STAFF REPORT

Fire rules tightened in Eastern Washington

SPOKANE — Fire restrictions in Eastern Washington have been expanded, according to a press release from the Bureau of Land Management. Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, including charcoal briquette fires is now prohibited in the following counties, according to the release: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima. Smoking and the use of off-road vehicles are also prohibited on public lands administered by the BLM and the Bureau of Reclamation in Eastern Washington. Also, the discharge of firearms is banned except while engaged in a lawful hunt pursuant to state, federal or tribal law and regulations, on public lands administered by the BLM and BOR in the following counties: Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, and Yakima. The temporary ban will take effect at midnight Friday, the release said.

Schools receive grants for locally-produced food

OLYMPIA — School districts across Washington that were awarded grants under the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s $3.5 million program to help schools buy locally grown food can apply for reimbursement under the program beginning on Sept. 1, according to a press release from the Washington State Department of Agriculture...

Soap Lake to hold pancake fundraiser

SOAP LAKE - The Soap Lake Community and Senior Center is holding a pancake breakfast fundraiser where proceeds will go towards operation costs of the center. The breakfast will be all-you-can-eat buttermilk pancakes with links and applesauce. The fundraiser will be held Aug. 27, from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at the Soap Lake Community and Senior Center, 121 2nd Ave SE. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for kids.

Seven arrested in Grant Co. for sex abuse

GRANT COUNTY — The Washington State Patrol announced Thursday the arrest of seven men in Grant County in a major operation involving the sexual abuse and exploitation of children, according to a WSP press release. The seven men were arrested over the course of several days by the WSP’s Missing and Exploited Children Task Force, the WSP said, in “Operation Net Nanny” designed to target persons involved in child abuse and exploitation on the Internet. According to the WSP press release, the seven men are Abraham Calderon, 19, of Moses Lake; Omar Ivan Macinas-Garza, 39, of Grandview; Fulgencio Ramos, 21, of Quincy; Robert Jeffrey Bancroft, 20, of Marysville; Joshua Kenneth Leonard, 44, of Omak; Jerardo Ramon Reyes, 29, and Mason Piling, 27, both of Moses Lake...

Gorge weapons suspect out on bond

EPHRATA - A press release by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday afternoon gave an update on the suspect involved in what GCSO initially thought might be a plan to commit a mass shooting at the Gorge Amphitheater. Last Friday, Jonathan Moody, 30, of Ephrata, was arrested after suspicious actions that led Live Nation security to detaining Moody and disarming him of two 9mm pistols...

Commission approves Cascade Gas rate increase

LACEY — The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has reached a provisional agreement with Kennewick-based Cascade Natural Gas that will allow the company to go ahead with a $7.2 million rate increase, according to a commission press release. The proposed rate increase of 5.81% is significantly less than the 11.1% increase Cascade originally sought in September 2021. The settlement reached between the company and the commission also changes how Cascade is allowed to depreciate its assets to offset the increase in revenue, the press release said. According to the commission, a typical residential natural gas customer using 54 therms of natural gas — roughly 5,400 cubic feet — will see their monthly bill increase by $1.51 to around $55.59, the press release noted.

Wapato man receives 50-year sentence for three homicides

SPOKANE — A Wapato man who pleaded guilty earlier this year to three counts of second-degree murder on Yakama tribal land has been sentenced to 50 years in federal prison, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington in Spokane. Clifton Frank Peter, 37, pleaded guilty earlier to killing three people with a shotgun following what the press release called a day spent consuming alcohol and playing video games in his house located inside the boundaries of the Confederated Bands and Tribes of the Yakama Nation. The names and ages of the victims were not given in the press release. Peter was arrested by Yakima County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Yakama Nation Police. “Three people are dead. Two children have been orphaned without any immediate family in the United States. A family patriarch will never see his grandchildren graduate from high school or walk his daughter down the aisle,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref in the press release. “Violence like this is not normal and cannot be normalized.” ...

Police records for Aug. 24, 2022

A summary of first responder calls from local law enforcement agencies.

