Ephrata School District works to mitigate cybersecurity issues

EPHRATA – Ephrata School District staff and stakeholders met earlier in November to address how the district can prepare for cyber attacks. The exercise was not in response to any specific action against district computer systems but was set to ensure the district was prepared to mitigate any potential problems.

COLUMN: MEDIA LITERACY: Plain language

When it comes to the news, a reporter should not be telling you how to feel. You know that. Journalists know that. In today’s world though, what we know and what happens – especially regarding national politics – aren’t as synonymous as we’d all like.

Gorge shooting trial to go into 2025

EPHRATA — The trial of James Kelly, the man accused of killing two women and injuring multiple others at the Beyond Wonderland music festival in June of 2023, will continue into 2025, according to court documents.

Ephrata schools back to normal operations after online threats

EPHRATA - The Ephrata School District canceled all classes and activities Friday after multiple threats were made toward Ephrata SD campuses, according to statements from the district. However, schools are expected to return to normal operations Monday after threats were determined to be a hoax.

UPDATED: Ephrata School District taking precautions after threats

EPHRATA – The Ephrata School District issued a notice to the community Thursday afternoon after a threat was made online regarding Ephrata High School.

BBCC daycare shut down due to CPS case

MOSES LAKE – Big Bend Community College’s childcare facility closed effective Friday due to an ongoing Child Protective Services case, according to a BBCC statement. Big Bend Director of Communications Matt Killebrew said the cause for the investigation was self-reported by BBCC staff overseeing childcare operations, but details were not available.

Whooping cough cases surging

GCHD, physicians urge people to get whooping cough vaccinations

EPHRATA – Whooping Cough continues to have higher-than-expected case counts in Grant County and across the state of Washington according to a Grant County Health District press release. Medical professionals are asking the community to remain vigilant and take precautions to mitigate the spread of the bacteria that causes it.

Lt. Governor Heck wins bid for reelection

OLYMPIA – Incumbent Lt. Governor Denny Heck, a Democrat, campaigned to keep his seat from Republican challenger Dan Matthews.

WA gets new governor for the first time since 2013

OLYMPIA – The Evergreen State is getting a new governor for the first time since Jay Inslee took office in 2013. The Democrat had announced that he wouldn’t run for another term earlier this year and the primary left Attorney General Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, facing Republican Dave Reichert, a former sheriff and state legislator.

Local medical coder focused on career building, role modeling

MOSES LAKE — Richa Sudlan started out thinking she wanted to help people and have a positive impact on their lives. She first considered a career in medicine, but along the way found a path to becoming a business intelligence analyst for the Moses Lake Community Health Center.

New criminal justice facility designed for future needs, safety

EPHRATA – More than 60% of voters approved a three-tenths of 1% sales tax increase to help fund a new Grant County Jail in 2019. Today, that jail is being realized with walls clearly visible to drivers that pass by the construction site on the southwest side of State Route 282 near the Ephrata Walmart.

Grant Co. has a gang problem, but parents can protect children, police say

MOSES LAKE – Every community in the Columbia Basin is affected by gang activity to one extent or another. While recruiting efforts by gangs work to bring children in at very young ages, that doesn’t mean that parents and communities don’t have tools to fight the issue.

Port of Ephrata considers weeding options

EPHRATA – The Port of Ephrata heard a presentation from local goat herder Lindsay Strong regarding the possibility of using goats to maintain the 160 acres the port has in its charge.

MLSD considers trust, past and future funding

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District Board of Directors and MLSD administration have begun discussing the process of putting forth a levy proposal to voters in the spring of 2025.

Ballots arriving for Nov. elections

EPHRATA – Ballots for the 2024 General Election have begun arriving in mailboxes across Washington with several major races for voters to mark their preferences for. Among them are president, governor, Washington Supreme Court justices, Congressional seats and multiple initiatives.

Ephrata council approves updates to fencing ordinance

EPHRATA – After tabling a public hearing on the issue about a month ago, the Ephrata City Council moved forward with approving updates to the city’s ordinance relating to fencing requirements. Staff with the city had recommended making the adjustments to ensure the code was easier to understand and set clear guidelines for fence placement.

Port of Ephrata hosts fly-in event, seeks more events

EPHRATA - The Association of Washington Aerial Applicators buzzed into Ephrata Friday to network and recertify with the Federal Aviation Administration. AWAA representative Anthony Root said the event, hosted by the port of Ephrata, allowed the organization’s members to show their professionalism and expertise.

