Ellington

Mattawa candidates speak about the city’s issues

MATTAWA — Unopposed and opposed candidates for Mattawa City Council and Mattawa mayor attended the South Grant County candidate forum Oct. 25 at Wahluke High School, put on by the South Grant County Chamber of Commerce. Incumbent mayoral candidate Maria Celaya and incumbent council candidate Brian Berghout were not in attendance. Candidates answered the same questions and spoke about various topics and issues in Mattawa.

MLSD candidates swap perspectives at forum

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake voters had the opportunity to hear from 14 candidates for local offices Oct. 24. The forum, hosted by the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce, The Columbia Basin Herald and KWIQ, allowed hopefuls for the Moses Lake City Council, the Moses Lake School Board and Grant County Hospital District No. 1 to speak a little bit about themselves and their visions for the positions they sought, and to answer pre-selected questions relating to those offices. The moderator was Alan Heroux, an ambassador with the Chamber, and the timekeeper was Karisti Cox of Summer Wood. Each candidate was asked two questions which were alternated, so each candidate had a chance to answer one of the questions first and one second.

FRESH NEWS: Dropping temperatures mean changes in fishing at Potholes

MARDON — The current water level on Potholes Reservoir is 1,034 feet, rising 2.2 feet this week. We are currently 7.5 feet above low pool. The reservoir will rise rapidly now that the outflow gate has been closed. The water temperature is in the mid- to upper 50s on the main reservoir. The water temperatures in the sand dunes are in the mid-50s. These temperatures will drop quickly as we have a very cold week ahead. The fall bite is going well for all species. Time to get out on the water! The weather might be a bit chilly and challenging, but the fish are eating. Walleye fishing has very good this week. The walleye are in 10-30 feet right now. Fish the humps in front of the sand dunes trolling No. 5 or No. 7 Flicker Shads or No. 9 Flicker Minnows. Cast jerk baits, swim baits and lipless crank baits in the shallower water. Fish the deeper fish with a Slow Death Hook – Smile Blade rig with a crawler and bottom bouncer. Half-ounce blade baits and Rapala Jigging Raps are producing as well. Fish Crab Creek and the face of the dunes.

Q&A: Moses Lake School Board Position 5

MOSES LAKE — Incumbent Alana DeGooyer and Kirryn Jensen are running for one of three open seats on the Moses Lake School Board.

BBCC Volleyball Enters Final Week

MOSES LAKE – As the 2023 season winds down the Lady Vikes hope to finish on a high note. Currently riding a lengthy losing streak the Lady Vikes hosted one of the top teams in the Eastern Region as they hosted the Treasure Valley Chukars on October 28th at the DAC.

STCU opens Othello drive-through branch

OTHELLO – Credit union STCU opened its new location in Othello Tuesday, a drive-through-only branch located at 1335 E. Main St., according to an announcement from the credit union.

Data by design

Data center planning determined by climatic conditions and customer needs, Vantag VP says

QUINCY — Vantage Data Centers cut the ribbon on the final phase of its existing facility in Quincy Oct. 18. Simon Casey, the company’s vice president of construction for the Western United States, said the construction expanded the data center to 777,000 square feet. All of that is occupied by one customer, Casey said.

WSU veterinary students earn national bovine health scholarships

PULLMAN - Washington State University veterinary students seeking careers in bovine medicine were awarded three of 18 national scholarships from the American Association of Bovine Practitioners.

BBCC virtually hosts paralympian guest speaker

MOSES LAKE – To celebrate Disability Awareness Month, Big Bend Community College’s Associated Student Body and Accommodation and Accessibility Services welcomed Paralympic gold medalist Deja Young-Craddock as a virtual guest speaker Wednesday.

CWU receives $2 million to support students

ELLENSBURG – Central Washington University Trustee Ray Conner and the Conner Family Foundation made a pledge of $1 million primarily to The Wildcat Promise, providing students with funds that bridge the gap between the aid they receive and their total cost of attendance, and also in support of teacher education.

Commerce designates 3 Pacific Northwest tech hubs

MOSES LAKE – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration announced Oct. 23 the designation of 31 Tech Hubs across the country, including two in Washington, the American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Tech Hub in the Spokane Valley and the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub.

Warden’s new student assistance professional addresses mental health

WARDEN — The Warden School District welcomed a new staff member earlier this month. Araceli Flores joined Warden High School as its new student assistance professional, a position intended to help students’ behavioral and mental health. Warden High School Principal Katie Phipps said the position is fully funded by a grant through the North Central Educational Service District. Warden joins other schools in Grant County, including Soap Lake, Quincy and Moses Lake, that have hired a student assistance professional. “This is grant-funded, which is nice for us because our resources are fairly limited, of course,” Phipps said. “So the ESD wrote a grant and then that allowed for a salaried position to bring in somebody that has more of a background in mental health, because that's definitely a need that we have, and it's a harder one to fill. It's especially a harder one to fill when you don't have the funding for it.”

Warden School Board approves levy renewals

WARDEN — The Warden School Board unanimously approved a motion Thursday to renew the district’s educational programs and operations levy and its capital technology initiatives levy. The board also approved the Public School Employees Collective Bargaining Agreement and swore in three student representatives to the board. Warden School District Superintendent Scott West introduced the levy renewal. “We had a special board meeting last night and we were going to try to get (in touch) with Cory Plager to see if our thoughts were going to be conservative enough and to make sure that the information that he shared, in the paper and also the packets that he provided, is accurate so we can be able to get the most out of what we're asking of our taxpayers,” West said.

Huskies take down Tigers in penalty shootout

EPHRATA – It took penalty kicks to decide the winner of Saturday’s Central Washington Athletic Conference district tournament game between Othello and Ephrata, with the Huskies outscoring the Tigers 2-1 in the penalty shootout.

Knights open districts with win over La Salle

ROYAL CITY – The Knights opened the South Central Athletic Conference district tournament with a win over La Salle on Thursday, defeating the Lightning 5-1 on their home turf.

Champion Tigers

Ephrata wins CWAC league title with 13-0 win over Ellensburg

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tigers football team earned the Central Washington Athletic Conference title with a 13-0 win over the Ellensburg Bulldogs Friday at Kiwanis Field.

Evelyn Mae Pruett

Evelyn Mae Pruett, 96, went on to be with The Lord on October 20, 2023 at the age of 96 at her home in Moses Lake, Wash.

Elizabeth 'Betty' Goodell

Elizabeth "Betty" Goodell, 58 of Soap Lake died Sunday, October 29, 2023. Arrangements by Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.

Columbia Basin getting spooky for Halloween

MOSES LAKE — Superheroes, goblins, princesses and ghosts out and about on Halloween night will have opportunities for candy, fun and scary places to go throughout the Columbia Basin.

Gettin' crazy

Making a gift leads Tracy Crostley to a new business, Cra-Z Cowgirl Creations

MOSES LAKE — Tracy Crostley’s business started with an attempt to find a gift for a friend. The gift had to be custom, a remembrance of a well-loved family dog, but the person Crostley contacted was slow in responding.

Grant PUD to decide on 2024 budget, rate increase Nov. 14

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners will consider the passage of a 2024 budget, which includes a 2.5% to 3% overall rate increase, at their Nov. 14 meeting.

Weather for Monday, Oct. 30

Weather for Monday, Oct. 30

Legals for October, 30 2023

S. Grant chamber hosts community forum

MATTAWA – The South Grant County Chamber of Commerce hosted a candidate and small municipality forum Wednesday evening at Wahluke High School, featuring current officials and candidates for Mattawa City Council and Mayor, Wahluke School Board, Grant County Fire District 8 and Grant County Airport District 1.

Santa art and journals coming to Moses Lake Museum & Art Center

MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake resident Joshua Larson’s Santas will be open for viewing in the Ramon Cerna Community Gallery at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center from Nov. 4 through Dec. 30, according to a museum press release.

STUDIO BASIN: Photography and Spooky Behavior with Kelsey Gribble and sports wrap-up

MOSES LAKE – On this week's episode of the Studio Basin podcast, Managing Editor Rob Miller is joined by Kelsey Gribble, the owner of Sole Performance in Ephrata and a local artist, to discuss Gribble's photography, her brand Spooky Behavior and a bit about Sole Performance.

Basin football scores: Week 9

COLUMBIA BASIN – Both Ephrata and Royal clinched league titles with their wins this week over Ellensburg and Connell, respectively.

Red zone struggles cost Mavs in 35-8 loss to Eastmont

EAST WENATCHEE – Moses Lake was able to move the ball up and down the field on Friday night against Eastmont but went one-for-four in the red zone, resulting in a 35-8 loss to the Wildcats, the Maverick’s first loss of the season. “Just didn’t finish drives,” Moses Lake coach Brett Jay said. “We got to down to the two once, got down to the six-inch line once and we didn’t punch it in. We got exposed a little bit.” ...

Ten in a row

Knights trounce Connell 49-7, win 10th-straight league title

ROYAL CITY – The Knights were crowned league champions for the 10th-straight season with Thursday night’s 49-7 win over Connell, gaining nearly 400 yards of offense in the win. Thursday night was the seventh time the Knights have held an opponent to seven or fewer points this season...

Knights take the W against La Salle

ROYAL CITY - The Royal Knights defeated La Salle 5-1 in the first round of the South Central Athletic Conference district tournament on Thursday. Check out Tuesday’s edition of the Columbia Basin Herald for a full story on the game, as well as results from Saturday’s second-round match against Naches Valley.

October 2023 in review

MOSES LAKE – The month of October was busy in the Columbia Basin with changes in leadership, victories and losses on the fields and courts at local schools and community events that come as fall rolls into winter. Here is a look back at some highlights from this month. The staff here at the Columbia Basin Herald hope that your November is filled with fun, family and good fortune.

Patricia Joan (Jess) Goodwin

March 6, 1938 — Oct. 20, 2023

Patti was born March 6, 1938, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, Washington. She was the first born to Melvie and Myrtle (Dugger) Jess. A year and one month later she was joined by her brother, Donald, in April of 1939. Five years later, in late 1943, her cousins John and Bobbee Jo Jess joined the family, after their mother passed away and they were adopted by Melvie and Myrt. Patti loved the growing-up years in the 1940s and ’50s. She always lived in the house one mile south of Hartline that she was brought home to. Later, she moved next door into her parents’ newer home following her mother’s death and her father’s move to the summer home. The exception was four and one-half years living in Naval housing at Tongue Point Oregon (Astoria), the Jesses’ summer home at Hansville, Washington and the Goodwins’ Hoaglen Valley Ranch in Trinity County, California and finally living about 18 months on the Kerr Ranch east of Arcata, Blue Lake and Korbel, California where husband Dave logged with his brother.

Lady Vikes Fall To Spokane Falls

MOSES LAKE – The Lady Vikes hosted their second to last home game on Wednesday as they battled it out versus the Spokane Falls Community College Sasquatch.

Real estate market slower than last year, data shows

MOSES LAKE — Real estate sales slowed down in September compared to the same time last year, according to the most recent statistics from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. Active property listings dropped 20% in Washington state overall, according to the NMLS. In Adams County the shift was about the same, down 21% from 61 active listings to 48. Grant County bucked the trend, increasing 18% from 211 listings in September 2022 to 259 in September 2023.

