Ellington

Ephrata Council expedites approval of kratom ban, raises concerns from local retailer

EPHRATA — The Ephrata City Council voted 6-1 Wednesday night to ban the sale, distribution and advertising of kratom and kratom-derived products within city limits, making Ephrata the fourth city in Grant County to adopt such restrictions and the first in the county to do so while businesses are actively selling the substance. The ordinance takes effect 60 days after passage.

Gusty winds, dry conditions raise fire concerns ahead of Fourth of July in Columbia Basin

MOSES LAKE — Dry conditions, gusty winds and rising temperatures are expected to increase wildfire danger across Grant and Adams counties over the Fourth of July weekend, prompting warnings from forecasters and local officials for residents to use extreme caution with fireworks and other potential ignition sources.

Moses Lake Scout builds garden at fairgrounds for Eagle project

MOSES LAKE — Seventeen-year-old Carson Overfield is taking the final step to reach the pinnacle of a Boy Scout’s career, becoming an Eagle Scout, and he proved it with sweat Tuesday morning. “He started (Scouting) when he was in second grade and went all the way through,” said Carson’s mom, Bonnie Overfield. Only about four percent of Boy Scouts ever reach Eagle Scout rank, the highest rank in scouting, according to the Scouting America Heart of America Council website. The process is a rigorous one; Scouts spend years earning merit badges, passing tests and demonstrating leadership. Part of the process is the Eagle Scout Project, in which the Scout must plan something that will benefit any religious institution, any school or the community, according to the Eagle Project Workbook. All of the work must be completed before the Scout turns 18.

Moses Lake program to encourage residents to volunteer their talents

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake City Administrator Rob Karlinsey said it’s starting small, but city officials are looking to recruit volunteers to help improve the town. Karlinsey said city officials will be asking people to help clean streets and other public spaces. There will be more volunteer opportunities to follow.

After Fourth of July break, work resumes on regional road construction Monday

MOSES LAKE — While road construction is on hold for the July 4 weekend, there’s still the potential for traffic slowdowns. “Heavy traffic everywhere,” according to a media release from the Washington Department of Transportation.

Tigers first wrestling camp deemed a success

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tigers Wrestling camp was held June 29 through July 1 where young wrestlers came together to practice and learn more about the sport. Tigers Boys Wrestling Head Coach Joe Knox said he was pleased with how the camp turned out. “We had mostly younger boys and then some middle school girls, so we had a good mix of kids, and I thought it went really well,” said Knox. “The kids were really energetic, we had a lot of fun, and we learned a little wrestling along the way.” The main goal for Knox at the camp was to teach the young group of kids the fundamentals and focus on the basic skills of wrestling.

Correia reflects on making All-State team

COULEE CITY — Multiple basin athletes qualified to play in the All-State Baseball Series from June 27-28 in Yakima, with Almira/Coulee-Hartline graduate, Caden Correia being one of them. Correia said he was initially selected for a feeder game ahead of his state qualification. “I was at practice one day, and my head coach (Hunter Lee) came up to me and he’s like, ‘Hey, you got selected for an All State feeder game,’” said Correia. “I actually got invited to two, the Central Washington one and the Spokane one.” Correia said he decided to go with the Spokane feeder game since it was taking place at Avista Stadium and he had a desire to compete at that venue. Once he played there, Correia was informed that he was also selected to play for Team Baker in the All State games, an opportunity that he couldn’t pass up.

Basin home prices steady; closing costs drop in WA

MOSES LAKE — Basin home prices have stayed fairly steady in the larger communities this year, varying by 5-9 percent, according to data from the real estate site Redfin. Moses Lake’s home prices averaged $369,769 from March to the end of May 2026, an increase of 8.8 percent over the same period in 2025, according to Redfin’s data. Ephrata’s median was $340,796, a decrease of 8.6 percent from last year, and Quincy averaged $384,770, down 5 percent from a year ago. Othello’s median was $339,747, a drop of 5.6 percent. Warden prices were up 25.3 percent to $395,000. Mattawa homes sold for an average of $355,000, a drop of 14.5 percent, and Royal City’s median was up 18.3 percent to $358,000.

