News Staff OLYMPIA – Okanogan County is included in an emergency proclamation issued Thursday by Gov. Jay Inslee in relation to a series of severe storms in November. The storms that occurred between Nov. 3 and Nov. 8 caused significant power outages, road damage, temporary road closures and detours, and extensive damage to public utilities and electrical … Read more
RICHLAND – The FBI and local drug task forces made one of the largest-ever drug seizures in eastern Washington. FBI agents and several law enforcement agencies recently served a series of federal search warrants in the Tri-Cities area as part of an investigation into drug trafficking using the U.S. Postal Service, and seized more than … Read more
WENATCHEE – All 30 NCW Library branches will be serving as warming centers as areas in north central Washington are expected to see snow returning this week, according to the National Weather Service. NCW Libraries has branches in Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Okanogan and Ferry counties. The libraries are available as warming centers during regular operating … Read more
MOSES LAKE – Influenza has reportedly claimed its first victims of the season in Grant County. On Friday, the Grant County Health District (GCHD) reported that health officials are investigating what’s suspected to be two flu-induced deaths in the area. GCHD stated that it is looking into the death of a man in his 50’s … Read more
CLE ELUM – A 21-year-old man has succombed to injuries sustained in a Dec. 3 head-on collision on Blewett Pass. Bellevue resident Aravind Vikumar was a passenger in a car that collided with a vehicle heading in the opposite direction on US 97. He died Wednesday at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, according to the … Read more
WENATCHEE – Chelan County commissioners are asking federal agencies to suspend plans to reintroduce grizzly bears into the North Cascades. The National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced last month they will resume studying whether grizzly bears should be restored in the North Cascades. Chelan County commissioners say reintroducing the bears into … Read more
EPHRATA – Grant PUD is passing along rising costs to customers. Even with record profits, Grant PUD’s commission board formally approved a plan for new electricity rates in 2023 during this weeks regularly-scheduled commission meeting [Dec. 13]. The new 3% rate hikes take effect on April 1. A typical residential customer will pay an additional … Read more
MONITOR – An old fruit warehouse being used to grow recreational and medical marijuana was destroyed in an overnight fire in Monitor. Residents in the area were notified to shelter in place Thursday, as Chelan County Fire District 6 responded to the structrue fire on Main Street at the old Collins Fruit warehouse. The building … Read more
MOSES LAKE – A Moses Lake woman’s Christmas budget likely got bigger after she won big with Washington’s Lottery on Wednesday. According to the Washington Lottery website, Jessica A. bought a $5 Loteria Grande scratch ticket from WinCo Foods in Moses Lake and won the $50,000 top prize. Out of morethan 3,000,000 tickets printed, only … Read more
MOSES LAKE – Three local organizations have banded together to address mental health, substance abuse and suicide among young people. The Moses Lake Community Coalition, the Grant County Suicide Prevention Taskforce, and the NCACH have organized an event, called ‘Hiding in Plain Sight’ to raise awareness of youth mental health and suicide risk in Grant … Read more