Ellington

BASIN SPORTS SCHEDULE: Jan 12-19, 2026

MOSES LAKE — Local teams are in full swing of the second halves of their seasons. As they move forward, the competition across their respective leagues get tougher. See below where your favorite team is heading next.

Lions defeat Eagles 60-21 at home

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions (12-0) earned a strong 60-21home victory over the Soap Lake Eagles (1-7) to continue their undefeated season. “I feel like the team is doing really good,” said Lions senior Antonio Serrato. “We play really good together and know how to move the ball really well and get down the court really fast.”

Vikings fall short despite second half rally

MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Vikings (8-9) fell short at home to the Treasure Valley Chukars 77-88. Head Coach Jason Hopkins was humble in defeat.

Cougars grab late comeback to earn home win

WARDEN — The Warden Cougars (3-10) defeated the Granger Spartans 41-39 Friday after pulling off a second half comeback. For Head Coach Emily Cox, it was a rollercoaster of emotions. “Fun and not fun all the same time,” Cox said. “We kind of got ourselves in a hole in the first half, and at halftime, we just told them to keep battling and keep working hard and try and dig ourselves out of it, and the girls did. They came out and they battled.”

Cougars defend home court, beat Spartans 61-50

WARDEN — The Warden Cougars (6-5) snapped a three-game rut by defeating the Granger Spartans 61-50 Friday. Head Coach Brent Erdmann said his players fought hard to get back in the win column. “They've been battling all year. Any win is a good win for us right now. We had a pretty rough run for a little bit, to actually come back and get a (win) for these guys, we'll take it,” Erdmann said.

Knights boys grab three wins in Arizona

TEMPE, Ariz. — The Royal Knights (7-1) traveled to Tempe, Arizona in December to compete in a multi-day tournament. The Knights went 3-0 against the competition. They defeated Maryvale 83-6, Sacred Heart Prep 64-61 and Bear Creek 56-48.

Lions win league matchup at home against Eagles

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions (8-2) basketball team defeated the Soap Lake Eagles (4-2) where the Lions 40-26 Thursday.

Grant County Sheriff’s Office logs Dec. 30-Jan. 4

Grant County Sheriff’s Office logs Dec. 30-Jan. 4

Protesters express frustrations regarding ICE, Venezuela Saturday

MOSES LAKE — Area residents gathered on Stratford Road in Moses Lake to protest the recent deaths of Renee Nicole Good, 37, of Minneapolis and Kieth Porter, 43, of Los Angeles. Both incidents involved Immigration Customs Enforcement agents. They also expressed frustration regarding the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Big Sky Now: Bobcats crowned FCS National Champions and a recap of the Big Sky season

On this episode of Big Sky Now the panel breaks down an unforgettable overtime victory over Illinois State in Nashville — the Bobcats’ first national title in 41 years.

Kennewick boy injured in Othello area crash

OTHELLO — A 17-year-old Kennewick boy was airlifted to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland early Saturday morning after he was injured in a rollover crash about seven miles southeast of Othello.

Wildcats volleyball name new head coach

ELLENSBURG — Longtime head coach Mario Andaya, who just completed his 30th season at the helm, has accepted a new position as the Deputy Director of Athletics and is turning over the reins to Lauren Hersesth, who joined the program in 2020 and served as associate head coach for the past three seasons. Andaya is proud of everything CWU Volleyball has accomplished during his tenure, including four conference championships and 13 consecutive trips to the NCAA Division II tournament.

Drama looking for her standing ovation

MOSES LAKE — Drama is ready to steal the spotlight. This spunky American Pocket Bully mix is paws-itively the star of the show at Grant County Animal Outreach. She’s spayed, vaccinated, and microchipped—no plot twists here, just a happy ending waiting to happen. If you’re looking for a leading lady with a big heart and bully-tiful charm, visit GrantCountyAnimalOutreach.org and adopt Drama today and make her the main character in your life. If you can’t adopt right now, visit the website and click “donate.”

‘Four Corners of the Year’

Moses Lake Museum exhibit shows the turning of the seasons

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Museum & Art Center’s first exhibit of 2026 encompasses the entire calendar. “The title of the show is ‘The Four Corners of the Year,’” said Gallery Coordinator Veronica Talbot. “It goes through all four seasons. We wanted to start with winter, since that’s where we’re currently at, and then move our way down the year.” Pamela Petry-McKinsey’s exhibit, which opens Friday, is almost entirely done in acrylics. Her work harks back to the Impressionism of the 19th century, which emphasized feelings and spontaneity over realism, Museum Superintendent Dollie Boyd said. “I personally love the color in this show,” she said. “It’s really wonderful to have such exuberant color up on the walls in the middle of winter. … The love of nature really shines through her work.”

BASIN EVENTS: Jan. 9-17, 2026

COLUMBIA BASIN — With the holidays safely in our rear-view mirror, the calendar in the Basin isn’t as crowded as it was a few months ago. Still, there are plenty of things to get out and enjoy for those who want to. Here are a few possibilities.

