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EWU Dean’s List includes more than 100 Basin students
CHENEY — One hundred seven students from Grant and Adams counties were named to the Dean’s List at Eastern Washington University for spring quarter 2025, according to an announcement from the university.
One killed in Mattawa shooting
MATTAWA – At around 10 p.m. Sunday, officers from the Mattawa Police Department responded to a shooting near Hund Memorial Park, according to a Mattawa PD media release. Upon arrival, officers located an individual with apparent gunshot wounds. Medical personnel were immediately requested, and the victim was transported to a regional hospital for treatment, it said.
Traffic collision sends at least one to hospital Friday
MOSES LAKE — A traffic jam has been cleared at the intersection of Walmart Road and North Stratford Road following a collision. At least one person was transported for medical care.
City of Moses Lake announces new fire chief
MOSES LAKE — Arthur Perillo III has been hired as the new chief of the Moses Lake Fire Department. “I was initially drawn to the Moses Lake fire chief position because of the area’s abundance of sunshine, the wealth of outdoor recreation opportunities and the energy of a growing community,” Perillo wrote in a statement from the city of Moses Lake. “What truly solidified my interest was learning more about the professional and dedicated men and women who work for the city and the Moses Lake Fire Department. Perillo will take over the job Sept. 22. He replaces Brett Bastian, who retired in February. Currently Perillo is the assistant chief of emergency medical services for Las Vegas Fire and Rescue.
19 plants added to WA quarantine list
OLYMPIA – Following extensive public outreach and community petitions, the Washington State Department of Agriculture has amended its Noxious Weed Seed and Plant Quarantine list, adding several new plant species. The updated rule will take effect on August 9, 2025.
Two local health licenses suspended
MOSES LAKE – The Department of Health has suspended or restricted two licenses of healthcare providers in Grant and Adams counties.
FIRE REPORT: AUG. 12, 2025
MOSES LAKE – The fires below were burning and causing smoke and air quality concerns regionally as of Tuesday afternoon.
New Mattawa business to start construction this fall
MATTAWA — A new convenience store is scheduled to open in spring 2026 at the west side of the intersection of Government Road and State Route 243 in Mattawa. Owner Hardeep Singh and Port of Mattawa officials recognized the start of the project with a groundbreaking July 30.
Grant County coroner asks for public assistance
MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Coroner’s Office is asking for the public’s help finding the family of Deivis Alexander Torres Hernandez.
MLSD welcomes two assistant principals
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District has announced the appointment of two new assistant principals for the upcoming 2025–26 school year. Annie Hindman has been named assistant principal at Columbia Middle School, while Teri Clark will take on the same role at Frontier Middle School.
Moses Lake man dies in collision near Soap Lake
SOAP LAKE — A Moses Lake man was killed Saturday morning in a collision just outside Soap Lake, according to a statement from the Washington State Patrol. The man was identified as Ricardo Alcantar Mesina, 39, according to the statement.
Two injured in collision near Ephrata
EPHRATA — An East Wenatchee woman was airlifted to Confluence Health-Central Washington Hospital after she ran a stop sign and hit another car about five miles south of Ephrata Monday morning.
Lightning causes fire at Moses Lake cold storage facility
MOSES LAKE – A structure fire at a Moses Lake cold storage warehouse in the 3200 block of Road N Northeast Thursday afternoon appears to have been caused by a lightning strike, according to a City of Moses Lake press release.
Troopers increasing patrols near Gorge this weekend
MOSES LAKE — The Washington State Patrol will ramp up enforcement this weekend around the Gorge Amphitheatre, according to an announcement from the WSP. The High-Visibility Enforcement, or HiVE, patrols are meant to reduce serious injury and fatality collisions, the WSP wrote. The WSP will partner with other law enforcement agencies in the effort.
Public’s help sought in determining identity of John Doe
QUINCY — Quincy Police Department officers are asking for the public’s help in determining whether or not a body found in Georgia in 2009 is a man who had ties to Grant County.
Masquers to audition for ‘Little Shop of Horrors’
SOAP LAKE — Auditions for the Masquers Theater production of “Little Shop of Horrors” will take place Aug. 16-17, according to an announcement from the theater troupe. All roles are for adults and are available, according to the announcement. Auditioners will be asked to sing a verse or chorus from the play, preferably one specific to the character for which they’re auditioning, and do a cold read of lines from the script. Auditions will be recorded for the final selection process. An audition form is available at the Masquers website and should be submitted along with a headshot. Resumes are optional.
