STAFF REPORT
Recent Stories
Clarification, more details on pedestrian death
Different first name released
MOSES LAKE - Initial reports of a pedestrian fatality on state Route 17 Wednesday included a different first name of the deceased man.
Quincy high student arrested for bomb threat
Investigation underway
QUINCY - Quincy police arrested a 16-year-old male Quincy High School student who allegedly threatened to bring an explosive device to school.
Potato board solicits candidates
MOSES LAKE - The 15-member Washington State Potato Commission (WSPC) board is seeking applications for two at-large positions coming vacant.
AmericanWest Bank gets new manager
Has more than 30 years experience
EPHRATA - Vicki Williams is the new branch manager of AmericanWest Bank in Ephrata.
View rare astronomical event at BBCC
MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College astronomy classes will provide a safe way for the public to view a rare astronomical phenomenon Tuesday.
"Living Healthy" topic for Royal seniors
ROYAL CITY - "Living Healthy" will be presented by Aging and Adult Care of Central Washington on Thursday, June 7, from 1 - 2:30 p.m. at the Royal City Community Center.
Moses Lake building activity down
Lower than previous two years
MOSES LAKE - The City of Moses Lake has seen a marked decrease in building activity so far this year when compared to the past two, according to a report issued last week.
Columbia Basin Herald closed Monday
MOSES LAKE - The Columbia Basin Herald's Moses Lake office is closed Monday to observe the Memorial Day holiday.
Police warn of online rental scams
Urge caution
MOSES LAKE - Police suggest users of online classified listings, such as Craigslist, should exercise caution before responding to rentals advertisements.
Tip leads to arrests
MOSES LAKE - Two people were arrested for drug possession and a stolen vehicle the night of May 2 after a vigilant citizen reported suspicious people in his neighborhood near Moses Lake.
Season pass holder pool party
MOSES LAKE - Season pass holders are invited to a party just for them Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Surf 'n Slide Water Park, 401 W Fourth Ave.
Boys track sends one to state
The Chiefs boys track team placed 12th out of 13 teams at the CBBN/GSL Regional Championships in Richland Saturday.
County shop/scale house finished
EPHRATA - Grant County Solid Waste has announced the completion of its landfill shop/scale house complex in Ephrata.
Snoqualmie to close at night next week due to rock blasting
HYAK - Rock blasting on Snoqualmie Pass is going to take place later at night next week, and drivers need to prepare for an hour of added travel time for blasting and for construction east of the pass on Interstate 90.
Benefit for former Soap Lake police chief
Public invited
SOAP LAKE - Friends of former Soap Lake Police Chief Jim Dorris are having a spaghetti dinner Tuesday to help his family with medical-related expenses.
Child falls from moving vehicle in Ephrata
Mother cited for endangerment
EPHRATA - A 5-year-old girl suffered minor injuries when she fell from a moving vehicle onto Basin Street Southwest in Ephrata.
Fire destroys Real Deals in Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE — The Real Deals home decor store in Moses Lake was completely destroyed in a fire Thursday evening.
Plane catches fire at airport
MOSES LAKE - Aircraft Rescue Firefighting personnel responded to a single engine airplane fire on the runway of the Grant County International Airport.
Moses Lake school hit by theft, vandalism
MOSES LAKE - Grant County Sheriff's Deputies are investigating vandalism and theft from a weekend crime spree at Larson Heights Elementary School, north of Moses Lake.
Candidate withdraws from BBCC president search
MOSES LAKE - One of four finalists for the job of Big Bend Community College president has withdrawn from consideration.
Peninsula students jog for fundraiser
MOSES LAKE - About 350 Peninsula Elementary students ran around - and around and around - Lions Field in the school's first-ever jogathon.
One injured in reported DUI crash near Moses Lake
Woman from Lewiston
MOSES LAKE - A Lewiston, Idaho woman was injured when the vehicle she was a passenger in crashed on state Route 17, about two miles south of Moses Lake.
Limping baseball Knights to host LaSalle today in district playoff game
ROYAL CITY - It was a rough day last Tuesday for the Royal Knights in their final regular season baseball games, falling to powerful Kiona-Benton, 14-6 and 14-3.
Soap Lake PA files request for extension
Asks for more time to answer allegations
OLYMPIA - A Soap Lake physician's assistant under investigation for alleged inappropriate behavior with employees and patients has filed a request to extend the period he has to answer the allegations.
INET raid finds pot near Moses school
MOSES LAKE - A Thursday night raid by Grant County's Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team yielded more than five ounces of suspected marijuana.
