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WA fire marshal offers grilling safety tips
OLYMPIA — The State Fire Marshal’s Office issued a release on Tuesday about outdoor grilling safety as the Pacific Northwest begins to warm up. “Although safe when used correctly, barbeque related fires are significant factors for both property damage and burn injuries,” the release said. It goes on to say on average 10,600 home fires are started each year and 19,700 patients are sent to hospital emergency rooms because of injuries involving grills, according to the National Fire Protection Association...
Chinook season extended in North Fork Nooksack River
NOOKSACK - A section of the North Fork Nooksack River has been opened for hatchery spring Chinook fishing and retention. The action took place yesterday, and continues to June 30, according to a press release from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
WA apple scholarship awardees include 33 locals
WENATCHEE — Five students from Adams County and 28 from Grant County are among the 318 recipients of scholarships awarded this year by the Washington Apple Foundation, according to a press release. According to the press release, the foundation is giving out over $1 million in new and renewed scholarships to students whose families have ties to the growing, harvesting and packing of apples, pears and cherries, with most employed in orchards and packing houses...
Moses Lake police warn of scam calls
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake police are warning residents of a scam that’s making the rounds in the area. Several local residents have reported receiving phone calls purporting to be from the city, according to a social media post from the MLPD. The caller ID shows as City of Moses Lake 509-764-3701, and the caller reportedly demands money in payment for damages done to a local business...
Forest Service offers fee-free access to day-use rec areas for National Get Outdoors Day
The U.S. Forest Service announced on Tuesday that June 11 is National Get Outdoors day and they will waive fees at designated day-use sites. The announcement states National Get Outdoors Day, or "GO Day", is an annual event that encourages healthy, active outdoor fun by introducing citizens to outdoor recreation opportunities close to home...
ML museum to host drum circle
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Museum and Art Center will host a drum circle Saturday, according to a press release from the museum. The drum circle will take place at Civic Center Park if the weather is good, and move to the Civic Center auditorium, 401 S. Balsam St., if it’s not....
Heavy fire season predicted for state
OLYMPIA – The upcoming wildfire season could yield higher-than-typical forest fire activity in parts of Washington state. An above-average wildfire season in eastern Washington is anticipated due in large part to drought, according to a press release from The National Interagency Fire Center...
This week's sports schedule
Despite summer break around the corner and high school sports winding down, there are still a handful of local, regional and national events going on this week including the WDFW’s Free Fishing Weekend...
Moses Lake service dog in the running for national award
MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake service dog Sherman Gepherd is one of 21 semifinalists out of more than 400 candidates across the country in the 2022 American Humane Hero Dog Awards. According to a June 6 press release from American Humane. “The Hero Dog Awards shines a bright light on man’s best friend and celebrates the strength, hope and beauty that dogs bring to our lives,” said Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane in the announcement...
Deadline to apply for Wolf Advisory Group extended
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has extended the deadline for members of the public interested in applying to serve on the citizen committee that advises WDFW’s Director on wolf conservation and management until June 13, according to a release by the WDFW...
Erratics to host program on kayaking the Columbia
WENATCHEE — The Wenatchee Valley Erratics of the Ice Age Floods Institute will host a Zoom program June 14 at 7 p.m. entitled “Kayaking down the Columbia River: Evidence of the Missoula Flood from the Perspective of the River,” presented by Bill Burgel, according to a press release from the Erratics.
Operation Teddy Bear Lift to aid children in Ukraine
SEATTLE - Warm 106.9 and Ukraine Association of Washington State, or UAWS, have teamed up for Operation Teddy Bear Lift, a campaign to send over 10,000 teddy bears to children affected by the war in Ukraine, a release stated.
Kershaw to lay off 125 in Yakima
OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Employment Security announced Monday that Kershaw Fruit and Cold Storage is laying off 125 employees at its Yakima facility beginning June 10. In a notification issued under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act - also known as WARN - ESD’s website said notification of the impending layoffs was made on Monday, and that the layoffs are permanent. Under federal law, companies are generally required to give 60 days of notice prior to mass layoffs or plant closings that will require the dismissal of more than 50 employees. However, the same law states that companies are exempt from the 60-day notice requirement if they are facing financial difficulties or dealing with a natural disaster. ESD did not provide any details on what prompted the layoffs.
