STAFF REPORT
Recent Stories
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.
Sandhill Crane Festival starts today
OTHELLO – The Othello Sandhill Crane festival begins today and runs through the weekend. Visitors to the area can stop by and help organizers celebrate the silver anniversary of the festival that celebrates the return of Sandhill Cranes to the Columbia Basin. Advanced registration is available at www.othellosandhillcranefestival.org. Festival events are hosted via the Othello Nazarene Chruch at 835 S. 10th Avenue and McFarland Middle School at 790 S. 10th Avenue in Othello. Events include a crane photo workshop, Rimrock Trail Hike, Potholes Reservoir Boat Birding Tour and several others with various costs associated.
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.” ...
Home sales figures all over the map for February
MOSES LAKE — Figures were up and down for the real estate market in Grant and Adams counties in February, according to new data from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service...
Quincy trout derby this weekend
QUINCY — Anglers of all ages are being invited to drop a line in Quincy Lake and Burke Lake Saturday and Sunday in pursuit of trout and prizes. The 14th Trout Fishing Derby begins Saturday morning...
Deadline approaching to remove studded tires
OLYMPIA — With the arrival of Spring, the Washington State Department of Transportation announced on Thursday that Friday, March 31, is the deadline to remove studded tires from cars and trucks, according to a WSDOT press release...
Print praise
EPHRATA – The Grant County Sheriffs Office recognized Records Supervisor Dawn Prince, left, as January’s employee of the month in an announcement Thursday morning. Prince was nominated by Lt. Dan Durand for her efforts which lead to GCSO receiving a $20,000 grant from the Washington State Patrol to replace the department’s Livescan fingerprinting equipment. The new equipment is expected to assist investigators in obtaining information in an efficient and timely manner.
MLCA/CCS Baseball Schedule
MOSES LAKE -- Moses Lake Christian Academy has started their second year fielding a baseball team after a hiatus. Below is this year's schedule...
Bass tourney this weekend
MOSES LAKE — The Panhandle Bass Anglers will be staging a bass fishing tournament at Blue Heron Park on Saturday, March 25...
WDFW app keeps anglers up to date
OLYMPIA — Fishing limits, regulations and more are just a phone signal away. In 2021, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife rolled out its FishWA for Apple and Android devices. The free mobile app is designed to convey up-to-the-minute fishing regulations for every lake, river, stream and marine area in the state, according to WDFW’s website...
Law enforcement logs for March 23
The reports below were provided by the sheriff’s office, jail or police department indicated. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Airport siting bill passes WA House, gets Senate hearing
OLYMPIA – A bill that would replace the Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission established in 2019 to recommend possible locations for a new airport had a public hearing in the Washington Senate Tuesday. “The CACC established in 2019, didn't have enough time to do a thorough review of what they set out to accomplish,” co-sponsor Rep. Tom Dent (R-Moses Lake) said in a release from his office. “COVID played a role, but the commission was also lacking adequate resources and did not provide enough outreach and notice to those who could have been impacted.” ...
Two arrested in Adams County drive-by shooting cases
OTHELLO — The Adams County Sheriff’s Office and Othello Police Department arrested two Othello men late last week in connection with two recent drive-by shootings. Jean Carlos Avila, 18, was arrested by the OPD, and Carlos Cerna Jr., 19, was arrested March 18 by the ACSO with the help of the Moses Lake Tactical Response Team, according to an ACSO release. The arrests stemmed from the report of a drive-by shooting on March 12 inside the Othello city limits, the release said. Othello Police Chief Phil Schenck said no one was injured in that incident. The circumstances of the shooting resembled a similar incident in ACSO jurisdiction Feb. 15, said Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner...
Warriors excel in skills competitions
Wahluke High School’s SkillsUSA program had the students below qualify for state competition, according to a WHS announcement...
Spring cleanup week slated for Othello
OTHELLO — Othello residents will be able to dispose of old leaves and grass, old appliances and scrap metals during the city’s annual cleanup week, April 3 through 8. Appliances and scrap metal will be picked up on April 3 and 4, according to a city press release. Appliances and scrap metal must be at the curb or in the residence’s alley by April 2 to be scheduled for pickup...
Adams Co. police logs for March 22
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...
