Ellington

Adams Co. law enforcement logs for Feb. 1

Reports for Adams County Sheriff's Office.

MLYHA’s Winter Classic faces off this weekend

MOSES LAKE — Seven hockey teams from around Washington, Oregon and Canada will travel to Moses Lake this weekend to join the 18U Moses Lake Coyotes in the Moses Lake Youth Hockey Association’s Winter Classic. The 18U tournament will take place from Friday to Sunday at the Larson Recreation Center...

Environmental bills being considered by WA House

OLYMPIA — Several environmental bills have been introduced in the 2023 session of the Washington House of Representatives. Topics include labor reporting, solid waste management and resident energy options....

Grand Coulee Fire Station progressing

GRAND COULEE — The Grand Coulee Dam Fire Station project is coming along, according to a press release from the Bureau of Reclamation...

Arrests made over alleged social media threats

OTHELLO — An unidentified man and two juveniles were arrested on suspicion of second-degree possession of firearms on Jan. 27 following an alleged threat against Adams County Juvenile Services personnel...

Music festival showcases students’ talents

MOSES LAKE — Seventy Moses Lake students took part Saturday in the seventh annual Moses Lake-Central Basin Chapter of Washington State Music Teachers Association Music Festival, according to a statement from chapter President Marina Munter. The festival was held at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Moses Lake...

Moses Lake man arrested for reported domestic violence at BBCC

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man is in jail following an alleged domestic assault at Big Bend Community College, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office...

REC reaches supply deal with solar panel maker

MOSES LAKE — REC Silicon announced Tuesday that it has reached an agreement to provide solar-grade silicon to South Korean solar panel maker Hanwha Solutions. The deal with Hanwha, which owns a major stake in REC, will provide solar-grade silicon to the company’s Q Cell solar panel factory in Dalton, Georgia, according to REC Vice President for Fluid Bed Reactor Sales Chuck Sutton. In mid-January, Hanwha announced a $2.5-billion expansion of its Dalton production plant to 8.4 gigawatts from the current 1.7 gigawatts, according to a Hanwha press release. “We’re looking at rebuilding the U.S. solar supply chain, and one of our goals is to support that,” Sutton said.

Arrests made over alleged social media threats

OTHELLO — An unidentified man and two juveniles were arrested on suspicion of second-degree possession of firearms on Jan. 27 following an alleged threat against Adams County Juvenile Services personnel. A post from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office said the threats were posted on social media. Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner declined further comment on the case Tuesday. The ACSO post said the social media posts were reported as being gang-related, and involved threats to kill people identified as rival gang members as well as juvenile services employees.

Jet jockeys

Mystery photos show Larson AFB in 1950

MOSES LAKE — The photo shows a trio of Air Force pilots walking from fighter jets with the kind of swagger expected from men who fly very expensive, very fast machines through the air, frequently with guns blazing. Almost nothing is known about the photo, though. Not the names of the pilots, not the photographer, not even when or why the photo was taken, though it was likely sometime in the summer of 1950. All that’s known – from the unit patch on sleeves and flight suits and painted on the sides of F-86 Sabre fighter jets – is that they were of the 71st Fighter Squadron, showed some kind of special event and were taken at Larson Air Force Base. And that they were found in Southern California last year.

Jeffrey Paul Scheib

Jeffrey (Jeff) Paul Scheib, 62, passed away Nov. 22 while visiting family in the Dallas, Texas area. Jeff was born Nov. 1, 1960, in Soap Lake, Washington, son of the late Lawrence and Elizabeth Scheib. He attended Delancey Houghton Elementary, Soap Lake High School and the University of Washington. He worked for several public and priv

Makin’ Gnocchi!

Chef Ben Leonard talks potato pasta and guides us through making a meal.

KENNEWICK — Chef Ben Leonard thinks more people would like mushrooms if they knew how to cook them properly. It’s why he tries to make sure the mushrooms he uses are completely dry when he cooks with them. “I find that most people who say they don't like mushrooms just ended up having badly cooked mushrooms,” Leonard said. “And so always make sure that your mushrooms are dry before they go into a pan … and make sure that you don't have an overcrowded pan, because if it’s overcrowded, you're just going to have steamed mushrooms.” ...

Washington bridal show schedule 2023

Below is a noncomprehensive list of bridal expos in Washington, organized from closest to furthest from the center of Grant County. The Columbia Basin Herald congratulates the brides and grooms in our area on their upcoming celebrations and we wish you a happy and joyous life together...

How to get registered

What’s most needed? How much? And from where?

Settling on the answer for these basic questions isn’t easy, but they’ll guide you through the process. Your completed wedding registry will then provide everything required to begin married life, while perhaps even adding a few personal indulgences. If you’re unsure how to get started, or want to double-check that you haven’t forgotten anything, check out this handy list of “do’s and don’ts.”

Green weddings

Keep the Earth in mind by creating a sustainable event with less waste

With environmental and climate concerns on the rise, more couples are taking an eco-friendly approach. That may mean using fewer disposable products, cutting down on fossil fuel or emissions associated with the big day or focusing on sustainable practices. Taken together, these small changes can have a big impact on the world around you. ECO-FRIENDLY VENDORS Start by looking for wedding-day vendors that share your focus on protecting the planet and creating a healthier environment. Whether it’s a reliance on sustainably created invitations or fun new creations like paper flower bouquets, they can do a lot for our environment simply by using materials that rely on recycled paper or alternative fibers. Other earth-focused companies pledge to plant a new tree with every order. Look for other environmentally sound practices on company websites and handout materials.

Thank-you cards

This post-wedding responsibility doesn’t have to be so overwhelming

The challenge is getting started, in particular with a large number of gifts. It’s best to approach it all in a step-by-step manner, so that the task feels like something more easily achieved. If needed, create a schedule with appointed times to work on your stack of thank-you notes, so that it becomes part of your everyday routine. If they received an invite, that means your guest was already a big part of your life. Here’s how to thank them for being part of your next adventure.

What’s next for your dress?

There are many options to consider on the day after your wedding

You've shopped for the gown, been fitted and refitted, then gotten married in it. But there’s still one big decision to make. Some brides choose to carefully store their gown in order to preserve it as something to hand down to future generations, or even simply as a heartfelt memento. Others choose to resell or donate the dress so that someone else can enjoy it on their own big day. Which is right for you? Consider these crucial questions. LONG-TERM STORAGE Storage is an option for those with an intent to one day pass along the dress to a daughter or other family member. You may also be the sentimental type who’d like to have it as a keepsake. If so, you can’t simply tuck the gown away in the back of the closet, much less in your damp and musty attic or basement. You’ll need to first get a garment professional to properly clean and store the dress for future use. They also recommend special storage bags or compartments. This will extend the life of the gown, while making sure it doesn’t become faded, infested or frayed – mishaps that can happen even during a short amount of time in storage.

What to look for in a caterer

Several factors come into play when making this critical decision

It’s easy to focus solely on the food, of course, but there are other considerations. You’ll want to start by looking at their history, including licensing and referrals. Then ask critical questions that will get to the bottom of the services they provide. BACKGROUND CHECK Look for licensed catering companies or restaurants. This will ensure that they meet or exceed certain industry standards, but it also may be essential to holding the ceremony. Depending on the venue, management may actually require that this credential is in place. Ask about the vendor’s history of catering weddings. How many have they previously handled — and how many of these previous ceremonies matched your location and specific needs? You may not be comfortable with letting a novice take over such an important task. Ask friends and family for their input, and study online reviews and recommendations.

Optimize your flower budget

After your dress, nothing is more visible at the wedding

If the national average is any indication, they’ll be a big part of your expenses, too. Before you spend thousands on high-priced blossoms, however, carefully consider your options. The wrong choice can lead to unneeded expense, and there are lots of creative ways to get the most out of your flower budget.

Wedding day emergency kit

Unfortunately, the unexpected happens – and you’ll want to be ready

Preparing early helps alleviate worries about common mishaps that add unneeded stress during your nuptials. Don’t let your big event become marred by makeup disasters, torn clothing, or even a sudden pang of hunger. Packing a wedding day emergency kit helps ensure that none of that gets in the way as you prepare to walk down the aisle. TOUCHING UP You’ll be primped, prepared and dressed long before it’s time to say your vows, meaning there will be plenty of time for something to potentially go wrong. So keep critical beauty supplies nearby for any needed touch-ups with your makeup, hair and perfume. Outdoor settings are increasingly popular for weddings, and they provide a variety of challenges — not least of which are smudges and running mascara, lipstick and foundation. Double check before taking pictures, and before saying “I do.” These critical extras from home may prove to be a lifesaver.

Legals for January, 31 2023

Students First Program legislation introduced in WA House

OLYMPIA — State Rep. Carolyn Eslick (R-Sultan) introduced a bill on Thursday that would allow parents to use their share of state education funds for private or home-based education, according to a statement from Eslick’s office...

Successful pursuit

Moses Lake man arrested after attempting to flee from deputies

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man was arrested early Satuday on suspicion of felony eluding a police vehicle after he drove through a ditch, then abandoned his car in an orchard north of Moses Lake in an attempt to avoid law enforcement...

Bluegrass band coming to George

GEORGE — The Badger Mountain Dry Band will perform Feb. 18 at the George Community Hall, according to an announcement from the hall’s management...

Potato Day coming in February

MOSES LAKE - Staff from the Washington State Potato Commission will celebrate Potato Day in Olympia on Feb. 21. “The most viable voice in Olympia is a farmer,” said Chris Voigt, Executive Director at the Washington State Potato Commission...

Grant Co. awarded traffic safety grant

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Grant County will be one of 16 municipalities in Washington to receive federal money aimed at reducing traffic accident fatalities, according to a statement from Sen. Maria Cantwell’s office...

Enrollment up at MLSD, deficit higher than normal

MOSES LAKE — Enrollment is higher in the Moses Lake School District than projected in the 2022-23 school budget, which will mean more money for the district beginning this month. Stefanie Lowry, MLSD director of finance, reviewed enrollment numbers and the status of the current budget during the regular Moses Lake School Board meeting Thursday...

Donna Mary Sporleder

Donna Mary Sporleder, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away on Jan. 22, 2023 in Gilbert, Arizona. She was 74 years old at the time of her passing. Donna was born Feb. 17, 1948 to Clarence and Nora Dufault. She was born in Crookston, Minnesota and raised on their farm outside of Crookston. She married Sonny Bjorge in 1967. They had two children together. In 1987 Donna got remarried to Bob Sporleder and welcomed three more children into the family. They lived in Connell for many years until all the children were out of school. They moved to Moses Lake, where they currently reside. Together they blended their families to form one, including many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Grant County pet of the week: Sophie

Sophie is a 10-month-old domestic shorthair mix with a cute face you can’t help but love. She came to the Grant County Animal Outreach shelter in May of 2022 and still hasn’t found her forever home. Her shots are up to date and she has been microchipped. She just needs a family she can claim as her own. If you’re interested in being Sophie’s new family, call the shelter at 509-762-9616 or reach out by email at gcaoadoptions@outlook.com. The shelter is located at 6725 Randolph Road NE in Moses Lake and is open Monday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.

Preparing food animals to beat the cold

When the weather dips into cold and freezing temperatures, especially at night, humans stay cozy by turning on heaters and pulling out extra blankets. Food animals, on the other hand, require special preparation to stay warm and survive cold weather conditions. Dr. Isabelle Louge, a clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, pointed out that the best way to keep food animals warm is to make sure they have enough food...

Facing the past

Racial restrictions still on the books in some Basin neighborhoods

MOSES LAKE — When you buy a home, there are often neighborhood covenants that come with the property. Sometimes you have to have your house set a certain distance back from the street, or you can’t put up a shed as a second residence, or you can’t run certain kinds of business out of the house. And on paper, at least, sometimes you have to be white to live there. “Starting in the mid-20th century in eastern Washington, and earlier in some other places, developers began adding racial restrictions,” said Dr. Larry Cebula, a professor of history at EWU and managing director of the project. “These typically read ‘only members of the white or Caucasian race will live here.’ There’s usually a kind of codicil saying ‘excepting servants thereof.’ So if you had a servant who was a person of color, they could live there. Most of the racial covenants we find in eastern Washington reads like that. Sometimes there’s a list of who can’t live there: ‘No Negros may live here,’ ‘no members of the Asiatic race,’ – something like that. The language varies, but it’s usually only whites.” ...

Quincy tourney closes girls wrestling season

QUINCY — The Richland girls wrestling team came out on top of the Quincy Bring Home Da Beef tournament on Saturday, followed by Royal, Moses Lake, Quincy and Prosser to round out the top five. Ephrata and Othello tied for seventh place at Saturday’s tournament, and Wahluke placed 22nd. “I think it’s a wonderful way to close out the season,” Quincy Head Coach Devan Silva said. “I know at this point in the season there are schools that can’t always compete, maybe their athletes are all too close to match limits or they need to take a break due to injury … but I think everyone that showed had a great time and ended the season out on a really positive note.”

Legals for January, 30 2023

Kennewick man gets 42 months for insurance fraud scheme

SPOKANE — A Kennewick man has been sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison for his role in a complex scheme involving staging fake automobile accidents to defraud insurance companies, making false statements to federal law enforcement and attempting to obstruct a federal investigation, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Friday. Ali Abed Nasser, 52, pleaded guilty to the charges in 2022. In addition to the prison time, Nasser also agreed to three years of court-ordered supervision following the completion of his sentence, forfeiture of nearly $20,000 and financial restitution of roughly $127,000, the press release noted. In addition, Nasser attempted to bribe someone he suspected was a federal informant in order to stop the investigation and make the case go away, the press release said. “Staged accidents make our streets dangerous and distract police from responding to legitimate distress calls,” wrote Vanessa Waldorf, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, in a press release. “Moreover, efforts to hinder federal criminal proceedings will not be tolerated.” “We will continue to work closely with our federal and state law enforcement, and private industry, partners to investigate fraud schemes,” Waldorf added.

New emergency powers reform bill introduced

OLYMPIA — House Bill 1535, co-sponsored by Rep. Peter Abbarno, (R-Centralia) and Rep. Chris Corry (R-Yakima), seeks to rein in the governor's emergency powers. "No one person should wield vast powers without checks and balances or a clear expiration date, even during an emergency," said Abbarno. "Living under an emergency declaration for nearly three years exposed a serious loophole in our laws governing emergency powers, and it's incumbent on the Legislature, as the law-making body, to fix it." According to a release by Corry’s office, HB 1535 is identical to House Bill 1772, Corry's bipartisan bill from the 2022 legislative session. Washington is one of only four states that hands over unilateral authority to the governor to declare and maintain a state of emergency, the release states. During a prolonged SOE, the legislative branch, which represents the people, has an extremely limited role in determining the policies set forth by the executive branch in Washington state. House Bill 1535 focuses on emergencies that last longer than 60 days to ensure the public – and the lawmakers that represent them – have a voice. "There must be limits. The framers of our state constitution never intended for the governor to wield the kind of power he maintained for nearly three years. Clearly, when quick action is needed, the executive branch must be able to respond. But when a state of emergency lasts for months or even years, it's difficult to justify prolonged unilateral – nearly autocratic – authority by the executive branch," said Corry. "The public must have a voice in how to move forward. That's the job of the Legislature."

Warnick introduces bill to help cities secure water

OLYMPIA - Washington State Senator Judy Warnick (R-Moses Lake) introduced a new bill to the legislature this week to help cities meet growing water needs while addressing environmental concerns. The purpose of the bill, SB 5517, is to enact recommendations from the joint legislative task force on water resource mitigation, and comes after one of her other sponsored bills passed committee. “This bill was introduced because of work that was done by the Water Resource Mitigation Work Group and its been going on for a number of years,” Warnick said. “I would say four years and I’ve got a notebook that is three inches thick with all the notes from that.” Warnick explained that it stemmed from a lawsuit by the city of Yelm, which was looking into expanding its water capability in response to a growing population. She said the bill looks at fulfilling cities’ needs for more water while also looking at the ecological impact of the area such as nearby streams or rivers. Warnick introduced the bill last Monday and it was referred to the Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources and Parks Committee. It has not been scheduled for any further action or review at this time.

Possible temporary solution to MLHS roof troubles found

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake High School roof, repair options and their possible cost were the subject of a presentation during the regular Moses Lake School Board meeting Thursday. Chief Operations Officer Jeremy O’Neil said the MLHS roof leaks, and over time the leaks have gotten worse. He said the source of the problem lies in the roof materials used when the high school was remodeled in 1997, called a mineral surface rolled system. “The hallmark of that particular system is low cost,” O’Neil said. “And that low cost comes at a price, and the price is, durability is usually low, and its lifespan is not long. Certainly we’re experiencing all those.” In a separate memo to the board, O’Neil wrote that the roofing material was applied in pieces that are about four feet by 10 feet. “That, when coupled with an abundance of roof penetrations - vents, HVAC units, drains, etc. - results in ample opportunity for water to find its way through the aging system,” he wrote. “Furthermore, MSR roofs are notorious for their inability to expand and contract.”

Sabin contract extended by Moses Lake School Board

MOSES LAKE — The contract of Moses Lake School District superintendent Monty Sabin has been extended for an additional year. Moses Lake School Board members approved the extension on a unanimous vote after a special meeting to evaluate Sabin’s job performance Thursday. The extension was approved without discussion. With the extension, Sabin’s contract will run through August 2026. Sabin was hired in April 2022, replacing former superintendent Josh Meek, who left the district in 2021. Prior to being hired in Moses Lake Sabin was the assistant superintendent for the North Thurston School District.

Othello man arrested in connection with house fire

OTHELLO — An Othello man was arrested on suspicion of arson Wednesday following a Tuesday afternoon fire that destroyed a trailer about one mile west of Othello. No one was injured. Petronilo Osorio-Mendoza, 35,was arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson, burning a dwelling, according to a statement from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. The fire was reported at about 3:15 p.m. in the 600 block of Danielle Road. Law enforcement and firefighters arrived to find the home fully engulfed in flames. Adams County Fire District 5 Chief Gary Lebacken said 10 firefighters responded. Fire crews were on scene for about three hours, he added. “The responding fire units extinguished the burning structure and limited damage to adjoining properties,” the ACSO statement said. Osorio-Mendoza also was charged with third-degree assault in connection with an incident while he was in a temporary holding area of the sheriff’s office, the post said.

Upcoming criminal trials and the potato conference on the Studio Basin Podcast

MOSES LAKE – On this episode of the Studio Basin podcast, managing editor Rob Miller and senior reporter Charles Featherstone recap this week's Washington-Oregon Potato Conference, followed by discussing the murders of Yanira Cedillos and Theresa Bergman as trials approach in the near future. To close the episode, sports reporter Ian Bivona recaps the previous week in Basin sports action as regular seasons begin to come to a close. The Studio Basin podcast can be found on your favorite podcast apps, or downloaded directly at https://bit.ly/3WHuYgQ.

Johnson-O’Brien stadium to host 1B, 2B state baseball championships

EPHRATA — Johnson-O’Brien Stadium at Ephrata High School is set to host the 1B and 2B WIAA State Baseball Championships in May, the school district announced on Friday. This is the first time that Ephrata has hosted a state championship event. “It is a huge honor to host a state championship in any sport,” Ephrata High School Athletic Director Bryan Johnson said in the release. “Given Ephrata’s rich baseball history, this acknowledgment is extraordinarily special. We have a talented and experienced tournament staff that’s hosted several Babe Ruth World Series events. We feel prepped and ready for this new opportunity.” The 1B and 2B state championships will be played over Memorial Day weekend, on Friday, May 26 and Saturday, May 27. Ephrata joins Funko Field in Everett and Joe Martin Stadium in Bellingham as state championship sites. “We’re excited to show off Johnson-O’Brien Stadium and the community of Ephrata while putting on a great tournament for the B schools,” said Johnson. “We’ve always thought it was a special place for baseball. It’s nice to have others recognize it, too.” According to the release, Johnson-O’Brien stadium was chosen for its facilities along with its previous experience hosting tournaments.

