Latest news with #Ephrata
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Ephrata area fire damages about 26 acres Thursday
May 31—EPHRATA — On Thursday at around 4:30 p.m., Grant County Fire District 13 was called out to a fire in the 12000 block of Road B.6 Northwest. The fire started as a controlled burn, but because of the winds, it quickly became uncontrolled. "It was a prime example of a control burn getting out of control," GCFD13 Chief Jim Stucky said. "I do not know the actual details. But he probably thought, just like everybody else, 'it's a very slight breeze, I can keep this contained.' Then next thing you know, just a little puff of wind just takes an ember somewhere. That's the way it goes and then they can't catch it, and we get called out." The blaze burned around 25 acres of land before it was contained at around 5:30 p.m., according to Stucky. Crews from GCFD13, Grant County Fire District 5 and Ephrata Fire Department stayed on scene until about 8 p.m. to complete mop-up. Between the three departments, they had around nine trucks managing the fire. "But then there's a couple hours of mopping up. We have to try to cool everything down," he said. "We had to get it out because we knew it was a windy night. Fortunately, it didn't come back overnight." No injuries or structural damage occurred because of the fire; however, some rangeland was damaged and GCFD13 popped a tire on one of the department's vehicles. "If there's even the slightest wind, don't burn, please," Stucky said. "We're just kind of getting a bunch of these fires that don't need to happen." Stucky wants to remind people that the burn ban will be in effect beginning Sunday, which means no fires are allowed within Grant County limits. "No more burning after June 1," Stucky said. "You can really damage property, hurt people and get fines if you decide to burn. Please be careful with any firepits, if that's something you decide to do and keep water nearby in case it decides to spread. Fire is unpredictable and we need to be careful with hotter, drier days coming ahead."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Basin schools prepare for summer meals
May 30—COLUMBIA BASIN — Schools around the Columbia Basin will have food service programs available at no charge for children 18 years of age and younger over the course of the summer. Ephrata "We are going to be offering both congregate meals and non-congregate meals," said Alain Black, Ephrata School District's food services director. "One of our schools will have congregate meals where children have to eat on-site." The on-site meals will be available at Grant Elementary with breakfast served from 8 to 9 a.m. and lunch from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will also be a grab-and-go meal option which will be distributed in a drive-thru line at Ephrata Middle School from noon to 1 p.m. Both sites will be open Monday-Thursday from June 16 to July 24. The program will be closed for distribution June 19 in observance of Juneteenth, but grab-and-go boxes for that day will be available for pickup June 18. For further questions, contact Ephrata School District and Alain Black at 509-754-2474. Moses Lake This summer Moses Lake School District is partnering with the City of Moses Lake Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department to provide free lunches at select parks across the city. The program runs from June 16 through July 18 with no service June 19 or July 4. "All meals are free for children and teens ages 18 and under — no sign-up or registration is required. Just stop by, grab lunch, and enjoy summer in the park," said Ryan Shannon, MLSD Director of Public Relations. A sack lunch will be served 12-12:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Meals will be served at Knolls Vista Park Mondays, Carpenter Park Tuesdays, Maple Grove Park Wednesdays and Peninsula Park Thursdays. For further information contact the Moses Lake School District at 509-766-2650 or Ryan Shannon at (509-793-7734. Othello Othello School District will provide their summer meals alongside the summer school program June 30 to July 25. Summer school at Scootney Springs Elementary for grades K-8 will be from 8:10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Grades 9-12 will be at Desert Oasis High School with a morning session from 8:45 to 11:30 a.m. and a night session from noon to 2:45 p.m. "We will serve meals to the public where we will serve breakfast and lunch," said Mandy McDonald, assistant director of dining services at Othello School District. Breakfast and lunch will be provided to the public for children aged 1-18. Food will be served at Scootney Springs Elementary School on the summer school program's schedule. For further questions on Othello School District's summer meal services contact Mandy McDonald at 509-488-2650 ext. 2031. Quincy Quincy School District's Summer Food Service Program will be available starting June 23 at Sit and Eat locations and offer a twice a week meal pick-up location. Sit-and-eat locations will be at Ancient Lakes Elementary operating Monday-Thursday with breakfast served 7:15-8 a.m. and lunch 11:15 a.m-noon through July 17. The other sit-and-eat location will be the Quincy City Parks and Recreation Building Monday-Friday through Aug. 8 with the exception of July 4. Breakfast will be 7:30-8 a.m. and lunch 11:30 a.m. -12:15 p.m. The twice-a-week pickup locations will be at George Elementary with drive-thru and cafeteria pickup