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Household hazardous waste collection event to be held Saturday
MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Public Works Department announced there will be a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event near Moses Lake this Saturday, April 29. The announcement states the event is for households only, waste must be in containers that are five gallons or less and the containers will not be removed.
Robocall protection bill signed into law
OLYMPIA – Governor Jay Inslee signed House Bill 1051, the Robocall Spam Protection Act, into law Thursday. The new law will hold accountable those who spam individuals with robocalls maliciously.
Furniture and appliance markets with Matt Moore and sports update on Studio Basin Podcast
On this week’s episode of the Studio Basin podcast, senior reporter Charles Featherstone sits down with Matt Moore of family-owned furniture and appliance retailer Moore Furniture in Ephrata. The two discuss what’s affecting the market for furniture and appliances. Next, sports reporter Ian Bivona and staff writer Rebecca Pettingill recap the previous week of sports in the Basin. The Studio Basin podcast can be found on your favorite podcast apps, or downloaded directly at https://bit.ly/3L15Ygw.
Potential molestation victims asked to contact MLPD
MOSES LAKE – A Tacoma area motocross coach was arrested on charges relating to child pornography, and other potential victims may be located in Grant County...
Newhouse introduces measure supporting organic farming
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, is sponsoring legislation intended to support research into organic agriculture and improve data collection for the country’s organic farmers, according to a press release...
Reclamation releases climate plan
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which oversees water projects across the country including the Grand Coulee Dam and the Columbia Basin Project in Eastern Washinton, announced on Thursday it released the agency’s strategy for dealing with climate change...
Bill to address health care staffing signed into law
OLYMPIA — A bill to help address the healthcare staffing shortage by mitigating unmanageable patient loads and worker burnout was signed into law Thursday. “By creating an enforcement mechanism with real penalties, we can ensure safe-staffing standards are followed rather than ignored, allowing workers to do their jobs safely and provide our loved ones the quality care they deserve,” said Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett, sponsor of the bill...
Youth and Families seeks nominees
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families is accepting nominations for the Engaging Father Award...
Adams County Pet(s) of the Week: Orb & Moony
Orb and Moony came to Adams County Pet Rescue with some other pups a while ago. Staff at the shelter were surprised that the house-trained pets were only six months old. Both are pretty sweet. Orb can get spooked easily, but has gotten better in time and no longer nips when startled. The pair were surrendered because the family they were with had too many dogs per their landlord...
Law enforcement logs for April 20
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 names new middle school principal
EPHRATA – The Ephrata School District has named Tina Mullings the new principal of Ephrata Middle School after a decision was made Tuesday night. “Tina has a proven track record at Ephrata Middle School,” said Tim Payne, Ephrata School District Superintendent. “Students, staff and families know the enthusiasm and commitment Tina brings with her each day. Her knowledge and expertise of school culture is invaluable. We’re excited to see her grow in this new position.”...
City of Moses Lake building permits, March 2023
Timothy Molitor, 3900 block of West Peninsula Drive, shop, $350,000. Patrick Carroll, 1700 block of East Burr Avenue, garage, $24,000. Patrick Carroll, 1700 block of East Burr Avenue, garage, $24,000. Patrick Carroll, 1700 block of East Burr Avenue, garage, $24,000. Chris Nolte, 700 block of North Stratford Road, structural updates to existing building, $20,000...
Adams County law enforcement logs for April 19
The reports below were provided by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Mattawa Drop Box to close May 15
EPHRATA — The last solid waste drop box in Grant County will close next month, according to a statement from the Grant County Commissioners...
Niebla named GCSO March Employee of the Month
EPHRATA — Deputy Sheriff Juan Niebla has been named the March 2023 Employee of the Month by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office...
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.