STAFF REPORT
Recent Stories
Moses Lake's Carlile takes first runner up in Distinguished Young Women program
PULLMAN — Sydney Ohlemann, a senior at Cle Elum/Roslyn High School, has been selected as Washington’s Distinguished Young Woman for 2024, according to an announcement from the Distinguished Young Women program. Addy Carlile of Moses Lake was the first runner-up...
WASHDOT releases construction updates
COLUMBIA BASIN – The Washington Department of Transportation released in a Friday press release construction updates and travel advisories for Grant and Adams counties for the week of Aug. 7 to Aug. 11...
STUDIO BASIN: QSD Superintendent Nik Bergman, MLPD Chief Kevin Fuhr and sports update
MOSES LAKE – To open this week’s edition of the Studio Basin podcast, Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer talks with Quincy School District Superintendent Nik Bergman. Bergman talks with the Studio Basin podcast about his background, some of the challenges facing QSD, some of its successes and the district's path forward. ...
Moses Lake man arrested outside dunes
MOSES LAKE — A driver tried, but ultimately failed, to elude law enforcement near Moses Lake Thursday morning, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office...
ESD names assistant director of teaching and learning
EPHRATA - The Ephrata School District has hired Deb Knox to serve as the assistant director of teaching and learning, according to an ESD press release...
Ephrata campus facelifts move forward
EPHRATA – Remodeling work is ongoing at Ephrata Middle School and Columbia Ridge Elementary, according to a press release from the Ephrata School District...
Police logs for Aug. 2, 2023
OTHELLO - 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...
One killed in Othello area accident
OTHELLO — A Grandview man died Monday night in a single-vehicle accident near Othello, according to a statement from the Washington State Patrol...
CHS donates to Adams County Fire District 5
ADAMS COUNTY – CHS, Inc. announced in a July 14 press release that Adams County Fire Protection District #5 will receive $10,000 to replace older hydraulic extrication tools through the CHS Seeds for Stewardship program...
Senior events calendar for August 2023
Below are just a few events that older residents of the Columbia Basin may enjoy. If you have an event you would like listed in the paper, please submit it through the events page at columbiabasinherald.com...
Weather for Monday, July 31, 2023
Weather for Monday, July 31.
Bureau of Reclamation provides funding to Yakima Nation
WASHINGTON D.C. – The Bureau of Reclamation announced Thursday in a news release that the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation will receive approximately $293,000 for hydrologic modeling to improve groundwater recharge and flood control activities in Toppenish Creek Watershed...
Navy ship to be named for Washingtonian
WASHINGTON D.C. – Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced Wednesday that a future Navajo-class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue ship will be named after Billy Frank Jr., a Nisqually tribal member, according to a press release from the U.S. Navy...
STUDIO BASIN: Royal softball’s Lisa Lawrence, health care costs, conundrums and community
MOSES LAKE – On this episode of the Studio Basin podcast, Managing Editor Rob Miller and Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer discuss the total project cost for a new Samaritan Hospital, a Moses Lake physician losing their license and last week's health fair in Mattawa...
Two arrested in shooting at illegal marijuana grow
EPHRATA — Two men are in Grant County Jail following a shooting at an illegal marijuana grow east of Ephrata, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. Juan Sammuel Cabrera Calderon, 49, of Hillsboro, Oregon, and Martin Chacon Martinez, 38, of Yelm were both arrested Monday on charges of second-degree assault and first-degree robbery, according to the statement. They are both currently being held on $1,000,000 bail...
Law enforcement records for July 27
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...
Othello police logs for July 26
The incidents below were reported by the Othello Police Department and are a matter of public record. Any suspects that may be identified are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Murray announces UW semiconductor research grant
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Patty Murray, D-WA, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced Wednesday a $10 million grant for semiconductor workforce development and research at the University of Washington...
Youth photo contest deadline Aug. 11
MOSES LAKE — Entries must be submitted by Aug. 11 for a photography show featuring children and their pets - or maybe just animals that they like. The “Fuzzy Friends in Focus” show will be on display from Aug. 25 through Oct. 6 at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, 401 S. Balsam St. The contest is open to young people from two to 18 years of age. Entry is free...
Waterworks in development near Columbia Ridge
EPHRATA - Crews with construction equipment could be seen earlier this week near the newly-remodeled Columbia Ridge Elementary. The Ephrata School District and the city of Ephrata are working to build a new water tower in the area, according to a press release from the Ephrata School District.
Cardwell retires from Ephrata Schools
EPHRATA – Frank Cardwell retired in late June from the Ephrata School District after 42 years of service to the community’s students.
News Bites for July 20, 2023
News bits from around the Columbia Basin.
July 21-27 declared Paddle Safe Week
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Parks Boating Program announced Tuesday in a news release that Washington State Governor Jay Inslee issued a proclamation declaring July 21 to 27 to be statewide Paddle Safe Week...
Ephrata schools announce new hours, start dates
EPHRATA - The Ephrata School District has announced the first day of school for each of its campuses as well as new hours for those campuses...
