STAFF REPORT

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...

Weather for Monday, Sept. 11, 2023

Weather for Monday, Sept. 11, 2023

Eviation announces intention to lease up to 50 electric commuter aircraft

ARLINGTON, Wash. – Eviation Aircraft announced Wednesday that Solyu, a leasing company based in Seoul, South Korea, has signed a letter of intent for 25 commuter Alice aircraft with options for 25 additional aircraft, according to a press release from Eviation...

News Bites for Sept. 6, 2023

News bites for Sept. 6, 2023.

NIAA leadership program applications and nominations open

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Institute for Animal Agriculture is now accepting nominations for the second cohort of the Advanced Training for Animal Agriculture Leaders program, according to an announcement from the organization. Nominations are due Nov. 15 by 11:59 p.m...

Second WA man sentenced for bomb construction

RICHLAND — A Washington man was sentenced to a year and a half in prison for plotting to make a bomb, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office...

Local veterinary meds clerk charged with unprofessional conduct

GRANT COUNTY – The Veterinary Board of Governors charged registered veterinary medication clerk Chase Kirk Sidwell with unprofessional conduct in June 2023, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Health...

Burglary suspect arrested after brief standoff

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man is in jail after a brief standoff Sunday, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office...

City manager forum postponed

Moses Lake Interim City Manager and Police Chief Kevin Fuhr issued a statement Monday indicating that a forum set for Wednesday to allow the public to meet candidates for the permanent city manager position has been postponed...

STUDIO BASIN: Truckin', pedalin' and passin' the ball

MOSES LAKE – On this week's episode of the Studio Basin Podcast, Sheri Call, president and CEO of the Washington Trucking Association joins Managing Editor Rob Miller to talk about the state of the trucking industry and efforts to recruit younger drivers into the field as the large Baby Boomer generation retires and Gen X and younger work to step in and fill the gap...

Power pole inspections scheduled

EPHRATA — Inspections of wooden power poles owned by the Grant County Public Utility District will begin Sept. 12 in Moses Lake, George and Soap Lake, according to a PUD press release...

Senior calendar and center directory for Sept. 2023

Below is a partial list of events that may be of interest to seniors in the Columbia Basin. To review more events, visit www.columbiabasinherald.com and click on the EVENTS link near the top of the page...

Grant County Fair ‘23 in review

A visual look back at the annual event’s 80th year of fun.

MOSES LAKE – Another year of the Grant County fair is come and gone, with victories, memories and maybe too much junk food eaten and beverages imbibed. Here’s a visual look back at this year’s Grant County Fair...

Stoke to test new project in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Stoke Space Technologies announced Wednesday it will begin testing its new vehicle in Moses Lake over the coming weeks...

Royal City man crashes car, drags self to get help

QUINCY - A Royal City man is hospitalized with life-threatening injuries following a single-car collision Tuesday morning near Quincy, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office...

SR 20 reopens west of Winthrop

WINTHROP — Washington Department of Transportation officials have reopened a section of State Route 20, the North Cascades Highway, which had been closed due to fires in the vicinity. The road was closed from Newhalem to the Silver Star Campground about 22 miles west of Winthrop, according to a DOT press release. It reopened Wednesday...

Okanogan River Bridge at Oroville to close for repairs

OROVILLE — The Highway 97 bridge across the Okanogan River south of Oroville will close for several weeks beginning Sept. 6. The bridge is located about a mile south of town...

BBCC alum to teach poetry class at NCW Libraries

MOSES LAKE – NCW Libraries will be hosting poet and Big Bend Community College graduate Ricardo Ruiz for a two hour mindful poetry class Sept. 8 from at the Moses Lake Public Library, Sept. 9 at the Wenatchee Public Library and Sept. 19 at the Quincy Public Library, according to the NCW website...

Weather for Monday, Aug. 28, 2023

Weather for Monday, Aug. 28, 2023

News Bites for Aug. 28, 2023

SOAP LAKE – With the help of the Soap Lake Police Department, Grant County Sheriff’s Department found a man who had become separated from his companions on a hike near the Lake Lenore Caves Tuesday. Sheriff’s deputies issued a release on the incident Thursday...

Homeland Security, Dept. of Education announce school safety awareness campaign

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in partnership with the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services and Justice, announced Aug. 17 it had launched a public awareness campaign to highlight federal school safety resources and evidence-based practices available through SchoolSafety.gov...