Mavs' Morris earns 100th career win in team victory

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks girls wrestling team earned a 44-36 victory over Eisenhower Wednesday evening in a conference matchup. During the meeting, Moses Lake senior Hayden Morris earned her 100th career win. “It feels really good,” said Morris. “It’s been a long journey and I’m just really glad that all this hard work has paid off and it’s finally working.” Morris earned this milestone in the 125-lb matchup against Eisenhower’s Ceci Rosas. The Mavs wrestler was dominant throughout the contest to come out on top with a 9-0 victory. Following her match, there was a short break taken to recognize Morris for achieving her 100th win.

Home prices up locally, down statewide

KIRKLAND — The real estate market in December continued the pattern set in October and November, according to data released this week by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which tracks real estate trends in 27 of Washington’s 39 counties. Active listings were up across Washington compared to December 2024, while prices declined slightly.

Building permits for Jan. 9, 2026

Grant County, Quincy

Legals for January, 9 2026

Victims identified in fatal Moses Lake house fire

MOSES LAKE — The victims in an early-morning house fire in Moses Lake Wednesday have been identified. Tim Catlin, death investigator with the Grant County Coroner’s Office, said the victims were Nikki Leggett, 30, and Zaccari Miller, 29. “The cause of death for both is going to be asphyxia due to inhalation of smoke,” Catlin said.

WEATHER: Jan. 9-16, 2026

Excavation and construction fences in the Safeway parking lot in Ephrata are signs of the installation of new fuel tanks.

Oliver’s first council meeting, several resolutions passed

EPHRATA — Mayor Steve Oliver led his first Ephrata City Council meeting Wednesday night, with council passing several resolutions regarding tourism funding, vactor truck enclosure project and amending the grant application for A Street.

Soap Lake to establish a tourism committee

SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake City Council unanimously approved the creation of a Tourism Development Committee to handle city tourism funds at Wednesday's council meeting.

Moses Lake Police Department logs for Jan. 8, 2026

MLPD records

Funding delays push Sackman Road bridge project to 2026

OTHELLO — It’s taken a while and been delayed a couple of times, but the construction contract for replacement of the first of six bridges over the East Low Canal is scheduled to go out for bid later this year. Adams County Commission chair Dan Blankenship said that’s the plan right now, but commissioners want to be sure the twice-delayed project will meet all the criteria before they take action.

Williams named interim city administrator in Othello

OTHELLO — Finance Director Spencer Williams will be appointed as interim city administrator while Othello city officials look for a permanent replacement. Mayor Ken Johnson said the search is just getting started.

Men's college basketball recap

MOSES LAKE — Men's basketball is well underway in Washington as several teams are battling it out in their respective leagues. See below where your favorite programs stand. Gonzaga (16-1) vs Loyola Marymount The Zags are currently on a nine-game win streak after defeating Loyola Marymount 82-47 Sunday.

Mavs fall in close meet against Eisenhower

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks boys wrestling team took a loss at home Wednesday against Eisenhower. The competition was close, but Moses Lake came just short with the final team score being 42-32. “I knew this match was going to be very tough for us, Eisenhower’s a tough team and I’ve been watching them throughout the beginning of the season,” said Mavs Head Coach Jose Tanguma. “I knew that today was going to be for the league title.”

Diana Spofford

August 18, 1952 – December 27, 2025

Diana Lynne Spofford went home to serve our Lord in the early morning of Dec. 27. She was born Diana Lynne Stone on Aug. 18, 1952, in Charleston, West Virginia to Ronald and Oreeda (McGraw) Stone. Diana passed away peacefully on Dec. 27, 2025, at home in Soap Lake, Washington, surrounded by her family. In the early ’50s Diana’s family moved from West Virginia to the Leavenworth, Washington area. She was the oldest of six siblings growing up in Leavenworth, Washington where she spent many years working in agriculture, particularly in the apple orchards. This orchard experience benefited Diana in later life where she managed various orchards and owned an orchard in the Quincy and Mattawa areas.

Quincy Police Department logs Dec. 26-Jan. 5

Quincy Police Department logs Dec. 26-Jan. 5

Seahawks confident in Sam Darnold after he flopped in his playoff debut last season

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Sam Darnold has all of one game of playoff experience, and the Seattle Seahawks would benefit if his second shot at the postseason went a little better than his first. Darnold guided the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-3 season and made the Pro Bowl in 2024, just as he did with Seattle this year. But Darnold struggled mightily in the playoffs last season, taking nine sacks as the Vikings lost 27-9 to the Los Angeles Rams. His Seahawks teammates say they're not concerned with that one bad outing.

GCAO had a transformative 2025

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Animal Outreach achieved several goals in 2025, including groundbreaking on a new facility, nearly 300 adoptions and successes in community outreach. Challenges presented themselves in the form of the agency’s current outdated facility and animal hoarding.

Seven Basin school districts to run EP&O levies in February

EPHRATA — Voters in seven Columbia Basin school districts will be asked to accept or reject educational programs and operations levy proposals in a special election Feb. 10. Ephrata voters will decide on a construction bond in the Ephrata School District, and Warden district patrons will consider a proposal for technology improvements. Votes must be postmarked by Feb. 10, and mailing them at the post office on Election Day doesn’t guarantee that, said Ben Rodwell, elections deputy with the Grant County Auditor’s Office. “I would say (mail the ballot) at least a week early,” Rodwell said. “I wouldn’t recommend mailing it the day of the election.”

