STAFF REPORT

WalletHub releases top WA colleges and universities list

MOSES LAKE – Personal finance website WalletHub released Monday its 2024’s Best College & University Rankings report, as well as expert commentary and separate rankings for colleges and for universities, according to an announcement from WalletHub...

Othello Fall Clean Up coming Nov. 4

OTHELLO — Residents of Othello can dispose of their yard waste Nov. 4 at the city’s annual Fall Clean Up, according to an announcement from the city.

Soap Lake man sentenced to more than 22 years for production of child pornography

SPOKANE – On Oct. 11, U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Soap Lake resident Michael Gene Rice, 49, to 264 months and 27 days in federal prison for Production and Attempted Production of Child Pornography, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office...

Winking sun: Weather report for Monday, Oct. 16, 2023

Weather report for Monday, Oct. 16, 2023

STUDIO BASIN: A school district, elections and massive wins

MOSES LAKE – On this episode of the Studio Basin podcast, Wahluke School District Superintendent Andy Harlow joined Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer to talk about some of the challenges the district has faced and some of the things its administration and staff have done to meet them. Harlow is a veteran of more than 20 years in the district, and talked about how he came to Mattawa and the rewards of teaching in the district...

News Bites for Oct. 16, 2023

EPHRATA – The Grant County Sheriff’s Office and Grant County Coroner’s Office are looking into the death of a man found early Saturday in the middle of Sheep Canyon Road near Road E-NE north of Ephrata, according to a GCSO statement...

Furrever loveable

ACPR pets looking for a home with loving humans

OTHELLO – Adams County Pet Rescue, also commonly referred to as ACPR, recently put out a call for the public’s help in supporting their work to care for strays. As part of the Columbia Basin Herald’s efforts to support nonprofits in the community, we encourage families to consider adopting pets from ACPR and other shelters in the area with responsible pet care practices...

Moses Lake considering development impact fees

MOSES LAKE – The city of Moses Lake is asking the public to participate in the upcoming Oct. 24 Moses Lake City Council Meeting to provide input regarding impact fees that might fund fire protection infrastructure,” according to a press release from the city...

Royal City ag company honored

ROYAL CITY – NASBITE International recognized Royal City agricultural producer Cascade Milling as an Outstanding Exporter at the Seventh Annual National Small Business Exporter Summit Oct. 3, according to an announcement from Cascade Milling...

Grant County deputy prosecutor joins U.S. Attorney’s Office

SPOKANE — Grant County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Carlee Bittle has been named a special assistant U.S. attorney for Eastern Washington, according to an announcement from Grant County Prosecutor Kevin McCrae and U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref...

SCC releases honor roll for Summer 2023

SPOKANE – Spokane Community College announced their honor roll for the 2023 Summer quarter on Oct. 4. The list features 487 students who achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or above, according to the announcement...

Thursday bomb threat temporarily closes LRHS

RITZVILLE — A bomb threat closed down Lind-Ritzville High School Thursday, according to a statement from the Ritzville Police Department...

Author discusses new novel at Moses Lake lecture Wednesday

MOSES LAKE — Author Shirley Miller Kamada will discuss her novel detailing the challenges faced by a Japanese-American family forced to give up their home in a lecture at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, 401 S. Balsam St.

Fire Marshal’s Office announces 2023 Fire Prevention Week

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Fire Marshal's Office announced Monday that Governor Jay Inslee officially proclaimed Oct. 8 to Oct. 14 as 2023 Fire Prevention Week. According to the announcement, this year’s theme is cooking safety.

Weather for Monday, Oct. 9, 2023

Weather for Monday, Oct. 9, 2023

Local gridiron scores

Results of football competition through Friday.

MLHS senior honored for academic excellence

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District announced Sept. 28 that Damien Paluch has been recognized as a Commended Student in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program...

