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Othello Community Hospital births
The Columbia Basin Herald congratulates the families below on their new arrivals.
Bill to support PNWU signed by governor
OLYMPIA – Senate Bill 5113 was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee Friday. The new law, sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick (R-Moses Lake), removes regulatory barriers for dental schools, particularly the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Yakima, to recruit out-of-state faculty which, as a result, will expand access to dental services.
Auditions tonight for new Masquers play
SOAP LAKE — Auditions are scheduled for 6:30 to 7 p.m. tonight for the latest Masquers Theater production, “The White Liars” and “The Black Comedy.” A Masquers press release said prospective actors who can’t make it Tuesday can submit video auditions...
Details emerge in fatal Ephrata-area collision
EPHRATA — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of those involved in a fatal accident west of Ephrata Saturday morning, as well as other information about the collision. The two people who died were Dejay E. Troupe, 23, of Spokane and Mya Kay Avila, 18 of Ephrata, according to a GCSO statement...
Off-ramp to close for Wenatchee roundabout construction
WENATCHEE — The off ramp at the intersection of Wenatchee’s Easy Street and Highway 2 will be closed beginning Saturday and will remain closed for about two months...
Law enforcement logs for April 13
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...
Moses Lake cleanup set for Saturday
MOSES LAKE — The city of Moses Lake and the Downtown Moses Lake Association is looking for volunteers Saturday to help clean up downtown...
Man found dead in West Canal
EPHRATA — Marijan Bosnar, 76, was found deceased in the West Canal near Road 11.7 Northwest in the Ephrata area, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. There were no obvious signs of foul play, and an autopsy is planned. It was not clear how or why Bosnar ended up in the canal, the GCSO wrote. His family has been informed of his passing...
Huber to head marketing for WA Apple Commission
WENATCHEE — Jessica Huber has been named to the position of international marketing manager for the Washington Apple Commission. Huber will replace Rebecca Lyons, who has announced her retirement effective June 30...
Central WA receives $7M in federal grants
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two federal grants, adding up to more than $7 million, awarded by the Bureau of Reclamation aim to reduce the loss of irrigated water and improve salmon fishing opportunities in Central Washington. Through the two grants, more than $4.1 million will be allocated to reduce West Canal water seepage in Grant County and $3 million to improve fish passage at Roza Dam near Yakima. The funding is part of the more than $8 billion for water infrastructure improvements passed as part of the Biden-Harris Infrastructure Law...
Pettigrew to run Lotto Commission
OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee named Eric Pettigrew to serve as director of the Washington State Lottery Commission Tuesday, according to a release by Inslee’s office. “Eric has an impressive track record of leadership, collaborating with others and success as a legislator and public servant. I know he will lead the Lottery with integrity and ensuring the trust of the people we serve,” Inslee said...
Fed grant funding to help West Canal, Yakima River
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A pair of federal grants will help save fish on a stretch of the Yakima River and allow for the replacement of a 1,500-foot-long section of the Columbia Basin Project’s West Canal, according to a press release from Sen. Maria Cantwell’s, D–Wash., office...
Pheasants Forever to host spring social
MOSES LAKE - Pheasants Forever will be holding its spring social next week in Moses Lake, according to a press release from the organization. The event is both a gathering for current members and an opportunity for potential members to become familiar with the organization...
MLHS grad makes chancellor's list
FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Moses Lake High School graduate Taylor Carpenter has been named to the fall 2022 Chancellor’s List at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, according to a university press release...
Copenhaver to take helm at RMS
ROYAL CITY — Jerred Copenhaver will be the new principal at Royal Middle School, according to a statement from the Royal School District...
Othello Community Hospital announces births for March 2023
OTHELLO – Congratulations to the families below who welcomed new members to the Columbia Basin in March at the Othello Community Hospital...
Weather for Monday, April 10, 2023
Monday: Monday will be rainy with a high near 61 and south winds around 6 mph shifting to north winds in the morning. Chance of rain is 80% with a tenth to a quarter inch possible. The evening will see a 40% chance of showers before 11 p.m. Low around 39. ...
Studio Basin: Hospital bond, chief chat and diamond action
On this week’s episode of the Studio Basin podcast, senior reporter Cheryl Schweizer spoke with Samaritan Healthcare's Chief Executive Officer Theresa Sullivan, Chief Administrative Officer Alex Town, and Gretchen Youngren, chief development and communications officer, to discuss the reasons behind the hospital’s request to district voters for a construction bond and what has changed since the project was first approved. They also discussed the cost to property owners and talked about contingency plans if the bond is rejected...