Metalwork exhibit opens Jan. 15 at CWU

ELLENSBURG — Beginning next week, the Sarah Spurgeon Gallery at Central Washington University will host Ferrous, a group exhibition of 15 innovative contemporary artists who transform iron into evocative works of art. The opening events will be held Jan. 15, beginning with a curator's talk by Renee Adams from 4-5 p.m. in Randall Hall, room 117. Adams is an alum of the CWU Department of Art + Design (MFA, 1999), as well as a local sculptor and blacksmith. A reception will be held in the gallery (Randall Hall, room 141) directly following the talk, from 5-7 p.m.

As barbs fly and Trump wades in, a central WA congressional race heats up

Two years ago, Amanda McKinney, a Republican Yakima County commissioner, made a commercial endorsing Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse for re-election and assailing his GOP opponent who had the backing of then former President Donald Trump. “I trust Dan,” she says in the 30-second television spot, adding that he has the “experience and clout to keep delivering for central Washington.” Two weeks ago, McKinney, who is running to succeed the outgoing Newhouse, offered a different story at AmericaFest, an annual event hosted by Turning Point USA, the conservative organization founded by the late Charlie Kirk.

Legals for January, 8 2026

Huskies take close victory on the mat against Tigers

EPHRATA — The Othello Huskies and Ephrata Tigers had a close matchup Tuesday evening with the Huskies taking a 42-39 victory over their Central Washington Athletic Conference rival.

Soap Lake Events Committee to meet

SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake Community and Senior Center will host its second meeting for the newly formed Events Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 13, at 5 p.m. This initiative aims to revitalize community engagement through family-friendly events. “We really want to focus on family-friendly and all ages events for our community,” volunteer Genevieve Gray said. The committee was created in response to community members expressing their desire to restart events that had previously been successful in bringing people together. Gray said it’s important for community involvement in the committee.

WEATHER: Jan. 8-14, 2026

Students from the Fire Science class at the Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center in Moses Lake put on their turnouts, picked up some of their gear and went for a walk on a sunny but cold Tuesday morning. Cold and windy conditions are forecast to continue throughout the week.

Bad debt, charity care expenses rising at local medical facilities

MOSES LAKE — For everyone in healthcare, from patients to hospitals to medical professionals, the challenge is who pays the bill. Sometimes the answer is that some or all of the bill doesn’t get paid, and the hospital or clinic has to absorb the costs. Janette Townsend, chief financial officer at Confluence Health, and Alex Town, chief administrative officer at Samaritan Healthcare, said it’s becoming a bigger problem. “Both bad debt and charity care have gone up in the last few years,” Townsend wrote in response to questions from the Columbia Basin Herald. “Bad debt has increased 214% and charity care has increased 63% from 2023 to 2025.”

Two dead in early morning Moses Lake house fire

MOSES LAKE — Identification is pending for two people killed in an early-morning fire Wednesday in Moses Lake. Moses Lake Fire Department Chief Art Perillo said the fire was reported about 1:50 a.m. near the intersection of Miller Drive Northeast and Highland Drive Northeast. The report said people were still inside the residence, he said. Crews from MLFD and Grant County Fire District 5 responded. “Upon arrival, crews found the residence heavily involved in fire and immediately initiated fire suppression and search operations,” Perillo wrote in a press release. “While crews were able to bring the fire under control quickly, two occupants were found deceased inside the home. Two additional occupants were able to escape the residence.”

Grant County Jail logs as of Jan. 7, 2026

The reports below were provided by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Grant County Health District mandates overdose reporting

MOSES LAKE — In a move to enhance community health and safety, the Grant County Health District has implemented a policy requiring healthcare providers to report all opioid overdoses starting in Jan. 2026. This change, which centers on real-time data collection, comes as a response to the growing opioid crisis affecting the region, marked by rising overdose deaths and emergency medical service responses. The decision to classify overdoses as a reportable condition received unanimous support from the Grant County Board of Health, which approved it through Ordinance 2025-04. The GCHD has noted that while certain diseases are already mandated to be reported to local health authorities, overdoses have not been subject to similar requirements at the state level. The new reporting protocol is hoped to bridge the data gap. Dr. Alexander Brzezny, the Grant County Health Officer, said this matter was urgent.

Ephrata Fire Department reflects on 2025

Increase in calls, new equipment and future EMS funding challenges

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Fire Department experienced a busy year in 2025, responding to a total of 513 calls for service. Fire Chief Jeremy Burns provided an overview of these calls, revealing that approximately 65% were related to Emergency Medical Services, while only 10% were actual fire calls. The remaining 25% fell into various categories such as fire alarms, elevator rescues and hazardous conditions. “The bulk of our responses still falls right in that close to 70% category of EMS calls, which is where we’ve been training for years,” Burns said. In comparison to previous years, Burns indicated that call volume saw a slight increase. The department previously contracted with American Medical Response ambulance services, during which their call load averaged around 550 calls. After switching to Lifeline ambulance services in July 2023, Ephrata witnessed a reduction of almost 100 calls for service, primarily due to differences in the types of calls each service handled.

