R. HANS MILLER

Gorge shooting trial rescheduled to 2026

EPHRATA — The trial in the case of James Kelly, the man charged in the June 2023 shooting that led to the deaths of two women at the Beyond Wonderland music festival held at The Gorge Amphitheatre, has been bumped to early next year, according to court documents.

Sex offender arrested near Royal City

ROYAL CITY — Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Tyler May, 30, at his home in the 14200 block of Road A.7 SW about 3.5 miles east of Royal City Saturday.

Locals recognized for contributions to STEM

WENATCHEE — Three locals were honored at the NCW Tech Alliance Awards ceremony last week. Quincy High School student Gerardo Guerrero and Big Bend Community College Professor of Chemistry Lindsay Groce received the K-12 Future Technology Leader and STEM Champion of the Year awards, respectively. Cooper Cox, BBCC alumnus and current Washington State University student, was a finalist for the STEM College Innovator of the Year.

Meeting essential needs

Thriving Together Toward Tomorrow conference focuses on building community through collaboration

WENATCHEE — A growing turnout gathered at the Wenatchee Convention Center on October 22 for Thriving Together NCW’s Thriving Together Toward Tomorrow Summit, an opportunity for regional organizations to focus on meeting the essential needs of Washingtonians in their respective areas through networking and collaboration.

Multiple shooting cases moving through Grant Superior Court

EPHRATA — Multiple cases associated with shootings are winding their way through Grant County Superior Court, including the case of James Kelly, the suspect in the shooting at the Beyond Wonderland music festival at The Gorge Amphitheater in June 2023.

Stoke Space raises $510M for manufacturing of Nova launch vehicle

KENT — Stoke Space Technologies – with facilities in Moses Lake, Kent and Cape Canaveral, Florida – has secured $510 million in funding though Thomas Tull’s US Innovative Technology Fund and Silicon Valley Bank supporting manufacture of the company’s Nova Launch vehicle. The funding more than doubles its total capital raised to $990 million, according to a press release from the company.

2 graduate from Community Court with hopes for bright futures

MOSES LAKE – Two participants in Grant County’s Community Court Program graduated Wednesday afternoon after completing addiction treatment and other steps to walk away from drugs and the poor decisions they can lead to. In the case of Sherm Rowland, the graduation is a walk away from a trying past and a celebration of just more than 18 months of being off drugs.

March shooting suspect back in custody after failure to appear

SOAP LAKE — The Moses Lake Police Department announced the arrest of Samuel Ramirez, 26, in association with the investigation of a March 8 shooting that led to the son of Wash. Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, being seriously injured. A second man, Luis Medina, 28, was arrested in mid-March and has since pleaded guilty and is serving jail time.

Sila begins manufacturing at Moses Lake plant

MOSES LAKE — The building is completed and staff are on-hand at the Sila Nanotechnologies plant in Moses Lake is ramping up to begin producing batches of its trademarked Titan Silicon product to help produce the batteries that will power electric cars, consumer electronics, drones, satellites and other tech, while providing jobs to area residents like Sila’s Plant Manager Rosendo Alvarado.

Likely remains of Travis Decker, wanted for killing his daughters in Chelan County, found

WENATCHEE – The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday the discovery of human remains believed to be those of Travis Decker, who has been the subject of a months-long manhunt after the bodies of his three daughters were found near the Rock Island Campground near Icicle Creek due west of Leavenworth.

Ephrata Sports Complex changes on the way

EPHRATA – Several changes to the Ephrata Sports Complex are in the planning stages in the city of Ephrata, as the Parks and Recreation Department works to accommodate increased use of the facility and encourage economic activity associated with it. “With the addition of middle school sports over the past few years, the middle school has used that facility for some of their events,” said City Administrator Ray Towry.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Community matters...

As I write this, I just finished speaking at the Ephrata Rotary Club’s weekly meeting at Country Deli in Ephrata. The banquet room in the back of the restaurant was filled with more than a dozen folks who were there not just to grab a meal, but to share some positivity and talk about the work they can do to make the community an even better place to live.

Ephrata School District considering spring 2026 bond

EPHRATA — After more than a year and a half of work, the Ephrata School District’s District Facility Study Group has decided to recommend putting a $75 million bond package on the February 2026 ballot. The goal of the workgroup, said Ephrata School District Superintendent Ken Murray, was to ensure all of Ephrata’s students had quality learning spaces. “Primarily, people had an opportunity to see what we were able to accomplish with our 2019 bond and the facilities that are in place at one of our elementaries, and then, obviously, at Ephrata Middle School,” Murray said. “And one of the real goals, initially, was they saw how safe those facilities are. They saw how (those facilities incorporate) current trends in terms of the types of spaces that you could create for students.” Murray said the bond package, if approved, would have a tax bill impact but allow the district to remodel and expand Ephrata High School, replace Grant Elementary and Parkway Intermediate schools and provide a better Performing Arts Center for students. Some of the work had initially been approved by voters in 2019 along with funding, but inflation caused by the pandemic and other factors caused their cancelation and the funding was zeroed out through a process called defeasement.

