R. HANS MILLER

Tigers prepping for another solid year on the links

LAKEVIEW — Despite cold temperatures and a bit of wind on the course, the Ephrata Tigers golf team is gearing up for the season and prepping for its first meet Friday against the Moses Lake Mavericks, Ephrata Golf Coach Dan Molitor said Tuesday. “We had our first day of qualifying (Monday) and today’s the second day,” he said during the Tuesday interview. “So, we’ll place our top eight to play against Moses Lake on Friday, and then out of the top I’m taking two teams down to an invite on Monday, so I’m going to be taking the top five.” The focus right now is knocking the rust off of skills the 10 returning players have and getting fundamentals down for the six other players who are either new or have less experience, Molitor said. With a squad of 16, the roster is deep enough to make sure Ephrata is represented well throughout the season.

Ephrata tennis squads ready to realize potential

EPHRATA — Despite crisp winds, the Ephrata Tigers boys and girls tennis squads were focused Monday on preparing for the upcoming season on the court. Both teams have a mix of returning players and newcomers giving them seasoned and raw talent to pull from, the coaches said. Both squads had a decent turnout this year, Girls Tennis Coach Michael Bosnar and Boys Coach Greg Becker said. Both had high hopes for the season with a mix of skill levels coming onto their respective teams, with a load of potential in the younger players coming on board. Girls squad

Grant Co. Jail remains on-time, on-budget

EPHRATA — Grant County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy of Corrections Phil Coats said Thursday afternoon that the new county jail is coming close to completion and remains on-time and on-budget. The last few days have even brought about a significant step. “One big milestone that we were able to meet earlier this week is we got our temporary certificate of occupancy,” Coats said.

Ephrata High roof to be replaced

EPHRATA — Ephrata High School will be getting a new roof in the coming months after several years of patchwork fixes for ongoing leak issues. The roof had been repaired and gotten a new overlay a bit more than eight years ago, but problems have persisted, prompting the repair. Ephrata School District Assistant Superintendent Aaron Cummings said Thursday that the replacement was a long time coming and will cost somewhere between $2 and $3 million, paid for out of the district’s General Fund.

UPDATED: Former Moses Lake doctor arrested after shootout with U.S. Marshals in Florida

STUART, Fla. — Former Moses Lake surgeon Thomas Earl Steffens, 72, has been arrested in Florida after an altercation with U.S. Marshals who were serving a sexual assault warrant during a traffic stop March 2.

Ephrata Fire gets new apparatus

EPHRATA — It took about 33 months to build and get right, but the Ephrata Fire Department received its newest fire apparatus – fire truck to the layman - March 1, according to an announcement by the department. “The new fire truck cost $789,725.22 and was fully funded by ARPA funds. ARPA funds are federal funding that was authorized by the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act following COVID-19,” said Ephrata City Clerk and Public Information Officer Katie Kapalo. ARPA funding was granted as one-time funding for public health, infrastructure and similar purposes during the pandemic.

Ephrata Schools receive $30K OSPI safety grant

EPHRATA — The Ephrata School District announced that it has been awarded a $30,000 School Safety Center - Violence Prevention and Intervention grant from the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. It is expected to aid in proactive prevention, according to Ephrata SD Communications Director Sarah Morford.

Suspect in 2022 murder of Moses Lake woman expected to change plea

EPHRATA — Juan Gastelum, 31, of Hermiston, Ore., the suspect in the March 2022 killing of Yanira Cedillos, is expected to change his current plea of not guilty to a guilty plea. Prosecutors in the case have requested that a plea change hearing be set for March 3, according to court documents.

Counselors help students plan ahead at Ephrata High

EPHRATA — Planning for the future isn’t something freshmen in high school gravitate toward, but the four guidance counselors at Ephrata High School point them in the right direction to get their futures planned.

Multiple projects coming to Ephrata in ‘26

EPHRATA — Multiple civic projects are coming to Ephrata this year as spring starts to waive at us from the not-too-distant future. Park upgrades, sports facility improvements and roadway upgrades are among them, according to Ephrata City Administrator Ray Towry.

Man killed in officer-involved shooting near Moses Lake Monday

MOSES LAKE — Aaron Ammann, 33, of Moses Lake was killed in an officer-involved shooting Monday evening in rural Moses Lake, according to Grant County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman. Deputies opened fire on the man while searching a property in the 4700 block of Road L.9 Northeast at about 6:15 p.m.

UPDATED: Officer involved shooting reported in rural Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies and other first responders are on the scene of an officer involved shooting in the 4700 block of Road L.9 Northeast in rural Moses Lake.

WA Legislature working to support sex assault survivors

OLYMPIA — About 70% of Washington’s sexual violence victims assistance funding is pass-through funding from the federal government via the Victims of Crime Act. However, funding under VOCA, which became law in 1984, has dipped dramatically in recent years. Funding totaled $74.7 million in 2018 but has since dropped to about $17.9 million as of 2024.