Yakima project “flip-flop” operations underway

YAKIMA – A press release by the Bureau of Reclamation states they will begin their annual “flip-flop” operation in late August to aid in successful spawning and incubation of chinook salmon eggs. The bureau, in the release, urges those recreating or working along Yakima basin rivers to exercise caution, especially in the Yakima River near Thorp. They urge people to avoid areas where spillway water flows into the river, portage around buoys, and stay out of dangerously turbulent flows. The release also states flows out of Keechelus and Cle Elum reservoirs in the upper Yakima River basin will gradually decrease, while flows from Kachess and Rimrock reservoirs will increase. This operation will affect flows in the Tieton and Naches rivers as well as the upper Yakima, Cle Elum, and Kachess rivers in the upper Yakima basin. In other words, flows from these facilities will transition, or “flip-flop.” Real-time streamflow information can be found on Reclamation’s website at https://on.doi.gov/3R6Irfw.

Ephrata SD to hold tech safety lecture

EPHRATA - On Aug. 25, the Ephrata School District will be hosting a free lecture to help families navigate the challenge of creating a safe space online for children. “Students use technology to play, learn and communicate while at home and at school. It’s important that they use that technology responsibly,” said Sharon Scellick, Director of Teaching and Learning at Ephrata Schools, in a press release from the district. “Following a day working with our educators on these concepts, the community event will share similar, great information with our families. We aim to partner with families to help students maximize their learning and to keep them safe.”

State officials ask for help in eliminating invasive species.

OLYMPIA — Officials with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Washington State Department of Agriculture are asking property owners and residents to check their trees, water features and other outdoor fixtures for any invasive species. “We have a forest health crisis in Washington, and we know that outbreaks of invasive insects and diseases are one of the leading threats to the long-term health of our forests,” said Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz in a press release. “Our all-lands, all-hands approach to forest health means we need everyone pitching in to help protect our forested land from invasive pests.” According to the press release, late summer is the best time to check trees for invasive pests because heat and dry weather make them easier to spot. A Washington State University researcher found evidence of sooty bark disease while walking his dog through a park in Tacoma, while a biologist made the first confirmed sighting of an emerald ash borer in the Pacific Northwest while waiting to pick his children up from a summer camp near Portland, Oregon, the press release noted...

Confluence Health to rename Moses Lake location

MOSES LAKE — The Confluence Health Moses Lake Clinic will get a new name by the summer of 2023, according to a Confluence press release. Confluence Health officials announced in the press release Monday that the clinic will be known as the Moses Lake Campus once the changes are complete. Central Washington Hospital and Wenatchee Valley Hospital also will get new names, according to the press release...

Fire near St. John 100% contained

ST. JOHN — The Wagner Road Fire has been contained after burning approximately 7,300 acres. A press release from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources stated that the fire started on Aug. 18 about 12 miles west of St. John. The fire burned approximately 7,381 acres of rangeland, stubble and standing wheat. Firefighters patrolled for hot spots on Aug. 21 along the perimeter of the fire, extinguishing the few hotspots that were discovered. This work brought the fire to 100% contained, the release stated. The cause of the fire remains undetermined.

Goodwill program receives funding for digital literacy program

TACOMA - A press release by Goodwill states that the five Goodwill agencies that serve Washington have received a one-year $3.68 million grant extension from the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Broadband Office to bring digital literacy, acces, and training services to all 39 counties of the state after a successful six-month pilot program. “In collaboration with all the other regional Goodwill organizations in Washington, we are thrilled to provide digital navigation services across the entire state,” said Eu-wanda Eagans, senior vice president of Workforce Development for Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region in the release. “We are building a scalable, collaborative platform that can provide critical digital resources, training, and skill-building for the foreseeable future.” The release states the digital divide – lack of access to technology devices, the internet, and digital skills – in Washington is most pronounced among low-income and otherwise marginalized communities that are often culturally diverse and multilingual. The Digital Navigation Services program, Goodwill Connect, reaches people who are at the highest risk of digital exclusion. By June 2023, the program will provide 3,000 qualified individuals with Chromebooks that have three months of built-in internet connectivity, the release states. To qualify to receive a Chromebook, the release stated, an individual or family must be 135% or more below the federal poverty line. Washington residents interested in Chromebooks must call the hotline to determine eligibility and each region will have a strategy to ensure that people lacking technology skills, a device, or the internet are prioritized. The website goodwillconnect.com and the Digital Resource Hotline at 844-GWCONNECT (844-492-6663) are the primary methods of contacting a Digital Navigator and inquiring about the program.

