‘The best day of the year’

Moses Lake police seek donations for annual Shop with a Cop program

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Police Department is kicking off fundraising efforts for its annual Shop with a Cop program, an event that pairs local officers with children and families in need to help make the holidays brighter. Funded almost entirely through community donations, Shop with a Cop provides selected families with an evening that includes dinner with law enforcement officers followed by a shopping trip where children and their families can purchase necessities, Christmas gifts and other items they may not otherwise be able to afford. “We put together an event in which needy children, as well as their family, are paired up with an officer that takes them shopping, and they can pick out gifts for themselves, for their family, and take care of some needs that they may not otherwise be able to do,” said Capt. Mike Williams of the Moses Lake Police Department. Williams called the event “the best day of the year” for the department.

Thompson leads 13th District race, plans focus on costs, access

EPHRATA — Joshua Thompson led Deanna Martinez by 3,278 votes for the 13th Legislative District’s state representative Position 2 seat in preliminary Nov. 11 results. According to the Washington Secretary of State, there are around 2,000 ballots left to count in the four counties that make up Legislative District 13. Thompson had 22,400 votes, or 52.73%, to Martinez’s 19,122 votes, or 45.02%, according to the Nov. 11 ballot counts. The election will be certified Nov. 24. Thompson said his early work would focus on building relationships with fellow lawmakers, learning the legislative process and making his office accessible to constituents.

GCFD 7 EMS levy appears headed for approval

Voters back funding increase for staffing, ambulance service

SOAP LAKE — Grant County Fire District 7's replacement Emergency Medical Services levy appeared headed for approval Wednesday after preliminary election results showed voters supporting the measure by a comfortable margin. As of the Nov. 10 ballot count, Proposition No. 1 received 914 “yes” votes, or 59.47%, compared to 623 “no” votes, or 40.53%. Election results remain unofficial until certification Nov. 24. The measure would replace the district's existing EMS levy and increase the rate from 25 cents to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value for six years beginning in 2027.