Ellington

Production underway at REC

MOSES LAKE — REC Silicon has begun production of high-purity granular polysilicon at its Moses Lake plant, according to an announcement from the company. The startup process began in October and early November, according to the announcement, and with the plant’s Silane III unit online, production of the first granular polysilicon has started. The plant is expected to reach full production capacity in late 2024. “Our focus is on stability and increasing capacity utilization as soon as practical,” CEO Kurt Levens wrote in the announcement. “Our employees’ experience in starting up and operating complex continuous chemical processes meshed with continuous polysilicon processes is directly indicated in where we are right now.”

Moses Lake chamber talks water, education with governor

MOSES LAKE — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee had an opportunity to hear about the challenges facing Moses Lake at a round table discussion at the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce Wednesday. Besides Chamber President Debbie Doran-Martinez and Marketing Director Lori Robins, the governor met with Moses Lake Mayor Don Myers, City Administrator Kevin Fuhr, Grant County Economic Development Council Executive Director Brant Mayo, Port of Moses Lake Director of Business Development Richard Hanover, Big Bend Community College President Sara Thompson Tweedy and Group14 CEO Rick Luebbe. Accompanying Inslee was Washington Department of Commerce Engagement and Outreach Specialist Soo Ing-Moody. “First of all, Governor, we want to thank you for the $36 million that went into the budget to help us with water, more specifically getting surface water to do more irrigation,” Doran-Martinez told Inslee. “Also there was $4 million that was in the transportation budget that helped with bridges. So we were able to widen some bridges, put some bigger culverts in to deliver more water into the Columbia Basin Project. And then we've leveraged that and got more federal dollars as well for that project. We still don't have enough money to get it over the finish line, but every little bit helps.”

Winter weather

A little bit of snow in the valleys, a lot in the mountains, over next two days

MOSES LAKE — Technically it’s not quite winter yet, but winter’s here anyway. A storm is forecast to bring one to two inches of snow to the Columbia Basin and heavy snow to the Cascades today and Saturday. Temperatures are forecast to start warming up Sunday – and with warmer temperatures comes a chance of rain. “We’re going to be seeing inches of precipitation measured in the Idaho panhandle and the Cascade Crest,” said Charlotte Dewey, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Spokane, during a Thursday morning briefing. The Moses Lake-Ephrata-Quincy area is forecast to get snow during the day Friday, with a projected accumulation of one to two inches. Less snow, an inch or so, is projected for the Mattawa area.

Warden raises rates, approves budget

WARDEN — The Warden City Council unanimously approved the city’s final 2024 budget, as well as increases to both sewer and water utility rates, a public emergency for a well repair and an interlocal agreement with the Grant County Health District during Tuesday’s regular meeting. Warden City Administrator Kriss Shuler started by introducing the water utility rate increase. “This is the material that was reviewed by council for the rate increase for the water utility. We did discuss that the water utility has not been increased since 2016. We are supposed to raise it by cost of living every year,” Shuler said. “In our water system plan discussion, we have agreed that we are looking at raising that rate at 5% per year. At this point that can change. Council can make that decision each year. This year, they determined the 5% increase, so that amendment is in front of you.”

Police reports for Dec. 1, 2023

Ephrata Police Department, Grant County Jail

Knights, Eagles meet in Seattle for 1A championship

Royal seeks 4th straight state title

ROYAL CITY — A trip across the Cascades to Seattle awaits the No. 1 seed Royal Knights, who will face off against No. 2 Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) Friday in the 1A state football championship. The Knights have won three straight state championships and are seeking their 12th overall title. “We’ve been pretty blessed,” Royal coach Wiley Allred said. “The kids work hard, pay attention to detail and worked hard again this year to get to where we’re at. We’re preparing to win it, and know it’s going to be a battle.” After a 42-7 win over Chelan in the 1A District 6/7 Crossover, the Eagles rattled off postseason wins over No. 15 Life Christian Academy (41-14), No. 10 Freeman (24-20) and No. 6 Nooksack Valley (24-23) to reach the 1A championship.

Sharp shooting seals win for Big Bend

MOSES LAKE – After a tough past weekend of play, the Lady Vikes hoped to get on track in a preseason match-up versus a conference opponent as they hosted the Spokane Falls Community College Sasquatch on Tuesday at the Devries Activity Center.

Frank Harold Sparks

Frank H. Sparks, 87, of Royal City, Washington, passed away on Nov. 25, 2023, surrounded by his family. Frank was born in 1936 to Frank and Dorothy Sparks in Mohler, Idaho. The oldest of six children, Frank spent his childhood in Idaho. He married Jessie Tapio on June 28, 1958, and moved to Royal City, where they farmed and raised six children. Frank honorably served a term in the National Guard. Frank met and married Mary Summers on March 19, 2010, and added three stepchildren and five grandchildren to his family.

A note from 2023 Ag Parade Grand Marshal Cheryl Driggs Elkins

MOSES LAKE – I go to all the Moses Lake parades with the Ag Parade being a favorite because it features the gard working men and women who farm now and those in our history who helped Moses Lake become the town that it is. It was totally unexpected when I was asked to be the Grand Marshal this year, but pride in my family’s past allowed me to accept as a way to honor and respect them.

Celtic Christmas concert coming to Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Geoffrey Castle will bring his Celtic Christmas show to Moses Lake Dec. 10, according to an announcement from the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Contestant for a day, Queen for a year

Miss Moses Lake Roundup competition inducts Shoults into traditional role

MOSES LAKE – It’s said that the harder someone works, the more luck they have. If that’s the case, the recently crowned 2024 Miss Moses Lake Roundup, Alexis Shoults, has luck in spades.

Legals for November, 30 2023

Bells on Basin to bring holiday cheer to Ephrata

EPHRATA — A parade to light up the town, breakfast with Santa, popcorn and live music at the community Christmas tree. There’s a lot going on in Ephrata December 9 as the community celebrates “Bells on Basin.”

'12 years in the making' — Sila officially constructing Moses Lake battery plant

MOSES LAKE — Sila Nanotechnologies officially opened its Moses Lake plant Wednesday with a crowd that included employees, community members, state Reps. Tom Dent and Alex Ybarra and Gov. Jay Inslee. An aide to Sen. Patty Murray read a message from the senator, and Sen. Maria Cantwell congratulated Sila by video. “This moment has been 12 years in the making,” said Gene Berdichevsky, co-founder and CEO of Sila.

Governor seeks input from local Habitat for Humanity chapter

MOSES LAKE — Construction costs and energy efficiency were among the topics of a round table discussion between Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and representatives of Habitat for Humanity in Moses Lake Wednesday.

New mayor in Ritzville, Othello council race may go to recount

RITZVILLE — A race for an open seat on the Othello City Council may be headed for a mandatory recount and a former member of the Ritzville City Council will take over the mayor’s job. The 2023 general election was certified Tuesday.

Two Grant Co. races may be headed for recount

EPHRATA — One race for a seat on the Moses Lake School Board and one race for Royal City City Council may be headed for a recount. Both may fall within state guidelines for a mandatory machine recount, according to the Grant County Auditor’s Office.

Othello expands Multi-Family Tax Exemption area, approves code of conduct

OTHELLO – The Othello City Council met Monday for its regular meeting, during which members approved an expansion of the city’s Multi-Family Tax Exemption program target area, a facility use agreement and fee waiver and the council code of conduct.

Ephrata schools receive grants

EPHRATA – Local schools have earned multiple grants for equipment that will help ensure students have access to skills training and academic success programs, according to an Ephrata School District press release.

Ephrata board honors outgoing director

EPHRATA – The Ephrata School District Board of Directors honored longtime board member Bill Correll at Monday’s regular district meeting, according to information provided by the district.

Warden girls, boys fall late to Bulldogs

WARDEN – Both the Warden girls and boys basketball teams opened their 2023-24 seasons at home against the Cashmere Bulldogs Tuesday night, suffering close losses that came down the final stretch.

Howard 'Wayne' Lauzier

July 23, 1945 — Nov. 23, 2023

Wayne Lauzier age 78, passed peacefully on Thanksgiving. Born in Wenatchee to Howard Louis and Virginia Ella (Dobbs) Lauzier of Ephrata. He joined the Navy after High School, serving a tour in Vietnam on the aircraft carrier USS Constellation-64.

A brush of color

This photo was found in our archives and appears to be from the early 1900s based on colorization techniques, clothing and hairstyles. The color in the photo highlights the cheeks and lips of both people and adds blue to the man’s eyes. No dates or other markings are on the photo which likely would have come to us either to accompany a feature or an obituary. If anyone knows who this photo should be returned to, email us at editor@columbiabasinherald.com.

Montemayor hopes to bring new perspective to Othello port

OTHELLO – Newly elected Port of Othello Commissioner Homer Montemayor will be starting his term with the port on Jan. 1, replacing Kenny Schutte, who has been a commissioner since 2000. Montemayor said he hopes to bring a new perspective to the port.

Community meal

Othello community organizations host Thanksgiving meal for food insecure

OTHELLO – Several Othello organizations and businesses partnered Thursday evening to provide food-insecure individuals and families with a hot Thanksgiving meal. The Cow Path Bakery organized the event in partnership with the Othello Food Bank and the Othello Church of the Nazarene which provided a venue for the holiday celebration.

Basin sports schedule Nov. 29-Dec. 5

COLUMBIA BASIN – Check out this week’s sports schedule, featuring local football, basketball and wrestling teams.

Basin athletes earn all-league awards

COLUMBIA BASIN – More than 200 local athletes earned all-league honors during the fall sports season, ranging from honorable mentions to players of the year. Read along to see what awards athletes from all 12 local schools earned this fall sports season.

Legals for November, 29 2023

Adams Co. Public Works discusses transpo plan, public hearing

RITZVILLE – The regular Adams County Board of Commissioners Nov. 21 meeting featured discussion between the commissioners and Public Works regarding the 2024-2029 Six Year Transportation Improvement Plan projects, as well as progress on jail renovations.

Quincy hospital to lease new CT equipment

QUINCY — The new Quincy Valley Medical Center will have some new equipment, including a new CT scanner. Hospital commissioners approved a lease proposal during their regular meeting Monday.

Sonny’s is back: Landmark Washtucna tavern back in action

WASHTUCNA — Sonny’s Tavern and Grill is back. The long-established gathering place in Washtucna, which has struggled to keep going in recent years, reopened Oct. 26. “It's been closed more than it's been open in the last about six years,” said Bridget Coon, who owns and operates Sonny’s with her husband Paul. “The previous owners had it in 2016 and by 2018, they had some kind of a fire around the water heater and it caused a lot of smoke damage. So it was closed (in) 2018, 2019 to basically gut and remodel it. They reopened in 2020, which was a hard time. I recall their first weekend open was the weekend that indoor dining was shut down (for the COVID-19 pandemic).” The owners were able to keep Sonny’s going for a while with takeout, Coon said, but then moved away from the area, leaving the establishment to sit on the market until the Coons took ownership in August.

