Vantage Road SW closed due to rockslides
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 months AGO
A rock face in the Frenchman Coule area. Vantage Road Southwest, which serves the Frenchman Coulee Recreation Area, was closed Saturday morning due to danger of rockslides.
FILE PHOTO
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. | May 16, 2026 12:15 PM
QUINCY — Vantage Road Southwest, west of Silica Road above the Columbia River, is closed due to unstable rock faces and danger of rockslides, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
The road closed Friday night about 9 p.m. due to a rock slide, according to the GCSO. One lane reopened about two hours later but was closed again at 11:40 a.m. Saturday. Anybody who is in the Frenchman Coulee Recreation Center is being contacted and asked to evacuate the area.
The road will be closed until further notice, according to a GCSO release.
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Four hurt in SR 17 crash
MOSES LAKE — A suspected DUI collision injured four people and closed state Route 17 near Big Bend Community College Wednesday night, according to a statement from the Washington State Patrol. At a little before 7:30 p.m., Samuel Alejandro Gonzalez, 22, of Quincy was driving south on SR 17 when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck a pickup driven by Karmen M. Andrews, 50, of Moses Lake, according to the statement. Gonzalez’s vehicle came to rest blocking the northbound lane, and Andrews’ vehicle came to rest blocking the southbound lane. Gonzalez and Andrews were both transported to Samaritan Hospital for treatment, according to the WSP statement. Two 13-year-old passengers in Gonzalez’s car were also injured but not transported. Andrews was wearing her seat belt; Gonzalez was not. It was unknown whether the juveniles were buckled.
Prep your home for winter before you have to
MOSES LAKE — You’ve tried to put it off. You’ve tried to ignore the lengthening shadows, the chilly mornings, the afternoon sunset. But like it or not, winter is still coming, and that means there are things that have to be done around the house to prepare for the cold weather. Insulation: According to the Department of Energy, 10%-20% of the average cost of energy in the U.S. is wasted heat from drafts, air leaks and outdated HVAC systems. That can get expensive. Start by checking the insulation in your attic, crawl space and walls.
BASIN EVENTS: Nov. 13-21
COLUMBIA BASIN — Shh! Hear that? It’s the last quiet time before the holidays begin in earnest. Here are a few ways to enjoy it. Nov. 13-17 Cozy Christmas Market Holiday gifts and décor, vintage finds, handmade goods, local artisan vendors, seasonal treats and wreath workshops. Seed Cupboard Nursery, 12543 Road H SW, Royal City. Info: seedcupboardnursery.com.