Border crossing hours to change
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The hours of operation at four U.S.-Canadian border crossings, including one in eastern Washington and one in Montana, will be updated next week, according to a statement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection...
Moses Lake port commissioners to meet Monday
MOSES LAKE — The Port of Moses Lake will hold its regular meeting from 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday, according to a statement from the Port. Among the items to be discussed are leases with General Dynamics, Terex and the U.S. government, and an easement agreement with CenturyLink to provide communication utilities to the Grant County Mosquito District, according to the meeting agenda. The public is invited to attend wither in person or by phone. Phone participants should call 267-930-4000, and enter participant code 418-097-708 when prompted.
Pyper, Ehrman take new roles at Grant PUD
EPHRATA — Two longtime Grant County PUD employees have been promoted to new jobs...
Torres pest management bill signed into law
OLYMPIA — A pair of bills authored by Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, and currently making their way through the state legislature, will change how Washington state regulates and oversees the regulation of pesticides and other crop protection products, according to a press release from Torres’ office...
Reclamation announces irrigation availability
YAKIMA — The Bureau of Reclamation announced Thursday that the Yakima Project’s reservoirs were holding just more than 553,000 acre-feet of water as of April 1, meaning the system was about half full, according to a bureau press release...
Law enforcement records for April 6
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.
Senior events calendar for April 2023
Retiring doesn’t mean you have to stop having fun. The Columbia Basin offers a wide variety of activities for seniors to get out an have a good time. Here is just a sampling of what is available for local retirees in the area.
Fair Committee member sought
MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Fair Advisory Committee needs one more member...
Puppy grad
EPHRATA - The Grant County Sheriff’s Office has announced that its new peer support dog, Nitro, completed training late last week. He was trained by Cara Putnam’s Crossroads School of Dog Training, which is based in Quincy.
CWU to offer transfer advisement
MOSES LAKE – Students interested in transferring to Central Washington University can meet with Alissa Scriven, the CWU transfer outreach and onboarding counselor at the CWU-Wenatchee Center on Thursday, April 13...
Tire collection event set for late April
MOSES LAKE — Grant County residents will have a chance to unload those unwanted tires this month, according to a statement from the Grant County Public Works Department...
Othello man arrested following chase
OTHELLO — An Othello man was taken into custody late Friday after leading Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a chase that ended on Main Street in Othello, according to a statement from the ACSO. The statement said Andres Garza, 35, of Othello, was wanted in connection with a robbery when ACSO deputies located his vehicle and used a pursuit technique to bring his car to a stop. In an ACSO dash-cam video, a sheriff’s deputy pursuing Garza uses the front end of his car to nudge Garza’s vehicle so that Garza was forced to turn, spin out and come to a stop on Main Street.
Watchful neighbor helps GCSO nab burglar
EPHRATA — A Moses Lake man was arrested Friday morning after burglarizing a home thanks to a watchful neighbor, according to a statement released by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. In a statement issued early Saturday, the GCSO said Brandon Cirame, 35, was taken into custody a little after 8 a.m. Friday when a resident on the 4300 block of Road E.9 NE saw him carrying an empty backpack and walking around a nearby unoccupied house. The neighbor then noticed Cirame leave the house with his backpack full, the statement said.
Growth in Quincy and sports review on Basin Studio Podcast
On this episode of the Studio Basin podcast, senior reporter Cheryl Schweizer sits down with Quincy City Administrator Pat Haley to discuss growth in Quincy and how that growth has affected the area. Next, sports reporter Ian Bivona recaps the previous week of Basin sports action. The Studio Basin podcast can be found on your favorite podcasting apps, or downloaded directly at https://bit.ly/3ZytWoT.
Weather for Monday, April 3, 2023
Monday: A 20% chance of showers after 11 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Calm wind becoming westerly at 5-7 mph in the afternoon, while Monday night should be mostly cloudy with a low around 29. Tuesday: A 20% chance of showers after 11 a.m. and mostly sunny with a high near 52. Tuesday night should be partly cloudy with a low around 29. Wednesday: Sunny with a high near 56 while Wednesday night should be mostly clear with a low around 32. Thursday: Sunny with a high near 58, while Thursday night is expected to see a 20% chance of showers and will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Friday: A 20% chance of showers and mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Source: National Weather Service
April 2023 community calendar
A community calendar for the Columbia Basin.