Purr-fect slice of sunshine

OTHELLO — Meet Taran, an orange cutie, who is pawsitively ready to brighten your life. He’s neutered, vaccinated, and gets along with other cats; he’s quite the social ‘purr-sonality’. We’re not sure how he feels about dogs or tiny humans yet, but we know he’s ready to be the zest in your nest. Don’t let this opportunity slip through your paws – adopt Taran today at Adams County Pet Rescue and make your home a little more a-meow-zing. Visit AdamsCountyPetRescue.com and fill out his application. If you can’t adopt right now but would like to help a local shelter, visit the website and click “donate.”

WA COLLEGE SPORTS SCHEDULE: Jan. 8-15, 2026

MOSES LAKE — College sports are back in full swing following the holidays as teams prepare to find a spot in the postseason. Check out where your favorite teams are playing this week.

COLUMN: The perfect path to the Super Bowl for the Seahawks

One of the best time periods of the sports calendar is here – playoff football. As the college football playoff semifinals conclude, fans from across the country can remain comfortable on the couch as wild card weekend kicks off for the NFL. 12 teams will battle it out on their respective ends of the bracket to earn a chance to play at least one more game. Most importantly, to inch closer to claiming football immortality by hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in Santa Clara, California, the host of Super Bowl 60. As the top seed, the Seattle Seahawks will play the lowest remaining seed in the NFC after this weekend.

Huskies topple Tigers on the road

EPHRATA — The Othello Huskies travelled to face the Ephrata Tigers Tuesday evening where the Huskies earned a 42-28 team victory over their Central Washington Athletic Conference rival. “I thought it went pretty well. It was a fun and entertaining duel,” said Huskies Head Coach Reuben Lopez. “It was a close match for a while; a couple guys pulled through at the end and we got ourselves a win.” The Huskies and Tigers wrestlers traded matches back and forth in the lower weight classes at the start of the meet. As the matches got into the middle weight classes, Othello went on a winning streak to gain the lead. Ephrata earned a few more wins, but the Huskies stayed ahead to take the team victory.

One arrested for suspected Grant PUD wire theft

MOSES LAKE — On Jan. 3, Grant County Public Utility District filed a complaint with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office after noticing a hole cut in the chain link fence at the Wenatchee Drive substation. On Tuesday night, GCSO arrested Jeffrey Hughes, 50, of Moses Lake, for suspicion of stealing copper wire from Grant PUD, according to GCSO.

Wardenaar sinks 41 points as Knights earn blowout win

ROYAL CITY — The Royal Knights (7-1) stormed the hardwood to defeat the Naches Valley Rangers 75-29 Tuesday. Head Coach Tim Ravet said the win was good to get the team back in a rhythm after suffering a loss earlier this week. “To come out and at least play inspired and hard was a good step in the right direction to get our wheels back underneath us, and hopefully continue to build (momentum), and to get ready for when we play them again,” Ravet said. After a steady start in the first quarter that saw the Knights take a 13-6 lead, they turned up the heat in the second quarter to take a commanding 29-9 lead over the Rangers. Strong paint presence by Grant Wardenaar and facilitating by Fischer Livingston helped Royal dominate on the court. In the second half, they continued to build that momentum by outscoring Naches Valley 46-20 to secure the win.

Defense powers Knights to statement win

ROYAL CITY — The Royal Knights (9-2) defeated the Naches Valley Rangers 45-22 to bounce back into the win column Tuesday. After a strong performance in the paint, Graycie Kast was all smiles after earning her first home win as a Knight. “It feels good, (the community) brings the energy,” Kast said. The Knights capitalized on turnovers by the Rangers to build a strong lead in the first half. Kast drove the charge on offense by finding scores inside or drawing fouls to get to the free throw line. By halftime, Royal led 23-9. In the second half, they continued to impose their will on defense and widen the gap on the score board. Even when the Rangers found some momentum in the fourth quarter, the Knights defense was too much and they ultimately secured the win.

Double the trouble

OTHELLO — Kefir, front and Whey, back, are both up for adoption at Adams County Pet Rescue. Adoptable together or separately, these sweet pups want comfy homes. Whey is a large female mixed breed who is spayed. Kefir is a large male mixed breed who is neutered. Both are vaccinated and microchipped. If either of these furry friends caught your attention, visit AdamsCountyPetRescue.com and fill out an application, or two. If you can’t adopt right now but you would like to help a local shelter, visit the website and click “donate.”

Karlene Grace Utter

1946 – 2025

Kay, a loving and generous-hearted soul, lifted off Dec. 27. She was born Karlene Rutherford to Grace (Reinbold) of Davenport, Washington and L.W. Rutherford of Britannia Beach, British Columbia. In Yakima, Kay grew up in an apple orchard with her brother Ron and graduated from West Valley High. Kay furthered her education with a BS from Pacific Lutheran University, followed by medical technology studies at Tacoma General Hospital where she met husband Gary Utter. Married in 1968, Kay and Gary went on to have many adventures moving and traveling across the United States, building three homes, and renovating eight in four states.

