News bites for Oct. 19, 2023
STAFF REPORT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 11 months AGO
EPHRATA — Amateur radio enthusiasts in Grant County took part in a Simulated Emergency Test on Oct. 7, according to a statement from the Grant county Sheriff’s Office.
The test, in which 13 Ephrata-area stations participated, was intended to assess amateur radio communications capabilities in the county, the statement said. The test involved contacting nine communities across central Washington by amateur radio, including Othello, George, Wenatchee, Moses Lake and Soap Lake. Teamwork among radio operators led to communication with the State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray south of Tacoma, the statement said.
MOSES LAKE — Grant County Fire District 5 firefighters assisted fire science students at Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center in “burning down the house” Tuesday morning, according to a statement from GCFD 5.
The exercise involved setting fire to small simulated “dollhouses” built by CBTECH construction students, the statement said. The simulation helped students understand fire behavior, reading smoke and the effects of fire suppression and ventilation.
All 11 students in the program have been accepted as cadets with the fire district, the announcement added.
OTHELLO — A Warden man will serve at least three years in prison for his role in a shooting in Othello, according to a statement by the Othello Police Department.
Joel Sergio Gonzalez, 21, pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree assault, with a firearm enhancement, according to the statement. Gonzalez was sentenced to 39 months in prison, at least 36 of which must be served because of the enhancement.
On Aug. 18, OPD officers responded to a report of shots fired in the 1000 block of East Cedar Street, according to a previous statement by the OPD. Moses Lake Police officers located the suspects, later identified as Gonzalez and Cristina Perez, 35, of Othello, and arrested the two after a high-risk traffic stop. Gonzalez and Perez were booked into Franklin County Jail.
Nobody was harmed in the shooting or the arrest, the OPD wrote.
ARTICLES BY STAFF REPORT
Kennewick woman killed in Othello-area collision
OTHELLO — A Kennewick woman was killed when she ran into a semitruck at the intersection of SR 26 and South Booker Road early Thursday morning.
State Route 26 closed due to fatality collision
OTHELLO — State Route 26 is closed due to a fatality collision between a car and a semitruck near South Booker Road about four miles east of Othello, according to information from the Washington State Patrol and the Washington Department of Transportation. The road was closed about 6:30 a.m., according to the WSDOT. This is a developing story and more information will be added as it becomes available.
Coeur d'Alene to host fair housing training
Event takes place at public library in October
In this spirit, the city of Coeur d’Alene will soon provide a free “Fair Housing and Hot Topics” training. Partnering with Intermountain fair Housing Council, the event is slated for noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Community Room, 702 E. Front Ave.