Alumni Association scholarship applications open

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Alumni Association will begin accepting applications for 2026 in January, Association Secretary Susan Blackwell wrote in an announcement to the Columbia Basin Herald.

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.

Rock Bottom Rocker Pet Pantry launches Angel Tree program for rescue pets

SOAP LAKE — As the holiday spirit fills the air, Rock Bottom Rocker Pet Pantry animal rescue is ready to spread some cheer to furry friends waiting for their forever homes. This year, the organization announced the launch of a pilot program inspired by traditional angel giving tree initiatives. However, this project takes a twist: it centers on the animals at the rescue.

Beryl Jeane Moore Kinney

1929 – 2025

Beryl Jeane was born in Wenatchee, WA, May 18, 1929, to parents Eunice Averill (Isenhart) Moore and Kenneth Moore of Wenatchee, Wash. where she was raised. She graduated from Wenatchee High School in 1947. Her happiest memories as a child were made at the family cabin on Lake Wenatchee, where she spent many weekends. She admitted to being a tomboy.

Swartz chosen for second term as Moses Lake mayor

MOSES LAKE — Dustin Swartz will be serving as Moses Lake mayor for the next two years. Swartz was reelected by Moses Lake City Council members on a 5-1 vote Tuesday. Council member Victor Lombardi voted no, after nominating Mark Fancher for the mayor’s job. Fancher, however, declined.

Women combine talents to open businesses in shared space

MOSES LAKE — Three woman-owned businesses held a ribbon-cutting and grand opening at their new location in Moses Lake Thursday. The office at 815 W. Third Ave. holds an accounting firm, a massage service and a waxing room. “We’re a one-stop shop,” Mandy Schuh said. Schuh is the owner and founder of both Pillar Rock Accounting and Seventh Sense Serenity massage service. As Pillar Rock, she and her assistant Esmeralda Sanchez handle after-the-fact bookkeeping: general bookkeeping, payroll processing and bank and credit card reconciliation. That’s the business people see when they walk in the front door. In a quiet, gently-lit room in the back of the office, Schuh massage services, including Swedish, intraoral massage, myofascial, reflexology and the Japanese technique called Reiki.

MLHS Pals Club fundraiser deemed a success

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake High School Pals Club gathered together outside of Crumble Cookie on Thursday to raise money for the unified sports programs before the start of the basketball season in January. Mavs Assistant Coach for Unified Sports, Sarah White said the holiday themed fundraiser was a success on all accounts. “It was a lot of fun,” said White. “We had I think four of our unified players show up and a good amount of the community and everyone stopped by.”

Legals for January, 6 2026

Ephrata Schools bond: Parkway Intermediate

EPHRATA — Parkway Intermediate School is one of the campuses the Ephrata School District is looking to replace with a proposed $75 million, 25-year school construction bond. The bond measure is set to appear on the Feb. 10, 2026, ballot, and will fund not only a replacement of Parkway but also Grant Elementary’s replacement and improvements at Ephrata High School.

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.

Ferguson, GOP submit supplemental budgets

OLYMPIA — Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has released his proposed supplemental budget for the upcoming legislative session which is set to start Jan. 12. The governor submits his proposal and the legislature sets their own priorities as a budget is worked out. “I’m providing a road map to the legislature,” Ferguson said during a Tuesday press conference. “This is, of course, the first step in a conversation about how best to balance our budget. Legislators will, of course, have their own ideas, and obviously, I've had conversations with leadership in recent weeks regarding my proposed budget. I'm looking forward to continuing to work with them and all members, of course, of the legislature as this proposed budget moves over to the legislative branch.”

Adria Kay (Krause) DeLay

1933 — 2025

Adria Kay (Krause) DeLay was born in Kimball, Neb. Sept. 20, 1933 and passed away Dec. 26, 2025 in Moses Lake, Wash. at the age of 92.

STUDIO BASIN: A round-up of MLSD contract, strike coverage

MOSES LAKE — On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Reporter Nance Beston and Editor R. Hans Miller discussed the conflicts at the Moses Lake School District, including the budget shortfall, recent teacher contract and financial plans for the future.

Local experts eye AI to help develop the future

MOSES LAKE — AI technology has been developing quickly over the last few years with multiple avenues and questions arising regarding its use in everyday life. NCW Tech Alliance hopes to guide North Central Washington in how to utilize this technology as it continues to evolve. “AI is a general-purpose technology and so it’s much easier to understand what’s possible and the vastness of what opportunities there are in AI if you think about it in that way,” said Sue Kane, CEO of NCW Tech Alliance.

WA GOP, journalist file injunction to stop state from deleting public records

(The Center Square) — The Washington State Republican Party and journalist Jonathan Choe have jointly filed an injunction in Thurston County Superior Court barring the state from scrubbing or removing public access to records related to child care centers in the state that receive public funds.

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.

Locals compete in Dancing with the Moses Lake Stars

MOSES LAKE — Volunteer firefighter Brian McGowan took home the coveted mirrored ball trophy at Saturday night’s Dancing with the Moses Lake Stars. “This has been a life goal,” McGowan said. “Definitely, since I was a little kid, this has been a dream of mine.”

New homes, new lives

Looking back at pet adoptions in 2025

MOSES LAKE — 2025 turned out to be a good year for some pets, and some humans as well. Here are a few of the critters that found forever homes at local shelters this year.

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.

December Basketball Gallery, 2025

COLUMBIA BASIN – The local high school athletes have been working hard at the start of their basketball seasons. With the schedules slowing down for winter break, it’s a good time to look back on the past month of competition and check in on some of the local athletes.