Stuffed chickens, space burgers, bull riders and quarterbacks

Episode IV of the Studio Basin Podcast out now

This week's episode digs into the happenings at the Grant County fair with virtual and stuffed chicken showings, good vendor food and a discussion with sports reporter Ian Bivona about his first ever fair. We also delve into how the Seahawks' preseason is going, WNBA action with the Storm, local sports teams getting out to practice and when the annual Gridiron Guide will hit news racks.

Five hurt in rollover near Othello

OTHELLO — Five people were injured in a single-vehicle accident near Othello Wednesday. Aleyssa J. Hernandez, 21, of Othello was driving westbound on state Route 24 southwest of Othello in a 2014 Honda Accord when she failed to negotiate a curve in the road, according to a press release from the Washington State Patrol. The vehicle rolled over, ejecting all four passengers and partially ejecting Hernandez, before crashing into a barbed-wire fence. Also injured in the rollover were 19-year-old Victoria F. Delatorre of Othello, 19-year-old Freddy Gonzalez Rodriguez of Othello and two 16-year-old girls. All were transported to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland. None of the injured was wearing a seat belt, and neither drugs nor alcohol was a factor, according to the WSP.

Soap Lake man arrested on outstanding warrants

SOAP LAKE — In a joint effort, the Soap Lake Police Department and Grant County Sheriff’s Office arrested 30-year-old James Ghent of Soap Lake on outstanding felony warrants Wednesday morning, according to a press release from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. The press release by GCSO stated Ghent was in possession of tools commonly used in burglaries...

GCHD to offer COVID-19 vaccinations at county libraries

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Health District will be offering COVID-19 vaccination clinics at NCW Libraries locations throughout the county beginning Aug. 23. The clinics will serve patients six months of age and older who haven’t been vaccinated, as well as providing booster doses, according to a joint press release from GCHD and NCW Libraries. They’re walk-in only; no appointments are required, the press release said. People should be ready to wait 15 minutes after receiving the shot. Health department staff will be using the Moderna vaccine. Booster doses can be administered to all patients regardless of the previous type of vaccine they received, according to the press release. No insurance or identification is required. People will be asked for their name, date of birth and some pertinent medical history, the press release said.

GCSO officers give theft victims new bikes

MOSES LAKE - A Grant County Sheriff’s Deputy headed an effort to raise money to gift two new electric bikes to a family who had theirs stolen, according to a GCSO statement. In a release by GCSO, Deputy Zane Bundy delivered two new electric bikes on Sunday to a family who had been the victim of a burglary. The Larson Community family had expressed to deputies that their kids had respect for law enforcement officers and that the loss of the bikes would be a huge impact on the family, the release said. “Deputy Bundy, with his heart strings pulled, passed the hat to all GCSO members, raising enough money to buy two new bikes for the kids,” thestatement said.

Pasco man injured in Mattawa collision

MATTAWA — A Pasco man was transported to Kadlec Medical Center in Kennewick after he failed to negotiate a roundabout near Mattawa and ran off the road Tuesday morning. Roy Limon, 80, was attempting to go through the roundabout at the intersection of State Route 243 and Government Road about 5:30 a.m. when he ran off the road, according to a press memo from the Washington State Patrol. Limon’s car came to a stop in a ditch on the southbound side. Limon was not wearing a seatbelt, the WSP memo said. The collision is still under investigation...

Moses Lake woman dies in rollover

MANSFIELD — A Moses Lake woman is dead after a single-vehicle accident early Saturday morning, according to a press release from the Washington State Patrol. Stephanie M. Starkweather, 35, was driving south on state Route 17 about 15 miles south of Mansfield in a 2005 Dodge Magnum at about 2 a.m. when she failed to negotiate a curve. Her vehicle left the roadway, rolled multiple times down an embankment and caught fire, according to the WSP. Starkweather died at the scene. It was unknown whether drugs or alcohol was involved, or whether Starkweather was wearing a seatbelt, the WSP wrote.