Quincy steps out for B Street Block Party

QUINCY – Music thumped and children played games while the Quincy High School class of 1975 celebrated their 50th reunion Friday night at the B Street Block Party in Quincy. The event filled the block on B Street SE between Road Q NW and First Ave SE Friday from 5:30-10 p.m.

MLSD committee recommends replacement of North, Larson Heights

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School Board heard a presentation from the district’s Facility Advisory Committee recommending that Larson Heights and North elementaries be demolished and replaced with a new elementary that would serve students from both campuses. The board did not vote on whether to accept the recommendation.

‘It’s gonna be a busy Saturday'

Community events set to fill downtown Moses Lake this weekend

MOSES LAKE – Downtown Moses Lake is going to see a lot of activity this coming weekend with Sip ‘n Stroll, Art on 3rd, the Moses Lake Care Fair and the farmers market all happening Saturday. Not to mention the Columbia Basin Walk to End Alzheimer’s and Colors of Hope events, as well as Kicks & Coffee Streetwear Fair at the Favored Farmhouse.

Ephrata residents asked to boil water, minimize water use due to broken water pipe

EPHRATA – The City of Ephrata issued a boil water advisory Monday morning after a primary water line broke on the west side of the irrigation canal behind the juvenile facility, according to City Administrator Ray Towry.

Grant PUD gets upgrades with upcoming new Ephrata Service Center

EPHRATA – Not all of the construction near the intersection of Nat Washington Way and State Highway 282 is related to the Grant County Jail. The Grant Public Utility District broke ground on its upcoming Ephrata Service Center Tuesday afternoon, a new facility intended to address the growing demands on the district’s resources.

PUD moves forward with eminent domain process for Quincy area line

EPHRATA – The Grant County PUD Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to proceed with the condemnation of privately owned lands intended to help establish a route for a new transmission line from its dams on the Columbia River south of the Vantage Bridge to the Quincy area.

Larson Heights principal promoted to district role

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District announced that Larson Heights Elementary Principal Chris Kalmbach had been promoted via internal hiring to Assistant Executive Director of Teaching and Learning. He will take up his post as soon as a new principal for Larson Heights has been identified.

Washington adds 10,800 jobs in July; Grant and Adams counties show mixed trends

OLYMPIA – Washington added about 10,800 jobs in July and the monthly unemployment rate held firm at 4.5%, about the same as in June, according to data released by the Washington Employment Security Department late last week.

Court cases moving forward in March 21 drive-by fatality shooting

EPHRATA – Two men, Mattew Valdez, 18, and Jose Beltran Rodriguez, 20, both of Moses Lake, were arrested in late April in association with a drive-by shooting in Moses Lake that led to one death and several injuries. Their legal process is moving forward and both have court dates set for September and October.

Grant County Fair safety measures effective, organizers say

MOSES LAKE – While there were some minor heat injuries and a few mischievous teens during the 2025 Grant County Fair as of Saturday afternoon, the event went off without any serious incidents according to fair organizers and law enforcement. In part, that’s due to added security measures taken over the past year.

GALLERY: Bright colors at the Grant County Fair barns

MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Fair offered a wide variety of entertainment, activities and competitions. Many of those competitions were on display in the various barns near the gates, which also added the benefit of some shade on the hotter days at the fair. Here is a look at some of what the barns – and a nearby display of tractors – had to offer.

Big Bend loads up new ag mechanics certification

MOSES LAKE – Big Bend Community College announced the establishment of a new Agricultural Mechanics certification program, according to an announcement from the college. “The launch of the Agricultural Mechanics certificate program is a direct response to the growing demand for skilled workers in our region’s ag industry,” said BBCC Dean of Workforce Education Michelle Morley via the announcement.

Ephrata approves grant programs

EPHRATA – During the August 6 regular Ephrata City Council meeting, the city approved six resolutions addressing a variety of issues including contracts, street maintenance, transportation and communication. Two of those involved grants that would make improving transportation and managing growth easier.

Grant, Adams primary election results 2025

EPHRATA - The primary election was held Tuesday in Washington state with statewide voter turnout at roughly 18.58% of the Evergreen state’s 4.4-plus million voters casting ballots. That amounts to a bit more than 822,000 votes cast.

