STAFF REPORT

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.” ...

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...

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.

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...

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...

Warriors excel in skills competitions

Wahluke High School’s SkillsUSA program had the students below qualify for state competition, according to a WHS announcement...

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.

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.

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...

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...

Quincy man arrested for alleged gasoline theft

QUINCY — A Quincy man was arrested on suspicion of theft and trespassing after he allegedly broke into the gas pump at an orchard near Quincy to fill his car...

Catalytic converter theft bill gets hearing

OLYMPIA — A bill to combat catalytic converter theft in Washington moves forward today with a hearing in the Senate Law and Justice Committee, according to a statement from Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview...

GCSO welcomes new deputy

EPHRATA — Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete, left, administered the oath of office to Deputy Sheriff Eli Verduzco on Monday. Verduzco comes from the Lower Yakima Valley and will be going to the Basic Law Enforcement Academy in the near future, a release by the Sheriff’s Office stated.

Moses Lake temple visitation day announced

MOSES LAKE – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has announced the opening of its new temple in Moses Lake to the public for tours...

Wenatchee-produced film to premiere March 30

WENATCHEE — The documentary “We’re Not Lost: The Last Ride of the Show Ponies,” produced by North Forty Productions of Wenatchee, will premiere this month in Wenatchee, according to a statement from North Forty. The film chronicles the American indie-grass band The Show Ponies on their final tour in 2018, bidding farewell to their fans, each other and their dreams of success in the music industry, according to the statement. The band’s tour stops included Wenatchee and Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Along the way, they examine their success, failures, and the toll it takes to keep a dream alive and a touring band on the road, the statement said. The premiere will be at 7 p.m. on March 30 at the Numerica Performing Arts Center in Wenatchee. Screenings will follow in Seattle, Prosser and Los Angeles at dates to be determined, the statement said.

CWU musicians to perform at international conference

ELLENSBURG — A group of musicians from Central Washington University will perform at an international music conference next year, according to a statement from the university...

Weather for Monday, Mar. 13, 2023

Monday: Rain likely, mainly after 10 a.m. Cloudy, with a high near 57. Breezy, with a south wind of 14 to 21 mph and gusts possibly as high as 31 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Monday night should see a chance of rain before 1 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low of about 33. Breezy. The chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation is expected. Tuesday: A chance of rain and snow before 7 a.m., then a chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 50, and the chance of precipitation is 40%. Little or no snow accumulation is expected. Tuesday night should see a slight chance of rain before 1 a.m., then a slight chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 31 and a chance of precipitation around 20%. Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 52. Wednesday night should be mostly clear, with a low around 28. Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 54, while Thursday night is expected to be partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Source: National Weather Service

Royal City, engineering firm to offer scholarship

ROYAL CITY — Engineering firm Anderson Perry & Associates announced it has created a scholarship it will award on behalf of the City of Royal City, according to a letter sent by the company to the city. The scholarship is for $1,000 and is available to Royal High School students, according to the letter. Anderson Perry & Associates will coordinate the selection of the winner, with input from representatives of the city, the letter said.

Ephrata students involved in I-90 rollover accident

No serious injuries reported

COLUMBIA BASIN – Six Ephrata High School students and one staff member were involved in a roll-over crash early Friday morning. A release by the district stated that shortly after 8 a.m. an Ephrata School District vehicle was involved in a single vehicle roll-over crash just east of Moses Lake on I-90 between the Moses Lake SR 17 exit and the Schrag Rest Area.

Test flight, a new elementary school for Moses Lake, and a basketball recap on Studio Basin Podcast

On this episode of the Studio Basin podcast, senior reporters Charles Featherstone and Cheryl Schweizer discuss recent electric engine test flights at the Grant County International Airport, a new school in the Moses Lake School District and more. Next, sports reporter Ian Bivona recaps the state basketball tournaments in Yakima and Spokane, where three local teams took home hardware. The Studio Basin podcast can be found on your favorite podcast apps, or downloaded directly at https://bit.ly/3T4dDOR.

Ready for a Space Burger?

Lioness Club of Moses Lake looks to serve tastiness in late March.

MOSES LAKE — Space Burgers are coming back.

Bill to protect retired public employees’ health insurance passes WA Senate

OLYMPIA — A bill to protect retired public employees’ access to health insurance unanimously passed the Washington State Senate Wednesday...