Bring a little chocolate into your life, adopt Cocoa Bean

SOAP LAKE – Cocoa Bean came to the Rock Bottom Rocker Pet Pantry after getting lost from her previous owners and never claimed. She is a smaller chocolate pit/husky mix between two and three years old. She is currently shelter’s favorite comedian. Cocoa Bean is known for her shenanigan's, high energy antics and independent spirit which frequently make the staff giggle. She is a sweet (duh, she’s named after chocolate), friendly, curious and very toy motivated girl. If you need a little more sweetness or maybe a few more laughs in your life, adopt Cocoa Bean by visiting RockBottomRocker.org. For those who can’t adopt but would still like to help the local shelter out visit their website and click the donate button. There are also opportunities to foster pets, if that’s more your speed.

Let’s get Zillow home

OTHELLO – Zillow, named after the home-buying website, will not help you buy a home; instead, he wants to be a part of yours. This sweet cloud is neutered, up to date on vaccines and microchipped. All he needs now is a loving family that will spoil him with tummy rubs and Milk-bones. If he seems like the perfect little guy for you or your family, visit AdamsCountyPetRescue.org and fill out his application. If you can’t adopt right now, visit the website and click “donate.”

She Tink a good home is in her future

OTHELLO – Tink, an adult Chocolate Labrador Retriever, is looking for her new best friend. She has this sneaking suspicion that she will have the most wonderful home in her future. She is spayed, vaccinated and microchipped. Now, all she needs is the loveliest person to visit AdamsCountyPetRescue.com and fill out her adoption application. She says if you can’t adopt right now, that’s ok but you could still help the local shelter but visiting the website and clicking “donate.”

Big paws to match her big heart

OTHELLO – Heeya, a young chocolate labrador retriever mix is looking for a family. She said she will be growing into those big paws of hers. She would like to use said paws for long walks, swimming and to rest on you as you cozy up with a good book. Outside of her big beans, she also has a big heart and gets along well with humans and other furry friends. She is vaccinated, microchipped and spayed. If her sweet green eyes have charmed you, visit AdamsCountyPetRescue.com and fill out her application. If you can’t adopt a sweet girl right now, but you would like to help a local shelter, visit the website and click “donate.”

Mice test positive for bird flu in Grant County

MOSES LAKE — Six mice in Grant County have recently tested positive for avian influenza, also known as the bird flu, according to a statement from the Grant County Health District. “It’s not brand new that we are finding bird flu in mice or other mammals. There have been reports of rodents testing positive for bird flu throughout the United States. It can be found in other mammals, not just birds,” GCHD Public Information Officer Lexi Smith said.

Adopt somethin’ spicy

MOSES LAKE — Wasabi is an adorable little gray and white kitten that’s just a bit shy of four months old. She has wide, pleading eyes that are just begging for a saucer of milk and a snuggly human to love on. She’s a domestic shorthair and is already spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped and ready for adoption into a loving home. While she appreciates the love she gets at Grant County Animal Outreach, she wants a permanent home with a person or family that cares for her. Find out more about Wasabi and the other pets at GCAO by visiting grantcountyanimaloutreach.org or by calling 509-762-9616. The shelter is located at 6725 Randolph Road NE, near Moses Lake. If you are unable to adopt, click the donate button at the top of the website to pitch in.

Plant early with milk-jug mini-greenhouses

MOSES LAKE — Some plants are meant to be left in the ground through the winter, and now that it’s February and the ground outside is as hard as week-old peanut brittle, it’s a little late to be planting. Fortunately, there are ways to use milk jugs and even ice cube trays to get planting underway. “Some seeds need to be frozen in order to split their outer shell,” said Valerie Parrott, president of the Columbia Basin Garden Club. “Things like carnations, they really need to be cold. So, you just fill your ice cube tray (with water), dump a few seeds in one, freeze them for two weeks, then you can go outside and plant them, and that will act the same as a cold stratification ... as if they had gone through a lot of hard freeze cycles.”

Double the love and twice the cuddles

MOSES LAKE – Adopt double the cuteness, adopt this bonded pair. Rosco, male, and Dolly, female, are looking for a home that will take them in together. They love each other dearly and would be devastated if they were separated. Rosco is neutered and Dolly is spayed; both are fully vaccinated. They are both cuddle bugs and when you aren’t home, they will have each other to keep one another company. Rosco and Dolly were declawed before they came into Grant County Animal Outreach care. GCAO's policy is not to support declawing, but we are dedicated to ensuring these wonderful cats find a safe and happy indoor home. Could that be with you? If so, visit GrantCountyAnimalOutreach.org and fill out their application. If you can’t take in the pair but you would like to help a local shelter, visit the website and click “donate.”

Boys & Girls Club to offer free summer meals

MOSES LAKE — The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin will be offering breakfast and lunch for children again this summer. And this time, they’re offering it in more places. “We’re doubling our location sites,” said Cecily Hendricks, director of operations for the club. Breakfast and lunch will be served at the McGraw Clubhouse and North and Midway elementary schools, according to an announcement from the club. Lunch only will be served at Lakeview, Maple Grove and Doolittle parks. They’re free to any child 2-18 years old; there’s no need to be a Club member, the announcement said. Parents can pick up meals for their children by filling out a form. Because Moses Lake qualifies as rural, the meals don’t have to be eaten onsite.