BASIN SPORTS RECAP: District playoffs begin

COLUMBIA BASIN – District playoffs began this week around the Basin, with local football, girls soccer and volleyball teams all vying for a bid to their respective state tournaments. Check out this week’s Basin sports recap to look at how teams look toward the end of their regular seasons.

Legals for October, 27 2023

Coulee Dam fined for EPA violations

SEATTLE – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday that the Town of Coulee Dam, Washington will pay nearly $71,000 for violations of Section 402 of the Clean Water Act at the town’s wastewater treatment plant, according to a press release from the EPA.

Moses Lake gets new city manager, police chief

MOSES LAKE – Now-former Moses Lake Police Chief Kevin Fuhr was appointed during this week’s city council meeting as permanent city manager. Subsequently, Captain David Sands has been tapped to take over as Moses Lake Police Department chief.

Robotic surgical system purchased for Samaritan Hospital

MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Hospital will be purchasing new surgical equipment that will allow the hospital to perform procedures that were previously unavailable in Moses Lake. Samaritan commissioners got a presentation on the new system Tuesday.

Othello approves increased water, solid waste rates

OTHELLO – The Othello City Council unanimously approved rate increases to both solid waste rates and water utility rates during Monday’s regular meeting.

Corrections officer sentenced to 60 months for drug charges

RICHLAND – United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Leticia Rodriguez, 44, to 60 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine, according to a Monday announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Wildcats, Cougars enter week 9 strong while Eagles work to improve record

MOSES LAKE – Local college football teams are gearing up for Week 9 of action across the country, aiming for strong finishes down the stretch of the regular season. Read along for a look at the matchups for Central Washington, Eastern Washington and Washington State...

Othello career showcase biggest ever

OTHELLO – More than 1,600 Othello students attended the 2023 Othello Career Showcase Tuesday, filling up both gyms at the Othello High School alongside somewhere between 60 to 70 vendors, according to a statement from the Adams County Development Council.

Turina McClelland

1970 — 2023

It is with extreme despair that we announce the untimely tragic passing of our beloved friend, sister, and mother, Turina Coryell McClelland. Turina was born on September 24, 1970, in Moses Lake, Wash. and passed away in a car crash outside of Fredericksburg, Tex. She was 53.

Gilberta 'Berta' Key

Dec. 28, 1941 — Oct. 21, 2023

Our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Roberta Key, 81, returned to our Heavenly Father on Saturday, October 21, 2023 surrounded by her family in Ephrata.

Celebrating the season

Othello Chamber of Commerce hosts Family Fall Festival

OTHELLO — The Greater Othello Chamber of Commerce’s Family Fall Festival Saturday drew hundreds of children and adults from the area to Othello City Hall for pumpkin painting, costumes, candy and more.

Legals for October, 26 2023

Explosion causes Soap Lake, Ephrata outage

EPHRATA — An explosion and fire at a Soap Lake substation cut electricity in Ephrata, Soap Lake and parts of Quincy early Wednesday afternoon. The explosion and fire in Soap Lake occurred about 2 p.m. Wednesday and cut power to Soap Lake, Ephrata, Winchester and a substation east of Quincy, according to a PUD social media post. Christine Pratt, public information officer for the PUD, said Wednesday afternoon that PUD officials don’t know if the Soap Lake fire was weather-related or caused by something else.

Warden approves 2024 property tax levy, appoints sergeant

WARDEN — Warden City Council unanimously approved the ordinance for the city’s 2024 property tax levy after holding a public hearing during Tuesday’s regular meeting. The council also approved the promotion of Warden Police Officer Greg Talbot to the rank of sergeant. “It's always good to have a sergeant,” said Police Chief Rick Martin. “I know we're a small department but when I'm not there, it's not only that Greg can say what we'll do, but Greg can say it with authority and that's the important piece, so he has lawful authority to do the job … and he has my full confidence that he can. So it's a good day, a good day for me, and I’m really proud of Greg. I’m proud of the job that he’s done and the job that he will do.”

Immanuel Lutheran Church bell to be rededicated

MOSES LAKE — Immanuel Lutheran Church’s bell will ring out again Sunday. The bell has been out of commission for several years, said Pastor Walter Klockers. After extensive repairs, it’s ready to peal again. Immanuel Lutheran is unusual in having an actual physical bell, Klockers said; most churches these days either use electronic carillons or forgo the tradition altogether. “I was surprised at the size of it,” Klockers said. “Thirty-six inches across and 700 pounds is quite a thing.”

Neon Skateway owners working on upgrades, plans for the future

SOAP LAKE — Robert and Margy Rice have some plans for Neon Skateway. “It has so much potential,” Robert Rice said. The Rices purchased Neon Skateway, 48 Moses Lake Ave. NW in Soap Lake, and changed its name in March. It was Hollywood Roll in its most recent iteration. Because it’s recently reopened it’s still a work in progress, but it’s open for roller skating five days per week. Neon Skateway is a Soap Lake fixture, starting out as an Army Corps of Engineers installation back in the early 1950s. “Sometime between 1965 and 1975, somewhere in there, somebody built it into a rink,” Robert Rice said.

‘Murder on the Orient Express’ opens Friday in Quincy

QUINCY — The curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Quincy High School on the tale of a mysterious murder with an international cast of suspects. The QHS Theater group presents “Murder on the Orient Express” for two consecutive weekends. The play is based on Agatha Christie’s classic 1934 novel about a death on the most glamorous train in Europe. Ally Manly, who plays a woman with some secrets to hide, summed it up.

Amy Shannon Kissler

Oct. 29 1978 — Oct. 19, 2023

Amy Shannon Kissler, 44, was born Oct. 29, 1978, and passed away peacefully Oct. 19, 2023. Amy was born in Ephrata, Washington and spent most of her life in Grant County. Amy is survived by her parents, Eric “Rick” Kissler (Chris) and Donna Pelham (Bruce), brothers Robbe Kissler (Patrica) and Tracy Kissler (LeRoy) , nephews Brandon Kissler and Daniel Kissler, great-nephews Kade, Jhett, and Leon.

Moses Lakes council votes to fund animal shelter

MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake City Council approved up to $1 million in funding for a new facility for Grant County Animal Outreach. Council Member David Skaug was the only dissenting vote in the 6-1 approval.

Warriors struggle on offense, fall 2-0 to Kiona-Benton

MATTAWA – An early Kiona-Benton goal was too much for the Wahluke Warriors to overcome in Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to the Bears, as Wahluke struggled to generate offense against the league leaders.

Yuvonne Buckley

May 18, 1926 — Oct. 16, 2023

Yuvonne Margaret Anderson Buckley, a long-time Moses Lake resident passed away on October 16, 2023 in Seattle, Wash at the age of 97.

Irene Adams

Irene Adams (Rene), 69, went peacefully to her eternal rest on October 18, 2023, at 9:40 a.m. Irene was born on November 6, 1953, to Jean and Dale Russel in John Day Oregon.

Ramona Delores Kincaid

Nov. 9, 1945 — Oct. 13, 2023

Ramona Delores Kincaid, formerly Long, departed this life on October 13, 2023. She was 77 years old.

LETTER: ‘The Herald is a gem”

Dear Editor, The Columbia Basin Herald is the best thing going in Basin media. It might be the best thing going in the Basin period.

Basin sports schedule Oct. 25-31

COLUMBIA BASIN – Check out this week’s sports schedule, featuring local cross country, football, girls soccer, slowpitch softball, swimming and diving and volleyball teams. This schedule we updated daily at www.columbiabasinherald.com as teams progress through brackets.

Legals for October, 25 2023

‘Shock and awe’

Grant PUD Commissioners discuss rate-setting policy, hear from area power users

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD customers are invited to a commission workshop at 9 a.m. Nov. 23 to discuss electrical rates and rate-setting policy. That invite followed an extensive review of commissioner ideas about rates, rate stability and meeting conduct, among other topics on Tuesday.

Othello schools work to weed out gangs

OTHELLO — Amy Parris, director of student services for the Othello School District, said district officials faced a challenge at the start of the 2021-22 school year — gang activity was starting to seep back into Othello schools. “What we did last year was take a pretty hard stance. ‘We’re not putting up with that here,’” she said.

OSPI, RCO award outdoor learning grants

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office in cooperation with the Office of Superintendent for Public Instruction announced $3.7 million in grants to support outdoor learning experiences, including projects that impact Grant and Adams counties.

Top Plumbers

MOSES LAKE – Steve West, left, and Leessa West, owners of Top Plumbing, surrounded by Moses Lake Chambber of Commerce ambassadors, prepare to cut the ribbon outside the chamber office Tuesday afternoon. The Wests moved their business to Moses Lake four months ago from Whidbey Island, Steve said, drawn by good weather and friendly people.

Public weighs in on ACPR financing

OTHELLO — About a dozen members of the public provided citizen input on Adams County Pet Rescue’s financial predicament at Monday’s Othello City Council meeting. ACPR board member Tammy Foley said that it is ACPR’s goal to reach a place where it is financially stable and doesn’t have to ask for large amounts of money...

Royal schools celebrate end of construction

ROYAL CITY — A small but enthusiastic crowd came to the Royal School District’s newly remodeled transportation center to celebrate the completion of construction at the district’s four schools. Seventeen people attended the event, which included a slide presentation by Superintendent Roger Trail, as well as homemade cookies. The traditional gold shovel and oversized scissors were present, but not needed.

FRESH NEWS: Cooling water as fall bite commences

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1031.8 feet – rising .4 feet this week. We are currently 5.3 feet above low pool. The reservoir will rise rapidly now that the outflow gate has been closed. The water temperature is in the mid-to-upper 50s on the main reservoir. The water temps in the sand dunes are in the mid-to-upper 50s. These temps will drop quickly as we have a very cold week ahead.

Mavs remain undefeated

Mavs win over West Valley, head to Eastmont with 8-0 record

MOSES LAKE – Friday night’s game was yet another strong showing for the Moses Lake Mavericks, who improved to 8-0 with a 47-12 win over West Valley (Yakima) on senior night.

Career focused forum

Lind-Ritzville and Washtucna career showcase exceeds expectations

RITVILLE – Hundreds of high school students and dozens of vendors congregated Thursday in Ritzville High School’s gym for the 2023 Lind-Ritzville and Washtucna Career Showcase, hosted by the Adams County Development Council.

David Lee Sparks

July 26, 1928 — Oct. 21, 2023

David “Dave” Lee Sparks, 95 years old, of Moses Lake, Washington, graduated from this life on October 21, 2023. Dave had been experiencing age-related challenges when he passed away in his home near the “Potholes” in Central Washington.

Recognizing service

Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce honors outstanding members, welcomes new board

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce honored two of its members at its 82nd annual meeting and banquet Oct. 17. Terri Riley Brown of Assured Home and Hospice was named the Ambassador of the Year, and Kevin Burgess of Windermere Real Estate received the Chairman’s Award...

