SAM FLETCHER
Staff Writer
Recent Stories
Shooting at Moses Lake fuel station leaves one injured
Moses Lake Police are investigating a shooting at the Conoco gas station at 1725 Kittelson Road at approximately 7 a.m.
Growing a neighborhood: Hayden Homes in second phase of Sagecrest development
Hayden Homes' most recent homes in the Moses Lake area are in the Sagecrest development along Cove West Drive, near Blue Heron Park and the lake.
Ephrata vaccination event broadens eligibility
Ephrata’s mass vaccination event on Friday at the Ephrata Municipal Airport, 1990 E. Division Ave., will movie into Tier 3 1B and Tier 4 1B eligibility phases five days ahead of schedule.
County COVID-19 numbers slightly up
While the past six months have generally shown a slow decline in the COVID-19 incidence rate, according to Grant County Health District data, the past week has shown another rise, from 168 infected people on March 15 to 215 on March 22.
Quincy fire displaces three families
A fire damaged a four-unit apartment building Monday night in Quincy, displacing three families. No injuries were reported.
Lessons learned: Ephrata teacher picked a tough year to begin her career
When Ephrata resident Vanessa Mofford imagined starting her teaching career, she anticipated some on-the-job training.
Remove studded tires soon to avoid a fine
Washington’s March 31 studded tire removal deadline is approaching.
Lost man rescued with drone outside Hartline
The Grant County Sheriff’s Office, and Hartline and Almira fire department volunteers, rescued a Hartline resident around 4 a.m. Monday using a drone.
Ephrata businesses inch back to normal
Like many Washington businesses, those in downtown Ephrata are ready for Phase 3.
Motor Meetup: Car enthusiasts show off their rides
It was a sort of makeshift museum.
A quiet year for cranes: Festival goes virtual, but the birds show up
The Othello Sandhill Crane Festival, mostly Friday and Saturday, looked a bit different this year, without its guided bus, boat and hike tours, wine and food samples, live art showing at The Old Hotel Art Gallery and more than 40 speakers at the Othello High School.
Grant County Sheriff’s Office K-9 receives body armor
Another local dog is protected thanks to a nonprofit on the east coast.
A path forward: Moses Lake residents make transition to stable housing
The Open Doors Sleep Center opened in December. They arrived January 20 and had a home four days later.
Grant, Adams counties play waiting game on vacant landfill
Grant and Adams counties plan for more trash as the population grows, but owners of a 23-year-old empty landfill have no timeline for opening. They are, however, “looking ahead.”
Moses Lake police search for robbery suspects
Moses Lake police are looking for two robbery suspects.
Back to the bazaar: Moses Lake Grange craft market ends hiatus
The year-long community market hiatus ended Saturday when about 10 vendors set up shop in the Moses Lake Grange #1151 for a by-the-community, for-the-community bazaar of knickknacks and crafts.
For the kids: Moses Lake moves forward with new recreation center funding plan
The Moses Lake City Council approved, with two 7-0 votes, the funding plan and contractors for the Larson Recreation Center, moving forward with the new facility in the 600 block of Yakima Avenue.
1,000 more vaccinations: Fairgrounds event brings county one step closer to beating COVID-19
About 1,000 people filtered through the vaccination clinic Saturday at the Grant County Fairgrounds to receive their first round of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot.
Moses Lake adopts budget for shoreline planning contract
The Moses Lake City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a new shoreline master program budget contract, which could make development guidelines clearer for lakefront property owners.
Harvest for Hunger food bank fundraiser kicks off
A group of orange-vested CHS SunBasin Growers staff, along with a T-Rex mascot, waved down cars Tuesday passing by the Cenex station at 1015 E. Broadway Ave. in Moses Lake to wash windows, offer water and soda and collect donations for CHS’s corporate-wide, national Harvest for Hunger fundraiser to put food and money into local food banks.
A cure for cabin fever: downtown market raises money and smiles
About 20 vendors and dozens of patrons filled the study hall at 108 W. Third Ave. in Moses Lake for a craft market and fundraiser.
Moses Lake tutoring center launches student voucher program
This Thursday, Hometown Studyhall owner Holly Rock will fully launch the sponsor-a-student program, in which businesses and individuals can fund a student’s extra learning.
More than a trophy: Quincy’s Youth Day of Fishing goes back to the basics
The Quincy Chamber of Commerce's annual Youth Day of Fishing trout derby, on the first Saturday of March, was COVID-cautious this year by stripping the accessories and keeping to the basics: a youth fishing day.
Sleep Center guest found dead Saturday
A 36-year-old guest at Open Doors Sleep Center was found dead Saturday morning, officials announced Monday.
Setting fire for frogs: Prescribed burn makes way for endangered amphibian
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s prescribed burn team met Tuesday morning, west of Moses Lake and south of Interstate 90, to burn 266 acres of tall grass and encroaching vegetation.
Liquor store fire investigation confirms robbery, arson
The investigation of the Jan. 30 structure fire at Moses Lake Liquor & Wine is ongoing, but Moses Lake police confirmed the cause as robbery and arson.
