Moses Lake, Wahluke props failing, most others passing
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 8 months AGO
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | February 14, 2024 4:15 PM
MOSES LAKE — All but two school levies that were on the ballot for Tuesday’s special election are passing, according to the Grant and Adams county auditor’s offices. In unofficial results, Wahluke’s capital projects levy is being voted down 245-136, while Moses Lake’s is failing 3,420-3,142.
The Almira School District is approving a three-year levy of $2.40 per $1,000 of assessed property value 96-22, and Warden is passing a two-year educational and operations levy of $2.20/$1,000 165-134, and a two-year $0.20/$1,000 capital levy for upgrading school computers and other technology by a vote of 165-127.
Odessa School District also is passing two levies, the first a one-year EP&O levy of $1.89/$1,000 and the second a one-year capital levy of $0.38/$1,000 The EP&O levy is passing 242-102, and the capital levy 249-93.
Coulee-Hartline’s educational programs and operations levy of $1.35/$1,000 for 2025 and $1.29/$1,000 for 2026 passed 277-86. Soap Lake voters are approving a four-year $2.29/$1,000 EP&O levy 305-241. Royal School District’s levy of $1.72/$1,000 in 2025 and $1.67/$1,000 in 2026 is passing, 274-159, and Wilson Creek’s two-year $2.50/$1,000 EP&O levy is being approved 76-35.
In Adams County, Benge School District voters are approving an EP&O levy of $1.47/$1,000 for 2025 and $1.43/$1,000 for 2026 by a vote of 13-1. Lind School District is approving an EP&O levy of $1.09/$1,000 for 2025 and $0.99/$1,000 for 2026 by a vote of 147-70, and a two-year $0.13/$1,000 capital levy 146-69.
Ritzville School District is passing an EP&O levy of $1.98/$1,000 for 2025 and $1.83/$1,000 for 2026 by a vote of 396-250 and a two-year $0.12/$1,000 capital levy for electronic technology improvements 421-226. RSD voters also are approving a reorganization of the school board from five director districts to three districts and two at-large positions by a vote of 447-171.
Electric City voters overwhelmingly are approving a measure to remove four parcels owned by the federal and state governments from the city limits, 169-40. Because the property is publicly owned, it is not available for development and offers no tax revenue to the city, according to a statement by the city’s attorney Katherine Kenison, and has attracted nuisances like underage drinking and illegal dumping.
Grant County Fire District 8, based in Mattawa, is passing its six-year $0.50/$1,000 levy by a vote of 438-194. Ritzville is passing a $0.15/$1,000 parks and recreation levy 304-138. The money will go toward maintenance and repair of the slide at the Ritzville Water Park and to purchase a new diving board, according to the voter’s guide.
The next vote count will be Feb. 16 in Grant County and Feb. 20 in Adams County. The election is certified Feb. 23.
Joel Martin may be reached via email at [email protected].
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Endless battle
Noxious Weed Control Board works to keep invasive plants under control
MOSES LAKE — Some of the nastiest plants in Grant County were the topic of a class led by Jay Johnson, a consultant with the Grant County Noxious Weed Control Board, Tuesday. The Noxious Weed Control Board, as its name would suggest, is tasked with keeping weeds under control in Grant County. That’s not a small job; the board’s website lists 129 species of noxious weeds that are found around Grant County. A noxious weed is defined as an invasive, non-native plant that threatens agricultural crops, local ecosystems or fish and wildlife habitat, according to the Noxious Weed Control Board. Washington state law requires that these weeds be identified and their spread kept to a minimum, if not completely eradicated. “We’re one of those agencies a lot of people don’t really understand,” Johnson said. “We’re a county office and … our funding is tax-based assessment. When you get your tax bill and you look down at all the expenses that you pay for, there we are.”
BASIN EVENTS: Oct. 16-24
COLUMBIA BASIN — Whether you feel like shopping, crafting, learning or seeing a show, there’s something happening for you this week in the Basin. Oct. 16 ‘My Family (Mi Familia)’ screening Spanning three generations, “My Family (Mi Familia)” is a heartfelt drama that follows the Sánchez family as they build their lives in East Los Angeles. Through love, hardship, triumph, and sacrifice, the film explores the immigrant experience, the strength of family bonds, and the traditions that connect one generation to the next. Lowrider show and taco truck before the screening. Sponsored by Columbia Basin Allied Arts, EDUBS C/S and the Moses Lake Creative District. $12 per person. Doors open at 6 p.m., film begins at 7 p.m. at the Moses Lake Civic Center Auditorium, 401 S. Balsam St. Tickets and info: www.cba-arts.org.
Moses Lake author encourages women to look beyond church culture norms
MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake author’s book, “A Christian Woman Striving to Live Her Faith in a Man-Controlled World,” takes aim at the role to which many churches relegate the female half of their congregations. “It’s to encourage women in the faith,” Linda Curran said. “A lot of churches say, ‘Teach Sunday school, do this, do that, but don’t (evangelize.)’" In her book, Curran recounts a time when she moved to a new community and joined a church there. She was surprised to learn that, as a new female member, she had been automatically assigned church cleaning duties. When she questioned it, she wrote, she was met with condescension and her objections were brushed aside. In other churches, she said, women who were capable of teaching were relegated to “women’s ministry.”