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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.
Employers to begin deducting Washington Cares premiums
OLYMPIA - Washington employers will begin deducting premiums from Washington workers’ paychecks on Saturday for the Washington Cares Fund, announced a news release from the Washington State Employment Security Department. The Cares Fund is the state’s new long-term care insurance program. “Most of us will need some form of long-term care but don’t have a way to pay for it,” said Washington Cares Fund Director Ben Veghte. “Washington Cares will make a modest but critical amount of long-term care coverage affordable for all Washington workers for the first time.”
News Bites for June 26, 2023
News briefs from first responder agencies across Grant and Adams counties.
Weather for Monday, June 6, 2023
Weather for Monday, June 26, 2023.
Grant County Pet of the Week: Meet Leo
Hello there. My name’s Leo and I’m a domestic shorthair mix with enough cute to keep you coming back for more. I’m a bit under five months old and I enjoy playing and cuddling.
Grant Co. seeking new library board member
EPHRATA - The Grant County Commissioners Office announced Thursday they are seeking an interested citizen of Grant County to serve on the North Central Washington Libraries Board of Trustees, preferably one with a variety of skill sets...
Eastern Washington wineries earn awards
OLYMPIA - Nearly 80 wineries located throughout Eastern Washington won numerous medals at the 2023 Washington Wine Awards, according to an announcement from the organizers of the event, which was held in April...
STUDIO BASIN: Academics, word nerds and a sports junkie
MOSES LAKE – On this episode of the Studio Basin podcast, Managing Editor Rob Miller is joined by Big Bend Community College President Sara Thompson Tweedy and Big Bend Director of Communication Matt Killebrew. The trio discuss Big Bend's academic achievements and its role in the community, and later talk about Thompson Tweedy's involvement with Grant County Animal Outreach and the challenges facing the shelter...
Basin community calendar for June 23-25
COLUMBIA BASIN – There’s no need to be bored this weekend. Head out to enjoy these community events and spend some time with your neighbors...
Wenatchee River salmon fishing to close
WENATCHEE - Salmon fishing on the Wenatchee River will close one hour after official sunset Friday, said an announcement by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. In-season catch-and-release estimates indicate fishing limits on wild spring Chinook will be met by the end of the day...
Law enforcement records for June 22, 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...
Snohomish roofing company fined for safety violations
TUMWATER — A roofing company based in Snohomish is faced with hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, according to a statement from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries...
Grant Co. students graduate from WCA
GRANT COUNTY — Three Grant County locals graduated Tuesday from Washington Connections Academy, according to an announcement from the online public school...
Washington fire report for June 21
MOSES LAKE — These are the wildfires that were burning in Washington as of Monday afternoon, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow website...
Newhouse to help lead field hearing on Lower Snake River Dams
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, will help lead a field hearing in Richland for members of the House Natural Resources Committee on the importance of Eastern Washington’s Lower Snake River dams, according to an announcement from Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, who will join Newhouse at the hearing...
Applications open for broadband funding grants
OLYMPIA — The Washington Public Works Board is currently accepting applications for broadband construction funding offering a total of $13.5 million in low-interest loans for projects in unserved areas of the state, according to an announcement from the Washington Department of Commerce...
Senator steps down to serve as Kitsap commissioner
OLYMPIA - Sen. Christine Rolfes (D-Bainbridge Island) announced her resignation Tuesday from the Washington State Senate. She is stepping down to serve on the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners, according to a press release from her office...
News Bites for June 20, 2023
OTHELLO — Caring Neighbors, a nonprofit established by Big Bend Energy Cooperative, donated $2,375 to Adams County Fire District 5 on Thursday, according to an announcement from ACFD 5. The money will help to fund the replacement of older extrication tools, the announcement said.
Washington wildfire summary for June 19
MOSES LAKE — These are the wildfires that were burning in Washington as of Monday afternoon, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow website...
BBCC to debut Intro to Communications
MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Communications Studies Department will add a new course to its offerings this year, Introduction to Communications, according to an announcement from the college...
Juneteenth 2023 weather
Juneteenth: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. West wind 6 to 11 mph. A 20% chance of showers evening that will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 47...
2023 Vikings
MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College's Class of 2023 walked on Friday to get their degrees. These Viking alum not move on to push their academic or professional careers forward.
BBCC holds nurse pinning ceremony
MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College held its graduation festivities Friday, starting with a nurse's pinning ceremony. Above, 17 newly-graduated nurses pose for a photo during the ceremony.
STUDIO BASIN: Fire and water, football and diamond action
MOSES LAKE – On this episode of the Studio Basin podcast, Managing Editor Rob Miller and senior reporter Cheryl Schweizer discuss water conservation across the Basin, fires and fire season as well as recap graduation and Quincy's 100% graduation rate. Next, Sports Reporter Ian Bivona recaps the Pete Doumit Memorial Tournament, a football scrimmage held in Royal City and other sporting goodness in the Basin. The Studio Basin podcast can be found on your favorite podcast apps, or downloaded directly at https://bit.ly/446s0GA.
Summer meals for kids offered in Mattawa
MATTAWA — Breakfast and lunch will be served free of charge to qualifying children over the summer through the Summer Food Service Program sponsored by the Wahluke School District...
A BIT OF QUINCY HISTORY
QUINCY – This mural-bedecked building at the intersection of F Street SE and Road Q NW in Quincy is currently for sale, according to signage at the property. Anyone with information regarding the building’s history is asked to email information to Columbia Basin Herald Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer at [email protected] for use in an upcoming feature.
Family options
A high-level look at listings in the Basin
EPHRATA – If you’re looking for a larger, but not too large, home with four or more bedrooms and 2,000 to 3,000 square feet to live in, the Columbia Basin has options right now...
BBCC dean retires
Big Bend Community College’s Dean of Arts and Sciences, Kathleen Duvall, is retiring after 29 years at Big Bend Community College. Above, she holds a jarred brain and is seen posing Biology Professor Theresa Calip.
News Bites for June 16
EPHRATA – The Grant County Sheriff’s Office is asking for concertgoers to be careful at the Gorge Amphitheater this summer. They recommend taking the following steps to be safe...
Juneteenth commemoration Saturday
MOSES LAKE — A program to commemorate the day the last slaves in the United States learned they were free men and women is scheduled for 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the McCosh Park Amphitheater in Moses Lake...
Moses Lake student inducted into Phi Kappa Phi
BATON ROUGE, La. — Eastern Oregon University student and Moses Lake resident Simeon Hickman was recently inducted into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest all-discipline college honor society, according to a society press release...
Quincy FFA announces officers
QUINCY – The Quincy Future Farmers of America announced its 2023-24 officers on May 23. The officer team was installed during the coinciding Parent-Member Banquet...
Othello man sentenced in child’s death
SPOKANE — An Othello man has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm after an incident that left his 4-year-old child dead, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Spokane...
WDFW eyes 3-year hunting season plans
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking for the public’s feedback as it begins its latest three-year season-setting efforts, according to a WDFW press release...
Law enforcement records for June 15, 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.