Could irrigation canals generate electricity? Eastern WA chosen for $1.6M test

PASCO – Irrigation water could be used not only to water crops but also to produce electricity in a proposed hydropower demonstration project in an irrigation district based in Pasco. The Department of Energy has announced an award of $1.6 million to Emrgy of Atlanta, Ga., to develop a turbine to generate hydropower at small dams where the water drop is less than 30 feet or in irrigation canals...

Getting musical

Central Basin Community Concert Association announced 2023-24 season

MOSES LAKE — The Central Basin Community Concert Association will open its 69th season with a group featuring four-part harmony in four different musical genres. “The Suits” will perform in concert Oct. 12 at the Wallenstien Theater, 6528 26th Ave. NW, on the Big Bend Community College campus...

George Bluegrass Festival turns 16

GEORGE — The annual George Bluegrass Festival is now in its 16th year, according to organizer Debby Kooy. It started Monday, with people coming in from all over to camp and set up, and continues through Sunday morning...

Local firefighters mobilized for large wildfires

MOSES LAKE — It’s been a long, hot, smoky summer throughout the state. It seemed like every other day there was a new wildfire starting somewhere and air quality got pretty nasty sometimes. But for some local firefighters, it’s been even hotter and smokier...

Civil Air Patrol holds open house

Program offers learning opportunities and life experiences

EPHRATA - The Columbia Basin Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol held an open house at their squadron building at the Ephrata Municipal Airport this past weekend to give interested parties the opportunity to hear about all the program. “There are going to be things you will be able to do that none of your friends would have ever dreamed they’d be able to do,” said Jonathan Henke, health services officer for the local squadron...

Quincy Animal Shelter supervision leads to staffing discussion

QUINCY — Quincy animal shelter administration will be shifted from the Quincy Police Department to the city’s public works department, a proposal that prompted a discussion about staffing by the Quincy City Council Sept. 5. “With the move over to public works, the (animal shelter) manager’s supervision is done by the maintenance supervisor, which also makes sense because he can then better address some of the facility issues that come up from time to time, (such as) equipment, building repair (and) utilities,” City Administrator Pat Haley said in answer to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald...

Larry Cagle

May 18, 1941 – August 31, 2023

Larry Neal Cagle, long-time resident of Ephrata passed on August 31, 2023, in Wenatchee Washington. He was born on March 18, 1941, in Grand Junction Colorado to Dorothy and Oliver Cagle. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 22 years, Mary...

Farmer Consumer Awareness Day Saturday in Quincy

QUINCY — A parade down Central Avenue, dancing horses, three-on-three soccer, a car show, a tractor pull – all the good old events return to Quincy Saturday on Farmer Consumer Awareness Day. While technically it’s not part of FCAD, the B Street Block Party is an unofficial kickoff; it’s from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday. One block of B Street, from Central Avenue South to First Street Southwest, will host vendors serving food and wine, along with some merchandise. The Olson Brothers Band will be performing live. Saturday’s events start early and run all day. Signup forms, or links to signup forms, are available on the FCAD website, www.quincyfcad.org.

Braced for growth

Soap Lake real estate market comparable to other areas, but still soft

SOAP LAKE — The real estate market in Soap Lake is similar to other surrounding areas, but still not as strong as it could be with lower inventory and a softening market, said Realty Executives Grant County Broker Raymond Gravelle. Gravelle is also the president of the Grant County Association of Realtors and served as the mayor of Soap Lake from 2014 to 2019. “We do have an inventory crunch … Our inventory is still low. That is keeping pressure on the prices,” said Gravelle. “In the past three years, there's been 23 new homes sold with average stays on market of 35 (days) and an average price of $324,509. So today's average price is four percent lower than the average price over the past three years.”

Activity starts on Samaritan Hospital construction site Monday

MOSES LAKE — Dirt will start moving Monday on the site of the new Samaritan Hospital, with construction fences going up the week after. “We are going to start mobilizing on Monday. You will see there’s going to be all kinds of earthworking equipment that will show up in the first week,” said Matt Pulick of Graham Construction, general contractors for the project. “They’re going to be moving dirt around to prepare for the site fencing that’s going to go up the following week.” After the fence goes up crews will install construction offices, temporary electricity and internet service, along with a water source crews will use to keep down the dust. A “progress camera” will be set up as part of the site preparation; it will take pictures of the site every 10 minutes throughout construction, Pulick said. “We’re all good to go,” he said.

GCFD 7 awarded grant, but anticipates budget shortfalls

SOAP LAKE – Grant County Fire District 7, based in Soap Lake, was awarded a four-year $590,000 federal grant for the recruitment and retention of volunteers. However, the district is also facing several budget shortfalls for 2024, said Fire Chief Chris Baker. Baker announced the award during Wednesday’s regular Soap Lake City Council meeting. “This grant will be used to hire a recruitment and retention coordinator, which will be full-time for the fire district for the next four years,” he said. The grant will replace the sign for the fire station with a programmable LED sign meant to help disseminate emergency and recruitment information to the public, said Baker.