Royal levy to appear on February ballot

ROYAL CITY — The Royal School Board voted to put a $1.825 million Educational Programs & Operations levy on the ballot in February 2024 at its meeting Monday.

International aviation conference sets 5% carbon reduction goal

MONTREAL, Canada – Governments attending the Third ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) from Nov. 20-24 in Dubai, set a goal that aviation fuel in 2030 be 5% less carbon intensive than current fuels by 2030, according to a Monday announcement from Airports Council International.

Cantwell cosponsors bipartisan bill to aid Indigenous communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) and Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) have introduced bipartisan legislation to improve tribal access to economic development programs available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to a joint press release from the legislators.

USDA report says Washington ag has switched from harvest to maintenance

OLYMPIA – The US Department of Agriculture has released information regarding the status of agriculture for the state of Washington for the week of Nov. 20.

FRESH NEWS: Cold weather slows down fish at Potholes

MARDON — The current water level on Potholes Reservoir is 1,039.05 feet, rising 0.65 feet this week. We are currently 7.45 feet below full pool. The water temperature is 42-44 degrees on the main reservoir. Not much has changed since last week. With the dropping water temps, the fish are sliding into their winter habits, going deeper and not feeding as often. Slow your presentation down for walleye and bass. Walleye fishing is fair to good currently. The walleye are in 20-40 feet. Now is the time to start jigging blade baits, Jigging Raps, Shadow Raps and plastics. Slow Death Hook-Smile Blade rig with a crawler and bottom bouncer is producing as well.

News Bites for Nov. 28, 2023

OTHELLO — A semi rollover north of Othello spilled more than 10,000 gallons of fuel on SR 17 and closed the highway for almost 13 hours, according to a statement from the Washington State Patrol.

More to offer

Grant County's performing arts menu more diverse than it seems at first glance

MOSES LAKE — Maybe it’s a drama or a comedy, maybe a musical, maybe a classical concert or a quartet, maybe a tribute band or a solo recital, maybe players sitting around jamming. Whatever it is, there’s nothing like a live performance.

Legals for November, 28 2023

Crafted heritage: Traditional handcrafts at center of bazaar at Wanapum Heritage Center

PRIEST RAPIDS DAM — Emilee Maurice unwound her string and laid the dried stalks of the tule reed in a neat row. “This will be a table mat,” she said, as she began looping string around each reed.

Warden receives ARPA funds from Grant Co.

WARDEN – The city of Warden recently received $656,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding from the Grant County Board of Commissioners to address the city’s aging booster pump station, according to Warden City Administrator Kriss Shuler.

Grant County Fairgrounds sees increasing equestrian events

MOSES LAKE — There’s a lot going on at the Grant County Fairgrounds. There’s the annual fair, of course, and assorted festivals, trade shows, fundraisers and private parties, just like any fairgrounds hosts. But in recent years the fairgrounds in Moses Lake have stood out front and center as the most popular venue for equine events in the state.

Moses Lake officials ask port to take over municipal airport

MOSES LAKE — Port of Moses Lake commissioners have asked for more information before deciding whether or not to accept a proposal from Moses Lake city officials to assume ownership of the Moses Lake Municipal Airport. Moses Lake City Manager Kevin Fuhr requested that the port take over the municipal airport at a commission meeting Monday.

GCSO warns residents to be wary of scams

EPHRATA — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents to beware of phone and online scams. With the holidays approaching, scammers usually increase their efforts to defraud the public.

Esther Valdez

Dec. 25, 1973 — Nov. 21, 2023

Esther Valdez a Moses Lake resident entered heaven November 21, 2023 at the age of 49 after a fairly private yearlong battle with cancer.

Rebecca Garza Valdez

June 11, 1939 — Nov. 18, 2023

Rebecca Garza Valdez a Moses Lake resident entered heaven peacefully at the age of 84 years old surrounded by her loved ones on November 18, 2023.

Ronald Simpson

Ronald Simpson, 78, of Moses Lake passed away November 24, 2023. Arrangements are under the care of Kayser’s Chapel of Memories.

Knights shutout Cougars

Royal City moves on to state title match after 42-0 win against Seton Catholic

ROYAL CITY – Royal’s 42-0 win over Seton Catholic Saturday night clinched a fourth-straight appearance in the 1A state title game, sending the Knights to Seattle for a clash against Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) on Friday afternoon.

BBCC wrestlers likely to place well this season, anchored by strong performances by Lucas and Rodriguez

MOSES LAKE – After having only one athlete place the weekend prior, BBCC wrestlers hoped to up their play as they hosted their one and only tournament in the Big Bend Scramble on Saturday, November 18 at the Devries Activity Center.

Vikings win 1 out of 3 at Turkey Tournament

MOUNT VERNON – After a tough opening weekend for Vikings basketball, Big Bend Community College hoped to get in the win column as they traveled to Skagit Community College to participate in the Turkey Tournament.

A call to the past ...

MOSES LAKE – The photo above was found in our archives and depicts a Bell Telephone System employee handing a phone to a patient. The photo has few legible markings on the back but is dated July 18, 1944, and the date stamp says it was taken or processed by Gabriel Moulin Studios of San Francisco, California.

Weather for the week of Nov. 27, 2023

Weather for the week of Nov. 27, 2023

Lions shoot for another state berth

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions enter the 2023-24 season after back-to-back state tournament berths, aiming for a third-straight appearance in the 1B Boys State Basketball Tournament.

Eagles return entire roster this winter

SOAP LAKE – Two years removed from playing in the Central Washington B district championship game, the Soap Lake Eagles returned their entire roster from a year ago in hopes of making another playoff run this winter.

After fifth-place finish, Broncos bring new team into 2023-24 season

RITZVILLE – Riding off a fifth-place finish at last year’s 2B State Basketball Tournament, the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos will hit the court with plenty of new faces in key roles during the 2023-24 season.

Cougars look for fourth-straight state placing

WARDEN – The last three state tournaments have been good to the Warden Cougars, who have left state tournaments with hardware in 2020, 2022 and 2023, including top-three finishes the past two seasons.

Knights bring in nearly 30 wrestlers for upcoming season

ROYAL CITY – Looking to build off of last year’s third-place finish at the Girls 1B/2B/1A/2A Mat Classic, the Royal Knights enter this season with a bigger roster of 28 wrestlers, growing from last year’s team of 16 athletes.

Huskies aim for another high finish at Mat Classic

OTHELLO – After back-to-back seasons placing third in the 2A Boys Mat Classic, the Othello Huskies bring in a team of 75 wrestlers into the 2023-24 season, aiming for yet another high finish at the state tournament.

Tigers enter first year under new head coach Knox

EPHRATA – The Tigers enter this winter with 55 wrestlers on the mats this season, led by first-year Head Coach Joe Knox. Knox was a former assistant coach for the Tigers from 1995-2006 before serving as an assistant coach at Columbia Middle School from 2011-2023.

More experienced ACH Warriors look to build off 2022-23 season

COULEE CITY – Coming off a 14-9 season a year ago, the Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors come into the 2023-24 season looking to build off the strides last season’s squad made.

Jacks return all five starters, depth for 2023-24 season

QUINCY – Quincy finished the 2022-23 season with a 17-8 mark, narrowly missing out on qualifying for the 1A Boys State Basketball tournament after losing by two points to Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) in the 1A District 6/7 Crossover.

Devils look to improve on 2022-23 finish

WILSON CREEK – The Wilson Creek Devils will be looking to improve off of last season’s 5-11 record when they tip off their 2023-24 season this winter, which opens with a home game against Bridgeport on Dec. 7

New-look Warriors hope to repeat success in 2023-24

MATTAWA – The defending South Central Athletic Conference (East) league champion Wahluke Warriors will hit the court with some new faces in key roles this fall.

Maverick boys, girls wrestling teams hit the mat

MOSES LAKE – Last year’s Moses Lake girls wrestling team left the Tacoma Dome with a 3A/4A state title, while the boys team had five wrestlers hit the mats after having none the year prior.

Legals for November, 27 2023

Santa slated for an appearance at Soap Lake’s Winterfest

SOAP LAKE — Santa Claus will be coming to town, downtown Soap Lake anyway, Saturday afternoon. Santa’s arrival, however, is one of many events during Winterfest, Soap Lake’s annual holiday celebration. Susan Carson of the Soap Lake Chamber of Commerce said Santa’s arrival is the biggest deal of the day.

WSU Marshall Scholar finalist Katy Ayers explores fungi

PULLMAN - Washington State University Pullman senior Katy Ayers, a bioengineering major minoring in biochemistry and mathematics, is the latest finalist for a Marshall Scholarship to study in the United Kingdom.

UW entrepreneurship programs place in the top 10 in national ranking

SEATTLE - Entrepreneurship programs at the University of Washington ranked in the top 10 for “Best Entrepreneurship Program,” according to a ranking produced jointly by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine.

Patricia Pederson

Dec. 24, 1934 — Nov. 20, 2023

Patricia Pederson, 88, of Moses Lake was born December 24, 1934 in Kansas and passed away November 20, 2023. There will be a graveside service in April. A full obituary will be posted at a later date. The family is grateful for Pat's care by the wonderful staff at Lake Ridge Center.

Valentine White

Feb. 14, 1959 — Nov. 16, 2023

Valentine Chamberlain-White, 64, went to be with the Lord on November 16, 2023, in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho where she was surrounded by her loved ones. “Val” was a long-time resident of Moses Lake and a current resident of Plummer, Idaho where she lived with her youngest son Scott and adopted daughter Stacey Issler (Sam).

Jose (Joe) Luis Nuno

Our charismatic and handsome brother, Jose (Joe) Luis Nuno, 67, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 12, 2023, in Seattle, Washington.

Business, organizations collaborate on Moses Lake toy drive

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake business and two organizations are joining together on a toy drive to benefit children six to 13 years of age.

Port of Warden in good financial position, projects advancing

WARDEN – The Port of Warden is in a good financial position according to the port’s Executive Director Pat Millard. The Port Commissioners approved the organization’s final budget at the Nov. 16 regular meeting after a public hearing.

Real estate experts discuss housing shortages at national conference

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Real estate industry experts joined the Nov. 12 2023 National Association of Realtors NXT: The Realtor Experience conference in Anaheim, California to discuss multigenerational housing as a remedy for housing supply shortages, according to a Nov. 16 announcement from the NAR.

Tree of news

MOSES LAKE - The Columbia Basin Herald team is excited about the holidays and the Christmas tree is already up in the front office. We hope our readers are all surrounded by loved ones and filled with joy this holiday season.

Weather for Friday, Nov. 24

Weather for Friday, Nov. 24

Police logs for Nov. 24, 2023

The reports below were provided by the sheriff’s office or police department indicated. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Legals for November, 24 2023

B St. NE again is focus of Quincy council discussion

QUINCY — The current and future status of a section of B Street Northeast, and possible work on A Street Northeast, brought residents and business owners to a public hearing during the Quincy City Council meeting Tuesday.

