NANCE BESTON
Staff Writer
Recent Stories
FIRE REPORT: Burdoin Fire exceeds 10,000 acres, fires contribute to smoke haze
WHITE SALMON – The Burdoin Fire, which ignited on July 18 in the southern border of Washington state, has rapidly consumed more than 11,000 acres and remains only 13% contained as of Thursday afternoon. State officials have called for increased vigilance among residents.
Soap Lake chlorinating water as precautionary measure
SOAP LAKE — The City of Soap Lake has announced that it will implement a temporary chlorination process for its drinking water supply after routine monitoring detected the presence of coliform bacteria in the city’s reservoirs. This emergency disinfection is scheduled to begin Friday, and aims to ensure the continued safety of the water for residents. “We’re doing our yearly inspection, and it showed a sign of coliform bacteria,” Mayor Peter Sharp said. “This is standard procedure to ensure public health and safety.
Community comes together for Daniel Alcala’s family following shooting
EPHRATA — In the wake of a shooting incident in Ephrata July 20, the local community is rallying around the family of Daniel Alcala, who was fatally shot during an altercation at a gas pumps. Alcala, 30, was a husband and father to three children. According to the Grant County Coroner Investigator Maxwell Yoder, his death resulted from multiple gunshot wounds. The death has officially been ruled a homicide, according to a statement from the City of Ephrata.
Ephrata Library set for major renovations next spring
EPHRATA — The Ephrata Public Library is gearing up for significant renovations aimed at modernizing the facility and enhancing services for its patrons this upcoming spring. “This comprehensive project is an extension of our ongoing branding efforts, and it will be a significant upgrade that brings our spaces up to date,” Supervising Librarian Aaron Loeffelbein said.
Ephrata resident arrested for 26 counts of livestock theft
EPHRATA – Last Wednesday, Grant County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies and Crime Reduction Team deputies acted on a tip from the Washington State Department of Agriculture about individual stealing cattle.
Grant County launches survey for Five-Year Homeless Housing plan update
GRANT COUNTY — The Grant County Board of Commissioners, in partnership with regional stakeholders and LDC, Inc., is leading the development of the Five-Year Homeless Housing Plan Update for the period 2025-2030.
Fire scorches around 10 acres near Wilson Creek
WILSON CREEK – On Monday at around 2 p.m., Grant County Fire District 12 was paged out to a brush fire in the 19000 block of Stratford Road.
Ephrata moves forward with grant applications for street improvement
EPHRATA – The Ephrata City Council convened Wednesday evening during a regular meeting to authorize a resolution to move forward with an application for a grant from the Transportation Improvement Board to fund essential road preservation and enhancements.
Soap Lake plans upgrades for dog park, Smokiam Campground
SOAP LAKE — In a bid to enhance recreational amenities and boost tourism, the city of Soap Lake is currently undertaking upgrades to both its dog park and the Smokiam Campground. Mayor Peter Sharp elaborated on these enhancements, citing community engagement and improved safety as primary motivators behind the initiatives.
Fuel prices decrease nationally, locally
MOSES LAKE — There was a slight decrease in gas prices across the nation, including in Washington state and Grant County, according to AAA. The Adams County average remains the same as last week.
Creative pizza pies
Moses Lake's Slices restaurant brings artisan pizza and other treats to patrons
MOSES LAKE — A family-owned establishment, Slices, is carving out an unusual niche in the local dining scene. Co-owners Becky and John Boyer took a leap of faith during the pandemic, transforming their post-COVID uncertainty into a business that celebrates community and culinary creativity, Becky said. "After COVID, we found ourselves in an unexpected situation. My husband John and I decided to open our restaurant, Slices, which kind of just landed in our lap," Becky said.
‘Fresh every day’
Kallstrom Corn stands a staple in the Basin and back again for summer
MOSES LAKE – As summer arrives in full bloom, the sight of Kallstrom Corn stands dotted throughout the Columbia Basin has returned, marking the beginning of the sweet corn season for locals awaiting the taste of the Kallstrom sweet corn. “The corn crop looks really healthy. It has a nice dark green color,” co-owner Mark Kallstrom said. “The weather started out cool, but it warmed up just enough; we got the heat units to bring it out a couple of days earlier.”
