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
Ephrata passes $40.6M city budget
EPHRATA – The Ephrata City Council passed the city’s budget during its December 6 meeting. The budget includes a 3% cost of living increase for city staff and increases in insurance expenditures, while city revenues have also increased in some areas.
Dent talks 2024 legislative session
MOSES LAKE – State Representative Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, said his focuses for the 2024 state legislative session are children and fire protection. Some may be easier to establish, but he said he’s committed to working on them.
‘A good spot for us’
TR Reapers at home near Othello
OTHELLO — Titus Bowser of TR Reapers says Adams County has become a home for him, his family and the business they run. “It’s nice,” he said. “When we were looking to move from Ellensburg, (Adams County) was pretty central to a lot of our work. … It seemed like a good spot for us.”
Gift giveaway scheduled for Christmas
EPHRATA – Our Redeemer Presbyterian Church at 172 Ivy Street SE in Ephrata will host His Helping Hands for a Christmas Day lunch and gift giveaway on Christmas from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Ephrata schools defeasing bonds due to inflation
EPHRATA – The Ephrata School District is moving forward with the process to defease a nearly $28 million bond approved by voters in 2019, said Superintendent Tim Payne in a Monday morning interview. “Where we’re at in the process is the board had a hearing,” Payne said. “You have sort of changed the bond away from its intended purpose, (so) you have to go through the same process (as the initial approval) whether you’re defeasing or you’re gonna say, ‘Gosh, we couldn’t build that building now.’”
Nest Property Solutions officially open in Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE — Blake Rollins and Kaylee Rollins cut the ribbon on their co-owned business, Nest Property Solutions at 1000 S. Pioneer Way in Moses Lake on Wednesday. Blake serves as the business’s broker while Kaylee takes care of things on the administrative side. The company provides a variety of property management services to the region and welcome potential clients to contact them at 509-350-4441.
Supporting local: Grant County Tourism Commission works to bring visitors while supporting area businesses
EPHRATA – Grant County has a lot to offer travelers, whether they’re passing through or coming for a show at The Gorge Amphitheatre or maybe spending a weekend at a bed and breakfast by the Columbia River – but it takes work to get the word out about the attractions in the county. That’s what the Grant County Tourism Commission is for though. “Fundamentally, when you break it down, we utilize funding from LTAC, which is the Lodging Tax Advisory (Committee), and we take the revenue generated from tourism – all the people that travel to our county and spend money staying in hotels and campgrounds and RV sites – and we use that to promote the entire county,” said Tourism Commission Chair Amanda Laramore.
Calm before the fun
Cloudview Farm spending the winter to prep for busy 2024
EPHRATA – Growing season may be done at Cloudview Farm but the ag attraction’s Education and Community Coordinator Julie Johnston and Operations Manager Anna Moore are hard at work prepping for another year of events at the Ephrata business.
Support group available for dementia patient caregivers
MOSES LAKE – Taking care of a family member with dementia issues, whether from Alzheimer’s Disease or some other medical issue, can be extraordinarily trying. For those in the area though, there is a support group available with people who know the trials of the situation, said Karisti Cox, community resources director for Summer Wood Alzheimer’s Special Care.
Cantwell cosponsors bipartisan bill to aid Indigenous communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) and Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) have introduced bipartisan legislation to improve tribal access to economic development programs available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to a joint press release from the legislators.
Tree of news
MOSES LAKE - The Columbia Basin Herald team is excited about the holidays and the Christmas tree is already up in the front office. We hope our readers are all surrounded by loved ones and filled with joy this holiday season.
Celebrating opportunities
Moses Lake city staff, officers gather to honor Fuhr on his retirement from law enforcement
MOSES LAKE — Dozens of people gathered in the Moses Lake City Council chamber Tuesday. Not for a boring meeting, but for a celebration of decades of public service on the part of former Moses Lake Police Chief – now City Manager – Kevin Fuhr, after his formal retirement from law enforcement. “I have worked with the most phenomenal people in my career,” Fuhr said. “I had told them right from the get-go that I was never going to leave, that I was going to retire with the Moses Lake PD. Actually, I think my comment was, ‘I’m going to die in a Moses Lake PD Uniform.’” After 32 years in law enforcement in both Washington and Idaho, Fuhr opted to fill the role of city manager after the city’s quest for a full-time replacement kept falling through as candidates took jobs in other locations.