A team-focused mentality

COULEE CITY — After a 2-3 start with a roster chocked full of underclassmen, the Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warrior boys basketball team has rallied and grown together on the court throughout the regular season. “Being really young and just starting, that made it a big challenge,” ACH Head Coach Graham Grindy said. “We had some lopsided losses there (at the beginning of the season), but they were still good learning experiences.” Those losses came against 2B schools, on the road against Lind-Ritzville and Lake Roosevelt. After the 2-3 start, ACH went on a six-game winning streak before later moving to 12-6 on the year. “The slow start was from losing, and getting that in our head and being pissed off a little bit – wanting to win really encouraged us; it lit a fire under us,” ACH sophomore Carter Pitts said. “That helped us a lot.” Pitts is one of the Warriors with veteran experience, having come off the bench for last year’s state runner-up Warrior squad.

Moses Lake boys, girls fall to Grizzlies

MOSES LAKE – A comeback bid for the Moses Lake girls basketball fell short in the closing seconds, while the boys team fell victim to second-half turnovers in losses to Sunnyside on Friday night. The Moses Lake girls lost 43-41, with the boys later falling 67-51

Weather for Monday, Jan. 30, 2023

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 25. Calm south wind around 6 mph in the morning. Monday night is expected to be mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28, and Tuesday night will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32. Wednesday night is expected to be mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37, while Thursday night should be mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37.

Kathi Jo Bonner

April 29, 1964 – January 23, 2023

Kathi Jo Bonner passed away peacefully on the morning of January 23, 2023 in Moses Lake WA. Kathi was born on April 29, 1964 in Everett WA and attended school there. Kathi was diagnosed with asthma as an infant but she didn't let that keep her from running and playing with her sisters. She knew what her limitations were but mostly ignored them...

GCSO honors Foreman

EHRATA – The Grant County Sheriff’s Office has announced that Emergency Management Specialist Kyle Foreman, center, was honored as the department’s employee of the month for November 2022. The announcement was a bit delayed due to the busy time the department had through the holidays. Chief Deputy of Emergency Operations Josh Sainsbury, right, nominated Foreman for his assistance in helping the Ephrata School District be prepared in the instance an active shooter situation might occur. Sheriff Joe Kriete, left, has expressed appreciation for Foreman’s aid in communicating with the public.

Country Sweethearts fundraiser set for Feb. 4

Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation event sold out as community fights against cancer

MOSES LAKE — The Country Sweethearts Benefit Auction sponsored by the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation is so popular it’s already sold out, and it’s still more than a week away. “Sold out, and we have a waiting list,” said CBCF Director Angel Ledesma...

January 27 is Holocaust Remembrance Day

In light of the observance of Holocaust Remembrance Day, which seeks to ensure the world never forgets the atrocities associated with World War II and the Nazi regime, below are facts to provide perspective on the severity of the events of that time.

Home sales drop, but show signs of bouncing back

MOSES LAKE — Home sales dropped pretty hard last month. According to data from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, home sales in Washington dropped from 8,017 in December 2021 to 4,524 in December 2022, a 43.57% decrease. Grant County followed the trend with a drop of 44.57% from 2021. For the year as a whole, 1,103 homes were sold in Grant County in 2022 compared to 1,311 in 2021, a dip of 15.87%. Adams County sales dropped from 163 in 2021 to 139 in 2022, a 14.72% decrease. “There was nothing for anyone to buy,” said Tera Zerbo, a Realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Mann Realty. “Nobody was putting their stuff on the market, so it made it really hard for you to move. Because you had your house you could sell, but where were you going to go? So there's no movement … Inventory was just non-existent. And the thing is last year, the interest rates were great, and people wanted to move and take advantage of all of that. And the appreciation in homes was fantastic. It's just we just didn't have any inventory.”

Building permits for Jan. 27, 2023

City of Moses Lake, unincorporated Grant County

Legals for January, 27 2023

Confluence names new chief of nursing, vice president,

WENATCHEE — Kelly Allen has been named as the chief nursing officer for the Confluence Health system. She has been working as the assistant to the CNO for about a year, according to a statement from Confluence...

Graham proposes bill to recognize parental rights

OLYMPIA - Representative Jenny Graham (R-Spokane) proposed legislation in the Washington House this week that lists a specific set of rights that parents should have as they relate to the care, well-being, education, and upbringing of their children. “It's time for the state to officially recognize the rights of parents,” said Graham in a release by her office...

Tater plates

KENNEWICK — The Washington State Potato Commission wants state residents who grow potatoes — or simply like to eat them — to be able to celebrate that with a state potato license plate.

Potato business

Celebrating commerce at the potato conference

KENNEWICK — Tim Prickett said the annual Washington-Oregon Potato Conference is the most important conference he goes to all year. “It’s the only conference we do all year,” said Prickett, the owner of Rashco Farm Supply in Moses Lake. “We don’t hardly do any other conferences.” Prickett stood in the midst of a major display showing off what his company sells — new and used farm equipment, lubricants, various and sundry spare parts including hoses, rollers and sprockets, in the main conference hall of the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick on Thursday...

Ephrata Schools release new emergency resources

EPHRATA - Ephrata School District has recently created new resources for families to understand the school district’s preparedness for and responses to emergency situations. In November, Ephrata Schools worked with local first responders on a tabletop exercise to coordinate their responses to a school emergency. A release by the school district states that the district plans to be proactive in communicating with families about their emergency procedures and preparedness so the community will know what to expect from the district in emergency situations...

QSD upgrades

2 Quincy schools to receive utility upgrades, district office to move

QUINCY — A project to upgrade the heating-cooling systems at Pioneer and Mountain View elementary schools should go out for bid in late February or early March. It’s one of two remodeling projects planned by the district with proceeds from the sale of 155 acres south of town. The second project will remodel a district-owned building into a new district office. Quincy School Board members approved a proposal from the Spokane architectural firm NAC for design services for the heating-cooling project at the regular board meeting Tuesday. Quincy Superintendent Nik Bergman said after the meeting the total project cost will be about $1.1 million. The NAC contract, which is included in the total cost, is about $109,000...

Washington Head Start receives national grant

VIRGINIA - A Washington Head Start program is one of only 10 recipients across the country to receive $5,000 through a grant program to get children interested in and learning about gardening. “It’s so important for children to have access to fresh foods and to get outside, and gardens provide an opportunity for both,” said Brian Herrington, president of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation. “Helping kids discover the wonder of growing is incredible. We look forward to the new and updated garden experiences our grant recipients will create this year.” ...

Quincy to host Bring Home Da Beef tourney this weekend

QUINCY — The Quincy Bring Home Da Beef girls wrestling tournament returns this Saturday, bringing in teams from all around the state. Joining the Jackrabbits are local squads from Ephrata, Moses Lake, Othello, Royal and Wahluke. After having short notice to put the tournament together last year, this year’s Bring Home Da Beef tournament will welcome around 30 teams to Quincy’s home mat. “Last year we threw it together on three days’ notice out of necessity because another tournament got canceled because of COVID,” Quincy Head Coach Devan Silva said. “It was a labor of love from the team moms in Quincy, to Royal – all over the state people were coming in. Because of that, the tournament felt really special.”

Leading the charge

Quincy’s Aidan Bews helping lead Jacks to success

QUINCY — Aidan Bews isn’t a new face for the Quincy Jackrabbits boys basketball team, though he is in a new role for the team, which became the 2022-2023 Caribou Trail League champions Tuesday. “(In the past) I was a rebounder, I was probably the third option offensively,” Bews said. “We had two seniors, pretty good scorers. I didn’t really have to do much, I could kind of just be out there running and we’d still win. This year, it’s different.” A returning two-year starter in the frontcourt, Bews, a junior, has transitioned into the lead player for the Jacks this season and has brought along his teammates to Quincy’s 13-6 record this year. “It’s a brand-new team, so everyone just had to find their roles,” Bews said.

Kraken finally topple Canucks with convincing 6-1 victory

SEATTLE (AP) — Oliver Bjorkstrand wasn't around for the struggles the Seattle Kraken endured during their disappointing inaugural season, but he understood the significance of their 6-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night.

Gary E. Frey

Gary E. Frey passed away of natural causes on Dec. 21, 2022. He is survived by his wife of 69 years Rita Frey and their six children Debbra Warren of Aberdeen, Catherine Frey of Costa Rica, Gary F. Frey of Olympia, Stacey Duniphin of Aberdeen, Kyle Frey of Jacksonville and Joseph Frey of Ephrata; seven grandchildren Jaime Heise-Murphy, Shayne Jasper, Donnie Frey, Aaron Jasper, Christopher Frey, Paige Frey and Camden Frey and five great grandchildren Samarah Jasper, Jasper Heise, Teiley Heise, Quinleigh Murphy and Chelsea Marie Smith. At the beginning of his career as a wrestling coach, Gary won three state titles in his five years at Moses Lake High School, with a record of 129-1.

Farm efficiency

Tech advances help farmers manage crops

MOSES LAKE – As technology advances for fancy cars, trucks and devices in our pockets, so do advances in equipment used to grow our food. With employees stretched thin, advances in agricultural tech can help keep ag pros going. “One of the biggest situations is labor,” said Tim Prickett, co-owner of Rashco Farm Supply in Moses Lake, Washington. “(The response to) the increases in cost of labor is to mechanize, improve their processes. So that's kind of what we try to do is to find equipment that is going to reduce their inputs and increase their outputs.” ...

Law enforcement logs for Jan. 25

The reports below were provided by the police departments and jails. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Guest column: An innovative step toward improving the lives of Washington’s boys and men

Ours is a complicated society. Enormous economic and social changes have many people losing ground in the classroom, the workplace, and in the family. These challenges have especially manifested themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those with the most difficulties are males. Simply put, boys and men are struggling. While you may question this, the data speaks for itself. Of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in our state, 70% were male. Males accounted for 77% of suicide deaths in Washington from 2010 to 2019. Most of those suicides involved young males between the ages of 10 and 14. Men are more likely than women to use illicit drugs, leading to emergency room visits and overdose deaths. As many as 66% of the 10,507 people who died from excessive alcohol use in Washington between 2017 and 2021 were male.

Legals for January, 26 2023

‘Good potatoes’

Growers gather in Kennewick for annual potato conference

KENNEWICK — It’s a good time to be a potato grower, according to Blair Richardson, CEO of Denver-based Potatoes USA, a national organization that promotes the crop in the U.S. and abroad. “Remember, demand is strong for potatoes, and is going to continue to be strong for the foreseeable future. It's a great time to be in the industry,” Richardson told attendees during the first day of the Washington-Oregon Potato Conference at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick...

'A lot going on this year'

Moses Lake Rep. Tom Dent supporting dozens of bills in Olympia

OLYMPIA - District 13 State Representative Tom Dent (R–Moses Lake) has nine bills for which he is the primary sponsor as well as two dozen others where he is the secondary sponsor for the 2023 legislative session. “I have a lot going on this year,” said Dent...

Tree fruit science seminars scheduled

WENATCHEE — Growers and others in the tree fruit industry can learn about new practices and new research in a series of seminars in February, March and April. The “Science in Our Valley” seminars are held at the Washington State University Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, 1100 N. Western Ave., Wenatchee. Each seminar is at 4 p.m. Admission to all seminars is free...

Heimlich re-elected as chairman of state Republican Party

BELLEVUE – The Washington State Republican Party State Committee voted Saturday to re-elect Chairman Heimlich to another term as Chairman of the Washington State Republican Party. “I am honored and excited for the next two-year cycle as we continue our work to elect Republicans all across Washington State,” said Heimlich...

ML Council delays water ordinance, new airport leases

MOSES LAKE - At a regular city council meeting on Tuesday, the Moses Lake City Council postponed discussion of interim water regulations that would have prohibited the extension or creation of new water hookups within the city's urban growth area for six months and set a goal of conserving city water use by 60% over the next five years. "This ordinance is premature in the extreme," said Council Member David Eck when he proposed tabling consideration of the plan...

Douglas Lee Yurian Jr.

On Friday Jan. 20, 2023, Douglas Lee Yurian Jr., the beloved son of Charlene, passed away at the age of 33. Doug was born in Moses Lake and lived all his life in Washington. Doug loved video games, camping, talking politics and his family. Those around him would describe him as polite, big-hearted and a bit shy if he didn’t know you. His favorite saying was “Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness.” Doug will be missed by all those who knew and loved him. Doug is survived by his beloved Ashely, his mother Charlene, father Douglas, five sisters and one brother. Cards and letters can be sent to P.O. Box 144, Quincy, WA 98848.

Hershel Trammell

Dad (Hershel, Bob, Dad, Papa, Mr. T and Coach) met his heavenly father on Monday morning, Jan. 23, 2023, surrounded by family. Dad was born June 16, 1942, to Garland and Allene Trammell in New Edinburgh, Arkansas. He was the fifth of seven children born into this marriage. The family moved to Ellensburg where Dad continued his education. Dad overcame much childhood adversity and always looked to better his and others' situation. A highlight of his early childhood was being a part of the 1953 Ellensburg world-famous “Barn Burners” basketball team. He graduated from Ellensburg High School and it was during these years that a special teacher mentored him and instilled a love of education and helping others. He chose to continue his post-secondary school at Central Washington University graduating with a degree in education. Immediately after graduation, Dad was hired by the Warden School District. What he thought would be a one-year contract evolved into 40 years of teaching and coaching in this wonderful community. He met Kathy and a whirlwind romance began with their first date, chaperoning a rooters bus to Bridgeport.

Championship earned

Jackrabbits lock up CTL title with 83-74 win over Omak

QUINCY – Twenty-plus point outings from juniors Aidan Bews and Julian Ibarra helped the Quincy boys basketball team lock up its second-consecutive Caribou Trail League title with an 83-74 win over Omak on Tuesday night. Ibarra led the Jackrabbits with 22 points, closely followed by Bews with 21. Freshman point guard Pierce Bierlink scored 17 points in the win, converting three times from beyond the three-point arc. “We just had to keep pushing through, and good thing I have Aidan Bews and Pierce Bierlink and all my guys to help me out,” Ibarra said. “It wasn’t easy, but I’m glad we got it done.” ...

Preschool art show coming to museum

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District preschoolers will be featured at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center next month...

Mattawa sets Feb. 2 public hearing on annexation

MATTAWA — Mattawa residents are being invited to submit their opinions of the proposed annexation of 40 acres into the city limits. The public comment period on the application for annexation of the Brodero property opened Jan. 19 and will be open through Feb. 2. A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for the Feb. 2 Mattawa City Council meeting, which starts at 5:30 p.m...

Gastelum murder trial set to begin May 10

MOSES LAKE — The trial of Juan Gastelum, arrested nearly a year ago in connection with the death of his former girlfriend Yanira Cedillos, is set to begin in Grant County Superior Court on May 10, according to a court filing. Gastellum, 27 and a resident of Hermiston, Oregon, has been charged with second-degree murder and is currently being held in the Grant County Jail on $1 million bail, which has not been posted...

Adams Co. Pet of the Week: Meet Brosus

Brosus is a Labrador Retriver mix and is waiting for a family to come fall in love with him. He’s a bigger dog who likes other pups. Like all animals at Adams County Pet Rescue, Brosus is up to date on all of his vaccinations and has been neutered and microchipped to make sure he’s in good health and doesn’t get lost. Anyone who would like to meet Brosus can fill out an application at www.adamscountypetrescue.com and call to schedule a time to see him by calling 509-488-5514. Brosus and many other furry friends are waiting for new homes at ACPR’s shelter at 1961 W. Bench Road near Othello.

Legals for January, 25 2023

Moses Lake man arrested, charged with converter theft

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man was arrested for attempting to steal a catalytic converter from a car parked at a Moses Lake car dealership Monday night. It was the third arrest for catalytic converter theft in less than a week. Trevor Schaffer, 29, was arrested at about 9 p.m. at the dealership on South Frontage Road, according to a post from the Moses Lake Police Department. He was booked into the Grant County Jail on suspicion of second-degree theft and second-degree malicious mischief...

BBCC trustees meet with legislators

OLYMPIA - The Big Bend Community College Board of Trustees met with legislators at the capitol Tuesday to discuss legislative priorities. The board met with Representatives Bruce Chandler (R-Granger), Bryan Sandlin (R-Zillah), Mary Dye (R-Pomeroy), Joe Schmick (R-Colfax), Tom Dent (R-Moses Lake), Alex Ybarra (R-Quincy) and Senators Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville), Nikki Torres (R-Pasco) and Judy Warnick (R-Moses Lake).

Ybarra works through week three of session

OLYMPIA - District 13 Representative Alex Ybarra (R-Quincy) has been adjusting to his new legislative committees and the passage of the only bill he is the primary sponsor for. “Because nobody’s been here for almost three years, everybody's in a wonderful mood,” said Ybarra about the start to the new session...

Abandoned bumper leads to arrest

DESERT AIRE — A Mattawa man was arrested on suspicion of DUI and first-degree malicious mischief after he is alleged to have damaged the front entrance of a Desert Aire business with his car.

Villa a 'good addition' at Mattawa PD

MATTAWA — Edgar Villa is the newest officer on the force at the Mattawa Police Department. Villa was sworn in at the Jan. 19 Mattawa City Council meeting, introduced by MPD Chief Robert Salinas. Prior to joining the department Villa worked for the city in the business office. “He’ll be a good addition to this agency,” Salinas said in a later interview...

QVMC commission to select contractor Feb. 6

QUINCY — Quincy Valley Medical Center officials have narrowed to four the number of construction firms being considered to build the new Quincy hospital. Hospital officials will conduct interviews with the candidates Jan. 25 and will make a recommendation to Quincy hospital commissioners at a special meeting Feb. 6. Quincy voters approved a bond in August 2022 authorizing up to $55 million to build a new hospital. Groundbreaking tentatively is scheduled for this summer, and Joe Kunkel, a consultant working with QVMC on the project, said the planning is getting fast and furious. “We’re heading into the whitewater,” Kunkel said...

Postseason prep

Huskies iron out techniques on the mat

OTHELLO – After placing fourth at the Rumble in the Valley tournament last weekend, the Othello Huskies are preparing for a final push to end the regular season strong.

RECAP: Kraken split games, ‘Hawks re-sign Myers

SEATTLE – With the Seahawks out of the playoffs and MLB’s opening day nearly two months away, the Seattle Kraken are the only professional team in Washington still actively playing.

Basin sports schedule Jan. 25-31

COLUMBIA BASIN – With under two weeks remaining in the regular seasons for many sports here in the Basin, teams are looking to finish strong before entering district and regional competitions. Check out this week’s Basin sports schedule, including a full slate of games on Saturday.

Aviation fuel project eyeing Grant Co.

Future of air power may be coming to Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — In the future, airplanes could be powered by fuel made from hot air. Literally. Andy Stevenson, the vice president of project development for Twelve, said the company — which has developed a proprietary process for creating aviation fuel out of carbon dioxide, hydrogen and electricity — is looking at setting up a production facility in Moses Lake. “We are exploring a variety of options in Moses Lake,” Stevenson said. “There are no guarantees, but we have the intention to do that if everything goes well.” ...