Thousands ticketed under new construction zone speeding program

OLYMPIA – It's summer time and that means construction across Washington. Ninety days after a new camera monitoring program was launched in the state’s work zones, the Washington State Patrol said in a recent press release that there’s a significant problem with speeding in work zones. “The first few months of the program confirm what statistics show and what our workers have been saying - too many people speed through work zones,” said Washington Secretary of Transportation Julie Meredith. “We hope this changes driver behavior – that people slow down, and everyone comes home safe at the end of the day.”

Gorge shooting trial rescheduled for late August

EPHRATA – The trial for James Kelly, the suspect in the shooting that occurred during the Beyond Wonderland Music Festival in June of 2023, has been postponed again. An omnibus hearing is set for July 28, a readiness hearing for August 25 and the trial for August 27. The trial had been set for July 23.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: It takes a community...

Often, the folks here at the Columbia Basin Herald refer to getting the paper put together and out the door as a “daily miracle.” Every day, stories fall through for different reasons, plans have to be adjusted, and unexpected events come along to throw a wrench in the proverbial works. There are two groups of people outside of our organization who help us make that miracle happen by providing us with the information we need to complete stories or start a story in the first place. Public information officers and those that offer news tips. Public information officers – or community engagement specialists, media representatives or any of a number of other fancy titles that mean public information officer – are godsends to a journalist. Folks like Kyle Foreman at the Grant County Sheriff’s Office; Susan Scheib at Columbia Basin Hospital; Sarah Morford and Ryan Shannon at the Ephrata and Moses Lake school districts, respectively; Gretchen Youngren at Samaritan Hospital; Cpt. Jeff Sursely at the Moses Lake Police Department; Matt Killebrew and his team at Big Bend Community College; or, folks like Cpt. Troy Froewiss who landed in the role because he was in charge of the shooting incident in Ephrata this past Sunday.

$30M hospital bond goes before Ephrata voters

EPHRATA – Those living in and around Ephrata will see a measure on their ballot for the August 5 election for a $30 million bond measure requested by Grant County Public Hospital District 3 – which most residents likely know as Columbia Basin Hospital. The measure has been in the works for some time. “The board started talking about this more seriously right before COVID, and then COVID hit, and everything took a back burner to that,” said GCPHD 3 Board President Amy Paynter.

One dead, one injured in Sunday evening shooting

EPHRATA – One man is dead and another is being held at the Grant County Jail after a shooting at about 7:40 p.m. at the Hawk Fuel station in Ephrata Sunday. Investigators say the incident began with an altercation at the fuel pumps that led to gunfire.

Authorities investigating fatal shooting at Hawk Fuel in Ephrata

EPHRATA – Ephrata Police Department officers were dispatched to the Hawk Fuel station at 785 Basin Street NW at about 7:40 p.m. Sunday evening. Upon arrival law enforcement found one male victim with multiple gunshot wounds.

FIRE REPORT: Four wildfires burning in E. Washington

MOSES LAKE - More than 17,000 acres have been impacted by currently active wildfires in Eastern Washington, with another roughly 500-acre blaze burning on the West Side, according to state and federal sources. Firefighters have made significant progress with some of the fires, with the Greenacres Fire in Okanogan County burning about 921 acres of land five miles north of Omak. The fire is reported at 95% contained and is being transferred to local fire crews, according to a release from the Northeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team.

Dent, Franz say bipartisan support led to progress in WA wildfire response

MOSES LAKE – Getting anything done in politics takes solid relationships and the ability to reach across political divides, regardless of how partisan the overall conversation is. Former Washington Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz, a Democrat, and local State Representative Tom Dent, a Republican, and their successes in advancing wildfire management are a prime example of that, they say. “Everything, from what I learned and how quickly we were able to make the changes and get results, is based on relationships,” Franz said in a late June interview. “It’s based on valuing other people’s opinions and their experience and their expertise.”

GCFD 5 responds to fire near Grant Co. Fairgrounds

MOSES LAKE - Grant County Fire District 5 personnel are mopping up the scene of a brush fire just east of the Grant County Fairgrounds.

Ephrata High Class of ‘55 celebrates 70 years

EPHRATA - There are 39 “kids” still living from the Ephrata High School Class of 1955, Jerry Pitts said, and he and his classmates still get together as much as they can. This year, 11 Tigers got together from June 13 to 15 to catch up. “We had a three-day meet the 13th, 14th and 15th,” Pitts said. “Of course, the 15th was Father’s Day, and we met at 12 Hawks in Ephrata.”