New principal takes charge at Warden High
WARDEN — Warden High School has welcomed its new principal, Heather Cheek, a seasoned educator with a passion for empowering students and fostering a positive school culture. Cheek, who assumed her role less than a week ago, brings a wealth of experience, having previously taught Spanish and served as an assistant principal in other districts. Cheek’s journey into education began with her desire to connect with others through language.
Ephrata mayoral candidates debate issues
EPHRATA – Ephrata Mayoral candidates came to the Columbia Basin Herald office Monday to talk about their positions on the issues. Incumbent Bruce Reim and opponent Steve Oliver answered questions around transparency, tax burdens, criminal activity and the local economy.
Ephrata summer school keeps students learning
EPHRATA — As the summer season wraps up, 190 students in the Ephrata School District are proving learning doesn't cease when the school year ends. The district’s summer school program, now in its final week, drew 136 Kindergarten through sixth-grade students to participate in enriching activities designed to bolster academic skills. "We aim to keep their skills up over the summer months and foster an ongoing curiosity about learning," said Director of Teaching and Learning Sharon Scellick. "We want to avoid the summer slide and keep our students active and engaged."
5 must listen to podcasts for summer road trips
MOSES LAKE – As summer continues, the season of long road trips, scenic vistas and family vacations beckons once again. With most cars equipped with a Bluetooth connection or a functional auxiliary port, podcasts have emerged as a favored form of entertainment for travelers. They not only serve as a distraction from the monotony of the open road but also provide companions for deep introspection, humor and even education. Among the myriad offerings available, five podcasts stand out as my exemplary choices for road-tripping: Heavyweight, Normal Gossip, American Scandal, The Truth and This American Life.
Moose spotted in Ephrata, residents told to exercise caution
EPHRATA —A moose has been spotted wandering through Ephrata and nearby communities over the past few days, drawing the attention of residents and prompting authorities to issue safety reminders regarding wildlife encounters. “The heat is intense, and moose are seeking water sources,” Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Communications Specialist Nicole Jordan said. “It’s not abnormal to see them migrating through this area, as they naturally exist here.”
MLSD takes preliminary look at 2025-26 finances
MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District board held a special meeting Thursday to discuss preliminary budget numbers. “Tonight, we are going to do a fairly high overview of our budgeting process, and then some of the aspects, particularly around our revenue,” Superintendent Carol Lewis said.
Slight decrease in WA, Grant and Adams counties fuel
MOSES LAKE – Washington, Grant and Adams counties saw a slight decrease in average fuel prices this week. However, national prices both saw a slight increase, according to AAA. “With oil prices posting a modest uptick last week, the national average price of gasoline also inched slightly higher, with just over half of U.S. states seeing increases, while nearly two dozen saw declines,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “As we approach the midpoint of the summer driving season, gasoline inventories remain just below average, while diesel inventories are considerably tighter — keeping upward pressure on diesel prices”
MOSES LAKE CITY COUNCIL Pos. 5: Jim Perez
MOSES LAKE – In the race for the Moses Lake City Council Position 5, Jim Perez said he's positioning himself as a candidate focused on the community’s future, drawing from his extensive business background and deep-rooted connections to the area, he said. "How I believe I'm prepared for the role for City Council is I’ve been a business leader for over 25 years," Perez said, addressing how his management experience has shaped his approach to public service. "You learn all about priorities, budgeting and managing people, which is crucial because you're dealing with the needs of a whole community."