WSU joins national effort supporting Native American healthcare students

PULLMAN - Native American students pursuing careers in healthcare will have new opportunities for professional development and collaboration with peers and mentors following the establishment of Washington State University’s chapter of the Association of Native American Medical Students.

Quincy PD swears in two new officers

QUINCY — Jesse King and Hector Avila were sworn in as Quincy Police Department officers and Officer Sal Mancini was recognized for 20 years with the department during the Quincy City Council meeting Tuesday.

Gesa Credit Union collects gift donations

MOSES LAKE — Gesa Credit Union will partner with local organizations to collect and distribute Christmas gifts through its annual Stock-the-Sock Holiday Drive, according to an announcement from Gesa.

Small Business Saturday keeps shopping local

MOSES LAKE — With Thanksgiving in the rear-view mirror, Christmas shopping is looming large. Everybody knows about Black Friday, when big retailers are deluged with early shoppers looking for deals. But the day after is Small Business Saturday, and that’s a time for supporting local entrepreneurs.

CBDL still pushing Columbia Basin Project forward

CASHMERE — Despite the completion of the Columbia Basin Project being potentially decades away, according to Columbia Basin Development League Executive Director Sara Higgins, the CBDL is still hard at work as the project’s nonprofit arm and advocacy group.

Lady Vikings lose first game of the season at the free throw line

MOSES LAKE – After having a number of preseason games canceled, the Lady Vikes Basketball Program finally got their opportunity to gauge where they were at, as they faced off versus an Eastern Region opponent, Blue Mountain Community College. Coming off of a 15-13 record in the 2022-23 season, BBCC hoped to start off on the right foot.

Knights to host No. 12 Seton Catholic Saturday

ROYAL CITY – Coming off a 49-0 shutout of No. 9 seed Omak in the quarterfinals, the No. 1 Royal Knights are preparing for a 1A semifinal matchup against No. 12 Seton Catholic. The Cougars recently defeated No. 4 Cashmere in comeback fashion, scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to defeat the Bulldogs 42-35 last week

Celebrating opportunities

Moses Lake city staff, officers gather to honor Fuhr on his retirement from law enforcement

MOSES LAKE — Dozens of people gathered in the Moses Lake City Council chamber Tuesday. Not for a boring meeting, but for a celebration of decades of public service on the part of former Moses Lake Police Chief – now City Manager – Kevin Fuhr, after his formal retirement from law enforcement. “I have worked with the most phenomenal people in my career,” Fuhr said. “I had told them right from the get-go that I was never going to leave, that I was going to retire with the Moses Lake PD. Actually, I think my comment was, ‘I’m going to die in a Moses Lake PD Uniform.’” After 32 years in law enforcement in both Washington and Idaho, Fuhr opted to fill the role of city manager after the city’s quest for a full-time replacement kept falling through as candidates took jobs in other locations.

Marvin Pressley Pate

Marvin Pressley Pate, 76, passed away November 17, 2023 in Scranton, South Caroline. Marvin is survived by his wife, Sandra, sons Alan and Rob and other family members. He served as distribution manager at the Columbia Basin Herald under then-publisher Lyle Hicks in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He passed on after a battle against cancer. He was a marine who served in Vietnam. He will be greatly missed by his loving family and friends.

Ephrata to light Christmas tree Friday

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Chamber of Commerce will kindle a new tradition Friday, with the first official Downtown Tree Lighting. “We decided we wanted to get the town lit up ahead of time and Thanksgiving weekend is an awesome weekend to do it,” said Chamber Executive Director Rita Witte.

A Christmas Miracle on Main Street

Fifth annual holiday celebration coming to Othello on Dec. 2

OTHELLO — The Othello Holiday Committee will once again be hosting its annual Christmas Miracle on Main Street celebration outside of Othello City Hall all day Dec. 2. Committee Manager Tania Morelos, also Othello’s city clerk, explained the importance of the event.

ECBID doing well, Odessa project flowing along

OTHELLO – The East Columbia Basin Irrigation District is finally at a point where it has been able to start to implementing infrastructure improvements to its coverage area, mainly for the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program, according to ECBID Secretary-Manager Craig Simpson.

Washington sports schedule Nov. 22-28

MOSES LAKE – Check out this week’s professional, collegiate and local sports happening over the next week across the state. The Columbia Basin Herald wishes our local athletes good luck and safe journeys as they travel for competition.

Holiday cheer around the Basin

MOSES LAKE — Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right down just about every main drag in the Columbia Basin. Many local communities will hold holiday celebrations over the next couple of weekends. Here are some places to load up on Christmas joy:

Legals for November, 22 2023

Port of Ephrata sells PBY aircraft from 'Always'

EPHRATA – The PBY-5A Catalina that has sat for some time at the Port of Ephrata will be finding a new home after it was auctioned off by port officials at the request of the state, according to Port Director David Lanman. The aircraft is best-known for an appearance in the 1985 Steven Spielberg movie “Always.”

From the past

MOSES LAKE - The photo above was found in our archives among a box of loose photos. The back of the photo has no markings, but we would like to return the photo to the family of those pictured here. If you have information please contact us at editor@columbiabasinherald.com or pass that email address on to the family.

Proposed bill would expand gun ban in domestic abuse cases

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bill introduced in Congress is intended to protect domestic abuse victims from gun violence, according to an announcement by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington.

Mattawa man dies in rollover

RICHLAND — A Mattawa man was killed when the car he was riding in ran off the road and rolled at about 2:30 a.m. November 18.

Ephrata seeking Civil Service Commission volunteer

EPHRATA – According to a Nov. 16 public announcement from the city of Ephrata, the city is seeking a volunteer to serve on the Ephrata Civil Service Commission, which prevents political favoritism and bias from affecting police and fire hirings, promotions and appointments.

Grant PUD developing 2024 rate increase

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD customers are considering a rate increase in 2024, but whether it will be 3% across the board to all customer classes, or an overall 3% increase, is still to be determined. Utility district commissioners talked about some of their thinking on rates during a rate workshop Tuesday.

5K fundraiser for ACPR to kick off Miracle on Main Street

OTHELLO – Othello businesses Feel Good Fitness and Columbia Physical Therapy are partnering with the Othello Holiday Committee to host the Run, Run, Rudolph 5K Fundraiser for Adams County Pet Rescue Dec. 2 at 8 a.m. to kick off this year’s Miracle on Main Street celebration.

Vikings see success at Big Bend Scramble

MOSES LAKE – BBCC hosted the first and final tournament with the Big Bend Scramble. Only having one athlete place the previous weekend, the Vikes hoped to take strides in the right direction at the Devries Activity Center.

FRESH NEWS: Fishing slowing down at Potholes

The current water level on Potholes Reservoir is 1038.4 feet, rising 0.8 feet this week. We are currently 8.10 feet below full pool. The water temperature is 44-46 degrees on the main reservoir. Not much has changed since last week. With the dropping water temperatures the fish are sliding into their winter habits, going deeper and not feeding as often. Slow your presentation down for walleye and bass. Walleye fishing is fair to good currently. The walleye are in 20-35 feet. Now is the time to start jigging blade baits, Jigging Raps, Shadow Raps and plastics. A Slow Death Hook-Smile Blade rig with a crawler and bottom bouncer is producing as well. Largemouth bass fishing has been fair this week. Largemouth are being caught on a wide variety of baits: Hula grubs, tubes, grubs and 8 or 10 XDs. Fish 20-30 feet of water. Fish the sand dunes as well as the face of the sand dunes.

CWU students travel to Ireland to teach inner-city girls physical literacy

ELLENSBURG – Opportunities for physical activity can be hard to come by for people who live outside the U.S. As a group of CWU students discovered over the summer, many Americans don’t realize how good we have it.

ACH Warriors fall to No. 3 Mossyrock in 1B quarterfinals

COULEE CITY – Despite coming back from down two scores in the first half, the No. 6 seed Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors weren’t able to pull off an upset of No. 3 Mossyrock Saturday, falling 46-30 in the 1B state quarterfinals. ACH took a 30-22 lead in the third quarter, but three fourth-quarter Mossyrock touchdowns allowed the Vikings to advance to the semifinals.

Nationwide home sales decline

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Existing-home sales dropped in October, according to an announcement by the National Association of Realtors. Among the four major U.S. regions, sales slid in the Northeast, South and West but were unchanged in the Midwest. All four regions experienced year-over-year sales declines

Veggie tech: Kennewick conference highlights advances in agriculture

KENNEWICK — Veggies have gotten very high-tech, based on presentations by the exhibitors at the 2023 Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association conference and trade show.

News Bites for Nov. 21, 2023

MOSES LAKE — With the holiday season rapidly approaching, it’s important for people who decorate to do it safely, according to an announcement from the Moses Lake Fire Department. OTHELLO — Nobody was hurt Monday morning in a collision between a car and a school bus in Othello, according to a statement from the Othello School District.

Legals for November, 21 2023

Columbia Middle Schoolers help out for Thanksgiving

MOSES LAKE — The families of 30 Columbia Middle School students will have a turkey and all the trimmings for Thanksgiving dinner, with the help of CMS students.

Warden mulls 2024 budget, plans for the future

WARDEN — The Nov. 14 Warden City Council meeting featured a public hearing and discussion of Warden’s 2024 preliminary budget, as well as comments on her election from city council member Rosalie Martinez, soon to be Warden’s mayor. Martinez led the council meeting due to Mayor Tony Massa’s absence.

Levy lid lift moves forward

Facility repairs, vehicle maintenance priorities for GCFD 7 after proposal passes

SOAP LAKE — Grant County Fire District 7 voters have all but assured the passage of a request to raise the amount levied by the district, and GCFD 7 Chief Chris Baker said the biggest priority for the district will be fixing the maintenance shop and hiring a full-time mechanic.

State looks for feedback on ‘24-’27 transpo plans

OLYMPIA – The 2024-2027 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program is now ready for public review and comment through Dec. 19, according to a Monday announcement from the Washington Department of Transportation, which produces the STIP.

Smokey Bear could grace next custom Washington license plate

TACOMA — Washingtonians will be able to show their appreciation for forests – and the people who protect them – if a new custom license plate is approved, according to an announcement from state Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz.

Hanford agencies to hold cleanup meeting

KENNEWICK – The public is invited to ask questions and learn about Hanford Site cleanup during an in-person meeting at the ballroom of the Red Lion Hotel Kennewick Columbia Center on Tuesday, Dec. 5 from 6-8 p.m., according to a Department of Ecology announcement Monday.

Washington fire marshal urges safety on Thankgiving

OLMPIA – Thanksgiving makes the kitchen a gathering place for the family and the focal point of any home during the holiday season. The Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office wants to provide kitchen safety tips when it comes to enjoying this holiday.