Andrew Hall

In loving memory of Andrew L. Hall, Feb 12, 1959 – Dec. 9, 2022. He was born in Blackfoot, Idaho to William R. Hall and Elda B. Hall (Neilsen). He was a 1977 graduate of Moses Lake High School. Andy was a man with many diverse interests and talents. He had a number of shared adventures with his parents and was a good companion in their senior years. He always out-fished and out-hunted us all. He was preceded in death by his mother Elda, and survived by his father William R. Hall; siblings Lee (Sue) Hall, Bill (Tami Dinges) Hall, Kent (Susie) Hall and Lanette (Billy) May; nine nieces and nephews and 11 great-nieces and -nephews. Andy will always be remembered by many as “Santa Andy” during the holidays. There will be a Celebration of Life in Andy’s honor Feb. 11, 2023, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Eagles Lodge, 1517 W. Broadway Ave., Moses Lake, Washington.

Raquel Villaseñor

Raquel Tovar Villaseñor, 58, passed away peacefully on Jan. 21, 2023. She was born in Mission, Texas on April 23, 1964, to Evaristo Perez Tovar and Paula Sanchez Tovar. She married Mario Villaseñor on June 25, 1983, and had four beautiful children. With her family, Raquel resided in Moses Lake since May of 1996. As a faithful member of her local community church, El Sendero De La Cruz (Restore City Church), her life was a living example of her favorite Bible verse, Isaiah 41:10 which reads, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Her faith and love for God were evident in the way she served others. Many would agree that her smile and laughter were contagious. Her kindness inspired confidence. Her profession as an educator allowed her to make a significant impression on her many students as well as those who surrounded her.

Grant County Pet of the Week: Rocky

Rocky is a Doberman mix about 2 years old. A bit of a goofball, he is super sweet, smart, and thinks he’s a 60-pound lap dog. He just wants to be in someone’s lap to cuddle. Rocky has been at the shelter since March of 2022 and is not good with other dogs or cats. Rocky needs a home all to himself – after all, who wants to share their people’s snuggles? – and Grant County Animal Outreach staff are 100% confident that you will fall in love with our goofy boy. Meet Rocky at Grant County Animal Outreach at 6725 Randolph Road NE in Moses Lake. Visit Rocky and his kennel neighbors at www.grantcountyanimaloutreach.org or call the shelter at 509-762-9616. Open Monday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.

BBCC Foundation to hold financial planning event

MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Foundation will host a free financial and estate planning event, according to a statement from the foundation.

Practice, practice, practice...

Consistent effort earns MLHS wind ensemble a gig at Carnegie Hall

MOSES LAKE — The wind ensemble ran through the selection nice and slow the first time through; there are details that need attention. The tempo picked up, faster and then faster still. When practice was over, there was still work to be done – the sound needs to be crisp, the players as close to perfect unison as they can get. Moses Lake High School band instructor Pablo Hernandez reminded his musicians that practice now, even when it’s a chore, will pay dividends later. “Don’t wait until you feel inspired for practice,” he said. “Perspiration is better than inspiration.” ...

Spring Fest lineup announced

2023 show to feature Vanilla Ice, Montell Jordan, Tone Loc

MOSES LAKE — Rappers Tone Loc, Montell Jordan and Vanilla Ice will be among the headline acts at this year’s Spring Festival at McCosh Park in Moses Lake, May 25-28. “We’re really excited about this year, and we’ve got vendors already calling and people calling to sponsor,” said Sean Sallis, president of the committee organizing this year’s festival. “They’re already coming to us wanting to be involved.” ...

Soap Lake man arrested in connection with shooting

EPHRATA — A Soap Lake man is in custody Monday afternoon following a shooting between Ephrata and Soap Lake, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office...

Bill looks to bring plea bargain transparency

OLYMPIA - A bill in the Washington State House would bring transparency to the plea negotiation process in the criminal justice system. "For the most part, the criminal justice system in our state is very transparent. The courts are open to the public during trials. We can see the jurors, judge, prosecutors and defense attorneys. We can watch people testify in court," said Rep. Gina Mosbrucker (R-Goldendale), ranking member of the House Community Safety, Justice and Reentry Committee. "However, plea negotiations in Washington state are often done behind closed doors, which many of my constituents are concerned about." ...

Knox named to dean's list

JAMESTOWN, N.D. — Laurel Knox, of Moses Lake, has been selected for the Dean’s List for fall 2022 at the University of Jamestown in Jamestown, North Dakota. Knox earned this honor by maintaining a semester GPA of 3.50 or better, according to a statement from the university. The University of Jamestown was established in 1883 and is ranked as a top-tier regional school in U.S. News and World Report and a top Midwestern school in The Princeton Review, according to the statement.

Othello PD hosting recruiting seminars

OTHELLO – The Othello Police Department is having a hard time recruiting like other law enforcement agencies across Washington state, OPD Chief Phil Schenck said. However, the agency isn’t taking the issue lightly and is innovating to help new recruits pass muster. “The first (seminar) was on how to get in physical shape. The last one (we held) kind of reiterated that,” Schenck said. “But then we talked about how to do the written test.” ...

Warden collision sends four to hospital

WARDEN — Four people were injured when a driver allegedly ran the stop sign at the intersection of SR 170 and SR 17 about three miles west of Warden Sunday afternoon. A press memo from the Washington State Patrol said drugs or alcohol were involved, and charges are pending against one of the drivers...

Association honors locals at real estate banquet

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake-Othello Association of Realtors held their annual banquet on Saturday, July 21. The awards recognized community members and real estate professionals in five categories. Jeannie Austin-Cook, a member of the Moms helping moms of Grant County WA Facebook group – and incidentally the receptionist at the Columbia Basin Herald – was honored as the Citizen of the Year. “I feel humbled and honored,” Austin-Cook said. “A little taken aback because what I do isn’t about being recognized.” Austin-Cook was nominated by Allison May of Better Homes and Gardens Gary Mann Real Estate for her work in the community.

GALLERY: Quincy Mat Animal Invitational

QUINCY — Tonasket came out on top of the second annual Quincy Mat Animal Invitational with 200 team points over the weekend, followed by Wapato (167.5 points), Lake Side (161), Naches Valley (140) and Ephrata (130.5) rounding out the top five.

Lions boys, girls hoops take down Waterville-Mansfield

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School boys and girls basketball teams got closer to locking up league titles with wins over Waterville-Mansfield on Friday, moving both squads to an undefeated 6-0 record in league matches. The girls first won 39-35 before the boys won 57-31 over the Shockers.

Huskies place second, Knights sixth at Lady Huskie Invitational

OTHELLO — The Othello girls wrestling team got points from almost every wrestler and took second place among 61 teams at the Lady Huskie Invitational, the team’s home tournament, over the weekend. “We had a lot of great matches,” said Head Coach Rafael Ruiz. “I couldn’t be any happier, how well they did.”

da Silva, Simpson's 3 help Colorado top Washington St. 58-55

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Tristan da Silva scored 27 points on 11-of-13 shooting, KJ Simpson hit a straight-away 3-pointer in the closing seconds and Colorado beat Washington State 58-55 Sunday. Colorado (12-9, 4-6 Pac-12) snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 12-0 all time at home against the Cougars.

Pirates score 50 in second half, down injury-riddled Mavs 81-59

MOSES LAKE – Things got off to a hot start for Moses Lake on Friday as the found themselves down 32-31 at the half to Davis despite missing key players due to injuries. The Pirates began to click in the third quarter, forcing the Mavericks to turn the ball over and scored in transition to take Moses Lake down 81-59. “If you make them play half-court basketball it’s going to be a low-scoring game,” Moses Lake Head Coach Jake Hunt said. “Second half, they started to get out a little more in transition and we turned it over. The turnovers in the second half really hurt us.” ...

Hunt serves as page at the Senate

OLYMPIA - As part of the Senate Page Program, which has not been operational the past two years due to the pandemic, Noah Hunt, a sophomore from Coulee Dam, was one of 10 pages for the Washington State Senate in Olympia during the opening week of the 2023 legislative session...

Betty Mae Wood

Betty Mae Kister Wood, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully Dec. 4, 2022, at the age of 97. Betty was born April 1, 1925, to John and Irma Kister in Lincoln, Nebraska. She grew up and graduated from high school in Lincoln. During World War II she met and married Walter Wilson with whom she had three children: James, Terri, and Deborah. After the war she was a military wife living in Lincoln; Tucson, Arizona; Browns Mills, New Jersey; Bossier City, Louisiana and finally Moses Lake, Washington. After Betty and Walter divorced, Betty stayed in Moses Lake working as a seamstress and was the assistant manager and then manager of Jeanne Dale Fabrics in Moses Lake.

The dream lives on

Moses Lake gathers to honor Martin Luther King Jr.

MOSES LAKE — Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream is still alive. That was the point that more than one speaker made at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration last Monday in Moses Lake. The event began with a march down Third Avenue to the Moses Lake Civic Center, and continued with songs, prayers and a reading of Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech. That speech spoke of a day “when all of God's children, Black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing.” “That speech, if you read through it, we're currently in that day. As I was looking out at the crowd, it was a very diverse crowd. And I saw that as he was speaking it, he was seeing into the future. And so I was thinking, I was standing in the future, looking back at what he was seeing, and it was just a surreal type of thing,” said Isaac Jones, who delivered the gathering’s keynote speech...

Weather for Monday, January 23, 2023.

Weather report for Monday, January 23, 2023.

Legals for January, 23 2023

Soap Lake considers annexation, development needs

SOAP LAKE – During Thursday’s regular Soap Lake City Council meeting, council members took up multiple topics related to development in and around the city, including the annexation of a dozen 50-foot by 100-foot lots and an updated plan for the Purple Sage development. City Planner and former Mayor Alex Kovach said the new development plan for Purple Sage will set up a condominium development rather than an RV park. It will be comprised of double-wide manufactured homes with 236 units in the subdivision. Soap Lake Police Chief and Interim City Manager Ryan Cox advised the council that only brand new manufactured homes can be brought into the city, so this will not bring in outdated structures that aren’t up to current codes.

Inslee seeks more funding for homelessness programs

OLYMPIA - Homelessness remains a serious issue throughout Washington, and while the state has spent millions, the governor wants to invest more. In a press conference Jan. 19, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee said while certain encampments have been cleared as a result of past funding efforts, there are still not enough places to house the homeless...

Racist flyers distributed in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake Police Chief Kevin Fuhr verified Thursday afternoon reports that flyers promoting the Aryan Freedom Network and directing those who find the materials to a white supremacy website were recently distributed in Moses Lake. “Last week and earlier this week, a group was dropping little flyers in a plastic baggie that had rice in it just to hold it down,” Fuhr said. “They were dropping them in neighborhoods and (the flyers said) basically, ‘Save the white race.’” The home-printed flyers were found in sandwich bags with rice to weigh them down and keep them from blowing away, Fuhr said. While the content of the flyers may be offensive to many, it is protected under the First Amendment, limiting law enforcement’s ability to address the issue to enforcing littering violations. Flyers were also tossed out along the route for the Martin Luther King, Jr. march held in Moses Lake on Jan. 16, he said.

Mavs prepare for postseason

MOSES LAKE – With a 130-47 win over West Valley (Yakima) and a 151-22 win over Sunnyside in a duals meet on Thursday, Moses Lake boys swim and dive will look to prepare for postseason meets and finish strong down the stretch. The Mavericks locked up a Big 9 title with a win over Eastmont on Tuesday, winning 115-63 over the Wildcats. “The guys are so proud of themselves, and it’s pretty amazing as far as what they’re doing,” Moses Lake Head Coach Jason Hart said. While winning the league is an accomplishment in and of itself, Hart said the Mavs still have more to strive for this season. “We have a goal board, and we knocked that one off,” Hart said. “The next one that we’re hoping to attain is to go and win districts.” Moses Lake finished the regular season with an undefeated record in league meets, including an exciting 96-90 win over Wenatchee on Jan. 12. “We carry (momentum) into every single practice,” Hart said. “The great thing about this group is they have so much energy, they are hungry and they want to get better. You can see in the work they put in. The healthy competition exists in practice.”

To the mat!

Quincy’s Christian Avila takes on Wapato’s Hassen Benedicto during the Quincy Mat Animal Invitational on Saturday. Local teams from Ephrata, Royal, Wahluke and Warden joined the Jackrabbits on their home mats.

Fentanyl, catalytic converters and a league title

MOSES LAKE – On this episode of the Studio Basin podcast, senior reporters Charles Featherstone and Cheryl Schweizer discuss local crime throughout the Basin, including recent fentanyl seizures, catalytic converter thefts and more. Next, sports reporter Ian Bivona recaps the past week in local sports, including the Moses Lake girls wrestling team capturing a league title with a win over Davis. The Studio Basin podcast can be found on your favorite podcast apps, or downloaded directly at https://bit.ly/3knbkJk.

Maverick girls wrestling locks up league title

MOSES LAKE – The Mavericks remained undefeated in dual meets with a 42-30 win over Davis on Thursday night, locking up a Big 9 title in the process. “The energy was everywhere,” Moses Lake Head Coach David Peralez said. “We had built this one up and circled it on our calendar for a long time. It was their senior night, so that added even more elevation of excitement for both teams.” The dual got started with Moses Lake’s Katelyn Rodriguez pinning her opponent, the first of seven Mavericks to pin their Pirate opponents. Moses Lake’s Jhaile De Guzman, Ashley Naranjo, Reese Prescott, Bianca Johnson, Lakailey Rodriguez and Kathryn Pugh all recorded pins. “Not only do we have to win these matches, but we have to dominate them to the point where we need pin points because we knew we couldn’t just squeak by winning the division since we don’t have a full roster,” Peralez said. Teammates on both sides of the mat cheered on each other during matches to show their support, adding to the competitive atmosphere. “I challenge the wrestlers every single time, and it seems like they always rise to the occasion,” Peralez said. “It was really a lot of fun. Just so much energy, lots of yelling from both sides in a positive manner and rooting for the wrestlers that represented each school. It was very, very fun and passionately intense.”

Othello boy charged in October murder of Quincy girl

OTHELLO — A 17-year-old Othello boy was arrested late Thursday on suspicion of second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault with a firearm and drive-by shooting in connection with the murder of 16-year-old Quincy girl in 2022. The boy was arrested about 9:30 p.m. Thursday, according to a release from the Othello Police Department. His name was included in an affidavit filed with Adams County Superior Court, but the Columbia Basin Herald generally does not release the names of juveniles. He was arrested in the area of Shady Lane and East Scootney Street, about a block from the murder scene at the intersection of Rose Drive and Sylvan Drive. “(The suspect) surrendered peacefully at his residence after the Othello Police surrounded his house for approximately four to five hours,” according to the affidavit.

Turnovers lead to league loss for Vikings

Host Columbia Basin College used a 19-5 run over the final 5:36 of Wednesday's (January 18) contest against Big Bend Community College's men's basketball team to put a close game out of reach, notching an important 81-56 win in NWAC East region play. The Vikings held the lead for much of the first half, but would find themselves down by six (38-32) at the half, setting the stage for the Hawks' second-half push. Much of the issue for the Vikings in the loss was ball control, as they turned the ball over 25 times, compared to only nine for the Hawks.

Lady Vikings fall at CBC

Despite game-highs of 22 points and ten rebounds from sophomore Ambra Hacker, Big Bend Community College Lady Vikings basketball dropped a 73-63 NWAC East road contest to Columbia Basin College on Wednesday (January 18).

Washington students invited to National Civics Bee

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Young people in Washington will have a chance to show off their knowledge of government on a national stage this year, according to a statement from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation...

Warnick busy in second week of session

OLYMPIA — Sen. Judy Warnick (R-Moses Lake) has introduced several new bills in the last week and has two of the bills she proposed earlier are progressing in committee. “I had a hearing on both of those (bills) and so they are on their way,” Warnick said. “Hopefully they'll get out of committee.” ...

Cougars run away with wins over Walla Walla Valley

WARDEN – Both the Cougar boys and girls basketball teams won convincingly over Walla Walla Valley Academy on Thursday night, with the girls dominating to a 64-23 victory and the boys winning 70-50. The Warden girls led by 14 at the end of the first quarter thanks to three-pointers by Lauryn Madsen, Quinn Erdmann and Jlynn Rios, and continued to keep their foot on the gas to cruise to a 34-14 halftime lead.

Police at Warden schools following non-specific threat

WARDEN — Security was heightened at the Warden School District joint campus following the report of a non-specific threat late Thursday. The threat was later determined not to be credible, according to Warden Police Chief Rick Martin...

Odd jobs

Moses Lake's Home Electrical tackles the strange stuff

MOSES LAKE — James Anderson likes odd jobs. And sometimes they get pretty odd. Anderson is the owner of Home Electrical Services, based in Moses Lake. The name may sound pretty ordinary, but HES’ repertoire is anything but. Anderson prides himself on taking on jobs other places don’t want to do. “We recently did a churro line in Connell,” Anderson said. “And we had to set it all up and hook it up for him. It was a two-year project. It took two years to get it done. We just finished it.” ...

Samaritan officials look to gather community reaction at open house

MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare officials displayed their proposals for a new Samaritan Hospital at an open house Wednesday evening, part of their ongoing effort to solicit public opinion and ideas on the project. Samaritan commissioners originally approved the construction of a new hospital in late 2018, and groundbreaking tentatively was scheduled for summer 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic discombobulated that timetable. In addition, Samaritan was affected by the same changes that hit healthcare systems nationwide. Hospital board chair Katherine Christian said officials wanted to come back to the community and explain the new realities...

Remembering Bennie Brown

Local anesthesiologist honored by family, friends, community

MOSES LAKE — Martha Wong, a retired registered nurse who worked for years at Samaritan Hospital, has some fond memories of Bennie Brown. “Our eldest daughter was born blind and had to have three eye surgeries,” Wong said. “And she told me Mr. Brown was the one who made her feel safe. She was 8 years old and had to have an eye muscle repaired, and she said he held her hand and talked to her, told her everything that was going on.” Wong, 70, said her daughter, now 45, remembered Brown — who worked as a nurse and anesthesiologist at Samaritan from 1962 until his retirement in 1998— holding her hand and telling her to count down as the anesthesia took effect. “She said ‘I knew I was safe because My. Brown was taking care of me,’” Wong related. It’s not the only memory Wong has of Brown. When she was 16, and a candy striper — a volunteer nurse at Samaritan — he was there to help teach her, including letting her sit in on a gall bladder operation. “He talked me through every step of the process, and even let me help him with little tasks,” she said. “He was a good teacher. An excellent teacher with a funny sense of humor. He’d make you laugh.” Wong was only one of many people who gathered at the Moses Lake Adventist Church on Saturday, Jan. 7, to honor Bennie Brown and his life of service to the community, Brown died in November 2022 at the age of 92 at his home in Oregon, where he moved several years ago to be closer to his three daughters Daina Haas, Tammy MacPhee and Linda Brown.

Legals for January, 20 2023

Othello to host girls wrestling tourney this weekend

OTHELLO — The Othello High School girls wrestling team will host a home tournament over the weekend, welcoming more than 70 high school wrestling teams from across the Pacific Northwest and close to 600 wrestlers to their home mat, according to Head Coach Rafael Ruiz. “We’re expecting teams from Idaho, Oregon and, of course, Washington, so it’s going to be pretty competitive,” Ruiz said. “I believe this is the biggest tournament on the east side of the state for the girls, and it’s one of the main tournaments before we head into the postseason.” With participation in girls wrestling increasing this season due to what Ruiz believes to be the changes in classification divisions at the state tournament, signups for this weekend’s Lady Huskie Wrestling Invite have nearly doubled.

Rukke named acting pipeline safety director

LACEY, Wash. — The Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission has named Scott Rukke acting director of the commission’s pipeline safety division, according to a commission press release...

USDA published final organic enforcement rule

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday published the final revision of its updated rules for the production, sale and certification of organic farm and food products, according to a USDA press release issued Wednesday...