and Quincy Middle School, with drive-thru pickup only. These will begin operation June 24 and run through Aug. 8 with breakfast and lunch served 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Additional meals will be distributed July 1 and July 3 to make up for no service July 4. For any questions, contact Quincy School District Food Service Director Steven DeStio at 509-787-4335 ext. 3680. Wahluke Wahluke will distribute its summer meals June 23-July 27 at Saddle Mountain Elementary School. These will be served Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. "Any child under the age of 18, if they're hungry, they can come in any of those days," said James Montgomery, Wahluke's food service representative. "They don't even need to be a student; just come in and we'll feed you." Wahluke School District is extending its offer to students from Royal and other nearby school districts that are not offering a summer meal program this year. For further information call James Montgomery at 503-752-0280 or the Wahluke School District office at 509-932-4565. Warden Warden School District will be serving their summer meals at the Warden School District's cafeteria from June 24 through July 31 with breakfast served from 7:50 to 8:20 a.m. and lunch from 10:55 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. "Anyone 18 and under can come get a free meal. They don't have to be enrolled in summer school, they can come eat," said Paulie Wixom, Warden School District food service supervisor. "Not everybody gets a hot lunch, we have free meals and they're more than welcome to come up. Paulie Wixom can be reached at 509-349-2366 ext. 1450 for any further questions on the summer meal programs at Warden School District.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ephrata Fire Department named 2025 Volunteer Fire House of the Year
May 21—EPHRATA — The Ephrata Fire Department has been awarded the title of "Volunteer Fire House of the Year" for 2025 by the Washington State Firefighters Association, significant recognition for the primarily volunteer-based team. "This award is very rewarding for me, our department, and our members," said Fire Chief Jeremy Burns. "Our fire department relies heavily on volunteers—only two of us are career staff. Without their time, effort and commitment to our community, we wouldn't be much." This is the first time the department has won the award, according to Burns. The Ephrata Fire Department boasts a roster of 33 volunteer firefighters, many of whom juggle their service with full-time jobs in various fields, including two members who also serve in the National Guard. One of these volunteers played a crucial role in a recent mental health crisis intervention, helping safely negotiate an individual down from a grain silo after nearly three hours of communication. "Their commitment to community protection and service is commendable," Burns said. "These individuals double volunteer their time for the defense of our communities and our nation. They truly are excellent individuals who show remarkable dedication." The department has actively engaged with the Ephrata community through various events, Burns said, including the Sage and Sun Festival, Touch-a-Truck and Trunk or Treat events. The volunteers also conduct fire prevention programs for local schools, reaching preschool through fourth-grade students. According to the Washington State Firefighters Association's official statement, "Ephrata Fire Department Volunteers can be found consistently giving back to their community." In addition to community engagement, the Ephrata Fire Department has shown remarkable growth in training and skill development. In 2024 alone, the department's volunteers successfully obtained 39 IFSAC certifications in areas including Firefighter 1 and 2, Hazardous Materials Awareness, and Driver Operator. Furthermore, Ephrata hosted two Fire Academies that included participation from local agencies, resulting in over 2,000 hours of fire and EMS training. "We have a great camaraderie among our volunteers. Their spirit and enthusiasm for helping our community are key to our success in recruiting and retaining members," Burns said. Burns said its dedicated volunteers continue to demonstrate that passion and commitment can make a real difference in public safety and community building. "We have just a great group of people that are there for all the right reasons, and that's to serve their community and continue to build their skill set so they're better prepared for the next response," Burns said.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ephrata's Downer recognized for excellence
Apr. 24—Correction: April 24, 2025 — "Ephrata's Downer recognized for excellence" — The caption should have said Downer was attending Central Washington University. EPHRATA — Hannah Downer, an 18-year-old senior at Ephrata High School, has been selected as one of the Students of the Month for March in recognition of her academic performance, leadership roles in extracurricular activities and positive influence on her peers. "I like being nominated for stuff and being recognized," Downer said. Having attended Ephrata schools since kindergarten, Downer has demonstrated a commitment to her education and community that has set her apart from her classmates, according to her teacher, Mikki Johns, who nominated her for student of the month. Downer is a versatile participant in numerous activities; she has been a dedicated member of the girls