Fall arts incoming

Music, dance and comedy part of Columbia Basin Allied Arts 2023-24 season

MOSES LAKE — A two-actor look at retirement, a group touring local schools to celebrate Hispanic heritage, music and dance honoring the culture and history of Ghana, a theater camp for children. Those are among the performances scheduled for the 2023-24 Columbia Basin Allied Arts season, which opens Friday.

‘Compassion leads the way’

Crossroads banquet raises money for pregnancy support

MOSES LAKE — Crossroads Resource Center’s work is all about compassion, attendees at the center’s fundraising banquet heard Saturday night.

South Grant County forum set for Wednesday

MATTAWA – The South Grant County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a candidate and local agency forum Wednesday evening at Wahluke High School from 5-7 p.m.

Jackrabbit royalty '23

QUINCY — Michelle Acevedo Martinez and Ethan Gregg were crowned as Quincy High School Homecoming queen and king during halftime of the Quincy-Medical Lake game Friday. Quincy won the game 43-0. See full coverage of the game on page A5.

Q&A: Moses Lake City Council Position 6

MOSES LAKE – Victor Lombardi and Jeremy Nolan are both running for Position 6 on the Moses Lake City Council.

Moses Lake Chamber to hold candidate forum Wednesday

MOSES LAKE — Candidates for Moses Lake elected offices will have a chance to be heard Wednesday at a forum sponsored by the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce, KWIQ and the Columbia Basin Herald. The forum will run from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Moses Lake Civic Center, 401 S. Balsam.

Q&A: Moses Lake City Council Position 7

MOSES LAKE – Incumbent David Skaug is facing Elisia Dalluge for Moses Lake City Council Position 7...

Grant PUD spending projected to increase in 2024

EPHRATA — The Grant County PUD expects to spend about $347.2 million, after counting other revenue against expenditures, and finish 2024 with a bottom line of about $118.6 million. Utility district commissioners will approve a budget in November, and PUD officials reviewed the budget projections for customers in public presentations in mid-October...

District champs

Mavs on to state after 11-5 win over Eastmont

MOSES LAKE — After going up 10-0 through the first four innings of Saturday’s Columbia Basin Big 9 district championship game against Eastmont, the Mavericks staved off an attempted Wildcat comeback to win 11-5 and advance to the 4A State Slowpitch Softball Tournament. Moses Lake scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning, scoring three more runs in both the third and fourth innings. “It was huge, the girls obviously came out ready to go,” Moses Lake coach Mike Hofheins said. “I was pleased that they were ready to go from the jump, it’s always nice.”

Quincy takes 43-0 Homecoming win over Medical Lake

QUINCY — The Quincy Jackrabbits turned in a dominating performance at the Homecoming game, defeating the Medical Lake Cardinals 43-0 Friday. The Jacks were stopped in the first quarter, but scored three times in the second quarter and once in the third to take a commanding lead. Talking to the team after the game, Quincy coaches pointed out the Jacks will have a chance at the Caribou Trail League title next Friday in Cashmere. Quincy won its first CTL game in at least three years earlier this season. Coach Russ Elliott said the team has benefited from its players with experience.

Ramona Rodriquez

March 3, 1941 — Oct. 19, 2023

Ramona Garcia Rodriquez, 82, passed away peacefully surrounded by her husband and children Oct. 19, 2023. Ramona lived in Moses Lake for 53 years. Ramona was born March 3, 1941, in Dilley, Texas, daughter of the late Gerardo and Antonia Garcia. Ramona was the third child of 10 to be born to Mr. and Mrs. Gerardo Garcia. Ramona was raised in Dilley among her older siblings until 1960, as then they migrated to Washington state with her parents, children and siblings. Ramona went to primary school with Pablo Rodriquez and later they reconnected in Moses Lake where both of their families settled to work in the agricultural industry. Ramona and Pablo married in 1967 and decided to make Moses Lake their permanent home, raising their children Janie, Fermin, Bertha and their last blessing, Cecilia.

Weather forecast for Monday, Oct. 23, 2023

Weather forecast for Monday, Oct. 23, 2023

Dairy state

Eastern WA dairy farmers discuss market challenges, optimism.

MOSES LAKE – Dairy farmers have had a rough summer, but things may be looking up, according to the Dairy Farmers of Washington, the Washington State Dairy Federation and area dairy farmers. “The dairy industry landscape this last year, I think it's kind of a mixed bag,” Dairy Farmers of Washington Executive Director Steve Seppi said. “I think the same inflation that's hitting all consumers across all categories… it's had a significant impact on the dairy industry.” ...

Heavenly Fresh

Creating a healthy environment for Othello

OTHELLO — Heavenly Fresh, a juice bar in Othello focused on health drinks and nutrition, officially opened for business in mid-July after a burglary delayed the opening. Now, business is slowly picking up, said the business’s owners Emily Cordero and her husband Salvador De Jesus Solano. “This month mainly has been picking up,” Cordero said. “Last month was pretty slow, the month before that was okay. But yeah, we would prefer to have more people.” Cordero and Solano initially had planned to provide a gaming space to attract younger clientele, but after multiple TVs, consoles and devices were stolen during the burglary on June 14, they had to push that goal down the road.

Legals for October, 23 2023

Grant Co. PUD wrestles with rate-setting policy

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners are scheduled to give individual statements on their goals and objectives in establishing rate-setting policy during the regular commission meeting Tuesday. Those statements are scheduled for 9:30 a.m., during the commission’s discussion session.

Mavs clinch state tourney berth

The Moses Lake Mavericks clinched a berth to 4A Slowpitch Softball State Tournament with Saturday’s 11-5 win over Eastmont in the Columbia Basin Big 9 district tournament. Check out Tuesday’s edition of the Columbia Basin Herald for a full story on Moses Lake’s win.

GCSO on scene at Saturday evening Mae Valley collision

MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Sheriff’s Office and cooperating agencies have responded to a collision near the intersection of Road 4 NE and Road E NE near Mae Valley, according to GCSO Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman. The collision involved a passenger car and a semi. One occupant of the car likely has a fractured leg and has been taken to the hospital for treatment. GCSO expects to have the roadway cleared within 90 minutes and the road is not considered a major thoroughfare, so no emergency notification was sent out to the public via Nixle, Foreman said.

Early learning town hall set for Tuesday

The North Central Early Learning Coalition in cooperation with Catholic Charities, the North Central Education Service District and the apple STEM Network will host a town hall to discuss early childhood education Tuesday at CB Tech in Moses Lake.

STUDIO BASIN: Responsibility with pets, Moms Helping Moms, elections and playoffs

MOSES LAKE – On this episode of the Studio Basin podcast, Managing Editor Rob Miller talks about the ongoing issues related to stray animals and overcrowded animal shelters in Grant and Adams counties...

Tigers sweep East Valley

EPHRATA – A strong start allowed the Tigers to handle business against East Valley (Yakima) on Tuesday night, sweeping the visiting Red Devils to improve to 9-3 on the season and 7-1 in the Central Washington Athletic Conference. “Getting a big lead in the beginning of sets is always a big deal,” Ephrata senior Addison Mills said. “So you can get people on the bench in, and you can do a lot more when you get a strong start.” ...

Basin football scores: Week 8

COLUMBIA BASIN – Local football teams lit up the scoreboards in Week 8.

Othello drops Kelso 42-24

Huskies score six rushing touchdowns in match against Highlanders

OTHELLO – The Huskies gained more than 350 yards on offense and scored six touchdowns on the ground in Friday night’s 42-24 win over Kelso, using a fast start to take a 20-3 lead into the half. Disregarding kneeldowns, the Huskies scored on six of their seven offensive drives on Friday night...

Q&A: Soap Lake City Council position 7 candidates

SOAP LAKE – Incumbent JoAnn Rushton is facing Judith Gorman for Soap Lake City Council Position 7...

Jeffrey Van Ness

Nov. 7, 1962 — Sept. 13, 2023

Jeffrey Paul Van Ness, 61, of Moses Lake, passed away quietly at home with his family by his side Sept. 13, 2023, after a short battle with cancer. Jeff was born to Jerry A. Van Ness and Alice Kelley on Nov. 7, 1962, in Missoula, Montana, before settling in Moses Lake. After graduating from MLHS in 1981, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. As a sergeant in the Army, Jeff was stationed in Germany from 1981 to 1985, where he was honored and proud to serve his country. After returning home, Jeff had various jobs. He knew many trades, but was mostly mechanically inclined, and very hard-working.

GCAO adoption events coming

MOSES LAKE – Grant County Animal Outreach will be putting on pet adoption events at multiple Moses Lake locations in the next few weeks.

ACPR on parvo hold for two weeks

OTHELLO – The Adams County Pet Rescue has been forced to shut down for two weeks after a fully vaccinated dog came down with canine parvovirus, known as parvo. The shelter cannot accept any dogs or adopt any dogs out until Nov. 2.

Group14 releases third quarter review

MOSES LAKE – Group14 Technology released its third quarter review Thursday, which said that the company ramped up construction on its incoming one million-square-foot Moses Lake battery active materials factory, labeled “BAM-2.”

BBCC tests No. 1 seed in NIC

MOSES LAKE – Coming off of a bye on Monday, the Lady Vikes hoped to come out firing against the top team in the Eastern Region as they traveled to North Idaho College to challenge the Cardinals. Although the Lady Vikes and Cardinals are on opposite sides of the standings, the Lady Vikes gave the Cards a run for their money in their first match and hoped to do the same on Wednesday, October 18th.

Building permits for Oct. 20, 2023

City of Moses Lake, unincorporated Grant County

Gourd standard

Growing pumpkins at home is easier than it looks

MOSES LAKE — They’re everywhere this time of year, those round orange gourds. As soon as October rolls around, commercial pumpkin patches start doing a business as brisk as the weather. But home gardeners can grow the decorative – and often tasty – gourds as well...

Legals for October, 20 2023

Quincy area parks district on ballot; recreation survey results reviewed

QUINCY — Quincy-area residents are being invited to a town hall meeting Nov. 1 to discuss the proposal to establish a regional parks district. The proposal is on the Nov. 7 ballot. The money raised through the district would be used to build and operate a new indoor sports facility in Quincy, called the Q-Plex, and a new Quincy swimming pool. If the regional parks district is formed, property owners would pay 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. The parks district boundary would be the same as the Quincy School District, excluding the Douglas County portion and including the cities of Quincy and George.

Grant County ports gearing up for growth

MOSES LAKE — Grant County ports are gearing up for increased business and industry across the region with no shortage of industrial land to develop but with a focus primarily on expanding rail access, utilities and other infrastructure to support development. “There's a core excitement in this region for growth,” Port of Ephrata Executive Director David Lanman said. “I think it's just a matter of getting everybody together going in the same direction. There's a significant opportunity in this area.” Port of Moses Lake Director of Business Development Richard Hanover explained some of the factors the port looks at for expansion and drawing in new business.

