internal communication breakdowns prevented timely alerts from reaching the public, leaving residents without the Nixle messages, Facebook posts or X updates they typically rely on during major incidents.

Sky dancers

Meet Washington’s endangered sandhill cranes

With long wings stretched wide, sandhill cranes fly together across the sky, calling to one another like trumpets. These tall, graceful birds love wetlands and open spaces – and every sighting is special, because sandhill cranes are endangered in Washington. Can you spot your favorite crane facts and words in the graphic and word search below?

4-acre blaze mostly contained in rural Ephrata

EPHRATA — Three fire agencies were called to a wildfire in the 13000 block of Road A.5 Northwest in Rural Ephrata at around 11 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

‘I don’t plan on going back’

Abel Valdez becomes Community Court’s 18th graduate

MOSES LAKE — Abel Valdez didn’t walk into Community Court expecting a fresh start.

‘This is one way we come together for our kids’

MLSD to host gang town hall tonight at Vanguard Academy

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District is convening a broad coalition of educators, law enforcement officers and regional safety specialists tonight for a gang awareness and prevention town hall, an event district leaders say is aimed at equipping families with practical tools to recognize early warning signs and keep youth connected to positive supports.

‘The right push’

Silva becomes Community Court’s 17th graduate, finds a new path forward

MOSES LAKE — When Jonathan David Silva walked into Community Court months ago, he didn’t expect transformation. He expected to “jump through the hoops,” as he put it. Instead, he walked out last week as the program’s 17th graduate – sober, grounded and surrounded by a team he now calls “a second family.” “I was never really fully sober my whole life,” Silva said during an interview. “Community Court honestly gave me a different perspective… it geared me in a direction of what I should have been doing the whole time as an adult.”

Two Mavericks sign to play college soccer

MOSES LAKE — Two longtime Moses Lake Mavericks are taking their game to the next level. Seniors Dalton Freidig and Enrique Landeros Cervantes have officially committed to continue their soccer careers in college, a point of pride for both the players and the program that raised them.

Ephrata council considers park and transportation fees for new developments

EPHRATA — The Ephrata City Council continued discussions Wednesday on whether to adopt new park and transportation impact fees that would apply to future development, a move city officials say could help offset the cost of growth without raising taxes.

WSP Bomb Squad called to suspicious package, discovered to be battery

MOSES LAKE — Washington State Patrol Bomb Squad was called to a suspicious package in the 1700 block of Road K-Southeast in rural Moses Lake at 11 a.m. Saturday, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Detective warns Ephrata parents of rising online threats to local youth

EPHRATA — Grant County Sheriff’s Office Detective Katrina Ball didn’t mince words Wednesday night as she described the growing dangers facing children online, telling Ephrata School District parents that sextortion, online enticement and extremist recruitment are no longer distant threats.

Soap Lake council addresses attorney services, city administration, other matters

SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake City Council addressed a wide range of operational and policy matters during its Wednesday night meeting, including city attorney services, the hiring of a city administrator, changes to how delinquent utility accounts are handled, the purchase of major public works equipment and approval of several community events.

Soap Lake City Council establishes performance-based pay for mayor

SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake City Council voted unanimously Monday to adopt a new performance-based salary range for Mayor Peter Sharp, setting his monthly compensation anywhere between $0 and $600 depending on whether he meets seven specific job requirements.

Ephrata Middle Schoolers get front-row seat to local democracy

EPHRATA — On Wednesday nights at Ephrata City Hall, it’s not unusual to see a row of eighth-graders quietly filing into the council chambers, agendas in hand. They’re not there for extra credit alone – though that certainly helps. They are there because their teachers want them to see democracy up close, long before they’re old enough to vote. Ephrata Middle School history teachers Katie Johnson and Lindsy Roberts revived the tradition after experiencing it themselves as students.

Potato truck crash closes part of Dodson Road

ROYAL CITY — A potato truck crash was reported to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office at around 8 a.m. Wednesday morning on Dodson Road South. The southbound lane of Dodson Road between Road 10SW and Road 11SW reopened about 3 p.m. Kyle Foreman, public information officer for the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, said there were no injuries. “The driver contacted the guard rail and rolled the truck over onto its side, so it lost some potatoes, but the driver is okay,” Foreman said. The GCSO was assisted by the Washington State Patrol, he said earlier Wednesday.

‘Fire safety is everyone’s responsibility’

National Wildfire Awareness Month reminds residents to practice preparedness, prevention

SOAP LAKE — A weekend structure fire in Soap Lake is offering an early warning for what fire officials say could become a severe wildfire season across central Washington, as May marks National Wildfire Awareness Month and agencies urge residents to take prevention seriously.