MOSES LAKE CITY COUNCIL Pos. 5: Joel Graves
MOSES LAKE – Joel Graves is a candidate for Position 5 on the Moses Lake City Council and has a background that encompasses both public service and private industry. Graves said he aims to address the most pressing issues facing Moses Lake, including public safety, affordable housing and economic development. “I am very hopeful about our city, and I love Moses Lake, and I think that we sell ourselves short so often as a city,” Graves said. “There's a lot of negative stigma about Moses, mostly on Facebook. We have problems, of course, but what city doesn't have issues. We have great resources here. We have plenty of land, and we have a relatively low cost of living. We have people, employers, who actually want to move here, and we should celebrate that. So, I'm very hopeful about our city, and I plan to be here like I want my great-grandkids to be here.”
Warden to raise trash rates
WARDEN – The Warden City Council unanimously passed a garbage rate increase beginning Sept. 1. “With our contract with Consolidated Disposal Service, who does our sanitation services in the community,” City Admin Kriss Shuler said. “In our contract, we have a biannual adjustment for cost of living, so that cost of living over the two years is 4.8% and so what that is is they increase our cost, and then we pass that on to our consumers of our community, which we'll talk about next, an ordinance change.”
MLSD granted temporary water exemption by city council
MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake City Council unanimously passed Ordinance 3071 during its regular meeting Tuesday. The ordinance grants the Moses Lake School District a temporary exemption from citywide irrigation restrictions, allowing district officials to irrigate sports fields as necessary through November 15. "We are grateful to the City of Moses Lake for partnering with us to find a proactive, commonsense solution," said MLSD Superintendent Carol Lewis. "This ordinance reflects a shared commitment to our community’s priorities—fiscal responsibility, student safety, and the preservation of public spaces."
FIRE REPORT: Nearly 7,000-acre fire burning near Kettle Falls
KETTLE FALLS – The Hope Fire has burned around 6,800 acres and is uncontained as of Thursday, according to InciWeb. This is the largest fire burning in Washington as of Thursday. “As far as we know, there might be (a) little bit of fire growth going on due to the inversion lifting over parts of the fire, but we don't have big winds on it today,” Public Information Officer Gayne Sears with Northeast Washington Interagency Type 3 said.
EPHRATA MAYORAL RACE: Bruce Reim
EPHRATA – As the city of Ephrata approaches its upcoming mayoral election, incumbent Bruce Reim seeks to continue his eight-year tenure. He said his extensive experience in government and community activism underlines his commitment to Ephrata, which he believes is transitioning from a small town to a robust city.
EPHRATA MAYORAL RACE: Steve Oliver
EPHRATA – Candidate Steve Oliver, a long-time local business owner and community advocate, is putting forth his vision to revitalize the city of Ephrata. Oliver, who has owned Tarot Tattoo for 25 years, believes a strong focus on entertainment and infrastructure is essential for the city's growth and sustainability. “I am a business owner and a parent. The condition of the city has just gotten to the point where we're desperate for entertainment around here,” Oliver said. “Things are dilapidated and falling apart, and it just seems it's just like a trajectory downward.”
United Way helps Ephrata schools enhance meal program
EPHRATA — The Ephrata School District has recently transformed its Summer Meal Program, thanks to a $30,000 donation from the United Way of King County. This funding facilitated the procurement of an Oliver Speedseal MX2-1908E Tray Sealer, which has proven instrumental in improving meal preparation and distribution for the district's summer food service efforts. "Without this machine, it would take two staff members about 90 minutes to package 100 summer meals," said Alain Black, Director of Food Services for Ephrata School District. "Now those two staff members can prepare up to 170 meals in under an hour. That’s a huge difference, especially when demand is growing each week."
MLSD celebrates having full new admin team on site
MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District celebrated Tuesday after having the full new administrative team in the office. “Well, this is actually the first day that the whole team is here,” Superintendent Carol Lewis said. “Various people have obviously been in and out. What is most exciting is that we were able to structure this team in such a way that roles are clearly defined and people were hired based on their ability to do specific work within the district.”
MLSD to hold budget meeting Thursday
MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District is holding a special work study session Thursday to begin discussing the budget for the upcoming school year. “The meeting will be to just give a preview of what the final budget will look like as well as how it is constructed,” MLSD Superintendent Carol Lewis said. “The focus will be on our new business manager explaining her budgeting process so that the board understands the process that will be gone through in order to develop the final budget.”
