Lowell Allred sworn in to Columbia Basin Hospital Board
NANCE BESTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 months, 2 weeks AGO
Dr. Lowell Allred was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Columbia Basin Hospital Board of Commissioners Tuesday night. Allred practiced family medicine in Ephrata for nearly 40 years before retiring a couple of years ago.
NANCE BESTON/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
EPHRATA — Columbia Basin Hospital has appointed Dr. Lowell Allred to fill a vacant seat on its five-member Board of Commissioners, following the February resignation of Commissioner Catherine Snyder.
Allred brings decades of medical experience to the role. He worked as a primary care physician in private practice for nearly 30 years before joining Columbia Basin Hospital, where he practiced for another decade prior to retiring about three years ago.
Allred said he was encouraged to apply for the position by a former commissioner and saw it as an opportunity to stay involved in the medical community.
“I’ve not been doing anything with medicine since I retired, so I thought maybe I could get involved and see what’s going on. Maybe help in some way,” he said.
As he steps into the role, Allred said one of his primary concerns is the ongoing financial challenges faced by small rural hospitals like Columbia Basin Hospital.
“I’ve seen this hospital struggle financially,” he said. “I hope I can be an influence for good there and help with some financial decisions that won’t put them under.”
While he acknowledged that commissioners are not directly involved in day-to-day medical operations, Allred said he hopes his background in family medicine will allow him to provide valuable insight to board discussions and decisions.
“Maybe I can offer some insight or help them out because of my background,” he said.
Allred also emphasized the importance of maintaining strong healthcare services in the community and retaining qualified medical staff.
“I hope I can just help the hospital continue to offer the services we need in this community,” he said.
Allred encouraged continued support of the hospital and its staff. “I think the people in the community should trust the hospital — that we’re trying to do the best we can to help people,” he said.
ARTICLES BY NANCE BESTON
Ballot processing continues as certification approaches
EPHRATA — Election officials in Grant and Adams counties are nearing the finish line of the 2026 general election, with certification scheduled for Nov. 24 and most ballots already processed. According to the Washington Secretary of State's latest election data as of Nov. 9, Grant County had an estimated 1,800 ballots left to count, while Adams County had approximately 200 ballots remaining. In Grant County, 29,070 ballots were returned, resulting in a turnout rate of 54.7%, according to Grant County Elections Coordinator Rebecca Pettingill. While slightly below the county's final turnout of 57.34% in the 2022 general election, Pettingill said the numbers are largely in line with expectations. “I would say it's pretty average,” Pettingill said. “It's looking pretty good.”
Paraeducator Career Fair planned for next week to help fill support roles at MLSD
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District is hoping to fill around 20 open paraeducator positions through a hiring event later this month. It's designed to connect prospective employees directly with school administrators, teachers and human resources staff.
Meeting the need
Moses Lake Food Bank needs help to feed 1,600 families this Thanksgiving
MOSES LAKE — Community Services of Moses Lake is preparing to distribute up to 1,600 Thanksgiving meals later this month while continuing to meet steady demand from local families and pursuing a major expansion that leaders say could transform how much food the organization can rescue and distribute across Central Washington. The food bank's annual Thanksgiving meal distribution is scheduled for Nov. 16 and will be conducted as a drive-thru event at the food bank facility. People who miss the drive-thru can ask for a Thanksgiving box Tuesday and Wednesday, but it depends on availability. Administrative Manager Lane Storwick said the organization expects to provide between 1,500 and 1,600 holiday meal boxes, though demand is likely to exceed available supplies.