WSDOT adjusts ramp closures near Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE — The Washington State Department of Transportation issued updated schedules Tuesday for the paving work being done on Interstate 90 near Moses Lake. The closures will begin with the eastbound onramp closure at Exit 174 scheduled for July 30 and 31 from 7 a.m.-noon and the eastbound offramp closure is now scheduled for July 31 from 7 a.m.-noon, according to the WSDOT announcement.
Port of Moses Lake passes reporting audit
MOSES LAKE — The Port of Moses Lake recently passed an audit of the municipality’s financial reporting for the 2023 calendar year, according to a report from the Washington State Auditor’s Office.
Othello man convicted of sexually abusing child
RITZVILLE — A sentencing date will be announced in August in the case of an Othello man convicted Thursday of sexual assault of a child.
Fire burns about 100 acres near Mattawa
MATTAWA — A wildland fire scorched about 100 acres about two miles west of Mattawa Tuesday afternoon. Grant County Fire District 8 Chief Matt Hyndman said the fire was reported at about 4:45 p.m.
Temporary repairs completed on damaged Moses Lake wastewater pipe
MOSES LAKE — The first phase of repairs has been completed on a broken wastewater line keeping people and pets out of Moses Lake near Montlake Park. People are still being advised to stay out of the lake next to the park until further notice. Chris Campbell, the city’s wastewater manager, said in a city press release that he appreciated the patience of the residents near the worksite. “We put in some very long hours last week, and I am more than certain we disrupted your peace, quiet and sense of smell,” Campbell said. “There will be no more late nights unless absolutely necessary.” The partially broken line was discovered July 6; it connects to the city’s Dunes wastewater treatment facility. Temporary repairs were completed in less than a week, with the damaged line going back into use at 1 a.m. July 12.
Royal City man dies in rollover near Othello
OTHELLO — A Royal City man was killed when he was ejected from the pickup he was driving about four miles west of Othello Saturday evening.
MLPD conducts operation near Samaritan Hospital
MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Tactical Response team is conducting an operation near Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake close to the intersection of E. Wheeler Road and S. Buchanan Street. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
One dies in canal accident near Ephrata
EPHRATA – Kevin Kershaw, 55, of Yakima was attempting to drive his 2025 GMC Sierra on the canal road when he attempted to turn around and lost control of the vehicle Thursday. The vehicle slid into the canal and Kershaw was found deceased downstream from the vehicle.
Mattawa crash injures one
MATTAWA — A Renton man was transported to Kadlec Regional Medical Center Wednesday after he drove off the road and rolled his semitruck. Kibret Ghulbet, 39, was driving south on State Route 234 about 13 miles south of Mattawa Wednesday when he ran off the road, according to a press memo from the Washington State Patrol. Ghulbet overcorrected and rolled his truck. The crash closed SR 243 for about four hours.
Soap Lake to celebrate Suds ‘N Sun on Saturday
SOAP LAKE — Suds ‘N Sun, Soap Lake’s big summer celebration, will be Saturday, according to an announcement from the Soap Lake Chamber of Commerce.
Two firefighters dead, one hospitalized after Canfield Mountain shooting near Coeur d'Alene
Emergency responders from North Idaho and Spokane rushed to Canfield Mountain on Sunday afternoon following reports of a possible ambush attack on firefighters responding to a brush fire on the mountain in Coeur d'Alene.
Free Care-A-Van vaccine clinic in Warden today
WARDEN – The Warden School District and Washington State Department of Health are partnering to host a free community clinic offering vaccinations and health screenings to local residents today, Friday June 27.
CWU honors 94 Basin students
ELLENSBURG — Ninety-four students from Grant and Adams counties were named to Central Washington University’s Honor Roll for spring quarter 2025, according to an announcement from the university
Seattle man injured in Saturday morning crash
MOSES LAKE — A Seattle man was transported to Samaritan Hospital after he drifted off the road while driving about one mile east of Moses Lake late Saturday morning.
Port of Mattawa to implement new procedures for expenses
MATTAWA — The Port of Mattawa will update its policies for expenditures following recommendations from the Washington State Auditor’s Office. Auditors found that port policies left it vulnerable to possible misuse of its funds.
Canal break closes road near Quincy Saturday
WINCHESTER — A break in the wall of an irrigation canal closed a road for a few hours about four miles south of Winchester Saturday morning.
One fire blazing in WA
ENTIAT — The Pomas Fire, reported on June 13, has rapidly grown to 910 acres in size as of Thursday. The fire is situated 36 miles northwest of Entiat, within the rugged Glacier Peak Wilderness, according to a report on Inciweb. There are no updates on containment as of Thursday. “This is an extreme(ly) tough piece of ground with all the dead and down timber from the 2015 Wolverine Fire and 10 years’ worth of thick regeneration,” said Holly Krake in a statement from Entiat-Chelan District Ranger for the Forest Service. “The smokejumpers and pilots are doing everything they safely can to keep fire from becoming established on the east side of the Entiat River and down in Snowbrushy Creek.”
