Up to 4 inches of snow forecast; libraries close
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 2 months AGO
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. | January 4, 2022 1:05 AM
EPHRATA — Keep that snow shovel, snow blower or snow plow handy, because more snow is coming, with up to 4 inches forecast by Friday.
Joey Clevenger, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Spokane, said the snow tapers off today and Wednesday.
“A few stray showers coming in (Tuesday) and Wednesday,” he said.
But the snow will start piling up Wednesday night into Thursday.
“Two to 4 inches in the Central Basin area,” he said. “Winter has finally arrived.”
Snow is forecast for late Thursday night, with the possibility of freezing rain, followed by more rain. A mix of rain and snow is forecast for Friday.
The snowy weather caused all branches of the Mid-Columbia Libraries system, which has a branch in Othello, to close early Monday.
Blowing snow closed a county road near the town of Stratford Monday. Sam Castro, Grant County Public Works director, said Road 21 Northeast, between Stratford and state Route 28, east of Soap Lake, was closed until further notice due to drifting snow. The road doesn’t have any homes on it, Castro said, so it’s lower on the priority list.
As of Monday night, it was the only county road closed, according to the public works department’s social media page.
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.