Wenatchee pet organizations support pet owners in need

WENATCHEE - Several Wenatchee Valley pet organizations have come together to support pet owners experiencing hard times. In a press release, Wenatchee Valley Humane Society, Firehouse Pet Shop, Earthwise Pet Shop, PetSmart, and Petco said they would like to remind pet owners that they are there for support during trying times. If someone is in need of pet boarding, food or supplies due to an emergency they are asked to reach out. The release also says that those who are issued a level 3 evacuation notice during a wildfire can look to the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society for free emergency pet boarding if needed. Anyone interested in emergency boarding should call the shelter ahead of time to ensure there is space available, even if that means calling while driving to the shelter, the release states. Wenatchee Valley Humane Society also offers a free pet food pantry on the last Saturday of every month. If pet food is needed before the last Saturday of the month please reach out. “Make sure you’re prepared and remember that your community has your back,” the release states. To volunteer, donate, or for more information visit wenatcheehumane.org, email [email protected] or call (509) 662-9577.

Spokane man sentenced for COVID-19 relief fraud

SPOKANE — A Spokane man has been sentenced to five years probation for COVID-19 relief fraud, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Eastern Washington. Roshon Edward Thomas, 42, was sentenced in federal court for fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief funding for small businesses, according to the release. This is the first sentence in a case brought by the Eastern Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force since its creation earlier this year, the release said...

State awards grants to support local arts and festivals

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Commerce announced Monday that it is awarding more than $71,000 to arts organizations and local festivals in the Columbia Basin. The grants, made in collaboration with the Washington Festivals and Events Association and ArtsWA, are part of $3.3 million in funds awarded to 284 organizations in 36 of Washington’s 39 counties, according to the announcement. Grants can be used to restart local festivals and events suspended in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic or to stabilize depleted budgets, according to the press release. Recipients can use the funds for deposits on infrastructure (security, temporary fencing, staging, lights, sound equipment, etc.) and staff and labor costs. Grants ranged from $178 to $35,000 and were based on need and demonstrated losses. The program was made possible through a tourism relief grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration...

Adams Co. unemployment continues to fall

ELLENSBURG — Unemployment in Adams County fell to 3.8% in June 2022, the fifth straight monthly decline this year, according to preliminary data published by the Washington State Department of Employment Security last week. According to the report, the preliminary unemployment rate is significantly lower than the 5.2% posted in June 2021, with year-over-year unemployment figures posting declines for the last 15 months. The decline in unemployment comes even as the county’s civilian workforce grew 7.8% in June 2022 when compared with June 2021, the report noted. However, despite those figures, the report noted that the total Adams County civilian workforce is still smaller in June 2022 than it was in June 2019 prior to the shutdowns in early 2020 in response to the outbreak of COVID-19. It also stated that 10,937 county residents were counted in the civilian workforce in June 2022 compared with 11,163 in June 2019. Nearly every non-farm employment sector posted gains in employment, the report said. However, the number of workers in the county’s mining, logging and construction sectors fell by 27.3% in June 2022 to 80 from 110 the same month in 2021. The report noted that 90% of workers listed as employed in manufacturing work in food processing, with total manufacturing employment rising 5.3% to 1,200 jobs in June 2022 from 1,140 jobs the previous year. “Year over year, manufacturing employment in Adams County has increased in each of the past 14 months,” the report said.

DOC to examine women’s prison practices

TUMWATER — The Washington State Department of Corrections has been handed an evaluation of the needs of the newly-created Women’s Prison Division, according to a press release from the DOC. The study, called the Gender Informed Practices Assessment, is a comprehensive assessment that identifies areas of opportunity to develop a more robust gender-responsive program and takes a compressive systemic look at women’s prison practices, from admission to release, the DOC wrote. This assessment was originally set to begin more than two years ago, but COVID-19-related delays pushed it back to October 2021...

