Third Grant County COVID-19 case identified

GRANT COUNTY — As of Monday, March 16, there were seven cases of COVID-19 identified in Grant County and none in Adams County.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Moses Lake photographer named Old Hotel's Artist of the Month

OTHELLO – For Korbi Ashton, Artist of the Month at the Othello Old Hotel and Art Gallery, photography is a much-needed creative outlet amid the hectic schedule of a stay-at-home mom for seven children.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Othello Old Hotel holds another successful benefit auction

OTHELLO — Amid the tractors and tillers, over 100 attendees filed into the Othello RDO Equipment Co. building Saturday evening for the Othello Old Hotel Art Gallery’s annual benefit auction.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Maze-goers beware: there's someone behind you at the Othello Straw Maze

On a moonlit night, after driving down a dark, dusty road and through a creaky steel gate, dozens lined up in a dimly lit booth to purchase tickets to the evening’s eery event, the Othello Straw Maze.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Body of missing Othello man found in Canal Lake

WARDEN — The body of missing Othello resident Arthur Valentino Madrigal was recovered this week from a lake in south Grant County.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Records show Othello School District's evidence against embattled former coach

OTHELLO — Former Othello High School girls wrestling coach Jacob Jermain “J.J.” Martinez shared a blanket with a student athlete during a wrestling trip and made deceptive statements about the incident during an investigation into his conduct, according to records from the Othello School District.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

After rollover, fire chief's primary concern was firefighter's wellbeing

ROYAL CITY — After a fire truck with Grant County Fire District No. 10 rolled over on Road I Northwest last Sunday, Chief Eric Linn’s primary concern was the wellbeing of the firefighter injured in the crash.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

WSP: Speeding caused weekend fire truck rollover near Royal City

ROYAL CITY — Sunday’s rollover of a fire truck belonging to Grant County Fire District No. 10 occurred because the vehicle was traveling too fast for conditions, according to the Washington State Patrol.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

GC detectives searching for missing Othello man

WARDEN — Grant County detectives are searching for Arthur Valentino Madrigal, 36, of Othello, who went missing Aug. 3 from the Heart Lake area, near Warden.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

District defends handling of Martinez allegations

OTHELLO — The Othello School District is defending its handling of an investigation into allegations against former Othello girl’s wrestling coach Jacob Jermaine “J.J.” Martinez, after the Adams County Prosecutor found insufficient evidence to file criminal charges against him.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Embattled Othello wrestling coach will not face criminal charges

OTHELLO — Adams County prosecutors have declined to press charges against former Othello High School wrestling coach Jacob Jermaine “J.J.” Martinez, who resigned from that position in March following accusations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a student.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Newhouse: Trump impeachment inquiry a distraction

MOSES LAKE — The last holdouts of Washington’s Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives joined the call to open an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump Sunday, citing “national security and national conscience,”

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

13 suspected gang members from Grant County arrested in raid

MOSES LAKE — Thirteen Grant County residents with alleged ties to the Eastside Familia Norteño street gang were arrested last week in an extensive, regional drug raid, including two men accused of being the leaders of the drug trafficking conspiracy, according to a press release from the Drug Enforcement Agency.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Newhouse votes against condemning Trump tweets

WASHINGTON D.C. — Fourth District Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Yakima, joined almost all of his Republican colleagues last week in the U.S. House in voting against a resolution titled “Condemning President Trump’s racist comments directed at Members of Congress,” which passed 240-187 along party lines.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Powerline Fire scorches almost 8,000 acres

MATTAWA — The scene of the Powerline Fire, which sparked Sunday afternoon near Mattawa and burned 7,800 acres, had largely settled by Monday afternoon, with the majority of the fire’s fuel having burned away overnight.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Veteran lawmakers discuss 2019 session

MOSES LAKE — After a long legislative session, Moses Lake’s veteran state lawmakers Sen. Judy Warnick and Rep. Tom Dent are touring their district discussing the accomplishments of each other and their party and lamenting some of the difficulties presented by the Democratic majority in both chambers of the legislature.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO

Highway 243 fire chars over 20,000 acres

ROYAL CITY — With the combined efforts of almost 400 firefighters across four days and four nights, a fast-moving fire that sparked near Wanapum Dam and Highway 243 last Monday night was brought to heel by the end of the week.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Police seeking public's help in finding drive-by suspect