Wildcats advance with OT win over Western Colorado

GUNNISON, Colo. – The Central Washington Wildcats are moving on in the NCAA Division II playoffs after defeating No. 2 Western Colorado Saturday, winning 16-13 in overtime. Saturday’s win was Central’s first playoff win since 2009, the year they defeated Tarleton State 57-56 in the second round in double overtime.

Vikings volleyball player recognized for excellence

MOSES LAKE – The Northwest Athletic Conference has revealed its selections for the 2023 Volleyball All-Region, including first, second and third-team selections, region coaches of the year and most valuable players of the year. The selections are voted upon by NWAC head volleyball coaches in each region. Big Bend Lady Viking sophomore Laura Forsgren, pictured, received recognition as a member of the third team.

Wilks eyes opportunities with fresh-faced Vikings

MOSES LAKE – Big Bend Community College Lady Vikings Head Women's Basketball Coach Preston Wilks is set to begin his 17th season on the women's basketball sidelines. As he does though, he will be directing a completely new-look team. "We have a whole new team, with ten freshmen," stated Wilks in a recent conversation.

Mavs volleyball looks to build off 2023 season

MOSES LAKE – This year’s Moses Lake volleyball team built off the strides the 2022 squad made, qualifying for the district playoffs and finishing the year at 8-8. “Three years ago the girls did not win a match. I can’t even remember if we won a set or two,” Trammell said on the Studio Basin podcast. “Going into last year and winning matches, taking fourth in league and missing districts by one playoff game – that still haunts us – was fantastic. They saw we can do this, that the hard work is paying off.”

Weather for Monday, Nov. 20, 2023

Weather for Monday, Nov. 20, 2023

SLPD officers to become baristas for Tip A Cop 2023

SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake Police Department will be serving coffee in a good cause at the Busy Bean coffee stand Dec. 5. Proceeds from the “Tip A Cop” fundraiser will go to the SLPD Benevolent Fund, used for its Shop with a Cop program, among other things. Officers will be serving coffee from 6 to 11 a.m.; the coffee stand is located at 320 Sixth Ave. SE in Soap Lake.

Legals for November, 20 2023

MLPD announces arrests in investigation of Nov. 12 homicide

MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake Police Chief Dave Sands issued a statement Friday indicating that multiple arrests had been made in the investigation of a November 12 drive-by shooting that led to the death of one man and multiple others being injured.

Knights score 28 in first quarter, defeat Omak 49-0

ROYAL CITY – A fast start allowed the No. 1 seed Royal Knights to take a 28-0 lead by the end of the first quarter Friday night against No. 9 Omak, advancing to the 1A State Football Tournament semifinals with a 49-0 win over the Pioneers. Royal scored all 49 of its points in the first half, with many of its drives beginning with short field courtesy of strong defensive play.

Samaritan, Premera reach one-year agreement

MOSES LAKE — Negotiations between Samaritan Healthcare and Premera Blue Cross have resulted in a one-year contract, in effect through Dec. 31, 2024. People who have health insurance through Premera won’t have any lapses in their coverage for services at Samaritan Hospital or the Samaritan clinics.

STUDIO BASIN: An elf, some directors, and Mavs volleyball Head Coach Krystal Trammell

MOSES LAKE – A happy elf and his directors from The Masquers stop by the studie to discuss “Elf: The Musical” which is coming up at the Soap Lake theater. Managing Editor R. Hans “Rob” Miller and Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer talk to co-directors Clifford and Stacey Bresee and the star of the show, Clark Dalton...

STCU cuts ribbon in Othello

OTHELLO — Spokane Teachers Credit Union recently opened a branch in Othello at 1333 E. Main St. The new branch will offer financial services to the community. The photos here are from their recent ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the drive-thru branch’s opening.

Family photos

More photos from those found in storage at the Columbia Basin Herald. If any reader knows whom we should return these photographs, please email us their contact information at editor@columbiabasinherald.com or provide that email address to the family of those pictured.

News Bites for Nov. 17, 2023

EPHRATA – Grant County’s Interagency Narcotics Enforcement team conducted a drug bust Wednesday morning near Royal City and discovered an animal fighting operation, according to a Grant County Sheriff’s Office statement.

Crime, drugs take center stage at Moses Lake council meeting

MOSES LAKE — Crime and drugs were a hot topic at Tuesday evening’s Moses Lake City Council meeting, as two citizens made emotional appeals to the council to take action. However, city officials said the issue is as much with Olympia as Moses Lake. “We are not sitting here on our hands,” Deputy Mayor Deanna Martinez said. “We would do more if the state allowed us to do more. And so my recommendation would be that you also contact the legislators, and not just our legislators here in the 13th district … I suggest that you reach across to the other side, the majority, and start hammering them with what you have to say and start telling them about those patients that you've seen in the ER.”

Far-reaching influence

Adams County Pet Rescue finds support in Seattle business owners

OTHELLO — Adams County Pet Rescue has a far-reaching influence, according to Seattle business owner Staci Molzahn. Molzahn co-owns two restaurants, a catering service and a pet care business, all of which will be participating in fundraising for ACPR through the end of December. Molzahn said ACPR deserves everyone’s support, and she saw the fundraiser as a chance to have her businesses work together to help the organization. Molzahn adopted her dog, Kobe, from ACPR several years ago.

Building permits for Nov. 17, 2023

The construction permits below were filed with the indicated municipalities.

WSU, Colorado look to end losing streaks

PULLMAN – After Colorado and Washington State opened the season at 3-0, the two teams have followed up their undefeated starts with 1-6 records in their last seven games.

Legals for November, 17 2023

Othello preps for 2024 legislative session

OTHELLO – Othello’s state legislature lobbyist, Holly Sanabria of Gordon Thomas Honeywell Government Relations, gave a presentation at Monday’s regular Othello City Council meeting on preparing the city for the 2024 legislative session.

Inslee issues executive order requiring plain language

OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee signed an executive order Wednesday that requires state agencies to create and adopt a plain language policy, according to a Wednesday announcement from Inslee’s office.

Bird likely cause of Moses Lake outage

MOSES LAKE — A bird that got too close to electrical wires apparently triggered a power outage in the Wheeler Road area that lasted about two hours Thursday morning. “A bird touched an energized component in the (Wheeler substation) while also in contact with a grounded component. This caused a distribution fault and the protective relay system operated to interrupt and clear the fault,” wrote Christine Pratt, PUD public information officer, in reply to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald. The outage occurred about 8:30 a.m., and electricity was restored about 10 a.m.

Law enforcement records for Nov. 17, 2023

The reports below were provided by the sheriff’s office or police department indicated. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Wildcats earn numerous all-conference awards

ELLENSBURG — Fourteen Wildcats earned all-conference awards from the Lone Star Conference, the league announced on Thursday.

Grant awarded to help SLPD retain officers

SOAP LAKE — The city of Soap Lake will receive a grant that helps the Soap Lake Police Department retain officers. Chief Ryan Cox explained the terms to the Soap Lake City Council at its regular meeting Wednesday. Cox said it was awarded through the U.S. Department of Justice.

The fuzzy faces of GCAO

MOSES LAKE – Both the city of Moses Lake and Grant County have agreed to fund up to $1 million each for a new animal shelter for Grant County Animal Outreach. While planning is underway for the new facility which will be located near the Grant County Fairgrounds, the current shelter is currently above capacity. The pets shown here were listed as being up for adoption and available as of November 16. Animal lovers in a position to adopt may want to consider these animals or others currently in the care of the shelter. Additionally, the shelter is in need of volunteers and other resources. To volunteer, including possibly fostering a dog or cat, contact the shelter by visiting their website at grantcountyanimaloutreach.org or by phone at 509-762-9616.

Armando Feliz Benavidez, Jr.

March 7, 2001 — Nov. 12, 2023

Armando Feliz Benavidez Jr, 22, gained his angel wings on Sunday, November 12, 2023. Armando was born on March 7, 2001, to Christina Cruz and Armando Benavidez Sr. in Moses Lake, Washington.

MLHS to present ‘The Three Musketeers’

MOSES LAKE — Adventure and intrigue, romance, duplicity, danger and honor in Ancien Regime France come to the Moses Lake High School stage this weekend. The MLHS Drama production of “The Three Musketeers” opens at 7 p.m. Friday at the MLHS Theater, 803 E. Sharon Ave. Performances are scheduled at 7 p.m. Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, with a matinee at 2 p.m. Saturday...

Basin Street Barbershop owner looks to become part of the community

EPHRATA – Cheryl Scott heard a lot of people saying they wanted an affordable, convenient haircut – and that’s what she set out to provide when she opened Basin Street Barber Shop this past July 15.

Holiday spirit hits the stage

'Elf: The Musical' coming to Masquers Theater stage

SOAP LAKE — The curtain rises Nov. 25 on a tale of Christmas spirit, and the efforts of a long-lost - and slightly magical - son to rebuild it for his family. The Masquers Theatre production of “Elf: The Musical” runs weekends through Dec. 16. “Elf” is based on the 2003 movie, which Masquers co-director Clifford Bresee called a “modern Christmas classic.” The musical premiered on Broadway in 2011.

Ten decades: Centenarian Eleanor Sorter recalls life and times

MOSES LAKE — Eleanor Sorter is a tough chick. She had to be when her husband Norman passed away from heart problems. Norman Sorter was working on a project – a big project – when he died.

Legals for November, 16 2023

Ephrata Council recognizes Wreaths Across America Day

EPHRATA – The Ephrata City Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution recognizing December 16 as Wreaths Across America Day in the city.

State grant to fund Stratford overpass safety study

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake City Council voted Tuesday to accept a Washington State Department of Transportation grant to study ways to make the overpass at Stratford Road and SR 17 safer to cros on foot.. The grant, a little over $685,000, will go to design a solution to improve bicyclist and pedestrian crossing on the bridge, according to the WSDOT’s project summary. Moses Lake City Engineer Richard Law told the council that the sidewalk, which is less than three feet wide, is dangerous for pedestrians moving back and forth between the neighborhoods north of the highway and the shopping areas to the south.

Crash Responder Safety Week highlights traffic dangers for emergency responders

MOSES LAKE – This week, from Nov. 13 to Nov. 17, is Crash Responder Safety Week, according to an announcement from the International Association of Fire Fighters. The initiative is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration.

Fuhr, Sands sworn in at Moses Lake council meeting

MOSES LAKE — A couple of torches were passed Tuesday, as Moses Lake swore in a new city manager and police chief. Former Moses Lake Police Chief Kevin Fuhr took the oath of office as the new city manager and former Moses Lake Police Department Capt. Dave Sands was sworn in as the new chief. The council had approved both appointments at its Oct. 12 meeting.

Suspect arrested in Moses Lake homicide case

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Police officers made an arrest Tuesday afternoon in the shooting near Montlake Park that left one victim dead and two others wounded Sunday, according to a statement from the MLPD.

