R. HANS MILLER
Managing Editor Rob Miller is a 4-year U.S. Army veteran who grew up in Western Montana in a community about the size of Soap Lake. An honors graduate of Texas State University, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Brandee, and their three dogs, Draco, Pepper and Cinnamon. He has one son, William. During his free time, he enjoys photography, video games, reading and working on the house he and his wife bought in Ephrata. He is passionate about the First Amendment and educating communities.
Recent Stories
Hospital foundation-farm cooperation helps children learn, play
EPHRATA – Children played under a tree near a swing at Cloudview Farm in Ephrata Wednesday morning after picking radishes that morning and learning about pond ecosystems earlier in the week. They’re participating in Lil’ Sprouts, a camp hosted by the farm and funded this year by grant money through the Columbia Basin Hospital Wellness Foundation.
Ephrata High FBLA to compete nationally
EPHRATA – Several Tigers are headed to Florida. Not the four-legged kind, but the kind that have a fascination with professionalism and wander the halls of Ephrata High School. Ephrata High Future Business Leaders of America club advisor and EHS media teacher Ryan Shannon said he’s very proud of this year’s FBLA team.
Family fun set for Neppel Landing this weekend
MOSES LAKE – To further support their members with shops adjacent to Neppel Park and to just simply have the community out for a good time, the Moses Lake Downtown Association is having a family picnic day at the park this Saturday.
Sentenced defendant thankful for arrest
Long-term opiate addiction led to poor choices, woman says
EPHRATA – Melissa Shelby Mattingly, 48, of Moses Lake was sentenced after entering guilty pleas on six felony charges – and thanked the court for compassion and said that her arrest was a blessing. “I think my arrest probably saved my life, and although I am facing an exorbitant amount of time away from my children and my parents, I know that I am lucky to still have my life, and I hope that I can at least use my experiences to let other people know that this is the result of fentanyl,” Mattingly said prior to sentencing.
Fuhr retires as city manager after resigning from MLSD Board
MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake City Manager Kevin Fuhr has decided to retire as of June 30, citing health reasons, according to a press release from the city of Moses Lake. He also recently resigned from his post on the Moses Lake School District Board of Directors for the same reason.
FIRE REPORT: MLFD sees busy weekend, Soap Lake-area fire shuts down Hwy. 28
MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake Fire Department staff said the weekend was busy on both the fire and medical side over the past few days. Grant County Fire District 7 also responded to a fire that forced Highway 28 to close for a time Sunday.
Sessler discusses priorities if elected to Congress
PROSSER – Jerrod Sessler, a Republican from Prosser, is running for the U.S. Congress against incumbent Dan Newhouse, R–Wash., and Tiffany Smiley, among others. Sessler said he feels he is a unique candidate.
Fuhr resigns from MLSD board, cites health
MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District announced that Moses Lake School Board Member Kevin Fuhr has resigned from the board, citing health concerns, as of Friday.
One arrested in sexual assault incident at Samaritan
MOSES LAKE – Mitchell Jones, 37, of Cashmere, Washington was arrested Thursday after witnesses said he had assaulted an unconscious 29-year-old female patient at Samaritan Hospital, according to a Moses Lake Police Department press release.
2 Central Washington day trips for photography, nature lovers
EPHRATA – Since moving back to the Pacific Northwest, my wife and I have rekindled our love of photography and have regularly made it a point to go on various adventures in and around the Columbia Basin to play with our cameras and explore.
Bluebird Boutique now open in Ephrata
EPHRATA – When you walk into The Bluebird Boutique in downtown Ephrata, the variety of products offered is immediately apparent. Shop owner BreAnna Bridges said that’s because it’s a reflection of her own tastes and several vendors she works with and everyone brings something unique into the mix.
MLSD seeks help to provide extracurriculars in ‘24-25 school year
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District hosted a meeting Monday night to get community members’ input on how the district might fund sports and other extracurricular activities given the school district’s financial situation.