STUDIO BASIN: Samaritan Hospital cost, boil water advisory and upcoming fall sports

MOSES LAKE – On this week's episode of the Studio Basin podcast, Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer and Sports Reporter Ian Bivona discuss last week's headlines, including the cost changes for Samaritan Hospital, Ephrata's boil water advisory, the City of Moses Lake issuing a new graffiti ordinance and the Grant County Fair. Next, the two go over coverage for the upcoming Gridiron Guide, which previews each team in this upcoming football season, as well as recap the Moses Lake Roundup. The Studio Basin podcast can be found on your favorite podcast apps, or downloaded directly at https://bit.ly/3KYMIBb.

Police logs for Aug. 25, 2023

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...

Ephrata man arrested following gun incident

EPHRATA — A man is in custody following an incident in Ephrata Wednesday morning. Colt. L. Trumble, 19, of Ephrata was booked into Grant County Jail on charges of unlawful carrying of handling of a weapon, second-degree assault, harassment – previous conviction or threat to kill, illegal possession of a pistol by a person between 18 and 21 and carrying a pistol wihthout a permit, according to a statement form the Ephrata Police Department...

News bites for Aug. 24, 2023

EPHRATA – The Grant County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday evening that a semi had rolled over near the intersection of Beverly-Burke Road and Road 1-NE. Two people were trapped in the incident. No further information was available as of press time...

NCW Libraries hires new leadership staff

MOSES LAKE — NCW Libraries announced Monday in a press release that they hired four new staff members to critical leadership roles in Moses Lake and Wenatchee and promoted two additional staff members. “We are thrilled to welcome these new staff members to critical roles that will help build organizational capacity. They will provide hands-on, practical support for staff and serve our communities through strategic partnerships, programs, and collections,” said Barbara Walters, NCW Libraries’ executive director...

Man arrested for possession of sexually explicit pictures of minors

QUINCY — A Quincy-area man was arrested and booked into the Grant County Jail on suspicion of possession and distribution of sexually explicit pictures of minors after a joint investigation of the Othello Police Department and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Two arrested in alleged drive-by shooting

OTHELLO — A Warden man and an Othello woman were booked into the Franklin County Jail following a drive-by shooting in the 1000 block of East Cedar Street in Othello Aug. 18.

Weather for Monday, Aug. 21, 2023

Weather report for Monday, August 21, 2023.

TRAVEL ALERT: Work hours on Leavenworth guardrail construction extended

LEAVENWORTH — Travelers should be aware that the work schedule has been extended through Friday on a project to replace guardrails on US Highway 2 along Tumwater Canyon west of Leavenworth...

I-90 closures scheduled Tuesday, Thursday

HYAK — A section of Interstate 90 will be closed Tuesday and Thursday, beginning at 7 p.m. and lasting about an hour, to allow crews to do some rock blasting along the roadsides, according to a press release from the Washington Department of Transportation. Eastbound travelers will be stopped at milepost 63 and westbound travelers at exit 70 near Easton...

Othello company fined for environmental violations

SEATTLE – The Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday that Multistar Industries Inc. of Othello will pay $850,000 for violations of environmental laws. The violations relate to Multistar’s storage of a hazardous chemical called trimethylamine, or TMA, at its facility in Othello, Washington...

STUDIO BASIN: Council conundrums, fair fun and derby daring

MOSES LAKE – On this episode of the Studio Basin podcast, Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer and Sports Reporter Ian Bivona go over last week's headlines...

Ephrata School District suspends staff member

EPHRATA – In a brief statement, Ephrata School District Superintendent Tim Payne announced Friday that a district employee has been placed on administrative leave...

News Bites for Aug. 18, 2023

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake Police Department Interim Chief Cpt. Dave Sands issued a statement regarding a Sunday shooting in the 800 block of Loop Drive in Moses Lake. In the announcement, Sands said Jeremy Flores, 36, of Moses Lake, was killed as a result of wounds sustained in the incident. Two other Moses Lake residents, ages 16 and 18, are expected to recover from their injuries sustained in the same shooting...

Nursing education grant available

OLYMPIA — The state of Washington will offer scholarships for qualifying applicants considering nursing careers...

Development League calls for award nominations from members

CASHMERE – The Columbia Basin Development League announced in a press release that they are calling for nominations from members of the league for their Perseverance Award and Honorary Life Member Award, to be announced at the league’s annual conference Nov. 14 in Moses Lake...