tennis team since her freshman year, felt a sense of belonging in Key Club where she served as president and showcased her talents in the drama club. "I love being involved and giving back to my community through service projects," Downer explained, referring to her role in Key Club. "There's something so gratifying about organizing events that help others and promote kindness." In her time as president, she has organized projects including candy grams for Valentine's Day, assisting with neighborhood yard sales in collaboration with Kiwanis Club and setting up flags for state send-offs. Downer's accomplishments in the athletic arena include her recent promotion to the varsity girls tennis team. "I was part of the junior varsity for the first three years, and being on the varsity now is a huge achievement for me," she said. "Despite some health challenges this year, I've learned to embrace improvement over winning. I value seeing my own growth more than the outcome of a match." Hannah is not just committed to sports and service; she also demonstrates academic prowess. She has been an active member of the National Honor Society for two years, even promoting Key Club during its Oscar Night event, where students are recognized for exhibiting exemplary character traits. "Being involved in the National Honor Society has allowed me to support and celebrate my peers' success," she said. One of her most impactful experiences has come from her participation in Advancement Via Individual Determination, a program designed to prepare students for college. "AVID has changed my life," Downer said. "It's not just about academics, but also about building relationships with people who encourage you. Those four years feel like a family." Her dedication to both her own success and that of her classmates has made her a role model in the classroom environment, Johns said. Hannah has also embraced the challenge of the Running Start program, where she takes college courses at Big Bend Community College while still in high school. Johns praised her adaptability and determination. "Hannah's commitment to her education is inspiring," Johns said. "She's taken on the rigors of college classes and tackled them head-on, proving her resilience." Downer said she balances all her commitments by managing her time and trying to avoid distractions. "I try to manage my time effectively, especially when juggling assignments from different classes and obligations to my clubs," she said. Johns pointed out how Downer's upbeat personality has positively impacted the classroom environment. "Hannah has a way of lifting everyone's spirits. She recognizes when someone is feeling down and works to change the atmosphere. Her ability to create a positive environment helps everyone in the class flourish," Johns said. Johns said she has also inspired other students in AVID to accomplish their goals. This year, Downer had too many credits, so she was unable to take the AVID class. Despite this, she attends the class every day, completing assignments that will never be graded. "Students in the class saw her showing up when she didn't need to be," Johns said. "They) think, if Hannah's doing it and Hannah's not even in the class, maybe I have that type of attitude. I think she really pushes people to work harder than what they are doing." With her graduation approaching, Hannah Downer has her sights set on Central Washington University, where she plans to major in anthropology and museum studies. "Museum studies is taking artifacts and curating the museum exhibits and, basically, handling history," she said. "It (has) kind of like an art side, because you're creating the exhibits, but you also have the history side when you're handling the artifacts. As a kid, I always loved history. It was like my favorite subject. I just love learning history that I haven't witnessed or experienced ... like the 1600s and like the 1700s, finding out how the United States began." Downer expressed gratitude toward her parents Jason and Jennifer Downer for their support throughout her educational journey. "My parents have always been there for me, especially during difficult times, like when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 10," she said. They've provided unconditional love and encouragement that kept me going." She also wants to thank Johns for her patience and kindness throughout the last four years of school. "I really love her. Love my heart. She's like a teacher-mom," Downer said. "If we're kind of struggling, going through some hard times, she's always there for us if we need a shoulder to cry on. She's there if we need a hug or whatever." Johns said she finds Downer inspiring. "I would say, when I think back many years from now and I think of Hannah, I will think of her hugs," Johns said. "I don't know if she's needing it for herself or if she thinks maybe some days I might need a little lifting. But she's one of those students that will come to me and just say, 'I need a hug. Can I?" I love that. I think that's amazing." As Downer embarks on her next chapter, Johns offered hopeful predictions about her future. "I know that college is really important to her, and I see her attending and finishing," Johns said. "I know it's a personal goal of hers. I know she's going to do whatever it takes to complete that and be successful. She's (the kind of) student that (when) she is struggling, she knows how to reach out to her resources and ask for help, which I think is amazing."
