Roaring good time

Agri-Service Demo Derby and motorcycle barrel racing draws enthusiastic crowd

MOSES LAKE — There’s something very American about a demolition derby: only a country as obsessed with cars as ours would make a sport out of destroying them. It’s a game of high-speed bumper cars played with tons of metal, roaring engines and flying dirt making the air – and sometimes the audience – as gritty as a spaghetti western.

Law enforcement logs for Aug. 16, 2024

Reports below were provided by sheriff’s office or police department. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Desert Artists featured at the Grant County Fair

MOSES LAKE — At the Grant County Fair, there’s a Commercial Building where fairgoers can find things for sale, and there’s an Arts and Crafts building where people can find paintings, drawings and other visual art. Up at the north end of Yarbro Avenue there’s also a building that’s kind of a hybrid, where the Desert Artists have their works out for display and – hopefully, anyway – sale.

Nominations open for NCW Tech Alliance Innovator Awards

WENATCHEE — Nominations are being accepted for the North Central Washington Tech Alliance’s Innovator Awards, according to an announcement from NCW Tech Alliance, which has offices around the Columbia Basin, including Moses Lake.

Listings are up, interest rates may come down

COLUMBIA BASIN — More homes are on the market this month than a year ago, according to data recently released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which tracks real estate trends in 26 of Washington’s 39 counties. Active listings increased 37.7 percent in July 2024 compared to July 2023, according to the NMLS. The increase in Grant County was less of a swing; there were 346 active listings in Grant County in July 2024, a 25.8% increase from July 2023. Adams County had 46 active listings in 2024 versus 35 in 2023. The biggest jump in active listings was in Douglas County, where listings rose 80.8% between the Julys.

FIRE REPORT: International firefighters in PNW to fight fires

MOSES LAKE – A team of 65 senior firefighters from Australia and New Zealand has arrived in the Pacific Northwest to help combat the region's severe wildfires. Upon arrival, the firefighters received briefings at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, before being dispatched to major wildfire incidents, including the Willamette Complex South on the Willamette National Forest and the Pioneer Fire in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

Legals for August, 16 2024

Ephrata school budget approved at about $51 million

EPHRATA – The Ephrata School District passed its budget in late July with anticipated expenditures from its general fund totaling slightly more than $51 million for the 2024-25 school year, according to documentation provided by the district.

Quincy Special Olympics sees strong first year

QUINCY – When a Special Olympics team was announced as coming to Quincy, co-Coordinator Yesenia James said there was a positive reaction among residents hearing the news. “They were saying, ‘Finally, something’s happening!’” she said.

COLUMN: You are unmuted: A guide to conduct in the virtual courtroom

I am a third-generation lawyer who has been practicing in the beautiful Columbia Basin for five years. I have had the privilege of litigating cases across the state of Washington defending organizations in civil court. I will come right out and say practicing law is nothing like “Suits.” This column is for the law enthusiast: those who are interested in the law.

FIRE REPORT: Kachess Complex continues burning

CLE ELUM — The Kachess Complex consists of three lightning-sparked fires that began in the Cle Elum Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest on August 9 and 10, 2024, according to InciWeb, an interagency wildfire-tracking website.

Legals for August, 15 2024

Recreational youth soccer league begins soon

MOSES LAKE – Youth soccer players will have another opportunity to take the field this fall, with the Moses Lake-based Universe Soccer Academy preparing for its fall soccer league.

Othello to start municipal fire department

OTHELLO — The city of Othello will be starting its own fire department before May 2026, when its current contract with Adams County Fire District 5 expires. A proposed increase in the contract price for 2024 and beyond and resulting negotiations went to mediation.

FIRE REPORT: Retreat Fire remains steady as containment improves

NACHES – The Retreat Fire is the largest fire in Washington as of Tuesday. The fire has scorched 45,600 acres of land but is 70% contained as of Tuesday – a 10% improvement from the prior day. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

FRESH NEWS: Excellent bass fishing this week

MARDON -- The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1,030.3 feet – dropping 2 feet this past week. We are currently 3.80 feet above low pool. The water temperature on the main lake is right around 75 degrees. The water temperatures in the sand dunes are in the upper 70s to low 80s.

Votes show likely Herrera Beutler vs Upthegrove in race for lands commissioner

(The Center Square) - In a race that remains too close to call for the second-place finisher, Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler has secured her top spot for Washington state’s next public lands commissioner.

Legals for August, 14 2024

Moses Lake Roundup begins Thursday

MOSES LAKE — The 81st Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo begins Thursday and there’s no shortage of riders. “We had a record number of contestant entries this year, 583, which is probably close to 60, 70 more than we had last year,” said Tyler Brown, treasurer of the Moses Lake Roundup Board. The rodeo follows the Agri-Service Demo Derby, which is happening today and tomorrow in the rodeo grounds at the Grant County Fairgrounds. Information on the Demo Derby and the Grant County Fair is in the Monday edition of the Columbia Basin Herald.

FIRE REPORT: 1,500 acres scorched in Douglas County

COULEE CITY — On Saturday evening a fire broke out near state Route 17 and Road 9 Northeast in Douglas County. The fire burned approximately 1,500 acres, according to Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. Crews got to the fire, and most of the initial attack was contained by 11:30 p.m. on Saturday night. The responding agencies included Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department, Electric City Fire Department, Coulee City Fire Department, Douglas County Fire District 3, Douglas County Fire District 5 and others.