Ephrata schools sponsor free meals for children
EPHRATA - In a press release on June 6, the Ephrata School District announced that they will provide free meals for children 18 and under throughout the summer...
Erratics to host program on kayaking the Columbia
WENATCHEE — The Wenatchee Valley Erratics of the Ice Age Floods Institute will host a Zoom program June 14 at 7 p.m. entitled “Kayaking down the Columbia River: Evidence of the Missoula Flood from the Perspective of the River,” presented by Bill Burgel, according to a press release from the Erratics. The Columbia River was the pathway for many of the Ice Age floods that occurred repeatedly between 18,000 and 15,000 years ago. This hour-long presentation will show evidence of the power of these floodwaters at various points along the Columbia River, between the Grand Coulee Dam to the mouth of the Willamette River in Portland. The author has kayaked nearly the entire length of this stretch of the river taking hundreds of photos as he drifted along downstream. To join the program, go to https://bit.ly/3xoGG5t. The webinar ID is 84812873290, and the passcode is “erratics” (without quotation marks). For more information, contact chapter president Brent Cunderla at [email protected] or (509) 860-6067.
Former Cougar Ryan Leaf added to college HoF ballot
IRVING, TEXAS - Former Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf was among 80 ex-players from the Football Bowl Subdivision Selected for the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame induction ballot, the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame announced on Monday...
CWU Dining Services garners award for Fresh Bar
ELLENSBURG — Central Washington University Dining Services recently earned a Loyal E. Horton Dining Award for its Fresh Bar concept, according to a press release from the company...
Aerobatic pilots coming to Ephrata
EPHRATA - Chapter 67 of the International Aerobatic Club, or IAC, will be conducting its Apple Cup Contest at Ephrata Municipal Airport on June 10-11. A press release by the International Aerobatic Club Ch. 67 states IAC pilots compete at different aerobatic skill levels. Some of the best aerobatic pilots in the nation will be flying their airplanes in loops, rolls, dives, stalls and turns. Each flight is thoroughly planned to ensure the highest levels of safety while testing the abilities of both pilot and airplane. The contest is free to the public to observe and starts at 9 a.m. each day. The airport is located at 1990 E. Division Ave.
Summer meal program set to begin
OLYMPIA — The Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction will offer its summer meal program again this year, according to a press release from the agency. The annual Summer Food Service Program provides children in lower-income areas with nutritious meals during the summer...
Parks Service announces Mt. Rainier open attractions
ASHFORD — Officials with the National Park Service announced on Monday said some portions of Mt. Rainier National Park remain closed and asked visitors to check before coming to the park to check the status of the roads, hours of operation and even the NPS’s webcams to get a sense of the current conditions at the park.
Operation Teddy Bear Lift to aid children in Ukraine
SEATTLE - Warm 106.9 and the Ukraine Association of Washington State, or UAWS, have teamed up for Operation Teddy Bear Lift, a campaign to send over 10,000 teddy bears to children affected by the war in Ukraine, a UAWS press release stated. The release said in addition to Operation Teddy Bear Lift, Warm 106.9 and its promotional partners will be raising monetary donations for UAWS. Donations will be directed to www.uaws.org and will go toward purchasing neonatal incubators to replace those from destroyed medical facilities.
Health insurance providers request rate increases
OLYMPIA — Fourteen of the state’s major health insurance providers are asking Washington state regulators to approve an average 7.16% increase in health insurance premiums in Washington for 2023, according to a press release from the Washington state Office of the Insurance Commissioner...
Library reading program announced
WENATCHEE — Registration opens June 13 for the summer reading program sponsored by North Central Washington Libraries. The NCWL system includes all community libraries in Grant County. “Read Beyond the Beaten Path” is the theme for 2022. “Summer Library Program is designed to encourage reading among people of all ages, decrease summer learning loss for students (and) engage the community,” NCWL public relations specialist Michelle McNeil wrote in a press release. A variety of activities are planned at individual libraries as well as system-wide special programs, some of them online. Participants earn rewards for reading and completing activities, and will be eligible for prize drawings at the end of the summer.