MLSD announces new principal for Knolls Vista
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District has announced Jason De Lane as the new principal of Knolls Vista Elementary School, effective Tuesday for the 2025-26 school year. De Lane succeeds Adam Sawyer, who has accepted a leadership position as Assistant Executive Director of Safety and Wellbeing within the district. “I am very happy to be joining the Moses Lake and Knolls Vista families,” De Lane said. “From the moment I stepped into Knolls Vista, I could feel the heart and dedication of the staff and district leaders. I’m honored to serve as principal and look forward to partnering with families, students and staff to make this a great year for every child.”
Gas prices in Grant rise above Adams for first time this year
MOSES LAKE – Washington and Grant County average gas prices saw an increase this week. However, national and Adams County saw a decrease in fuel prices, according to AAA.
Ephrata to purchase former Rite Aid building for municipal use
EPHRATA — In a move to enhance municipal services and meet the growing needs of the community, the Ephrata City Council approved a motion to purchase the former Rite Aid building located at 250 Basin Street. “We are really excited to see what this new space will do for the city,” Ephrata Mayor Bruce Reim said.
Soap Lake Conservancy meeting highlights challenges for lake health
SOAP LAKE – The Soap Lake Conservancy held a special meeting Saturday to discuss Soap Lake water level trends. The meeting brought in experts from the Washington Department of Ecology, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District. “A couple of years ago, a few of the people in this room started calling the Department of Ecology with concerns,” DOE Eastern Region Contact, Jaime Short said. “The lake level was going down. What's going on?”
Ephrata's Well 3 returns to service today after water quality tests pass
EPHRATA – The City of Ephrata’s Well 3 should be back up and running today, as long as the bacteria test results return from the lab negative, according to Public Works Director Rob Harris. “If water quality and purity and all the required standards, Well Three will be returned into service,” Harris said.
Burn restrictions announced prior to July 4 holiday
SPOKANE — The Bureau of Land Management has increased fire restrictions for Eastern Washington starting on the July 4 holiday, citing increased fire danger with hot, dry weather in the region. “Know before you go and be prepared before visiting your public lands this summer,” said Fire Management Officer for the BLM Spokane District Lonnie Newton. “Pack a shovel and fire extinguisher and follow BLM’s fire restriction orders to help prevent fires.”
Grand opening of Up Town Art Gallery brings local flair to Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE – In an enchanting addition to the vibrant cultural fabric of Moses Lake, the Up Town Art Gallery celebrated its grand opening on June 26, inviting art enthusiasts and the local community to immerse themselves in a haven of creativity.
MLSD welcomes three new 2026 buses
MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District recently expanded its transportation fleet with the addition of three brand new vehicles, poised to improve both student safety and daily commuting experiences, according to the Transportation Director of Operations Aimee Cook. “I just love seeing new buses out there on the road. They’re shiny, and I like the community seeing that,” Cook said.
Increased outdoors fees in effect as of July 1
OLYMPIA — In a controversial decision, Washington State has approved a significant increase in recreational fishing and hunting license fees, which officially took effect yesterday, June 1. “This bill proposes an inflationary adjustment. It’s a significant adjustment, but inflation has been substantial over the last 15 years,” Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds) said on the Senate floor. “It also charts a sustainable path forward.”
New fencing enhances safety at Knolls Vista
MOSES LAKE—In an effort to bolster the safety and well-being of students, Knolls Vista Elementary School has completed the installation of a new security fence around its playground. The project, a collaborative endeavor involving local businesses, community members, and school staff, aims to provide a safer environment for students during recess and other outdoor activities.
MLSD signs WIAA contract, asks for amendments
MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District signed its 2025-26 membership contract with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association at the regular school board meeting June 25. However, concerns were brought up about the contract’s language. “It's the standard membership form that the WIAA sends out every year,” MLSD Director of Public Relations Ryan Shannon said. “The district has been signing a form or a form similar to that for a number of years.”