MATTAWA — Law enforcement is asking for the public’s help in the search for a 22-year-old male wanted in connection with a May 29 drive-by shooting in Desert Aire that is believed to be gang-related, according to police.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

GCSO secures Desert Aire contract amid contention

DESERT AIRE — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office has secured a security contract with Desert Aire and will begin stationing a full-time deputy solely within the borders of the rural village, following years of complaints from residents about lackluster response times in one of the county’s most remote areas.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

1 injured in DUI-related collision

MATTAWA — A 35-year-old Mattawa man was arrested for DUI after a collision which severely injured a Sunnyside man, according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Largest contributor to 2018 PUD race fined $10,000

OLYMPIA — A fundraising organization that made the largest donations to the 2018 Grant County Public Utility District elections has been assessed a $10,000 fine for failing to register as a political committee, failing to disclose donors and failing to disclose financial information.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Woman sentenced to 17 months for stealing her car from impound

SCHWANA — A 62-year-old Mattawa woman was sentenced to 17 months in prison Monday for stealing her truck from a Schwana impound lot that had been holding the vehicle for a month over unpaid fees.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS AGO

Fighting to stay: Music teacher detained by Border Patrol challenges narrative

GRANT COUNTY — When Miguel’s father, a field laborer who was once a firefighter-paramedic and had worked with the Red Cross, and Miguel’s mother, a subsistence farmer whose family fed themselves with what they could grow, crossed their family into California illegally in search of stable work, Miguel was 3 …

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS AGO

Undocumented man facing federal charges after Mattawa drug bust

MATTAWA — An undocumented Mattawa resident was indicted on federal charges Tuesday in connection with a drug bust last Wednesday that recovered around five pounds of meth, culminating a six-month investigation and a raid that local law enforcement said put a major dent into the area’s drug trade.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

City council roundup

GRANT COUNTY — Two city councils in Grant County met this past week – Royal City and Mattawa.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

State offers teens $12 per hour for summer litter crew jobs

LACEY — Teens in the Columbia Basin looking for summer jobs are encouraged to apply with the Washington state Department of Ecology Youth Corps for litter crews serving the Moses Lake or Othello areas and paying $12 an hour.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Makeshift Midwife: Officer delivers baby while waiting for ambulance

LIND — A sergeant with the Adams County Sheriff’s Department took on the role of midwife in the line of duty Sunday, helping to deliver a baby that could not wait for an ambulance en route, according to the department’s Facebook page.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Adams County Sheriff won't enforce new gun control regulations

RITZVILLE — Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner has just added his name to the number of Eastern Washington law enforcement agency heads who “will not enforce I-1639 as it is currently written,” according to a Facebook post to the agency’s page.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO

Othello resident accused of homicide detained by border patrol

OTHELLO — The U.S. Border Patrol has detained an Othello resident and former Mexican police officer arrested a decade ago in his home country on homicide charges, according to immigration enforcement officials.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO

Donation to Mattawa food bank could pay for 3 1/2 months of service

MATTAWA — The Mattawa Area Food Bank received a check for $3,500 from agriculture group Washington Producers and regional buckwheat farmers earlier this month. The check was presented to food bank staff by Port of Mattawa Director Lars Leland.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO

Murder Mystery inspired Old Hotel's January Artists of the Month

OTHELLO — The Othello Old Hotel has announced its January Artists of the Month, Linda Crosier, Linda Boothman, Terry Rice and Jenn Stevenson, who each produced a quilt inspired by the murder mystery, “Murder at Jamestown.”

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO

Wahluke Junior High students learning soft skills through feedback, competition

MATTAWA — On Thursday afternoon, Jan. 17, Alex Hyndman and Madison Harlow sat behind the anchor desk of Tri-Cities NBC affiliate KNDU, faced studio cameras and reported on city plans to build a new bridge in Richland. It was all in a day’s work for a professional anchor.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO

Comedian on national tour to visit Royal City

ROYAL CITY — Comedian Gabriel Rutledge will be performing at the Royal City Public Golf Course and RV Park at 7 p.m. on February 16.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO

Grant County School Districts ranked by graduation rate, test scores

OLYMPIA — The state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction recently released its annual school report cards, grading Washington school districts on graduation rates and test scores from 2018. The report offers a look at where students in Grant County are most likely to graduate and do well on …

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

Ace is the place to retire

After 41 years of providing Othello with nuts, bolts and the expertise to explain the difference, Ace Hardware owner Ken Story has sold the store to Stan’s Merry Mart.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