Moses Lake physician surrenders medical license

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake osteopathic physician has agreed to surrender his credential to practice medicine in Washington, effective Sept. 1. Dr. Allen Quinn also has agreed to never resume the practice of medicine in Washington, according to an agreed order issued July 14 by the Washington Department of Health. Quinn cannot practice medicine in Washington in any capacity, including temporary, emergency or volunteer practice, the DOH order said. Quinn had been subject to a previous DOH agreed order placing some requirements on his practice. “Respondent has failed to comply with all the terms and conditions of the September 2013 agreed order. Specifically, the evidence indicates that Respondent continued to treat and prescribe controlled substances to non-hospice chronic pain patients, contrary to the restrictions imposed in the September 2013 agreed order,” according to the July 14 order...

STUDIO BASIN: GCSO's Kyle Foreman talks about crime and disasters, Mavericks suffer heartbreaking, last-second defeat

Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman joins Charles Featherstone and Ian Bivona this week to talk about using social media to cover crime, keeping the public informed about both natural and man-made disasters, and what you should do with your smoke detector batteries when we turn the clocks back on Sunday. In sports, Ian Bivona talks about the unexpected lead of the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West, a slew of title games for teams competing in fall sports, and how the Moses Lake High School Mavericks saw victory slip away in the very last second of an amazing game. This week’s podcast is available at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2017652/11633081.

Reclamation seeks comments on Grant Coulee security upgrades

GRAND COULEE – In a press release on Aug. 15, the Bureau of Reclamation stated they are inviting the public to identify issues or alternatives for consideration in the development of an environmental assessment for the Grand Coulee Security Response Force Upgrades project. The release states that Reclamation proposes to relocate or install new guard stations, create improved inspection areas, establish additional or improved security cameras and lighting, and replace or install security gates, fences and intrusion detection systems. Reclamation is also proposing the construction of new buildings, installation of utilities and access road improvements. The public can provide input through a web-based, virtual public meeting room website at www.virtualpublicmeeting.com/grand-coulee-srf-ea-scoping. Virtual meeting visitors can view public meeting materials, pose questions, view answers, and submit comments. The 15-day public comment period is open from Aug. 15 to Aug. 29. The release states scoping comments can be submitted to [email protected]. Written comments can be sent to: Jason Sutter, natural resource specialist Bureau of Reclamation Columbia–Pacific Northwest Region 1150 N. Curtis Road Boise, ID 83706. Comments must be submitted/postmarked by Aug. 29. For more additional information, visit https://on.doi.gov/3QHW1WE.

Two victims perish in camper trailer fire

WHEELER — A fire early Monday at an RV park has claimed the lives of two people, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.. At around 3:45 a.m., GCSO deputies, as well as firefighters with Grant County Fire District 5 and the Moses Lake Fire Department, responded to a report of a fire in the Cougar Campers RV Park. When theft arrived, first responders found a fifth-wheel trailer fully engulfed in flames, the statement said. After extinguishing the fire, firefighters found two bodies believed to be the occupants of the trailer. The bodies are in the care of Grant County Coroner Craig Morrison, where they will be identified and an autopsy will be performed. The Grant County Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire, the statement said.

Date set for ECBID water cutoff

OTHELLO — The East Columbia Basin Irrigation District announced Thursday that it will halt all water deliveries on Oct. 20, at which time ditch riders will close all farm unit and water service turnouts and begin to drain the distribution system, according to a district press release. The last day for water orders is Oct. 18, the district said, with last changes made to water orders on Oct. 19, the press release said. The ECBID also said it will begin scaling back ditch rider service from six days per week to five days per week beginning Sept. 4, with full ditch rider service available Monday through Friday until the district stops taking orders. In addition, district watermaster offices in Othello and Moses Lake will close on weekends beginning on Sept. 10. Water customers with questions about deliveries for the rest of the season should contact the main office at 509-488-9671.

