STAFF REPORT

Confluence announces telehealth services expansion

WENATCHEE — Confluence Health patients will have access to additional telehealth services beginning today.

One injured in Adams Co. collision

OTHELLO – One man was injured after a collision along State Route 26 near milepost 33 Monday afternoon.

Moses Lake man sentenced in child rape case

MOSES LAKE – Dale Bruce Lewis, Moses Lake, 63, was found guilty in August of a second-degree rape of a child. Lewis was sentenced Wednesday to 95 months to life in prison.

Parents arrested for child endangerment, possession of controlled substance

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Police Department Street Crimes Unit received a search warrant for a residence on West Ridge Road in Moses Lake, Oct. 17. The investigation was in regard to a narcotics investigation into Curtis Terry, 38, Moses Lake, according to an MLPD press release.

Two programs to assist with clean energy projects

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Commerce announced two new programs Oct. 17 that will connect Washington entities with federal clean energy and climate funding opportunities, according to a release from the WSDC. The two new programs are the Federal Clean Energy Tax Credit Assistance Program and the Federal Funds Grant Writing Assistance Program.

Quincy, Moses Lake traffic light maintenance this week

MOSES LAKE — Drivers should plan for some lane closures and flagger-controlled traffic this week at intersections in Moses Lake and Quincy. Contractors for the Washington Department of Transportation will be working on traffic lights at intersections in those cities, both during the day and at night.

STUDIO BASIN: Elections, Boeing labor dispute and Basin football

MOSES LAKE – On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN podcast, Managing Editor R. Hans Miller discusses recent news regarding elections at the state and local levels and provides updates on the Boeing labor disputes.

HopeSource selects affordable housing director

ELLENSBURG — HopeSource has hired longtime Kittitas County leader Bill Hinkle as the organization’s director of affordable housing, according to an announcement from the organization.

Dry clothes safely, fire marshal says

OLYMPIA — It’s important to use clothes dryers safely, the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office reminded Washingtonians in an announcement Tuesday.

Basin events for Oct. 18-26

COLUMBIA BASIN – As always, there is plenty of activity set for the Columbia Basin this week. Check out these events and remember that it’s never a bad idea to have a little fun.

11M+ pounds of potentially contaminated meat recalled

MOSES LAKE – BrucePac is recalling approximately 11,765,285 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service reported Oct. 9.

Millions to participate in earthquake drill

MOSES LAKE – Residents, businesses and students across Washington will participate in the Great Washington ShakeOut on October 17 at 10:17 a.m. The event aims to promote earthquake preparedness through a drill that encourages participants to "drop, cover, and hold on" in response to simulated seismic activity.

Pedestrian safety reminders from WSP

OLYMPIA – With October being National Pedestrian Safety Month, the Washington State Patrol is reminding people that pedestrian safety is a responsibility of all, including drivers and those walking. In Washington there were 733 fatal pedestrian collisions in 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, resulting in 1.62 fatalities per 100,000 people in Washington.

First snowfall of the season coming to Cascades passes

SPOKANE — The cold weather is coming to our region, and some areas could see snow this week, according to a statement from the National Weather Service in Spokane.

Fire Safety Day celebrated at Lind Elementary

LIND — Kindergarten students at Lind Elementary School Friday celebrated Fire Safety Day, a day dedicated to learning essential fire safety practices, according to a release from Lind Elementary School.

Citizen panel recommends Washington lawmakers get 14% pay hike to $71K by 2026

(The Center Square) – The Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials has recommended state lawmakers be given a 14% pay boost over the next two years.

BPA proposes 13 projects, two in WA

PORTLAND, Ore. — A new effort by the Bonneville Power Administration will increase power availability in the region, according to an announcement from the BPA.

News bites for Oct. 15, 2024

News bites for Oct. 15, 2024

WSP welcomes 12 new commercial vehicle enforcement officers

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Patrol has welcomed 12 new Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers who graduated this week, ready to enhance the safety of commercial motor vehicle operations across the state, according to a statement from WSP Director of Communications Chris Loftis. Following 24 weeks of rigorous training –14 weeks at the WSP Academy in Shelton and an additional 10 weeks of field training – these officers are equipped with the skills and knowledge to enforce regulations governing commercial vehicle safety, according to Loftis.

American Legion to host candidates forum

EPHRATA — The American Legion Art Semro Post 28 will be sponsoring a candidate forum Oct. 23, according to an announcement from the post.

Two arrested for possession of narcotics

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Police Department Street Crimes Unit obtained a search warrant for a residence on Road H for narcotics trafficking Wednesday after several complaints were received from residents in the area.

MLSD, SLSD out Friday

MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake School District and Soap Lake School District will not have school Friday to give teachers a professional learning day.

Four sworn in at GCSO

EPHRATA – Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete delivered oaths of office to four people Monday including Sheriff’s Deputies Justin Rowland and Ryan Borden, Corrections Deputy Matthew Soukup and Administrative Assistant Sheena Ohl.

Moses Lake man missing at O’Sullivan Reservoir

MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Sheriff’s Office and Grant County Fire District #5 began looking for a 54-year-old Moses Lake man Oct. 6, according to a GCSO release. Richard Smith left to go fishing Oct. 3 at O’Sullivan Reservoir in Grant County. His girlfriend has not heard from him since.

GCHD trained on CPR, AED and Narcan use

MOSES LAKE – Last week, the Grant County Health District staff participated in a CPR, automated external defibrillator and Narcan training.

Columbia Basin Herald staff earn statewide recognition

OLYMPIA – The Columbia Basin Herald received several recognitions for coverage of Grant and Adams Counties Sunday at the Washinton Newspaper Publishers Association’s awards banquet. This was the 137th time the awards were held and the staff at paper earned more than 20 awards for excellence in advertising and journalism.

Grant Health urges COVID-19 vigilance

EPHRATA — As we transition from the summer wave of COVID-19 into the colder months, the Grant County Health District (GCHD) is reminding residents that COVID-19 is not a seasonal disease.

Suspect who fled from Ritzville PD caught in Spokane

RITZVILLE — One man is in custody after a potential domestic violence situation led to his flight from law enforcement over the weekend. Saturday the Ritzville Police Department was dispatched to a domestic dispute where it was reported that a male suspect was hitting a woman near Lewis Street, according to an Adams County Sheriff’s Office statement.

Orchard shooting results in no injuries, one arrest

MATTAWA – Last Wednesday, Grant County Sheriff’s office answered a shooting call in the 15000 block of Road 25-SW.

Organized Retail Crime Resource Hub up and running

MOSES LAKE – The Washington Retail Association in partnership with Challenge Seattle and Washington Organized Retail Crime Association announced an online platform called the Organized Retail Crime Resource Hub, according to a WRA Oct. 7 press release.

STUDIO BASIN: Upcoming SR 17 meeting in Moses Lake and local sports

MOSES LAKE -- On this week’s episode of the STUDIO BASIN podcast, Moses Lake Design Engineer Levi Bisnett joins the show to talk about an upcoming charrette regarding possible changes to the State Route 17 and Stratford Road interchange in Moses Lake. The goal is to bring in members of the community to discuss what improvements could be made to the area.

Prepping for E. Washington winters

MOSES LAKE — The time to get your home ready for winter is before the chilly winds begin to howl through the cracks, according to the experts. There are a lot of little things that can make a big difference when it comes to winterizing a home. According to Washington Water Service, here are some steps to take to prevent winter damage before the cold weather arrives:

Free pizza for working smoke alarms

MOSES LAKE – Next week is National Fire Prevention Week and the Moses Lake Fire Department has partnered with the 402 East Broadway Avenue Dominos in celebration. Monday, Oct. 7, MLFD will be delivering pizzas to Dominos customers from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and if permitted the firefighters will check smoke alarms in the customer's house. If the smoke alarms work, the pizza is free. If not, MLFD will replace the batteries in the unit at no cost. The theme for this year is “Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work For You!” The MLFD will be releasing statements for community members in regard to fire safety in homes.

Grant PUD budget hearings set for Tuesday

EPHRATA — The Grant County Public Utility District will hold two public hearings Tuesday to discuss the proposed PUD budget for 2025. Hearings are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., both at the commission hearing room at the Ephrata headquarters, 30 C St. SW. A virtual option is available; information on joining is available on the PUD website, www.grantpud.org.

Man arrested in Othello for distribution of drugs to minors

OTHELLO – The principal of Othello High School contacted the Othello Police Department Sept. 26 saying he had suspicions that there was a man who was potentially giving students drugs near the campus, according to a statement from OPD.

Boeing strike may have already caused more than $1.6B in economic losses

MOSES LAKE — Tuesday marked the 20th day on strike for 33,000 Boeing workers, and there has yet to be an agreement between Boeing and the union, IAM 751, on the employees’ contract.

Ephrata schools storage building progressing

EPHRATA – Work has continued on the new Ephrata School District storage facility near the Ephrata High School Soccer pitch, according to a statement from the district.

Neighbor rescues woman from dog attack near Ephrata

EPHRATA — A 67-year-old woman from rural Ephrata was hospitalized Tuesday morning after being attacked by six dogs, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. The incident occurred around 7 a.m. in the 8000 block of Road 10 Northwest when a neighbor heard the victim's cries for help.

WA tribes receive $800K for wildland fire training

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Natural Resources has initiated a program to enhance access to wildland fire training for tribal members, following the allocation of $800,000 in legislative funding, according to a DNR press release.

Faith & Blue Tailgate Party set for Oct. 11

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Police Department will be out in force at the Mavericks football game on October 11 from 5:30-7 p.m. according to a statement from the department.

Cantwell gains support for anti-fentanyl bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senator Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., has obtained support from the Spokane police chief and other Washington leaders for her Stop Smuggling Illicit Synthetic Drugs on US Transportation Networks Act of 2024.

Free COVID-19 test kits available

MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Health District released a statement regarding free COVID-19 test kits. For those interested visit COVIDTests.gov to get four free tests. The tests can find the newest variants and are good to use until at least the end of 2024.

Professor to speak on Latina struggles at Moses Lake Library

MOSES LAKE — The Humanities Washington Speaker Series will come in person to Moses Lake in October, according to an announcement from North Central Washington Libraries. Pacific Lutheran University professor Maria Chávez will bring her program “The Firsts: Latina Struggles in the United States” to the Moses Lake Public Library at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 18, according to the announcement. Many Latinas face extraordinary challenges in their professions and personal lives, NCW Libraries wrote in the announcement. They are often first-generation college students whose parents may have little experience with higher education. This results in a difficult balancing act: they are trying not to let the process of earning a college education change them in ways that are antithetical to traditional Latino values, yet they are often expected to help with family care and responsibilities that can take priority over their studies and careers.

Grant County Health District update

Two brands of cinnamon recalled for potential lead contamination

MOSES LAKE – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recalled El Servidor Corp and Gutierrez Ground Cinnamon due to possible lead contamination.

Othello man dies in vehicle rollover

WARDEN — An Othello man died Saturday in a one-vehicle collision three miles south of Warden, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office press release. Faustino N. Gonzalez, 52, was driving a 2011 Nissan Frontier pickup north on Road U Southeast when he failed to negotiate a curve, overcorrected, crossed both lanes and left the road to the west, the GCSO release said. The pickup rolled three times. Gonzales was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected; he died at the scene.

One dies in three-car collision near George on Monday

GEORGE — An unidentified person was killed when the car they were riding in crossed the center line and hit a commercial van in the southbound lane about one mile north of George Monday afternoon, according to a statement from the Washington State Patrol. The driver of the vehicle, Thalia Arceo-Padilla, 31, East Wenatchee, was headed north on State Route 281 at about 3:30 p.m. Monday when she rear-ended a vehicle driven by Andrea Massey, 29, Quincy. Arceo-Padilla then crossed the center line and hit a commercial van driven by Angel Guerrero, 24, Zillah, the WSP wrote.

Six-vehicle collision closes SR 17 Sunday

WARDEN – Four people sustained injuries in a six-vehicle collision on state Route 17 between Warden and Moses Lake about 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Two of the cars were totaled, according to a statement from the Washington State Patrol. There was limited visibility due to a dust storm, according to the WSP. No tickets were issued due to the dust storm. According to WSP, five of the six vehicles were traveling northbound on SR 17 when the collisions occurred. The sixth was traveling southbound.

Fire damages homeless encampment near Othello

OTHELLO — On Sunday about 5:19 p.m. Adams County Fire District 5 responded to an RV fire at 2125 W. Cunningham Road, about a mile east of Othello. The fire damaged or destroyed two recreational vehicles, 13 vehicles and several piles of trash and tires. The site is the location of a large homeless encampment on private property. A release from ACFD 5 said the only way to the site is one single narrow 1,900-foot driveway. That caused the firefighters and deputies to struggle to gain access with the vehicles parked in the traffic lane, delaying the response, the release said. “Firefighters found it challenging to shuttle water to the fire using the narrow driveway, forcing the crew to use smaller apparatus for the shuttle,” the release said.

Quincy man arrested for alleged robbery

QUINCY — A Quincy man was arrested on suspicion of first-degree robbery after he allegedly held up a Quincy gas station early Friday morning.

Hit and run causes power outage

MOSES LAKE – Grant Public Utility District crews worked late Friday night after a semi-truck hit a power pole, knocking out power to what the PUD estimated to be more than 700 homes.