Neighborhood tip leads to arrests
MOSES LAKE - Two people were arrested for drug possession and a stolen vehicle the night of May 2 after a vigilant citizen reported suspicious people in his neighborhood near Moses Lake.
Road closure announced
MOSES LAKE - County Road 2 NE, east of Moses Lake, will be closed to all traffic during construction hours beginning May 14.
Deputy Hudson honored
EPHRATA - Grant County Sheriff's Marine Deputy Darryl Hudson was honored on April 11 by the United States Coast Guard for his efforts contributing to boating safety.
Royal tracksters ready for sub-district
ROYAL CITY - The Royal High School track and field team has had a great season so far, according to coach Scott Sandberg. as it prepares for the sub-district meet Thursday evening at Wahluke.
Crash injures Seattle woman near Othello
OTHELLO - A two vehicle collision injured a Seattle woman on state Route 26, about a mile west of Othello.
Pertussis exposures at Ephrata schools investigated
EPHRATA - Grant County Health District (GCHD) staff are investigating two cases of whooping cough (pertussis) in Grant County residents who spent time at the Ephrata Middle School and High School while contagious from April 16-27.
Collision injures three on SR 17
Allegedly caused by U-turn
MOSES LAKE - An allegedly illegal U-turn caused a two-vehicle collision on the state Route 17 Stratford Road off ramp.
Preschool preview offered
ROYAL CITY - The Royal School District and other agencies will offer parents of three and four-year-old children a preview of preschool at an ABC event on Wednesday, May 9.
Warden No. 1 in 2B Central baseball
The Cougars have clinched the Central Washington 2B Conference for the second year in a row as the team finished with a perfect 13-0 league record.
Two truck drivers injured in collision
MOSES LAKE - Two truck drivers received minor injuries, and traffic was blocked for four hours after a semi versus semi tractor-trailer crash near Moses Lake on Tuesday.
Royal City sheriff's town hall scheduled
EPHRATA - Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones is hosting a series of town hall meetings throughout the county as part of his office's community policing outreach.
5 interviewed for open Mattawa police post
MATTAWA - Mattawa Police Chief Steve Jensen reported to the Mattawa City Council's last meeting that five candidates have been interviewed for the open entry level position.
Season ends for Chiefs
YAKIMA - Moses Lake hit the road for a single elimination game against the Davis Pirates Tuesday looking to extend its season.
CB United No. 1
Beat MRSC Blue
LACEY - The Columbia Basin United U-12 select soccer team based in Othello was crowned champions of the Washington State Cup in Lacey Saturday. The team is made up of local area kids, and is coached by Bernie Garza, the head coach at Othello High School.
Community garden ready for planters
ROYAL CITY - Royal City's community garden is ready for gardeners. Each lot has been rototilled.
Name released in fatal Quincy crash
QUINCY - The Grant County Coroner released the name of a Quincy man who died in a three-vehicle collision south of Quincy Friday morning.
Quincy man dies in a collision
QUINCY - A Quincy man died after a three vehicle wreck Friday on state Route 281, three miles south of Quincy.
Firefighter, Jackrabbit tourneys on calendar
DESERT AIRE - Two of the more important events on the Desert Aire golf calendar will come off over the next two weekends.
Former Royal resident Mary Messer passes on
ROYAL CITY - Mary Messer, formerly of Royal City, passed away peacefully at the age of 91 at her residence in Shoreline, Wash. on April 17, 2012.
Moses Lake softball beats Eastmont
Win makeup game
WENATCHEE - After getting rained out March 27, the Chiefs went back to Eastmont to make up the contest.
Wheatland Bank earns five-star rating for fifth year
Serves 13 counties including Grant and Adams
SPOKANE - BAUERFINANCIAL, Inc., the nation's leading bank rating and research firm, has given a five-star superior bank rating to Wheatland Bank of Spokane.
Royal sophomores schedule yard sale
ROYAL CITY - The Royal High School sophomore class has scheduled a fund-raising yard sale at the school on Saturday, April 21.
Small fairs eligible for capital budget funds
OLYMPIA - Gov. Christine Gregoire has signed a bill into law that will extend opportunities to non-profit agriculture fairs for capital budget grant funding.
Probable suicide leads police to suspected cockfight locale
ROYAL CITY - Grant County Deputies are investigating a man's death and the discovery of a suspected cockfighting operation at the same location.
Ephrata project will affect Division Street
Closures expected for the next two weeks
EPHRATA - Construction crews moved onto Division Street as part of a project to replace roads and water pipes in the city.