Janet Ingrid (Olesen) Huff

Jan. 18, 1934 — Dec. 26, 2025

Janet Ingrid (Olesen) Huff, 91, was born Jan. 18, 1934, in Sunnyside, Washington, on the Porter Ranch, where her parents were tenant farmers. Janet was the youngest of three sisters born to Danish immigrant parents Morris and Ingrid Olesen. In 1938, the family moved to their own small farm in Sunnyside where Janet lived until college. She graduated as valedictorian of her high school class and earned scholarships to attend the University of Washington (UW). She graduated Cum Laude from UW with a teaching degree, earning the College of Education’s Top Senior award. Janet met George Robinson Huff in 1954 while both were attending UW. They were married on Dec. 17, 1955, in Seattle, and moved to Othello, Washington in March 1957 where she began her teaching career and George began his law practice. Janet taught kindergarten for 18 years followed by 10 more years instructing second-graders.

Mindy Lanette (Jones) Collins

Feb. 15, 1984 — Dec. 22, 2025

Mindy Lanette (Jones) Collins, 41, of Crestview, Florida, passed peacefully at home on Dec. 22, 2025. Mindy was born on Feb. 15, 1984, in Moses Lake, Washington, and lived in Washington, Oklahoma, Idaho, England and Florida. Wherever she lived, she brought warmth, laughter, and connection. She was preceded in death by her grandparents Thomas and Maxine Sear and Tren and Margaret Jones, her uncle Michael Sear and her beloved son Miles Collins.

John Donovan

John, 88, was born on Nov. 7, 1937, in Lowell, Massachusetts. His parents were William Lawrence Donovan and Valleria “Vera” Caroline Nowak. John’s grandparents were John Nowak and Catherine “Katie” Nostek. John attended Boston University and the Hartford Institute of Accounting. In June 1956, John enlisted in the United States Air Force and served for a total of 36 years. He obtained an AS in management from the Community College of the Air Force, and continued his education, receiving an MBA from Eastern Washington University in 1978.

Two dead in early morning Moses Lake house fire

MOSES LAKE — Identification is pending for two people killed in an early-morning fire Wednesday in Moses Lake.

Ballots coming Jan. 21 for Wahluke EP&O levy election

MATTAWA — Ballots will be mailed to Wahluke School District voters Jan. 21 for a special election to decide the fate of a four-year educational programs and operations levy. If it’s approved, the levy would replace the four-year levy approved by voters in 2022. The levy rate would remain unchanged.

Lions seize win, remain undefeated

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions (9-0) basketball team added another win onto their undefeated record Monday after earning a home victory against Waitsburg 75-33. The win officially marks the halfway point in the Lions’ season as they head deeper into league play. “Honestly, it feels great, especially after our win last week against DeSales. I’m actually feeling nice,” said Lions junior Max Gulenko. “Our ball movement is feeling good, and our defense has been really nice.” The Lions were dominant right from tipoff, gaining a 49-14 lead over the opposition in the first half. The MLCA/CCS front scored another 18 in the second half and maintained its significant lead to earn the victory.

GCFD 7 expands EMS, training programs

SOAP LAKE — As part of a concerted effort to improve emergency medical services, Grant County Fire District 7 has announced significant expansions to its coverage and operational capabilities. Under the leadership of Chief Erick Brittain, the district is now providing Intermediate Life Support in addition to its existing services, a move that is expected to greatly benefit the community it serves, said Brittain.

New Mattawa port commissioner interested in diversification

MATTAWA — Port of Mattawa Commissioner Kevin Anderson said the port is looking for new customers and ways to diversify the economy of the Mattawa area. It’s a lesson he learned during a 40-year career in maritime businesses, he said. He cited the barge company he managed as an example.

Brookdale Hearthstone Christmas Parade delights seniors, children

MOSES LAKE — The spirit of Christmas paid a visit to Brookdale Hearthstone Dec. 23, with a parade, a visit from Santa and lots and lots of candy for children.

Dementia challenges: Handling difficult behaviors with calm and care

MOSES LAKE — Once dementia has set in, it’s time to adjust to a new reality which can include behavioral challenges as the family member experiences frustrations associated with their symptoms.

Upcoming community meeting for Ephrata schools

EPHRATA — The Ephrata School District is hosting two upcoming meetings to allow the community to ask questions and engage with district officials on the schools and the proposed $75 million bond. “Our schools are the heart of Ephrata,” Ephrata School District Superintendent Ken Murray wrote in a statement. “This bond will secure the next 40 years of our community’s K-8 schools and set up Ephrata High School for the next phase of improvements. It would allow us to replace outdated buildings, strengthen safety and create learning environments that support students now and for decades to come.”

WEATHER: Jan. 7-13, 2026

WEATHER: Jan. 7-13, 2026

Legals for January, 7 2026

I-90 closed on Snoqualmie, no scheduled time for reopening

MOSES LAKE — As of 4:45 p.m. Tuesday Eastbound Insterstate-90 is closed starting at milepost 48, according to the Washington Department of Transportation. The roadway had multiple spinouts and collisions near the Snoqualmie Pass summit. As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, there is no estimated time for the roadway to be reopened.