DSHS annual art contest celebrates Child Support Awareness Month in August

OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee has proclaimed August as Child Support Awareness Month. In recognition of this, the Department of Social and Health Services’ Division of Child Support is soliciting entries to its annual art contest. “Child support provides the necessary means that many Washington state families rely on in order to help children realize their dreams and become future leaders,” the release from DSHS said. Children through age 17 are invited to submit artwork and/or photography illustrating an answer to the question, “How will you change the world?” Submissions are accepted through Aug. 15, and should be emailed in high-resolution JPG format to [email protected]. Selected artwork will be featured in a 2023 calendar made available free-of-charge later this fall at Division of Child Support offices, the release stated.

Body found, believed to be missing Othello-area man

WARDEN — Identification is pending on a body found near Warden that may be that of a missing Othello-area man. Audel Espinoza-Duenas, 45, was reported missing Aug. 4, after last being seen near his home about five miles south of the Potholes Reservoir. Grant County Sheriff’s detectives had asked for the public’s help in finding him. “Detectives found the body at about 10:30 a.m. (Friday) at Warden Outfall public fishing access area,” wrote Kyle Foreman, GCSO public information officer.

New Moses Lake High School mascot logo revealed

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District administrators have announced the new logo to go with the new name of the Moses Lake High School mascot, the Mavericks. The new logo depicts a bull in the school’s maroon-and-gold color scheme. “Student and community input was crucial for finding the mascot that represents our community,” according to an MLSD press release. “The new mascot evokes strength, determination and perseverance – embodying the values of community and the future of Moses Lake High School,” the press release said. Students at the high school were previously known as the Chiefs, but district officials were required to change the mascot after the passage of HB 1356 by the Washington Legislature in April 2021. The law prohibits the use of Native American names, symbols or images in public school mascots, logos or team names without formal permission from the appropriate federally-recognized Native American tribe.

ACSO arrests man in connection with trespass

RITZVILLE — The Adams County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man wanted in connection with trespassing following last week’s fire south of Lind. In a statement, ACSO deputies arrested Richard Dean Hendrickson, 35, of Lind, for second-degree criminal trespass, and booked him into the Adams County Jail on Wednesday afternoon. Hendrickson was sought after ACSO deputies responded to a report of criminal trespass in the 300 block of S. Van Marter Avenue on Aug. 6, and was again spotted in Lind on Tuesday, Aug. 9, when he fled, according to the ACSO posting. According to the statement, while fleeing, Hendrickson violated two no-contact orders and was already wanted for two previous no-contact order violations. Because Hendrickson already has two felony convictions for similar offenses, the ACSO posting said the current charges could be increased to a felony from a misdemeanor.

GCSO identifies driver, victims in fatal crash

MOSES LAKE — Investigators with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office have determined who was driving the vehicle during a single-car accident on July 30 west of Moses Lake that left one person dead and three injured. According to a GCSO statement, investigators determined that Kari S. Ortega, 22, of Moses Lake, was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier west on South Frontage Road near Hiawatha when she failed to negotiate a curve. That prompted her to lose control of the car, which rolled several times and ejected all four occupants. The GCSO said Armando D. Lopez of Quincy died at the scene, while Christopher Rios Chavez, 18, of Quincy, was admitted to a Spokane hospital for treatment, as was an unnamed 14-year-old girl from Quincy, who has since been admitted to a rehabilitation center for treatment of her injuries. In its post, the GCSO said it continues to investigate the accident.

Soap Lake to light up the water this weekend

SOAP LAKE — Kayaks, paddle boards and canoes will take to the waters of Soap Lake Saturday for the annual Paddle Races/Moonlight Paddle sponsored by the Soap Lake Chamber of Commerce. Events are scheduled for 3 to 10 p.m. at the East Beach Park, at the intersection of Canna Street North and First Avenue NE. Race registration is $5 per person. Registration and other activities open at 3 p.m. at the park. Activities include live music, a beer garden, food vendors and three bouncy houses for children. Admission to the bouncy houses is free...

State council gets federal workforce improvement grant

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Student Achievement Council has been awarded a $23.5 million grant under a U.S. Department of Commerce workforce training program.