Moses Lake’s Katelyn Kriete signs with CCS

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake High School catcher Katelyn Kriete signed to play on at the collegiate level on Thursday, committing to play softball for the Community Colleges of Spokane and study at Spokane Falls Community College. “I’m just super excited to get on the field and play with them,” Kriete said. Community Colleges of Spokane Assistant Coach Steve Sebesta said that Kriete originally stood out to the coaching staff while playing in the outfield, and it was “pretty amazing to see her catch” at her true position.

Ephrata OKs agreement with Desert Plains developer

MOSES LAKE — The Ephrata City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved an agreement with the developer of a large, proposed 329-lot subdivision to cover the cost of negotiating a developer agreement with the city. “One of the clauses (in the development agreement) was reimbursement of the city consultant in developing that agreement,” said Ephrata City Attorney Anna Franz after the meeting...

Affordable housing legislation introduced in Olympia

OLYMPIA - Two new pieces of legislation, House Bill 1401 and House Bill 1402, will allow the development of affordable housing to be more accessible for cities and counties around Washington...

Agriculture bills being considered by WA Legislature

OLYMPIA — Several agriculture-related bills have been introduced in the 2023 session of the Washington Legislature, which started last week. Topics include fur farming, alternative energy resource impacts and pesticides...

Bill to pay incarcerated workers passes House Committee

OLYMPIA - The House Community Safety, Justice, and Reentry Committee voted 6-3 in favor of passing HB 1024, an act that would ensure incarcerated workers are paid state minimum wage, among other things...

Bill proposed to create Boys and Men Commission

OLYMPIA — A statement by Rep. Mary Dye (R-Pomeroy) on Wednesday announced the introduction of a bill that would create a new Washington State Commission on Boys and Men. "There are many issues that impact men and boys. Yet, there is no unified voice that would tackle these issues at the state level," wrote Dye, in the statement. "If adopted, this legislation would create the first-of-its-kind boys and men's commission in the nation right here in Washington state." ...

Sunday fire destroys home near Mattawa

MATTAWA — A Mattawa-area home was destroyed in an early evening fire Sunday Grant County Fire District 8 Chief Matt Hyndman said no one was injured. “They were all at church, and unfortunately came home to their house burned down,” Hyndman said...

Seahawks keep Pro Bowl K Jason Myers with four-year contract

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks locked up one of their potential free agents, signing Pro Bowl kicker Jason Myers to a four-year contract on Wednesday. Myers is coming off one of the best seasons of his career in which he made 34 of 37 field goal attempts, led the NFL in scoring with 143 points and was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second time in his career.

Nancy Queen

On Dec. 12, 2022, Nancy Lou Queen was taken from us suddenly and unexpectedly. Nancy suffered from an aortic dissection. She passed suddenly and painlessly at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, Washington. Her passing was only seven months since the only man and true love of her life passed in May of this same year. Her surviving family and friends are comforted in knowing that the two are together again in eternity. Nancy was born in July of 1942 to Roy and Norma Adams in Chewelah, Washington. Nancy was the first of three children. Her surviving siblings are Nikki (Adams) Lawwill of Owenton, Kentucky and Buck Adams of Moses Lake, Washington.

Richard 'Rick' Wayne Halstead

Richard "Rick" Wayne Halstead, 73, of Jerome, Idaho passed away on Jan. 17, 2023, in Jerome, surrounded by his family. Services are pending under the care of Demaray's Jerome Memorial Chapel, demaraysjerome.com.

Legals for January, 19 2023

Farm internship bill moves forward in WA Senate

OLYMPIA — A substitute bill expanding the farm internship program passed through the Senate Committee on Labor and Commerce Tuesday. “One of the most important challenges we face is the preservation of farming in Washington and making sure that the next generation is ready to step up with knowledge of modern farming techniques, sustainability strategies and knowledge of how to run a successful farming business,” said Sen. Nikki Torres (R-Pasco), a primary sponsor of the bill...

MLPD intervenes in multiple catalytic converter thefts

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Police officers detained and arrested two suspects early Wednesday morning after interrupting an attempt to steal a catalytic converter on Valley Road, according to an MLPD statement. “These cat thefts are killing us,” said Police Chief Kevin Fuhr. “Last year, we had more than 100 calls about catalytic converter thefts just in Moses Lake.” ...

MLPD seizes thousands of fentanyl pills following Saturday arrest

MOSES LAKE — The arrest of a Moses Lake man Saturday morning resulted in the seizure of more than a half-pound of fentanyl pills as well as additional fentanyl powder and a half-pound of methamphetamine, according to a statement from the MLPD. “It’s a huge deal. Fentanyl is running rampant not just in Moses Lake, but in the entire state,” said Police Chief Kevin Fuhr. “Three thousand pills for us is a good haul.” ...

Buzzing on Broadway

The Hive continues tattoo legacy of nearly 30 years

MOSES LAKE — The Hive, an eye-catching yellow building along Broadway Avenue in Moses Lake, is home to tattoo artist and owner Shawn Willmorth. “I’ve always known since I was about 12 years old that (tattooing) was what I wanted to do and mainly, I blame rock ‘n’ roll and Harley Davidson,” said Willmorth. “Secondly, my stepdad was a tattoo collector so I was exposed to that pretty early on.” ...

Quincy examines pool, water, sewer issues

QUINCY — Quincy city officials are beginning the process of planning for water and sewer projects designed to upgrade the city’s utility systems. Quincy City Council members voted Tuesday to advertise for proposals for a number of studies, including one that would analyze the city’s existing sewer system. Quincy Administrator Pat Haley said in an earlier interview that the city has reached 85% of its sewer capacity. When that happens the city is required by the Washington Department of Ecology to conduct an analysis of the system and options for enlarging it...

Bill proposes relaxing restrictions on low-dose cannabis drinks

OLYMPIA - Consumers will be able to purchase more low-THC liquid-infused products in a single purchase if a bill in the Legislature wins approval. “HB 1249 is necessary to ensure that the evolution of consumer preference, and access to an increasing variety of these products, reflects those preferences and is aligned with the law,” said Douglas Henderson, Painted Rooster Cannabis Company CEO...

Law enforcement logs for Jan. 3-17

MLPD, EPD, jail

Modesto Morales Castillo

Modesto Morales Castillo, 96, passed away Jan. 15, 2023, in Othello, Washington. Arrangements are in care of the Neptune Society.

RECAP: 49ers eliminate Seahawks, Kraken set record

SEATTLE – While the Seattle Seahawks saw their season end to the division rival San Francisco 49ers, the Seattle Kraken set an NHL record during their road trip across Canada and the Northern US. Check out this week’s professional sports recap for an update on the two teams...

Huskies take down Mavericks in dual meet

OTHELLO – After taking down Connell earlier on Tuesday night, the Othello Huskies took down Moses Lake in a home dual, winning 44-24 over the Mavericks. “Credit to Moses Lake, they’ve improved so much since we saw them at the jamboree,” Othello Head Coach Rudy Ochoa II said. “I think their coach (Jose Tanguma) is doing a great job.” ...

WDFW examines fishing on Moses Lake

Biologist breaks down the basics of fishing the manmade body of water

MOSES LAKE — Anglers on Moses Lake in 2020 spent around 77,000 hours casting their lines for fish, both from their boats and from onshore, according to Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife lead warm-water fish biologist Marc Peterson. “Which sounds like a lot,” Peterson said during a Tuesday presentation to the Moses Lake Watershed Council. “But I’m not sure it is.” ...

Basin sports schedule Jan. 18-24

COLUMBIA BASIN – Local teams are entering the closing weeks of their regular seasons here in the Basin, with basketball teams fighting for postseason seedings and wrestling teams traveling to local tournaments. Check out this week’s Basin sports schedule below...

Warrior Academy provides extra support for students

MATTAWA — The first-graders had their tents set up Friday morning, the campfire burning (or at least a paper replica of a campfire burning), but no camping trip is complete without s’mores. The question before the first graders was how to make s’mores. “We are going to start doing writing,” Wahluke School District counselor Dulce Molina told the first-graders...

Legals for January, 18 2023

Physician assistant joins Samaritan Clinic on Pioneer

MOSES LAKE — Physician assistant Diane Savarese has joined the staff of the walk-in department at the Samaritan Clinic on Pioneer, 1550 S. Pioneer Way. Savarese is a board-certified PA who will work in the “Care Today” clinic, according to a Samaritan press release. The clinic provides walk-in care for non-life-threatening conditions, such as minor injuries and illnesses, sprains, cuts, fevers and earaches, among others. Savarese will provide treatment and will coordinate with the primary care professionals for further treatment that might be needed...

Bipartisan effort supports bill refining police pursuit guidelines

OLYMPIA - A bill amending the requirements for law enforcement to conduct a vehicular pursuit has received bipartisan support in both the Washington House and Senate. House Bill 1363 and Senate Bill 5352, which echoes the House bill, are being considered in Olympia. “I haven’t read (HB1363/SB5352) but I would welcome any lightening of the restrictions,” said Othello Police Department Chief Phil Schenck...

Grant Co. unemployment up for November

ELLENSBURG — Unemployment in Grant County in November 2022 rose for the second straight month to 6.5% from 4.5% in October 2022 and 5.6% in November 2021, according to a report published by the Washington State Employment Security Department...

Bill would speed process to get cosmetology license

Testing bottleneck currently slows ability to join workforce

OLYMPIA - Cosmetology students will be able to register for their final exam before they have completed their coursework if a bill under consideration by the state Legislature is approved. House Bill 1017, by Cindy Ryu, D-Shoreline, allows cosmetology students to sign up for and take their final exam within 100 hours of completing their total required hours. The bill had a hearing Jan. 13 in the House Consumer Protection and Business Committee...

Adams Co. unemployment rises in November

ELLENSBURG — Unemployment in Adams County rose slightly in November 2022 to 5.1%, a significant increase from 3.3% in October and 4.6% in November 2021, according to data published by the Employment Security Department...

‘We’re gonna really ramp it up now’

Cougars prepare for stretch run

WARDEN — Having graduated five seniors from last year’s state championship-winning team, the Warden girls basketball team has spent the first 14 games of the season developing various players. The Cougars are 10-4 with a 5-0 record in league play. “We’ve viewed this season as a building process,” Head Coach Josh Madsen said. “We’ve got some younger girls and girls with less varsity experience that we’re trying to bring along and hopefully get them to the point where they’re really comfortable and ready to contribute at a high level come February and March.” ...

Adams Co. sheriff pleased with agency’s response to challenging times

OTHELLO — Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner said he originally intended a career in medicine, but he really wanted to be a law enforcement officer. “I got into law enforcement pretty early due to my brother, who was a Pierce County sergeant for many years,” Wagner said. “When he was in Pierce County I was a teen, and I was able at that time to go with him on ride-alongs. It just piqued my interest and it really stuck with me.”

Yeo joins Gonzaga men’s basketball roster

SPOKANE, Wash. – Gonzaga men's basketball head coach Mark Few announced the addition of South Korean Jun Seok Yeo (pronounced JUNE Suh-k YO) to the roster. Yeo will enroll in classes this semester and train with the Zags this season, but not play in a game until 2023-24 as a sophomore.

Winter recreation in full swing

One program offered by Moses Lake Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services is a winter co-ed volleyball league. Participants in this winter’s league enjoy a scrimmage at the Larson Recreation Center on Jan. 15. Aaron Sanchez smiles as he prepares to block the spike made by an opponent. For a full list of recreational opportunities at the new Larson Recreation Center, visit http://bit.ly/3WiHYZQ.

Kenneth D. Jones

October 13, 1942 – December 27, 2022

Kenneth Dale Jones, 80, a longtime resident of Moses Lake, passed away on Dec. 27, 2022. He is now in heaven with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Ken was born on Oct. 13, 1942, in Sunnyside, Washington, to Dale and Lyne Jones and grew up in Grandview, Washington. He graduated from Grandview High School in 1961. After high school, he attended Seattle Pacific University for three years before transferring to Western Baptist Bible College in El Cerrito, California, where he met his future wife, Karin Schoenfeld. They married in Bellevue, Washington, on Aug. 30, 1966. Ken served in the United States Army for three years from 1966 to 1969, after which he finished his teaching degree at Central Washington University. Ken and Karin then moved to Moses Lake where he taught history and math at Chief Moses Middle School for 38 years, before retiring in 2008. During the summers, he ran his own custom harobedding business. Ken and Karin raised their two sons, Kevin and Kraig, on a small farm on the outskirts of Moses Lake, where they raised sheep, had a large garden, and a small orchard.

BLM, Forest Service offer outdoor safety tips

PORTLAND, Ore. - A joint press release by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management advises the public to be prepared during winter months, especially during recreational activities. “Take the time to put together a kit of extra gear, including water, food, warm gloves and clothes, headlamps or flashlights, sleeping bag, and a fire starter,” said Shawnee Hinman, the recreation special uses program manager for the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Region in the release...

Legals for January, 17 2023

What you need to know about WA cannabis laws

TACOMA - Recreational marijuana use in Washington was decriminalized just over 10 years ago. Still, some residents and out-of-state visitors might not know where recreational cannabis can be sold or where it can be consumed. The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board oversees regulations of cannabis use and distribution, and the Washington State Department of Health provides additional clarity on specific state regulations. Here is information on commercial marijuana retailers, where you can obtain marijuana and who can smoke it...

The Links at Moses Pointe hopes to open driving range this week

MOSES LAKE – As snow and ice continues to melt off the course, The Links at Moses Pointe said in a release that they hope to have the driving range open by January 17 or 18. “The snow is almost off the fairways, but most of the greens still have some ice and snow. Once the greens are clear, Mike and his crew will assess conditions, and work quickly to get the course open,” the release stated. Golfers with questions can call the golf shop at 509-764-2275 ext. 3 with questions on course conditions. The golf shop is open every day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ybarra starts 2023 Wash. legislative session

OLYMPIA - Representative Alex Ybarra (R–Quincy) is sponsoring multiple bills proceeding through the Washington Legislature during this year’s legislative session, but is the primary sponsor for only one bill.....

Pedestrian struck by car in Othello

OTHELLO - A pedestrian was injured early Sunday morning in Othello when they were struck by a car...

Local wrestlers shine at competitions

COLUMBIA BASIN – It was another weekend full of wrestling tournaments for local teams, with squads traveling across the state and into Idaho for various competitions...

Legislature completes day eight of session

OLYMPIA - On Monday, the legislature convened for day eight of the 2023-24 legislative session. Committees in both the House and Senate met to discuss various bills. Below is a list of the committees that met for each branch of the legislature and the topics of the bills they discussed....

Peeling the apple market

Domestic apple sales strong, but tariffs, congestion affecting exports

QUINCY — Washington apple growers, having survived a wild and crazy 2022, are making the turn into a new year with a market that’s looking pretty good domestically, but facing some export challenges. Riley Bushue, director of Congressional relations and export programs for the Northwest Horticultural Council, cited Washington apple sales to India as an example of the export issues. “In India, we face retaliatory tariffs on apples,” he said. “Those were put in place by India in 2018 in response to the U.S. putting in place steel and aluminum Section 232 tariffs.” ...

A flash from the past

WASHINGTON D.C. - While many industries and organizations are looking to the future, sometimes it is important to look to the past to see how much has changed. Above are a series of photographs taken in the early 1900s across Grant County available through the Library of Congress. Most captions are provided by the Library of Congress record with slight editing for clarity...

Vikings drop third straight

After giving NWAC East-leading and undefeated North Idaho College all they wanted on Wednesday night (January 11th), eventually falling 84-78 to the visiting Cardinals, the Vikings took to the road Saturday (January 14th) in another important NWAC East contest at Yakima Valley College. However, the Yaks were waiting with an offensive barrage, shooting a staggering 59% from the field, on their way to an 87-77 victory and a third straight loss for the Vikings.

Lady Yaks too much for Lady Vikings

Yakima Valley College Lady Yaks had only eight players who saw action in Saturday's (January 14th) contest against the visiting Big Bend Community College Lady Vikings, but five placed in double figures, leading the Lady Yaks to an 87-71 defeat of the Lady Vikings.

Seahawks collapse in 2nd half of playoff loss to 49ers

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — When Charles Omenihu knocked the ball out of Geno Smith's hands, Seattle's chances began to go away as well. The turnover spoiled a scoring chance for the Seahawks and soon the game as San Francisco turned a tight game into a blowout.

Jared McCann has hat trick, Kraken win 8th straight

CHICAGO (AP) — Jared McCann had his first career hat trick and the Seattle Kraken beat the Chicago Blackhawks 8-5 on Saturday night for their franchise-record eighth straight victory. McCann scored twice in a five-goal flurry in a 3:41 span of the first period.

Smith scores 27 points, No. 8 Gonzaga routs Portland 115-75

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Malachi Smith had a season-high 27 points, hitting seven 3-pointers, and No. 8 Gonzaga used a dominant first half to rout Portland 115-75 on Saturday night. Gonzaga (16-3, 5-0 West Coast Conference) never trailed, racing to a 40-14 lead with seven minutes left in the first half en route to its NCAA-best 75th straight home victory and 15th straight win over Portland.

Moses Lake superintendent, board member to hold monthly Q&A

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District patrons will have the chance to ask questions and talk face-to-face with district superintendent Monty Sabin and Moses Lake School Board member Shannon Hintz once each month, beginning in February. Hintz said during Thursday’s regular board meeting that she and Sabin will be at the Red Door Cafe, 202 W. Third Ave., at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 15, and plan to make it a monthly meeting. “Monty or myself will be there for anybody to come in and talk, to voice concerns, ask questions if you want to know why things happened or why things don’t happen. We’re there to help you understand it,” Hintz said. “So if anybody would like to come down and just talk, say whatever you want to say – we’ll be there.” Hintz said she wanted to give district residents another avenue to meet and talk with school officials after the meeting. “To have more community connection,” she said. Monthly meeting dates will be announced. Cheryl Schweizer can be reached at education@columbiabasinherald.com.

Decades of service

GCFD 3’s Jim Kling retires from fire service after 34 years

QUINCY — Firefighters and EMTs have the chance to help people out in trying times, and Jim Kling said that was something that attracted him to firefighting, and kept him in it over a 34-year career. “We get called when people have bad days,” he said. “If you enjoy helping the community and the people in the community, it’s the perfect job for you.” Kling retired Jan. 1 from his job as assistant chief and fire marshal for Grant County Fire District 3. He joined GCFD 3 as a volunteer in 1988 and became a part of the paid staff in July 1996. He was working for the city of Quincy, he said, when a friend asked him about volunteering for the fire department...

Weather for Monday, January 16 2023

Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. Southeast wind 3 to 5 mph. Monday night mostly cloudy, low around 29. Tuesday: Partly sunny, high near 40. Slight chance of evening rain and snow between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., then a slight chance of rain after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 31. 20% chance of precipitation. Wednesday: 40% chance of rain before 4 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. 20% chance of rain before 10 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 40, and Thursday night will be partly cloudy, with a low around 24. Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 37. SOURCE: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

Author lecture, Mt. St. Helens topics of NCW Libraries programs

WENATCHEE — A biologist will talk about the revival of plants and animals on Mt. St. Helens and an author will talk about her writing process in separate virtual lectures sponsored by NCW Libraries. Writer and biologist Eric Wagner, author of “After the Blast: Mt. St. Helens 40 Years Later,” will talk about the mountain’s revival in the four decades since the May 18, 1980, eruption. Wagner’s lecture is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Jan. 25 and will include a question-and-answer session. The library is partnering with Humanities Washington for the presentation. Writer Yasmin Ramirez will discuss her memoir, “Andale Prieta: A Love Letter to My Family,” at 7 p.m. Feb. 9. Ramirez will talk about the story of her family, detail some of her writing process, and the playlist she created to accompany the book. She will be answering questions as well. Her lecture is part of the NCW Virtual Reads series. Registration is required. People can register at the NCW Libraries website, www.ncwlibraries.org. NCW Libraries operates 30 libraries across North-Central Washington, including the libraries in Coulee City, Ehprata, George, Grand Coulee, Mattawa, Moses Lake, Quincy, Royal City, Soap Lake and Warden.