Basin girls basketball roundup, Dec. 30 – Jan. 5

MOSES LAKE — The halfway point of the season for girls basketball is upon us. As league play kicks off, every team is looking to make a run. See below where your favorite teams stand and their current records.

Basin boys basketball roundup, Dec. 30 – Jan. 5

MOSES LAKE — As teams come out of the holiday break, many are looking to turn it up a notch. Some have jumped out strong in their leagues; others are hoping to turn their seasons around. See below where your favorite teams stand and their current records.

Cougs earn statement win in Spokane

SPOKANE — The Washington State Cougars (8-9) defeated Oregon State 81-67 to win their second straight game Sunday. Head Coach David Riley said the win was a nice momentum booster for what they have been working on as of late. “We got to continue to trust the offense,” Riley said in a press conference. “All game today the ball was zipping around and then defensively just a little bit more talk and more urgency. Talk builds trust and that’s something we did a better job of today.”

Adams Co. Jail roster as of Jan. 6, 2026

The reports below were provided by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This is the active list of inmates for the Adams County Sheriff’s Office listed in order of the date of arrest. The Adams County Jail is closed, so inmates are housed in other jurisdictions.

Post-holiday sweetness

OTHELLO — Although Christmas is over, your chance to adopt Candy Cane is not. This sweet mixed breed puppy has a curious and adventurous soul, always looking to explore new sights and smells. She would be thrilled with a family that can teach her all the tricks and show her the world. Candy Cane, according to Adams County Pet Rescue staff, has a gentle demeanor; which they say makes her the perfect snuggle buddy. She is spayed, vaccinated and microchipped, as all animals are at ACPR. If interested in adopting Candy Cane, visit AdamsCountyPetRescue.com and fill out her application. If you can’t adopt right now but would like to help a local shelter, visit the website and click “donate.”

Red-hot Grubauer backstops streaking Kraken to 5-1 win over Flames

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Shane Wright scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and Philipp Grubauer made 41 saves to lead the streaking Seattle Kraken past the Calgary Flames 5-1 on Monday night. Jacob Melanson, Vince Dunn, Frederick Gaudreau and Matty Beniers also scored for the Kraken (19-14-7), who are 7-0-1 in their last eight games and have reeled off five consecutive wins on the road.

Big Sky Now: How the Bobcats outlasted the Redbirds in an overtime thriller for the FCS National Championship

Host Luke Schmit is joined by Daily Inter Lake sports reporter Jon Allen to immediately break down Montana State’s FCS National Championship victory over Illinois State in Nashville on Monday night.

Grant Co. legislators pre-file legislation

OLYMPIA — Grant County Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake and Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, have pre-filed bills for the upcoming 2026 legislative session. Rep. Alex Ybarra has not filed any bills, but has said in prior coverage that energy is a priority for the session that begins Jan. 12 and ends March 12.

A look at positive vibes in the Basin in 2025

COLUMBIA BASIN — Too often, people pick up the newspaper and see bad news staring them in the face. It’s true that 2025 had its negative moments, but a lot of good things happened in the Columbia Basin last year as well.

Port of Quincy security services face challenges

QUINCY — Port of Quincy commissioners will be looking at options for insurance coverage for the port’s security service after its contract through the original carrier was canceled. Commissioners have canceled a contract with the Port of Mattawa that provided security services for Desert Aire.

WEATHER: Jan. 6-12, 2026

WEATHER: Jan. 6-12, 2026

Legals for January, 6 2026

Gas prices drop again, but remain high in WA

MOSES LAKE — Lower fuel prices continued this week, with Grant and Adams counties, Washington and national average fuel prices dropping from last week’s prices.

Quincy 2026 budget includes streets, QPlex projects

QUINCY — The city of Quincy will operate on a budget of about $148.3 million for 2026. That includes money for street projects along 13th Avenue Southwest and M Street Northeast, the design and construction of a fieldhouse and other improvements in Lauzier Park and funding through sales tax for affordable housing assistance.

Jacks basketball teams have shaky weekend

QUINCY — The Quincy Jackrabbits basketball teams each played games against Ellensburg and East Valley Friday and Saturday. See how the teams did below and how they plan to push forward in the Central Washington Athletic Conference.

Banks Lake Brawl tourney highlights local wrestlers

COULEE CITY — The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors hosted the Banks Lake Brawl wrestling tournament Saturday, which saw 15 schools attend including the Ephrata Tigers and Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos. Warriors Head Coach Brandon Walsh said this was the 13th year they’ve held the tournament.

Wildcats go 2-0 in Alaska

ELLENSBURG — The Central Washington University Wildcats (12-1) found success on the road in Alaska as they earned wins over the Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks and Alaska Anchorage Seawolves 77-65. “Very happy to come out of this road trip with two wins,” said Wildcats Head Coach Randi Richardson. “I’m really proud of our team’s resilience to keep their composure and find some consistent stops and scores to pull that out.”