Vantage opens final facility at Quincy data center

QUINCY — Vantage Data Centers’ Quincy campus is finally complete, according to an announcement from the company. Vantage held a ribbon-cutting Wednesday at its third and final Quincy facility, dubbed WA13, with local leaders in attendance, according to the announcement. The 530,000-square-foot facility adds 64 megawatts of IT capacity to the 68-acre campus, now totaling 89 megawatts across nearly 775,000 square feet and three facilities. The new WA13, in accordance with Vantage’s “sustainable by design” principles, included a number of green features, a closed-loop air-cooled chiller system and Tier 4 generators to reduce particulate and nitric oxide emissions among them.

Law enforcement records for Oct. 20, 2023

Ephrata PD, Grant County Jail, Othello PD

BIG SKY NOW: Comeback wins and playoff hopes

MOSES LAKE — On this week’s episode of the Big Sky Now podcast, Josh Dugan and Fritz Neighbor of the Daily Inter Lake, Mark Nelke of the Coeur d’Alene Press and Ian Bivona of the Columbia Basin Herald go over last week’s headlines from the Big Sky, including Montana defeating Idaho on the road and Idaho State coming back from down 27 points to beat Eastern Washington. This week’s episode also features a buy or sell segment, discussing if Sacramento State is a threat to win the Big Sky, Eastern Washington’s playoff chances, if Montana had resolidified itself atop the Big Sky and where Portland State stands among the league.

Mavs win Big 9 title, prepare for district title game

MOSES LAKE — With Tuesday’s sweep of West Valley (Yakima) the Mavericks won the Columbia Basin Big 9 regular season softball title, allowing Moses Lake to host this weekend’s district championship game against Eastmont. The Big 9 title was locked up with a 16-4 and 21-0 win over the Rams on Tuesday. “When we went to West Valley (Tuesday), we knew we had to basically sweep to host, and that’s what the girls wanted to do; and they did it with an exclamation mark,” Moses Lake coach Mike Hofheins said. “When you get to host a district championship at your own park, that’s pretty fun.”

Linda Marie Lesser

Aug. 25, 1953 — Oct, 12, 2023

Linda Marie (Knopp) Lesser went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Oct. 12, 2023, at the age of 70. Born Aug. 25, 1953, to Melvin and Maureen Knopp, Linda grew up on the family farm near Marlin, Washington until her family moved to Leslieville, Alberta, Canada when she was 13. While visiting family in Washington, Linda reconnected with what would become the love of her life, Ron Lesser. After marrying Ron in 1980, Linda returned to Marlin, Washington as a homemaker. It was here that Ron and Linda raised their two children Holly and Wade and enjoyed life on the family farm. Linda had a gift of creativity and enjoyed all types of crafts. As much as she enjoyed her many roles, she loved the role of being “Grandma” best. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of those who loved her dearly and were blessed to know her.

Michelle Taylor

Sept. 5, 1962 — Dec. 12, 2022

Michelle R. Taylor, 60, of Moses Lake, Wash., passed away Dec. 12, 2022, in her hometown. Born on Sept. 5, 1962, in Moses Lake, Michelle was the beloved daughter of Hazel Dortch Grant and Ralph Johnson. She is survived by her sister Terri Wyman (Lane Wyman), her daughter Debra Kimble Stephens and her two sons Alex Lennon and Dusty Baughman. Michelle also leaves behind four cherished grandchildren: Mikiah Kimble, Brianna Kimble, Nevaeh Santiago and Antonio Santiago. She will be dearly missed by her family and her loyal companion, Simba. Michelle was a very cheerful and loving person. She had her rough days, but she always managed to bounce back quickly. Her laughter and smile had the power to light up any room she entered. She brought joy and happiness to those around her.

News bites for Oct. 19, 2023

EPHRATA — Amateur radio enthusiasts in Grant County took part in a Simulated Emergency Test Oct. 7, according to a statement from the Grant county Sheriff’s Office.

ACFD 5 hosts annual open house

OTHELLO – Adams County Fire District 5 hosted its annual Fire Prevention Week open house Oct. 12 at their station in Othello, alongside several other emergency services and agencies.

Old Hotel to hold benefit auction Saturday

Othello’s Old Hotel Art Gallery will be hosting its annual benefit auction Saturday starting at 5:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Parish Hall, located at 616 E. Juniper St. “It's actually our largest fundraiser, our largest source of income for the year.” Copas said. “As a nonprofit, it's really important to us, and it's a silent auction and a live auction…There’s a buffet, there's going to be local wines and beer.” General admission is $20, senior admission is $18. No one under 21 years of age is permitted at the event. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. along with a buffet, the silent auction begins at 6:00 p.m. and the live auction starts at 7:30 p.m....

Legals for October, 19 2023

Port of Ephrata sees opportunities to help community thrive

EPHRATA – David Lanman, the new executive director at the Port of Ephrata said he’s hoping to take the port to new heights – literally in some respects. The port’s airstrip has traditionally served local groups, but he said he’s set a goal of making it a money-maker that helps Ephrata thrive.

LGBTQ+ academic scholarships open

MOSES LAKE – Scholarship website Bold.org announced Monday several new academic scholarships tailored specifically for LGBTQ+ high school, undergraduate and graduate students.

South Grant Co. candidate forum coming Wednesday

MATTAWA – The community is invited to the South Grant County Candidate Forum Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Wahluke High School, according to an announcement from the South Grant County Chamber of Commerce.

Public invited to comment on EPA herbicide policy

MOSES LAKE – The Agricultural Retailer’s Association announced Wednesday it is encouraging public comment on a proposed Endangered Species Act herbicide strategy draft from the Environmental Protection Agency to bring the EPA's pesticide program into compliance with the ESA. Comments are due no later than Oct. 22.

Three inducted into Ag Hall of Fame

MOSES LAKE — The 82nd annual Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce meeting showcased the 2023 Ag Hall of Fame inductions on Tuesday at the Grant County Fairgrounds 4H Building.

Local economic innovation key to success says Dept. of Commerce director

MOSES LAKE — Mike Fong, director of the Washington Department of Commerce, said economic innovation starts locally. “We want to strengthen communities and help communities build their own capacity and potential,” Fong said while he was in Moses Lake Monday. “And we don’t want to dictate that. We really want to help that vision become reality. And that’s a local vision.”

Soap Lake residents invited to take Creative District survey

SOAP LAKE — Soap Lake residents are invited to take a survey detailing their priorities for the proposed Soap Lake Creative District, according to an announcement by the city. The results will be reviewed at meetings of the creative district planning committee.

Tigers homecoming nobility 2023

EPHRATA – The Ephrata Tigers celebrated Homecoming during halftime at last week’s gridiron match against the Grandview Greyhouds. See full coverage of the game in today’s sports section.

Homecoming victory: Tigers improve to 5-2 with win over Greyhounds

EPHRATA – The Tigers lit up the scoreboard in Friday night’s 48-14 win over the Grandview Greyhounds, amassing nearly 400 yards of offense while finding success in both the pass and run game during the Homecoming match.

Mavs fall in close match to West Valley

MOSES LAKE – While the final score didn’t fall in the Mavericks’ favor, Tuesday night’s 3-1 loss to West Valley (Yakima) was just about as close as a loss could be.

Pumpkin patch kids

MOSES LAKE - Alice Westergard, 1 ½, left, and 6-month-old Heath Westergard explore pumpkin leaves at Rue & Sage in Moses Lake Wednesday morning. See Friday’s Homes section for pumpkin growing tips.

Linda J. Parks Marean

Linda Jean Parks Marean, 73, of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, formerly of Klamath Falls, Oregon, passed away Oct. 16, 2023, at Frankfort Regional Medical Center, Frankfort, Kentucky. Born in Emporia, Kansas, on April 13, 1950, she was the daughter of the late Ralph Donald Parks and Nina Jean Taylor Parks. Linda worked as a music teacher in Oregon for over 30 years and directed many church and community vocal and handbell choirs. After moving to Kentucky, she was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Frankfort where she directed the handbell choir. Active with the Anderson County Extension Service in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, she was a member of the Anderson Piece Makers and Wilderness Trace Quilt Guild in Harrodsburg. She was also an avid supporter of the Anderson County Senior Center in Lawrenceburg.

Evelyn Mae (Knecht) Hardy

Evelyn Mae went to be with the Lord in the early morning of Oct. 17, 2023, at the age of 90. Born February 16, 1933, in Lind, Washington to Edward and Lydia Knecht, Evelyn lived on her great-grandparents’ farm in Warden, Washington. She learned to play guitar at the age of 10, and at 13 was given the opportunity to play and sing on her own radio program on KSEM, known as the Sweetheart of the Columbia Basin, until the age of 17. After completing high school in Warden with a graduating class of five, she went to work for General Electric in Richland, Washington, which would prove to be the best move of her life. There she met the love of her life, Aulton Clyde Hardy, better known to his friends as Jack, who was stationed in the Army at Camp Hanford. They shared a love for music and a love for one another like no other.

Jose Mel Martinez

Longtime Moses Lake resident Jose Mel Martinez passed away at the age of 62. Mr. Martinez was a kind and selfless man who cared for his elderly father and deeply loved his family as well as his country. He was a staunch supporter of local law enforcement and the military and donated generously to organizations serving those men and women. Always concerned for his fellow man, Mr. Martinez never ignored anyone in need and always made himself available to those needing assistance. Jose Martinez is survived by a loving family and will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched.

EDITORIAL: Paws for thought

Late in September, Adams County Pet Rescue announced that, without an influx of funding, it would need to shutter its doors and stop serving the people and pets of Adams County...

Basin sports schedule for Oct. 18-24

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

Gård Public House keeps it local, serves regionally

ROYAL CITY — Everybody loves a “best-kept secret,” a place they can introduce their friends to that hasn’t been discovered yet by the public at large. And Royal City boasts just such a gem: Gård Public House. “We had people say ‘We love Gård; we don't want to tell anybody about it because we love keeping it to ourselves,” said Josh Lawrence, who owns Gård with his wife, Lisa...

Eagles post strong results at ITA Northwest Regionals

STANFORD, Calif. — The weekend road trip to California yielded good results for Eastern Washington women's tennis at the ITA Northwest Regionals. The Eagles competed four days (Oct. 12-15) in their second tournament of the fall season.

Moravida

Grant County Fairgrounds to host Hispanic festival

MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Fairgrounds will host Moses Lake’s second annual Moravida Festival Oct. 27 and 28, a commemoration of life festival related to Day of the Dead for all ages intended to honor late loved ones and ancestors. The Moravida Pre-Party Kick-Off Dance on Oct. 27 will go from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., and the free Festival on Oct. 28 will go from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The event’s planning committee consists of Fairgrounds Coordinator Rebecca Martinez and six other community members.

Legals for October, 18 2023

Eviation announces aircraft sale

ARLINGTON — Eviation Aircraft has announced the sale of 25 of its all-electric commuter aircraft to a German-based regional airline, FlyVBird. FlyVBird also took an option to buy 25 additional aircraft, according to a company press release.

WalletHub releases top WA colleges and universities list

MOSES LAKE – Personal finance website WalletHub released Monday its 2024’s Best College & University Rankings report, as well as expert commentary and separate rankings for colleges and for universities, according to an announcement from WalletHub...

Othello Fall Clean Up coming Nov. 4

OTHELLO — Residents of Othello can dispose of their yard waste Nov. 4 at the city’s annual Fall Clean Up, according to an announcement from the city.

