Friday, December 05, 2025
30.0°F

Ephrata SD gang town hall today

NANCE BESTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 months AGO
by NANCE BESTON
Staff Writer | May 8, 2025 2:00 AM

EPHRATA — The Ephrata School District, in collaboration with local law enforcement and the North Central Educational Service District, will host a town hall meeting titled "Understanding Youth Gangs" today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Ephrata High School Performing Arts Center.  

This free event aims to engage community members in discussions about gang activity affecting Ephrata and the surrounding areas. 

“At a minimum, we believe we're still on the front side of this, and so we're really trying to be very proactive in recognizing and understanding for our district to be positioned as well as we want to be,” Ephrata School District Superintendent Ken Murray said. “It really needs to be a collaborative effort between not only law enforcement, but also the school district (and) families. The goal is to increase awareness so that we can stay ahead of this to the best of our ability.” 

The evening will feature a presentation by the North Central Educational Service District, detailing gang types, observable behaviors and preventive strategies. Following the presentation, a Q&A session with representatives from the Ephrata School District and local law enforcement will facilitate dialogue among attendees. 

“At the end of the day, if we can reduce some of the gang behaviors and some of the associated risks that it presents to our youth, then that's a win,” Murray said.  

ARTICLES BY NANCE BESTON

Mayor Peter Sharp takes oath of office
December 5, 2025 1:15 a.m.

Mayor Peter Sharp takes oath of office

SOAP LAKE – Grant County Commissioner Kevin Burgess adminstered the oath of office to Mayor Peter Sharp Wednesday. Sharp was previously appointed to this role at the Sept. 18, 2024, council meeting after his predecessor Allen DuPay quit during the Aug. 7, 2024, meeting.

Newhouse, colleagues introduce infrastructure bill
December 4, 2025 4:55 p.m.

Newhouse, colleagues introduce infrastructure bill

WASHINGTON D.C. — On November 21, 2025, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers introduced the Urban Canal Modernization Act, HR 6279, aimed at addressing the deteriorating condition of urban canal infrastructure across the country. This legislation, sponsored by Representatives Dan Newhouse, R-WA; Mike Simpson, R-ID; Adam Gray, D-CA; and Russ Fulcher, R-ID focuses on providing federal support for the extraordinary operation and maintenance of urban canals deemed to be at significant risk of failure. “As communities in Grant County and elsewhere face serious risks from aging canal systems, it is imperative that we act now to ensure vital water infrastructure is maintained and upgraded,” Newhouse wrote in a statement. “The Bureau of Reclamation’s canals are in dire need of repairs, and the surrounding communities who rely on them would be at risk if they were to fail. This legislation provides local authorities with additional resources to manage these critical pieces of infrastructure while protecting the people and property around canals of concern.”

Ephrata water tower waiting for final tests
December 3, 2025 6:30 p.m.

Ephrata water tower waiting for final tests

EPHRATA — The City of Ephrata is still waiting for the final testing to come back to the water tower. The city had originally hoped the tower would be connected to the water system by Thanksgiving; however, the intensive water testing is taking longer than anticipated.