Seahawks claim top seed after road win

SAN FRANCISCO — The Seattle Seahawks (14-3) defeated the San Francisco 49ers (12-5) 13-3 Saturday to clinch the number-one seed in the NFC conference for the upcoming NFL playoffs. Head Coach Mike Macdonald was all smiles after the win. “Incredibly proud of our team. All the things that we've been working at since we walked in the door, especially this year, is coming to life,” he said.

SENIOR EVENTS: January 2026

COLUMBIA BASIN — After the hoopla of the holidays, it’s time to wind down a little and start getting into a routine. Here are a few things to keep your time occupied.

Miyo Koba

Miyo Koba passed away peacefully on January 1, 2026, at Samaritan Hospital, with family at her side. Miyo lived most of her 101 years in Moses Lake, Wash. She was born in Toppenish, Wash., where her parents, Frank and Tomi, were farmers.

Doris Mae Miller

Dec. 27, 1957 – Dec. 24, 2025

Our beloved Doris Mae Miller, age 67, passed away on December 24, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family.

ACSO seeking controlled substance homicide suspect

RITZVILLE — Adams County Sheriff’s Office is asking for assistance locating subject Brittney Marie Jones, 35.

New year! New pup?

MOSES LAKE — Welcoming everyone to 2026 is little Maddie Kendall, a small mixed breed pup. Maddie said she is excited for this year, as it will be her first full year alive, with her only being three months right now. She, like all the dogs at Grant County Animal Outreach is spayed, vaccinated and microchipped. Now, she just needs the perfect person to take her in. If you want to be that person, visit GrantCountyAnimalOutreach.org and fill out her application. If you can’t adopt right now but you would like to help a local shelter, visit the website and click “donate.”

Big Sky Now: FCS championship coverage from Nashville

Montana State is one win away from an FCS national championship, and Big Sky Now is on the ground in Nashville.

ACSO seeking assistance for wanted subject out of Othello

OTHELLO — On Sunday, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a sex offense in the 800 block of South Steele Road in Othello, according to a statement from ACSO. Through investigation, deputies established probable cause to arrest Ismael Milan-Basurto, 20, on suspicion of second-degree rape, first-degree incest, second-degree rape of a child and second-degree child molestation. Milan-Basurto fled the area before deputies could make contact with him, according to the statement. ACSO is asking the public for assistance in finding the subject. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Milan-Basurto is asked to contact ACSO at 509-659-1122. ACSO said callers may remain anonymous.

Starting 2026 with a plan is key to fiscal management

MOSES LAKE — January being the season to take stock and resolve to do better, one of the places where people usually resolve to do better is their finances. People resolve to save more, spend more wisely, all the things. How to do it is the question, and it starts, said James Shank, Moses Lake, a financial advisor with Edward Jones, with an analysis.

Energy critical in 2026 WA Legislative Session, Ybarra says

QUINCY — While there will be a lot going on during the 2026 Washington Legislative session, 13th District Representative Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, said energy is going to be one of the biggest topics. It’s going to be a tough subject because there are tough decisions ahead, he said.

Legals for January, 5 2026

Weather for the week of Jan. 5, 2026

Weather for the week of Jan. 5, 2026

Dancing with the Moses Lake Stars returns Jan. 10

MOSES LAKE — Six homegrown hoofers will take the stage again Jan. 10 at Dancing with the Moses Lake Stars. “It’s part comedy (and) part dancing – of course,” said Carla McKean, a board member of the Central Basin Community Concert Association, which puts on the show as its annual fundraiser. “So many people have their favorite dancer coming in. They know the people, so they’re rooting for them.”

BASIN SPORTS SCHEDULE: Jan. 5-12, 2026

COLUMBIA BASIN — Student athletes all around the basin return to regular competition following a bit of rest over winter break. See where the local teams will be heading this week.

Huskies girls earn league win over Tigers

OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies (2-6) defeated the Ephrata Tigers (1-8) 57-40 to earn their second win of the season. Head Coach Caleb Tovar said this game was great for building confidence in his players.

Hot Wheels, collectibles stolen from storage units

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office Crime Reduction Team is asking for help with two recent burglaries. One is regarding a large quantity of Hot Wheels, the other is 60 to 80 boxes of Warhammer miniatures.

Royal hosts Carlos Villa Memorial Tournament

ROYAL CITY — The Royal City Knights hosted a tournament in honor of Royal’s Head Coach Carlos Villa who passed away last year. The tournament had 22 teams in attendance, including the Ephrata Tigers, Moses Lake Mavericks and Wahluke Warriors.

The Latest: US strikes Venezuela, captures Maduro and his wife

WASHINGTON D.C. — The United States hit Venezuela with a “large-scale strike” early Saturday and said President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country after months of stepped-up pressure by Washington. President Donald Trump insisted the U.S. government would run the country at least temporarily and was already doing so.

Huskies hold off late comeback by Tigers

OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies (3-6) overcame the Ephrata Tigers (2-7) 61-57 after a late comeback attempt by the Tigers. Huskies Head Coach Juan Garcia was pleased with the composure his players showed Friday.