Man airlifted after dirt bike-vehicle collision

MOSES LAKE — A man was airlifted to Confluence Health-Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee after his dirt bike collided with a car Monday morning near Moses Lake. Don Palmen was driving south on Moon Drive NE near the Moses Lake city limits at about 8:30 a.m. Monday when he hit a car, according to information from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. The driver of the car, Lily Knowles, was driving east on Dorothy Street NE. The GCSO report said Palmen failed to stop at the stop sign on Moon Drive. Palmen was treated at the scene and was later transported to CWH. Knowles and her passenger were not injured, the GCSO report said.

Folk musician Billy Prine to perform at Cave B

QUINCY — A concert featuring folk musicians Billy Prine and the Prine Time Band has been rescheduled to 6 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Cave B Winery, 348 Silica Road NW. The concert originally was scheduled for Aug. 6 but had to be postponed due to poor air quality, according to information from Shawn Cardwell, Columbia Basin Allied Arts executive director. Cave B and CBAA are the concert sponsors. Prine is the brother of legendary folk musician John Prine, who died in 2020. Billy Prine will perform original music and some of his brother’s songs, along with telling stories about his brother and their family life. Tickets are $35 and are available at the CBAA website, www.cba-arts.org.

Ag officials warn against rabbit virus

OLYMPIA — Officials with the Washington State Department of Agriculture have confirmed the presence in the state of yet another highly infectious animal disease with the discovery of two cases of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type 2, also known as RHDV2, in a single household in Thurston county in late July. In a press release issued last week, WSDA said the confirmation of the Thurston County cases follow the discovery of RHDV2 in King County in May and two Oregon counties in late July. WSDA said in response, state officials and rabbit owners need to improve biosecurity in order to limit the spread of the disease. “Stopping this disease from spreading starts with rabbit owners employing biosecurity measures such as limiting contact with wild rabbits, isolating new rabbits from existing ones for 21 days, paying attention to where feed is sourced from, and keeping your rabbits housed off the ground or indoors,” Washington State Veterinarian Amber Itle said in the press release...

Grant County business survey shows mixed results

EPHRATA — China is the most important export market for major businesses in Grant County, according to the Grant County Economic Development Council’s recently released Wage and Benefits Survey for 2022. The survey, conducted with assistance from the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Analysis at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, received responses from 19 companies operating in Grant County, found that 84.5% of the companies surveyed export some share of their output, with China being the most important buyer of Grant County products. China is followed by Japan, the rest of Asia and then Canada. Companies responding to the survey were not named in the 57-page report. Of the responding companies, 14 had operations in Moses Lake, two in Quincy, and two in Othello, while the others did not respond. One company responding to the survey has been operating at its current site in Grant County for 106 years, while the newest company in the survey has only been in the area for five years. The largest company in the survey reported having 678 full-time employees — 94 of them salaried — for a total payroll of $44 million while the smallest company reported having 11 full-time employees with only one salaried position for a total annual payroll of $550,000...

BBCC releases spring academic lists

MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College released its spring president’s and vice president’s lists. According to Big Bend’s website, students who make the president’s list must complete 12 or more graded credits with a GPA of 3.75 or above. Students who make the vice president’s list must complete 12 or more graded credits with a GPA between 3.33 and 3.74...

Hot weather presents challenges in dementia care

Hot summer weather can pose a special risk to people suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia conditions, but there are ways for caregivers to minimize the risk. “The dangers of extreme temperatures, which can cause heat stroke in a matter of minutes, are magnified for someone living with dementia,” Jennifer Reeder, director of educational and social services for the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, wrote in a press release. “Dementia-related illnesses can impair a person’s ability to know when they are thirsty or in danger of overheating, communicate basic needs or remember basic safety protocols. “Caregivers cannot solely depend on waiting for the person to express that they are too hot or need to cool off,” the press release said. As a result, caregivers should keep an eye out, watching for signs of hyperthermia. That’s abnormally high body temperature, caused by an inability to regulate heat. Seniors and people with chronic medical conditions are at the highest risk, the press release said...