ABATE Grant County raising funds for young woman's kidney transplant

At a time in life when most young adults are beginning their careers, starting families and exploring their possibilities, Korina Hermosillo, a 25-year-old Othello resident, is in the middle of a six-year fight with kidney disease.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

Royal students lay wreaths on veterans' graves

ROYAL CITY — On a cold Thursday morning, as other high schoolers were in classes and preparing for a holiday break that couldn’t come fast enough, 10 members of the Royal High School football team were laying evergreen wreaths on the graves of many of the town’s deceased veterans.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

12 Mattawa kids Shop with a Cop

MOSES LAKE — The Mattawa Police Department teamed with members of the community to hold its first annual Shop with a Cop event Saturday, Dec. 22 at the Moses Lake Walmart, bringing in children and families experiencing financial difficulties to shop for presents and a full Christmas dinner.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

Cops, kids, toys and pizza come together in Othello

OTHELLO — Othello Police Department held its 18th annual Shop with a Cop on Saturday at the Othello Walmart, joining troopers from the Washington State Patrol and deputies from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office to bring Christmas cheer to underprivileged children with a shopping cart full of toys.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

Othello volunteers distribute food, toys

OTHELLO — Dozens of volunteers packed into the Adams County Fire District No. 5 station in Othello on a frigid morning Saturday, filling grocery carts, cars and trucks full of toys, blankets, clothes and food for the 44th annual Othello Christmas Basket event.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

Affordable housing project in Mattawa receives state grant

MATTAWA — Mattawa will soon have 47 new units of affordable housing for farmworker seasonal housing, persons with disabilities and families with children, due to a $3 million grant from the Washington State Housing Trust Fund, the Federal HOME program and the National Housing Trust Fund.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

Water storage expanding in Othello

OTHELLO — The City of Othello will receive $750,000 for a new 2.5 million-gallon water reservoir from a Community Development Block Grant allocated by the Washington state Department of Commerce, adding to two existing water storage tanks supplying the city with reliable water year-round.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

Family raising funds to send brother's body home

OTHELLO — It was only a few years ago that Noe De Jesus Diaz Interiano traveled to Central Washington from the small village of Torola, in the Morazán department of El Salvador, a rural collection of stucco houses hidden amid the mountainous jungle.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

Holiday lights on display

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

Day of Mourning to affect Sun Tribune delivery

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Trump has named Wednesday, Dec. 5 a national day of mourning in honor of the late President George H. W. Bush, who passed away Friday night at the age of 94. As a result, all federal offices will be closed, including post offices, affecting mail delivery …

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

In Mattawa, an empty agency and no rush to fill it

MATTAWA — For months Mattawa has been without a single commissioner on the town’s Civil Service Commission, which oversees all hiring, firing and promotional decisions in the town’s police department.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Tiny town with a big heart supports UW band after crash

GEORGE — The town of George has shown once again that it is a tiny community with big pies and even bigger hearts.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Christmas events in South County, Othello

Thanksgiving feasts of turkey and taters may only be a few days past, but agencies and organizations in South Grant County and Othello are already gearing up with community events for the holiday season.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

A look at the future of learning

Royal Middle School is looking towards the future with the implementation of virtual reality headsets as a tool to promote learning and technological know-how.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Othello Old Hotel Ugly Fabric challenge underway

OTHELLO — What began as a bolt of cloth ordered by Old Hotel Art Gallery director Jenn Stevenson that sat unloved on the organization’s fabric shelves might have become a new tradition at the heritage site: the Ugly Fabric Challenge.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Conflict brews between Royal City agencies and affordable housing developer

ROYAL CITY — Contention is brewing between the Royal City School District and the Housing Development wing of Central Washington Catholic Charities over a possible extension of an existing affordable housing development within the school district.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Othello FFA meeting at Othello High School

The Future Farmers of America Othello Chapter will be holding its general meeting at the Othello High School November 5th, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. with a casual barbeque. FFA members, students and parents are welcome to attend, though parents and the general public should arrive around 6 p.m., said Royal …

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Desert Oasis awards teacher for hard work and passion

Desert Oasis High School in Othello awarded second-year math teacher Olivia Camacho Thursday, Oct. 25 with this year’s Challenge Coin for her commitment and dedication both in and out of the classroom.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Annual auction raises funds for Old Hotel