Virtual concert, real smiles: Moses Lake’s Brews and Tunes goes digital
Moses Lake’s annual Brews and Tunes event, Moses Lake Business Association’s festival of local breweries and bands, went virtual for the first time Saturday night, becoming Brews & Tune-IN.
Quincy Valley Historical Society & Museum: Normal opening, odd year
The state moved into Phase 2 in time for a "normal" March opening at the Quincy Valley Historical Society & Museum. But this year will be anything but normal.
Off to the races: Moses Lake hosts first Columbia Basin Kart Fest
Racers who entered Saturday’s Columbia Basin Kart Fest could hear roaring engines from the Grant County Fairgrounds' gravel lot.
Moses Lake City Council approves Sagecrest Developer agreement
Moses Lake City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the Sagecrest Developer Agreement, in which Hayden Homes will be reimbursed by the city for certain improvements.
City, HopeSource, El Rancho prepare for shelter transition
The purchase will be finalized within four weeks, said Moses Lake Housing & Grants Coordinator Taylor Burton.
Officials: Moses Lake Sleep Center a success
Just more than two months since its opening, Moses Lake’s Sleep Center is seeing success, officials said.
Council makes exception for Sleep Center
In a unanimous decision, the Moses Lake City Council on Tuesday approved Ordinance 2969, which states the Sleep Center on the intersection of East Broadway Avenue and state Route 17 would be allowed in the Commercial 2 zone as lodging.
Grant County residents urge commissioners to keep disposal dropboxes open
When Grant County commissioners had a virtual public comment hearing Tuesday, residents almost unanimously urged to keep Mattawa and Coulee City’s disposal dropboxes open, but officials aren't sure how to pay for them.
Harvest of Hope: Local organizations bring awareness to child abuse through Elizabeth Smart event
Partnering with the Columbia Basin Foundation, New Hope/Kids Hope, at 311 W. Third Ave., is opening the door to sponsorships for its Harvest of Hope event in October, where child safety activist Elizabeth Smart will share her story of triumph.
Moses Lake City Council approves funding plan for new shelter
In a 6-1 vote, the Moses Lake City Council adopted the city homeless committee’s funding plan for the enhanced shelter Tuesday, moving forward with El Rancho Motel location.
Roller coaster to recovery: Local pygmy rabbit effort shows alarming numbers
Ten years since the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife began reintroducing these rabbits into the wild, the most recent effort, which began in 2011, is dominated by booms and busts, said WDFW biologist Jon Gallie.
Polar Bear Camp ends youth baseball hiatus
The Moses Lake Youth Baseball Association sold out both sessions Saturday of their 2021 Polar Bear Camp, a pre-season training to teach kids ages 6-14 the fundamentals of baseball.
Moses Lake homeless committee hopes to move forward with new shelter
In preparation for the city council meeting Tuesday, city officials spoke with the Moses Lake School District to make an agreement on the tentative upgraded homeless shelter, which would be at El Rancho Motel.
‘All I know’: Reflections from a nurse who started his career mid-pandemic
Tracy joined Samaritan’s team, working primarily on the medical, surgical and intensive care unit floors, fresh out of Big Bend Community College’s nursing program, in July 2020. Four months into a global pandemic.
Shooting suspect arrested in Moses Lake
Moses Lake police arrested a man Tuesday suspected of shooting another man Saturday night.
Spring Market prevails at fairgrounds
The Moses Lake Farmers Market board was worried the annual Spring Market wouldn't happen right up until the day of the event.
Basin business owners, community members discuss moving to Phase 2
Business owners and community members began adjusting Monday to opportunities available since Washington state transitioned into Phase 2.
Stay-at-home Valentine's: Moses Lake Mom throws at-home elementary school party
On the long list of events slashed in the name of COVID-19 were many elementary school Valentine’s Day parties.
New in Royal City: Orchard View enters Phase 2 of development
Orchard View, a 30-lot housing development by CAD Homes LLC, just started construction on its second phase.
School district opposes shelter plan; council balks at funding to acquire motel
In a 4-3 decision, the council voted no to a proposed funding package for acquiring El Rancho Motel on S. Pioneer St. to convert it to an enhanced shelter to expand the number of beds available within the community.
Right on point: Columbia Basin Pointing Labrador Club holds first training day
Columbia Basin Pointing Labrador Club holds first training day
Training days are just as much for people as they are for dogs, said Doreen Oakes, president of the Columbia Basin Pointing Labrador Club.
12th Annual Country Sweethearts Benefit Auction goes virtual
The Grant County Cancer Foundation’s donors were spread far and wide Saturday night, as the 12th Annual Country Sweetheart Benefit Auction went virtual for the first time.
Moses Lake community leaders provide toolkits to fight pandemic blues
Until Feb. 24, the Moses Lake Community Coalition and Larson Heights Elementary School are passing out “PAX Kits” to kids and parents to better cope with their feelings during the pandemic.
The sun is setting on the Grant County Landfill
The Grant County Landfill is predicted to be at capacity by 2032, causing public works employees to scramble for a plan.