Othello candidates gather for meet-and-greet

OTHELLO – Political candidates in Othello gathered at Lighthouse Café for a meet-and-greet event Monday evening to allow members of the public a chance to meet the candidates in person...

Crossroads fundraiser banquet coming Saturday

MOSES LAKE — Crossroads Pregnancy Center will hold its annual fundraiser banquet Saturday, according to an announcement from the center. The event will be held in the Grant County Fairgrounds Commercial Building, according to the announcement. Fellowship and seating will begin at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will begin at 6 p.m. This year’s theme is “The Shelter in the Storm,” according to the announcement. The guest speaker is Kirk Walden, author of “Saving Samaria.” All funds benefit Crossroads Pregnancy Center, which has facilities in Ephrata and Moses Lake and provides support for pregnant women and children with free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, parenting classes, breastfeeding support and diapers and clothing, according to its website. More information can be found at pregnancywa.org.

Soap Lake mayor under investigation for inappropriate conduct

SOAP LAKE — Soap Lake Mayor Michelle Agliano has taken a leave of absence from city administration after city staff made claims against her indicating that she had acted inappropriately and possibly illegally. “These things are all being investigated, I am on leave until after the election at which time I will comply with whatever the City Attorney (Julie Norton) has recommended to the (Soap Lake City) Council,” Agliano said in a written statement to the Columbia Basin Herald...

Pit stop

MOSES LAKE – Thousands of geese stopped for a rest in a field along Potato Hill Road NE on Monday as they worked on migrating south for the upcoming winter. Thank you to reader Theresa Campbell for calling in to let us know about Moses Lake’s feathered visitors.

Grant PUD rate talk chopped from Tuesday meeting

EPHRATA — A planned discussion about possible Grant County PUD rates was abruptly canceled and a PUD commission workshop closed for a few minutes after a statement from commission chair Nelson Cox...

Fresh News: Fall bite is on at Potholes

The current water level on Potholes Reservoir is 1,031.4 feet, rising 0.6 feet this week. We are currently 4.9 feet above low pool. The water temperature is in the upper 50s on the main reservoir. The water temperatures in the sand dunes are in the upper 50s to low 60s. The fall bite is on for all species, so it’s time to get out on the water. Walleye fishing has very good this week. The walleye are in 10-30 feet right now. Fish the humps in front of the sand dunes trolling No. 5 or No. 7 Flicker Shads or No. 9 Flicker Minnows. Cast jerk baits, swim baits and lipless crank baits in the shallower water. Fish the deeper fish with a Slow Death Hook-Smile Blade rig with a crawler and bottom bouncer. 1/2-ounce blade baits and Rapala Jigging Raps are producing as well. Fish Crab Creek and the face of the dunes.

Broncos royalty

Members of the 2023 homecoming court smile on the field during halftime at the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Homecoming game Friday. The Broncos are dealing with multiple injured players, but didn't let that stop them from celebrating their students. Check out page B1 in Wednesday's paper for full coverage of the game.

Broncos, battling injuries, fall 25-0 to Reardan

RITZVILLE – The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos are battling the injury bug this season, as many players have started in new positions over the past weeks, including in Friday’s 25-0 loss to Reardan. “We just have to play better, it doesn’t matter who’s in there,” LRS coach Brendan Bermea said. “You have to maximize your opportunity and give it everything you can. We’ve got to do a better job as coaches to get them prepared.” ...

Cyle Robert Delgado

Sept. 11, 1986- Aug. 11, 2023

Cyle Robert Delgado, 37, went to be with our Lord on August 11, 2023...

Soap Lake man sentenced to more than 22 years for production of child pornography

SPOKANE – On Oct. 11, U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Soap Lake resident Michael Gene Rice, 49, to 264 months and 27 days in federal prison for Production and Attempted Production of Child Pornography, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office...

Graffiti causes challenges for Othello landowners

OTHELLO — Othello Police Chief Dave Rehaume said the gang-related graffiti on an outbuilding facing an alley is an illustration of the problems it causes for property owners...

Gang activity on the decline in Othello

OTHELLO — While there have been high-profile incidents and arrests within the last year, gang activity in Othello seems to be decreasing. “I don’t want to say our gang problem has gone away, but we’ve seen a decrease recently,” said Othello Police Department Detective Steven Perez. “We used to meet once a month with the (Othello) School District, however, the last six months or so I think we had about two (meetings).”

Warden school trustees review levee, discuss bus staffing

WARDEN — The Oct. 12 Warden School Board meeting featured a presentation from investment bankers D.A. Davidson & Co. regarding the board’s options for levy renewals. The board also delayed action on the Public School Employees Collective Bargaining Agreement...

Multiple fires over the weekend in Grant County

EPHRATA — Firefighters from Grant County Fire District 13 responded to several wildfires over the last week, according to a statement from the fire district...

BASIN SPORTS RECAP: Playoffs on the horizon

COLUMBIA BASIN — District playoffs are right around the corner, as local teams head down the stretch of their respective regular seasons. Check out this week’s local sports recap, with scores and records for local football, girls soccer, slowpitch softball, swim and dive and volleyball squads. All scores, records and standings are according to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

Joe H. McCullough

Joe McCullough, 76, was born March 31, 1947, to two very loving parents, Mack and Beverly, in Wenatchee, Washington. His beloved Grammy Bert lived with them during Joe’s early years and she was very special to him. That relationship gave Joe a love and respect for older grammy types in his life. Joe’s early years were full of backyard baseball, cars, school, cars, water skiing at Lake Chelan, cars, camping trips, and more cars. He and his dad loved the times they spent together working on their latest project. And Beverly supplied the treats. During his high school years, Joe joined DeMolay, a Masonic youth organization, and he was a very accomplished drummer in various bands.

Winking sun: Weather report for Monday, Oct. 16, 2023

Weather report for Monday, Oct. 16, 2023

STUDIO BASIN: A school district, elections and massive wins

MOSES LAKE – On this episode of the Studio Basin podcast, Wahluke School District Superintendent Andy Harlow joined Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer to talk about some of the challenges the district has faced and some of the things its administration and staff have done to meet them. Harlow is a veteran of more than 20 years in the district, and talked about how he came to Mattawa and the rewards of teaching in the district...

News Bites for Oct. 16, 2023

EPHRATA – The Grant County Sheriff’s Office and Grant County Coroner’s Office are looking into the death of a man found early Saturday in the middle of Sheep Canyon Road near Road E-NE north of Ephrata, according to a GCSO statement...

Lighthouse Café growing outreach arm in Othello

OTHELLO – Since hiring Program Director Angela Kudsk earlier in the year, Lighthouse Café has developed a slew of after-school activities, job growth and education programs and community programs, which Kudsk presented during her first quarterly report at the Othello City Council meeting Oct. 9...

USDA releases agricultural statistics for Northwest Region

OLYMPIA – The United States Department of Agriculture’s Northwest Regional Field Office released agricultural statistics for canola, corn for grain, dry edible beans, sugarbeets, alfalfa hay and all other hay for Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Alaska Thursday...

Moses Lake hosts cross country invitational at The Gorge

GEORGE – The 33rd annual Moses Lake Cross Country Invitational was held at The Gorge Amphitheater on Thursday, giving runners from across the state the opportunity to trek through the hilly terrain of the music venue.

Legals for October, 16 2023

Quincy continues to be a draw for data centers

QUINCY — Quincy is and has been a busy farm town, a center of production for tree fruit, potatoes and other crops. Now it’s also home to a host of data centers...

Gesa staff volunteer locally during day of service

MOSES LAKE – Gesa Credit Union stepped out to help two local organizations on their annual day of service on Oct. 9. The regional banking organization closed its 28 branches and stepped out to help 31 community organizations statewide...

Drought impacts a dozen WA counties

UNION GAP – A dozen counties in Washington state on both sides of the Cascades are facing drought conditions this year, according to a drought declaration from the Department of Ecology, causing strains on agriculture and day-to-day living. “Statewide, May through August of this year for Washington state, the average statewide has been the ninth driest such period since 1895,” said Jeff Marti, statewide drought coordinator with the DoE. “And in terms of temperature, May through August of this year was the third warmest since 1895.” ...

WSU astronomer: Don’t miss Saturday’s ‘ring of fire’ solar eclipse

PULLMAN - A shadow of the moon footprinted on the Earth will appear to be ablaze in a glowing ring of fire this Saturday for people across a narrow band of the United States, including the Pacific Northwest...

WSU's CAHNRs lands top 15 ranking for best U.S. agricultural sciences college

PULLMAN - College ranking and review website Niche named Washington State University’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences as one of the 15 best U.S. agricultural sciences colleges for 2024...

Furrever loveable

ACPR pets looking for a home with loving humans

OTHELLO – Adams County Pet Rescue, also commonly referred to as ACPR, recently put out a call for the public’s help in supporting their work to care for strays. As part of the Columbia Basin Herald’s efforts to support nonprofits in the community, we encourage families to consider adopting pets from ACPR and other shelters in the area with responsible pet care practices...

Purple Sage Meadows cleared to move forward with development

SOAP LAKE – The formation of the Purple Sage Meadows development district is officially reflected in the Soap Lake city ordinances after final approval by the city council during the Oct. 4 regular meeting...

Prize coverage

Columbia Basin Herald team brings home more than a dozen awards

KENNEWICK – This past weekend I had the privilege of going to the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s annual conference. While I was there, I found myself beaming a bit with pride as the team I am fortunate to work with was recognized for their hard work via WNPA’s Better Newspaper competition...

Tigers defeat Othello 2-1

EPHRATA – The Ephrata Tigers came out on top of Saturday’s Central Washington Athletic Conference match on Saturday, defeating Othello 2-1 at home.

Cougars look to shake off loss, host Arizona

PULLMAN – Coming off their first loss, the No. 19 Washington State Cougars return home on Saturday to take on an improved Arizona squad, who is coming off of back-to-back closely contested games against two top-10 teams in the country.

Eagles continue to find success on the court

SOAP LAKE – The wins continue to come in for Soap Lake volleyball, who improved to 9-2 this season with Tuesday’s 3-0 sweep of Thorp at home.

Legals for October, 13 2023

Othello council approves Public Works lead, hears suggested water rates

OTHELLO – The Othello City Council meeting Monday featured both a presentation by consultants FCS Group on Othello’s water rates and the approval of a memorandum of understanding between the city and the International Union of Operating Engineers on a new lead position at Othello Public Works...

Q&A: Othello City Council Candidates

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

Adams County Auditor presents county finances to commissioners

RITZVILLE — Adams County Auditor Heidi Hunt presented to the Adams County Board of Commissioners Tuesday during the commissioner’s regular meeting on the County’s current financial position compared to previous years. “I just think it's really good for us to look at where we are now, and where we've been,” Hunt said. “Because if we are rolling backward, you want to be careful. You want to watch: what direction are we going, at what percentage, and how quickly is it falling?” Hunt presented reports on previous years’ balances and expenditures.

Moses Lake considering development impact fees

MOSES LAKE – The city of Moses Lake is asking the public to participate in the upcoming Oct. 24 Moses Lake City Council Meeting to provide input regarding impact fees that might fund fire protection infrastructure,” according to a press release from the city...