Births for July 19, 2023
OTHELLO – The Columbia Basin Herald congratulates the families below who have welcomed new members to their families over the past two months at Othello Community Hospital.
Newhouse sets up workgroup to review Endangered Species Act
WASHINGTON D.C. – Congressman Dan Newhouse, R–Washington, has joined efforts with nine other federal legislators to form a workgroup to examine the Endangered Species Act and suggest updates to policy to better protect endangered wildlife, according to a press release from his office...
News Bites for July 18
News bits from first responder agencies around the Columbia Basin.
Quincy's B Street Block Party seeking volunteers
QUINCY — The Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce is looking for volunteers to help with the B Street Block Party July 15, according to an announcement from the chamber...
Moses Lake chamber to host candidate forum
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce will host a candidates forum Tuesday, according to a press release from the chamber...
Basin students make EWU Dean's List
COLUMBIA BASIN – Students from 14 cities in the Columbia Basin were placed on Eastern Washington University’s 2023 Spring Dean List, according to the university’s website. The website stated that any undergraduate student who earns what the university defines as 12 quality hours and receives a GPA of 3.5 or better is placed on the Dean's List.
News Bites for July 13, 2023
A collection of news bits from around the Columbia Basin.
Law enforcement records for July 13, 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...
SGL Carbon announces refinancing
WIESBADEN, Germany – SGL Carbon has announced that it has successfully completed refinancing and has fully redeemed its corporate bond. As of March 31, its corporate debt has dropped to €174 million – about $191.5 million...
Scholarships available for ‘ending homelessness’ conference
SEATTLE — Organizers of the 2023 “Conference on Ending Homelessness” are offering scholarships to qualifying people who want to attend...
State to fund election security upgrades
OLYMPIA – The Washington Secretary of State’s office announced Monday in a news release that they will provide Washington county elections officials with up to $80,000 to improve local election security. More than $3 million is available statewide through the Information Security Funds program.
Level 3 evacuation in effect for Baird Springs Road
QUINCY — A level 3 evacuation notice due to wildfire has been issued for the area of Baird Springs Road and Road 12 Northwest north of Road W west of Quincy, according to an announcement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
Weather for Monday, July 10, 2023
Weather report for July 10.
STUDIO BASIN: Fourth of July, animal control and summer baseball
MOSES LAKE – On this episode of the Studio Basin podcast, Senior reporter Cheryl Schweizer recaps Fourth of July events from across the Basin, as well as Soap Lake's new city council member, Othello's new police chief and an update on animal control in the Basin. Next, Sports Reporter Ian Bivona goes over the 18U River Dogs placing third at the Spokane Wood Bat Classic and more. The Studio Basin podcast can be found on your favorite podcast apps, or downloaded directly at https://bit.ly/44wSPUE.
News Bites for July 7, 2023
News tidbits for July 7, 2023.
News Bites for July 6, 2023
A collection of news tidbits for July 6.
Peshastin-area paving project next week will delay travel
PESHASTIN — Drivers planning to use the interchange at US Highway 2/97 next week should plan for delays while the bridge at the Don Senn Memorial/Big Y interchange is paved...
Gesa CU celebrates 70
RICHLAND — Gesa Credit Union will celebrate its 70th anniversary next week and will open its first full-service branch outside the state of Washington later this year...
Newhouse reintroduces bipartisan labor reform act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, reintroduced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act to the House alongside several Republican and Democrat representatives from across the United States, according to a Monday news release from Newhouse’s staff...
Wenatchee Valley Senior Center lowers lunch cost
WENATCHEE – The Wenatchee Valley Senior Activity Center has lowered the price of its lunch program to $5 to increase awareness of the program and community engagement, according to a Tuesday press release from the senior center...
News Bites for July 5, 2023
A selection of news tidbits from around the Columbia Basin.
Fire report for July 5
YAKIMA – State fire assistance has been mobilized by Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste in response to the Rest Haven fire located in Yakima County near Selah as of Sunday. The fire began July 2 sbetween 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., burning in brush and grass. By the end of the day Sunday, it had grown to about 400 acres and was still growing...
Weather for Monday, July 3, 2023.
Weather for Monday, July 3, 2023.
STUDIO BASIN: A chamber, a chief and some River Dogs action
MOSES LAKE – Pam Thorsen, secretary for the board of directors for the South Grant County Chamber of Commerce, talks about the goals of the chambrer with Managing Editor R. Hans “Rob” Miller. They touch on a variety of topics such as how transportation and community partnerships can impact businesses...
Grant PUD warns of potential scammers
EPHRATA – The Grant County Public Utility District announced Friday that the county has been targeted by a scam from a third-party carll center. “It has come to our attention that a 3rd party call center, falsely claiming to represent Grant PUD, has been contacting customers to schedule home energy services audit appointments at their home,” the announcement read...
EPA allocates $1.17 million to improve access to drinking water in Washington
SEATTLE – The Environmental Protection Agency announced Friday they are allocating $1.17 million in grant funds for disadvantaged communities in Washington state to support access to clean and safe drinking water...