New principal named for Wahluke’s Saddle Mountain Elementary

MATTAWA — Melissa Hattaway has been named the principal at Saddle Mountain Elementary beginning with the 2025-25 school year. “She’s replacing Kurt Hoffman who’s retiring after 40 years in education,” Wahluke School District Superintendent Andy Harlow said. “Melissa is a Royal High School graduate and has worked for (the Wahluke School District) for 15 years. This will be her first role as principal.”

Richard Jaeger

1948 – 2025

Richard Arthur Jaeger, beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, passed away peacefully on June 24, 2025, in Olympia, Washington, just one day after celebrating his 77th birthday.

More than 200 named to BBCC Vice President’s List

MOSES LAKE — Two hundred forty-four Basin students were named to the Big Bend Community College Vice-President’s List for fall quarter 2024, the college announced Tuesday. To qualify for the Vice President’s List, a student must complete 12 or more graded credits with a GPA between 3.33 and 3.74. Beverly: Juan Herrera, Amy Penaloza, Belicia Saldana-Sosa Coulee City: Dylan Jacques Electric City: David Borden

Vicki Jeske

March 22, 1948 – Jan. 29, 2025

Vicki Diann Jeske, 76, passed away peacefully in the early hours of Jan. 29, 2025. Vicki was born on March 22, 1948, in Portland, Oregon to Emil and Eva Kociemba. She was raised with her sister Marci in Boring, Oregon and graduated from Sandy High School in 1966. She married right out of high school and started her family with the birth of Kenneth in 1970. These early years included lots of time spent at bowling alleys across Washington and Oregon. She continued bowling and raising kids with the birth of Christopher, Nikki, and finally, Michelle. Her bowling endeavors spanned across four decades.

CAST for Kids ignites a love of fishing

MOSES LAKE – The Catch a Special Thrill for Kids foundation is a nonprofit public charity that helps children who have special needs and disadvantages enjoy a day of fishing. The organization has been around since 1991 and has since expanded to 26 states, including Washington. “I think these kids deserve to be celebrated and included,” said Melissa McCalmant, CAST’s Western Operations Manager and NW/Rocky Mtn. West Regional Manager. “Just spending a day with them and watching the excitement on their face, it’s just life-changing.”

Joseph Cassiano Jr.

Joseph J. Cassiano Jr. was born June 26, 1951, to Joseph Sr. and Mary Lou (Smith) Cassiano. In 1970, Joe met his high school sweetheart, Janet Brown, and they were married in 1972. He passed away peacefully at home at the age of 73 with his loving wife of 53 years at his side. Joe was a lifelong resident of Moses Lake. He was a certified welder and pipe fitter who spent many years working in local factories such as Columbia Bean Co., Carnation, U&I Sugar, I.T.I., and Brown & Root before retiring from ASiMI in 2005. He was an avid hunter and fisherman known as “Catfish” to his friends. He enjoyed flying Cessna airplanes, boating, road and dirt bike riding, RVing and anything outdoors. Throughout his life he owned several 1957 Chevys including his last ’57 Bel Air that won him several trophies.

Larry Workman

Larry D. Workman, 68, passed from this life to glory on March 4th, 2025, with family at bedside after a battle with cancer. He was lovingly called Honey, Dad, Pa, Grandpa, Dude, Grandpa Saturday, Larry Dawg, and Wolfy.

Bill to make school bond approval easier in Washington state gains momentum

(The Center Square) – Several people showed up at a Monday public hearing before the Senate Ways & Means Committee to offer their support for a bill that would amend the state constitution to allow for simple majorities to pass school bonds in Washington state. Senate Bill 5186 is a substitute bill to the original Senate Joint Resolution 8200, which would have allowed 55% of voters to authorize school district bonds. Sen. Deborah Krishnadasan, D-Gig Harbor, introduced the substitute bill modeled after House Bill 4201, which would require only that more than half of the votes cast be in favor of the bond request. The substitute bill was given a do-pass recommendation out of executive session on Feb. 13 by the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee. Because SB 5186 would amend the state constitution, it requires a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate. Afterward, voters would have the final say this November.