Inmate allegedly steals car after being given wrong car key
EPHRATA — A George man was rearrested and put back in the Grant County Jail after he was given the wrong car key while being released from jail, then allegedly stole the car.
First woman appointed as head of Coast Guard
WASHINGTON D.C. - Adm. Karl L. Schultz was relieved as Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard by Adm. Linda L. Fagan during a military change-of-command ceremony presided over by President Joe Biden, Wednesday at Coast Guard Headquarters, according to a Coast Guard press release. “The men and women of the Coast Guard deserve all the credit for what we have accomplished,” said Schultz in the release. “I’m humbled to have led the world’s best Coast Guard as Commandant during the last four years, which presented some unique challenges. Our collective resolve, bias for action, unrivaled devotion to duty, true grit and dogged determination burnished the Service’s brand and standing, both in the Homeland and abroad.” ...
WA increases heat, wildfire smoke protections for outdoor workers
TUMWATER — Workers in Washington will be entitled to greater protection from heat and smoke this summer, under new rules filed by the Washington Department of Labor and Industries Wednesday. The new rules will be in effect June 15-Sept. 30, according to a press release from L&I. They require employers to monitor temperature and air quality, take steps to protect workers from heat and smoke hazards, and provide training and information, among other things...
WSU to hold dryland farming field day
PULLMAN — Washington State University will be hosting a field day at its Lind Dryland Research Station on Thursday, June 16, according to an announcement from the school...
AMBER Alerts come to Instagram
OLYMPIA - Starting this week, all Washington State AMBER Alerts will appear on users’ Instagram feeds. David Richey, Managing Director of the Western division for U.S. Scarlet Oak Strategies said in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald that this additional way of delivering AMBER Alerts will provide hundreds of thousands of daily users a way to help when a child goes missing in Washington...
Wash. Supreme Court orders sanctions in election lawsuit
OLYMPIA - On June 1, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that the Washington Supreme Court had ordered $28,000 in total sanctions against a group and their attorney who filed a lawsuit falsely claiming voter fraud in the 2020 election. In the release, Ferguson said his office successfully brought sanctions against the group and the attorney who had filed the lawsuit for their “frivolous legal challenge of the 2020 election,” the release stated.
Grant transit gets new buses
MOSES LAKE — Grant Transit Authority recently acquired three new clean diesel buses, according to a press release from the agency. The 30-foot coaches come with enhanced safety features including updated restraint systems for securing wheelchairs and other mobility devices, as well as automatic ADA annunciator systems that announce the bus’s location and the stops it is approaching, the release said. Except for the new buses, all of GTA’s fleet is 13-19 years old...
Indigenous-owned gaming contributes billions to WA economy
OLYMPIA — The Washington Indian Gaming Association said the state’s tribal casinos contributed $6.6 billion to the state’s economy in 2019 and $5.6 billion during pandemic-shuttered 2020, all while providing around 55,000 jobs for Washington residents. “Tribes are running gaming and other business not to generate private profits, but to fund critically needed government services for some of the poorest and most historically marginalized communities in Washington State,” said Rebecca George, WIGA executive director and an enrolled member of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe...
Soap Lake Dollar General opens
SOAP LAKE – A press release on May 31 announced the official opening of the Soap Lake Dollar General. The new store, located at 79 Highway 28 West was constructed during the first few months of the year. The Soap Lake location is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m...
StoryCorps MobileBooth to visit Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE — Local residents will have a chance to tell their stories for posterity this summer. StoryCorps is a nonprofit organization dedicated to recording, preserving, and sharing the stories of people from all backgrounds and beliefs, according to a press release from the organization...
Moses Lake museum offers free Saturday event
Free seashell jellyfish craft event open to all
MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake Museum & Art Center will hold its regular Free Family Saturday this weekend, according to a press release from the museum. The featured craft will be seashell jellyfish. The class begins at 12 noon at the museum. Registration is required and can be made online at https://bit.ly/3wZSUm0. Activities are first come, first served and continue until supplies run out. The museum offers Free Family Saturday the first Saturday of every month. There is no charge and all ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult.
