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News Bites for Feb. 13, 2024
News Bites for Feb. 13, 2024
Public comment sought on proposed gray wolf change
OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will accept comments through May 6 on a proposal to change the state’s classification of gray wolf populations from endangered to sensitive. A briefing and public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for the March 15-16 meeting of the WDFW commission, according to a WDFW press release.
CWU to hold public quarterly meeting Thursday and Friday
ELLENSBURG — The Central Washington University Board of Trustees will hold its quarterly two-day meeting beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Wellington Event Center on the CWU campus, according to a Feb. 8 CWU announcement. The meeting is open to the public.
Basin weather for Feb. 12, 2024
Basin weather for Feb. 12, 2024
STUDIO BASIN: GCSO update, basketball action and swim & dive
EPHRATA – In this week’s episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Managing Editor R. Hans “Rob” Miller speaks with Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete regarding GCSO’s goals for the year. Highlights include recruitment efforts, two new K9 officers, an update to the development of the county jail and Kriete’s kudos to his staff. Next, Sports Reporter Ian Bivona and Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer break down basketball action at Ephrata, Royal and Almira/Coulee-Hartline, recap the district wrestling tournaments around the east side and discuss Moses Lake boys swim and dive team’s district title win.
Quincy man arrested for wire theft
MOSES LAKE — A Quincy man was arrested Thursday night for stealing wire from an irrigation circle, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
Law enforcement logs for Feb. 9, 2024
The reports below were provided by the sheriff’s office or police department indicated. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
McMorris Rodgers will not run for reelection
WASHINGTON D.C. – Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, announced Wednesday that she will not be running for reelection when her current term ends in early 2025. She said she feels grateful to serve the people of Eastern Washington during her time in office in a formal statement to the press.
Collision injures 1 near Mattawa
OTHELLO — A collision near Mattawa sent one driver to the hospital Thursday, according to a statement from the Washington State Patrol.
Legislative education
OLYMPIA – Ephrata School Board Student Representative Charles Flynn, left, State Representative Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, and Ephrata School Board Student Representative Kadie McMullen stop for a photo at the capitol in Olympia in late January. The two student board members joined various officials from the Ephrata School District in visiting the state capitol to discuss education priorities with Dent, Rep. Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, and Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake.
Ephrata School District forms committee to consider future bond options
EPHRATA – The Ephrata School District has announced the formation of a committee tasked with establishing a recommendation on the timing of the next Ephrata School District Bond, according to a Feb. 1 ESD announcement.
Honoring Indigenous
A year ago, the Wahluke School District announced that it would be allowed to keep the Warrior as its mascot after working with Wanapum leaders. Washington law required school districts to reach out to nearby tribes to obtain permission to keep Indigenous icons as mascots. The Wanapum found that the Warrior represents the entire community, not just the school district. Wahluke schools and the Wanapum have a longstanding relationship that fosters and appreciation for Native American culture and Wanapum artifacts are displayed in Wahluke campuses for educational purposes.
Ephrata’s Malone takes top honor in chess tourney
EPHRATA – For the third consecutive year, Hayden Malone, an Ephrata High School senior took home the top prize in the Waypoint Foundation Scholastic Chess Tournament, according to a statement from the Waypoint Foundation. The competition was held Saturday at Parkway Intermediate School in Ephrata.
Splash from the past
Scuttle (Emily Duvall), left; Flounder (Isaac Winter), center back; and Sebastian (Clark Dalton), right, do what they can to help bring Prince Eric (Taggart Hodges), left front and Ariel (Abigail Martinez), right front, find true love in the Quincy Valley Allied Arts production of “The Little Mermaid,” which was featured in the Columbia Basin Herald on Feb. 7, 2023.
Othello High temporarily locked down after social media threat, all safe
OTHELLO — A social media post prompted a lockdown at Othello High School Tuesday afternoon.
News bites for Feb. 6, 2024
News bites for Feb. 6, 2024
Senior events for February 2024
The Columbia Basin has a great deal to do regardless of age. Here are several that are senior-friendly and provide a chance to socialize with a variety of people.
Grant Co. seeks Board of Equalization applicants
EPHRATA — Grant County officials are looking for qualified applicants to fill two open seats on the county’s Board of Equalization.
Weather for the week of Feb. 5, 2024
Weather for the week of Feb. 5, 2024
Providence settles lawsuit over low-income patient billings
SEATTLE — Providence Healthcare, which operates Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, among others, must forgive more than $137 million in medical debt and refund more than $20 million to low-income patients, according to an announcement from Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson.
Police logs for Feb. 2, 2024
The reports below were provided by the sheriff’s office or police department indicated. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Erratics to discuss geology pioneer
WENATCHEE — The Wenatchee Valley Erratics Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute will host a talk on a pioneer in the geology of the Columbia Basin, according to an announcement from the organization.
NEWS BITES: Jan. 31, 2024
News Bites for January 31, 2024.
News Bites for Jan. 30, 2024
EPHRATA — An Ephrata man died Sunday night after a one-vehicle collision near Ephrata, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
Weather for the week of Jan. 29, 2024
Weather for the week of Jan. 29, 2024
STUDIO BASIN: QVMC starts framing, water meters and Basin wrestling
MOSES LAKE – On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN podcast, Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer and Staff Writer Joel Martin go over last week's headlines, including the city of Moses Lake budgeting a $1 million match to a grant towards water meters, a Wahluke school bus being involved in a collision and the Quincy Valley Medical Center reaching an important milestone in its construction.