Ferguson orders assessment of data center impacts

OLYMPIA— Earlier this month, Gov. Bob Ferguson signed an executive order to create a workgroup aimed at assessing the impacts of data centers on energy use, state tax revenue, and the environment. The order stemmed from concerns about the sustainability of data centers – large warehouses filled with stacked computers that power the modern internet – which consume significant amounts of energy putting a strain on Washington’s power grid. “We must ensure Washington remains a leader in technology and sustainability – these experts will help us do that,” Ferguson said in a public statement. “This group will help us balance industry growth, tax revenue needs, energy constraints, and sustainability.”

Ephrata Library set for major renovations next spring

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Public Library is gearing up for significant renovations aimed at modernizing the facility and enhancing services for its patrons this upcoming spring. “This comprehensive project is an extension of our ongoing branding efforts, and it will be a significant upgrade that brings our spaces up to date,” Supervising Librarian Aaron Loeffelbein said.

Plastic bags are a good way to sow before the spring weather comes

MOSES LAKE — Winter may be wheezing out its last gasps, but we’re still a ways off from time to put most spring plants outdoors. Seeds can be planted ahead of time in milk jugs or ice cube trays, but there’s a third medium that’s had some success: plastic resealable bags. “You can start sweet peas in bags,” said Valerie Parrott, president of the Columbia Basin Garden Club. “You can start a lot of winter sowing things putting them in the (plastic) bags. Just line them up outside.” The bags should be filled with some sort of absorbent material. Parrott uses potting soil, but moss, coffee filters or towels are also options, according to the website Gardening Tips and Tools.

Double trouble: Husky pups for adoption

OTHELLO — Teji (left), male, and Fleta, female, are looking for an active family to take them in. The two siblings are goofy, adventurous and crave affection. They love long hikes and playing with toys in the yard. The pair can be adopted together or separately. Both are around 3.5 months old. They are spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. For those looking for a new friend, adopt one of these sweet pups. To learn more visit AdamsCountyPetRescue.com or call 509-488-5514. For those unable to adopt but who would like to support the shelter, consider donating by clicking the “donate” button at the top of the website.

Double trouble: husky pups for adoption

OTHELLO – Teji (left) male, and Fleta (right) female are looking for an active family to take them in. The two siblings are goofy, adventurous and crave affection. They love long hikes and playing with toys in the yard. The pair can be adopted together or separately. Both are around 3.5 months old. They are spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. For those looking for a new friend, adopt one of these sweet pups. To learn more visit AdamsCountyPetRescue.com or call 509-488-5514. For those unable to adopt but who would like to support the shelter, consider donating by clicking the “donate” button at the top of the website.

Double dose of adoptable adorable

SOAP LAKE – Lily, left, and Misa, right, are a bonded pair of sisters who are looking for their forever home. The two must be adopted together. When the girls arrived at the Rock Bottom Rocker Pet Pantry, Lily had been shot in the neck and Misa was pregnant. The vet was able to save Lily’s life and also helped Misa by delivering her litter. Both dogs are doing well now. Normally, the shelter charges $350 per dog adoption, however, to keep the girls together they are offering the two to be adopted for $150. Both dogs are mixed breed, spayed, up to date on shots and microchipped. If these girls have stolen your heart, visit RockBottomRocker.org and fill out an adoption application. If you can’t adopt the sisters but would like to help a local shelter visit the website and click “volunteer” or “donate.”

Elderberry juice shows benefits for weight management, metabolic health

SPOKANE, Wash.—Elderberry juice may be a potent tool for weight management and enhancing metabolic health, according to a recent Washington State University-led study. A clinical trial published in the journal Nutrients found that drinking 12 ounces of elderberry juice daily for a week causes positive changes in the gut microbiome and improves glucose tolerance and fat oxidation. Elderberry, a small dark purple berry found on elder trees native to Europe, is commonly used as a medicinal plant and supplement to promote immune function. Its other potential health benefits are poorly understood, however.

Single eye, double the cuteness: adopt this charming pug

OTHELLO -- Biscuit, a handsome pug, finally got his stitches out after surgery to remove his infected eyeball. He has transitioned to seeing out of one eye very well, according to Adams County Pet Rescue.

Lions off to 10-1 start

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School boys basketball team has opened the season with a near-perfect mark, improving to 10-1 with Friday night’s road win over Oroville. The Lions have won nine straight games since a Dec. 7 loss to Tonasket and are 4-0 in Central Washington B games this winter. “It’s coming together with team chemistry, and we’re settling into our roles,” Head Coach Emerson Ferguson said. “They’ve changed this year with new players in the lineup. We’ve been playing our brand of basketball that we’ve been playing for the last few years.”

Weather for the week of Oct. 13, 2025

Weather for the week of Oct. 13, 2025

Arthur Sergio Castro

July 9, 1955 — July 6, 2025

Arthur was born to Cesar and Victoria Castro, who immigrated to Moses Lake from Mexico in 1949. The couple settled in a small farmhouse off of Stratford Road near Crab Creek. Arthur, the fifth of eight children, grew up a farm kid with his brothers and sisters. The Castros raised animals and young Art would fetch fresh milk from the farmer down the road. He and his brothers loved fishing near the creek and Art became an avid bass fisherman as an adult. Once, near Block 40, Art reeled in a largemouth bass that weighed nearly 12 pounds. Throughout his childhood and teenage years he worked construction jobs, drove potato trucks and learned mechanics. He graduated from Moses Lake High School in 1974 and soon after met the love of his life, Salina. Art and Salina were married in Moses Lake in 1979 and would raise four children in the Knolls Vista neighborhood.