Broncos fall to Davenport 60-48

RITZVILLE – Down by seven points to Davenport on their home floor, the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos were unable to mount a comeback against the 14-1 Gorillas, falling 60-48 on Saturday night. “You’ve got to respect what they have, and at the end of the day they just made more plays than we did,” Lind-Ritzville/Sprague senior Chase Galbreath said. “We’re definitely going to see them again down the line, and we just have to know what we’re doing next time.”

Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner on the Studio Basin Podcast

MOSES LAKE – On this episode of the Studio Basin podcast, Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner joins the show to discuss how he got involved with law enforcement, what it's like to be a sheriff and much more. Next, sports reporter Ian Bivona breaks down the past week of sports action in the Basin. The Studio Basin podcast can be found on your favorite podcast apps, or downloaded directly at https://bit.ly/3QFYX7j.

Perry elected to MLIRD board

MOSES LAKE — Long-time Moses Lake resident Charles Perry was handily elected in early December to fill the vacant seat on the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District board of directors. Perry, who was appointed to fill the seat following Kaj Selman’s resignation in October, received 225 votes in the Dec. 13 balloting compared to eight votes for challenger Andreas Koeppen. “The best lakewater quality possible is my major concern,” said Perry, who has lived in the city for 55 years. “It encourages visitors to come to Moses Lake, and local people to use the lake. It’s something that makes living in Moses Lake worthwhile.” ...

Mavs swim away with late win over Wenatchee

MOSES LAKE – It came down to the final event, a 400-yard freestyle relay, to determine the winner of Moses Lake’s boys swim and dive meet against Wenatchee on Thursday. Needing a second-place finish, the Mavericks had two teams finish inside the top three of the relay to lock up a 96-90 win over Wenatchee, giving Moses Lake a head-to-head win over the Panthers...

Warriors take 20-point win at Royal City

ROYAL CITY – After a back-and-forth first quarter, the Wahluke Warriors used long scoring runs in the second and third quarters to defeat Royal on its home court on Friday night, leaving Royal City with a 63-43 win. “It’s the best feeling (to get a win), especially when you’re up by 20,” Wahluke senior guard Orlando Nunez said. “Especially to a rival, it’s very exciting. We knew we could do this.” ...

Delbert McKenzie

February 2, 1937 – January 7, 2023

Delbert (Del) Ross McKenzie passed away Jan. 7, 2023, at the age of 85 in Moses Lake, Washington. Del was born in Eureka, Montana February 2, 1937. He grew up in Fortine, Montana along with his eight brothers and sisters...

Georgine Burress

May 17, 1941 – January 8, 2023

Georgine Burress was born May 17, 1941, in Fort Meade, South Dakota. She passed away on January 8, 2023, at home in Moses Lake, Washington from Parkinson’s...

Patricia Starnes

June 8, 1938 – January 8, 2023

Patricia “Patsy” Marie Caviness Starnes went to be with her Heavenly Father on Jan. 8, 2023 and was surrounded by her family. She was born on June 8, 1938, in McPherson, Kansas. Patsy was the only girl of seven children...

Back in the game

Big Bend Cooperative Preschool re-opens in new digs

MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Cooperative Preschool is back. The preschool, which had operated on the Big Bend Community College campus since the 1960s, was forced to shut down like so many other things in the summer of 2020. Now it’s found a new home at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Moses Lake. “We were part of the college,” said preschool Board Member Jennifer Hickock. “And then we leased a spot at the college and the college, right before COVID, canceled our lease. And so we had to find a new place to be. Of course, it was during COVID, where are you going to go? It was really hard to keep open. The previous board actually made the decision to close because there was nothing we could do.” ...

Something off?

What to do when a real estate professional lets you down

COLUMBIA BASIN — In a perfect world, every real estate transaction would be completely above board, and all parties would walk away happy. Unfortunately, it’s not a perfect world. Serious disputes between real estate professionals and clients aren’t common, but they do happen. So what is a person who feels wronged to do? Well, the best solution is not to get into a bad situation. Do your homework first, suggested Logan Hickle, spokesman for the Better Business Bureau...

Soap Lake looks for input on creative district

SOAP LAKE — On Jan. 5 an introductory meeting was held in Soap Lake to gauge interest and educate interested parties in what a creative district is and what it could mean for the city. “I know that we have a lot of dreamers in this community, and what we want to talk about tonight is, do we have some doers,” said Soap Lake City Council Member Kayleen Bryson, who is also on the Soap Lake Economic Development Committee. According to the Washington State Arts Commission, a creative district’s purpose is to help communities strengthen their creative sector, diversify their economy and enhance the quality of life by creating a focal point of cultural and economic activity.

Winter growing

Moses Lake ag students work to raise veggies in the off season

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake High School students Anita Berecyk and Isabella Lodienoi carefully tend the okra they’ve been growing in pots in one of the MLHS greenhouses. They are getting ready to finish this horticulture project, and both students have definite opinions about how it’s gone so far this winter. “It was good at first and then it started dying because we have a bunch of bugs in our garden. Because it’s a greenhouse,” Berecyk said...

Legals for January, 13 2023

Lion boys, girls dominate in wins

MOSES LAKE – The Lion boys and girls basketball teams lead from wire to wire in their dominant wins over Cascade Christian Academy on Thursday night, with the boys winning 57-19 and the girls winning 50-19. Both teams rode commanding leads into the halftime locker room, with the boys up by 36 points and the girls pitching a shutout, up 32-0. The Lady Lions forced numerous turnovers in the first quarter, leading to transition points. Senior Kali Kast scored seven of her 14 points in the first quarter. “The girls have worked really hard to rebound from the loss at the tournament, and we’re getting into the swing of things for league,” MLCA/CCS girls basketball Head Coach Josh Kast said.

Pyle, Cox sworn in for new terms on PUD commission

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners Nelson Cox and Terry Pyle were sworn in for new terms during the regular commission meeting Jan. 10. Cox and Pyle were reelected in November. Both ran unopposed...

Broncos look to close out tough games

RITZVILLE — With a team full of veteran experience, the Lind-Ritzville Broncos have started the season with an 8-3 record and 4-2 in league contests. All three losses have come on the road to other teams inside the top 15 of the WIAA’s RPI rankings. “All of our three losses have been on the road by a total of eight points, two games by three and another by two, all at the end,” Lind-Ritzville Head Coach Dustan Arlt said. “All three games have been against top teams: Burbank, Colfax and Northwest Christian.” ...

GALLERY: Mid-season review

COLUMBIA BASIN – As the mid-way point of the winter sports season passes on, local teams are ramping up for the final stretch into various postseason tournaments and competitions.

Events for Jan. 13-19

The week ahead has plenty to do in the Basin for those ready to get out of the house and have a good time. Whether it’s live music, crafts or tracking down a good book, there’s fun to be had. Jan. 14 Luke David 5:30-7:30 at Michael’s Market & Bistro, 221 W. Broadway, Moses Lake. Live music from the Spokane-based musician. Info: 509-765-4177. Jan. 16 Fee-free day The U.S. Forest Service will celebrate the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day federal holiday by waiving standard amenity fees for all visitors to national forest and grassland day-use areas. Info: catherine.caruso@usda.gov.

WSU flips script

After 5-9 start, Cougs have won three of last four matches

PULLMAN – Having lost five of six games to close out December, the Washington State University Cougars have flipped the script in the new year, winning three of their past four games – including a win over the top-five rated Arizona Wildcats on the road. “Experience matters, and to do it on the road is even more special,” WSU Head Coach Kyle Smith said in Saturday’s postgame press conference following the win over Arizona. “(Arizona) had a couple of looks, and I guess we were feisty enough to hang in there.” ...

Locals make Gonzaga President’s List

SPOKANE - The following local residents have earned placement on the Gonzaga University President's List for fall semester 2022. Students must earn a 3.85 to 4.0 grade-point average to be listed...

BBCC students recognized for academic achievement

MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College recently released its listings of those recognized for academic excellence. The list includes dozens of area students who have worked hard to establish and maintain a high grade point average while taking a full-time course load.

BSC announces fall honor roll

BISMARCK, N.D. - Bismarck State College announced the President's Honor Roll for the Fall 2022 semester which included three area residents...

Othello Sandhill Crane Festival to celebrate 25 years

OTHELLO - The 2023 theme of the annual Othello Sandhill Crane Festival will be ‘Silver Anniversary, Celebrating Our Annual Visitors’ and will be held March 24-26. In the announcement made on Jan. 6 by the festival, online registration for the event opens on Feb. 6 and will be available on the website...

Diane Engberg

Diane Marie Engberg, 78, died peacefully at her home on Dec. 31, 2022. Diane was born Diane Marie Gray to Glenn and Shirley Gowan Gray in Snohomish County. She grew up in Granite Falls; her dad was the owner of Glenn’s Welding and Machine and her mother was a bookkeeper. She met Kenneth Engberg Sr. through friends, and they became inseparable. He had just moved here from North Dakota. They were happily married for 52 years. They made their home in Lake Stevens and raised four boys. Diane worked for Pacific Coca-Cola and later owned her own espresso stand, Diane’s Getchell Station. She always had a pet companion and was very gifted with ceramics and crafts. Sadly, Diane was widowed in 2013. She recently moved to Moses Lake and oversaw construction of her new house. She became president of the Columbia Basin Eagles 2622 Ladies Auxiliary for the year 2021, where she raised money for the Heart Fund.

Mary Ness

Wanting to spend her birthday with the Lord, our beloved wife and mother Mary Temus Ness entered eternal life on Monday, Jan. 10, 2023, one day before her 76th birthday. Mary was born to Joseph and Eleine (Greely) Temus in Puyallup, Washington. She spent her early years on a small hobby farm where she enjoyed gardening and animals of various sizes. In 1965 she graduated from Puyallup High School and then off to WSU for two years. It was at WSU she found her love, Don. This young, good-looking man swept her off her feet and would drive many a mile to court her. She found herself in Chicago, Illinois to further her education in floral arranging and cake decorating. With this in hand, she graced many weddings, including her very own children and brother. Her flower arrangements brought many smiles to many people.

Hitting a home run to Moses Lake

Huebner takes roundabout way to working in local government as Moses Lake's assistant city manager

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake’s new Assistant City Manager Rich Huebner didn’t start out wanting to run city government. “I went to Selah High School and I went to WSU for undergrad thinking I was going to be a sports broadcaster, that I was going to be the next Dave Niehaus,” Huebner said during an early Tuesday morning interview in his office at the Moses Lake Civic Center...

LETTER: If you’re counting your blessings, include the PUD

We just came through some below-zero temperatures, followed by freezing rain in some places, but the lights and heat and power stayed on almost everywhere (except for the inevitable vehicle crashes into power poles). We haven’t had a rate increase in domestic power rates in more than four years while the rest of the country is suffering from record-high rates that keep escalating. (OK, we know one is coming, but it won’t be anything like the current 7% inflation rate.) The mighty Columbia is very reliable and does not inflict inflation on the energy that it provides. Grant County PUD captures this energy and distributes it to us. We are fortunate to have the river and the PUD that competently manages this resource for us.

LETTER: Thank your school board this month

By proclamation of the governor, January is School Board Recognition Month. It's a great time to recognize our elected community members who selflessly give their time and energy in support of high-quality public schooling for our youth. School board members in the Soap Lake School District are entrusted by this community with responsibility for an annual budget of $11.4 million, 479 students, 105 employees and three buildings. School boards are charged with making decisions that can sometimes be quite difficult, or require sifting through a great deal of information. They also bear responsibility for developing a vision that will guide the school district for years to come. Through collaboration as a team, and with school district staff, their governance and advocacy are building the future of education in Washington state. This January, we're encouraging all members of the community to thank a board member. Please thank them for volunteering their time and playing a critical civic role that helps form the bedrock of our democracy-public education. As a crucial bridge between the local community and the school district, their efforts are instrumental in helping all of us realize the hopes and dreams we have for the children of our community.

Legals for January, 12 2023

Making National Dress Up Your Pet Day a paw-sitive experience

This weekend offers an opportunity for pet owners to celebrate their furry friends with a little extra attention and pampering on National Dress Up Your Pet Day. To make the Jan. 14 holiday a positive experience for participating pets, Harmony Diers, a veterinary technician at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, explains ways to ensure pets are comfortable wearing clothes. When choosing an ensemble for dogs and cats, owners should take into consideration three things: mobility of your pet in the outfit, clothing materials, and weather appropriateness. For mobility, owners should look for costumes and clothing items that allow pets to move about freely and see clearly. For example, costumes that are too tight will restrict movement, and costumes that are too loose can cause pets to get tangled or trip.

Grant County Jail construction planning process starts today with kickoff meeting

EPHRATA — Grant County officials and representatives of the general contractor and architects will be meeting today to discuss the initial phases of construction of the new Grant County Jail. Tom Gaines, Grant County Central Services director, said Grant County Commissioners selected Lydig Construction out of Spokane Valley as the general contractor. “All of our pieces are in place,” Gaines said. “The team is now together, and we’re (planning) the next six to eight months.” Thursday’s meeting is the start of that process. “Everybody that’s responsible for getting this thing built meets in the same place,” Gaines said, and will review the work done to date. “Where we’ve been and where we’re going.” County voters approved a three-tenths of 1% increase in the county’s sales tax in 2019, with the money to go toward law and justice projects including a new jail. Grant County Commissioners approved the sale of up to $90 million in limited tax general obligation bonds for the project in July 2022.

ML Council votes to proceed with controversial Sagepoint development

MOSES LAKE — At the regular meeting on Tuesday, the Moses Lake City Council cleared the way for a controversial mixed residential development of single-family homes and townhouses on roughly 6.4 acres south of Sage Point Elementary School. “This allows it to move forward,” said City Manager Allison Williams after the meeting. The council voted on the Sagepoint Planned Development District – which will include 16 single-family homes as well as 19 townhomes on a private street – following a lengthy and complex approval process overseen by a hearing examiner. The process was required because CAD Homes, which hopes to build the development, needed approval for deviations from the city’s zoning code to construct the townhomes as part of a planned development district.

Law enforcement records for Jan. 12, 2023

The reports below were provided by the agencies indicated. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Ephrata Police Department Jan. 3 Report of a stolen vehicle on Junes Court. Jan. 4 Report of a female subject concealing items inside her shirt at a business in the 1300 block of Nat Washington Way. Officers arrived and waited for the subject to finish purchasing the rest of her items. Report of a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Alder Street and Third Avenue Southwest. Report of a cart full of merchandise pushed out of a business in the 1300 block of Nat Washington Way. Subjects were contacted in the parking lot and items recovered. Jan. 5 Report of a single-vehicle rollover accident in the area of Airport Street Southeast and SR 282. Jan. 7 Report of theft from a business in the 1300 block of Nat Washington Way. Jan. 10 Report of a two-vehicle non-injury collision at C Street and Fourth Avenue Northwest. Vehicle 1 failed to stop at the intersection and was struck on the driver side by vehicle 2. Report of a catalytic converter stolen off a vehicle in the 800 block of Hilltop Drive Southeast. Grant County Jail Jan. 4 Russell Hunter Dees, 30, Soap Lake, booked on violation of a no-contact order, as well as seven Grant County District Court warrants relating to third-degree driving with license suspended and a Grant County Superior Court warrant relating to possession of a stolen vehicle. Nicholas Aaron Ritchie, 31, Moses Lake, booked on Grant County Superior Court warrants relating to second-degree possession of stolen property and second-degree theft, as well as four Grant County District Court warrants relating to third-degree driving with license suspended. Carlos Hector Bazan, 57, George, booked on a Grant County Superior Court warrant relating to trafficking in stolen property. Ahmed Mohamed Madjri, 34, Everett, booked on fourth-degree assault – domestic violence. Jan. 6 Ian Jacob Libby, 32, Soap Lake, booked on a Grant County Superior Court warrant relating to second-degree assault – domestic violence. Tori Joan Kottwitz, 32, Mesa, booked on first-degree malicious mischief and third-degree theft. Destiny Czigany Barrera, 35, Moses Lake, booked on fourth-degree assault – domestic violence. Jan. 7 Jenny May Oneel, 42, Ephrata, booked on fourth-degree assault – domestic violence. Jan. 9 Myra Liliana Valle, 22, Moses Lake, booked on a Grant County Superior Court warrant relating to possession of a stolen vehicle. Moses Lake Police Department Jan. 6 Report of a vehicle damaged, apparently with a shopping cart, in a parking lot in the 1000 block of North Stratford Road. Report of a three-vehicle collision in the 600 block of North Stratford Road. Vehicle 1 attempted to change lanes and misjudged the distance to traffic stopped at a light. Vehicle 1 struck vehicle 2, which rear-ended vehicle 3. Jan. 7 Report of theft from a business in the 600 block of South Pioneer Way. Report of theft at a business in the 400 block of South Wanapum Drive. Report of merchandise valued at approximately $120.34 stolen from a business in the 900 block of North Stratford Road. Jan. 8 Report of a catalytic converter stolen in the 2700 block of West Broadway Avenue while the vehicle’s owner was at work. Jan. 9 Report of graffiti at a PUD substation at Paxson and West Central drives. Report of graffiti at the Lauzier Ball Park. Report of a catalytic converter stolen in the 300 block of East Ninth Avenue. Report of catalytic converters stolen off two buses at a business in the 1100 block of South Juniper Drive. Report of a trailer stolen from a church in the 200 block of North Dale Road. Report of stereo equipment and a firearm stolen from a vehicle in the 1000 block of South Juniper Drive. Jan. 10 Report of a stolen vehicle observed in the area of Miller Street and Longview Street Northeast with a subject sleeping inside. Officers placed spike strips under the vehicle and boxed the vehicle in from the rear, then called for the suspect to exit the vehicle. The suspect instead started the vehicle and struck an unoccupied patrol vehicle. The suspect briefly became high-centered, and officers broke out the vehicle’s window. The suspect managed to free the vehicle, striking the spike strips, and fled westbound on Beacon Road Northeast. Officers were unable to pursue due to state law.

RECAP: ’Hawks back in playoffs, Kraken winning on the road

SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks got some help from the Detroit Lions to lock up their fourth postseason appearance in the previous five seasons on Sunday, while the Seattle Kraken just keep winning on the road. Check out this week’s professional sports recap for both of the squads.

Legislature back to in-person sessions

This year’s legislature is more diverse than in the past

OLYMPIA — After two years of online and hybrid legislative sessions that severely restricted legislators’ direct contact during the pandemic, the Washington State House and Senate chambers were full of people reuniting and greeting each other during the opening of the state legislature on Monday. A main issue at the start of the session was moving past the COVID-19 pandemic and adopting new rules and procedures that allow for in-person and remote participation. President of the Senate Denny Heck, the lieutenant governor, said the rules are meant to help the communities who sent representatives to the legislature this session.

Tiger comeback bid falls short

EPHRATA – After being down by as much as 11 points in the first half, the Ephrata Tigers rallied to cut the Grandview lead to one point at the end of the third quarter on a layup by Ephrata junior Cameron Zabala to make the score 43-42. Grandview answered in the fourth with strong offensive rebounding down the stretch and used free throws off intentional fouls to barrel past Ephrata with a 60-50 win over the Tigers. “The (final result) is not the score a lot of times, you’ve got to foul to try and get in the game,” Ephrata Head Coach Rick Walter said. “It’s a three-point game, we execute a perfect play to tie it and it doesn’t go in – but that’s basketball. It doesn’t go in as much as you want it to, that’s just the odds of shooting. We’re doing fine, we just have to close out a game.”