Quincy mayor terminates COVID-19 emergency order
QUINCY — Quincy Mayor Paul Worley has terminated an order dating from 2020 declaring a civil emergency. Worley issued the termination proclamation May 16, and a resolution approving Worley’s action was approved by the Quincy City Council May 17. The civil emergency order was issued March 16, 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and followed a proclamation of civil emergency from Gov. Jay Inslee. In the May 16 proclamation, Worley said with pandemic conditions improving, the order is no longer needed.
Columbia Basin traffic update for May 31
COLUMBIA BASIN — Travelers can expect some delays on North Central Washington highways this week as road construction projects continue...
Colville casinos to add sports betting
OMAK — Colville Gaming, which runs three 12 Tribes Colville Casinos in Central Washington, announced last week that it has signed a deal with slot machine, software maker and gaming specialist IGT to provide sports betting at the tribes’ casinos. “Thanks to IGT we feel confident in our ability to provide our guests with an exciting and secure sports betting environment, and we look forward to opening our doors to sports enthusiasts soon,” said 12 Tribes Colville Casinos COO Tony Posey in a press release...
Paving work to resume on I-90
MOSES LAKE — Paving in the westbound lanes of Interstate 90 from Moses Lake to the Grant-Adams county line is scheduled to begin June 1. ..
Columbia Basin Memorial Day observances
COLUMBIA BASIN — People around the Basin will gather to honor fallen servicemen and -women on Monday, as is traditional for Memorial Day...
CWU grad students offer student counseling service
ELLENSBURG — Central Washington University psychology graduate students are getting some real-world experience providing much-needed support for nine Kittitas County youths this spring, supplying free mental health services that weren’t otherwise available to them, according to a press release from the university...
Suspect in Cedillos murder returned to Grant County
EPHRATA — A former Moses Lake man was returned to Grant County and booked into the Grant County Jail Thursday in connection with the death of a Moses Lake woman in early March...
Gov’t offices to remain open Friday, but closed Monday
COLUMBIA BASIN - All city and county government offices in Grant and Adams counties will maintain their regular hours on Friday, May 27, though they will be closed for the holiday honoring our fallen service members...
Newhouse pens bill to keep China from buying US farmland
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Dan Newhouse announced Thursday that he is introducing a bill that would prevent individuals or organizations associated with the government of the People’s Republic of China from buying any public or private agricultural land in the United States, as well as from participating in any U.S. Department of Agriculture programs with the exception of food safety inspections...
No vaccine required for incoming BBCC students
MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College students will no longer be required to have the COVID-19 vaccine when the fall quarter begins on Sept. 19, according to a press release from the college. The vaccine mandate will remain in effect for state employees...
Mt. Rainier Nat. Park partially open this weekend
ASHFORD – Many areas within Mount Rainier National Park will be accessible to visitors beginning Memorial Day weekend, despite 13 feet of snow on the ground at Paradise, according to a press release from the National Park Service....
Federal grants available for zero-emission school bus purchases
SEATTLE — The Environmental Protection Agency announced last week that $500 million in grant funding is available to school districts to buy zero-emission buses, according to an agency press release.
Bureau of Land Management fire restrictions go into effect Friday
PORTLAND — The Bureau of Land Management has announced a series of fire restrictions will go into effect beginning Friday on federal land throughout Washington and Oregon, according to a BLM press release.
Two men arrested after property owner holds them at gunpoint
MATTAWA — Two Mattawa men were booked into the Grant County Jail after a Mattawa-area property owner held them at gunpoint when he allegedly found them on his property early Tuesday morning.
Ephrata hires new wrestling coaches
EPHRATA - In a press release on May 24, the Ephrata School District announced the hiring of two new coaches for the High School wrestling program.
COVID-19 boosters available for Washington children
OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Health has announced that booster doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are now available for children 5 to 11 years of age. The DOH is recommending a booster dose of vaccines for children who have received their initial vaccinations...