Police logs for Oct. 13, 2023

Reports from Moses Lake Police, Ephrata Police and Grant County Jail.

Legals for October, 12 2023

Buzz King

Celebration of life for Buzz King. 12-3 p.m. Saturday at the George Community Hall in George.

Cattle seeing high market prices, low herd average

ELLENSBURG — It’s a great time to be in the cattle industry, said Washington Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President and cattle rancher Chelsea Hajny...

Public Works director retires

EPHRATA - Ephrata Mayor Bruce Bruce Reim presents a plaque to retiring Public Works Director Bill Sangster during the Ephrata City Council's Oct. 4 meeting. Sangster is retiring from the city after more than two decades of service to the people of Ephrata.

Ephrata addresses annexation, approves Homecoming festivities

EPHRATA – City Administrator Ray Towry said the city is moving forward with a variety of measures after last week’s city council meeting, including a request from property owners to annex a small piece of land at the request of a property owner with land that overflows the city’s border...

New Discovery in town

Discovery Cider Company set to open in Ephrata in early November

EPHRATA – A building on Basin Street will soon be home to a new business in Ephrata, the Discovery Cider Company. “So, initially, we opened a cidery on the west side, in Tacoma,” said Brennan James, who owns the cidery with his wife, Berlyn Sandstrom. “We opened it as Tin Hat Cider Company, and it started because I just liked cider.” ...

Royal City ag company honored

ROYAL CITY – NASBITE International recognized Royal City agricultural producer Cascade Milling as an Outstanding Exporter at the Seventh Annual National Small Business Exporter Summit Oct. 3, according to an announcement from Cascade Milling...

Q&A: Moses Lake City Council Position 7 candidates

MOSES LAKE – Incumbent David Skaug is facing Elisia Dalluge for Moses Lake City Council Position 7...

Q&A: Warden City Council Position 4

MOSES LAKE – Brittney Pittman is running against Dario Pruneda for Position 4 on the Warden City Council...

Cleo Reta (Johnson) Gossett

March 24, 1930 — Oct. 5, 2023

Longtime Ephrata resident Cleo Gossett went to be with the Lord on October 5, 2023. Cleo was born March 24, 1930, and grew up on a farm near Artesia, New Mexico with 13 siblings who all experienced hard work as a way of life...

Cindy June Alvarez

June 3, 1957 — Sept. 20, 2023

Cindy June Alvarez, 66, a Spokane Valley resident passed away peacefully in her sleep after a short battle with congestive heart failure Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023...

Steven Lloyd Graham

June 18, 1957 — Sept. 29, 2023

To his sons, Steve Graham, 66, was renowned for his good looks, athleticism, charm and supreme manliness. Truly godlike among mortals, this fine figure of a man was an idol to children of all ages and the ultimate authority on all things mechanical and Monty Python-related. To those who loved him, he will forever simply be “the greatest”...

LETTER: Change needed at dangerous intersection

Another accident today at the intersection of Wheeler and Road L. Lots of accidents, plus the traffic is getting bad there again. When is the city, county or state going to do something about that intersection? The rumble strips and stop sign lighting don't help with the amount of traffic and, apparently, don't help that much with accidents either.

LETTER: A nod of respect for middle school athletes

Middle school is a great new experience for kids, including the opportunity, for the first time, to play sports for their respective school. Playing other schools, traveling, wearing school uniforms...

Broncos remain unbeaten, sweep Reardan

RITZVILLE – The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos remain unbeaten after Tuesday’s sweep of Reardan, using a strong start to the match to improve to 11-0 on the season. “It’s always important to start off smooth,” LRS head coach Cari Galbreath said. “Get us rolling and get our game going.”

Radiation Oncology center begins treating patients

MOSES LAKE — Sue Arnold said she had first-hand experience with the challenges of radiation treatment for cancer. So she was pleased to cut the ribbon on the new Radiation Oncology Center built by Confluence Health. The first patients will be treated there today...

Autumn party: Othello Chamber hosting Family Fall Festival

OTHELLO – The Greater Othello Chamber of Commerce will host a Family Fall Festival Oct. 21 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. in front of Othello City Hall. This is the first fall festival the chamber has put on...

Supporting faith

Menno Mennonite Church hosts annual auction

RITZVILLE – A partnership of several Mennonite churches from across Washington put on the annual Mennonite Auction at Menno Mennonite Church about 20 miles west of Ritzville Saturday morning and afternoon. “All the funds go directly to the Mennonite Central Committee and they do world relief here and around the world, in different forms,” Sail Chair Michael Claassen said...

ACPR asks Othello for more funding

OTHELLO — Members of the public and Adams County Pet Rescue board member Tammy Foley spoke up at Monday’s regular Othello City Council meeting to ask the city to increase its funding for ACPR...

Local sports schedule Oct. 11-17

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

BBCC volleyball to host breast cancer awareness night

MOSES LAKE – Wednesday night’s Big Bend volleyball matchup between the Vikings and Yakima Valley will also serve as a fundraiser for the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation, bringing awareness to and raising money for the fight against breast cancer.

BASIN SPORTS RECAP: Local volleyball teams find success

COLUMBIA BASIN – Postseason competition is just around the corner for the various girls soccer, football, volleyball, slowpitch softball and swim and dive teams across the Columbia Basin. Read along for a look at how local teams fared over the previous week.

Legals for October, 11 2023

One D charging up in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE – Dirt flies at the groundbreaking Monday for One D Battery Sciences’ silane offloading station, part of the company’s new Moses Lake facility...

Grant County deputy prosecutor joins U.S. Attorney’s Office

SPOKANE — Grant County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Carlee Bittle has been named a special assistant U.S. attorney for Eastern Washington, according to an announcement from Grant County Prosecutor Kevin McCrae and U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref...

SCC releases honor roll for Summer 2023

SPOKANE – Spokane Community College announced their honor roll for the 2023 Summer quarter on Oct. 4. The list features 487 students who achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or above, according to the announcement...

Q&A: Samaritan Healthcare commission candidates

MOSES LAKE – Incumbent Samaritan Healthcare Commissioner Dale Paris is being challenged by former commissioner Joe Akers for one of two open seats on the hospital district commission...

Royal royalty

ROYAL CITY — Megan Fielding, left, and Case Christensen, right, were selected as queen and king at Royal High School’s Homecoming game Friday. The Knights won the game 55-0 over Kiona-Benton.

Thursday bomb threat temporarily closes LRHS

RITZVILLE — A bomb threat closed down Lind-Ritzville High School Thursday, according to a statement from the Ritzville Police Department...

Clarence Fuchs

Aug. 25, 1937 — Oct. 6, 2023

Clarence Joseph Fuchs, 86, loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend to many, under the care of Heartlinks Hospice, passed away peacefully in Kennewick, Washington on Friday, October 6, 2023, surrounded by his family...

Harland L. Eastwood Jr.

Oct. 20, 1943 — Oct. 7, 2023

Harland Loveitt Eastwood, Jr. was born in Seattle, Wash., on Oct. 20, 1943, to Harland and Catherine (Koch) Eastwood Sr. He died Oct. 7, 2023, in Moses Lake, Wash., after a long battle with cancer.

Fire Marshal’s Office announces 2023 Fire Prevention Week

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Fire Marshal's Office announced Monday that Governor Jay Inslee officially proclaimed Oct. 8 to Oct. 14 as 2023 Fire Prevention Week. According to the announcement, this year’s theme is cooking safety.

Author discusses new novel at Moses Lake lecture Wednesday

MOSES LAKE — Author Shirley Miller Kamada will discuss her novel detailing the challenges faced by a Japanese-American family forced to give up their home in a lecture at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, 401 S. Balsam St.

Q&A Samaritan Healthcare commission candidates

Samaritan Healthcare commission candidates

Incumbent Samaritan Healthcare Commissioner Dale Paris is being challenged by former commissioner Joe Akers for one of two open seats on the hospital district commission.

Legals for October, 10 2023

Q&A: Moses Lake City Council candidates

Victor Lombardi and Jeremy Nolan are both running for Position 6 on the Moses Lake City Council. The Columbia Basin Herald asked each candidate the questions below with matching word count restrictions and a deadline to submit responses. The newspaper encourages voters to contact the candidates if they want to discuss issues in more depth.

Kersey announces resignation as port director

MOSES LAKE — Port of Moses Lake Director Don Kersey has announced his resignation, effective Oct. 24. Kersey announced his departure for a position with Group14 during the regular commission meeting Monday. “The port is a very special place, and it always will be. I’m just glad I was a part of it,” Kersey said to commissioners in making his announcement. Commissioner Kent Jones paid tribute to Kersey for his work.

Royal Knights dominate in 55-0 win

ROYAL CITY — On the second play of the Homecoming game against Kiona-Benton Friday, Royal quarterback Lance Allred took the snap, faked a handoff and flipped the ball to receiver Cade Allred. Cade Allred threw 36 yards to receiver Case Christensen for the touchdown. The Knights scored 35 points in the first quarter en route to a 55-0 win over Ki-Be. Lance Allred said after the game the key to a good performance is preparation. “(Watching) film,” he said. “Just seeing what we have, what they don’t – trying to find where we can penetrate, so we just hit that. We execute it every day in practice. It plays out on the field.”

Wizards, witches and house elves

Boys & Girls Club auction takes on a magical air

MOSES LAKE — The ATEC Building at Big Bend Community College was awash with magic Saturday, as witches, wizards and the occasional house elf turned out for “A Night at Hogwarts,” to raise funds for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin. “It was great, wasn't it?” said Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Kim Pope. “Between the decorating, and the people that dress up when they come, they really embrace whatever our theme is for the year. That's one of the reasons that we do it; we really want to capture that ambiance.”’ The night was certainly a success for the club. Pope was still working on the exact figures at press time, but she said preliminary numbers were in excess of $200,000. A raffle for a house donated by CAD Homes of Moses Lake didn’t sell enough tickets for the actual house to be built, but the net proceeds were split between the club and the winner, to the tune of about $35,000 apiece, Pope said.

Denis Noel 'Pete' Hardenbrook

June 28, 1934 — Sept. 28, 2023

Denis Noel “Pete” Hardenbrook passed away in Moses Lake, Washington on September 28, 2023...

Caffeinated music: George CoffeeHouse concert series begins Oct. 21

GEORGE — The George CoffeeHouse Concert Series begins this month at the George Community Hall, according to an announcement from the series’ organizers...

Q&A: Soap Lake mayoral candidates

SOAP LAKE – Incumbent Mayor Michelle Agliano is running against Allen DuPuy for the position of Mayor of Soap Lake...

'Rural Vital Signs'

Rural Community Leadership Program coming to Othello

OTHELLO – Rural Development Initiatives Inc. will be delivering a Rural Community Leadership Program to Othello funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge. The hybrid in-person and online program will begin Oct. 12 and end April 11...