Departures resume after FAA lifts ground stop

U.S. flight departures began resuming early Wednesday after an overnight outage to a key air-traffic system prompted authorities to ground planes nationwide. The Federal Aviation Administration said normal air traffic operations were gradually returning as it lifted the ground stop shortly before 9 a.m. Eastern time. The disruption stemmed from problems with the Notice to Air Missions system, or Notam, which conveys advisory information essential for flight operations. The dramatic system disruption is one of the most significant in recent decades for the FAA and comes after a year of tests of the nation’s air system as the return from COVID-19 stressed airlines and air-traffic operations.

ML Council looks at sleep center options, honors Anderson for homeless work

MOSES LAKE — The City of Moses Lake will likely be given three future options for the location of the homeless sleep center, including an expansion of the current site. In a presentation to council members during a study session prior to the council’s regular Tuesday meeting, consultants with Portland-based ECONorthwest said they had looked at a number of sites around the city but finally settled on three possibilities — the current sleep center at the corner of East Broadway Avenue and SR 17, the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District’s building at 932 E. Wheeler Road, and the proposed site of the future Moses Lake Police Department building on North Central Drive. “We initially considered 12 sites, and narrowed it down to three,” said Lee Ann Ryan, a project manager for ECONorthwest. “It’s crazy to see how many sites we looked at.”

Tommy Joe Kaufmann

Tommy Joe Kaufmann, 81, passed on Dec. 23, 2022, of natural causes. Son of Cletus and Mamie Kaufmann of Lewiston, Idaho, he was fifth out of their 11 children. He was born into farming life along with his older siblings Dave, Cliff, Sis and Pat, and his younger siblings Ed, Chuck, Mike, Fred, Don and Mary. After serving as an army sergeant in Vietnam, Tommy (aka Tom) and his first wife Ruth were married in 1969 and settled in Othello, Washington where they farmed and raised four daughters: Jo, Melissa, Kristina and Jennifer. Tom's family tree eventually grew to include grandsons Logan and Kody, granddaughter Sydney, and great-grandson Parker (parents Kody and Haley). Later he gained four more step-grandchildren through his daughters' marriages: Shawn, Michael and Austin (Kristina and Rob Coombes) and Henry (Melissa and Dallas Johnson). Significant others also part of the family are Dan Murphy (Jo) and Ben Grendahl (Jenn).

Patricia Martinez

On Sept. 30, 2022, Patricia Jean Martinez, beloved wife, mother and sister, passed away at her home. She was 65 years old when she died. She was born Patricia Jean Hooper on May 22, 1957, in Kennewick, Washington. Her parents were Charles Austin Hooper and Margaret (Peggy) Tway. Peggy passed away and Charles remarried Bonnie Jones; both are deceased. Patricia married Alfonso (Al) Martinez Jr. on July 23, 1977, in Kennewick, Washington. Al passed away on March 4, 2008. They are both survived by their only child Alfonso Martinez III (Tri), his wife Jessica Martinez and their six children. Patricia was the fifth child of Charles Hooper. Her siblings were Margaret, John Hooper, Helen Hennessy, Mary Joe Moutry, Reinna (deceased), Kenny Hooper and Allen Hooper and step-siblings Craig and Nancy Glass.

Philip Michael Jones

Philip (Phil) Michael Jones passed away in Boerne, Texas surrounded by his family on Jan. 4, 2023. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri on Jan. 13, 1938, to Mary and Ralph Jones. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara; four sons Mike (Beth), Tom (Cindy), Steve (LaVonne) and Danny (Birgit) and two daughters Laura (Dwight) Helton and Jeanie Jones; 12 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Kathie Kleinschrodt of De Soto, Missouri. Phil served in the United States Coast Guard from 1958-1960 in Brownsville, Texas before working at Union Carbide in Brownsville and Moses Lake, Washington. He retired in 2015. He came to faith in Christ in 1967, and faithfully served Christ at First Baptist Church in Brownsville, Texas and Moses Lake Alliance Church in Moses Lake, Washington.

Law abiding panel: Animal control, traffic topics of conversation at Law Enforcement Appreciation in Mattawa

MATTAWA — Animal control and traffic on State Route 243 were among the topics at a question and answer session during an event to recognize law enforcement officers for their work Monday in Mattawa. The “Law Enforcement Appreciation” event was sponsored by the South Grant County Chamber of Commerce. Wahluke School District Superintendent Andy Harlow said he hoped the participants would come back. “I hope it’s the first time of many to come,” Harlow said...

Grant County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse prepares for service

MOSES LAKE - The Grant County Sheriff's Mounted Posse has been getting back into the saddle and preparing for the call of service. “We try to represent the Sheriff’s Department and be a part of the community as much as possible,” said Trisha Cox, Captain of the Grant County Sheriff's Mounted Posse...

Basin sports schedule Jan. 11-17

COLUMBIA BASIN – As many winter sports have passed their mid-way point of the 2022-2023 season, competition is ramping up for district standings. Check out this week’s Basin sports schedule, which includes all the local high schools as well as Big Bend Community College events...

“I love softball, and I love working hard”

Moses Lake’s Ali Stanley signs with Big Bend softball

MOSES LAKE – Surrounded by friends and family inside the Maverick Gym at Moses Lake High School, senior Ali Stanley signed to play collegiate softball at Big Bend Community College on Monday afternoon. “It’s very exciting,” Stanley said. “All I can think about is how God has blessed me with these amazing abilities that he’s given me, and all those amazing coaches I’ve had to help me progress through ever since I was a little kid. Being able to sign with my hometown college is even more crazy, being able to play in my hometown instead of going somewhere else seems even more surreal to me.” ...

Mena sworn into office

OLYMPIA - State Representative Sharlett Mena (D-Tacoma) was sworn into office on Saturday by Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Steve Gonzalez. “As the child of Mexican immigrants and the first person in my family to go to college, I am focused on pursuing policies that will empower working families to prosper,” said Mena in a release by Washington House Democrats. “I am excited to get down to Olympia and get to work building a Washington that works for everyone.”...

McMorris Rodgers appointed chair of Energy and Commerce Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane, has been named to head the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee in the new Republican-controlled Congress...

Bill would protect churches from government closure

OLYMPIA — A bill introduced in the state House of Representatives would prevent the state government from closing churches and other religious institutions, according to a statement from Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen...

Gun transfer bills introduced

OLYMPIA — State legislators announced on Monday that bills have been introduced in the House and Senate to regulate the purchase and transfer of firearms in Washington, according to a statement from Sen. Jesse Salomon (D-Shoreline) and Rep. Liz Berry (D-Seattle)...

The last queen of the skies

Final production 747 briefly touches down at GCIA

MOSES LAKE — The last 747 touched down briefly at the Grant County International Airport Tuesday afternoon as part of its final check before being delivered to its new owner, New York-based cargo airline Atlas Air. David Bailey, a retired former executive director of the Port of Moses Lake who began his career in aviation as a flight engineer for Boeing in the late 1960s helping to design and test the 747, was on hand to watch the last one touch down as well...

Health care bills being considered by Wash. Legislature

OLYMPIA — Changes to reimbursement for health care facilities that house difficult-to-discharge Medicare patients and revised emergency homeless shelter rules for counties with more than 50,000 people are among the bills introduced in the 2023 session of the Washington Legislature, which started Monday. A noncomprehensive list of health care-related proposed bills is below. Descriptions below are abridged...

GCSO ends contracts in Desert Aire, Coulee City

EPHRATA — The governing board in Desert Aire is requesting proposals for security services following the end of a contract for law enforcement services between Desert Aire and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete said a similar contract with the town of Coulee City is also being terminated...

Hazel Yancey

Hazel Yvonne (Minor) Yancey was born Aug. 10, 1935, in Ash Flat, Arkansas to Clarence Lester Minor and Tracy Lee (Duke) Minor. In 1936 her family moved from the farm in Ash Flat to Phoenix, Arizona where her brother William E. (Ed) was born in 1937. In 1938 the Minor family moved to the Wenatchee area where they made their family home. In 1946 the Minors bought a 10-acre apple orchard in the Sunnyslope area. In 1953 another brother, Mike was born to the Minor Family. Hazel graduated from Sunnyslope Junior High School in 1950 and Wenatchee High School in 1953. Hazel was chosen as Princess Sunnyslope for the Apple Blossom Festival in 1953. After high school Hazel attended Western College of Commerce in Wenatchee. After attending Western College of Commerce, Hazel was employed by Johnson's Inc. in Wenatchee in 1954. While attending Wenatchee Valley Baptist Church Hazel met a former classmate, Ken Yancey, and they were married Sept. 28, 1957. Ken had completed his tour of duty in the Army and returned to his old job at ALCOA. In 1958 Hazel and Ken moved to the Seattle area for Ken to continue his education. While in Seattle, Hazel was employed by Simpson Timber Company as a secretary. While in Seattle, son David was born in 1962. In 1963 Hazel and Ken moved to Ellensburg for Ken to continue his degree in education. While at Ellensburg Hazel was employed as secretary to the director of the library.

Kenneth Peterson

Kenneth James Peterson passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, in Ephrata, Washington, after a courageous battle with cancer. Ken, who also went by “Kenny,” “Jamie” and “Dad,” was born Aug. 7, 1950, in Wenatchee, Washington, to James LeRoy Peterson (Colleen) and Joyce Beazer Peterson (deceased). His surviving siblings are Kathy (Mike) Agrelious, Brad (Jeanne) Peterson, Chris (Teresa, deceased) Peterson, and Tammy (Kevin) Harper. Surviving children and grandchildren are Romayne Montana ( fiance Jim Miklo) (children Zachary and Daniel Walker); and Zane (Jenny) Peterson (children James, Philip, Joyce, and Elizabeth). Kenny spent most of his life living around the Columbia River Basin. His first years began out at the Colockum with Jim and Joyce near his grandfather, Christian LeRoy, who treasured Kenny and spent time with him whenever he could. As Jim took on working for Grant County PUD, the Peterson family moved to Wanapum Village, then Wenatchee, and finally settled in Quincy. It was during Kenny’s teenage years that he spent time in Alberta, Canada with the Beazer clan. He loved his Canadian aunts, uncles and cousins, especially since he was one of five Canadian cousins all born in the same year.

Local talent

Moses Lake Museum showcases member’s works

MOSES LAKE — Oil portraits. Photos. Welded sculptures. Intricately painted feathers. Virtually anything a local artist can create is on display at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center. “I keep telling everyone, there's something for everyone in this show, literally,” said Museum Director Dollie Boyd. “Because there's so many different styles and types of mediums. There's photography, there's this kind of upcycled work. There's paintings and illustrations. So it's a really cool mix. And I think everybody will find something they like.” This is the second year the museum has thrown open its gallery to its members and invited them to show off their creations. About 32 artists entered 90 artworks this year, which pretty well maxed out the available space, Boyd said.

Legals for January, 10 2023

Volunteers sought for Solid Waste Advisory Committee

EPHRATA — Grant County officials are looking for a volunteer to serve on the county’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee...

MLK celebration coming Monday

MOSES LAKE — The life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. will be the focus of a celebration march Monday, Jan. 16 in Moses Lake, according to a statement from the city. The march will begin at 3 p.m. at the Surf 'n Slide Water Park near McCosh Parkand end at the Moses Lake Civic Center , 401 S. Balsam St. A celebration of King’s life and activism will follow at the Civic Center at 4 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. King was Time Magazine’s “Man of the Year” in 1963, the statement said. He won a Nobel Prize in 1964 for successfully using non-violent actions to fight racial equality. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter posthumously awarded King the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Anyone wanting more information can call Charlie Jones at 509-432-1713.

Mattawa examines CAD Homes development

MATTAWA — The nuts and bolts of government - development regulations, comprehensive land use, housing density, traffic impacts and control - was the subject of a lengthy workshop for the Mattawa City Council on Jan. 5. Council members reviewed a proposed housing development agreement with Moses Lake-based CAD Homes and owner Drew Scott, covering details ranging from parking to financial responsibility for street development. The council requested a development agreement before making a decision on a request to annex 40 acres, known as the Brodero property, into the city limits...

Local wrestlers compete at tournaments across the state

Jeremiah Schmunk Invitational At the Jeremiah Schmunk Invitational, three local teams finished in the top three spots of the tournament, with Othello placing first with 173 points and Moses Lake and Warden tied in second with 160.5 points. Wahluke finished in eighth place with 52 points. Local top three placings Othello placings: junior Troy Mendez (120), first place; sophomore Ismael Torres (138), third place; sophomore Parker Freeman (152), second place; sophomore Jaxon Gomez (195), third place; sophomore Anthony Solorio (220), first place; senior Giovanni Love (285), first place. Moses Lake placings: freshman Ian Garza (106), second place; sophomore Drayden Gaither (120), third place; freshman Ian Anderson (132), first place; senior Joshua Grubb (145), second place; senior Brock Clark (160), first place; senior Cody Byers (170), first place;

CWU men earn first GNAC win, women fall to Simon Fraser

MOSES LAKE — Both the Central Washington men’s and women’s basketball teams concluded their home stand in Moses Lake on Saturday, with the men’s team surviving a scare and the women’s team suffering its third consecutive loss. CWU men vs Alaska Fairbanks The Wildcats led wire-to-wire in their 78-66 win over Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday, including a 20-plus point lead in the first half that the Nanooks cut to a two-point lead in the second half. “They’re a good team, and we knew that they would make a run,” CWU Head Coach Brandon Rinta said. “It got close there, and that makes it mean more that we had to gut it out like that.”

Locally proposed bills for 2023 Wash. legislative session

OLYMPIA - Representative Tom Dent (R–Moses Lake) and Senator Judy Warnick (R–Moses Lake) both have multiple bills proceeding through the Washington Legislature during this year’s legislative session, which began Monday. Dent is working to establish an aviation and aerospace advisory committee, better manage wildfires and manage pesticides while Warnick is working on a tax exemption for wine and to address education for dental professionals. Below is a noncomprehensive list of bills proposed or sponsored by Dent and Warnick along with a brief summary of the bill as found in the summary of each piece of proposed legislation...

Myrtle Louise Manuel McCart

Myrtle Louise Manuel McCart passed Jan. 5, 2023, in Wenatchee, Washington, at age 91. She was our mother. Mom was born in Pond Creek, Oklahoma, and grew up there with her sister MaryAnn and parents Pete and Linnie Manuel. She graduated as valedictorian from Pond Creek High School. Go Panthers! Mom married Berry "Bud" McCart, and they moved to Quincy, Washington, following the building of Grand Coulee Dam and the availability of irrigated land for farming. She and Bud raised three girls in a home by the last school bus stop on Monument Hill. They adopted many dogs dropped off at the end of the lane and fought off roosters when raising chickens and collecting eggs. Horses were usually in the corral, and that allowed for 4-H projects and some sagebrush land range-riding. Mom would add some chlorine bleach to the finicky well when it needed it and would bring home the milk from the dairy she visited once a week, to separate out the cream and stir in some powdered milk to stretch things out a bit. The ability to identify milk with powdered milk stirred in remains a skill her children appreciate, not needing it anymore.

New Fatima Center opens

MOSES LAKE — Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house for its new Fatima Center on Sunday at 210 N. Dale Road in Moses Lake. “We kept the same footprint as the old one, pretty close, this is a little bit longer, but other than that everything is the same,” said Jerry Moncada Sr...

Seahawks top Rams 19-16 in OT, in playoffs after Lions win

SEATTLE (AP) — Within minutes of the Seattle Seahawks winning to maintain their playoff hopes, the video boards inside Lumen Field flashed a message: "Go Lions." For the Seahawks, that became "thank you Lions" several hours later after Detroit helped send Seattle back to the postseason.

Vikes fall in closing minute

Despite leading for more than 36 minutes of the contest, the Vikings fell to host Community College of Spokane 84-80 in NWAC eastern region action on Saturday, January 7th.

Hacker's 34 leads Lady Vikings in win

On Saturday (January 7th), Big Bend's Lady Vikings outscored Community College of Spokane 21-13 in the final quarter of play to down the Sasquatch on the road 71-69, and notch their first NWAC eastern region win of the season.

Pets of the Basin – Round 2

COLUMBIA BASIN — A request for pet pictures in mid-December brought an avalanche of responses, more than 200 in fact. The Columbia Basin Herald pictured some of them in the Dec. 26 edition, and here are some more, with comments from the owners who are grateful for their companionship. To see more pet photos, look at our conversation on Facebook by following us at Facebook.com/cbherald.

New Year's resolutions for pet owners and their furry friends

With the new year comes the tradition of making New Year’s resolutions. While most resolutions are aimed at improving your life, pet owners should also consider making a resolution or two that will benefit your pet’s health. Dr. Lori Teller, a clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, says that many resolutions pet owners set for themselves can also be extended to their pets...

Legals for January, 9 2023

Timme, Hickman lead No. 9 Gonzaga past Santa Clara 81-76

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Drew Timme and Nolan Hickman scored 20 points each and No. 9 Gonzaga beat Santa Clara 81-76 on Saturday night. Julian Strawther had 18 points and Ben Gregg grabbed eight rebounds to help the Bulldogs (14-3, 3-0 West Coast Conference) get their 25th straight win against the Broncos. Gonzaga has won 48 of the last 50 meetings.

Vikings use strong frontcourt play to take down Central women’s hoops

MOSES LAKE — Despite a 36-point outing by redshirt senior center Samantha Bowman, the Central Washington Wildcats were unable to keep up with an experienced Western Washington Vikings frontcourt on Thursday night, falling 82-70 to the Vikings in Moses Lake. “We were getting the ball inside to Sam, a massive strength to us,” CWU Head Coach Randi Richardson-Thornley said. “We weren't forcing things, and also we were able to defend them inside in the first quarter, and force them into tough shots and rebound out of it.” After the Wildcats held up against the WWU frontcourt in the first quarter, the Vikings began using their experience in transition to get back in the game, later taking the lead after being down 20-11 at the end of the first quarter. The two squads found themselves tied five times in the second quarter before the Vikings took a 33-32 lead into the halftime locker room. “After (the first quarter) they started getting out in transition, and I think the pace of the game and the physicality just wore on our young group after a while,” Richardson-Thornley said.

Mavs stop Eisenhower comeback attempt, win 59-54

MOSES LAKE — After jumping out to a double-digit lead in the first half, the Moses Lake Mavericks staved off a comeback bid by the Eisenhower Cadets to win 59-54 in their home court Friday night. “Any time you can win at home and win in league, that’s a win-win combination for us,” Moses Lake Head Coach Jake Hunt said. Moses Lake used strong frontcourt play by seniors Carter Smith and Jayson Byers, who combined for 21 of the 31 first-half Maverick points to help build a 14-point lead after two quarters. Smith finished the contest with 17 points, Byers with 14 and freshman forward Grady Walker scored three crucial baskets late in the fourth quarter. “That’s what I told our guys, ‘Attack inside,’” Hunt said. “Carter played phenomenal, he did some of those things that you won’t see in the stat line … I was super proud of the freshman Grady Walker coming in too; he did a good job with some buckets to help slow down the momentum.” With a strong defensive showing, Moses Lake held Eisenhower to only five points in the second quarter. To end the half, junior Kyson Thomas lobbed a pass up to Smith to go up 31-17.