CWU honor rolls include 101 Basin students

ELLENSBURG — More than 100 Central Washington University Wildcats from the Columbia Basin were named to the honor roll for fall quarter 2024, according to an announcement from the university. To qualify, a student must complete a minimum of 12 credits with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

Kathryn Schmalz Rackham

July 17, 1943 – December 31, 2024

Kathryn (Kathy) Schmalz Rackham, 81, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Moses Lake after a long battle with Alzheimer’s/dementia. Kathy was born July 17, 194,3 in Ogden, Utah to William Moyes Schmalz and Karma Chadwick. She was born the middle child of three. She lived in Salt Lake City and Seattle before moving to a farm north of Warden in 1952. In 1961 she graduated as the valedictorian of Warden High School and attended Central Washington State College in Ellensburg receiving a degree in Education and French in 1965. She taught English and French at Tyee High School prior to spending a summer abroad in France.

Regan Bonato

1947 – 2025

Regan Dee Bonato, 78, passed away unexpectedly on January 29, 2025, from complications of the flu.

Bruce Eugene Kehret

1938 — 2025

Bruce Eugene Kehret, age 87, passed away on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata, Washington. He was born March 4, 1938, in Austin, Minnesota and was the third son to Carl and Matilda Kehret.

Discover Pass fee increase considered by WA legislature

OLYMPIA —Washington State Senate Bill 5390, which proposes to increase the cost of the Discover Pass and day-use permits, was the subject of discussion during a recent hearing before the House Committee on Appropriations. The bill aims to update fees that have remained unchanged since their implementation in 2011 and address a growing budget deficit in state recreational programs. The bill passed the Senate with a 29-20 vote. Senate Democrats voted in favor, with the exception of Sen. Adrian Cortes, D-Battle Ground. All Republican senators voted no.

Dorene Claassen

1948 — 2025

Dorene Sue (Flaming) Claassen, 77, passed away on October 5, 2025, in Moses Lake, Wash. She was born June 20, 1948, in Goessel, Kansas, the oldest child of Theodore B. and Frieda (Schmidt) Flaming.

Janet K. Cassiano

1952 — 2025

Janet K. Cassiano was born January 3, 1952, to Glenn Brown and Beulah (Casteel) Brown. In 1970, Janet met her high school sweetheart, Joe Cassiano Jr., and they were married in 1972. She passed away at the age of 73 with her loving family at her side.

Danny L. Claussen

1945 — 2025

Danny Lee Claussen, 79, of Ephrata, Wash., passed away surrounded by his family May 10, 2025. Dan was born in Colfax, Wash., on Oct. 20, 1945, to August and Janette (Freeburg) Claussen. Dan and his sister and four brothers resided in Thornton with their mom and dad.

Skyview Dental opens new clinic

MOSES LAKE — The new Skyview Dental clinic is open. “It’s been under planning for about two and a half years,” said Dr. Calvin Despain at the clinic’s ribbon-cutting Friday. “We broke ground in March of this year and then just finished up and started seeing patients a couple of weeks ago.” The 6,000-square-foot clinic features 10 treatment rooms with brand new equipment, arranged in an open, airy space that allows Despain and his staff to move around easily between patients. “It’s built around patient comfort, Despain said. “We’ve got the most advanced equipment and dental chairs that are available … We do same-day crowns. We have 3D printing where we can get dentures made faster. We have our 3D X-rays … We have our little special surgery rooms (where) we can have a nice private place for people to be who have longer procedures.”

Forrest A. 'Frosty' Reich

1948 — 2025

Forrest A. “Frosty” Reich, loving husband, father brother, uncle, grandpa, and friend, went to be with his Lord and Savior on May 8, 2025, after a courageous battle with prostate cancer.

Dan Newhouse advised not to hold public events after man arrested for making death threats against GOP congressman, his staff

WASHINGTON — Just about every time Rep. Dan Newhouse posts on Facebook, the comments start pouring in with the same question from his constituents across central Washington. “When is your next public meeting??? Would love to ask some questions!” one person wrote under a post celebrating the Grand Coulee Dam’s anniversary on Wednesday. “In the area yet again and STILL no time for a Town Hall,” another commented after the Republican lawmaker posted photos from an event in Richland on July 10.

Legals for June, 18 2025