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SLPC seeks volunteers, promotes training opportunities
SOAP LAKE – The Soap Lake Prevention Coalition is seeking volunteers to assist with launching the PAX Good Behavior Game, as well as promoting training opportunities In Bellevue and Spokane, the coalition announced earlier this month...
Motorcyclist killed near Ritzville
RITZVILLE — A motorcyclist died in a collision in Adams County early Sunday morning, according to a statement from the Washington State Patrol...
Masquers to hold gala
SOAP LAKE – the Masquers Theatre troupe has announced that it will be holding its annual membership gala on Saturday, Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m. In the announcement, the theater troupe said the theme for this year’s event will be based on a board game and will involve attendees dressing up as their favorite characters from the game...
Walsh named state GOP chairman
BELLEVUE — State Rep. Jim Walsh, who represents District 19 in the Aberdeen area., was named chair of the Washington State Republican Party, according to an announcement from the WSRP...
STUDIO BASIN: Grant Co. Sheriff Joe Kriete and talking local sports stars
MOSES LAKE – In this month's segment with Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete, Managing Editor R. Hans "Rob" Miller discusses National Night Out, fighting cancer, domestic violence and an update on the new Grant County Jail facility with the sheriff. Kriete also shares that his daughter, a long-time standout in the local softball arena, will be leaving for college soon to play at the college level...
West Nile virus found in Grant County
MOSES LAKE — Two mosquito samples taken in Grant County have tested positive for West Nile virus, according to a statement from Grant County Mosquito Control District No. 1...
Hunter safety courses filling fast
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced that mandatory hunter education courses are likely to fill up soon. Fish and Wildlife urged prospective hunters to take classes soon...
Revved up to help?
EPHRATA — The Ephrata Chamber of Commerce is looking for volunteers to help with community events, according to an announcement from the chamber. Events are planned for throughout the year, the announcement said, including the Anything with Wheels show, the Wine Walk, the Sage-N-Sun festival and Bells on Basin. The chamber will host a volunteer meeting in September to prepare for the events. Above is a photo from one of the car shows the chamber put on earlier this year. Anybody interested in volunteering is invited to contact the chamber at 509-754-4656 or by email at [email protected].
American Legion Auxiliary to host Patriot Day ceremony
EPHRATA – Unit 28 of the American Legion Auxiliary, assisted by Legionnaires, will be hosting a Patriot Day ceremony on Sep. 11 at 5:30 p.m. in front of the Grant County Courthouse in Ephrata, according to a press release from the organization...
Bank robbery flops in Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE — An attempted bank robbery fizzled Tuesday afternoon in Moses Lake, according to a statement from the Moses Lake Police Department...
Ephrata schools to hold free developmental delay screenings
EPHRATA – The Ephrata School District Special Services Department announced in a Thursday public service announcement that they will be sponsoring a free screening September 6 for children ages three through five whose parents have concerns about their child’s development...
NCW Community Foundation accepting grant applications
WENATCHEE — The Community Foundation of NCW is now accepting applications for its Regional Impact Grant and Woods Family Music and Arts Grant, according to an announcement from the foundation...
News Bites for Aug. 8, 2023
News bites from first responder agencies around the Columbia Basin.
Wildfire defense funding grants available
PORTLAND, Ore. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a new round of federal investment in wildfire protection last week, according to a statement from the USDA...
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...
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.
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.
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.