Weather for Monday, Oct. 9, 2023

Weather for Monday, Oct. 9, 2023

Q&A: Othello School Board Pos. 1 candidates

OTHELLO – Incumbent Kelli Camp is facing Aaron Gerber for Othello School Board Director Position 1. The Columbia Basin Herald asked each candidate the questions below with matching word count restrictions and a deadline to submit responses. The newspaper encourages voters to contact the candidates if they want to discuss issues in more depth...

‘Now let’s go dig some dirt’

After long road, groundbreaking signals start of Samaritan construction

MOSES LAKE — With the shovels in the ground, the hard hats ready and construction equipment on site, Samaritan Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Theresa Sullivan said there were times she wondered if the construction of a new Samaritan Hospital would get this far. “As many of you know, there were days when I wondered, is this really going to happen? Are we really going to have a groundbreaking?” Sullivan said during the groundbreaking ceremony Friday. “In fact, some of you know I didn’t really want to answer the question any more (about) when are we going to break ground, because I was wrong 100% of the time.” ...

Legals for October, 9 2023

Jackrabbits fall in OT to Cashmere

QUINCY – It took 87 minutes for a goal to be scored in Thursday’s Caribou Trail League match between Cashmere and Quincy, as the Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the second overtime to take down the Jackrabbits. “They came in, their focus was to control the game,” Quincy coach Patricia Romero said. “I think that it was pretty obvious that they were controlling the game – I told them at the end of the game, ‘That’s just how soccer is. You win some, you lose some.’” ...

Local gridiron scores

Results of football competition through Friday.

Homecoming win

Mavs topple Davis 59-14 for big game

MOSES LAKE – A slow start in the first quarter was quickly shaken off by the Moses Lake Mavericks on Friday night, who improved to 6-0 after a 59-14 win over Davis. “We feel good,” Moses Lake coach Brett Jay said. “It’s two games in a row we’ve had a slow first half, so that gets to us a little bit, but we went back to our fundamentals and that helped us have a solid second half. We’re seeing some different looks each week, which is interesting (because it’s different) than what we’ve seen on tape, so we’re just going to keep taking what they give us. I’m proud of the way we finished tonight.” ...

Job fair gives glimpse into economic opportunities

MOSES LAKE — Friday’s job fair at the Moses Lake WorkSource office highlighted, in part, the evolving nature of the local economy...

MLHS senior honored for academic excellence

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District announced Sept. 28 that Damien Paluch has been recognized as a Commended Student in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program...

Sila appoints plant manager for Moses Lake facility

MOSES LAKE – Sila Nanotechnologies announced Wednesday it has appointed Rosendo Alvarado as the company’s plant manager for its first mass-scale production facility in Moses Lake. Alvarado, a Moses Lake native with over 30 years of industry experience, transitions from his role as head of operations at Sila...

STUDIO BASIN: Education, opportunity, candy and solid sports performance

MOSES LAKE – On this episode of the Studio Basin podcast, Ephrata School District Superintendent Tim Payne stops by to talk about accomplishments at the district and how the district is working to ensure students and parents are successful. Payne and Managing Editor Rob Miller also discuss opportunities to build community and the economy in Ephrata and upcoming opportunities for parents and educators to learn better communication skills with youth...

Stephanie Jan Sherwood

Jan. 30, 1948 — Sept. 25, 2023

Stephanie Jan Sherwood, 75, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, September 25, 2023, at home in Ephrata, Washington...

Royal City to see new housing development

ROYAL CITY — Royal City will have some new housing opportunities soon. “There's going to be single- to two-family, four-family and multifamily components of this project, and then (also) some public dedication for continuing an existing pathway,” said Sara Prather, the land development manager for CAD Homes, which is developing the project...

John Richard Lochmiller

June 7, 1941 – Sept. 24, 2023

John Richard (Rick) Lochmiller, 82, left us quietly to go with the angels. Rick was born in Ainsworth, Nebraska on June 7, 1941, and died on September 24, 2023...

Kipp Joseph Reich

Nov. 5, 1964 – Oct. 3, 2023

It is with broken hearts that we have lost Kipp Joseph Reich, 58. He passed away peacefully at his home in Moses Lake on October 3, 2023. Kipp was just short of his 59th birthday on November 5th, a day he shares with his niece Jodee Garrett. He was part of his family’s birthdays that landed within a week of each other… calling themselves the “Group Shoot”. Bobby Garrett, Jodee Garrett, Nicole Cobb, Kipp Reich and John Reich will always be the “Group Shoot” Birthday Club...

Vikings basketballers to host CBCF fundraiser

MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Men’s Basketball team will be holding a car wash fundraiser this Saturday, October 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 801 N. Stratford Road. All proceeds will go to support the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation...

A note of appreciation from the publisher

Dear Readers and Subscribers of the Columbia Basin Herald, As president of the Hagadone Corporation's Communications Division, I wish to share my sincere pride and gratitude. Founded in 1941, this year we celebrate 82 years of the Columbia Basin Herald’s service to the community, and this weekend, we celebrate the dedicated men and women who have ensured the paper reaches our readers and subscribers for so many decades...

BIG SKY NOW: Idaho’s win over EWU, surprises from Week 5

MOSES LAKE – On this week’s episode of the Big Sky Now podcast, Daily Inter Lake Sports Reporter Fritz Neighbor and host Josh Dugan go over Montana’s 4-1 start to the season, along with what has gone right and wrong for the Grizzlies. Later on, Mark Nelke of the Coeur d’Alene Press and Ian Bivona of the Columbia Basin Herald join the show for the weekly Northwest Media Panel, discussing Idaho’s 44-36 win over Eastern Washington, surprises from Week 5 in the Big Sky and preview a big matchup between Montana and UC Davis. The Big Sky Now podcast can be found on YouTube (https://bit.ly/3Q415Hd) and Spotify (https://bit.ly/45kRYXg).

Police logs for Oct. 6, 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 October, 6 2023

Christensen appointed Royal City mayor

ROYAL CITY — The torch was passed at the Royal city City Council meeting Tuesday, as Council Member Michael Christensen was sworn in as the city’s new mayor. Christensen replaced Mayor P. Kent Anderson, who announced his resignation last month...

Wildfire season winds down

MOSES LAKE — Most of the wildfires that flared up in Washington this summer are out, according to information from the National Interagency Fire Center...

Q&A: Soap Lake City Council Position 7 candidates

SOAP LAKE – Incumbent JoAnn Rushton is facing Judith Gorman for Soap Lake City Council Position 7...

Constructing standards

Quincy design guidelines under consideration

QUINCY — The proposal is still under review, and when it’s done Quincy officials will submit a proposal for design and construction standards to the Quincy City Council. A separate series of city standards would be a first for Quincy...

Tempel hired as new Ephrata baseball coach

EPHRATA – The Ephrata School District announced the hiring of a new varsity baseball coach Wednesday, with David Tempel being named the new head coach of the Tiger baseball program...

Cougars prepare for “aggressive” Bruin defense

PULLMAN – Coming off a bye week, the No. 13 Washington State Cougars travel to southern California for a matchup against a tough UCLA Bruin defense that stands toward the top of the Pac-12 in yards and points allowed per game...

Dale Smith

Aug. 11, 1929 - Sept. 25, 2023

Dale Earl Smith, 94 years young, passed away Monday, September 25, 2023, in Ephrata. Dale was born August 11, 1929, in Bayard, Nebraska. He was raised on farms in Morrill County with eight siblings...

Q&A: Moses Lake School District director candidates

MOSES LAKE — First-term incumbent Shannon Hintz is being challenged by Amy Breitenstein for one of three open positions on the Moses Lake School Board...

Ephrata cuts the ribbon for Columbia Ridge

EPHRATA – Community members and Ephrata School District officials stepped into Columbia Ridge Elementary’s newly renovated gym for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 28...

Soap Lake gets new mural by local artist

SOAP LAKE – The Soap Lake Creative District Planning Committee and the Friends of the Lower Grand Coulee commissioned and installed a mural by local artist Emma Buchanan in downtown Soap Lake Saturday morning...

Legals for October, 5 2023

State awarded federal grant for re-entry and employment services

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Employment Security Department and the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County will receive more than $6.2 million from a four-year federal grant called Partners for Reentry Opportunities in Workforce Development, according to an ESD announcement Wednesday...

GCSO seeks evading driver

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a Moses Lake man who led deputies on a chase Monday evening...

Othello budget solid, city waiving chamber event fees

OTHELLO – Monday’s Othello City Council meeting featured a presentation from the city’s Finance Officer Spencer Williams on the city’s projected 2024 revenue sources. The council also unanimously voted to waive all the city event fees for the Chamber of Commerce’s upcoming Family Fall Festival...

Grant officials host appreciation lunch for staff

EPHRATA – Elected officials from throughout Grant County were on hand to cook up and serve burgers, hot dogs and appreciation to county staff in front of the Grant County Courthouse Wednesday...

Cougars suffer first loss of season to River View

WARDEN — Despite a close final three sets, the Warden Cougars suffered their first loss of the season on Tuesday night, falling 3-1 to River View in a battle of the undefeated atop the Eastern Washington Athletic Conference (East). Warden entered the game 10-0, while the Panthers came into the game 9-0. “Every team wants to be undefeated, but it’s a lot of pressure too to have that,” Warden Head Coach Shanna Golladay said. “I feel like that (loss) can take a load off, and now we can focus on each game. We’re not going to be that 12-0, 13-0, and then we can just go in and play some volleyball.”

Building permits for Oct. 6, 2023

Unincorporated Grant County housing permits.

Alvin Joe Randall

Oct. 12. 1936 — Sept. 12, 2023

Alvin Joe Randall passed away on September 12, 2023. He was born October 12, 1936, to George H. and Elizabeth (Billie) Randall, in Mahatten, Montana.

Judy Ottmar Brady

May 19, 1945 — Sept. 29, 2023

It is with broken hearts that we announce the loss of the matriarch of the family. Judy Ottmar Brady passed away peacefully in her sleep Sept. 29, 2023, at the age of 78...

Local heritage

Wanapum traditions showcased at Archaeology Days

MATTAWA — An atlatl is definitely a help when throwing a spear, at least according to the children trying it out during Archaeology Days at the Wanapum Herritage Center. Presenter Tom Bailor showed the children how to use it – the blunt end of the spear in the socket on the atlatl, aim high and throw. He showed them how it had evolved; an unknown engineer added a notch that functions as a handle...

Tradition, culture highlighted at UMANI Festival

MOSES LAKE — Radel Llamas said the game was part of his childhood, but he hadn’t played it in a while. Llamas wound the string around the brightly colored top, and explained the goal was to make the top, called a trompo, do what he wanted it to. “You want to get it dancing,” he said. That part was relatively easy. He snapped the string and the top spun across the bricks in Sinkiuse Square. “El puente, that’s what they call it,” he said. “That was our internet back in the day.”

Othello Homecoming royalty announced

OTHELLO — Seniors Marlen Sosa and Kakyzz Gonzalez were named the queen and king of Homecoming at Othello High School Friday night. Othello students also pick Homecoming royalty from the Life Skills class. Reigning as the duchess and duke of Homecoming were Julia Alvarez and Andrew Arellano.

Arson burns home in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Authorities are seeking information about a residential fire in Moses Lake Tuesday morning, according to a statement from the city of Moses Lake.

