Piano students to support orphans with recital

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake-area music students will perform to raise money for a Ukrainian orphanage, according to an announcement from piano teacher Marina Munter. Students of Moses Lake-Central Basin chapter of the Washington State Music Teachers Association members will perform “Christmas Songs for Ukrainian Orphans” Dec. 20, at Moses Lake Christian Academy, Munter wrote in the announcement. There is no set admission price but donations are encouraged. Participating piano teachers are Preta Laughlin, Marina Munter, Gracie Payne, Whitney Reck and Harriet West. Violin teacher Iryna Novikov’s students will also perform.

Multimillion-dollar commitment will advance key cwu initiatives

ELLENSBURG - Central Washington University has received a multimillion-dollar commitment from Rob and Valerie Moehring to create a Presidential Innovation Fund, which will be used to invest in new strategic priority initiatives.

Community servant

Peny Archer put her heart into feeding the hungry

MOSES LAKE — Peny Archer first encountered the Moses Lake Food Bank more than 20 years ago. It changed her life. Her youngest child was starting school, Peny said in a 2023 interview. “Because of working and having a career, I had missed a lot of school plays, a lot of things my children were involved in because I had to work,” she said. “I wanted to spend some time with our youngest during the summer and so on. When school started again, I thought ‘You know, I’m going to go to the food bank and volunteer for two hours a week.’” That volunteer shift was a revelation, she said.

‘Our shelves are really empty’

Ephrata Food Bank in need of donations

EPHRATA – The Ephrata Food Bank, a resource for families in the Ephrata community, is currently facing significant challenges due to dwindling supplies, but increased demand, Director Phyllis Fuglie said. Since moving to its current location in 2003, the food bank has served as a lifeline for many residents struggling with food insecurities. Prior to the current building the food bank operated out of the Ephrata Recreation Center. According to volunteers, the need for assistance has only intensified in recent months as food sources have diminished.

Othello Food Bank faces capacity challenges amid increased demand

OTHELLO – The Othello Food Bank, a cornerstone of food security in Adams County, continues to serve the community with dedication, despite facing capacity challenges. Executive Director Jose Garza emphasizes the importance of partnerships and community donations, as their capacity to store and distribute food is stretched thin. “The key to our success is the environment we’ve cultivated through partnerships with farmers, growers, and local agencies,” Garza said. “We’re well-connected throughout the state, which allows us to be productive. However, our biggest challenge isn’t the food itself; it’s having the space to put it.”

Paw-sitive saving adoption event at Umpqua Bank on Friday

MOSES LAKE – On Friday, Umpqua Bank will host the "Paw-sitive Savings Adoption Event" to help Grant County Animal Outreach find loving homes for local pets in need. The event will feature six to seven adoptable dogs, with discounted adoption fees aimed at encouraging attendees to adopt.

Moses Lake Classic Car Club makes Moses Lake Food Bank donation

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Classic Car Club “gifted back” with a $800 donation to the Moses Lake Food Bank.

INTERSTATE art exhibit opens Nov. 6 at CWU’s Sarah Spurgeon Gallery

ELLENSBURG — The Sarah Spurgeon Gallery at Central Washington University will be hosting a national juried exhibition this fall called INTERSTATE: Where I-90 meets I-82.

Bikers to raise funds for scholarship in Peny Archer’s name

MOSES LAKE — Two local motorcycle clubs will hold events next weekend in honor of Moses Lake Food Bank Director Peny Archer, who passed away in January. Road Brother will be at the Ross Dress for Less parking lot April 19 in Moses Lake from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., said Road Brother member Thomas Johnson. Then from 4 to 6 p.m. the Unchained Brotherhood will hold a spaghetti feed at the Moses Lake Food Bank. The suggested donation at the spaghetti feed is $10.

Ephrata Food Bank faces growing needs amid uncertainty

EPHRATA – As local food banks brace for potential increases in demand, Phyllis Fuglie, Director of the Ephrata Food Bank, is reaching out to the community for assistance. Fuglie outlined the pressing needs of the food bank as it strives to serve families amid changing federal support for low-income households.

WA directs state dollars to food banks as SNAP funding cliff nears

Washington state will give food banks $2.2 million per week as they deal with the potential end of food stamp benefits due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Juvenile shot, suffers non-life-threatening injuries

MOSES LAKE — On Tuesday at around 6:30 p.m. the Moses Lake Police Department received a call of shots fired in the 500 block of Central Drive, according to a statement from the MLPD. When officers arrived, they located a 17-year-old male with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound in his leg. The victim was transported to Samaritan Hospital for treatment. MLPD Capt. Jeff Sursely said there have been no updates on how the victim is recovering.

Nonprofit of the Day: Community Services of Moses Lake

Community Services of Moses Lake 9299 Beacon Road NE Moses Lake 509-765-8101 www.mlfood.org CSML operates the Moses Lake Food Bank, which feeds local people in need as well as distributing food to a network of 48 food pantries in Grant, Adams, Benton, Lincoln, Yakima and Whitman counties.

ACH hosts tourney

COULEE CITY – Wrestlers from across Eastern Washington gathered at Almira/Coulee-Hartline for Saturday’s Banks Lake Brawl, including local teams from ACH, Lind-Ritzville/Sprague and Ephrata. See Tuesday’s edition of the Columbia Basin Herald for full results from the tournament, as well as how other teams fared at tournaments across the state.

Sixers announce tryout dates for select softball

MOSES LAKE — The Central Washington Sixers have announced tryout dates for their new start-up program for select softball for 10U, 12U, and 14U. The 10U tryouts will be 5-7 p.m. July 31, and the tryouts for 12U and 14U will be Aug. 4 at the Six Athletic Training Facility. “It’s going to be an opportunity for these girls to just come out and show us what (they’ve) got,” said Emma McKay, Central Washington Sixers General Manager of Softball. McKay said the overall structure for the Sixers is based around developing athletes physically, mentally and emotionally. With the success of the baseball players over the years, the Sixers decided it was time to do the same for softball.

Wildcats win sole possession GNAC title with dramatic comeback against Simon Fraser

BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA – The Central Washington University men’s basketball team defeated Simon Fraser University 73-70 Saturday night at the West Gym. This victory not only marked an impressive comeback for the Wildcats but also secured them sole possession of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Regular Season Title and a first-round bye for the upcoming GNAC Tournament.

'We could use just about everything'

Moses Lake Food Bank looking for donations of food, funds

'We could use just about everything.'

Quincy examining truck restrictions in city

QUINCY — A public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. April 15 at Quincy City Hall to take public comment on a proposal to change designated truck routes within the city limits. City hall is located at 104 B St. SW.

Othello, Ephrata, Quincy girls named to All-CWAC team

OTHELLO — Othello Huskies Coach Sammy Rocha and Quincy Jackrabbits Coach Mark Kondo were named co-Coaches of the year for girls wrestling in the Class 2A Central Washington Athletic Conference. Wrestlers from Ephrata, Quincy and Othello were named to the all-league teams

Court ruling releases SNAP benefits for Washingtonians

OLYMPIA – Following a federal court ruling requiring the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, hundreds of thousands of Washington residents are receiving their overdue food assistance benefits for November. This development comes after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to cease withholding food benefits for low-income Americans.