NEWS BITES: June 25, 2024
STAFF REPORT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 4 months AGO
Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete, right, administered the path to office to Sheriff’s Deputy Julio Valencia, left. Valencia is transferring from corrections deputy to patrol.
COURTESY PHOTO/GCSO
EPHRATA — The Washington State Patrol will be working with local law enforcement agencies in Kittitas, Grant, Adams, Lincoln and Spokane counties from June 28-30 along Interstate 90 from Snoqualmie Pass to the Idaho border enforcing speeding and DUI laws.
QUINCY — Grant County’s Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team was at the Gorge Amphitheater during this weekend’s Beyond Wonderland festival to help prevent violence that may arise due to illegal drug use.
The INET was comprised of Moses Lake Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit, Yakima County’s Law Enforcement Against Drugs Task Force, the Washington State Patrol, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the GCSO. Eight investigations were conducted over the weekend resulting in 12 people being arrested on 24 charges, two vehicles were confiscated and one firearm seized. INET took hold of $3,000 cash and over a pound of illegal drugs.
OTHELLO — The Othello Police Department is hosting an open house Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. Crafts and tours will be available.
SOAP LAKE — A Soap Lake area man was issued a ticket for second-degree reckless burning after the man caused a brush fire Sunday morning, responded to by Grant County Fire District 7 with assistance from Grant County Fire District 12 and 13 along with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
The annual county-wide burn ban began June 1 and lasts through Sept. 30. Second-degree reckless burning is a gross misdemeanor.
ARTICLES BY STAFF REPORT
Connell woman killed in Booker Road crash
CONNELL — Charges are pending against a Kennewick man following a collision about 12 miles south of Othello that killed a Connell woman and injured three other people Tuesday evening. A Washington State Patrol press memo said intoxicating substances were a factor. Jessica Zarate, 37, Connell, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near the intersection of SR 17 and South Booker Road, the WSP memo said. She was driving south on Booker Road approaching the intersection when her car was hit by a pickup driven by John Reiss, 62, Kennewick. Edgar Garcia Quirino, 28, Othello, was driving north on SR 17 and ran into Zarate's car, the WSP memo said. The crash occurred at about 6:40 p.m.
Wheeler Road closed because of traffic collision
UPDATE: The road was reopened as of noon, according to a GCSO media release. MOSES LAKE — Grant County Sheriff’s Office has announced there is a road closure between Road 3-NE and Road S-NE. There was a serious traffic collision. GCSO is asking for drivers to avoid the area and find alternative routes. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Doors opening: The Currents will provide homeownership for more local workers
About 104 homes are planned at the former Atlas sawmill site
Teachers, nurses, firefighters and other workers who keep Coeur d’Alene running will soon have more places to buy a home in the community where they work. About 104 homes are being planned to be built at Atlas Waterfront, on roughly 10 acres that are part of a swath of land that was once home to the Atlas sawmill and is being redeveloped. Ignite CDA, the city of Coeur d’Alene’s urban renewal agency, is leading this effort.