STUDIO BASIN: Education, opportunity, candy and solid sports performance

MOSES LAKE – On this episode of the Studio Basin podcast, Ephrata School District Superintendent Tim Payne stops by to talk about accomplishments at the district and how the district is working to ensure students and parents are successful. Payne and Managing Editor Rob Miller also discuss opportunities to build community and the economy in Ephrata and upcoming opportunities for parents and educators to learn better communication skills with youth...

State awarded federal grant for re-entry and employment services

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Employment Security Department and the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County will receive more than $6.2 million from a four-year federal grant called Partners for Reentry Opportunities in Workforce Development, according to an ESD announcement Wednesday...

GCSO seeks evading driver

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a Moses Lake man who led deputies on a chase Monday evening...

Arson burns home in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Authorities are seeking information about a residential fire in Moses Lake Tuesday morning, according to a statement from the city of Moses Lake.

Frito-Lay opens Community Builders Scholarship

PLANO, Texas – Frito-Lay announced Tuesday applications are open for the Frito-Lay Community Builders Scholarship, which will award four students $25,000 each to help further their higher education goals. The application submission deadline is Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. PST...

Semi burns at Moses Lake truck stop

MOSES LAKE — A semi-truck was destroyed by fire Tuesday afternoon in Moses Lake, according to a statement from the Moses Lake Fire Department...

ECBID rep speaks at Water Law conference

OTHELLO – The East Columbia Basin Irrigation District Development Coordinator Jon Erickson gave a presentation during the sixth annual Water Law in Central Washington conference Sept. 21 to 22 at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, according to an announcement from ECBID...

Man arrested in Mattawa shooting

MATTAWA — A 33-year-old man was arrested and booked on suspicion of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon following a shooting on Boundary Road in Mattawa the morning of Sept. 25...

Vocal quartet coming to Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Out in the music world, there are many – oh, so many – “boy bands,” groups of three or four or five impossibly good-looking young men who sing shallow lyrics and perform complicated dance moves while mugging for the camera.

Mennonite Country Auction coming Saturday

RITZVILLE — The quilts will be hung, the hymns will be sung and the cider will be pressed this weekend when Menno Mennonite Church holds its annual Mennonite Country Auction.This is the 45th year the church has held its traditional fall auction, according to the church’s website.

News bites for Oct. 3, 2023

EPHRATA — A Quincy man died Sunday evening in a motorcycle collision northwest of Ephrata, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Columbia Basin Community Calendar for October 2023

COLUMBIA BASIN - As the holidays approach, there’s plenty to do in the Columbia Basin to have fun, support good causes and learn. Here are just a sample of those events. To submit your event for possible publication, please visit www.columbiabasinherald.com, click on the EVENTS tab and select Create an Event. Free and premium listings are available.

Commerce awards $35.4M in energy infrastructure grants

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Commerce announced Wednesday it awarded $35.4 million in grants to local, state and tribal governments and non-profits to plan and install solar and battery backup power systems at community buildings ...

State awarded grant for community colleges

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges announced Monday that it and the Washington Student Achievement Council were awarded a one-year $50,000 Accelerated Study in Associate Programs planning grant...

Othello shooting suspect enters Alford plea, sentencing set for Nov. 13

RITZVILLE — An Othello man is scheduled for sentencing Nov. 13 in connection with a 2022 shooting that left a Quincy girl dead and an Othello girl injured...

Weather report for Monday, Sept. 25, 2023

Weather report for Monday, Sept. 25, 2023

Grant Co. Health District encourages vaccines as illnesses rise

MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Health District is encouraging area residents to ensure their COVID-19 vaccinations are up to date for the 2023-24 season citing increasing cases of COVID-19 and related hospitalizations, according to a Sept. 19 press release...

STUDIO BASIN: Ending Alzheimer’s and Basin football

MOSES LAKE – On this week's episode of the Studio Basin podcast, Karisti Cox with Summer Wood Alzheimer's Special Care Center stops into the STUDIO BASIN studio to talk about the recent Walk to End Alzheimer's with Managing Editor Rob Miller. While she's with us, she also talks about hope on the horizon for treatment of the disease and offers a few tips on how to help those facing Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia live better lives. Next, Sports Reporter Ian Bivona and Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer go over football games at Warden, MLCA/CCS and ACH, as well as the Soap Lake volleyball team's win over Cascade Christian. The Studio Basin podcast can be found on your favorite podcast apps, or downloaded directly at https://bit.ly/3rfIVsM.