De Guzman Takes Home Third At Mike Clock Open

MOSES LAKE – Entering week three of the BBCC Wrestling season, the Lady Vikes had a busy weekend as they competed at Grays Harbor Community College on Saturday, followed by competing in the Mike Clock Open on Sunday. After a much improved week two placing fourth at Eastern Oregon, the Lady Vikes hoped to take another big step forward this weekend.

Despite playoff losses, Tigers and Huskies gain experience from 2023

MOSES LAKE – Both Ephrata and Othello entered 2023 after successful seasons on the field the year prior, having qualified for the 2A state playoffs, but graduated numerous starters that helped the teams win games. The Tigers and Huskies found success with young teams and new faces again this year, making it back to the playoffs before falling last weekend to North Kitsap and Enumclaw, respectively.

Cold incoming: Prepping homes for the Columbia Basin’s cold winters

MOSES LAKE — In case anyone hasn’t noticed, it’s getting chilly out there. Even though the National Weather Service is predicting a fairly mild winter for the Columbia Basin, it’s still a good time to get homes ready for the colder weather. The first place to look is the pipes. There’s one big mistake that homeowners make, said Steve West, owner of Top Plumbing in Moses Lake.

Ephrata turns out to honor veterans

EPHRATA — There was a pretty good turnout Saturday for the annual Veterans Day Parade in Ephrata, organizers said. “We probably had about 100 people in the parade,” said Mike Montaney, who added he’s been the parade chairman for 25 years. “We only had about half a dozen veterans actually marching in the parade as a group of veterans. We had (about) 30 Civil Air Patrol and some Scouts and a (veterans motorcycle club).”

Dinner to spotlight, raise funds for McKay Healthcare

SOAP LAKE — A dinner to raise money for McKay Healthcare and Rehabilitation, to thank people for their support of McKay and to showcase McKay’s services is scheduled for Sunday, The “Gathered in Gratitude” dinner and fundraiser is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Soap Lake Natural Spa & Resort, 236 E. Main Ave.

Legals for November, 15 2023

GCSO, MLPD set for Tip-A-Cop in early Dec.

EPHRATA – The Grant County Sheriff’s Office and Moses Lake Police Department are partnering again this year with other local first responders for their Tip-A-Cop and Shop With a Cop events in December, Sheriff Joe Kriete said.

Othello Council discusses tourism budget

OTHELLO – Monday’s regular Othello City Council meeting featured a discussion between council members regarding the funding for Othello organizations and agencies that promote tourism. Othello Finance Director Spencer Williams explained the subject up for discussion.

Othello PD names Garza assistant chief

OTHELLO — Othello Police Sergeant Aaron Garza was promoted to assistant chief of police and sworn in with a badge-pinning ceremony at the regular Othello City Council meeting Monday evening. Garza is filling the position of assistant chief after David Rehaume took over as chief of police earlier this year.

Grant Co. awards tourism funding

EPHRATA — The Grant County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee awarded just less than $1.6 million in grants at its Oct. 25 meeting at the Grant County Courthouse in Ephrata. The funding, derived from the county’s overnight lodging tax, is intended to boost tourism in Grant County.

ACH gears up for Mossyrock

After a 42-26 win over No. 11 Concrete last week, the Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors travel to face off against No. 3 Mossyrock on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Tenino High School. Mossyrock (9-1) defeated Northwest Christian Academy 62-0 last week.

Knights to take on Pioneers

The No. 1 seed Royal Knights host No. 9 Omak on Friday night in the second round of the 1A State Football Playoffs. Royal is coming off a 50-0 win over No. 16 Eatonville, while the Pioneers (7-4) defeated No. 8 La Center 21-7 last week. Kickoff is Friday at 6 p.m. at Royal.

EWU's Alexander earns Player of the Week award

FARMINGTON, Utah -- After filling up the stat sheet in the first week of the season, Aaliyah Alexander earned the first Big Sky Player of the Week award. This is Alexander's second career Player of the Week and her first since her freshman season in 2021.

Mavs hit top-10 at state three years running

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake girls swim and dive team clinched a top-10 finish at the 4A State Swimming and Diving Championships in Federal Way for the third-straight season last weekend, finishing sixth in the state with 128 points. Moses Lake placed fourth last season and seventh in 2021...

Wildcats off to playoffs

INDIANAPOLIS – The Central Washington Wildcat football team was selected to the 28-team NCAA Division II Football Playoffs announced Sunday afternoon.

Jimmy R. Anderson

Oct. 6, 1939 — Nov. 10, 2023

Jimmy R. (Jim) Anderson, 83, passed peaceably Nov. 10, 2023, surrounded by his loved ones. Jim was born at home at the small family farm in Ritzville, Washington on Oct. 6, 1939, to Fred and Clara (Sickmann) Anderson. He was the second son following his older brother, Douglas. The family had a series of moves: Spokane, Newport, then Ephrata where sister Carla joined the family. Jim lived in Ephrata until 1954 when the family moved to Moses Lake. While in Ephrata, he raised his quarter horse, danced with the Silver Spurs, and generally kept an eye on his baby sister. Moses Lake provided a wealth of lifelong friends graduating in 1958, who are still checking on each other’s welfare. Always a conscientious and hard worker, Jim worked at Safeway during high school until he joined the U. S. Army in 1961. While in the Army, he was stationed in Japan where he developed a true fondness for the Japanese people and their culture. Upon discharge from the Army, he returned to Moses Lake and resumed working for Safeway Grocery.

Newhouse to host telephone town halls

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Washington) will host two town hall sessions by telephone for constituents of the Fourth Congressional District this week, according to an announcement from Newhouse’s office.

A calling followed: Kersey leaves Moses Lake port to head up Group14 plant

MOSES LAKE — Don Kersey said that, for him, the manufacturing sector holds an irresistible appeal. Kersey is the new manager of the Group14 Technologies facility under construction in Moses Lake.

Legals for November, 14 2023

Ephrata man burns apartment, holes up in bathroom

EPHRATA — A man was arrested Sunday after setting an apartment on fire and then barricading himself in the bathroom, according to a statement from the Ephrata Police Department.

Gesa grant allows GCFD 13 to buy extrication tool

EPHRATA — A $25,000 grant from Gesa Credit Union allowed Grant County Fire District 13 to add a new extrication tool to its new rescue vehicle.

Moses Lake Municipal Airport could change hands

MOSES LAKE — Management of the Moses Lake Municipal Airport was the subject of a brief discussion at the Port of Moses Lake commission meeting Monday, as city officials mull over the notion of passing management of the facility to the port.

Shooting claims one in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — A shooting Sunday afternoon left one person dead and two more hospitalized, according to a statement from the Moses Lake Police Department.

Gang activity low in Warden, police chief says

WARDEN – Warden Chief of Police Rick Martin said Warden’s gang activity has been significantly lower since the 2010s but the city still works with surrounding communities and within its own boundaries to prevent gang issues from returning.

Knights unhorse Eatonville 50-0

Royal opens playoffs with solid victory on gridoron

ROYAL CITY – In a rematch of the 2021 1A state title game, the No. 1 seed Knights recorded their second-straight shutout with Friday night’s 50-0 win over No. 16 Eatonville, opening the 1A State Football Playoffs with a win over the Cruisers...

Pitts scores four touchdowns in ACH’s win over Concrete

MOSES LAKE — Facing off against No. 11 seed Concrete, the No. 6 Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors overcame an early double-digit deficit to advance into the second round of the 1B State Football Playoffs, defeating the Lions 42-26 at Lions Field in Moses Lake. “It feels great,” ACH coach Brandon Walsh said. “Obviously last year we lost out in the first round; for a lot of these kids, getting that monkey off their back was a big deal. Hopefully, we got some of the mistakes out of our system, because we didn’t play the cleanest football we ever have today.”

A piece of the past ...

While organizing some old boxes of files, Columbia Basin Herald staff came across this and several other photos in a loose stack. If you are able to identify the people in the photo and the photo is one submitted to the paper by your family, please contact us at editor@columbiabasinherald.com with the information for the photo and feel free to stop by the office to pick up the original for your family records. Prior to the internet, families would often drop off photos such as this one for wedding announcements, obituaries or to accompany news articles. The only identifying marks on the back of this image are a note from the photographer that says, “For your convenience, the negative of this photograph will be kept on file. When reordering, be sure to mention the letter and number that appear above (2S 19012) – Photography studio of Frederick A. Nelson. Seattle, Wash.”

Ralph Francis Kincaid II

Feb. 21, 1946 — Nov.7, 2023

Ralph was born on Feb. 21, 1946, and passed away on Nov. 7, 2023. He was born in Kirksville, Missouri to Ralph and Mina Kincaid. He was the oldest of two boys. His brother Brad and his wife Piya live in Sedona, Arizona. Ralph’s dad was a farmer and later in life owned and operated a real estate office in Moses Lake. His mother did tax research for a local CPA firm. His family moved to Pasco, Washington to farm when he was 8 years old. They were one of the first families in Block 15 in the Columbia Basin project. His family farmed for three years and then moved into downtown Pasco. Ralph graduated from Pasco High School in 1964 and then attended WSU. Ralph married his high school sweetheart, Lois, and had two children, Jay Kincaid of Moses Lake, Washington and Dawn (Lou) Grespan of Tokyo and Carlsbad, California. They also have three grandchildren and one grandson-in-law: Gwen and Tommy Metzger of Dallas, Texas, Thomas Grespan of Carlsbad, California and Valerie Grespan of San Diego, California.

Weather for Monday, Nov. 13, 2023

Weather for Monday, Nov. 13, 2023

Healthy waters

Soap Lake Resort last haven for mineral water lovers

SOAP LAKE – Melinda Henry, the general manager of the Soap Lake Natural Spa and Resort, said that the resort is the last business in town able to pipe water from Soap Lake for use in the resort’s facilities...

Legals for November, 13 2023

ACH Warriors take fourth at 1B state tournament

YAKIMA – The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors left Thursday’s 1B State Volleyball Tournament with hardware, taking home a fourth-place trophy back to Coulee City. The No. 4 seed Warriors opened the tournament with wins over Mount Vernon Christian and Mary Walker on Wednesday but lost to No. 1 Oakesdale in the state semifinals and No. 3 Mossyrock in the third/fourth-place game.

Broncos take silver at state tourney

LRS places second on the court in Yakima to close out 20-3 season

YAKIMA – No. 5 seed Lind-Ritzville/Sprague’s run in the 2B State Volleyball Tournament came to an end in the 2B title game, matching up against a talented No. 2 Manson team and falling 3-0 in the state’s final game of the season. LRS finished the season 20-3, taking home a second-place trophy.

Royal win

ROYAL CITY - The Royal Knights defeated Eatonville 50-0 in the opening round of the 1A State Football Playoffs on Friday night in Royal City. Check out Tuesday’s edition of the Columbia Basin Herald for a full story on Royal’s win, as well as results from Almira/Coulee-Hartline, Ephrata and Othello’s gridiron matchups.

