In Other News

MAN ARRESTED FOR BURGLARY, GUN DISPLAY

EPHRATA — A local man faces charges of burglary, harassment, and unlawful display of a weapon following a confrontation at the Ephrata Walmart Sunday morning, March 8.

Shortly before noon, police were notified that a male subject, identified as 21-year-old Rafael Diaz Chavez of Ephrata, had approached an 18-year-old male in one of the store’s main walkways and repeatedly asked his name. During the exchange, Chavez allegedly pulled a handgun from his pocket, said he would be waiting outside, and exited the store.

The 18-year-old, who was shopping with two women and a 1-year-old child, later told police he did not know Chavez, but one of the women identified him. Another uninvolved witness also confirmed that a handgun was displayed. Police said the store was crowded with numerous shoppers at the time.

Store personnel provided surveillance video that allegedly showed Chavez driving away in a white Nissan passenger car with a temporary license. Officers responded to an apartment in the 300 block of E Street N.E., observed the car parked there, and contacted a 19-year-old female who said she was Chavez’s girlfriend. An officer made telephone contact with Chavez, who said he was at his parents’ residence in the 300 block of Sixth Avenue S.E., but acknowledged the handgun was in a closet at the apartment, the police report stated. The .45-caliber firearm and a loaded magazine were located and collected as evidence.

Officers then responded to the family residence on Sixth Avenue, where Chavez surrendered without incident and declined to talk except to say, “I don’t know what happened, bro.”

Chavez was booked into the Grant County Jail and made a preliminary appearance on Monday, March 9, in Grant County Superior Court, where he pled not guilty to charges of harassment, unlawful display of a weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm, and second-degree burglary. Bail was set at $2,500 and an April 29 trial was scheduled.

The felony burglary charge stems from Chavez being banned from all Walmart properties following a June 2025 incident when he was allegedly among a group who threatened an employee at the Moses Lake store.

HOSPITAL BOARD SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR VACANT SEAT

EPHRATA —Grant County Public Hospital District No. 3 is accepting letters of interest from qualified applicants for appointment to a vacancy on its five-member board of commissioners following the departure of Catherine Snyder, who resigned her Position 3 seat effective March 1.

Commissioners oversee policies and operations, including delivery of patient care, for Columbia Basin Hospital and its associated facilities.

To qualify for appointment, a prospective applicant must be a U.S. citizen age 18 or older and a registered voter who has resided within the hospital district for at least 30 days. Commissioners cannot be employees of the district.

Interested persons may call the hospital’s administration office at 509-754-4631, ext. 1222, to schedule a meeting and facilities tour.

Letters of interest may be mailed to: Rosalinda Kibby, CEO, Columbia Basin Hospital, 200 Nat Washington Way, Ephrata, WA 98823. Her email address is kibbyr@columbiabasinhospital.org.

The application deadline is Tuesday, March 24.

Commission meetings are held at 6 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month in the CBH conference room.

EPHRATA NONPROFIT RECEIVES STATE DOH GRANT

OLYMPIA — An Ephrata nonprofit is among nine community-based and tribal organizations that will share in $1.1 million funds recently awarded by the Washington Department of Health.

Unido Nueva Alianza Foundation of Ephrata will receive a $150,000 allocation for its efforts to strengthen farmworker well-being through health, safety, education, and advocacy, said DOH communications consultant Mike Lang.

The Workplace Safety Grant Program funding is derived from the state’s Climate Commitment Act and intended to support “the health and safety of workers affected by extreme heat and cold, wildfire smoke, drought, flooding and other climate impacts. This round of funding focused on projects supporting and educating agricultural workers,” the health department said in a Feb. 26 press release.

Launched in 2022, UNA says it works to “advance the rights, dignity, and well-being of immigrants, low-income families, and systematically marginalized communities” by providing services in Adams, Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Okanogan, and Yakima counties. Services include food security, healthcare access, immigration rights, and digital support.

Two other central Washington nonprofits based in Wenatchee also share in the funding. 

The Community for the Advancement of Family Education received $150,000 to hire staff, host events which promote health and safety for agricultural workers, purchase supplies to keep workers healthy particularly during extreme heat and cold, and provide safety training.

Columbia Valley Community Health got $113,200 to develop curriculum related to the dangers of heat and wildfire smoke exposure and ways to reduce them, and workers’ rights when they are exposed to those conditions.

Separately, the Department of Health awarded a total of $1.4 million in CCA funds to six other community organizations through the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Capacity Grant Program.