Weather for Monday, Jan, 9, 2023

Monday: A chance of rain and snow before 10 a.m., then rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. Northeast wind around 6 miles per hour and a 70% chance of precipitation. Little or no snow accumulation is expected. Monday night is expected to see a slight chance of rain and snow before 4 a.m., then a slight chance of rain between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow after 5 a.m. Patchy fog before 1 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 30% with little or no snow accumulation expected. Tuesday: A chance of rain and snow before 7 a.m., then a chance of rain. Patchy fog before 2 p.m., then patchy fog after 3 p.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Chance of precipitation is 30% and little or no snow accumulation is expected. On Tuesday night, the Basin should see patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Wednesday: A 20% chance of rain after 10 a.m. Patchy fog before 1 p.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. Wednesday night, rain is likely, mainly after 4 a.m. with patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Thursday: Patchy fog and rain are likely. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 42. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Thursday night should see a 30% chance of rain. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Friday: A 20% chance of rain. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. Source: National Weather Service

STUDIO BASIN: Cop talk with Chief Fuhr, wrestling, hosting the Wildcats

On this week's episode of the Studio Basin podcast, Moses Lake Police Department Chief Kevin Fuhr joins the program to discuss MLPD's new community services center and recaps the previous year for the department. Next, sports reporter Ian Bivona goes over the past week's sporting events here in the Basin. The Studio Basin podcast can be found on your favorite podcast apps, or downloaded directly at https://bit.ly/3WKtljb.

Soap Lake standoff ends without incident

SOAP LAKE — A felony suspect is in custody after a standoff with police in Soap Lake Friday afternoon. The suspect, who had a felony warrant, fled on foot from a Soap Lake Police officer and ran into a residence in the 300 block of Road 20 Northwest, said Kyle Foreman, public information officer for the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. He stayed in the house for at least two hours, Foreman said, while the SLPD called for assistance from the sheriff’s office. Because the residence was close to Soap Lake schools, the schools were put on modified lockdown during the standoff. “He didn’t want to come out for a long time, and then we were able to coax him out of the house,” Foreman said. The suspect was taken into custody without incident, Foreman said. Neither the suspect’s name nor what his warrant was for was available Friday. Joel Martin can be reached at jmartine@columbiabasinherald.com

Love keeps the streets plowed in Wilson Creek

WILSON CREEK — It takes a lot of love and a lot of donated labor to make life in a small town like Wilson Creek work, according to the Clerk/Treasurer Kaci Anderson. “We have a lot of people helping out with snow removal in the winter,” Anderson said. “Because we have one public works employee typically. Sometimes in the summer, we’ll hire on some extra help.” “But in the winter, we have one employee, typically. And it’s a lot of work for one person,” she added. Mayor Rob Herron, a former wheat farmer and truck driver who now owns Harvest Moon, the town’s only bar and restaurant, said he has spent at least 16 hours this winter plowing snow, and takes a lot of emergency calls during the night, everything from complaints from residents to requests for help during emergencies.

John Flint McCabe

John Flint McCabe was born May 13, 1973, in Seattle, Washington to Jack and Jane McCabe. He graduated from Stanwood High School and was a proud member of the class of 1991. From his youth, he was always athletic and considered himself an adrenaline junkie. After graduation, Flint moved to Steamboat Springs, Colorado to pursue his love of skiing by competing in the freestyle mogul. He had dreams of Olympic gold, but they were dashed by a major ski injury. In his final competition, Flint injured his back and unknowingly damaged his pancreas, which led to him becoming a Type 1 diabetic. Sadly, he fought 20 years of pain and side effects. On Jan. 1, 2023, at 9:19 a.m., Flint lost the battle with Type 1 diabetes while living in Moses Lake, Washington. He leaves behind his wife of 22 years, Rebekah, his 20-year-old daughter Ana and his mother Jane. He was preceded in death by his father, Jack. He had no siblings. His hobbies included fly tying and watching cooking shows. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fly fish. He was a certified mixologist and worked all aspects of the hospitality industry.

Maxine ‘Max’ Ann Neal

Maxine “Max” Ann Neal, 82, was born June 25, 1940. in Electric City, Washington to Wilburn and Suzie Cassal. Max started her life’s journey in Electric City where she graduated from Bridgeport High School. She had an itch for travel and adventure that took her across the U.S. and landed her in places like the Kitsap Peninsula and Adak, Alaska. Maxine was not just privy to exploring, she could also pick up almost any art and craft and create something beautiful. Anything from painting flowers or landscapes on antique items to making hundreds of quilts for local cancer patients. Especially in her earlier years, her forte was her Harley; she was never happier then when she was soaking in the freedom on her bike. Max joined an amazing local church where she found faith, comfort, and family bonds. Moses Lake Baptist Church was her home away from home.

USDA looks to beef up meat supply chain

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The federal government will invest $9.6 million to strengthen farmers, ranchers, processors and rural businesses and diversify the country’s meat supply, according to a statement from the USDA.

Wildcats lose first game at BBCC

Second-half turnovers prove costly in CWU men’s 90-72 loss to Seawolves

MOSES LAKE – After a promising first half, the Central Washington men’s basketball team was outscored 50-34 in the second half by Alaska Anchorage, losing 90-72 in Moses Lake Thursday night. “It was close in the first half, even though I thought we had some defensive breakdowns,” Rinta said. “We were still able to keep it close, but in the second half they caught fire – it seemed like they hit 10 mid-range jumpers on us, and we had a little trouble keeping the basketball in front there in the second half. That’s ultimately what bit us."...

Community events for Jan. 6-11

Below is a brief summary of community events going on in the Basin in the coming week.

Sitting pretty

More than half of Washington homeowners equity-rich

COLUMBIA BASIN — Lots of homeowners are in good shape this year. A recent study by analysis firm ATTOM Data Solutions indicates that nearly half of mortgaged residential properties in the U.S. were considered equity-rich, meaning that the amount owed on them was no more than half the estimated value, the report said. “The way you make money on your home is your equity,” explained Jessie “Weno” Dominguez, CEO of Imagine Realty Group in Othello. “And the way you look at equity is as your savings account. So if I purchased a home, let's say, four years ago, right before the craziness, for $200,000, I put 5% down, I owed $190,000. I've been paying it for five years and owe now $170,000. I kept the house up, maintained it, kept it pretty nice. As home values rise, the prices continue to go up. That same home is now worth, let's say, $425,000, and I owe $170,000. So I'm equity-rich.” The study indicated that in the third quarter of 2022, 48.5% of mortgaged homes were classed as equity-rich, compared to 48.1% in second quarter and 39.5% in the third quarter of 2021. In fact, the the third quarter of 2022 marked the 10th consecutive quarter in which the proportion of equity-rich homes increased, according to the ATTOM report.

Samaritan hosting hospital funding meeting

MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Hospital district patrons are being invited to discuss the options for construction of a new hospital at an open house from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at Moses Lake City Hall, 401 S. Balsam St...

Unincorporated Grant County permits for Jan. 6, 2023

Unincorporated Grant County Nov. 5-11 Willamette Egg Farms, 12400 block of Road 7 Northeast, Moses Lake, egg foyer, $12,375. Willamette Egg Farms, 12400 block of Road 7 Northeast, Moses Lake, egg foyer, $37,125. Willamette Egg Farms, 12400 block of Road 7 Northeast, Moses Lake, egg foyer, $37,125. Willamette Egg Farms, 12400 block of Road 7 Northeast, Moses Lake, egg foyer, $19,800. Willamette Egg Farms, 12400 block of Road 7 Northeast, Moses Lake, egg foyer, $29,700. Willamette Egg Farms, 12400 block of Road 7 Northeast, Moses Lake, egg foyer, $350,550. Helga Joy Behan, 18200 block of Southwest Shore Drive, Beverly, post frame open cover, $7,050. Nancy Cruz and Denys Herrera, 1300 block of Road 19.3 Northeast, Soap Lake, manufactures home, $55,890. Permits issued: 8. Total valuation: $549,615.

QSL? Roger roger.

Radio amateurs provide an important link in an internet world

MOSES LAKE — “Whiskey 7 Bravo Juliet November, is that a roger?” The man’s voice, using the NATO phonetic alphabet to spell out a call sign, had a clear Caribbean lilt discernable even through the static and the distortion. “Roger, the name here is Brian.” Brian Nielson acknowledged his call sign and spoke clearly into the microphone hanging over his desk. “Go ahead.” “You’re coming in five by nine here on the beach in Barbados, over,” the voice replied, using the international amateur radio code to describe a clear and strong broadcast. The Barbadian then described the sun, the sand, and the surf right in front of him, and the fact that he was taking the day off from work. “Oh, on the beach, roger,” Nielsen said. “It’s kind of chilly here. We’re not on the beach. It’s snowy outside and 32 degrees. And we got about an inch of snow this morning. So I’m really envying you guys over there.” Nielsen extended an invitation to visit Moses Lake next time his conversation partner was in the United States. “Take care and 73,” Nielsen said, adding his call sign — W7BJN — and using the international amateur radio code for kindest regards. “Roger roger,” the Barbadian radio operator replied. “73s to you, my friend, and good luck.”

Births for Jan. 4, 2023

Samaritan and Othello Community hospitals

Royal City approves golf course funding

ROYAL CITY — The Royal City Golf Course could be getting a boost this year. The Royal City City Council voted Tuesday to approve an amendment to the usual annual agreement between the city and the Royal Golf Association regarding funding for the Royal City Golf Course. The amendment would allow the Royal Golf Association to request up to $30,000 in additional city funding for equipment replacements. “They have equipment there that's been aging for years,” Finance Director Shilo Christensen told the Herald Thursday. “And they just don't have a way to fund capital expenditures for equipment purchases. The last few years, they've been saying they're having a hard time with their current equipment. So this year, they're saying, well, maybe the city as part of the management team can help fund that. Because if they can't maintain the golf course, then we have no golf course.”

'Welcome to 2023. It's a brand new year.'

Soap Lake council adjusts member duties, authorizes expenses

SOAP LAKE - The Soap Lake City Council held its first meeting of the year Wednesday evening. At the meeting were discussions and decisions about an emergency proclamation, a plaque for the new basketball courts and council member duties. “Welcome to 2023, it's a brand new year,” Soap Lake Mayor Michelle Agliano said to open the meeting...

Wahluke athlete's efforts recognized

Wahluke sophomore River Buck (22) was named an Athlete of the Week by the Washington Interscholastc Activities Association on Thursday. Averaging 15.6 points, three steals and two blocks per game this season, Buck scored a career-high 30 points against Sunnyside Christian at the Granger Holiday Basketball Tournament, according to the WIAA.

Warden athlete recognized for excellence

Warden junior Jada Hernandez was named an Athlete of the Week by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association on Thursday. The junior had nine matches last week that resulted in eight pins and zero points scored against her, and also placed first in the Best of the West Tournament at 115 pounds, per the WIAA.

Wildcats in the Basin

CWU basketball continues road campaign, travels to Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — With renovations in progress at Central Washington University’s Nicholson Pavilion, the Wildcat men’s and women’s basketball teams have yet to play a game on their home court this season. “We haven’t had a gym since the end of last basketball season,” Central Men's Basketball Head Coach Brandon Rinta said. Along with playing games at Ellensburg High School, the Wildcats have ventured to Yakima Valley College and now Big Bend Community College to play home games...

Mavericks boys wrestlers get convincing dual meet win

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake boys wrestling Coach Jose Tanguma said the goal in Wednesday’s dual meet with West Valley (Yakima) was to get decisive wins. The Mavericks did that – only one match went to a decision in a 66-15 Moses Lake win. The girls dual featured only one match, with the rest being forfeits; Moses Lake won 54-12. “Our guys went out there and got pins, and that’s what I wanted them to do today,” Tanguma said...

Kimberly (Kim) DeAnn Christensen

Kimberly (Kim) DeAnn Christensen, 49, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, surrounded by loved ones. She was diagnosed with cancer 23 months ago and fought her best to overcome her sickness with surgery and chemo treatments. Kim was born in Seoul, South Korea and given the birth date of March 2, 1973. She was adopted at the age of 3 and raised on a farm with her brother and sister in Moses Lake, Washington. She loved all the animals and showed sheep and pigs in 4-H. At the age of 6, she swam for the Manta Rays swim team. She was an excellent and talented piano player and could learn music by ear, playing “Eye of the Tiger” for everyone to sing along to. She was chosen to play the piano for the school choir in junior high school. In high school, she played on the soccer team, participated in FFA, and competed for Junior Miss.

Steven Bencze

Steven Bencze, 88, died Jan. 3, 2023, in Othello, Washington. Arrangements are under the care of Kayser's Chapel of Memories.

A little bag of dignity

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints delivers 400 hygiene kits to local outreach organizations

MOSES LAKE — Lynn Logan said it took some time for Serve Moses Lake to get ready for Tuesday’s big donation of hygiene kits for the homeless. Because 200 kits – complete with toilet paper, washcloth, soap, shampoo, razors, a little tube of toothpaste, a toothbrush and then further customized depending on whether the recipient is male or female – take up a lot of room...

Othello School Board seeking applicants for open position

OTHELLO — Applications for an open position on the Othello School Board will be accepted through Jan. 17. The board position is open due to the resignation of longtime board member Mike Garza, who was elected to a seat on the Adams County Commission in November. Garza had been a school board member since 2013. Applicants must be registered voters and live within the Othello school district boundaries. Garza’s position was at-large, meaning that people living anywhere in the district can apply.

RECAP: ‘Hawks boost playoff hopes, Kraken notch comeback wins

SEATTLE — The Seahawks received a boost to their playoff hopes, while the Kraken snapped a three-game losing skid. Check out this week’s pro sports recap for an update on the two squads. Seahawks With their playoff hopes on the line, the Seattle Seahawks put themselves back in the picture with a 23-6 win over the New York Jets on Sunday, where Seattle quarterback Geno Smith eliminated his former team from postseason contention. While both teams were fighting for their playoff chances, the Seahawks were the only team that seemed to show up on Sunday afternoon. Seattle began the game with a 60-yard run by rookie running back Kenneth Walker III and scored on its first three possessions of the matchup (two touchdown passes by Smith sandwiching a Jason Myers 25-yard field goal).

WDFW researchers use drone to collect pygmy rabbit data

COLUMBIA BASIN — From January until March, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff and researchers will fly drones over known pygmy rabbit locations on state- and federally-managed lands in Grant and Douglas counties, according to an agency press release. "The purpose of these flights is to test drone and sensor capabilities and effectiveness for tracking pygmy rabbit distribution and numbers in snowy conditions," Taylor Cotten, WDFW conservation assessment section manager, said in the release. "Researchers will also use the drones to help determine the survival rate of reintroduced pygmy rabbits." The release states WDFW will use the drones to take photos that will be used to gather certain data in a safer and more efficient way than current methods.

Planning underway for Quincy street improvements

QUINCY — A project to improve connections between 13th Avenue Southwest and the rest of Quincy, and to accommodate development between 13th Avenue and Seventh Avenue Soiuthwest, is in the engineering phase. Quincy City Council members approved a change to a contract with the project engineers at the regular meeting Tuesday. The vote was unanimous with no discussion. The contract revision adds $78,300 to the original contract price. The original contract with Pace Engineers of Kirkland was approved in May 2021 and amended in September 2022 to continue through 2024. A construction schedule has not been announced.

Quincy boys hoops best Mountain Goats 83-81

QUINCY – Both the Quincy girls and boys basketball teams took on the Chelan Goats on Tuesday night, with the girls falling 60-46 after a late Chelan surge and the boys winning 83-81, avenging an early-season loss. Quincy girls The Jackrabbits lead for the majority of the first quarter before Chelan’s Brynn Hughbanks hit a three that gave the Mountain Goats the lead for good. “It was a battle all game,” Quincy Head Coach Micaiah McCreary said. “They played really well. The energy was there, everybody played their hardest.” Quincy freshman Chloe Medina hit a three and followed up with a layup on a fastbreak to cut the deficit to five points, but a Chelan run gave the Goats a 27-19 lead at the half. “It was a game of runs,” McCreary said. “They got up on us, then we went on a little run. Third quarter, we got down about 10 or so and crawled back and we were down three.” Running the

Columbia Basin events calendar for January 2023

Events for January 2023 Jan. 6 First Friday Jam 7-9 p.m. at George Community Hall, 403 W. Montmorency Blvd. Anyone with an instrument can come and play; anyone with ears can come and listen. Potluck will precede jam at 6 p.m. Info: www.georgecommunityhall.com. Preschool story time 10:30-11 a.m. every Friday at the Warden Library, 305 S Main Ave. Kids will read books, do finger plays and action rhymes, sing songs, and explore with other activities. Info: 509-349-2226. Jan. 7 Family Free Saturday 12-2 p.m. at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, 401 S. Balsam. This cute craft will use a variety of media to make a nighttime snowman scene. Continues until supplies have been exhausted. Adult must accompany child during activity (no drop-offs). Info: 509-764-3830. Jan. 10 Homeschoolers' Art Atelier: Drawing and Painting 9-11 a.m. first, second, third and fifth Tuesdays at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, 401 S. Balsam St. New program to support our growing homeschool community, taught by a professional art instructor with years of experience and expertise ready to spread her knowledge. These workshops will provide your student with the opportunity to engage with their peers with the guidance of an experienced art instructor. Museum members eligible for discounts on classes. Info: (509) 764-3830. Tech help hour 2-3 p.m. every Tuesday at the Ephrata Library, 45 Alder St. NW. Basic computer and internet use assistance with the librarian. Online guided basic computer use tutorials through Northstar digital and WISC-Online. Info: (509) 754-3971 or ephrata@ncwlibraries.org. Lego Club 4-5 p.m. every other Tuesday at the Grand Coulee Library, 225 Federal Ave. Legos are provided and no registration is needed. This activity is geared toward children who are ages 6-12 years old, as there are small pieces. This is a great way for kids to meet other children and for parents to relax and browse the library. Info: 509-633-0972 or grandcoulee@ncwlibraries.org. Crafternoon at the Library 5-6 p.m. every Tuesday at the George library, 125 E Deacon Ave. Join us for an afternoon filled with crafting and imagination. All ages welcome. Info: (509) 785-7043 or george@ncwlibraries.org. Jan. 11 Homework help 3-5 p.m. every Wednesday at the Royal City Library, 136 Camelia St. NW. Available for elementary, middle and high school students. Info: (509) 346-9281. Pinochle 1-3:30 p.m. every Wednesday at the Soap Lake Senior Center, 121 Second Ave. SE. Free to all. Masks are optional. Info: 509-246-1913. Jan. 17 ‘Humanity in Print: Literature and Human Rights’ 3 p.m. online, hosted by Central Washington University. Professor Richard Middleton-Kaplan, former dean of arts and sciences at Walla Walla Community College, shares stories about human rights activists he has encountered throughout his academic career. Presented by Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau. Info: www.humanities.org. Jan. 18 Community soup and dessert luncheon 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Royal City Community Center, 13702 Dodson Road. Attendees are invited to bring a soup or a dessert to share. Presented by Royal Slope Seniors. Info: 509-750-8324. Jan. 19 Friends of the Library book sale 2-6 p.m. in the basement of the Moses Lake Public Library, 418 E. Fifth St. We have books for all ages as well as DVDs, CDs, puzzles and games. Book donations are also accepted. Sales benefit the programs at the public library. Info: 509-765-3489. The Ancient Art of Madhubani Painting 7 p.m. online, hosted by Friends of the Mid-Columbia Libraries. For generations, women of a small region in Northeast India have been using Madhubani painting to tell the stories of their lives. Artist Deepti Agrawal provides a demo and a work-along session where participants practice the Madhubani style and learn more about its rich heritage. Presented by Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau. Info: www.humanities.org. Jan. 20 Third Friday Beginner’s Jam 7-9 p.m. at George Community Hall, 403 W Montmorency Blvd. Come and learn to play nice in a group. Experienced musicians and audiences welcome. Info: www.georgecommunityhall.com. Jan. 21 Uke Jam 1-2 p.m. at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, 401 S. Balsam. Instructor Jennifer McCarthy will lead the group in creating beautiful music. All skill levels welcome. Attendees are asked to bring their own instruments and music stands if possible. Registration is required. Info: 509-764-3830. Jan. 28 Pancake breakfast 9-11:30 a.m. at the Soap Lake Senior Center, 121 Second Ave. SE. Funds raised support the senior center. Info: 509-246-1913.

