Overcoming challenges

Ephrata's Ben Belino overcomes physical challenges to compete after accident leads to amputation.

EPHRATA – Back in December, Ephrata High School senior Ben Belino received the EHS Challenge Coin, a memento for Tiger students and staff who accomplish extraordinary things.

Deena Vietzke: Othello’s 2023 Woman of the Year

OTHELLO — Othello resident and Port of Othello Commissioner Deena Vietzke was awarded the 2023 Woman of the Year honor during the Greater Othello Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Awards Banquet Feb. 23 as recognition for her positive impact on the Othello community.

Quincy boys soccer looks to build on 2023 success

QUINCY — New Quincy head boys soccer coach Hector Vaca said the biggest challenge for the Jackrabbits heading into the 2024 season might be on their side of the field. “I think our biggest challenge is ourselves,” Vaca wrote in response to questions from the Columbia Basin Herald. “We need to go into every game with a positive mindset and ensure we take each game one at a time, as well as not overlook any opponent.”

Legals for March, 8 2024

Connecting community: Warden seniors trying to restart a senior center

WARDEN – A group of senior residents in Warden have begun meeting weekly at the Warden Public Library in hopes of restarting a senior center. Warden resident Tinker Ansel is part of the small group that initiated the meetings, which are currently being held every Saturday from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the library.

Ephrata Legionnaires to host St. Patrick's Day fundraiser

EPHRATA – The Ephrata American Legion has announced the details of its Annual St. Patrick’s Day Girls State and Boys State Dinner and Auction happening on March 16 at the American Legion Post located at 276 Eighth Ave. NW in Ephrata.

An infectious smile

Ephratans remember Jett Johnson

EPHRATA – The halls of Ephrata High and Middle schools have seemed a bit dimmer for the last week and a half. Jett Johnson, a sophomore at the high school and son of Heidi Johnson, a math teacher at EMS, died in a car accident the night of Monday, Feb. 19.

'Such a fabulous night'

Country Sweethearts banquest breaks records for attendenace and fundraising in support of local cancer patients

MOSES LAKE — Saturday night’s Country Sweethearts banquet and auction was the biggest it’s ever been, seating 540 people and raising just over $318,000 for the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation, according to CBCF Director Angel Ledesma. “It was such a fabulous night,” Ledesma said.

Helen Bean

Apr 8, 1924 – Jan 8, 2024

Helen Bean, 99 and 9 months, was born in Fair Play, Mo., to Clara and William Harrison Simmons.

Kadlec outreach program assisting Othello community

OTHELLO — Kadlec Regional Medical Center, based in Richland, has entered the fifth month of providing a pilot outreach program to Othello community members in need, called “One Day at a Time.” The program was created by Kadlec Community Health Worker Maria Perez, who runs a similar program in Tri-Cities called Homegrown Connect. Both programs focus on providing food, supplies, assistance and company to individuals in their respective communities. Perez outlined the basics of the Tri-Cities program, and the Othello program’s influence.

Othello Matters: Adams County Integrated Health Care Services, others, band together to help locals

OTHELLO – Adams County Integrated Health Care Services and several other health care and outreach agencies based in the Columbia Basin came together Thursday to support Othello community members’ needs for the Othello Matters outreach event at the Othello Church of the Nazarene.

Events for February 2024

In February, love is in the air and spring is lurking somewhere around the corner. Here are a few things that are happening around the Basin this month.

New QVMC framing starting soon

QUINCY — Construction of the new Quincy Valley Medical Center should reach an important milestone early next week. “Steel starts going up a week from today,” said Joe Kunkel, the project manager, during the QVMC commission meeting Jan. 22.

Ephrata School Board accepts grant, reviews finances

EPHRATA – The Ephrata School Board had a busy evening during their regular meeting Monday night with multiple financial topics, security and the acceptance of the resignation of Superintendent Tim Payne.

Othello Matters open house to help community members in need

OTHELLO — Adams County Integrated Healthcare Services is partnering with several other local and regional agencies to hold an open house event called Othello Matters from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Othello Church of the Nazarene, meant to help community members in need. The event’s coordinator, Integrated Healthcare Services Mental Health Counselor Charlotte Hillman, said the event is open to the public. “We are reaching out to the homeless community in our area and we're going to provide a warm meal to them. Classic Grill’n is going to be donating the meal,” she said. “Then we're holding it at the Othello Nazarene Church, and they are a Narcan distributor, so they will be distributing Narcan to anybody who wants it or needs it. I'll also have (Opportunities Industrialization Center) there and they are a resource for people for funding and that sort of thing and other supports in the Adams and Grant County area.”

Community resources to stay warm in Ritzville, Othello

OTHELLO — With the severe weather of the last week and the next few days, those in need of shelter throughout the Columbia Basin can turn to public libraries during the day, but churches and community members generally step in where cities don’t have the resources.

Legals for January, 17 2024

Cloudview Kitchen’s evolving local flavor, community focus

SOAP LAKE — Cloudview Kitchen was founded a little more than a decade ago by Jim Baird and Theresa Sergneri. Since then, the idea for the restaurant-slash-bakery-slash-coffee-house has evolved and matured. “Theresa and Jim started it …,” said co-owner Dusty Bolyard. “Jim wanted to start a nonprofit farm in Ephrata and with that, Theresa wanted to start the kitchen project to go along with it as a cooperative venture. They ran them together collectively – he ran the farm and she ran the kitchen.” The kitchen had closed down about a year before the pandemic started, but after talking with friends and family, the kitchen reopened with Bolyard, Blayne Walsh, Ursula Bolyard, Amanda Higginson and Geraldo Higginson coming together as partners in the business. Each brought their own flair to the shop that makes it unique, not just for Soap Lake and the Columbia Basin, but anywhere you might go.

Legals for January, 10 2024

Sweetheart deal

Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation auction is Feb. 3

MOSES LAKE — The Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation’s Country Sweethearts dinner and auction has leveled up this year. In years past the benefit was held in the Commercial Building at the Grant County Fairgrounds, but this year it will occupy both that building and the 4-H Building next door, said CBCF Executive Director Angel Ledesma. Last year’s event drew 520 guests, which made things a little tight with all the auction items as well. “I take this as a compliment,” Ledesma said. “(Some guests have said) ‘Could you please make more room for the tables?’ So this year, we added the 4-H Building. All the raffle items will be in the 4-H Building, so that leaves us room for all tables and all guests in the main room.”