Law enforcement prioritizing safety after pursuit restrictions lift
EPHRATA – As of June 6, Initiative 2113 took effect and walked back restrictions on when law enforcement can pursue suspects that were set by legislation passed in Olympia in 2021. The initiative allows broader officer discretion and local and state authorities say they’ve updated policies to reflect the new law.
Phone scammers still prevalent, but can be stopped
EPHRATA – Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete said his staff received at least six calls on June 5 alone from area residents saying someone had called posing as a deputy and demanding they deposit money into an account to avoid being arrested. Those calls, he said, are scams.
‘Old Ephrata’ spirit
Live music, family fun highlights of Sage-N-Sun 2024
EPHRATA – The annual Sage-N-Sun festival for 2024 featured a lot of music, a lot of food and a lot of people enjoying an outing on the Grant County Courthouse lawn Thursday, Friday and Saturday. “I was just very excited that we had such good music,” Ephrata Chamber of Commerce Board President Jenni Bates said after the event.
Miller to take the reins at Ephrata High
EPHRATA — The Ephrata School District has selected Ashlie Miller to take over as principal of Ephrata High School after Aaron Cummings, her predecessor, was selected to take on the assistant superintendent role for the Ephrata School District. “I just want you to know, we're ecstatic to have (her) join our team. She's going to push us with some innovative thinking, innovative ideas, and Ephrata is better off because Ashlie is joining us and we're just super, super excited to have her,” said Ken Murray, incoming superintendent for Ephrata schools. Miller, who will be the first female principal at EHS, said she was excited to make the move from Dallas, Oregon – just west of Salem – to Ephrata. The move is a solid fit for her, she said, because she enjoys working in smaller school districts and at the high school level so that she can have deeper interactions with students. High schoolers have a different level of academic thought and social experiences, and that appeals to her.
Faith, accomplishment, contributing themes for MLCA graduation
MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake Christian Academy celebrated its four-person graduating Class of 2024 Saturday with pomp, circumstance and prayer as Dennis Fountain, Caleb Jones, Maria Lynch and Jonah Robertson walked across the stage to collect their diplomas.
Eagles encouraged to reach for their dreams
SOAP LAKE – The gymnasium was decked out with school colors and balloons, and filled with excited graduates, their families, and community members as the Soap Lake High School Class of 2024 received their diplomas. Valedictorian Anthony Beregovoy stood tall as he encouraged his classmates to reach for their dreams.
Tigers walk with a little something extra
EPHRATA – The Class of 2024 Tigers walked onto the field to graduate with a bit more pizzazz than some other graduating classes. Backflips, leg sweeps, “proposals,” tons of confetti cannons and even some heavy metal devil horns marked the opening of the ceremony that celebrated Ephrata High School’s most recent graduates. “Today marks a monumental moment in our lives as we gather here to celebrate years of hard work, dedication and learning,” said opening speaker Harper Grizzel. “Thank you for being a part of our journey, for standing by us through the highs and lows and for making this day even more special with your presence.”
2024 Cougars seek to make a positive impact
WARDEN – On a verdant lawn with families, friends, teachers and hundreds of other community members out to celebrate with them, the Warden Cougars graduating class walked the stage on Friday. Warden High School Principal Katie Phipps started the ceremony on a high note. “You are prepared, you can conquer all of the firsts life will throw at you. Your future is bright. Your future holds endless possibilities. Your future is yours for the taking,” she said.
Cougs walk in Warden
WARDEN – The sun was bright and the field was green as the Warden Cougars celebrated this year’s graduates. Dozens of students walked onto the stage at the field beneath Warden High School.
Sheriff urges safe driving as summer fun begins
EPHRATA – Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete has something he wants to say to the people of the Columbia Basin – slow down. “I’ve been working collisions for a long time in Grant County and the top factors that we have in our collisions that we investigate are speed, inattention and alcohol,” Kriete said. “And it’s not necessarily in that order, because it does change. And of those things, the only thing that’s really measurable for us is speed, and if we can address the speed issue that we have, then that’s a big win for us.”