Law enforcement records for Jan. 5, 2023

The reports below were provided by the agencies indicated. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Ephrata Police Department Dec. 29 Report of trespassing on an abandoned property in the 400 block of Seventh Avenue Southeast. Unknown subjects tossed items around the yard and may have entered some sheds. It was unknown if anything had been taken. Report of a hit-and-run on Second Avenue Southwest. Unknown vehicle struck a vehicle legally parked on the side of the street, then fled. Report of a vehicle prowl in the 400 block of Sixth Avenue Southeast. Nothing was reported stolen. Report of attempted theft in the 200 block of D Street Southeast. Reporting party found subject on neighbor’s porch attempting to steal. Subject fled when reporting party approached her. Dec. 30 Report of a two-vehicle collision at the SR 282-Nat Washington Way intersection. Vehicle 1 attempted to turn onto Nat Washington Way traveling too fast for conditions and struck vehicle 2, causing reportable damage. Report of theft in progress at a business in the 1300 block of Nat Washington Way. Suspect was contacted and items recovered form her purse. Adams County Sheriff’s Office Dec. 23 Report of a one-vehicle collision at West Cunningham and South Billington roads, Othello. A semi-truck had rolled, striking a power pole and causing an outage. Dec. 26 Report of a shed broken into in the 2200 block of West Shelly Road, Othello. Owner advised nothing of value was taken. Dec. 30 Report of a mailbox forced open and multiple items taken in the 2300 block of West Covey Road, Othello. Report of a computer stolen from a residence in the 200 block of West South First Street, Lind. Othello Police Department Dec. 28 Report of a hit-and-run on West May Street. An unidentified truck struck a parked vehicle. Dec. 30 Report of a vehicle prowl on North 12th Avenue. Jan. 2 Report of a stolen three-wheeler bike located in the area of South 11th Avenue and East Spruce Street. Report of a non-injury rear-end collision in the area of South 14th Avenue and East Scootney Street. Jan. 3 Report of a catalytic converter stolen off a commercial truck. Grant County Jail Dec. 28 Sally Lou Voight, 61, Moses Lake, booked on DUI. Juan Carlos Cortez Barajas, 30, Quincy, booked on first-degree robbery, theft of a motor vehicle and fourth-degree assault – domestic violence, as well as a Grant County District Court warrant relating to fourth-degree assault – domestic violence and interfering with reporting domestic violence. Dec. 29 Jose Miguel Escobedo Ramos, 41, Royal city, booked on first-degree criminal trespass, as well as a Department of Corrections warrant. Jessica Lynae Lawter, 34, Ephrata, booked on two Grant County Superior Court warrants relating to second-degree burglary and third-degree theft, as well as a Grant County District Court warrant relating to third-degree theft. Dec. 30 Jonathan James Mengle, 29, Everett, booked on a Grant County Superior Court warrant relating to second-degree robbery, second-degree burglary, second-degree theft and attempting to elude a police vehicle. Melanie Innette Cordova, 45, Moses Lake, booked on warrants relating to first-degree theft – welfare fraud and second-degree escape. Regina Carole Spicer, 56, Moses Lake, booked on fourth-degree assault – domestic violence. Dec. 31 Juan Marcos Mena, 33, Moses Lake, booked on possession of a stolen firearm, first-degree burglary, third-degree theft, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and firearm transfer/sale violation. Jan. 1 Melody Rosas Gonzalez, 19, Quincy, booked on violation of a protection order – domestic violence. Erendida Medina Rodriguez, 38, Moses Lake, booked on fourth-degree assault – domestic violence. Caleb Kyle Esparza, 22, Moses Lake, booked on DUI. Jennifer Marie Pugh, 41, Moses Lake, booked on felony harassment and unlawful carrying or handling of a weapon. Lamberto Medina Ramos, 30, Soap Lake, booked on second-degree assault – domestic violence, unlawful imprisonment and interfering with reporting domestic violence. Jan. 2 Joseph Anthony Barros, 48, Ephrata, booked on violation of a no-contact order, as well as a superior court warrant relating to failure to register as a sex offender. Miranda Lakoduk, 36, Ephrata, booked on first-degree burglary, theft of a firearm, second-degree theft and unlawful possession of a firearm. Jerimiah James Miller, 32, Ephrata, booked on first-degree burglary, theft of a firearm, second-degree theft, unlawful possession of a firearm and trafficking in stolen property. Jason Alan Curtis, 40, Moses Lake, booked on fourth-degree assault – domestic violence. Jan. 3 Robin Douglas Carlberg, 32, Soap Lake, booked on fourth-degree assault – domestic violence.

Propane truck rollover closes Adams Road North

GEORGE — A portion of Adams Road near George was closed Wednesday morning after a propane truck rolled over, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. Just before noon, the GCSO alerted residents that a stretch of Adams Road North between Road 5 and Road 6 NW, just north of George and southeast of Quincy, was closed following the single-vehicle accident. The closure is expected to last until 3 p.m. The GCSO said the propane truck has a small leak. Firefighters have responded, but the GCSO said there is no risk to the nearby public. This article will be updated when more information becomes available.

Basin sports schedule for Jan. 4-10

COLUMBIA BASIN – Winter sports are back in full swing here in the Basin after teams had time off due to the holiday break. Check out this week’s packed sports schedule for all 12 schools here in the area.

American Legion family looks for more members

Local unit works to support area veterans of all ages, including seniors

EPHRATA - The American Legion family hosts and participates in many events and programs throughout the year that supports veterans and their families locally as well as across the country. “We reach out to our communities to try to help remind them of the freedoms that a lot of us take for granted,” said Jane Montaney, American Legion Art Semro Unit 28 long-time member. “There is somebody out there at one point in time (who) made sure that those freedoms existed for us and are serving to continue to preserve those freedoms.” ...

Resolutions and Reflections

Basin residents reflect on 2022 and look forward to 2023

MOSES LAKE – With the new year, many people create new year’s resolutions and reflect on the year they just had. Many new year’s resolutions are related to mental and physical health, finances and breaking bad habits. “Well it takes 21 days to develop a habit so you just have to be persistent,” said Lynn Alderson of Moses Lake...

Legals for January, 4 2023

Hours may shorten at Mattawa garbage facility

'We're down to one customer a day, and we can't support that.'

MATTAWA — Declining use of a Grant County-owned garbage collection facility near Mattawa, also called a drop box, may lead to reduced winter hours for the facility. Grant County Public Works Director Sam Castro said he has submitted a request to the Grant County Commissioners to open the facility only on Saturdays for now. “We’re down to one customer a day, and we can’t support that,” Castro said...

First ag-dedicated imaging satellite launched

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — The first orbital satellite dedicated to agricultural imagining was launched from the SpaceX launch site at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center has lifted off, according to a press release from satellite maker Dragonfly Aerospace...

Concrete truck overturns in Warden

WARDEN — A large concrete boom truck skidded and overturned on S. County Road just in front of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Warden at around 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, according to Warden Police Chief Rick Martin. No one was injured in the accident, Martin said, though the driver was pinned in his cab as a result of the accident and had to be rescued by a firefighter with Grant County Fire District 4...

James Liebrecht

With a heavy heart we announce the passing of James “Jim” Herman Liebrecht, 68, of Moses Lake at Sacred Heart Hospital of a failing heart on Dec. 30, 2022. Jim was born to Herman and Joanne Liebrecht in 1954. He married his high school sweetheart, Karen, in 1973. Together they raised two sons, James and Cole. He dearly loved his daughters-in-law Razz and Alexandrea. They were the daughters he never had. He enjoyed the love of his grandchildren Nia, Asha, Riley, Austin, Emma and Charlotte. His family was the delight of his life; they always came first. He is also survived by his brothers Steven, Michael and Joseph. He was preceded in death by his parents Herman and Joanne and siblings David and Kathleen.

Jan. 2023 senior events schedule:

The events below are available for seniors to enjoy throughout January 2023.

GCSO welcomes new deputies

EPHRATA - The Grant County Sheriff’s Office welcomed two new deputies Tuesday morning, Francisco Araiza, left and Roman Varyvoda, right. Araiza transferred from Mattawa Police Department, and Varyvoda transferred from Washington Fish and Wildlife Police.....

Ephrata community survey to close

EPHRATA - The City of Ephrata is encouraging those who have not taken the Ephrata Community Survey, to do so before it closes....

NHL Winter Classic to feature Seattle hosting Vegas in 2024

SEATTLE (AP) — Selling the NHL on bringing the 2024 Winter Classic to the Pacific Northwest required the purchase of a protection plan — a retractable roof. Next year's version of the NHL's New Year's Day showcase will be played outdoors in Seattle with the Kraken hosting the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Park, the league announced Tuesday.

Lions place fifth at MVC holiday tournament

MOSES LAKE – Like many local teams, the Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lady Lions spent part of their winter break on the basketball court. The Lions traveled over the Cascades to play in the Mount Vernon Christian Holiday Hoops Tournament last week. MLCA/CCS Head Coach Josh Kast said the tournament was a great experience for the team, who have high expectations for this season...

Seahawks unexpectedly reach Week 18 with chance at playoffs

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The idea that the Seattle Seahawks would go into Week 18 with a chance at the playoffs seemed ludicrous back during training camp. At that point, the Seahawks were expected to be among the worst teams in the league this season.

Gwen Sloan

Gwen Strate Sloan, 96, peacefully returned home to our Heavenly Father on the morning of Dec. 17, 2022. She was born in Cardston, Alberta, Canada on May 12, 1926, to Alfred and Mabel Strate. She is preceded in death by her husband Hugh C. Sloan, her parents, her two brothers and one grandson. She is survived by her three children Greg (Irene) Sloan, Julie (Ken) Ewell and Holly (Brian) Hendrickson; nine beautiful grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson. Gwen moved to Edmonton, Alberta when she was very young and then to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. After living there several years, the family moved back to Cardston, Alberta and that is where she met the love of her life, Hugh C. Sloan. They were married on July 25, 1946, in the Cardston, Alberta Temple. They moved to the States after a couple of years of marriage and settled in Othello, Washington. They lived there for many years and Gwen’s home was always welcoming to everyone. She loved to entertain and have friends over for meals.

Thanks to kind family for shoveling driveway

Dear editor, After the last snowfall of about six inches, it was a bitter cold day and I had finally decided to shovel my drive at about 1 in the afternoon...

Texas governor flouts Christmas spirit with migrant stunt

Dear editor, On Christmas Eve, when most Americans were rejoicing in this season of “goodwill toward men,” the Texas governor sent three buses of asylum seekers to DC as a cheesy political stunt...

Long haul

Truckers do the essential work of hauling goods

FIFE — Theron Wood stands in a fenced-in parking lot at the end of a narrow cul-de-sac not far from the Port of Tacoma. He’s watching a pair of forklift drivers load 32 tons of palm fat — 64,000 pounds in one-ton totes — on the back of a pair of flatbed trailers hooked up to his semi-tractor. The 25-year-old has been driving for a year as a professional driver for TL Trucking in Pasco, and the parking lot of Global Agri Trade is now a regular stop for him. But it’s a bit of a difficult stop. The street is narrow, short and poorly maintained — crumbling at the shoulders — and a tight fit for any big vehicle, much less a semi-truck pulling nearly 70 feet of trailers. “If I go any farther down that road,” Wood said as he neared the Global Agri Trade entrance, “I’ll need to call a tow truck to get out.” The forklift drivers do their work quickly and efficiently — the totes were lined up before Wood arrived — and make sure they are centered and balanced evenly on both the 40-foot front and 24-foot rear trailers. It’s illegal, in fact, to haul a lopsided load, Wood noted, as that makes a truck more difficult and dangerous to steer and stop. Altogether, Wood said his rig and loaded trailers weigh around 52 tons. That’s very close to the limit he’s allowed to haul.

Gretchen Ann Horne

September 16, 1938 – December 27, 2022 Gretchen Ann (Frey) Horne, a longtime resident of Moses Lake, passed away on Dec. 27, 2022, in Yakima, Washington. Gretchen had been living in Yakima at a memory care facility since August of 2018. Gretchen was born on Sept. 16, 1938, in Yakima, Washington. Her father, Art Frey, was a teacher and her mother, Thora Belle Armstrong, worked in the office of a large fruit packing company. In 1941 the family moved to Spokane, Washington when Art accepted a teaching/coaching position at Lewis and Clark High School, a position he would hold for the next 31 years. Gretchen grew up on 24th and Jefferson, on Spokane’s South Hill. She attended Lewis and Clark and was involved in many activities. In her senior year she was named the Job’s Daughters Queen for 1956. After high school, Gretchen attended WSU for one year before moving back to Spokane. In 1958, Gretchen found herself working as a secretary at a downtown business called Capital Finance. While there, she met and fell in love with the young assistant manager, Doug Horne. After a quick engagement, the couple were married on June 15, 1958, in the Manito Presbyterian Church. The couple moved briefly to Chehalis, Washington for Doug’s business, but soon found themselves back in Eastern Washington. Upon landing in Moses Lake in 1959, Gretchen’s first words to Doug were "I will give this a year!" That year stretched out for 59 years, and Moses Lake became the city that Gretchen learned to call home. In 1961, they had their first child, Teresa Lynn Horne. In 1964, their son Lawrence Douglas Horne was born. In 1980, after their daughter gave birth to their first grandchild, Anitra Monique, Doug and Gretchen became legal guardians of Anitra and raised her. Over the years, Gretchen was involved in many different activities in her newly adopted hometown. She was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church of Moses Lake, where she served as an elder and clerk of session for many years. She was a Stephen Minister for several years and was active in her local PEO chapter. Gretchen loved to travel. This love of travel was not just a passive hobby. When Gretchen planned a vacation, she brought out notebooks, maps and brochures, which she acquired through numerous letters to local tourism offices. She built three-ring binders and meticulously planned out family adventures. Each roadside historical marker was read, and every museum and historical site visited. But of all the places Gretchen traveled, none could ever compare to her beloved ocean. Gretchen lived for her vacations to the ocean. In later life, she and Doug would spend at least two weeks every year in Cannon Beach. The ocean, to her, was life made tangible through every gray mist, seagull squawk, and cuffs made wet by overly-ambitious waves. Gretchen was an honest and caring person who truly loved her friends and her church. She was a person who felt things deeply, and despised the dark sarcasm often found in everyday life. Gretchen was a graceful and gracious person, a definite nod to a more genteel time. She noticed which fork you used for your salad, whether or not you removed your hat in a restaurant, and if you neglected to say please and thank you when such a gesture was required. Most of all, however, Gretchen lived by the motto "If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all." So, while she was sometimes quiet with a knowing expression, she was always quick to forgive and ready with a smile. Her generosity of spirit, her contained yet exuberant lust for travel and adventure, and her deep and abiding kindness were her hallmarks. For this, and for so much more, she will be forever missed. Gretchen is survived by her daughter Teresa of Tri-Cities; her son Larry and his husband Jeremy of Olympia; and her granddaughter Anitra Castillo, her husband Juan and their two children Rayn and Noah of Moses Lake. She is also survived (albeit in memory only) by her husband of 61 years, Douglas Lewis Horne, the forever soldier by her side. Memorial services will be announced in early spring 2023. Brookside Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.brooksidefuneral.com.

Legals for January, 3 2023

Quincy to face Chelan on court

The Quincy Jackrabbits take on Chelan on Tuesday night for a chance to get a leg up in the Caribou Trail League. Quincy is coming off of three straight losses, two of which were at a tournament in Freeman last week. Both the Jacks and Mountain Goats are 3-1 in CTL play this season, with Chelan having defeated Quincy 69-63 on Dec. 6.

DSHS mobile services coming to Soap Lake

SOAP LAKE - The Department of Social and Health Services Mobile Community Services Office is making a stop in Soap Lake Tuesday. At the event, residents can apply for cash assistance, basic food assistance, medical assistance and the Medicare Savings Program. Paperwork, eligibility review, mid-certification review and changes to an existing case can all be made at the event as well. The mobile office will be set up at the Soap Lake Food Bank, located at 325 Main Ave. E, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Basin wrestling recap

Many local teams competed in wrestling tournaments in both Royal and Tri-Cities last week. See below for a recap of how teams fared in the two tournaments, and both team and individual placings...

Mavs have mixed results in Vancouver tourney

VANCOUVER, Wash. — Spending part of the latter portion of their winter break in Vancouver, the Moses Lake Mavericks boys basketball team competed at the Clark County Holiday Tournament hosted at Fort Vancouver High School. The Mavs finished 1-2 at the tournament, defeating Heritage High School from Vancouver 72-43 and losing 64-52 to Spanaway Lake of Spanaway and 67-59 to Liberty High School of Hillsboro, Oregon. “For all of us, this is actually a brand new experience since I took over as head coach four years ago,” Moses Lake Head Coach Jake Hunt said. “The guys hadn’t done anything together as far as team bonding for an extended period of time. It was a pretty unique experience for most of the guys.” ...

Watering the high desert

Othello working on separate water system for outdoor use

OTHELLO — The city of Othello is instituting an irrigation water utility for new subdivisions built around Othello. The new utility will establish a separate water system for lawns, gardens and other outdoor uses, using water from outside the municipal system. Othello Mayor Shawn Logan said the goal is to conserve municipal water resources. “Water is valuable in the desert,” Logan said...

Solid ground?

A deer stands on the ice-covered waters of Banks Lake, near Coulee City, on New Year's Day. The lake is frozen enough for wildlife to cross and for fishing enthusiasts to go ice fishing on it.....

Rodolfo A. Dabalos

On Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, Rodolfo (Rudy) Dabalos, loving husband, father of three daughters and grandfather of seven passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 80 in Othello, Washington. He died from complications of an unknown systemic infection. He was born on May 8, 1942, in Worland, Wyoming to Mary and Eligio Dabalos. His family moved to Wapato, Washington when he was a year old. He graduated from Wapato High School in 1960, enlisted in the U.S. Army, graduated from Big Bend Community College, and in 1977 graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic with his doctorate in chiropractic. In 1966, a Moses Lake newsclip and picture of a pretty college student, Lottie Flores, caught his eye and he knew he had to ask her out on a date. He called every single Flores in the phone book until he found Lottie and asked her out. Rudy and Lottie married in 1967 and were married 55 years.

Jon Anderson

Jon Alan Anderson, 69, of Moses Lake passed away Dec. 15, 2022, at Sacred Heart Medical Center. Jon was born Dec. 21, 1952, in Richland, Washington to Leonard and Ann Anderson. Jon was active in sports, particularly basketball. Jon graduated from Richland High School in 1971 and played NJCAA basketball at Blue Mountain Community College, Pendleton, Oregon as well as Lethbridge College, Lethbridge, Alberta. Jon graduated from Eastern Washington University in 1976. After graduation, he was employed by the Washington State Potato Commission. In 1979 Jon was employed by Western Kraft as a box salesman, moving to Moses Lake. He continued and thrived in the industry until his retirement as senior account executive from International Paper. Upon retirement Jon established his own corrugated container brokerage, Pend Oreille Packaging.

Jones and Gallaher recognized by Basin residents

Best of the Basin 2022 - Best Public Servant Second Place

SOAP LAKE - Jeffery Gallaher, left, was an officer for the Soap Lake police Department for several years before recently moving on to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. Trevor Jones, right, is currently serving with the Soap Lake Police Department. The Two were nominated jointly for Best Public Servant....

Legals for January, 2 2023