Port of Ephrata sells PBY aircraft from 'Always'
EPHRATA – The PBY-5A Catalina that has sat for some time at the Port of Ephrata will be finding a new home after it was auctioned off by port officials at the request of the state, according to Port Director David Lanman. The aircraft is best-known for an appearance in the 1985 Steven Spielberg movie “Always.”
Basin Street Barbershop owner looks to become part of the community
EPHRATA – Cheryl Scott heard a lot of people saying they wanted an affordable, convenient haircut – and that’s what she set out to provide when she opened Basin Street Barber Shop this past July 15.
Ephrata Council recognizes Wreaths Across America Day
EPHRATA – The Ephrata City Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution recognizing December 16 as Wreaths Across America Day in the city.
GCSO, MLPD set for Tip-A-Cop in early Dec.
EPHRATA – The Grant County Sheriff’s Office and Moses Lake Police Department are partnering again this year with other local first responders for their Tip-A-Cop and Shop With a Cop events in December, Sheriff Joe Kriete said.
Supporting grass roots: CWU's Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship works to help build local economies
ELLENSBURG – The Central Washington University College of Business launched the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship – also known as I4IE – in 2021 using grant funding from the Herbert B. Jones Foundation and a mindset to help communities develop their economies. “Most communities in Washington state can use a partner in bringing resources together and partners together and stakeholders together towards economic development,” said I4IE Director Bill Provaznik.
Letter from the editor: Thoughts on Veterans Day
On May 5, 1996, I got on an airplane for the first time and went to Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
Ephrata approves parade, works on budget planning
EPHRATA — The Ephrata City Council approved a Veterans Day Parade and discussed budgeting during their Nov. 1 meeting, City Administrator Ray Towry said. They also examined property tax rates. “Council has just asked for the typical 1% (overall revenue) increase last night,” Towry said on Nov. 2. “Which is what you’re allotted, not counting new construction.” State law prohibits a higher increase and the rate set by the city will fall in line with those requirements, he said.
Prometheans help Ephrata teachers reach students
EPHRATA – Last year, the Ephrata School District received a grant of about $110,000 to ensure all of their classrooms were equipped with Promethean digital boards – the digital descendent of a chalkboard – and the training for staff to utilize them in the classroom.
Ephrata celebrates Halloween with displays, activities and – of course – candy
EPHRATA — Thousands showed up in downtown Ephrata Tuesday to celebrate Halloween. Ghouls, superheroes, Power Rangers and more showed up in a display we’re sure would have made both Vincent Price and Stan Lee proud.
Water, housing big topics for Moses Lake City Council candidates
MOSES LAKE — Four candidates for the Moses Lake City Council had an opportunity to make their positions clear at a candidate forum Oct. 24.
Moses Lake gets new city manager, police chief
MOSES LAKE – Now-former Moses Lake Police Chief Kevin Fuhr was appointed during this week’s city council meeting as permanent city manager. Subsequently, Captain David Sands has been tapped to take over as Moses Lake Police Department chief.
South Grant County forum set for Wednesday
MATTAWA – The South Grant County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a candidate and local agency forum Wednesday evening at Wahluke High School from 5-7 p.m.
GCSO on scene at Saturday evening Mae Valley collision
MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Sheriff’s Office and cooperating agencies have responded to a collision near the intersection of Road 4 NE and Road E NE near Mae Valley, according to GCSO Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman. The collision involved a passenger car and a semi. One occupant of the car likely has a fractured leg and has been taken to the hospital for treatment. GCSO expects to have the roadway cleared within 90 minutes and the road is not considered a major thoroughfare, so no emergency notification was sent out to the public via Nixle, Foreman said.
Early learning town hall set for Tuesday
The North Central Early Learning Coalition in cooperation with Catholic Charities, the North Central Education Service District and the apple STEM Network will host a town hall to discuss early childhood education Tuesday at CB Tech in Moses Lake.