Recall issued for frozen strawberries
OLYMPIA — Several brands of frozen organic strawberries and one brand of frozen tropical fruit are being recalled after an outbreak of Hepatitis A that has caused at least five Washington residents to get sick, according to a press release from the Washington Department of Health...
Soap Lake Conservancy to hold public meeting
SOAP LAKE – The Soap Lake Conservancy is holding a public meeting to discuss the organization’s Outstanding Resource Water application to the state. The meeting will discuss what the conservancy has learned in its research and how the Outstanding Resource Water recognition will impact the area, as well as answer any questions attendees may have. The meeting will be at 2 p.m. on March 25 at Masquers Theater, 322 Main Ave. E. For more information, visit TheLake.org or contact Peggy at 509-289-0292.
Sales tax exemption for seniors’ meals passes WA House
OLYMPIA – Washington House Bill 1431, sponsored by Rep. Joe Timmons (D-Bellingham), would provide a sales tax relief for residents of senior living communities when it comes to meals...
USDA grants aim to help plan and prevent wildfires
ASHLAND, Ore. — The U.S. Forest Service announced it is giving nearly $25 million in grants to help plan for and prevent wildfires across Washington, according to a USFS press release. The grants are part of the Forest Service’s Community Wildfire Defense Grant program and are being given to 14 organizations from Spokane to South Bend in Pacific County, the press release stated. However, more than $11 million — including a $10 million grant — is going to three organizations in Kittitas County, including Kittitas County Resilient Landscapes.
Applications open for law enforcement education classes
MOSES LAKE — Applications are being accepted through Friday for a series of informational classes for people who want to learn more about how law enforcement works, according to a release from the agencies involved. The Columbia Basin Multi-Agency Citizens Academy will begin April 2. The five-week series will be held in the ATEC building at Big Bend Community College, 7662 Chanute St. NE. The classes, nine in all, will be each Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. Moses Lake Police Chief Kevin Fuhr wrote that the academy returns after a three-year hiatus. Fuhr wrote that organizers are hoping to sign up at least 20 to 30 people. The purpose is to encourage positive relationships between law enforcement officers and community members through education on the basics of the profession, according to the release...
Stack to speak on dangers of marijuana
MOSES LAKE — Laura Stack, CEO and founder of Johnny’s Ambassadors, will be speaking at 6 p.m. on March 30 at Columba Basin Technical Skills Center in Moses Lake regarding the risks associated with marijuana use. Stack founded the organization after her son, Johnny Stack, died by suicide in 2019. “Johnny had no medical issues, no mental illnesses until he used marijuana and no genetic history for psychosis. He wasn't depressed, neglected, or unloved. But after getting a ‘medical’ marijuana card and using high-THC products, Johnny became psychotic, paranoid and delusional,” Stack said in a statement...
Area students make UW dean’s list
SEATTLE – Students from the Columbia Basin have been named to the Dean's List at the University of Washington for the Spring 2023 quarter. To qualify for the dean's list, a student must have completed at least 12 graded credits and have a grade point average of at least 3.5...
Rough morning
QUINCY - The Grant County Sheriffs Office responded to an accident near the intersection of Adams Road North and Road 9 NW Monday morning. The driver had fled the scene of the accident wherein the pictured vehicle hit a power pole, causing an unspecified number of Grant PUD customers to go without power for a time. The investigating deputy later made contact with the driver, who was not arrested. The unnamed driver told GCSO he’d fallen asleep behind the wheel on his way home from working a night shift. GCSO officials said no decision had yet been made on whether to file charges against the driver.
Chapman serves as page for Ybarra
OLYMPIA – Jacob Chapman, 15, a Selah homeschool student, recently traveled to Olympia to serve as a page in the state House of Representatives by sponsorship from District 13 Representative Alex Ybarra. "It was a pleasure sponsoring Jacob," said Ybarra (R-Quincy), in a release by his office. "I hope he enjoyed his week at the state Capitol making new friends and learning the ropes at the Legislature. I know he represented the 13th District well." ...
