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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.
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...
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...
News Bites for July 5, 2023
A selection of news tidbits from around the Columbia Basin.
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...
Wash. Ag department continues fight against invasive Spartina
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Agriculture announced June 24 that this year’s treatment season for Spartina, an aggressive invasive weed, began June 1 and will continue through November...
NOAA opens funding opportunity for climate-related jobs
WASHINGTON – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced on Friday that it has opened a competitive funding opportunity for the Climate Ready Workforce for Coastal States, Tribes, and Territories Initiative. According to the announcement, the initiative is intended to support coastal jobs that combat climate change...
Wash. HCA releases health insurance renewal info
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) released May’s renewal data for Apple Health on Friday, according to a news release from the HCA. After the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, states are required to resume eligibility verification for state health care...
Reyna convicted in Adams Co. Jail attack
RITZVILLE — A man who assaulted his cellmate and a corrections officer at Adams County Jail has been found guilty, according to a statement from Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner...
State revenue projection increases $327M
OLYMPIA – Washington state’s financial prospects are a little brighter than anticipated, according to a statement from the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. Washington’s projected Near General Fund revenue collections for the 2023–25 state budget have increased by nearly $327 million, the statement said...
GCSO will up water safety enforcement
EPHRATA — Operation Dry Water, a national boating under the influence awareness and enforcement campaign, begins Saturday, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office...
Firewood permits available for Colockum Wildlife Area
OLYMPIA – Firewood permits are available for the Colockum Wildlife Area near Wenatchee, according to an announcement from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife...
BBCC announces academic achievers
MOSES LAKE – Big Bend Community College announced Thursday their 2023 spring semester President’s and Vice President’s lists. The President’s List features students who completed 12 or more credits with a GPA of 3.75 or higher...
Moses Lake student offered prestigious scholarship
OLD WESTBURY, New York — A Moses Lake student has been awarded a prestigious scholarship at the New York Institute of Technology, according to an announcement from the school...
Suds ‘n Sun set for Soap Lake this weekend
SOAP LAKE — Soapbox racing, motorcycle derring-do and fireworks will be among the attractions at the Suds ‘n Sun celebration Sunday in Soap Lake.
Wildfire update for June 29, 2023
EPHRATA – According to the Washington Department of Natural Resources, only two significant fires were burning in the state as of Wednesday afternoon. To date, Washington has had 598 wildfires reported and just less than 17,000 acres have been burned as a result. Of those, 142 fires were caused by debris burning such as in a trash pit and 116 have undetermined causes. May and June have been the busiest fire months with 121 occurring in May and 123 in June so far. May saw 191 DNR managed acres burned, while that number has jumped to 909 in June, to date...
Law enforcement records for June 29, 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.
Soap Lake man arrested after standoff
SOAP LAKE – A Soap Lake man is in custody after a standoff at him home Tuesday morning, according to a statement from the Soap Lake Police Department.
JATP back at Big Bend
MOSES LAKE – The 2023 Japanese Agricultural Trainee Program’s class of 2023 has arrived at Big Bend Community College. This year’s group is the 57th set of students to visit the area. These students will spend time in Moses Lake taking classes, going on field trips to local farms and then continue to host farms throughout the country, according to a statement from Big Bend Community College.
Moses Lake student makes university dean list
EREA, Ohio - Stephanie Foryan, a graduate of Moses Lake High School, has been named in Baldwin Wallace University’s Spring 2023 Dean List, according to an announcement from the university.
Adams County Pet of the Week: Meet Kemp
Did somebody say treats? My name’s Kemp, and I like treats. I also like you, I’m pretty sure, and I’d love to come home with you. You clearly need a Border Collie mix in your life and I’m just the pupper to fill that void.