News bites for Jan. 19
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 11 months AGO
The Ritzville Police Department is looking for a Motorola pager and 110-volt charger stolen in a burglary in a December burglary in Ritzville. The pager belongs to the Ritzville Fire Department and was assigned to a volunteer, according to the RPD, and the only people in the area who should have that kind of pager are firefighters. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ritzville Police Department at 509-659-1313.
COURTESY PHOTO/RITZVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
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. | January 18, 2024 6:12 PM
OTHELLO — The Adams County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a burglary suspect, according to a statement from the ACSO.
Joshua Joseph Gutierrez, 28, is wanted on suspicion of residential burglary and first-degree theft, according to the statement.
Adams County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 25-year-old Isaac Isaías Fuentes-Gomez on the same charges on Tuesday, according to the statement. Deputies also executed a search warrant in the 900 block of East Sagewood Street in Othello, where multiple confirmed stolen items were recovered. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about Gutierrez’s whereabouts is asked to contact the ACSO. Tipsters can remain anonymous.
EPHRATA — Although lakes in the Columbia Basin may be frozen over, the ice isn’t safe to walk on, according to an announcement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
It can be very difficult to tell how thick the ice is simply by looking, the GCSO wrote. Anyone falling through will quickly go into hypothermia, and first responders may not arrive in time.
People walking dogs near an ice-covered lake are urged to keep them on a leash, as some people have fallen in while trying to rescue a dog that has broken through the ice.
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
‘Our favorite time of year’
Shop with a Cop brings smiles to both children and officers
MOSES LAKE — The heavy police presence outside local stores recently wasn’t because of a crime wave. It was police officers engaging in their favorite annual event. “This is one of those times throughout the year that we don't have to go and ask for volunteers to help,” said Moses Lake Police Chief David Sands. “The first day we put it out, I think we got 20-some people say ‘Yeah, we’re in.’ That's just under half the department right away.“
BASIN EVENTS: Dec. 19-27
COLUMBIA BASIN — It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and a lot of people will be spending time at home with their families or at the church of their choice. Still, there are a few things happening around the Basin. Here are some ideas:
Chimney maintenance is essential for safety
MOSES LAKE — With Christmas just around the corner, lots of folks are using their fireplaces for warmth, roasting chestnuts or just a pleasant atmosphere. But before Santa pays your chimney a visit, you should make sure it’s in good working order. Chimney fires are responsible for more than three-fourths of residential building heating fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Regular inspections and cleaning are the best way to prevent that, said Michael Harper, known as The Chimney Guy. “If they’re using (the fireplace) aesthetically – date night, Christmas, New Year’s, show-off times, something in the background here and there, (they should) have it inspected once a year for peace of mind,” Harper said. “If they’re using it two to three days a week religiously through the winter months, they need to have it cleaned once a year.”