STUDIO BASIN: Basin elections, pet progress and state playoffs

MOSES LAKE – On this week's episode of the Studio Basin podcast, Managing Editor Rob Miller goes over highlights of local results from last week's election, as well as an update to animal rescue facilities in Grant and Adams counties. Next, Sports Reporter Ian Bivona previews state football matchups and recaps performances at the 1B and 2B State Volleyball Tournaments. The Studio Basin podcast can be found on your favorite podcast apps, or downloaded directly at https://bit.ly/49xeteF.

Tree lighting kicks off holiday season in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — The holiday season began Friday in Moses Lake, with the annual Downtown Moses Lake Tree Lighting ceremony at Sinkiuse Square.

Supporting grass roots: CWU's Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship works to help build local economies

ELLENSBURG – The Central Washington University College of Business launched the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship – also known as I4IE – in 2021 using grant funding from the Herbert B. Jones Foundation and a mindset to help communities develop their economies. “Most communities in Washington state can use a partner in bringing resources together and partners together and stakeholders together towards economic development,” said I4IE Director Bill Provaznik.

Students go for Baroque at music festival

MOSES LAKE — Forty-two local piano students from Moses Lake, Ephrata, Soap Lake and Lind performed in the eighth annual Moses Lake-Central Basin Chapter of Washington State Music Teachers Association Music Festival, according to an announcement from Chapter President Marina Munter.

Desert Artists present miniature art show

MOSES LAKE — Art on a small scale is featured at the Miniature Art Show, on display through Nov. 17 at Banner Bank, 322 S. Division St. in Moses Lake. The 15th annual art show is sponsored by Desert Artists.

Othello man arrested in child porn bust

OTHELLO — The Othello Police Department made an arrest in a child pornography investigation Thursday, according to a statement from the OPD.

NCESD elects three new board members

WENATCHEE — The North Central Educational Service District Board of Directors welcomed three new members, according to an announcement from the NCESD.

Delores "June" Hunsaker

July 20, 1936 – Nov. 3, 2023

Delores “June” Hunsaker of Yakima, Washington was born July 20, 1936, to Vernon & Goldia Richards, five miles from Mansfield, Missouri on the farm. God took June home on November 3, 2023. Her “Going Away Party” will be held at Terrace Heights Baptist Church on November 18 at 12 p.m. A reception will follow.

BBCC’s new-look, fast-tempo Vikings hit the court

MOSES LAKE – It’ll be a season of change for the Big Bend Vikings when they hit the court for the 2023-24 men’s basketball season, complete with a completely new roster and head coach on the bench.

Letter from the editor: Thoughts on Veterans Day

On May 5, 1996, I got on an airplane for the first time and went to Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Basin ready to celebrate Veterans Day

EPHRATA – Two Veterans Day celebrations are planned in the area for Saturday. Ephrata’s American Legion post and Quincy’s Veterans Operation Creation both have events going on.

Moses Lake Classic Car Club to celebrate 50th anniversary

MOSES LAKE — Now technically, the Moses Lake Classic Car doesn’t celebrate its 50th anniversary until 2024, but its members decided to start the party a little early. Club members brought out some of their cars Nov. 5 for a show and shine, part of an open house at Youth Dynamics in Moses Lake. Club members also raised $1,111, which they donated to Youth Dynamics. President Dave Robins described the late fall show and shine as the “kickoff event” for the 50th anniversary. “We’re definitely planning for 2024,” he said.

Keeping it small

Top Plumbing owners settle into Basin life

MOSES LAKE — Sometimes, when you need a plumber, you really need a plumber. When that happens, you want one who’s reliable and who won’t break the bank. Steve West considers himself one of those. “I do what I say,” West said. “I'm super honest. So if I tell you (I’ll be there at) 8, I’m usually a little before. I don't change prices. They go up if I have to, according to my costs, but there's a lot of people who take advantage of not enough workers. I do not do that. My price doesn't change no matter who you are. You're important to me as the next guy, the next guy and the next guy.” West and his wife Lisa West own Top Plumbing, which had its official ribbon-cutting Oct. 24. The Wests moved to Moses Lake last year from Whidbey Island, drawn by the small-town atmosphere and the sunshine.

Legals for November, 10 2023

Getting Elite in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE – Realtors Jeff Smart, left, and Dave Shinabarger cut the ribbon on the new Home Smart Elite Brokers Moses Lake office, located at 1845 W. Broadway Ave., on Wednesday. For more stories on the real estate business, home decorating and more, see our Homes section in today’s paper - Section D.

Quincy considering 2024 capital projects

QUINCY — With 2024 dead ahead, Quincy City Council members are considering proposals for repairs, upgrades, expansion of city services and property. City officials have submitted a list of capital requests to the council.

Royal City approves 2024 property tax levy

ROYAL CITY – Tuesday’s regular Royal City City Council meeting featured two public hearings on the 2024 budget revenue sources and the 2024 property tax levy, as well as a vote on the levy, which passed unanimously.

Washington sees first substantial decline in Japanese beetles

YAKIMA – The Washington State Department of Agriculture Pest Program saw its first substantial decline in Japanese beetle numbers after trapping more than 19,000 beetles this summer in Yakima, Benton and Franklin counties, according to a WSDA announcement.

More Adams Co. jail staff leaving, Wagner discusses needed maintenance

RITZVILLE – Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner spoke with the Adams County Commissioners during Tuesday’s regular meeting to discuss the Adams County jail’s staffing and maintenance issues...

Scrap metal art competition tests creativity, teamwork

MOSES LAKE — The organizers of the scrap metal art competition work to make it a challenge. That was the lesson of the oxygen tank that attracted the attention of the team from Pasco.

BIG SKY NOW: Montana wins big, Hauck gets coaching record

MOSES LAKE – On this week’s episode of the Big Sky Now podcast, Josh Dugan and Fritz Neighbor of the Daily Inter Lake and Mark Nelke of the Coeur d’Alene Press go over last week’s action in the Big Sky, including Montana defeating Sacramento State 34-7 and Idaho defeating Northern Colorado 27-13.

GRIDIRON GOALS: Local teams prepare for state football playoffs

COLUMBIA BASIN – State football playoffs have arrived, and four teams from across the Columbia Basin are preparing for games on Friday and Saturday.

Robert Allen Wheeler

Oct. 9, 1955 – Oct. 31, 2023

Robert Allen Wheeler, born on October 9, 1955, in Sweet Springs, Missouri went to sleep in death in Moses Lake, Wash. on October 31, 2023, at the age of 68. He was unfortunately taken by his rare brain disease.

Robin "Bob" T. Yearout

Sept. 3, 1929 – Oct. 11, 2023

Our loving husband and father, Robin “Bob” Trego Yearout, passed away on October 11, 2023, at the age of 94 in his Spokane, Wash. home. Bob was born in Yakima, Wash. on September 3, 1929, to Peter and Maxine (McCachren) Yearout and was raised on the family farm outside of Harrah, Wash.

Donald Jeske

The Jeske family is saying goodbye to a loving husband, son and brother.

WSU scientists helping increase recruitment of Native people for Alzheimer’s research

PULLMAN — A series of culturally tailored workshops designed to provide education on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias have drawn the participation of more than 1,000 Native elders from across the United States in the last two years.

Othello hosts budget retreat, hears from Chamber of Commerce

OTHELLO – Monday’s regular Othello City Council meeting featured an informal budget hearing on the city’s preliminary 2024 budget, as well as a brief update from the Greater Othello Chamber of Commerce.

Realtors cut ribbon on new Moses Lake office

Realtors Jeff Smart, left, and Dave Shinabarger cut the ribbon on the new Home Smart Elite Brokers Moses Lake office, located at 1845 W. Broadway Ave., on Wednesday.

Legals for November, 9 2023

Record-breaking swims

Moses Lake’s Parrish looks to continue strong senior season at state

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake senior Issabelle Parrish is leaving an impact in her final season in the pool for the Mavericks. Parrish has already knocked off several school records in short-distance swims, and now aims to keep the momentum going as many members of the Maverick girls swim and dive team head to state this week. “I had a pretty good junior year, so I was excited to see what I could do this year and see what our team as a whole could do – especially our relay, and see where we’re at with the rest of the state,” Parrish said.

Bids opened for preparation of new Grant County Jail site

EPHRATA — Site preparation for the new Grant County Jail will begin by late February 2024, with the start of construction still to be determined. County officials opened bids for the site preparation phase of the project Tuesday. Capstone Structures LLC, Quincy, was the apparent low bidder. The company bid $2.58 million as its base bid. Marc Seeberger of Lydig Construction, the project manager, said county officials must award the contract to what is called the lowest responsive bidder. “That means there are certain specific requirements they have to include with this (bid) envelope,” Seeberger said. “There were certain ways the bid form had to be filled out.”

Othello earmarks additional $50,000 for ACPR in preliminary budget

OTHELLO — During Monday’s regular Othello City Council meeting the city listed an additional $50,000 in its preliminary budget workshop for its animal control services contract with Adams County Pet Rescue, and ACPR submitted a letter requesting a total of $150,000. ACPR Board President Ken Simmons submitted a letter to the council for Monday’s meeting explaining the funding request. “ACPR is facing a public health crisis. Despite funding from the city of Othello and generous donations, our shelter is in danger of closing,” Simmons said. “We are asking for increased funding to keep up with the rising costs of inflation, minimum wage, longer-term animal care and desperately needed maintenance at the rescue.”

GALLERY: 1B, 2B State Volleyball

YAKIMA – Volleyball teams from Almira/Coulee-Hartline, Lind-Ritzville/Sprague, Soap Lake and Warden high schools traveled down to the Yakima Valley SunDome to begin the 1B and 2B State Volleyball Tournaments on Wednesday.

Coaches and bus driver recognized for assisting with car crash

EPHRATA — Ephrata School District leaders paused Monday to recognize the selfless actions of four Ephrata Middle School volleyball coaches and an Ephrata school bus driver. Earlier this fall, an Ephrata School District bus was stopped for construction in East Wenatchee on the way home from a middle school volleyball game. A car approaching the construction scene did not stop and caused a rear-end collision that impacted three additional cars behind the bus. Thankfully, the bus was not involved. EMS coaching staff Whitney Pearce, Chantel Park, Courtney Bronowski and Brian Forster immediately jumped into action, grabbed emergency kits from the bus and began administering first aid until ambulances arrived. Bus driver Lavona Buchert helped to keep all 50 students safe and calm despite the chaotic scene behind the bus.

Ephrata approves parade, works on budget planning

EPHRATA — The Ephrata City Council approved a Veterans Day Parade and discussed budgeting during their Nov. 1 meeting, City Administrator Ray Towry said. They also examined property tax rates. “Council has just asked for the typical 1% (overall revenue) increase last night,” Towry said on Nov. 2. “Which is what you’re allotted, not counting new construction.” State law prohibits a higher increase and the rate set by the city will fall in line with those requirements, he said.

