In Other News
ONE INJURED, TRAFFIC SNARLED BY COLLISION
EPHRATA – One person was injured and traffic was snarled following a two-vehicle collision Monday evening at the junction of State Routes 17 and 282, about five miles southeast of Ephrata, reported the Washington State Patrol.
Troopers said Nya M. Whitfield, 18, of Moses Lake, was driving south on SR 17, stopped at the stop sign, but failed to yield the right-of-way when she entered the intersection in front of an oncoming vehicle.
Whitfield’s car was struck on the driver’s side by a 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Paris C. Stucky, 33, of Ephrata. The Ford traveled into the highway’s southbound ditch while the Jeep came to rest blocking the southbound lane.
Whitfield sustained unspecified injuries and was airlifted to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in the Tri-Cities. An update on her condition was not immediately available on Tuesday. Stucky and two children ages 10 and 20 months riding as passengers in the Jeep were not hurt, according to the WSP report.
Both drivers were wearing seatbelts and the two young passengers were placed in protective child seats, troopers said.
Neither alcohol or drugs were involved in the collision, which was reported at 6:40 p.m. and remains under investigation. Emergency response efforts caused a traffic backup on State Route 282 and southbound SR 17, with northbound traffic diverted toward Soap Lake.
The two vehicles were totaled and towed from the scene.
GC BOARD OF HEALTH APPLICANTS
MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Health District is accepting applications for appointment to three primary and three alternate positions serving on the district’s board of health.
Board members help shape health district policies and services and enforcement of local, state, and federal health regulations in Grant County.
The trio of open positions on the eight-member board represent:
-- Seat No. 5/Healthcare: open to providers or professionals from healthcare facilities or public health organizations, including pharmacists, dentists, community health workers and more.
-- Seat No.6/”Lived Experience”: this position represents individuals who self-identify as having faced significant health inequities or experiences with programs related to public health. This might include WIC (Women-Infant-Children) programs, housing or homelessness support, behavioral health or substance use treatment, or other community health-related programs.
-- Seat No.7/Community Stakeholder: residents with an interest in public health and contributing to the health and well-being of the community.
Primary members are expected to participate in board of health meetings on the second Monday of each month beginning at 6 p.m. Participation can be in person at the Grant County Health District office in Moses Lake or online via Zoom. Alternate members are also welcome to attend all meetings and are asked to participate when primary members cannot attend.
Terms are for one to two years with an option to extend by agreement. Application forms are available on GCHD’s website at https://bit.ly/GCHDBOH. For more information, call Rita Morfin at 509-766-7960, ext. 43, or email rmorfin@granthealth.org.
“The Grant County Board of Health is a diverse group of people who share a commitment to protecting the health and safety of our communities,” board chair Tom Harris said in an Oct. 6 press statement. “As a member for over a decade, I’ve seen the board take on some of the most challenging and impactful work in our county.”
The board of health’s other five members include two Grant County commissioners, two elected officials representing cities and towns, and one tribal representative.