509-raised author up for regional award

SEATTLE — An Othello-raised writer and veteran now living in Seattle is a finalist in the annual Washington State Book Awards for his poetry collection, “We Had Our Reasons.” Ricardo Ruiz said he’s excited to have been recognized, especially early in his writing career. “It’s the first thing I have published,” Ruiz said. “... I left the Army in 2016 and went to Big Bend (Community College) and studied business. And then came to (the University of Washington) with the intent to study business, but ended up going and just following a whim and just being like, ‘I want to write poetry.’” Ruiz said that eventually led to him getting a book deal and having the book go well. Now, the first thing he’s published is up as a finalist for Book of the Year in the state. It’s been a bit of a hectic road to get where he’s at, he said.

Wisconsin run game a focus for Cougars on Saturday

PULLMAN – The Washington State Cougars will welcome in No. 19 Wisconsin on Saturday, a rematch of last season’s Week 2 matchup where WSU took a 17-14 victory in Camp Randall Stadium. Even with new offensive schemes for the Badgers this season, the game will still be decided upon whether or not the Cougars can stop the Wisconsin rushing attack, according to WSU Head Coach Jake Dickert. “There’s no secret to want to start there, by cutting the head off the snake and stopping the run,” Dickert said at a press conference on Monday. “That’s always been the successful point of any defense that I’ve ever been a part of – this week will really be big.”

Legals for September, 7 2023

One for the books

Royal City approves library deal

ROYAL CITY — Progress toward a new Royal City library took a big step forward Tuesday at the Royal City City Council meeting. The council chamber was filled to standing room only as proponents of the library turned out in support of the lease agreement between the city and the Royal City Friends of the Library. The move was made possible in part by a grant the Friends of the Library received from the Lauzier Foundation: $150,000 in July of this year, to be followed by $200,000 in 2024 and $150,000 in 2025, for a total of $500,000. Between that and other funds the Friends of the Library have raised, there is currently $620,000 available for the work.

Tigers score 9 goals in win over Okanogan

EPHRATA — Five Tigers scored in Ephrata’s 9-1 win over Okanogan on Tuesday, giving the team 14 goals in its first two outings on the field. Sophomore Delanie Killinger led the Tigers with three goals, followed by senior Aliya Avila (twice), senior Trishelle Lopez (twice), senior Kendall Laugen and sophomore Alexiyana MacNeil all scoring. “We didn’t break each other down when someone made a mistake, we didn’t focus on one mistake – we just kept moving past it,” Killinger said. “We were really quick with the ball, and I think that improved a lot during the second half.”

Garden party!

Cloudview Farm to host fundraiser supporting educational programs.

EPHRATA – Non-profit Cloudview Farm will be hosting a Garden Party fundraiser for their Educate and Empower programs Sept. 16 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is for adults only, with dinner and drinks included in the cost of the $30 ticket. The main fundraising portion of the evening will be a silent auction for items donated by local and regional businesses, said Cloudview’s Education and Community Coordinator Julie Johnston...

Grant Co. Hospital District 1 ballot to change after court decision

EPHRATA – Dr. Brandon Penix will be removed from the November 2023 ballot for Grant County Hospital District 1’s third district seat after a decision by Grant County Superior Court Judge Tyson Hill wherein Penix’s candidacy was examined. “The candidate must be eligible for the office at the time he files his declaration of candidacy. A person attempting to meet the residency requirements for the purpose of running for office cannot cure an invalid residency by moving to the location after filing a declaration for office,” Hill said when reading his decision to the sparsely filled courtroom...

Back on track

Construction expected in 2024 on Port of Moses Lake rail project

MOSES LAKE — Construction could start in 2024 on a long-delayed project to replace the railroad tracks running through downtown Moses Lake with a new line between Wheeler Road and the Port of Moses Lake. Milton Miller, director of port facilities, said about five miles of track will be built. The project also will include the rehabilitation of about 3.5 miles of existing track near Patton Boulevard leading to the port...

Ritzville Fair livestock auction does well this year

RITZVILLE – As part of the Wheat Land Communities Fair in Ritzville, the Ritzville Livestock 4-H Club hosted an open livestock auction on Saturday, where youth involved in the fair and other members of the community sold their animals. Lori Williams, livestock sale secretary, vice president of the Wheat Land Communities Fair Board and head of the Ritzville 4-H Club, explained the basics of the event. “So all of these kids are 4-H and (Future Farmers of America) members,” said Williams. “The steers were purchased last fall and it takes them that long from beginning to end, and then it kind of culminates here at the sale.”