‘Personal shoppers’: Fun event with law enforcement returns after missing a year
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 9 months AGO
Bellaluna Binns looks over the selection of socks with the help of her shopping buddy, Moses Lake Police Department Sgt. Jeff Sursley, during Shop With A Cop Tuesday.
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin Herald
Moses Lake Police Department Detective Juan Serrato (left) and Benito Gutierrez look for the perfect superhero shirt during Shop With A Cop Tuesday in Moses Lake.
Grant County Sheriff’s Deputy Tom Tufte, left, takes Harmony Nichols for a ride on the shopping cart during Shop With A Cop.
Grant County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Kyle Cox and Micah Nelson watch the parade of police cars enter the parking lot at the Moses Lake Walmart for the Shop With A Cop event Tuesday.
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | December 17, 2021 1:07 AM
MOSES LAKE — Bellaluna Binns knew exactly what she wanted: socks that weren’t too long and weren’t too short, and were just the right color.
She looked over the selections very carefully, and luckily she had a personal shopper to help her. Moses Lake Police Department Sgt. Jeff Sursley stood by, occasionally offering suggestions.
Like all the kids participating in the annual Shop With A Cop on Tuesday night, Binns had a budget.
Max Mowery kept a close eye on his budget – after all, he had gifts to buy for others, as well as picking up some things for himself. He looked on skeptically as MLPD Capt. Dave Sands did the math, adding up what he had already spent and what he had left. When Sands gave him the totals he asked to do the math himself.
Before that, the kids and their families arrived in style, with police cars circling the Moses Lake Walmart parking lot and lights and sirens going. Grant County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Kyle Cox explained how it works for his shopping buddy, Micah Nelson.
Kids, cops and their families had pizza, and there was time for pictures with Santa.
“And then we’re going to go do some shopping,” Cox said.
Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Washington State Patrol troopers and MLPD officers helped kids pick out gifts for family and friends, and maybe get a few things for themselves.
Parents and officers teamed up to help the kids pick out clothes. Benito Gutierrez and MLPD Detective Juan Serrato searched the racks for a special superhero shirt. Kids and officers worked together to find something for the adults when they weren’t looking.
Shop With A Cop returned after a one-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
MLPD Chief Kevin Fuhr said everybody who participates looks forward to it.
“One of the best events we do all year,” Fuhr said.
“Lots of fun, lots of shopping,” said Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones.
Deputy Mike Yashchuk with the GCSO said Shop With A Cop is a highlight of his year.
“Every year, it keeps getting better and better,” Yashchuk said. “Everybody is so generous. It’s an awesome community experience.
“Just to see the smiles on everybody’s faces. That’s probably the best part of it,” Yashchuk said.
“This is the fun part of community policing,” said GCSO Deputy Aja Gribble.
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
PUD seeking comment on 2027 rates
EPHRATA — The public comment period is open for Grant County Public Utility District customers who want to weigh in on proposed 2027 PUD rates. Comments can be made on the PUD website, www.grantpud.org, under the "workshops and meetings" tab. Utility district commissioners will hold a public hearing at 2 p.m. Nov. 10 for additional customer response. People can attend the hearing in person at the commission hearing room, 30 C St. SW, Ephrata. Access also will be available online. The proposed 2027 rates include increases for all customers. The smallest increase, 3.5%, will be paid by residential, small business, irrigation and general service customers. They're designated as "core customers."
Othello School Board to consider capital levy request
OTHELLO — The Othello School Board will consider a recommendation at its Oct. 28 meeting about a possible capital request to be put before voters in 2027, probably in February. Othello Superintendent Pete Perez said it won't be a capital bond for construction or remodeling. "There will not be a bond in February 2027," Perez said. "There is real strong potential there will be a capital levy." The recommendation will be the first result of a months-long study by a committee looking at the district's current and future facility needs. Members of the "Future-Ready Schools" committee also have looked at the possibility of a construction bond sometime in the next few years – but not in 2027.
Baumgartner, Conroy outline their top 5th Congressional District issues
RITZVILLE — Incumbent Republican Michael Baumgartner is being challenged for his position in the U.S. House of Representatives by Democrat Carmela Conroy. The winner will represent the Fifth District, which includes sections of Adams County. Conroy and Baumgartner also ran against each other in 2024. The Columbia Basin Herald asked both candidates the same questions about their candidacy. Their answers are below.