Lions show pride, faith in MLCA grad ceremony
MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Christian Academy Class of 2024 may not have been large – four now-former students walked the stage – but it made a loud roar.
Eagles soar into the future as grads are celebrated in Soap Lake
SOAP LAKE – The gymnasium at Soap Lake Middle and High School was full of students, community members, family and friends of grads, and the graduates themselves on a sunny June 1 afternoon.
COLUMN: The ups and weirds of home ownership
EPHRATA – In February of 2022 my wife and I embarked on a new adventure – home ownership. Prior to marrying my wife, I’d never really been interested in home ownership. I liked having all the maintenance be the landlord’s responsibility to manage and I usually lived in apartment complexes with amenities like pools, gyms and hot tubs.
Soap Lake Community and Senior Center looks to be community hub
SOAP LAKE – Perry McClellan wants the Soap Lake Community Center to be a place where people gather to enjoy events and time with one another. McClellan, who serves as the center’s director, said he’s aware that there aren’t enough seniors participating in events at the center to really utilize the facility to its full potential. As a result, he and his team of volunteers are working to make sure that the community knows everyone is welcome to walk through the nonprofit’s doors and enjoy time with neighbors from around the area.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Let’s stand together
The Moses Lake School District is facing some challenges. They’re not the only district in our area to have some difficulties. The Wahluke, Soap Lake, Quincy and other districts in the area are facing challenges too.
Senior Picnic celebrating 10 years of fun
MOSES LAKE – The venue is booked. The menu is prepared. The band is scheduled. It must be time for another Senior Picnic at the Grant County Fairgrounds. This year sees the annual event celebrating a decade of fun for the Columbia Basin Senior Forum’s signature event, said Karisti Cox, chairperson for the event.
Ephrata celebrates Class of '24
EPHRATA – Tigers roamed marched in line down the central aisle to show off and collect high school diplomas Friday evening at 7 p.m.
Fire prompts evacuation on north end of Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Sheriff’s Office has put out an advisory of a Level 3 evacuation associated with a wildfire in the intersection of Road 6.6 NE and Road E.5 NE in the area near the shore of Moses Lake.
Ephrata Class of ‘54 gathers for reunion, scholarship ceremony
EPHRATA – This year’s class of graduates includes 277 students at Ephrata High School. In 1954, that number was only 66 or so, said Gary Osborn, a representative for the class.
Tigers to walk the stage Friday
EPHRATA – Ephrata High School’s Class of 2024 will celebrate graduation at Kiwanis Field at 7 p.m. this Friday, per Ephrata School District staff.
The Basin honors its heroes for Memorial Day
SOAP LAKE, EPHRATA, QUINCY – Community members gathered at Valley View Memorial Park, the Ephrata Cemetery and Quincy Valley Cemetery on Monday to honor those who have served the U.S. and preserved its way of life. “Veterans made a promise to defend our country with their life if necessary. It is up to the living to ensure their promise is remembered,” said American Legion Art Semro Post 28 Commander Mike Montaney during the Ephrata event.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Honor and hope
I had the privilege of attending three Memorial Day events Monday wherein area residents visited the cemeteries in Soap Lake, Ephrata and Quincy to honor those who served our country and are no longer with us. Some of those soldiers died in combat or in the course of military service away from the front lines. The lifestyle associated with putting on a uniform isn’t easy and there are all sorts of reasons we lose those in the service. Training accidents, helicopter crashes and way too many more. All too often these days, it isn’t the bullet of an enemy that takes down a service member or veteran – it’s mental health issues related to the things people have seen and done in service to our great nation. I spoke with one veteran at the Ephrata event who said he’s lost 11 of his brothers and sisters in arms to suicide after getting out of the military.
Beverly wildfire prompts evac notice
BEVERLY – The Grant County Sheriff’s Office has reported a wildfire of more than 10 acres. An evacuation order has been issued in Beverly from A Street to Morrison Street to the Columbia River. Those not in the immediate evacuation zone but nearby in the town of Beverly should be ready to evacuate for their safety. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
MLSD budget woes continue
District may borrow from capital fund to make payroll
MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District has found another issue as it works to untangle accounting and budget errors that have put the district in a financial chokehold. Board members, administrators and staff from Education Services District 171 are prioritizing getting a clear picture of the district’s finances and dealing with 2023-34 school year challenges before tackling the 2024-25 budget.