Basin seniors calendar for August 2022

Ephrata: Lunch at the senior center Join community members each weekday at noon at the Ephrata Senior Center at 124 C Street NW in Ephrata. Lunch comes with a hot entree, salads, veggies, a starch and homemade desserts. Refreshments are included. Meals are $7 for members and $8 for nonmembers. Dinners are also available but reservations are encouraged. Contact the center by calling 509-754-2382. Defensive Driving Course Contact the senior center at 509-754-2382 to sign up for a defensive driving class. The Evergreen Safety Council course is six hours long and can help seniors qualify for a discount on their automobile insurance, if their insurance provider participates in the program. (Call your insurance provider to ask if they participate.) Exercise classes Join instructor Terry Troutman for beginners yoga each Tuesday at the senior center. Register online by clicking the Center link at the top of the Ephrata Senior Center website at ephrataseniorcenter.org. Classes are $22 per month or $8.50 per drop-in session. The Ephrata Senior Center also offers Stay Active & Independent for Life - SAIL - classes at no cost 2-3 times per week. Go thrifting! The Ephrata Senior Center operates a senior thrift shop. The shop offers a wide variety of products and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday of each week. Contact the shop, located at 604 Basin Street NW at 509-754-9605.

Ephrata man killed in collision near Coulee City

COULEE CITY — An Ephrata man was killed when he hit the back of a car while riding his motorcycle Sunday morning. Dennis Armour, 68, died at Confluence Health-Central Washington Hospital Sunday, according to a press memo from the Washington State Patrol. The collision occurred at about 9 a.m. roughly nine miles southwest of Coulee City. Armour was following a car driven by Ashley Offer, 39, Renton, when Offer slowed down to turn into the Blue Lake rest area, the WSP memo said. Armour ran into the back of Offer’s vehicle; his motorcycle came to rest on the northbound shoulder. Offer’s car came to rest in the northbound lane. Offer and two passengers in her car, Steven Horner, 37, Renton and a six-year-old boy, were not injured.

Former Moses Lake nurse sentenced for morphine theft

SPOKANE — A Moses Lake woman was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after she was convicted of tampering with medications while on the job as a registered nurse. Esther Ray Tuller, 41, was convicted of taking morphine from the supply at Confluence Health-Moses Lake Clinic and using the substance herself between August 2019 and April 2020, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Washington. “Tuller used syringes to remove morphine from at least 17 vials, and then ingested the morphine as part of her own opioid addiction,” according to a press release from the USAO. “She then replaced the morphine with a saline solution, and attempted to glue the caps back onto the vials to make them appear intact.” At least one Confluence Health patient had to seek emergency treatment after receiving one of the vials Tuller had emptied and refilled with saline solution, the press release said. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Group and the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigation.

One killed in crash near Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE - A press release by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office Monday said a crash west of Moses Lake Saturday resulted in one dead and three injured. The release states a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier was traveling west on South Frontage Road East around 6:30 a.m. when the vehicle failed to negotiate a curve. The curve is about three-tenths of a mile east of Hiawatha Road. The car then left the road to the north, rolled several times and ejected all four occupants. Karri S. Ortega, 22, of Moses Lake, a 14-year-old female from Quincy, and an unidentified male were flown to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. One unidentified male was pronounced dead at the scene, the release states. The release said it is unclear who was driving the car and the GCSO Motor Traffic Unit is investigating. There is no update on the status of the three surviving victims as of Monday, the release states.

3 charged with disaster relief fraud

SPOKANE — A federal grand jury indicted three Eastern Washington residents - including a man from Moses Lake - last week for fraud in obtaining COVID-19 relief money, according to a Department of Justice press release. “COVID-19 relief programs were designed to lift up our community during crisis, and due to the number of people and businesses that request funding, some deserving small businesses were not able to obtain funding to keep their businesses in operation,” saide Vanessa Waldref, a U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington...

Fire restrictions expanded to firearm discharge

SPOKANE - The Bureau of Land Management Spokane District has added a prohibition to its existing fire restrictions order regarding the discharge of firearms. Discharging firearms is prohibited on public lands under the care of BLM and the Bureau of Reclamation as of July 29. The only exception to this prohibition is while engaged in lawful hunt pursuant to state, federal or tribal law and regulations, on public lands administered by the BLM and the BOR in the following counties: Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant and Yakima.