GALLERY: Ribbon cuttings 2025

MOSES LAKE — The Basin’s business community grew in 2025, and many businesses, especially Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce members, celebrated that growth by cutting a ribbon at new or upgraded locations. Here’s a look back at some of those events.

Moses Lake Police Department logs for Dec. 26, 2025 - Jan. 1, 2026

The reports below were provided by the Moses Lake Police Department. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

BASIN BOX SCORE: Basin sports recap, Seahawks and the current headlines in sports

MOSES LAKE — On this episode of the Basin Box Score podcast, hosts Caleb Perez and Mike Maynard discuss recent results of local Basin sports. From wrestling meets, Wahluke's girls basketball earning a big win and local players setting new records. We also cover the current status of the Seattle Seahawks as they prepare to face the San Francisco 49ers for optimal playoff standing.

Seahawks and 49ers face off for NFC's top seed in high-stakes showdown

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The playoffs start a week early for the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. The top two teams in the NFC West will square off Saturday night in a rare regular-season game with such high stakes as the winner will earn the top seed in the NFC playoffs with a first-round bye and home-field advantage before the Super Bowl. “I think in football, out of all sports, home-field advantage is the biggest advantage because I think crowd noise truly affects the game in terms of pass rush and things like that,” 49ers coach Kyle Shahanan said. "But, the main thing is just it’s one less game. I’d love to be home. That’s our goal. If that doesn’t work out, we’re excited to go on the road, too.”

Beniers scores twice in Kraken's 4-1 win over Predators

SEATTLE (AP) — Matty Beniers scored twice during the Seattle Kraken's three-goal first period and Philipp Grubauer stopped 24 shots in a 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night. The win gave the Kraken five victories in their past six games, coming on the heels of a stretch where they lost 10 of 11.

Marie Lucille Trembley

1923 – 2025

Marie Lucille Trembley, age 102, a Moses Lake, Washington resident for 76 years, passed away peacefully on December 15, 2025.

Daniel Tyler

1944 – 2025

Daniel “Dan” Tyler, age 81, passed away peacefully at his home in Moses Lake, Wash. on December 28, 2025. A man known for his warmth and natural ability to put a smile on anyone’s face, Dan was a constant source of joy for those who knew him.

One jailed, one hospitalized from knife wounds on New Year’s Eve

MATTAWA — On Thursday night, two subjects had a disagreement resulting in both parties injuring one another with knives. Mario Cortez Perez, 34, was arrested and booked into Grant County Jail while his roommate was transported to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland.

Decades of consistency

Reim’s leadership left a lasting mark, city staff, community members say.

EPHRATA — On a cold winter morning, the executive team gathers as they always do, Tuesday at City Hall. And as they always did, Mayor Bruce Reim listens first — head tilted, eyes narrowed, taking in the latest on crews, contracts, permitting and plans. Only this time, there’s a coda.

Lorelai’s Toy Drive collects more than 1,500 toys

MOSES LAKE — Most children eagerly await their toys on Christmas. But 17-year-old Lorelai Draper has more fun giving them away. “When she was 12, a light bulb went off,” said Draper’s mom, Heidi Rogers. “She finally understood that some kids don’t get presents for Christmas, and she wanted to do something about it.”

Multiple BBCC students earn scholarships in 2025

MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College students earned a number of scholarships during 2025, which assisted them as they continued through their careers at Big Bend and as they transferred on to four-year universities.

GALLERY: 2025 at the Masquers

SOAP LAKE — The Masquers Theater brought laughter, drama and joy to the stage in 2025. Here’s a look back at the troupe’s productions for the year. The theater continues to be a big draw for visitors to Soap Lake and puts on a variety of productions throughout the year, including dramas, musicals and comedies.

City of Moses Lake building permits November 2025

November 2025

Weather for Jan. 2-5, 2026

Weather for Jan. 2-5, 2026

Legals for January, 2 2026

Big Sky Now: FCS Championship preview Bobcats v. Redbirds

The FCS National Championship is finally here, and the Big Sky Now panel breaks down everything surrounding Montana State vs Illinois State in Nashville on Monday, January 5th, 2026.

COLUMBIA BASIN EVENTS: January 2026

COLUMBIA BASIN — With the holidays behind us, things are slowing down a little in the Basin, but there’s still plenty to do coming up in January. Here are a few possibilities:

Howl bout you adopt Howie

MOSES LAKE — Meet Howie Han, a small golden boy looking for a permanent home. He is around three months old and ready to make friends, chase his tail and eat tasty treats. He is neutered, vaccinated and microchipped; now, all he needs is one person to adopt him. If you want to be that lucky person, visit GrantCountyAnimalOutreach.org and fill out his application. If you can’t adopt right now but you would like to help a local shelter, visit the website and click “donate.”

Grant County Jail roster as of Dec. 31, 2025

The reports below were provided by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Jail inmates detained before Jan. 1, 2025 are not listed.

Oliver sworn in as new Ephrata mayor

EPHRATA — Steve Oliver was formally sworn in as the new Mayor of Ephrata during a city council workshop Monday, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the community. Oliver’s election victory in the Nov. 2025 General Election, where he received 937 votes against incumbent Bruce Reim's 819 votes.