BASIN EVENTS: July 3-11

COLUMBIA BASIN – This weekend will be loaded with Fourth of July observances in most of our communities, and then there’s plenty more happening afterward. Here are some things to check out.

Building permits for July 3, 2026

Cities of Othello and Warden

World Cup Round of 16 begins this weekend

MOSES LAKE — The World Cup heads into the round of 16 starting early July 4 with a number of highly anticipated matchups coming throughout the weekend. See below five of the matchups slated to be played this weekend.

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Pet Adoption

WEATHER July 3-9, 2026

WEATHER July 3-9, 2026

Weather July 3-9, 26

WEATHER July 3-9, 2026

Legals for July, 3 2026

U.S. beats Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 to advance to round of 16 and keep its World Cup dreams alive

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Malik Tillman stepped up for a free kick with a bloody sock and a new right boot after being stepped on by an opponent as the United States scrambled to protect a one-goal lead, down a man in a World Cup knockout round. Tillman delivered the goal of his life, and one of the biggest ever by a U.S. man at the World Cup, sending this American soccer fairytale into the round of 16. “I’ve been dreaming about this game," Tillman said after scoring the final goal in a 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday night. “I’ve been dreaming about maybe taking a free kick and scoring a free kick. I’ve practiced this in training and I think today I showed what I can do.”

Busy fire season continues in Moses Lake, Quincy

MOSES LAKE — An early-morning fire destroyed an outbuilding at the Gorge Amphitheatre near Quincy Wednesday, one of the latest in what’s been a busy fire season. Moses Lake Fire Department crews extinguished two fires in almost the same place on two different days this week.

Court orders company owned by Soap Lake Mayor to repay couple for unfinished project

After emergency responders assisted, the couple dropped man's vehicle off at hospital

MOSES LAKE — A Grant County District Court judge on Wednesday ordered Sharp Development LLC to repay a Soap Lake couple $6,806 after finding the company breached a fence-construction contract by failing to perform the work after receiving payment.

Ephrata couple helps distressed man on highway in Wyoming

After emergency responders assisted, they dropped man's vehicle off at the hospital

EPHRATA — When Kathy and Wes Ballard stopped at a truck pullout along Interstate 80 in Wyoming during a trip home from visiting family, they expected nothing more than a short break for their dogs. Instead, they found themselves helping a stranger in distress.

Treat Your Pets

Moses Lake couple offers freeze-dried premium pet treats

MOSES LAKE – Gale and Danny Wilson, owners of Treat Your Pet LLC, based in Moses Lake, went on a journey three years ago making freeze-dried human grade pet treats for dogs and cats. Their products include a wide variety of treats, and they offer them at the Moses Lake Farmers Market and expanded to the Richland Farmers Market this year. Despite high costs and fluctuating prices for the products, their business is growing, with plans to add another freeze dryer to the three they currently own to meet demand. They spoke to the Columbia Basin Herald at the Moses Lake Farmers Market on Saturday. The business idea, said Danny, sprouted after they bought freeze dryers to make fruit for their children and then began freeze-drying treats for their six dogs. When they decided to create a business, the first challenges presented themselves, most importantly licensing and Washington State Department of Agriculture approval, which took up to six months. Once that was completed, they were ready to launch their business.

Team Washington takes gold in Bocce at USA Games

MOSES LAKE — Kirk Wells from the Moses Lake Scorpions Special Olympics and doubles teammate Jodi Boiles from Clarkston had success in Bocce for Team Washington at the USA Games last week. The duo individually claimed fourth place finishes and took home the gold for mixed doubles. “I’m excited for them,” said Moses Lake Scorpions Head Coach Shane Lunderville, who travelled to assist with coaching for Team Washington. “What a great achievement to come and play with all those states and be able to come out like that with the gold.” Both Lunderville and Wells spent one night in Tacoma before heading off to Minnesota. The coach said he appreciated the courtesy that the airlines provided for Team Washington and its 83 delegates including coaches, athletes and other staff as they made their way to the USA games.