Basin students make EWU Dean's List
CHENEY – According to a Tuesday announcement from Eastern Washington University, the college’s 2023 Fall Dean’s list has been released. An undergraduate student who earns 12 quality hours and receives a grade-point average of 3.5 or better is placed on the Dean's List, according to EWU’s website.
Locals make Gonzaga Dean’s List
SPOKANE – Five Grant County students made it onto Gonzaga University’s Fall 2023 Dean’s List, according to a Thursday announcement from the college. Students must earn a 3.5 to 3.84 grade-point average to be listed. The following names are listed by city and in alphabetical order.
Tickets for Cellarbration! for Education on sale
MOSES LAKE — Tickets are now on sale for Cellarbration for Education, the annual fundraiser for the Big Bend Community College Foundation. Cellarbration is scheduled for 5 p.m. March 16 in the ATEC building in the BBCC campus.
Chess tournament incoming
EPHRATA – The Waypoint Foundation Scholastic Chess Tournament is set for Saturday Feb. 3 at Parkway Intermediate School. The tournament is open to all students from kindergarten through high school seniors but participation is limited to 100 players. There is no fee for registration and cash prizes are awarded to all participants. The winner of the tourney will receive $500. A registration form may be found at: https://bit.ly/EPHCHESS
Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay nearly $150M to Washington for role in opioid epidemic
SEATTLE – Johnson & Johnson will pay nearly $150 million to Washington for its role in the opioid epidemic, the Washington State Office of Attorney General announced Tuesday.
Four-vehicle pileup blocks S.R. 26
ROYAL CITY — Two people were injured in a four-vehicle collision Monday afternoon near Royal City, according to a statement from the Washington State Patrol.
Quincy Jacks to move to Class 2A
QUINCY — The Quincy Jacks should be moving back to the Class 2A Central Washington Athletic Conference with the start of the 2024-25 school year. The Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association announced reclassifications Sunday.
Pets of the Basin: Furry friends up for adoption in Moses Lake and Othello
OTHELLO/MOSES LAKE — Adams County Pet Rescue and Grant County Animal Outreach both have dozens of dogs available for adoption, as well as a plethora of cats.
Weather for the week of Jan. 22, 2024
Weather for the week of Jan. 22, 2024
News Bites for Jan. 22, 2024
News Bites for Jan. 22, 2024
Weather for the week of Jan. 22, 2024
Weather for the week of Jan. 22, 2024
STUDIO BASIN: Honoring Mattawa PD Chief Robert Salinas, MACC upgrades and Basin basketball
MOSES LAKE — The Jan. 19 Studio Basin podcast opens on a somber note, reporting the death of Mattawa Police Department Chief Robert Salinas. Salinas passed away unexpectedly Jan. 16; he was remembered as “Chief Bob” by Mattawa residents.
Pro-life rally coming to Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE — A Pro-Life Rally has been organized to take place in Moses Lake Feb. 4, according to an announcement from the Knights of Columbus, which sponsors the event.
Frontier gym serves as temporary warming center during frigid weekend
MOSES LAKE — The city of Moses Lake and the Moses Lake School District joined forces over the weekend to protect unhoused people from the bitter cold, by opening the Frontier Middle School gym as a temporary warming center, according to a statement from the city.
Ephrata schools offering Child Find screenings
EPHRATA – The Ephrata School District announced on January 9 that screenings for developmental disabilities for youth up to the age of 21 are available through the Child Find program. Children can be screened to determine if an evaluation is necessary to identify any disabilities or developmental delays and if the child is eligible for special education services. Referrals may be made by sources within or outside of the school district and the service is free of cost. Anyone wanting a child to be screened should call the Child Find program at 509-754-3538 to make an appointment.
Eleven Ephrata High staff recognized for life-saving actions
EPHRATA – Eleven Ephrata High School staff were recognized in early January for their response to a life-threatening medical event suffered by a fellow staff member who was not named by the district. Officials credited EHS nurse Pam Cleveringa with training staff with the skills that saved the staff member’s life.
Othello second grader recognized for food drive efforts
OTHELLO — A Wahitis Elementary second grader received an Othello School District challenge coin for his efforts to collect food for the annual Othello Christmas Basket project.
WSU to co-host SoilCon24 in February
PULLMAN – Washington State University will be assisting in hosting SoilCon this year, a free resource for agricultural professionals to learn science-based soil health information.
NEWS BITES for January 16, 2024
NEWS BITES for January 16, 2024
Weather for the week of Jan. 15, 2024
Weather for the week of Jan. 15, 2024
News Bites for Jan. 15, 2024
News Bites for Jan. 15, 2024
STUDIO BASIN: Soap Lake School District with Superintendent Chavez and Basin wrestling
MOSES LAKE – On this week's episode of the STUDIO BASIN podcast, Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is joined by Aaron Chavez, the superintendent of the Soap Lake School District, who has been on the job since July 2023. He discusses his impressions of the school district, challenges and opportunities in Soap Lake, and the Soap Lake educational programs and operations levy that will be on the Feb. 13 ballot.
Basin events for Jan. 13-19
It’s cold, but that doesn’t mean there’s no options for a bit of fun in the Columbia Basin.
Othello drug dealer sentenced to more than six years
SPOKANE – Jaime Alberta Garza, 52, of Othello has been sentenced after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distributed fentanyl. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed a sentence of 78 months – about six and a half years – in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, according to a press release from the office of Vanessa Waldref, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.