Pet of the Week: Mack
My name is Mack and I'm a little over 1 ½ years old and came to Grant County Animal Outreach as a stray. I'm about 45-55 pounds and am a very excitable young dog! I am learning how to play with other dogs and slowly learning how to respect their boundaries, but I don't think I can handle being around a cat. I tend to be pretty shy and leery of strangers but am very affectionate with people I know and am ALWAYS ready to chase a ball! I'm ready for a patient home willing to give me a second chance at a happy life. Call (509) 762-9616 if you have any more questions!
Two men arrested in connection with stolen lawnmower
SOAP LAKE — Two Moses Lake men were arrested on suspicion of second-degree vehicle prowling, second-degree theft and second-degree criminal trespassing after allegedly stealing equipment from a property near Soap Lake. Troy Hughes, 43, and Gabriel Gonzalez, 43, were arrested Thursday afternoon, according to a release from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. The incident occurred in the 2000 block of Road 20 NE.
The economics of labor and the week in sports on the Basin Studio Podcast
On this episode of the Studio Basin podcast, senior reporter Charles Featherstone sits down with Don Meseck, a regional labor economist with the Washington State Department of Employment Security, The two discuss the labor force in Grant and Adams Counties. Next, senior reporter Cheryl Schweizer and sports reporter Ian Bivona discuss this past week's sports action, as well as take a look at the Columbia Basin Herald's upcoming spring sports preview. The Studio Basin podcast can be found on your favorite podcast apps or downloaded directly at https://bit.ly/3yTrVbD.
Search leads to catalytic converter seizure
KENNEWICK — Hundreds of catalytic converters were seized from a Kennewick business a day after the search of a Moses Lake business and home by officers with the Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. Law enforcement officers served a search warrant at PDX Scrap Metal Wednesday afternoon, according to a GCSO press release. They seized 533 catalytic converters, the press release said, as well as raw materials from catalytic converter cores and equipment used to extract precious metals from catalytic converters.
Grant County tax statements mailed
EPHRATA — Grant County property owners who have not received tax statements by today should contact the Grant County Treasurer’s Office, according to a press release from the GCTO. Grant County Treasurer Darryl Pheasant wrote that tax statements have been mailed, including statements to landowners with delinquent taxes and assessments. Treasurer’s office employees are working on amended statements for property owners who made changes after the original statements were written, he wrote.
State wealth tax bill garners support in WA Senate hearing
OLYMPIA – A bill currently before the Washington State Senate would levy a special wealth tax on financial assets with an assessed value of more than $250 million. “We have an upside-down tax code that’s deeply in need of reform, and we continue to have massive needs for investments in education, housing, services for those with disabilities, and so much more,” said Senator Noel Frame, sponsor of Senate Bill 5486...
WA Senate passes bill to create battery recycling program
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Legislature is looking at a measure that legislators hope will increase battery recycling in the state. “We know that the use of batteries will continue to increase and it’s urgent we take action to ensure these products containing hazardous materials don’t continue to pile up in our landfills or other places they can cause health and safety concerns,” Sen. Derek Stanford, D-Bothell, sponsor of Senate Bill 5144, said in a press release...
Royal City man arrested on cocaine charges
ROYAL CITY — A Royal City man was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute following a search of his home Wednesday.
Irrigation water to flow next week
MOSES LAKE —The East Columbia Basin Irrigation District will begin filling the East Low Canal for the 2023 irrigation season on March 22, according to a statement from the ECBID. The East Low Canal serves the Moses Lake, Warden, and Othello areas of the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District and the Connell (Block 18) area of the South Columbia Basin Irrigation District.
Spring art show coming to Soap Lake
SOAP LAKE – Mihail Kivachitsky will be holding a spring reception and art talk at the end of this month featuring new work created for the Soap Lake gallery...
Gorge Amphitheater shows for 2023 - so far
GEORGE - The following shows are currently scheduled at The Gorge Amphitheatre located at 754 Silica Road NW in Geirge. Prices are subject to change at the discretion of the host and do not include booking fees and other incidental charges. Some ticket prices are only valid if purchased in pairs or greater amounts. Camping is also available for some shows at an additional cost. For more information, visit www.gorgeamphitheatre.com.
Am. Legion announces oratorical scholarship finalists
EPHRATA – The American Legion held its Washington semi-finals and finals of its Constitution Speech Contest at Big Bend Community College on March 11...