MLSD votes to press charges, but communication errors seem to be the cause

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District held an executive session during its Oct. 4 meeting and afterward came out to vote regarding transferring a case from Moses Lake Police Department regarding former Moses Lake School District Superintendent Josh Meek and financial issues that led to his departure from the district. However, the issue appears to be based on miscommunication between MLPD and the school district.

Port of Ephrata to host ag pilots Friday

EPHRATA – The Port of Moses Lake will play host to the Association of Washington Aerial Applicators for the group's 2nd Annual Fly-In Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The goal is to show the community what agricultural pilots do for the region.

On being a caretaker...

Amy Bargelt reflects on moving east, parenting and more

MOSES LAKE – Amy Bargelt grew up in the Marysville area, north of Seattle. Growing up, it was a small town, but it was eventually swallowed up by Seattle. “When I had my son, I didn’t want him to grow up in a little Seattle. I got to grow up slow, and I wanted to do the same for my kid,” Bargelt said.

Airplane finds an 'Always' home

Airplane finds an 'Always' home

Chugging along

EPHRATA - Work on the upgrades to the Ephrata Amtrak station is continuing with the slab for the southern end of the platform having gone up in the last week. Amtrak representatives have previously said much of the work will increase accessibility at the facility for those with disabilities and improve safety overall.

REC, Sila reach multi-year silane agreement after REC announces first shipment

MOSES LAKE – REC Silicon announced that an agreement had been finalized with Sila Nanotechnologies arranging for REC to provide Sila with silane gas for their production of Sila’s Titan Silicon, its trademarked anode material.

MLSD announces town halls to address financial issues

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District will be hosting a series of community events at various campuses to discuss the district’s current financial crisis, according to a letter from MLSD Interim Superintendent Carol Lewis.

Ephrata updating fence code, negotiating labor issues

EPHRATA – The city of Ephrata is working to update its building codes regarding fencing after fencing permits weren’t obtained for some new construction homes within city limits. Builders had thought the permit allowing them to build houses included the surrounding fences.

Royal City's Callahan Mfg. celebrates 55 years

ROYAL CITY – Walking into Callahan Manufacturing in Royal City, the first things a patron sees are loads of parts for tractors and other machinery. The second, at least on Tuesday afternoon, is a collie with bright white-blue eyes and a wagging tail.

Community Court celebrates two new grads

EPHRATA – Two more Grant County residents have gotten back on track after a lot of hard work on their part with support from the Grant County Community Court program, overseen by District Court Judge Brian Gwinn. “We are super proud of you,” Gwinn told graduate Mikayla Miley.

Heck, Matthews weigh in on Lt. Governor priorities

OLYMPIA – Lt. Governor Denny Heck, a Democrat from Vancouver, is running for reelection and voters will choose between him and Republican challenger Dan Matthews this November. Heck said his goal in an upcoming term is to keep moving toward better discourse across the aisle to improve quality of life for Washingtonians.

Crime Reduction Team promising in first few months

EPHRATA – Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete said he’s very excited about the progress the Grant County Sheriff’s Office’s Crime Reduction Team has been able to make since it was implemented about two and a half months ago.

Devils focused on offensive precision, communication in ‘24

WILSON CREEK – The Wilson Creek Devils volleyball team may not have had the year they wanted last year, with a loss to the Soap Lake squad keeping them from state competition, but Coach Christa Christopherson said she’s ok with those losses in the short term as she works to build the team’s foundation.

After the fire

DESERT AIRE - Scorched brush is all that is left after a small fire west of the Vernita Bridge last week. The fire didn't damage any structures and no one was hurt as a result of the blaze.

Ephrata church continues to clothe those in need

EPHRATA – The Ephrata Seventh Day Adventist Church continues to offer gently-used clothing to those in need every Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., said parishioner Richard Withers, who runs the program with his wife Joan Withers and help from volunteers.

Desert Aire shooting leaves two minors injured

DESERT AIRE -- A shooting shortly after 8 p.m. at Desert Aire Park ended with two juveniles being shot, one with a minor injury to the leg and another being taken by helicopter to an area trauma center for life-threatening injuries, Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman said in a Tuesday morning interview.

Bipartisan WA effort to combat fentanyl continues

MOSES LAKE – Washington’s Congressional delegation is working to combat the fentanyl crisis in the state and nation on a variety of fronts in our nation's capital. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., Sens. Patty Murray and Sen. Maria Cantwell, both Washington Democrats, all have efforts in place to mitigate the deadly drug’s impacts.

MLSD facility fees could shut down, cripple after-school programs

MOSES LAKE -- The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin may not be able to offer services at multiple Moses Lake School District campuses if proposed facility usage fees are implemented, the organization’s executive director, Kim Pope said in a Thursday interview.