WSU announces Murrow News Fellowship program manager

PULLMAN – The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication announced Monday the appointment of Jody Brannon as program manager for the new Murrow News Fellowship at Washington State Universit

Apprenticeship program gathering to be held Sept. 27

MOSES LAKE — Interested high school students and their families from throughout Grant County and North Central Washington are invited to learn about a new apprenticeship program at a Moses Lake business through a Youth Apprenticeship Information Night set for Sept. 27...

One arrested after alleged theft of WashDOT vehicle

RITZVILLE – The Adams County Sheriff’s Department announced that ACSO deputies had taken a male subject into custody after a lengthy highway pursuit...

New DOH dashboard tracks respiratory illness

OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Health has announced the debut of a new data dashboard tracking respiratory illnesses statewide. The new dashboard will include COVID-19 activity, and the old site that tracked only coronavirus data has been retired...

Exhibitors sought for NCESD college and career expos

WENATCHEE — Businesses in Grant, Okanogan, Douglas and Chelan counties are being encouraged to exhibit at a series of college and career fairs planned for the four counties in October and November...

Weather for Monday, Sept. 18, 2023

Weather for Monday, Sept. 18, 2023

Quincy town hall Monday to discuss regional parks district proposal

QUINCY — Quincy and George-area residents are invited to a town hall from 6 to 7 p.m. Sept 18 to ask questions and talk about the plans for the proposed Quincy Valley Regional Parks District. An open house to discuss the project is scheduled right before the town hall, from 5:30 to 6 p.m., both at Quincy City Hall, 104 B St. SW...

Community Foundation of NCW awards $1.3 million in scholarships

WENATCHEE — The Community Foundation of North Central Washington announced Monday it had awarded $1.3 million in scholarships to 214 students across North Central Washington, the largest amount awarded to date, according to the announcement...

Lodge Tax Advisory Committee grant applications due soon

GRANT COUNTY – The Grant County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee announced in a Tuesday press release the final date for grant applicants for qualifying tourism promotion for 2024 campaigns is nearing. ..

Community worship event set for Friday

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Ministerial Association will offer a united community worship Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Restore City Church, 2227 W Peninsula Drive, according to an announcement from the MLMA. Members of all churches are invited to lift up the name of Jesus, the announcement said. The goal is to unite the body of Christ through praise, worship and prayer. The event is hosted by Restore City Church, but organized by pastors and worship leaders from all over Grant County. Everyone is welcome regardless of what denomination or church they belong to. More information can be found by calling Davie Sawyer at 509-431-1947.

Housing Finance Commission names new chair

SEATTLE —Real estate and banking leader Nicole Bascomb-Green was recently appointed by Governor Jay Inslee as the new chair of the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, according to an announcement from the WSHFC...

King Gizzard to perform at the Gorge Amphitheatre

QUINCY – Rock band King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard will be performing at the Gorge Amphitheatre Sept. 14, 2024, according to a press release from the band...

News Bites for Sept. 13, 2023

CLE ELUM — Two pedestrians died after being struck by four vehicles on I-90 Sunday night, including a Washington State Patrol trooper, according to a statement from the WSP...

Vet’s resource and job fair set for Sept. 23

MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Board of County Commissioners announced in a Tuesday press release the Grant County Veterans Advisory Board is hosting the Annual Veteran Resource & Job Fair Sept. 23 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for all veterans and qualified dependents...

9-11 memorial to be held in Ephrata

EPHRATA – The American Legion Auxilliary, Unit 28, with assistance from the Legionnaires of the post will host a service at 5:30 p.m. Monday in remembrance of the state’s fallen heroes, according to a press release from the auxiliary...