Public’s help sought in finding missing Spokane girl
SPOKANE — The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is asking for the public’s help in finding a Spokane girl missing since June 13.
Quincy man killed in collision identified
QUINCY — A Quincy man killed in a vehicle collision June 7 has been identified.
Quincy man arrested for attempted theft
EPHRATA — An unidentified man was taken into custody Saturday evening after being sought as a suspect in a theft near Ephrata.
GALLERY: Looking back at May 2025
COLUMBIA BASIN – May was a busy month in Grant and Adams counties with the end of spring sports, a variety of community events and community members coming together for a variety of reasons. Here are just a few glimpses of what May held for the Basin.
Carjacking near I-90
MOSES LAKE – On Thursday around 2 p.m., two women were assaulted and had their vehicle stolen by two white males, according to Grant County Sherrif’s Office. The incident happened along I-90 at Road U-Southeast about 10 miles East of Moses Lake. GCSO reported that the victims have non-life-threatening injuries. They said the suspects are believed to be headed to Spokane via I-90. The detail of the vehicle is a Gray 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche, Washington license D54618D. Updates on the situation will be made available on the GCSO Facebook page.
No injuries in Moses Lake outdoor grill fire
MOSES LAKE — An outdoor grill prompted a response from the Moses Lake Fire Department Wednesday afternoon. No injuries were reported.
Teen survives high-speed chase Othello vehicle theft
OTHELLO – A 14-year-old boy was involved in a high-speed pursuit Sunday, following the theft of a vehicle in Othello, according to a statement from the Othello Police Department.
Wildfire near Quincy, evacuations in place
QUINCY – A fire started around 3 a.m. Thursday near Road 13 Northwest east of Adams Road, according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. According to Watch Duty, the fire was under control at around 126 acres as of 5 p.m. There were no injuries or damaged structures, according to the GCSO. “Current conditions present a specific and immediate threat to life and safety of persons in this area,” the GCSO wrote in a statement. There are level two fire evacuations in place for the area near the fire. Level 1 means "Be Ready," Level 2 means "Be Set," and Level 3 means "Go Now." Updates will come as more information becomes available.
Roadwork to delay traffic near Wenatchee
WENATCHEE — Travelers in the Wenatchee area should be prepared for delays on Highway 97A between Wenatchee and Entiat and on Highway 2 near Leavenworth.
Mattawa man killed when car rolls
OTHELLO — A Mattawa man was killed when he was ejected from his car when it drifted off the roadway and rolled early Tuesday morning. Sergio Corrales, 52, was driving south on state Route 243 about 10 miles west of Mattawa when his car drifted off the road, according to a statement from the Washington State Patrol. Corrales overcorrected and drove back across the road. His car rolled, coming to rest on its top. The incident occurred about 3:45 a.m. Corrales was not wearing a seatbelt, the WSP statement said. His passenger, Sonia Corrales, 53, also was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected. She was transported to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland.
GALLERY: Memorial Day memories
COLUMBIA BASIN — On the last Monday of May, Americans across the nation, and across the Basin, come together to honor those who have fallen in their country’s service. The Columbia Basin Herald will have coverage of this year’s solemnities in tomorrow’s edition; meanwhile, here are some scenes from Memorial Days past.
Two Washington veterans cemeteries named among top 10 list
RENO, Nev. — Two Washington cemeteries were among the most beloved in America, according to a survey by Choice Mutual.
Moses Lake Spring Fest schedule
MOSES LAKE — This weekend is Moses Lake’s biggest blowout of the year, Spring Fest. Here’s where and when it’s all happening. All events are at McCosh Park unless otherwise noted.
Moses Lake SD business manager candidate forum tonight
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District patrons are being invited to talk to – and give their opinions about – finalists for the job of MLSD business manager tonight at 4 p.m. at the district’s transportation office, 940 E. Yonezawa Blvd. Candidates will introduce themselves and answer questions submitted by district patrons; people are encouraged to submit questions via QR code that will be available at the meeting. People will be asked to submit their impressions of the candidates after each person finishes.
BBCC celebrates Outstanding Student Award winners
MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College faculty recognized their top students from the 2024-25 academic year during a ceremony May 6.
GALLERY: Scenes from April
COLUMBIA BASIN — There was a lot happening in the Basin last month. Here are a few highlights you might have missed:
One injured in three-vehicle collision on SR 17
MOSES LAKE – A three-vehicle collision occurred on State Route 17 about five miles north of Moses Lake at around 9 p.m. Monday, according to the Washington State Patrol.