Grant County Fire District 8 to have open house at new station
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 7 months AGO
Barbara Davis, business manager and secretary for Grant County Fire District 8, in the district's new fire hall.
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin Herald
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. | September 1, 2021 1:00 AM
MATTAWA — Residents will get a chance to look at the new station for Grant County Fire District 8 at 2043 Road 22.5 SW during an open house scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 11.
GCFD8 Chief Joe Noonchester said the day will begin with a commission meeting and a ceremony to swear in one newly hired full-time firefighter, as well as the five full-time firefighters previously employed by the district. Noonchester also will swear in two new battalion chiefs, both of whom are volunteers with the district.
The swearing-in ceremony will be followed by the dedication of a new ambulance, which includes the tradition in the fire service of the crew pushing in the new vehicle.
Lunch will be served after the ceremonies and the station will be open for tours until 5 p.m., Noonchester said.
The new fire station, about 18,000 square feet, opened in July. It has room for more fire equipment than the old location at 510 Government Road in downtown Mattawa. There’s also living space so firefighters can stay at the station during their shifts.
Fire district business manager and secretary Barbara Davis said in an earlier interview the total project cost was about $6 million.
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Road closures, roundabout, mean construction season underway
EPHRATA — The grass is starting to turn green, the trees are starting to leaf out, construction crews are starting to build roundabouts – hey, it’s spring. At least one roundabout project is in its final phase, held over from fall 2025. The intersection of State Route 282 and Nat Washington Way will be closed the week of April 6 to allow crews to install permanent lights. “This really is the final (closure),” wrote Grant County Administrator Tom Gaines in a media release. “The roundabout will close at 6 a.m. Monday, and we plan to reopen by Friday, possibly sooner if the work finishes early.”
Ybarra announces run for Washington Senate
QUINCY — State Representative Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, has announced his candidacy for the Washington Senate. If he’s elected, he would replace Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, who announced her retirement in March.
Othello Community Museum to open April 25
OTHELLO — With a couple of new exhibits, a new heating-cooling system, rearranged displays and a thorough cleaning, the Othello Community Museum will open for the summer April 25. The goal, said Molly Popchock, museum board secretary, is to operate for a full season.