Gas prices see slight decrease this week
MOSES LAKE – There was a slight decrease in fuel prices this week in Washington, nationally and Grant County. Adams County didn’t follow the trend and saw a slight increase in prices this week compared to last week, according to AAA. “The national average price of gasoline has resumed its decline, with falling prices driven by easing tensions in the Middle East—just weeks after those same tensions had pushed prices higher,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy in a statement. De Haan said prices are likely to continue falling going into Independence Day weekend.
Moose causes Soap Lake dog park closure
SOAP LAKE – On Monday morning Soap Lake Public Works discovered a moose wandering around public works land before jumping a fence and making its way into the Soap Lake Dog Park, prompting the park to be closed briefly, according to Soap Lake Mayor Peter Sharp. “We closed the dog park for the day,” Sharp said. “Public Works Director, Eli (Olson) got ahold of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and let them know. They said just stay away from it. It'll be fine. Let it go out of its way. Basically, they're not going to do anything to it.”
Soap Lake Conservancy meeting discusses water trends
SOAP LAKE – The Soap Lake Conservancy held a special meeting Saturday to discuss Soap Lake’s Lake water trends. From left to right is United States Bureau of Reclamation Clyde Lay, Washington Department of Ecology Jaime Short and U.S. BOR Marc Maynard. Not pictured but also at the meeting was Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District’s Roger Sonnichsen. The Columbia Basin Herald will have full coverage of the event in Thursday’s paper.
Knolls Vista Elementary principal forum Monday
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District is hosting a community forum today, June 30, at Knolls Vista Elementary to introduce candidates vying for the position of principal. The event, which begins at 5:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria, aims to engage parents, faculty and community members in the hiring process.
Warden City Council approves $575,000 sidewalk project
WARDEN – The Warden City Council approved the West First Street pedestrian path at the regular council meeting June 25. The path will begin on the eastern side of West First Street from South County Road to Jackson Avenue. “We've been working on this project for a long time,” City Administrator Kriss Shuler said. “We've received funding through Grant County or the QUADCO funding sources to do the walking path from county road to the first federal railroad tracks at Jackson Road.”
Ephrata well repairs to be completed late this week
EPHRATA – The City of Ephrata was at a standstill on repairs to Well 3 throughout the weekend because the parts ordered were not delivered Friday morning, as previously anticipated. “We're kind of at a standstill,” Ephrata Public Works Director Rob Harris said. “(Irrigation Technology & Control) will finish rebuilding the pump so that it's all ready to go. As far as the city, there's nothing we can do until those parts are in.”
Ephrata's Well 3 remains under repair as more damage discovered
EPHRATA — The city of Ephrata has issued updates regarding the ongoing emergency repairs to Well 3 following a failure in its supply line Wednesday. Community efforts to conserve water remain critical as city crews work to repair the well, according to a statement from the city. "We found a broken piece, but we've got to continue. We're going to go ahead and pull the pump all the way out and check it over to make sure that it wasn't damaged," Ephrata Public Works Director Rob Harris said Thursday morning.
Warden City Council approves contract for reservoir study
WARDEN – In a move to enhance the safety of its water infrastructure, the Warden City Council unanimously approved a contract with Gray & Osborne, Inc. for a seismic retrofit study of the city’s two water reservoirs. This engineering study, awarded at a cost of $80,000, is made possible with funds from both the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Washington State Military Department. "The item we are approving is part of the FEMA project for a seismic retrofit study of our reservoirs, which were not designed to withstand significant seismic activity," City Administrator Kriss Shuler said. "Our reservoirs are at risk of catastrophic collapse during an earthquake, and this study will determine the necessary upgrades to ensure their stability in such an event."
Warden hires interim police chief
WARDEN – The City of Warden has brought on interim police chief Juan Rodriguez from the Moses Lake Police Department after former Police Chief Rick Martin retired June 15. “The toughest thing is sitting and driving around and listening to Moses Lake, which has 25 calls on the board and sitting over here waiting to pull over a car,” Rodriguez said.