MLPD releases annual report
MOSES LAKE — Calls to the Moses Lake Police Department in 2022 increased by 6.3% over 2021, according to the department’s annual report, released Thursday.
Moses Lake man dies in Wednesday night collision
MOSES LAKE – A Moses Lake man was killed Wednesday night in a single-vehicle collision near Moses Lake, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office...
Police logs for March 30, 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 appoints assistant superintendent
EPHRATA – The Ephrata School District appointed Ken Murray as the district’s assistant superintendent of human resources earlier this week. “Ephrata is growing as a community and as a school district,” said Ephrata School Board Chair Jim Adams, in a release by the district. “To ensure that we’re prepared to meet the future needs of our students, staff and families, it’s time to add additional support to the district office. Ken will not only solidify some of our most important business practices, but he will also have the added benefit of working closely with our superintendent and learning from one of the greats.” ...
Lottery prize hits $7.1 million
OLYMPIA — The numbers will be drawn at 8 p.m. tonight for the Washington Lotto, a prize that has increased to $7.1 million...
Bill to improve APS moves to Inslee’s desk
OLYMPIA – A bill aimed to improve adult protective services moves to the desk of Washington Governor Jay Inslee. The bill would require the state Department of Social and Health Services and law enforcement to share information contained in reports and findings of abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation and neglect of vulnerable adults with each other. “This bill helps us protect our vulnerable adults,” said Sen. Keith Wagoner (R-Sedro-Woolley), sponsor of the bill. Senate Bill 5370 was unanimously passed by the Washington House on Friday after also being unanimously passed by the Senate, and now moves to the Governor’s desk for consideration...
Royal High student arrested
ROYAL CITY — A Royal High School student has been arrested in connection with a drug investigation, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office...
Mattawa woman charged after collision
MATTAWA — Charges of vehicular assault are pending against a Mattawa woman after her car crossed the center line and struck another car head-on Sunday...
Washington Beef Day set
OLYMPIA – A release from the Washington Cattlemen's Association announces that Beef Day on the Hill in Olympia will be held April 6. The Washington Cattlemen’s Association will be barbequing tri-tip provided by Washington beef along with milk and cookies from the dairy farmers of Washington. The event starts at Noon at the North Steps of the Capitol.
CWU instructor honored at theater festival
ELLENSBURG — A Central Washington University instructor was honored recently with a prestigious award, according to a statement from the university...
Life saver
EPHRATA – Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete, right, presents the 2023 Life Saving Award to Brian Walters of Grand Coulee, a UPS driver who helped save the life of a 7-year-old drowning victim in July 2022. Walters, who is also a volunteer firefighter, pulled the child, who wasn’t breathing, out of a pool at Smokiam Resort in Soap Lake. Walters performed CPR on the girl until she was revived.
Honoring the fallen
EPHRATA - Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete, right, honored Ephrata craftsman Kurt Moore for his service to the community. Moore offered his skills in the creation of the Fallen Deputy Memorial at the Grant County Courthouse.
Weather for Monday, March 27, 2023
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Southeast wind around 6 mph, while Monday night is expected to be partly cloudy with a low around 34. Tuesday: A 20% chance of rain after 11 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 57. Tuesday night is expected to be partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 58. Wednesday night should be mostly clear, with a low of around 30. Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59, while Thursday night should be partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Source: National Weather Service
GCSO Seeks info on man in custody
EPHRATA — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for any information the public might have about a man arrested near Coulee City on Thursday on suspicion of child rape. According to a GCSO statement released Friday, GCSO deputies arrested Tyrone Thomas Trexler, 52, of Coulee City, on March 23 on two counts of child rape and one count of unlawful imprisonment for an assault of a 6-year-old girl alleged to have occurred near Trexler’s previous home in the Moses Lake.
Unincorporated Grant Co. building permits for March 24
The building permits reported below are noncomprehensive.
Samaritan partnering with WSU
MOSES LAKE – Samaritan Healthcare has announced a partnership with Washington State University’s College of Medicine to support medical students, according to a Samaritan press release. “We are excited and grateful for the opportunity to advance our partnership with the WSU College of Medicine,” said Samaritan CEO Theresa Sullivan. “Their commitment to training physicians and medical professionals towards a rural track is vital to the development of our future workforce.” ...