GCAO adoption events coming
MOSES LAKE – Grant County Animal Outreach will be putting on pet adoption events at multiple Moses Lake locations in the next few weeks.
Port of Ephrata sees opportunities to help community thrive
EPHRATA – David Lanman, the new executive director at the Port of Ephrata said he’s hoping to take the port to new heights – literally in some respects. The port’s airstrip has traditionally served local groups, but he said he’s set a goal of making it a money-maker that helps Ephrata thrive.
Tigers homecoming nobility 2023
EPHRATA – The Ephrata Tigers celebrated Homecoming during halftime at last week’s gridiron match against the Grandview Greyhouds. See full coverage of the game in today’s sports section.
EDITORIAL: Paws for thought
Late in September, Adams County Pet Rescue announced that, without an influx of funding, it would need to shutter its doors and stop serving the people and pets of Adams County...
Soap Lake mayor under investigation for inappropriate conduct
SOAP LAKE — Soap Lake Mayor Michelle Agliano has taken a leave of absence from city administration after city staff made claims against her indicating that she had acted inappropriately and possibly illegally. “These things are all being investigated, I am on leave until after the election at which time I will comply with whatever the City Attorney (Julie Norton) has recommended to the (Soap Lake City) Council,” Agliano said in a written statement to the Columbia Basin Herald...
Pit stop
MOSES LAKE – Thousands of geese stopped for a rest in a field along Potato Hill Road NE on Monday as they worked on migrating south for the upcoming winter. Thank you to reader Theresa Campbell for calling in to let us know about Moses Lake’s feathered visitors.
Gesa staff volunteer locally during day of service
MOSES LAKE – Gesa Credit Union stepped out to help two local organizations on their annual day of service on Oct. 9. The regional banking organization closed its 28 branches and stepped out to help 31 community organizations statewide...
Drought impacts a dozen WA counties
UNION GAP – A dozen counties in Washington state on both sides of the Cascades are facing drought conditions this year, according to a drought declaration from the Department of Ecology, causing strains on agriculture and day-to-day living. “Statewide, May through August of this year for Washington state, the average statewide has been the ninth driest such period since 1895,” said Jeff Marti, statewide drought coordinator with the DoE. “And in terms of temperature, May through August of this year was the third warmest since 1895.” ...
Prize coverage
Columbia Basin Herald team brings home more than a dozen awards
KENNEWICK – This past weekend I had the privilege of going to the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s annual conference. While I was there, I found myself beaming a bit with pride as the team I am fortunate to work with was recognized for their hard work via WNPA’s Better Newspaper competition...
Ephrata addresses annexation, approves Homecoming festivities
EPHRATA – City Administrator Ray Towry said the city is moving forward with a variety of measures after last week’s city council meeting, including a request from property owners to annex a small piece of land at the request of a property owner with land that overflows the city’s border...
New Discovery in town
Discovery Cider Company set to open in Ephrata in early November
EPHRATA – A building on Basin Street will soon be home to a new business in Ephrata, the Discovery Cider Company. “So, initially, we opened a cidery on the west side, in Tacoma,” said Brennan James, who owns the cidery with his wife, Berlyn Sandstrom. “We opened it as Tin Hat Cider Company, and it started because I just liked cider.” ...
Ephrata cuts the ribbon for Columbia Ridge
EPHRATA – Community members and Ephrata School District officials stepped into Columbia Ridge Elementary’s newly renovated gym for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 28...
Grant officials host appreciation lunch for staff
EPHRATA – Elected officials from throughout Grant County were on hand to cook up and serve burgers, hot dogs and appreciation to county staff in front of the Grant County Courthouse Wednesday...
Q&A with Ephrata trustee candidates Mike Fleurkens and Jordan Hansen
EPHRATA – Two candidates are vying for a seat on the Ephrata School Board. Mike Fleurkens and Jordan Hansen made it past the primary over the summer...
Five arrested in drive-by investigation
MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake Police Department Interim Chief, Cpt. David Sands issued a statement Friday indicating four arrests have been made in the investigation of an Aug. 13 shooting that led to the death of Jeremy Flores, 36, of Moses Lake.