Veterans Day parade set for Saturday in Ephrata

EPHRATA – American Legion Art Semro Post 28 in Ephrata has invited the public to attend a Veteran’s Day Parade and luncheon this Saturday, which is also Veteran’s Day proper. “We’ll march south on C Street to Second Avenue Southwest, turn left, travel one block to Basin Street, then turn left again,” said long-time post member Jane Montaney. The parade will also stop in front of the Ephrata Recreation Center and fire a rifle salute at 11 a.m. in memory of the armistice that ended World War I on the eleventh hour, day and month. An additional salute will be fired at the Vietnam Memorial in front of the Grant County Courthouse prior to the end of the parade.

Jane McKenzie

July 29, 1934 — Oct.27, 2023

Jane Mildred (Halverson) McKenzie passed away Oct. 27, 2023, at the age of 89 in Moses Lake, Washington. Jane was born in Calgary, Alberta on July 29, 1934. She lived in Calgary, Magrath and Lethbridge, Alberta. She was the middle of three sisters (Bernice and Ruth). Jane married Delbert (Del) McKenzie on Sept. 5, 1959, in Lethbridge. They met while attending Canadian Bible College in Regina, Saskatchewan. Del and Jane served together with the Christian and Missionary Alliance for over 50 years in Montana, Idaho, Alberta and Washington.

Gloria Castillo

Sept. 3, 1943 — Nov. 2, 2023

Gloria Reyna Castillo, longtime Moses Lake resident, passed away on Nov. 2, 2023, at the age of 80. Gloria was born to Pablo P. Reyna and Santos B. Reyna on Sept. 3, 1943, in La Feria, Texas. In 1965 she settled in Moses Lake, Washington, where she has lived ever since. She joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1977. Gloria was a homemaker who loved to bake, sew, crochet and garden.

Even dozen: Warden Mayor reflects on 12-year term

WARDEN – Warden Mayor Tony Massa will serve his last days in office at the end of 2023 before unopposed mayoral candidate Rosaelia Martinez takes over the position at the start of 2024 after Massa opted not to run for re-election.

Voters make their choice on fire district, parks and rec proposals

EPHRATA — Voters in two fire districts decided the fate of requests to raise levy assessment rates, and decided whether or not to form a parks and recreation district in the Quincy area, in the general election Tuesday.

Legals for November, 8 2023

Election 2023 results

EPHRATA — Voters in Grant and Adams counties selected mayors, decided city council and school board races, and chose commissioners for port, fire and hospital districts in the general election Tuesday. Only contested races are listed. Races in districts that span more than one county include results from all counties. As of Election Day, voter turnout was 19.3% in Grant County and 21.2% in Adams County. The results below are unofficial and reflect ballots counted as of about 8:30 p.m. Election Day. Vote totals will be updated periodically until the election is certified Nov. 28.

Law enforcement records for Nov. 8, 2023

Ephrata Police Department, Grant County Jail

Drive-by victim dies; homicide charges planned

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man wounded in a drive-by shooting Sunday has died, according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. The GCSO announced the death of Dominick D. Hernandez, 18, Tuesday in a 6:30 a.m. statement. Hernandez was driving north on SR 17 Sunday afternoon with his passenger Justin I. Wilson, also 18, of Moses Lake, when he was shot by the driver of another vehicle, Sergio Miguel Herrera, 20, of Moses Lake, according to court documents. Hernandez’s vehicle crashed and rolled on its roof, according to witnesses.

Othello Port approves 2024 budget, in good financial position

OTHELLO — The Port of Othello approved its 2024 budget during the Oct. 31 regular Board of Commissioners meeting, after minor discussion and adjustment of some budget items. Port Executive Director Chris Faix explained the budget compared to the previous year. “I think we're up just a little bit … between 5% and 10% up on the budget,” Faix said. “And we do have our water tower project starting next year, and we have that airport project that's going to be (starting) and that's mostly grant money.”

Quincy Valley Medical Center board approves third phase of construction contract

QUINCY — Quincy residents are beginning to hear and feel, if not yet see, construction on the site of the new Quincy Valley Medical Center. The site has been cleared of three buildings, some trees and grass, and Tony Sanchez of Graham Construction said Monday that the next task is installing the pilings to support the new building, called geopiers. “We drill eight to 10 feet (in) depth, fill them with rock and crush them down,” Sanchez said.

ECBID accepts $32.8 million award for Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program

OTHELLO — During the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District Board of Directors Nov. 1 meeting, the board officially accepted an award of $32.8 million in appropriations to further the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program, according to a Monday announcement from the ECBID. According to the announcement, the award is a record amount in state funding for the OGWRP. “This award is the result of the consistent hard work of a number of key partners and is a significant step forward in building out the OGWRP systems,” said ECBID Board President Duaine Anderson in the statement. “This effort has been decades in the making, and we’re thrilled to see this project progress in such a significant way.”

Basin sports schedule Nov. 8-14

COLUMBIA BASIN – Check out this week’s sports schedule, featuring local football and volleyball teams This schedule will be updated at www.columbiabasinherald.com as teams progress through brackets.

Basin squads head to 1B, 2B State Volleyball Tournaments

COLUMBIA BASIN — The 1B and 2B state volleyball tournaments begin Thursday in Yakima, with Almira/Coulee-Hartline, Lind-Ritzville/Sprague, Soap Lake and Warden all competing in their respective classifications. Read along for a look at each team as they head into state competition. Almira/Coulee-Hartline Back at state for the first time since 2019, the Warriors are aiming for yet another high finish after finishing the regular season and districts with a 17-2 record, earning a No. 4 seed.

Fall bite good on Potholes Reservoir

MARDON — The current water level on Potholes Reservoir is 1,035.7 feet, rising 1.7 feet this week. We are currently 9.2 feet above low pool. The reservoir will rise rapidly now that the outflow gate has been closed. The water temperature is in the low 50s on the main reservoir. The water temps in the sand dunes are in the low 50s. The fall bite is going well for all species, so it’s time to get out on the water. The weather might be a bit chilly and challenging, but the fish are eating. Walleye fishing continues to be good this week. The walleye are in 10-30 feet. Now is the time to start jigging blade baits, Jigging Raps, Shadow Raps and plastics. Slow Death Hook-Smile Blade rig with a crawler and bottom bouncer is producing as well.

Annual tree lighting set for Friday evening

MOSES LAKE — The Downtown Moses Lake Association will host the annual tree lighting downtown in Sinkiuse Square, located at 306 S. Ash St., from 4 to 6 p.m. The actual lighting of the tree is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. The Downtown Association’s new Executive Director Mallory Miller explained the basics of the tree lighting. “It's basically just an event to get families and kids downtown to kind of kick off the holiday season of holiday shopping and Christmas festivities, in a sense,” Miller said. “We have hot cocoa being handed out, and then we also have crafts for the kids to do. There's going to be a craft station put on by one of our sponsors.”

Ready — Aim — Tater! — Potato Days return to CB Tech

MOSES LAKE — The fifth graders counted it down. “Four, three, two,” they chanted - but the countdown was put on hold. The French fry launcher had to build up sufficient pressure. Once it did the fifth graders were free to resume the countdown, with the help of a Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center student

City council, school board seats, levy requests on Election Day ballot

EPHRATA — Candidates for mayor, city councils, school boards, hospital boards, fire districts, port districts and others will learn whether or not they were elected after 8 p.m. tonight. Ballot boxes for the 2023 general election close at 8 p.m., or voters must have mailed their ballots in time to have them postmarked today.

Legals for November, 7 2023

ED announces $115 million in grants for school districts.

MOSES LAKE – The U.S. Department of Education announced Oct. 25 new awards totaling about $115 million to support 29 Teacher and School Leader incentive projects across the country, according to an announcement from the ED.

MLFD: Boy saves family home from fire

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake boy’s quick thinking prevented a possible tragedy Monday, according to a statement from the Moses Lake Fire Department.

WSU Extension helps prevent food waste

PULLMAN - Washington State University Extension professionals are tackling the critical issue of food waste across the state in agriculture, households, and even at the landfill level through education and outreach.

Mattawa Council approves annual property tax levy, budget

MATTAWA – The Mattawa City Council unanimously passed a resolution during Thursday’s regular meeting to approve the 1% annual levy increase to the city’s property tax collection after a public hearing on the resolution, as well as the city’s preliminary budget.

Moses Lake fire claims one

MOSES LAKE – One person died in a fire in Moses Lake Sunday, according to a statement from the Moses Lake Fire Department.

Drive-by leaves two in hospital, one in jail

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man is in Grant County Jail and two others are in the hospital following a shooting and high-speed chase Sunday afternoon.

Playing with confidence

Warriors clinch 1B playoff bid with win over Waterville-Mansfield

COULEE CITY – A win in Friday’s crossover game against Waterville-Mansfield gave the Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors their seventh-straight state appearance, setting up a matchup against No. 11 Concrete this weekend. “It feels great,” ACH coach Brandon Walsh said. “It’s a fun, young group of kids, it seems like we’re gelling and playing our best at the right time.”

State cross country results

PASCO – Twenty-eight athletes from across the Columbia Basin traveled to the Sun Willow Golf Course in Pasco for the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Cross Country State Championships Saturday, competing in six different races across three classifications. For local results, see below.

Eugene Clinton Claassen

May 2, 1946 — Oct. 30, 2023

Eugene “Gene” Clinton Claassen, 77, passed away on October 30, 2023, at his home in Marlin, Wash. He was born May 2, 1946, in Omak, Wash., the second child of Clinton and Evelyn Claassen.

Lady Vikes Place Four At EOU

MOSES LAKE – After a bumpy opening weekend for BBCC Women's Wrestling due to injuries, the Lady Vikes hoped to be healthy are ready to go as they traveled to La Grande, Oregon to compete in the Eastern Oregon Mountaineer Open on November 4th.

Martinez takes home fifth at Mountaineer Open

MOSES LAKE – Coming off of their first weekend and having the opportunity to compete in their first tournament, Coach Dickerson hoped to take steps forward in molding the BBCC men's wrestling program. As Dickerson stated he hoped that this weekend would give his players "some much-needed mat time". As all coaches know, the beginning of the season can pose its challenges. "Our first tournament of the season had its ups and downs but we grew as a team."

Bra auction raises more than $16,000 for cancer patients

EPHRATA — A fundraising auction to help cancer patients in need raised more than $16,800, starting with an Ephrata business and radiating out to a worldwide group of friends.

Weather for Monday, Nov. 6, 2023

Weather for Monday, Nov. 6, 2023

Legals for November, 6 2023

Warriors punch ticket to state

Wins over Curlew, Odessa start ACH off well in district play

COULEE CITY – No matter the outcome of Saturday’s district championship game against Northport, the Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors are on to state after defeating Curlew and Odessa in the first two rounds of the Northeast 1B district tournament on Thursday.