Bulldogs to face UConn in Seattle this December

SEATTLE — The Gonzaga Bulldogs will match up against the UConn Huskies in the Continental Tire Seattle Tip-Off this winter, a rematch of the 2023 Elite Eight from the NCAA Tournament, Gonzaga Athletics announced Tuesday.

Senior calendar and center directory for October 2023

Below is a partial list of events that may be of interest to seniors in the Columbia Basin. To review more events, visit www.columbiabasinherald.com and click on the EVENTS link near the top of the page.

Mavs swimming well through first month of season

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake girls swim and dive team has picked up where they left off in 2022, jumping out to a 4-0 record in meets through the first month of the season.

Legals for October, 4 2023

Frito-Lay opens Community Builders Scholarship

PLANO, Texas – Frito-Lay announced Tuesday applications are open for the Frito-Lay Community Builders Scholarship, which will award four students $25,000 each to help further their higher education goals. The application submission deadline is Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. PST...

Semi burns at Moses Lake truck stop

MOSES LAKE — A semi-truck was destroyed by fire Tuesday afternoon in Moses Lake, according to a statement from the Moses Lake Fire Department...

ECBID rep speaks at Water Law conference

OTHELLO – The East Columbia Basin Irrigation District Development Coordinator Jon Erickson gave a presentation during the sixth annual Water Law in Central Washington conference Sept. 21 to 22 at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, according to an announcement from ECBID...

Man arrested in Mattawa shooting

MATTAWA — A 33-year-old man was arrested and booked on suspicion of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon following a shooting on Boundary Road in Mattawa the morning of Sept. 25...

$4M capital levy request before Wahluke voters

MATTAWA —Wahluke School District voters will be asked to accept or reject a four-year, $4 million capital improvement levy in the November general election...

Q&A: Quincy School District director candidates

QUINCY – Incumbent Heather Folks-Lambert is facing Shannon Durfee in the race for Position 3 on the Quincy School District Board. The Columbia Basin Herald posed the questions below to both candidates concurrently with matching word count restrictions and a deadline to submit their responses. Both responded within the timeframe specified...

ACPR in danger of going under

Local pet shelter serving Adams County in desperate need of funding and other support.

OTHELLO – Adams County Pet Rescue is in danger of having to close its doors. Shelter staff said the agency’s expenses are increasing and outpacing their revenue by a significant amount, and they are calling for donations to help make up the difference...

Fresh news: Near-record bluegill caught at Potholes

The current water level on Potholes Reservoir is 1030.4 feet – rising 1.8 feet this week. We are currently 3.9 feet above low pool. The water temperature is in the upper 50s on the main reservoir. The water temps in the sand dunes are in upper 50s to low 60s. Use extreme caution while running in the sand dunes, the face of the dunes and between Goose Island and the face of the dam. There are a lot of hazards that are just under the surface and not visible to the boater.

Local sports schedule Oct. 4-10

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

Vocal quartet coming to Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Out in the music world, there are many – oh, so many – “boy bands,” groups of three or four or five impossibly good-looking young men who sing shallow lyrics and perform complicated dance moves while mugging for the camera.

Familiar figure assumes permanent role as dean of CWU Libraries

ELLENSBURG - After an extensive national search, Sydney Thompson has been chosen as the new dean of Central Washington University Libraries...

Mennonite Country Auction coming Saturday

RITZVILLE — The quilts will be hung, the hymns will be sung and the cider will be pressed this weekend when Menno Mennonite Church holds its annual Mennonite Country Auction.This is the 45th year the church has held its traditional fall auction, according to the church’s website.

News bites for Oct. 3, 2023

EPHRATA — A Quincy man died Sunday evening in a motorcycle collision northwest of Ephrata, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

'A great day for us'

Open house, ribbon cutting Saturday for new Moses Lake cancer treatment center

MOSES LAKE — After a fundraising campaign that persisted – and was successful – in the teeth of a global pandemic, a new facility to provide radiation treatment for cancer patients in Moses Lake will have its grand opening Saturday. The open house for the Confluence Health Radiation Oncology Center will be from 10 a.m. to noon at 905 E. Hill Ave. The new treatment center is a joint project of the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation, Confluence Health and the Confluence Health Foundation. The ceremony will begin at 10:15, and representatives from all three groups will be cutting the ribbon at about 10:30 a.m. “It means so much to our community,” said foundation director Angel Ledesma at the groundbreaking ceremony in August 2022.

Senior living industry poised for growth

MOSES LAKE — Tana Gall, president of Merrill Gardens retirement communities, said she had entirely the wrong idea when she started working for a senior living facility.

Legals for October, 3 2023

State Board awards high-demand program funds

OLYMPIA — Eleven community colleges, three of them in eastern Washington, will receive $2 million to support programs that train students for high-demand careers, according to an announcement from the Washington State Board for Community and technical Colleges. The Legislature provided funding in the current state budget, which took effect in July, the announcement said. These colleges will receive awards over a two-year period:

Reptile Lady coming to Moses Lake Museum & Art Center

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Museum & Art Center will host snakes, alligators and even a tortoise Saturday when the Reptile Lady comes to town, according to an announcement from the museum. The Reptile Lady, also known as April Jackson, will bring her scaly friends to the museum for two shows, one at 12 p.m. and the other at 1:30 p.m., the museum wrote. Seating for each show is limited to 200 people and will be on a first-come-first-served basis. This fun and educational event is for families and children of all ages, the announcement said. Attendees can a snake, pet a tortoise or have a photo taken with a baby alligator. Come with your questions for April and listen as she shares fun facts about her reptile friends.

Klitzke joins commercial banking at Washington Trust

MOSES LAKE — Melissa Klitzke of Moses Lake has been named vice president and relationship manager for the commercial banking team at Washington Trust Bank, according to an announcement from the bank. Klitzke, who grew up in the Basin and has more than 24 years’ experience in banking, was most recently with Banner Bank, where she served as vice president and relationship manager to serve small- to mid-sized business owners and commercial clients, according to the announcement.

Erratics to offer program on Ice Age floods Saturday

WENATCHEE — The Wenatchee Valley Erratics Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute will offer its next program Saturday, according to an announcement from the organization. Dr. Ralph Dawes, Professor of Earth Science, Wenatchee Valley College, will discuss the glaciated landscape that formed beneath the Okanogan Lobe of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet in north central Washington, according to the announcement. This area, including Douglas County north of Waterville and all of Okanogan County, was studied early in the last century by well-known geologists J. Harlan Bretz, Richard Foster Flint, and Aaron C. Waters. How the ice sheet shaped the landscape underneath it was a source of controversy back then, and remains a subject of scientific debate today.

Learning institutions working together to develop workforce in Grant County

MOSES LAKE — Various organizations and partnerships across Grant County are working together to train as many people as possible to enter the workforce to meet high demand in the county and beyond. Sue Kane, North Central Education Service District’s director of STEM initiatives & strategic partnerships, said that the workforce demand currently outpaces the number of people enrolled in workforce education programs in Grant County. “We could double the number of kids that are on track to earn that credential, just to meet local demand,” Kane said. “It's not actually better or worse than a lot of the other counties across Washington, but it's still going to take everybody to be able to get there.”

Othello takes 42-0 Homecoming win

OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies football team scored early and took a 42-0 win over Grandview Friday on Homecoming night in Othello. The win pushed the Huskies to 3-2 on the season, 2-1 in the Central Washington Athletic Conference. Othello had a strong senior class in 2022, had to make a lot of changes, and defensive coach Kevin Hale said it’s been an adjustment. “We replaced a lot of guys from last year’s team, and it’s been a bumpy start in a lot of ways,” Hale said.

New mascot statue unveiled at Moses Lake High School

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake High School Athletic Director Loren Sandhop said the new statue outside MLHS was a continuation of school traditions. “You’re all a part of history, you guys,” Sandhop told MLHS students Monday morning as he stood next to the statue representing the school’s mascot, the Maverick. The district changed its mascot from the Chiefs to the Mavericks in May 2022, and the Maverick statue was revealed as students watched and the MLHS band played the fight song. The statue of a bull, echoing the skull on the school logo, replaces the arrow and dreamcatcher that stood outside the school for about a dozen years. Clint Scriven, assistant athletic director, said artists at the company Way Out West designed the statue with direction from MLHS administrators.

BASIN SPORTS RECAP: Mavs, Lions and Knights stay unbeaten on gridiron

COLUMBIA BASIN – As local teams get into full swing of district competition, just a handful of Basin squads remain undefeated through the first five weeks of action. Check out this week’s local sports recap for an update on area football, girls soccer, slowpitch softball and volleyball teams. All scores and records are according to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

Cora Marie Bringman (Dorszynski)

Jan. 3, 1966 — Aug. 21, 2023

Cora Marie Bringman (Dorszynski), 57, of Kennewick, Washington, passed on Monday, Aug. 21, in Pasco, Washington. Cora was born Jan. 3, 1966, to Irene and Edward Dorszynski Sr. in Moses Lake, Washington where she was raised and lived throughout high school. She was homecoming queen at Moses Lake High School, graduating in 1984. She left three beautiful children she loved and adored: Lewis Gans Sr (Kristen), Chelsea Dorszynski and Cami Newman and seven wonderful grandchildren Grace, Klare, Lewis Jr., Gage, Landon, Charlee and Virgil. She was expecting a new granddaughter in January 2024.

William Jesse (Billy) Sanchez

Aug. 4, 1979 — Sept. 27, 2023

Billy, 44, suddenly and unexpectedly joined his father and brother in Heaven on Sept. 27, 2023, after a brief illness. William (Billy) was born on Aug. 4, 1979, to Jesse and Louise Sanchez at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, Washington. He grew up and attended school in Quincy, graduating as a 12-year senior from Quincy High School in 1998, where he was a member of the QHS FFA, band and baseball team. He attended Big Bend Community College and was employed by Walmart for 23 years.

Amber Brocklebank

Jan. 8, 1986 — Aug. 27, 2023

With grace in her heart and flowers in her hair, Amber left her earthly body to dance with the wildflowers and be the ray of sunshine she was here on Earth. Amber lived by the motto “Positive Vibes Only.” She never met a stranger as she had the unique ability to make others feel welcome. She was kind and compassionate, never letting anyone forget their value or their place in her life. While she ran a marathon with her health starting at the age of 6, she never dwelled on her struggles. Amber was always reminding those around her that it could be worse anytime the subject was brought up. She set a great example of how to live life to the fullest and maintaining a positive attitude in the midst of life’s trials.

Weather report for Monday, Oct. 2, 2023

Weather report for Monday, Oct. 2, 2023

StrawBelly’s Straw Maze returning for second year

MOSES LAKE – StrawBelly’s Straw Maze returns Oct. 6 to Moses Lake one mile east of State Route 17 on Wheeler Road, and the event will be running every Friday and Saturday evening...

Broncos fall at home to Northwest Christian

RITZVILLE — In a battle of 4-0 teams, Northwest Christian (Colbert) left Jimmie Snider Field in Ritzville with a 30-0 win over the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos on Friday night.

Legals for October, 2 2023