Honoring service
Art Semro Post Auxilliary and Legionnaires host ceremony honoring local, national heroes
EPHRATA — Dozens of residents, city officials and first responders showed up at the Grant County Courthouse in Ephrata on Monday to join the American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 28, and Legionnaires in remembering those lost on Sept. 11, 2001, and in the various conflicts and emergencies since that day...
Art and walk to raise Alzheimer’s awareness set for Friday, Saturday
MOSES LAKE – Area residents will be flexing their artistic talents and putting on their walking shoes to decorate for Colors of Hope, Friday, and the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday. “I did a little bit (of art) last year, and people really enjoyed that. They enjoyed having something to look at, and it was something for them. Specifically for them,” said Karisti Cox, who is organizing the event...
Wash. unions join in support of climate-friendly jobs
MOSES LAKE – Six Washington-based unions are teaming up to take advantage of Washington’s legislative environment and the need for workers to fill environmentally-friendly jobs created by that environment...
509-raised author up for regional award
SEATTLE — An Othello-raised writer and veteran now living in Seattle is a finalist in the annual Washington State Book Awards for his poetry collection, “We Had Our Reasons.” Ricardo Ruiz said he’s excited to have been recognized, especially early in his writing career. “It’s the first thing I have published,” Ruiz said. “... I left the Army in 2016 and went to Big Bend (Community College) and studied business. And then came to (the University of Washington) with the intent to study business, but ended up going and just following a whim and just being like, ‘I want to write poetry.’” Ruiz said that eventually led to him getting a book deal and having the book go well. Now, the first thing he’s published is up as a finalist for Book of the Year in the state. It’s been a bit of a hectic road to get where he’s at, he said.
Student to teacher
Columbia Ridge alum comes back to school to teach
EPHRATA — Tristyn Eldredge has come full circle in her journeys around Columbia Ridge Elementary School in Ephrata. She started there as a student, then came back as a paraprofessional and this year, she’s at the head of a fourth-grade classroom as a teacher. “One of the biggest things that I’m looking forward to is just giving back to the school that, you know, that shaped me into who I am,” Eldredge said. The path to becoming a teacher was a bit of a winding road, Eldredge said, with her initial goal being to study criminal justice and become a juvenile probation officer.
Clean buildings
State law requirements for facility efficiency approaching
REDMOND – The Washington Legislature passed the Clean Building Performance Standard in 2019, and operators of commercial buildings now have set deadlines to ensure their properties 50,000 square feet and larger are in compliance with the law. While there are penalties for noncompliance, Albireo Energy’s VP and General Manager Ivan Aron says it’s also a matter of getting a return on investment...
Grant Co. Hospital District 1 ballot to change after court decision
EPHRATA – Dr. Brandon Penix will be removed from the November 2023 ballot for Grant County Hospital District 1’s third district seat after a decision by Grant County Superior Court Judge Tyson Hill wherein Penix’s candidacy was examined. “The candidate must be eligible for the office at the time he files his declaration of candidacy. A person attempting to meet the residency requirements for the purpose of running for office cannot cure an invalid residency by moving to the location after filing a declaration for office,” Hill said when reading his decision to the sparsely filled courtroom...
Woman struck by train in Ephrata
EPHRATA — A 58-year-old woman suffered multiple injuries when she was struck by a train while trying to cross the tracks at the Ephrata Amtrak station shortly before 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Ephrata Police Chief Erik Koch said. “I heard that she had several fractures,” Koch said. “So, both legs, arm and a possible neck fracture.” ...
Ephrata boil advisory lifted
EPHRATA — The boil water advisory for the city of Ephrata was lifted shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday, Ephrata City Administrator Ray Towry said. The advisory had been issued because of some concerns with water pressure and backflow into the city’s water infrastructure. “We felt very confident the results would indicate there was no threat to the community based on the situation, and we think the state drinking water people felt the same way. That’s why it was an advisory boil and not a full-blown boil order. It was strictly a precautionary step,” said City Administrator Ray Towry...