OTHELLO — The Old Hotel Art Gallery held its annual auction fundraiser Saturday at the RDO Equipment offices in Othello, bringing together hundreds of community members dressed in ’50s-style costume to support the town’s heritage site.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Ribbon cut to Lind's new solar array, the state's largest

The ribbon cutting of Washington’s largest solar array, Adams Nielson Solar Farm, drew a crowd of guests ranging from the region’s congressman, the state’s governor and the nearby middle school’s associated student body president.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Hopefuls vie for seat if Manweller resigns

Following a series of sexual misconduct allegations ranging from unwanted staring to statutory rape, embattled Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Cle Elum, has promised to resign from the legislature if he is reelected this November. County Republican parties in Grant, Kittitas, Yakima and Lincoln counties are currently vetting candidates as potential replacements …

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Mattawa has a new administrative contact

The city of Mattawa has a new administrative assistant, having recently hired Norma Avalos to fill the position. Avalos will be the community’s main point of contact with city and law enforcement administrations, and will help get out the word out about upcoming events and programs.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Fly back to the '50s at the Old Hotel Saturday

OTHELLO — The Old Hotel Art Gallery is gearing up for its 41st annual buffet dinner and auction, the heritage organization’s largest fundraiser of the year. The auction will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 at RDO Equipment, formerly Evergreen Implement, in Othello.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Othello career showcase to bring employers and students together

OTHELLO — Students from the Othello School District will have a chance to meet potential employers at the Othello Career Showcase Oct. 18 at Othello High School, where local businesses and agencies will set up interactive booths for students to experience diverse career opportunities both abroad and at home.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Prisoners and pooches form pawtnership

There are a number of obstacles preventing Adams County Pet Rescue from adopting out dogs as quickly as possible, and one of the most significant can be obedience training. Dogs that enter into the Pet Rescue’s care are often untrained, unnamed and poorly suited for adoption, but training programs can …

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Running for a colorful cause in Othello

OTHELLO — Over 550 people donned running shorts and white shirts Saturday for the Columbia Basin Health Association’s 5K Color Run For a Cause, which left runners speckled with reds, yellows, blues and greens after getting showered by vibrant bursts of colored starches.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Gang confrontations on the rise in Royal City

ROYAL CITY — Confrontations between rival gangs are starting to heat up in Royal City, said Royal City Police Chief Darin Smith, evidenced by an increase of gang graffiti and drive-by shootings between two rival factions of the Sureños gang, West 18th Street and the South Side Locos.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

A radical make-over at Wahluke Junior High

The project was, in many ways, making the best out of a bad situation. The Wahluke School District wasn’t running a bond this year due to concerns that it would fail, which meant that there was no room in the budget to build a school to replace Wahluke Junior High.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Automatic meters arrive in Mattawa

Electricity-consumers in Mattawa, Royal City and Royal Slope will soon see automatic energy meters on their properties, which means they’ll see a lot fewer meter readers.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Annual Summerfest hits Royal City with a bang

Hundreds arrived in Royal City over the weekend for this year’s Summerfest, themed “Stars, Stripes, and Royal Knights.” Events galore greeted attendees, from live music to activities for children.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Chief Moses Middle School students give back to farmworkers

A group of student leaders from Chief Moses Middle School blew away their local competition during the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Program’s annual long-sleeved shirt drive, collecting 180 shirts for farmworkers who regularly work exposed to sun and pesticides.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 12 MONTHS AGO

Judy Warnick livestock inspection bill signed into law

OLYMPIA — A bill closing an exemption on veterinary inspections of livestock brought into Washington was signed into law March 27, aligning the state with federal laws intended to increase disease traceability.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 7 YEARS AGO

School safety bill contains gun control provisions

OLYMPIA — Filled to the brim with a hodgepodge of provisions and regulations, the legislature’s fast-tracked school safety bill will affect everything from the availability of school resource officers to the ability of anyone under 21 years old to buy a semi-automatic rifle.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Bill would end non-criminal juvenile incarceration

OLYMPIA — Democratic lawmakers are pushing a bill that would end juvenile detention in the state for status offenses like truancy or running away, which are only illegal due to the age of the perpetrator.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Bill would raise age to buy tobacco to 21

OLYMPIA — State lawmakers are considering raising the age to buy tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21 in an effort to lower addiction rates and cut back on nicotine in schools.

COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO