STAFF REPORT

NCW Libraries to host virtual conversation with author

MOSES LAKE — North Central Washington Libraries will host a virtual conversation with best-selling author Erika L. Sánchez Oct. 10, according to an announcement from NCW Libraries.

STUDY: WA most affordable state for used cars

MOSES LAKE— Washington has been identified as the most affordable state in America for purchasing used cars, according to a new study by vehicle issue platform AutoTechIQ.

Multiple arrests after Othello-area incident leads to pursuits

OTHELLO — Seven people were arrested in Grant and Adams counties on suspicion of felony harassment and attempting to elude law enforcement following a Sunday incident near Othello that led to a pursuit.

Museum to host Day of Play at UMANI Festival on Saturday

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Museum & Art Center will participate in Our World: Worldwide Day of Play Saturday, according to an announcement from the museum. As a day dedicated to experiencing joyful learning through play, this event focuses on getting kids and their families up, out and playing around.

Columbia Basin events for the week of Sept. 19-26

COLUMBIA BASIN — The summer is past and the holidays are still over the horizon, but there are still some fun things going on in the Basin next week. Here are a few:

Wheelbarrow set recalled for lead

MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Health District released a press release on the recall for Stanley Jr. Kids wheelbarrow and seven-piece garden sets, sold at Costco Wholesale stores nationwide. The set includes a wheelbarrow, apron, gloves, rake, how and hand tools. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said the painted long hoe and rake of the recalled garden set contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead paint ban, posing a threat to children and could cause adverse health issues.

BBB names new PNW board member

MERIDIAN, Idaho — Better Business Bureau Great West + Pacific recently named Briana McKown to its board of directors, according to an announcement from BBBGW+P. McKown, a business and design strategy leader at Cisco, joins a group of 18 board members representing BBBGW+P’s eight-state service area, which includes Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, western Wyoming, and central Colorado.

New Washington litter initiative launched

OLYMPIA – Each year, approximately 38 million pounds of litter are discarded on Washington’s highways, roads, and public areas—a statistic reflecting about five pounds of trash for every resident in the state, according to the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Blue-green algae blooms in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Health District released a water quality warning on Saturday. There is a new bloom present in both north and middle Moses Lake. There are also confirmed unsafe toxins in south Moses Lake. Samples are being taken in the north and middle and results will be posted on the Grant County Health District website.

Alleged Franklin Co. shooter arrested in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE – According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to assault with deadly weapons at 9090 Sagehill, at around 5:30 p.m. Sept. 15. Suspect Daniel Arcao-Martinez, 28, allegedly shot two people during the reported incident.

Fentanyl awareness event set for Friday

MOSES LAKE — WorkSource Columbia Basin will host an event to educate the public about fentanyl Friday in Moses Lake, according to an announcement from WorkSource.

OPD assistant police chief graduates from FBI academy

OTHELLO – On Thursday morning the Othello Police Department’s Assistant Police Chief Aaron Garza graduated from the FBI National Academy, according to an OPD press release.

Stray bull remains unclaimed

OTHELLO – A bull showed up three weeks ago at the 700 block of South Hillcrest Road in Othello. The owner of the bull has yet to be found according to an Adams County Pet Rescue press release. The bull does not have branding or other means of identifying the owner such as an ear tag. Anyone with information is asked to call the Adams County Sheriff’s Office at 509-659-1122 or Adams County Pet Rescue at 509-488-5514.

‘Simple As That’

Initiative encourages people to do their part for cleaner communities

OLYMPIA — Every year, almost 38 million pounds of litter is dropped on Washington’s highways, roads and public areas, according to an announcement Thursday from the Washington State Department of Ecology. That’s about five pounds of trash for every person in the state. Beyond simply being unsightly, litter can harm water quality and pose safety risks to travelers. To reduce littering, the state Department of Ecology is working with the Department of Transportation, State Patrol and other agencies to launch the “Simple As That” campaign, the DOE announced. The state spends more than $12 million each year picking up litter, and paid crews and volunteers collected a record 11.2 million pounds in 2023, according to the announcement. However, even that record-setting effort still only addresses a fraction of the problem.