Grant Co. first responders recover remains near Crescent Bar
CRESCENT BAR – Grant County first responders have recovered a body from a vehicle near Ancient Lakes Road, Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman said Saturday shortly before 8 p.m.
MLSD board approves layoffs after levy failure, accounting issues
Notices will be provided to employees in the coming weeks, program cuts expected as well.
MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District Board of Directors voted in a special meeting Saturday to move forward with a resolution to authorize needed budget cuts after the district’s maintenance and operations levy failed on the ballot for the second time this year. More than 100 staff, including teachers and staff, are expected to lose their jobs after the levy failure.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Your vote matters, and here's why
I recently met with a Moses Lake School District official who made a good point. If all of the employees with MLSD had voted in favor of the maintenance and operations levy, the levy would have passed with ease.
Opening WA Trust
Washington Trust Bank’s new location on Basin Street in Ephrata will have its official grand opening May 23 at 11 a.m. A ribbon cutting will be held by the Ephrata Chamber of Commerce and the public is welcome to stop by and see the new branch.
Compression brake use limited in Ephrata
EPHRATA – The Ephrata City Council has approved an ordinance restricting the use of non-muffled compression brakes within city limits. The move comes after a resident expressed concerns about noise associated with compression brakes.
Ephrata Sports Complex building burns, likely arson
EPHRATA – The concessions building at the Ephrata Sports Complex located behind the Ephrata Fire Department on A Street SE is a total loss after a Tuesday evening fire that started in a port-a-potty located next to the building. Authorities say the cause is likely arson.
Swatting incident caused by false active shooter report in Ephrata
EPHRATA – A report of an active shooter at the Ephrata Walmart was false according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office and was the result of swatting – a practice of reporting a fake emergency to authorities to get a reaction, often to harass those at the location the false incident was reported to have occurred.
UPDATED: MLPD officer, suspect injured in Motel 6 shooting
MOSES LAKE – Zachary Allen Stockton, 37 of Moses Lake was arrested after an officer involved shooting at the Motel 6 at 2822 W. Driggs Drive in Moses Lake Saturday at about 8:20 p.m.
Local Boeing firefighters locked out pending contract negotiations
MOSES LAKE – Boeing firefighters began picketing at the Moses Lake Boeing facility on Tyndall Road NE on Saturday. Their contract with the aircraft manufacturer expired at 12:01 a.m. that morning.
Sheriff: Domestic violence an increasing problem in Grant Co.
EPHRATA – Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete said last week that domestic violence continues to be an issue in Grant County with the number of calls year-over-year increasing for aid in domestic violence situations. He said the growth may be proportionate as the county’s population grows, but the growing numbers are still cause for concern.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Vetting national and regional news
MOSES LAKE — Today’s media landscape often looks like a big bowl of spaghetti tossed against a wall already splattered with curry, leftover taco meat and gummy worms. It ain’t pretty, and it’s not always easy to decide, especially for national and global news, where to get information.
UPDATED: Spokane SWAT, MLPD, partners conduct joint raid in Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE – Spokane SWAT officers, Moses Lake Police Department officers and other law enforcement agencies conducted a raid on the old EconoLodge location at 316 S. Pioneer Way in Moses Lake at about 3 p.m. Friday afternoon.
New Ephrata Schools leaders share working vision
EPHRATA – As the 2023-24 school year winds down to a close, newly-selected Ephrata School District Superintendent Ken Murray and his soon-to-be Assistant Superintendent Aaron Cummings said they’ll be focused on being purpose-driven and detailed in their approach to running the district together.
Fire prep event set for May 8 in Desert Aire
DESERT AIRE – Grant County Fire District 8 and its community partners will host a kickoff meeting for Desert Aire’s Wildfire Ready Neighbors program.