GUEST COMMENTARY: The progress at Moses Lake is worth continuing

For decades, Moses Lake has been one of the Columbia Basin's greatest assets. It supports recreation, tourism, local businesses and a quality of life that attracts people to this region. Whether it's fishing, boating, swimming, or simply enjoying time on the water, Moses Lake plays an important role in our community and local economy. It has also faced significant challenges. For years, harmful algal blooms fueled by excess phosphorus have impacted water quality and raised concerns about the future of the lake. Residents have watched as blooms became more frequent, threatening recreation, aquatic health and public confidence in one of our region's most important natural resources.

COMMENTARY: The Fourth of July isn’t just about fireworks – it’s about showing up

By the time the sun sets on the Fourth of July, we’ll be gathered in parks, lining sidewalks and watching fireworks light up the sky. It’s a tradition that most of us look forward to every year. But as meaningful as those moments are, they only touch part of what this holiday is about. Independence Day isn’t just something we celebrate; it’s something we take part in. Freedom doesn’t just take care of itself. It’s not kept alive by parades or speeches alone. It lasts because ordinary people show up, day after day, in ways that don’t always get noticed.

Weather July 2 – 8, 2026

Weather July 2 – 8, 2026

Looking to make a sound investment? Meet Cash

Adopt a pet

Five injured in vehicle rollover near Ephrata

After emergency responders assisted, the couple dropped man's vehicle off at hospital

EPHRATA — A woman was airlifted to Confluence Health-North Central Washington Hospital after the car she was riding in rolled about five miles south of Ephrata Wednesday morning.

Grant County Jail Roster as of July 1, 2026

Grant County Jail Roster as of July 1, 2026

Diamond Ducks take two wins over Tigers

EPHRATA — The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Diamond Ducks earned two convincing victories Tuesday evening over the Ephrata Tiger Baseball Club. The Diamond Ducks mounted a comeback to win 7-4 in game one and maintained their momentum to earn a 4-3 victory in game two. "It was great to get two wins,” said Diamond Ducks Head Coach Hunter Lee. “We were very excited about that and against a pretty good team. It was a great night. That was our goal to get two wins and we accomplished that.” The Tigers were first on the board in game one as Isiah Davis singled to score Caleb Froewiss and Casten Iverson was struck by a pitch to score Mitchell Johsnon in the bottom of the first inning. After a scoreless second inning, Ephrata added an additional run in the third after Iverson grounded out to score Froewiss.

Legals for July, 2 2026

Mexico ends a 40-year knockout drought, beats Ecuador 2-0 to reach the round of 16

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The 40-year wait is over. Mexicans had learned to live with defeats in the knockout stages of the World Cup. On seven occasions, El Tri fans were left heartbroken at this stage. Not anymore. Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scored within a nine-minute span in the first half and Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-0 on Tuesday night to break a four-decade drought in the knockout stage and progress to the round of 16.

Five injured in vehicle rollover near Ephrata

EPHRATA — A woman was airlifted to Confluence Health-North Central Washington Hospital after the car she was riding in rolled about five miles south of Ephrata Wednesday morning.

Alice Marlene Melcher

March 2, 1941 – June 29, 2026

Alice Marlene Melcher, 85, of Moses Lake, Washington went to be with her Savior on June 29, 2026. She was born on March 2, 1941, in Spokane, Washington to Emil Sauer and Lydia Rott Sauer. The family farmed in Lind, Washington. Alice was the eldest of four siblings: John, Lois, and Barbara. Alice and her family were active members of the Assembly of God church in Lind. Alice graduated from Lind High School in 1959. After high school, she was employed as a bookkeeper until her marriage to Gorden Melcher in 1964. Gorden and Alice built a life together on the farm. They welcomed their first child, Jeffrey, in 1966 and their second child, Rodney, in 1968. Alice joined Zion-Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Odessa, Washington when she married Gorden and continued to be active in church throughout her life. She taught Sunday school and served as the Sunday school superintendent.