‘The View from Here’ opens at Moses Lake Museum

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Museum & Art Center will host a reception today for the opening of its new exhibit, “The View from Here,” according to an announcement from the museum.

BASIN EVENTS: Sept. 13 through 20

COLUMBIA BASIN — Downtown Moses Lake will host four events Saturday, while Quincy, Odessa and Hartline all have their biggest community celebrations of the year. Here’s what’s happening in the Basin this week:

Road O-NE closed Monday

MOSES LAKE – According to the Grant County Public Works Department Road O Northeast will be closed between Road 1-Northeast and Road 2-Northeast will be closed for culvert maintenance from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday.

Driver hits MLPD vehicle

MOSES LAKE – A suspect hit a Moses Lake Police vehicle after attempting to elude police officers Sept. 12 at around 12:49 a.m. Both MLPD and Washington State Patrol handled the situation.

Law Enforcement logs for Sept. 13, 2024

MLPD, EPD, GC Jail

Mid-Columbia Libraries Hosts Ice Age Flood Lecture

CONNELL — The Connell Public Library will host a lecture on the development of eastern Washington during the Ice Age, according to an announcement from Mid-Columbia Libraries. The event will be at 6 p.m. Sept. 19 at the library, 118 N. Columbia St.

Candidate forum tonight in Mattawa

MATTAWA – Candidates for offices that represent Grant County residents will gather at the Whaluke High School theater tonight at 5 p.m. for a meet and greet with residents followed by a moderated forum at 6 p.m.

Filing period open for two Quincy irrigation district positions

QUINCY — The filing period is open for two positions on the Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District board of directors.

Bird knocks out power in S. Moses Lake Monday

MOSES LAKE – More than 900 customers lost power Monday in South Moses Lake due to a bird that damaged substation equipment, according to a Grant County Public Utility District press release. The power returned to customers at around 4:30 p.m.

Othello man indicted in odometer rollback case

OTHELLO – A federal grand jury for the Eastern District of Washington has indicted Reynaldo Valdez Garza Jr., 52, Othello, on five counts of odometer tampering. Garza made his initial court appearance on September 9, 2024, according to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Washington.

65 Years Married

Long-time Grant County residents Darwin and Linda Beehner are celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary on Sept. 12. The couple was married in 1959 and remains together today.

Two booked for siphoning gas

EPHRATA – Two suspects were arrested Sunday afternoon after they were caught siphoning gas from a local farmer, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Sun Lakes proposed fishing rule change hearing tonight

EPHRATA — An online public hearing is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. today for a proposed Washington Fish and Wildlife rule change that would extend the fishing season on Blue Lake, Deep Lake and Park Lake north of Ephrata.

Part of Lakeshore Drive to close

MOSES LAKE – A section of the 4000 Western Block of Lakeshore Drive will be closed from Thursday Sept. 12 through Friday, Sept. 13. The closure will be from 4214 to 4204 West Lakeshore Drive.

Moses Lake man arrested for outstanding warrants

MOSES LAKE – At around 1:40 p.m. Friday on Pioneer Way in Moses Lake Joseph Zamora was arrested for outstanding felony arrest warrants, according to a press release from Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Seventeen-time felon arrested for robbery and firearm theft

MOSES LAKE — According to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, there was one arrest made for suspected robbery and firearm theft last Friday morning. The suspect is a seventeen-time felon.

ECBID to hold public meeting

MOSES LAKE – The East Columbia Basin Irrigation District Board of Directors will hold a public meeting to present recommendations for allocating the remaining acres served by the public Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program system.

Meeting set to inform public about Soap Lake Creative District

SOAP LAKE – The Soap Lake Creative District Planning Committee will host a public meeting Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. to share the five-year strategic plan for the creative district.