Koeppen resigning from Grant GOP Chair position

EPHRATA – Grant County Republican Party Central Committee Chair Andrew Koeppen has announced his resignation from his position within the local party effective July 31. Koeppen said he selected that date to ensure that the selection of a new county prosecutor is completed before he leaves his role. “I just want to make sure the whole prosecutor selection (process) is done properly and correctly,” Koeppen said. Koeppen indicated in his letter and by phone that he had concerns about the manner in which the local GOP’s governing board is operating and said by phone that he would like to focus more time on his family and business.

GALLERY: Sage-‘N-Sun 2025

EPHRATA — Ephrata’s annual Sage-‘N-Sun festival Friday and Saturday brought the community out for music, a parade, food and fun. Here are a few scenes from the event.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Congrats to the Class of 2025

Over the last two weeks, I’ve had the distinct privilege of running a newsroom that covers more than a dozen high school graduations and one college graduation. Students, armed with knowledge, grit, sass and an absolutely wonderful desire to push for their dreams walked across football fields, stages, basketball courts and other venues to receive their paper that says they are, officially, done with a chapter of their lives. I would encourage the Class of 2025 to remember something, and this is something that took me probably longer than it should have to realize: Everything up to high school is just a lesson, and life as an adult is the final exam. That may sound a little daunting, and it is, but there’s something even more important to remember: You’ve had good teachers for this test.

111th graduating class strolls out in style in Ephrata

EPHRATA — About 200 students strolled, cavorted, lightsaber-battled and marched their way onto the Ephrata High School football field last Friday evening. Some wore honor cords showing accomplishments, some had decorated mortar boards and others a look of relief that their day had finally come. Student speaker, Charles Flynn, a graduating senior and outgoing Associated Student Body president, thanked the teachers, staff, parents and others who’d helped him and his classmates reach their educational and other goals. “I would also like to thank the class behind me,” Flynn said while at the podium, facing the gathered audience. “Many of us have grown up with each other since grade school, making mistakes and maturing from them along the way, staying up late to complete work, then waking up early to turn it in, going to football games and bonfires. All of these moments have given me the utmost confidence in the class sitting behind me. Today is not merely a heartfelt goodbye, but it is also a new beginning.”

Gorge shooting suspect appears in court

EPHRATA – James Kelly, the suspect in the June 2023 shooting at the Beyond Wonderland music festival, appeared in court Tuesday morning when his defense team requested a continuance for his omnibus hearing.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: The importance of learning spaces

What a weird time we live in. We have the greatest access to information since the dawn of time, but the double-edged sword of the internet is that we also have the greatest access to misinformation since the dawn of time.

UPDATED: Fire prompts evacuations near Ancient Lakes

QUINCY – A wildfire has broken out near the Ancient Lakes, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman. An evacuation notice has been issued for those at the nearby campsites, and GCSO deputies are visiting campers to inform them that they need to evacuate the area.

Fire near Wanapum Village fully contained

WANAPUM VILLAGE – A fire broke out Wednesday evening almost due east of the Wanapum Village between Royal City and George, according to the Washington Department of Natural Resources. It was contained at about 60 acres Thursday afternoon.

Five fantasy series for ages 12 and up

When I first started fourth grade, I despised reading. Now, that very thought sounds like sacrilege and I’ve gone on amazing adventures all through the pages of books. Not only do I have fond memories of reading particular books, but I grew as both a person and a writer as a result. Generally, fantasy and science fiction have been my favorite genres, though poetry and the occasional biography have drawn me in.

Narcan vending machine has long path to installation, cancellation

MOSES LAKE – North Central Washington Libraries staff said they were surprised by Moses Lake City Council’s actions requiring the removal of the Narcan vending machine from the Moses Lake Public Library in late March. NCW Deputy Director for Public Services Kim Neher said the machine being installed wasn’t an initiative spearheaded by the library district, but rather something the city had approached them about.

Civil Air Patrol presents at council workshop

EPHRATA – Civil Air Patrol cadets practiced presenting the colors at an Ephrata City Council workshop Wednesday evening at City Hall. The drill and ceremonies competitors are headed to California for competition soon and wanted to get practice in front of an audience. Kathy Maxwell with the Civil Air Patrol said this is multiple years in a row the Ephrata squadron has qualified for the competition. Members said the competition includes a variety of categories including physical fitness, knowledge and drill and ceremonies.

Ephrata parks ready to welcome residents, visitors

EPHRATA - Anyone just driving through Ephrata on Basin Street may miss some of the parks and opportunities to enjoy the outdoors that the city offers. From hiking on Beezley Hill to picnics at Patrick Park to shooting hoops at Lions Park or working on your kick flip at the city’s skate park, there’s a bit of something for everyone.

Moses Lake cleanup day scheduled

MOSES LAKE – The Downtown Moses Lake Association isn’t messing around – no, really. The organization has planned its annual Downtown Spring Clean-up for April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.