Arthur Moriwaki

June 21, 1951 – June 8, 2026

Arthur S. Moriwaki passed away peacefully from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and diabetes on June 9, 2026, just days before his 75th birthday. He was born on June 21, 1951, in Moses Lake, Washington to Nobuo and Kaneko Moriwaki. At the age of 15, Art earned his Eagle Scout medal and became an Order of the Arrow Brotherhood member, and for decades continued his passion for Boy Scouts as an adult troop and regional leader. Art was an accomplished musician, being first chair trumpet in high school, and while his prolonged asthma since childhood limited his ability to participate in the sports that he loved, he became one of the first non-athletes to earn a Moses Lake High School varsity letter as the baseball team's manager and statistician.

Lind assault suspect arrested

LIND — A man sought in connection with a stabbing in Lind Sunday was arrested Tuesday in Spokane County, according to an Adams County Sheriff’s Office media release.

Assault suspect arrested with the help of Moses Lake PD K9

MOSES LAKE — A 15-year-old boy was booked on suspicion of first-degree assault Monday night in connection with an assault Sunday.

Othello City Council considering e-bike regulations

OTHELLO — The Othello City Council is considering e-bike regulations around helmets, speed limits and locations where the devices are allowed. The council began the discussion at the June 22 meeting regarding the potential regulations, asking Othello Police Chief Brent McFarlane to bring back drafted resolutions to the July 13 regular city council meeting.

Weather July 1-8

Weather July 1 – 8, 2026

Another pilot project for Othello ASR facility to start in July

OTHELLO — The next phase in a long-running project to use canal water to supplement Othello’s water system should begin in late July or early August. The test of an alternate water treatment system will be completed in spring 2027.

West Nile Virus present in mosquitoes near Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Health officials have confirmed the presence of West Nile virus in mosquitoes collected near Moses Lake, marking the first detected positive sample in Grant County this year.

Senior Picnic celebrates America’s 250th birthday with hot dogs, music and fun

MOSES LAKE — The 12th annual Moses Lake Senior Picnic June 10 was a star-spangled success, organizers said. “It’s amazing,” said Laurie Ahmann, executive director of Brookdale Hearthstone, one of the sponsors of the event. “There are some (people) who are first-timers this year, but there are those who say they’ve been here all 12 years.” The picnic took up two buildings at the Grant County Fairgrounds and drew a crowd of about 900 people, said Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce Director Debbie Doran-Martinez. That number was about on a par with the 2025 picnic, she added.

Flock of pink

Second annual Flock Walk supports cancer patients in Columbia Basin

MOSES LAKE — A sea of pink lined the Gavinski Trail at Neppel Landing on Saturday as dozens of community members gathered for the second annual Flock Walk, raising money and awareness for the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation. Flamingos, chalk messages and bright shirts marked the path as roughly 60 participants walked together in support of friends, family members and neighbors affected by cancer. The event raised $4,600, according to organizers, with funds going directly toward services for local cancer patients. “It’s events like these in the community that allow us to continue doing what we do,” said Amanda Carpenter, community relations coordinator for the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation. “It helps us continue serving our clients throughout Grant and Adams counties and helps more people know that we’re here.”

Moses Lake street changes reducing traffic crashes, according to data

MOSES LAKE — Accident rates declined after Moses Lake city officials revised traffic lanes in sections of Moses Lake’s downtown, along East Hill Avenue and East Wheeler Road, at least in the first 200 days. Levi Bisnett, Moses Lake project engineer, reviewed the results of about six months of data with Moses Lake City Council members at a special meeting Tuesday.

Sign-ups begin for Adult Co-Ed softball

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services posted sign-ups for the upcoming Adult Co-Ed softball season Monday morning. The cost to create a team is $625 with team registrations open until July 14. No late registrations or payments will be accepted. All games will be held at the Paul Lauzier Athletic Complex with double headers being held each game night. Depending on the number of registered teams, the league may be organized into three divisions.

