Canal breach fixed in record-breaking time

MOSES LAKE — A breach in the East Low Canal was fixed within five days and back to delivering water by Saturday. Last Monday, there was a canal breach on the East Low Canal near Roads N and 4 Northeast. The East Columbia Basin Irrigation District began the dewatering process, removing water from the canal, immediately, said Jennifer Korfiatis, the public relations specialist at the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District, which maintains the canal.

Breaching Snake River dams could drop reservoirs, groundwater levels by 100 feet

(The Center Square) – As the Biden administration attempts to gain support for breaching hydroelectric dams in Washington, state and federal agencies are preparing for a study on the potential implications.

Moses Lake student sings national anthem at Mat Classic

TACOMA — Nearly 300 schools were at the first day of the Mat Classic wrestling tournament at the Tacoma Dome Thursday, with thousands of wrestlers, parents, coaches and fans. But one voice cut through the air at the opening ceremonies, and that voice belonged to a Moses Lake Maverick.

Microsoft working to help protect IT systems of rural hospitals

MOSES LAKE — Information is valuable in the Information Age, to good actors and bad actors alike. And unlike precious metals or stacks of cash, people sometimes don’t know how valuable information is, or that it can be vulnerable to attack. Erin Burchfield of Microsoft Philanthropies said rural hospitals are an example.

Grant County Fair officially begins

MOSES LAKE - The Grant County Fair had its opening ceremony yesterday at 10 a.m. around AN empty flagpole with an audience of more than 100 people. The smell of fried goods and livestock filled the air.

Legals for February, 7 2025

Newhouse focused on momentum in reelection bid

MOSES LAKE – Rep. Dan Newhouse, R–Wash., said he’s running for reelection because he feels like he still has work to do and because his time in office has connected him with the resources he needs in Washington D.C. to take action.

Lawmakers look to ban time caps on anesthesia coverage in proposed bipartisan bill

OLYMPIA - Washington is taking proactive measures to preserve insurance coverage for anesthesia care. After facing harsh public criticism, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield rolled back a policy that would establish a time cap on anesthesia used in procedures. The policy was initially introduced in Connecticut, New York, and Missouri before being rescinded, yet many states are taking action to prevent similar policies.

Legals for May, 16 2025

Legals for January, 17 2025

MLSD provides more details on Groff legal action

District closes elementary campus for ‘25-26 school year due to safety concerns

MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake School District officials announced during a Friday press conference that Groff Elementary will remain closed for the 2025-26 school year due to the ongoing infrastructure issues tied to the original construction of the building. The district is also pursuing legal action against Fowler General Construction Inc., the contractor that built Groff, for breach of contract and breach of warranty.

Smiley addresses priorities in congressional race

MOSES LAKE – Tiffany Smiley decided to run for Congress again, this time for the U.S. House of Representatives 4th Congressional District, after she said residents of the district expressed concerns about incumbent Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., and encouraged her to run.

Legals for May, 9 2025

U.S. Justice Dept. to investigate new WA law requiring clergy to report child abuse

(The Center Square) – Just three days after Gov. Bob Ferguson signed into law a bill requiring religious leaders in Washington state to report child abuse or neglect – even when it’s disclosed in confession – the U.S. Justice Department announced on Monday it has opened a civil rights investigation based on what it regards as a prima facie First Amendment violation.

K-9 security team joins staff at Confluence

WENATCHEE — A security dog will be patrolling the halls of Central Washington Hospital, part of an expansion of the security team for Confluence Health. Atlas, a three-year-old German Shepherd, and his handler Justin Bennett will be on the hospital campus and at Confluence Health’s Mares building on Chelan Avenue in Wenatchee.

Legals for May, 2 2025

Ephrata School Board makes cell phone rules, trademarks logos

At the Ephrata School Board meeting on July 29, several important decisions were made that will impact the upcoming school year according to a release. One of the highlights from the meeting was the purchase of secure cell phone boxes for Ephrata High School and Ephrata Middle School. These boxes will be used to store students' cell phones during class to minimize distractions and improve focus on learning. The district is committed to studying the impact of this new policy in collaboration with students, families, and staff members. According to recent reports from Pew Research Center and Common Sense Media, a significant number of teens are constantly online, with many receiving numerous notifications on their phones each day. By implementing the use of secure cell phone boxes, Ephrata Schools aims to create a more conducive learning environment for students. The district has allocated approximately $5,500 to purchase these boxes for all classrooms at EHS and EMS.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Honor and hope

I had the privilege of attending three Memorial Day events Monday wherein area residents visited the cemeteries in Soap Lake, Ephrata and Quincy to honor those who served our country and are no longer with us. Some of those soldiers died in combat or in the course of military service away from the front lines. The lifestyle associated with putting on a uniform isn’t easy and there are all sorts of reasons we lose those in the service. Training accidents, helicopter crashes and way too many more. All too often these days, it isn’t the bullet of an enemy that takes down a service member or veteran – it’s mental health issues related to the things people have seen and done in service to our great nation. I spoke with one veteran at the Ephrata event who said he’s lost 11 of his brothers and sisters in arms to suicide after getting out of the military.

WA gun law may force small arms shops out of business

(The Center Square) - Gun store owners across Washington have one more year to figure out if they can comply with a new law that requires expensive security upgrades. Opponents have dubbed the legislation, an FFL Killer. FFL refers to gun shops with a Federal Firearms License.

Faith, accomplishment, contributing themes for MLCA graduation

MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake Christian Academy celebrated its four-person graduating Class of 2024 Saturday with pomp, circumstance and prayer as Dennis Fountain, Caleb Jones, Maria Lynch and Jonah Robertson walked across the stage to collect their diplomas.