Fish and Wildlife to receive Quincy-area land in transfer

OLYMPIA — A 1,235-acre parcel near Quincy would be transferred from the Washington Department of Natural Resources to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife under the terms of a request to the Washington Legislature by the DNR board.

Rear-end collision sends three to hospital

QUINCY — Three people were injured and transported to unidentified hospitals after a Yakima woman allegedly rear-ended the vehicle in front of her and caused both to be hit by a semi-truck Thursday morning about two miles north of George.

Candidate forum set for Sept. 12

MATTAWA — Grant County residents are being invited to ask questions of candidates for state and local offices at a candidate forum Thursday and Wahluke High School, 505 N. Boundary Rd.

BASIN EVENTS: Sept. 6-13

COLUMBIA BASIN – There’s something for everyone happening in the Basin this week. Here are just a few of the possibilities:

Fluffy slime at Moses Lake Museum Saturday

MOSES LAKE — Fluffy slime will be the theme of this month’s Free Family Saturday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, according to an announcement from the museum.

Door-to-door scammers harass area residents

SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake Police Department put out a statement letting residents know there is a black pickup contacting residents regarding chip sealing driveways. According to the reporting party, the suspects said they are working with the company associated with the current projects in Soap Lake. However, SLPD said this is not an affiliated company.

Scam callers asking for donations for MLFD

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Fire Department issued a statement about donation phone calls residents have been receiving.

‘Count the Candy’ winners announced

MOSES LAKE — The results are in, and the Grant County Democrats have announced the winners of the Count the Candy game at the Grant County Fair.

Town hall on lake water set for Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE -- The Moses Lake Watershed Council will be holding its third annual State of the Lake meeting Sept. 16 at 401 South Balsam Street in Moses Lake.

Newhouse to hold telephone town hall

SUNNYSIDE — U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R—Wash., will hold a town hall meeting by telephone today, according to an announcement from the congressman’s office.

Quincy burglary suspect caught Monday evening

QUINCY – A burglary occurred Monday night at around 10:20 p.m. in the 13800 block of Martin Road Northwest, near Double M Orchards, according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Royal City community health listening session coming

ROYAL CITY – The Grant County Health District is holding a Community Health Improvement Plan listening session in Royal City at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Royal High School Cafeteria.

Ritzville photo wins prize

RITZVILLE — A Ritzville man was among the winners of the Innovia Foundation’s photography contest “Celebrating Community,” according to an announcement from the foundation.

Hazardous waste collections scheduled for mid-Sept.

EPHRATA – Grant County Solid Waste will be hosting two household hazardous waste events in September with support from the Washington State Department of Ecology. The events are free for all Grant County households. No business, government agency or contractor waste will be accepted.

GCFD 3's Talley retires

QUINCY – Grant County Fire District 3 put out a statement that Michele Talley, the Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Marshall has retired. Her final day of work was Aug. 30. QUINCY – Grant County Fire District 3 put out a statement that Michele Talley, the Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Marshall has retired. Her final day of work was Aug. 30.

Woman sought in Ulta Beauty thefts

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Police Department issued a statement about a female stealing from Ulta Beauty on several occasions, stealing hundreds of dollars of merchandise.

OSPI calls for cell phone limits at school

OLYMPIA — To support student learning and mental health, schools across the state and nation are updating their policies to restrict cell phone use during the school day, according to an announcement from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. According to a 2022 study by the Pew Research Center, 95% of teenagers have a smartphone, compared to 73% in 2014-15, according to the announcement. Educators nationwide have called for support in limiting student access to cell phones during instructional time to reduce distractions and provide the optimal environment for student learning. In a 2024 survey, the National Education Association found that 79% of educators who teach in schools that allow cell phones find it to be very disruptive. Further, 90% of educators surveyed said they would support cell phone policies that restricted students’ use of cell phones during instructional time.

Possible blue-green algae in south Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Health District received a report of a suspected blue-green algae bloom in the South Moses Lake area, near the Sand Dunes. Samples will be taken next week, according to the GCHD press release.