Moses Lake pianist performs at honors recital

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake student performed last week at the Washington State Music Teachers Association Honors Recital. “She performed very musically and beautifully,” music instructor Marina Munter wrote in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald. “A lot of teachers from all over Washington commented to me how much they enjoyed her performance with a lot of musical expression and emotion.” Anna Borodulin, who has studied with Munter for nine years, was one of 11 students statewide selected to perform at the WSMTA Conference, which was held at Central Washington University June 27-29.

Battle of the Badges coming July 9

MOSES LAKE — First responders will be pitted against each other July 9 for the Battle of the Badges blood drive. “There’s a big rally for all blood types to come out and donate to ensure that we have a strong blood supply this summer,” said Amber Short, community partnership development account manager with Vitalant, a nonprofit that provides blood to those who need it across the U.S. This is the third year the Battle of the Badges has taken place in Moses Lake, Short said. Last year, the Moses Lake Fire Department took the trophy back to the fire station; the Moses Lake Police Department had claimed it the year before.

Quincy standout ‘Duckie’ Workinger returns home to lead Vikings womens wrestling

MOSES LAKE — Shannon “Duckie” Workinger was named the new head coach of women’s wrestling at Big Bend Community College on June 18, bringing one of the Basin’s own back to help build the next generation of women’s wrestlers. “I'm super excited,” Workinger said. “I spent some time wrestling at different places, and it feels really good to be able to come back to the community that I was born in and really establish more connections here and build on the ones that I already have, and just help grow our Basin into a great wrestling (community), even better than it already is, because we have some good wrestlers that come from here.”

SENIOR EVENTS: July 2026

COLUMBIA BASIN — When all the Fourth of July celebrations have wound down, there will still be plenty of opportunities to get out of the house and into something fun. Here are a few things awaiting seniors in July.

Endangered species: Western gray squirrel

The western gray squirrel is the largest native tree squirrel in its range. It is listed as an endangered species in Washington.

A master-paw-ce

This handsome boy is ready to paw-trait himself right into your heart. Becker is a 2‑year‑old coonhound/bluetick mix who’s been neutered and vaccinated, and is all set to find his forever home. Color him happy, because this good boy is the perfect shade of loyal, playful, and loving. Whether he’s wagging his tail or striking a pose for his coloring page, Becker is truly a master-paw-ce. Adopt Becker from Grant County Animal Outreach and add a little more color (and a lot of love) to your life. This spot is sponsored by Hot Springs Spa & Leisure. To sponsor the Pet of the Day, call Jeannie at 509-765-4561.

Haaland scores deciding goal as Norway wins its 1st World Cup knockout game, beating Ivory Coast 2-1

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Erling Haaland scored the deciding goal in the 86th minute and Norway won a knockout game at the World Cup for the first time, advancing to the round of 16 with a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast. Three defenders converged on Patrick Berg as he moved into the penalty area with the ball, and he kicked it over to a wide-open Haaland for his fifth goal in three games at this year’s tournament. Antonio Nusa scored with a curling kick for Norway, which is in its fourth World Cup and will next play five-time champion Brazil in the round of 16 on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Trying to prevent a catastrophic blaze in a fire-prone part of Washington

On a dry day in mid-June, a 13-person crew slashed down small trees, limbs and bushes outside of a home near Roslyn, Washington.

Grant County Jail Roster for June 30, 2026

Grant County Jail Roster for June 30, 2026

Call him Mister because he’s got purr-sonality

This handsome gentleman is ready to man-age his way right into your heart. At 7 years young, Mister Man is the purr-fectly seasoned companion – no kitten chaos, just smooth, sophisticated snuggles.

Legals for July, 1 2026

Ephrata girls compete at Hoopfest 2026

SPOKANE — Ephrata was well represented at Hoopfest over the weekend with seven teams competing from high school to fifth grade brackets. By the end of the weekend, two of the Ephrata teams claimed second place finishes in their brackets. “I thought they did great,” said Ephrata High School Head Coach Alain Black. “They played well, they played hard and had some good competition, so it was fun to watch.” The two teams to take home the silver were the Tiger Terrors consisting of Summer B, Gwynn F, Tyler W and Brooklynn R and the Hoop Town Girls consisting of Brooke B, Grace K, Emma F and Hallie H.