Feb. 10 initial election results

EPHRATA — Voters were asked to approve or reject educational programs and operations levy requests from a number of Grant and Adams county school districts in Tuesday’s special election. Voters in the Ephrata School District and East Adams Rural Healthcare decided the fate of specific proposals. Unofficial results released Tuesday night are listed below with additional votes coming in via mail over the next few days. Mailed-in ballots must have been postmarked by Feb. 10, 2026 to be counted.

COLUMN: It’s amazing what you can learn ...

Four years ago, almost to the day, my wife and I closed on the first home either of us have owned, a stunningly Pepto-pink house in Ephrata with what we thought of at the time as “character.” It turns out, that character is really, in many ways, a lot of work. Work I hadn’t done much of since helping my dad out when I was a kid a few decades ago. Still though, all of the work I had to relearn or learn – thank goodness for the folks at Ace, Lowe’s and experts on YouTube – has been incredibly rewarding.

Take a wander, see a wonder

MOSES LAKE — Living in Central Washington has a lot of perks, and one of those is the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife.

Former MLHS coach named in inappropriate relationships case

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District officials verified the identify of former coach and substitute teacher Juan David Peralez as the individual whose employment was terminated Thursday after an investigation indicated he had inappropriate relationships with students.

MLHS employee terminated for inappropriate relations with students

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District released a statement Thursday evening indicating that a coach who also served as a substitute teacher had been found to have had inappropriate relationships with three students.

Motorists urged to follow detours at Hansen Road

MOSES LAKE — The Washington State Patrol and Washington State Department of Transportation is warning drivers not to utilize emergency vehicle turnarounds to avoid the Hansen Road detour, according to a WSP press release.

Hansen overpass closed as of Saturday morning

MOSES LAKE — The Washington Department of Transportation announced Friday that the Interstate 90 overpass at Hansen Road, near the Love’s Travel Stop in Moses Lake – Exit 174 – will be closing at 6 a.m. Saturday.

Suspect arrested in Controlled Substance Homicide case

RITZVILLE — Brittney Marie Jones, 35, of Ritzville was arrested and is being held by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office on charges associated with a November death in Ritzville, according to an ACSO statement.

Kriete, Wagner express opposition to bills on sheriff eligibility

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete and Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner have both expressed concerns regarding Senate Bill 5974, companion bill to House Bill 1399, presented to the Washington Legislature this session. The legislation addresses eligibility requirements for leaders, including elected leaders, in law enforcement agencies.

Local group holds holiday give-away

MOSES LAKE — Moms Helping Moms of Grant County – a Facebook group that has grown to include parents of both sexes and people of all ages – held a Christmas give-away event at Rick’s in Moses Lake last week.

Ferguson, GOP submit supplemental budgets

OLYMPIA — Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has released his proposed supplemental budget for the upcoming legislative session which is set to start Jan. 12. The governor submits his proposal and the legislature sets their own priorities as a budget is worked out. “I’m providing a road map to the legislature,” Ferguson said during a Tuesday press conference. “This is, of course, the first step in a conversation about how best to balance our budget. Legislators will, of course, have their own ideas, and obviously, I've had conversations with leadership in recent weeks regarding my proposed budget. I'm looking forward to continuing to work with them and all members, of course, of the legislature as this proposed budget moves over to the legislative branch.”

WSP warns of scams in wake of trooper's death

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Patrol is asking the public to respect the family’s privacy and to be mindful of potential scams after Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting was killed in a roadside accident near Tacoma Friday. “Though we are grateful for the intended kindness and support, the Washington State Patrol does not accept monetary donations from the public,” said WSP Director of Public Affairs in a statement released Tuesday.

Basin nonprofit CEO appointed to WA Board of Education

OLYMPIA — Sue Kane, CEO of the NCW Tech Alliance, has been appointed to the Washington State Board of Education, Position 1, according to an announcement from the SBA. Kane lives in East Wenatchee and runs NCW Tech Alliance with offices throughout North Central Washington, including Moses Lake.

MLSD, MLEA address school day, finances during final meeting of 2025

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District Board of Directors held its final meeting of 2025 Thursday. During the meeting, both the Moses Lake Education Association and district administration discussed the ongoing concern of school day length.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: In appreciation of educators ...

An experience I recently had with a school district, quite honestly, has left me gob-smacked a bit. I am in awe of the teachers and administrators at school districts throughout the region and what they have to deal with. Let me get back to the beginning, though. Journalists often cover a wide variety of topics and are constantly looking for ideas for stories that will matter to readers. As such, when we hear of events of interest, we sometimes ask to attend so we can either cover it, or, as in this case, learn how to cover a topic better.

Awareness helps prevent porch pirates’ success

EPHRATA — At least 58 million packages were stolen in the U.S. last year, with about 25% of Americans being the victims of theft, according to the United States Parcel Service. At the local level, there are thefts occurring regularly as well, but that doesn’t mean that you’re stuck being the victim, authorities say. “The experience of the Grant County Sheriff’s Office is that package theft happens regularly,” said GCSO Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman. “It is a crime of opportunity. When someone’s out looking to try and make a quick buck, they may drive through a neighborhood looking for unattended packages on the front porch.”

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.

‘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.

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.

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.