K-9 program presentation at Ephrata gathering

EPHRATA – An event requiring three K-9 handlers, and two K-9 officers took place at Sun Basin Plaza Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. Fortunately, it was for a meet and greet with the public, hosted by the Ephrata Public Library.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Dateline wherever ...

If you’re reading this, you’ve seen a few datelines in your time. That city name at the beginning of a news article. Do you know what it means and why it’s put there, though?

Grant Co. Fairgrounds evacuated after shooting

MOSES LAKE – The carnival portion of the Grant County Fairgrounds was closed down and evacuated Friday evening after a shooting occurred shortly after 9 p.m., according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman.

Ephrata school budget approved at about $51 million

EPHRATA – The Ephrata School District passed its budget in late July with anticipated expenditures from its general fund totaling slightly more than $51 million for the 2024-25 school year, according to documentation provided by the district.

Ephrata National Guard unit to see command change

EPHRATA -- A change of command for G Company, 181st Brigade Support Battalion will be held Saturday in Ephrata at 10 a.m. with outgoing commander, Cpt. Charles V. Barnett passing command to Cpt. Georgia F. Lamb.

Koeppen wins in Grant GOP court case

EPHRATA – Grant County Superior Court Judge Tyson Hill ruled in favor of Andrew Koeppen in Grant County Superior Court, indicating that Koeppen, not David Hunt, is the rightful chairperson of the Grant County Republican Party. “This situation is an unfortunate one,” Hill wrote in his decision. “The Grant County Republican Central Committee has a long history of electing its own leaders through respectful civil interaction. However, beginning in October of 2023, a power struggle fractured the GCRP into two camps.”

Ephrata schools opt to lock up phones

EPHRATA – Students at the Ephrata High and Ephrata Middle schools will be securing their phones in locked boxes during classes starting this fall. Ephrata School District Superintendent Ken Murray said the move is to help students focus in class.

Port of Ephrata moves forward with jet fuel installation

EPHRATA – The Port of Ephrata has awarded a roughly $1.2 million contract to H&H Construction Solutions out of Ellensburg to install a jet fuel tank, pump and related infrastructure at the Ephrata Municipal Airport, said the port’s Executive Director David Lanman.

Grant Co. Community Court graduates first veteran

EPHRATA – Grant County Community Court celebrated its second graduate, a military veteran who – the first vet in the program – had run into issues with overuse of alcohol and was facing his sixth DUI conviction prior to entering the program.

New Moses Lake nonprofit seeks to preserve student experience, motivation

MOSES LAKE — With financial struggles, the Moses Lake School District cannot afford extracurriculars of all sorts, from football to band to theater, for the 2024-25 school year. However, community members have formed the nonprofit Community Athletics and Activities to make sure children don’t miss out on important experiences. “Just to give some idea of the motivation and the determination of the group (our) board put together, their nonprofit got their tax ID in three weeks when they were told three to six months. That’s a persistent, dedicated group that’s motivated to get things done quickly,” said Brian Skaug, a CAA member.

FIRE REPORT: Wilson Creek fire crisps 180 acres

WILSON CREEK — A wildfire was reported at about 4 p.m. Thursday north of the town of Wilson Creek and west of Road 3 NE which had burned an estimated 180 acres by about 7 p.m. according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

City administrator provides Ephrata water update

EPHRATA – The city of Ephrata is working to upgrade its water systems on multiple fronts with a new water tower, redrilling two wells, regained water rights and upgrades to the city’s wastewater treatment facility, according to City Administrator Ray Towery. That includes recently-installed freshwater and gray water infrastructure to take water to the new Grant County Jail and to take reclaimed water to the Port of Ephrata.

Most of WA remains in drought conditions

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology has announced that most of the state remains in a drought despite a wetter-than-average June. A drought was declared for most of the state in April.

Local styling

Restyle Home Staging & Design owner looks at elevating home visions

MOSES LAKE — DeeDee Clune is looking to make sure locals have their homes set up in a way that works for them and wants homebuyers to see what living in the homes they shop for might look like. That’s the point of being an interior designer, and why she operates Restyle Home Staging & Design.

Bridging the digital divide

NCW Tech Alliance works to ensure access to digital opportunities

MOSES LAKE – In today’s digital world where farmers use GPS systems to operate combines, artificial intelligence runs machines to sort apples by grade and banking and health care are both accessed online, digital access matters, said Sue Kane, CEO of NCW Tech Alliance. Bridging the gap between tech and people is vital for quality of life and economic growth, she said.