Basin football scores: Week 10

COLUMBIA BASIN – The regular season concluded last week across the state, and several local teams are heading off to their respective state playoffs.

Mavs fight in second half, fall to Chiawana

MOSES LAKE – Down 28-6 at the half, Moses Lake was able to put points on the board and cut the deficit to 10 points in the fourth quarter, but the Chiawana Riverhawks made key plays down the stretch to defeat the Mavs 49-32 at Lions Field Friday night.

Samaritan culture, staffing, public perception discussed at candidate forum

MOSES LAKE — Four candidates for Grant County Hospital District 1, which oversees Samaritan Healthcare in Moses Lake, addressed voters at a candidate forum Oct. 24.

Port of Othello discusses potential for Othello Airport FBO

OTHELLO – The Port of Othello heard aircraft broker Kevin Raver speak about his informal proposal for starting a Fixed-Based Operator at the Othello Municipal Airport, which Raver said would facilitate fuel sales, provide maintenance and could help prepare the airport for community events or training certifications.

STUDIO BASIN: Volunteering and league titles

MOSES LAKE — Peny Archer of Community Services of Moses Lake is the guest on this week’s edition of the STUDIO BASIN podcast. Archer talks about operations of the Moses Lake Food Bank, the level of need for its services in the community, and how people can support it. Archer also talks about how she became involved at the food bank, where she started as a volunteer about 23 years ago. Next, Sports Reporter Ian Bivona and Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer go over last week’s action on the gridiron, as well as some district soccer and swim and dive.

Moravida '23

Festival combines cultures to create an event anyone can enjoy

MOSES LAKE – The 2nd Annual Moravida Festival was held Saturday, October 28th at the Grant County Fairgrounds with a pre-party kickoff dance held the night before. This was a family-friendly event meant to be a gathering place to commemorate lost loved ones and celebrate Hispanic culture.

Basin Public Meetings Schedule: Nov. 2023

This schedule includes regularly scheduled meetings, which may be changed or canceled. Agendas may be found on each municipality’s website one to two business days prior to the meeting. All meetings must be run in accordance with state law and generally allow one or more agenda items for public comment on issues facing the government body.

Soap Lake council schedules special budget meeting

SOAP LAKE — Soap Lake City Council members will review and discuss the municipal 2024 budget at a special meeting at 5:30 Wednesday at the Soap Lake Community and Senior Center, 121 Second Ave. SE.

Mary Burgeson

June 7, 1929 — Nov. 1, 2023

Mary Burgeson, 94, of Warden Washington passed away on Nov. 1, 2023, in Moses Lake, Washington. She was born June 7, 1929, and grew up in Chewelah, Washington with her mother, father and two siblings. Mary then married James (Jim) Burgeson and was blessed with four children. She was very dedicated to her family and was able to stay home to raise them. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Jim and son James. She is survived by her daughters Brenda Gray, Barbara Burgeson and Teresa Burgeson; grandchildren Ken Krebs and Marilyn (Devin) Moyer; and five great-grandchildren.

Principal motivations

Warden High principal, former MLSD teacher pushing academics, job training forward

WARDEN – Now entering her third year as Warden High School Principal, Katie Phipps said she finally feels like she has found her footing. Phipps moved to Warden High in 2021 from the Moses Lake School District. Phipps explained how she came into the position, transitioning from Moses Lake, where she taught at Frontier Middle School and then Moses Lake High School. Phipps said she has been in education for twenty years.

‘Little Women’ to be presented by Othello High Drama Club

OTHELLO — The classic tale of four sisters growing up in the shadow of civil war comes to the McFarland Middle School stage tonight and tomorrow night. The curtain rises on the Othello High School drama club presentation of “Little Women” at 7 p.m. on the MMS stage, 790 S. 10th Ave.

Moses Lake Presbyterian marks 115 years Sunday

MOSES LAKE — The roots of Moses Lake Presbyterian Church run deep, a fact that the church will celebrate Sunday with a special service on its 115th birthday.

Building permits for Nov. 3, 2023

EPHRATA -- The below building permits were filed in unincorporated Grant County during the timeframes shown below.

Feds announce changes to reverse mortgage program

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Housing Administration released new proposed policy updates to its Home Equity Conversion Program, according to a statement issued Wednesday by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Vanguard gets creative for kids’ Halloween event

MOSES LAKE — Spiders, cows, ghosts and the occasional giant chicken took over Vanguard Academy Tuesday for the school’s Halloween trick-or-treat event...

Legals for November, 3 2023

Q&A: Othello School Board pos. 1

OTHELLO – Incumbent Kelli Camp is facing Aaron Gerber for Othello School Board Director Position 1.

Q&A: Othello City Council candidates

OTHELLO – Darryl Barnes is running against Eugene Bain for Othello City Council Position 4.

Q&A: Warden City Council Position 4

WARDEN – Leilani Pruneda is running against Jesus Martinez for Position 5 on the Warden City Council.

Wahluke School Board members discuss state of the district at forum

MATTAWA – The South Grant County Chamber of Commerce’s Oct. 25 candidate forum at Wahluke High School featured a discussion between candidates for the Wahluke School Board and Superintendent Andrew Harlow about what is going on at the district.

Big Bend eligible for $1M Aspen prize

MOSES LAKE – Big Bend Community College announced Thursday that the Aspen Institute named Big Bend as one of 150 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

Police Logs for Nov. 3, 2023

MOSES LAKE – The reports below were provided by the sheriff’s office or police department indicated. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

WA college football preview: Week 9

MOSES LAKE – With Central Washington on a bye, the Cougars and Eagles will be hosting a pair of California schools on the gridiron this Saturday.

Basin athletes head to state cross country championships

COLUMBIA BASIN – Congratulations to all the cross country athletes from across the Columbia Basin who qualified for Saturday’s Washington Interscholastic Activities Association State Cross Country Championships at the Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

Mavs swim for the win at district meet

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Mavericks had eight first-place finishes at last week’s Columbia Basin Big 9 district meet, guiding the Mavs to a districts win in their home pool. “I’m just so proud of the girls,” Moses Lake coach Jason Hart said. “They all contributed, it was all important.”

Vikings fall to CBC, wrap up season Saturday

PASCO – BBCC took the road for the final time on Wednesday, as they headed to Pasco to battle it out versus the Columbia Basin College Hawks. Looking for the answer to snap their current losing streak, the Lady Vikes hoped to come out of the gate ready to go. Slow starts have been the kryptonite of the Viking volleyball team and CBC was no different.

Newsroom fun

MOSES LAKE – The Columbia Basin Herald team had a Halloween celebration of our own on Wednesday. Along with a potluck and dad jokes galore, the paper’s staff had costume and pumpkin decorating contests. With a variety of entries on both fronts, the two photos above show who came home with the blue ribbon in each category.

LETTER: Warden SD right to address mental health

The Warden School District should be commended for securing funding to help address their students’ behavioral and mental health needs. Araceli Flores, the new student assistance professional, states that “many young people face significant challenges, often in silence…” Ms. Flores states that she will provide services to address, among other things, academics, and mental health.

John 'Jack' Freitag

April 8, 1935 — Oct. 27, 2023

John Joseph “Jack” Freitag, 88, a long-time resident of both Lewis and Grant counties in Wash., passed away of natural causes on October 27, 2023, at his home in Lacey, Wash. Jack was born April 8, 1935, to Alfred Joseph Freitag and his wife, the former Lyla Josephine Robin, on Puget Island, Wash.

‘Praise and cheers’

St. Rose of Lima School readies its 40th benefit auction

EPHRATA — St. Rose of Lima Catholic School will celebrate “Praise and Cheers to 40 years” at its annual fundraiser auction and dinner Nov. 11.

Prometheans help Ephrata teachers reach students

EPHRATA – Last year, the Ephrata School District received a grant of about $110,000 to ensure all of their classrooms were equipped with Promethean digital boards – the digital descendent of a chalkboard – and the training for staff to utilize them in the classroom.

Legals for November, 2 2023

Quincy’s downtown filled with treats and horrors

QUINCY — Downtown Quincy was filled with dinosaurs and witches, ghostbusters and cats, pirates, police officers and princesses, among many others, at the Downtown Trick or Treat walk Tuesday night.

GCFD 7 seeks levy lid lift in general election

SOAP LAKE — Voters in Grant County Fire District 7, which includes the city of Soap Lake, will decide the fate of a proposal to increase the rate of the district’s property tax levy for fire service in the general election Nov. 7.

Ephrata celebrates Halloween with displays, activities and – of course – candy

EPHRATA — Thousands showed up in downtown Ephrata Tuesday to celebrate Halloween. Ghouls, superheroes, Power Rangers and more showed up in a display we’re sure would have made both Vincent Price and Stan Lee proud.

Late goal seals fate for Mavs

MOSES LAKE — While the Mavs and Rams remained tied at one through most of the second half, a late West Valley (Yakima) goal sent the Rams into the next round of the Columbia Basin Big 9 district tournament, ending Moses Lake’s season. “We worked hard, looked like we wanted it, we just couldn’t string the passes together unfortunately,” Moses Lake coach Alysha Overland said. After a fast start to the first half for the Mavs, West Valley tied the game in the 34th minute after a through ball got past the Maverick defense, and following a pileup in front of the Moses Lake net, was shot in past the keeper for a goal.

Water, housing big topics for Moses Lake City Council candidates

MOSES LAKE — Four candidates for the Moses Lake City Council had an opportunity to make their positions clear at a candidate forum Oct. 24.

Rice Brothers to perform in concert Nov. 14

MOSES LAKE — The cello-piano duo the Rice Brothers will bring a mix of classical, classic pop and jazz sounds to the stage at the Wallenstein Theater at 7 p.m. Nov. 14. It’s the second concert of the season for the Central Basin Community Concert Association.

Downtown Moses Lake celebrates Harvest Festival

MOSES LAKE — The 2023 Moses Lake Harvest Festival took place on Saturday afternoon around Sinkiuse Square in downtown Moses Lake.

Fire focus: GCFD 8 Commissioner speaks at candidate forum.

MATTAWA – Last week’s South Grant County candidate forum featured unopposed candidate for Grant County Fire District 8 Commissioner Debra Crain, who spoke during the forum about GCFD 8 and gave advice to the public.

Basin sports schedule Nov. 1-7

COLUMBIA BASIN – Check out this week’s sports schedule, featuring local cross country, football, girls soccer and volleyball teams.

BASIN SPORTS RECAP: District tournaments and playoff runs

COLUMBIA BASIN – With the first state tournament of the year now in the rearview mirror, many teams across the Basin have been competing in their respective district tournaments and attempting to earn bids to state. Check out this week’s Basin sports recap for a look at where teams stand.

Legals for November, 1 2023