FIRE REPORT: More than 100 human-caused fires in the Northwest so far this summer

PORTLAND, Ore. — Since June, there have been 100 human-caused wildfires on national forests and grasslands in Oregon and Washington, according to a statement from the U.S. Forest Service. While firefighters have been largely successful in putting out these preventable fires, the extremely hot and dry conditions are significantly ramping up fire danger across the region. “We’re entering a very dangerous time period in the Pacific Northwest wildfire season,” Ed Hiatt, Pacific Northwest assistant fire director for operations, wrote in the statement. “Mother Nature turned on the oven for a week in local forests and now we’re preparing for the potential of dry lightning and gusty winds.” Local responders are closely tracking these deteriorating conditions where any new wildfire will have the potential to spread rapidly and burn intensely right from the start. And as firefighters respond to lightning-sparked fires a preventable, human-caused wildfire can limit the availability of needed engines, dozers, helicopters and other resources.

BASIN COMMUNITY CALENDAR JULY 12-18

Here are a few things to do to take your mind off the heat this coming week:

Legals for July, 12 2024

Columbia Basin Hospital Foundation supports hospital mission

EPHRATA – As a public hospital district operates, it needs community support to keep its mission of serving the community’s health needs. That may be purchasing chairs, organizing volunteers or working to fund upgrades to medical equipment said Susan Scheib, the hospital’s director of communication and development.

Folk festival to debut in Soap Lake

SOAP LAKE — Soap Lake will spread its cultural wings this weekend with the first-ever Soap Lake Food and Folk Festival. The festival, which goes all day Saturday at Smokiam Park, will feature musicians from a variety of traditions, as well as food and craft vendors and periodic raffle drawings throughout the day. It’s put on by the Friends of the Lower Grand Coulee. “We've got Mexican music, we've got country music, we've got contemporary folk music, we've got southern folk music, we've got Delta blues,” said Kim Anderson, a lifelong Soap Lake resident who came up with the idea for the festival. “So we're all over the place.” Musicians include conjunto band Tejano Skyz, singer-songwriters Carl Tosten and Billy Stoops, country singer Myra Pearce, blues musicians The Delta G Band and Leif Totusek, whose compositions blend jazz, blues and soukous, a dance music style from central Africa. Many of the musicians have ties to the area, Anderson said; Pearce and Tejano Skyz are based in Moses Lake, and several members of the Delta G Band graduated from Soap Lake High School. Tosten also grew up in eastern Washington, according to his online biography.

FRESH NEWS: Trout, walleye biting well at Potholes

MARDON — The current water level on Potholes Reservoir is 1,039 feet, dropping 1.8 feet this past week. We are currently 7.5 feet below full pool. The water temperature on the main lake is right around 72 degrees. The water temperatures in the sand dunes have jumped this week to the mid-80s. The largemouth bass fishing has been excellent this week! Fish frogs early and late and always have a Senko rigged to follow up on missed fish. Fish back in the sand dunes. Throw 1/2-ounce jigs, swim jigs, jerkbaits, chatter baits, Senkos, spinnerbaits, frogs, and Texas-rigged plastics. Fish are in 1-12 feet of water. Lots of 1- to 3-pound fish are being caught with a few in the 4- to 5-pound range. The smallmouth fishing has been good this week. Fish 5-20 feet using Ned rigs, Senkos, spinner baits, drop shot rigs, blade baits, crankbaits and tubes. Fish the rock piles around Goose Island and along the face of the dam and up Lind Coulee.

Red Raiders sweep AA River Dogs in Tuesday doubleheader

MOSES LAKE — On a hot Tuesday evening at Larson Playfield, the Othello Red Raiders took down the AA 18U Columbia Basin River Dogs in both games of a doubleheader, winning the first game 12-2 before riding out to a 13-4 win in the nightcap. “We felt pretty good,” Othello Head Coach Sonny Garza said. “Obviously the weather was rough so we had to battle through that, but that’s something we knew coming in. We had to just work through it. The kids have been playing pretty good baseball, so we were excited coming in here and trying to play some good baseball.” Othello struck first in the opening game on Tuesday, as shortstop Sonny Salazar put the Red Raiders up 1-0 in the top of the first with an RBI single that sent home second baseman Quade Gonzalez IV. The Red Raiders added two more runs in the top of the third with RBI doubles by Gonzalez and left fielder Aaden Montes, later scoring four more runs in the top of the fourth with RBI from pitcher Kal-El Ozuna, Gonzalez and Salazar, as well as right fielder Carlos Castillo scoring on an error.

FIRE REPORT: Moses Lake sends crews to Lake Chelan fire

MOSES LAKE — The Pioneer Fire burning along the eastern shore of Lake Chelan is still growing, and was at 12,265 acres Wednesday, according to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Containment remained at 14%. The fire, which has been burning since June 8, is being fought by 818 personnel, including six firefighters from the Moses Lake Fire Department, according to MLFD spokesperson Heather Kok.

Legals for July, 11 2024

Two WA juvenile rehab facilities suspend intakes for first time due to overcrowding

(The Center Square) – Two juvenile rehabilitation centers have suspended the intake of new offenders due to overcrowding, according to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families. This reverses a two-decade trend of a decreasing juvenile rehabilitation institutional population.

Ephrata school registration open

EPHRATA – Registration is now open for the fall semester with the Ephrata School District for all campuses, according to information released by the district. The new school year is set to begin August 29 with orientation days on August 26 and 27. The information needed and the registration website may be accessed at https://bit.ly/ESDREGISTER24. The site includes school supply lists, information on bus routes and meals and other information to help parents get their children set for the return to school – after a wonderful summer, of course.

Statewide crime mostly down, still higher than 2019

LACEY — While crime in most categories declined in Washington between 2022 and 2023, crime rates are still higher than they were in 2019. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs released crime data for 2023 Tuesday.

Success on the diamond

Royal Head Softball Coach Lisa Lawrence discusses state title win

MOSES LAKE – After leaving the 2023 1A State Softball Tournament with a second-place finish, the Royal Knights had high aspirations for this year’s edition of the tournament.

FIRE REPORT: Pioneer Fire still growing in North Cascades

MOSES LAKE — The Pioneer Fire burning along the eastern shore of Lake Chelan continued to grow Tuesday, reaching 10,677 acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Containment remained at 14%. Eleven crews, 13 helicopters, five engines, 14 water tenders and 13 heavy equipment units were devoted to fighting the blaze, which has been burning since June 8.

Auto theft suspect pleads guilty, sentenced to jail time

EPHRATA – Patrick Hoffman, 32, of Moses Lake was sentenced Tuesday after entering guilty pleas for two felonies and one gross misdemeanor before Grant County Superior Court Judge Tyson Hill.

Soaring Eagles tourney off to good start

Soap Lake inaugural 3-on-03 tourney organizer happy with first event.

SOAP LAKE — The Soaring Eagles 3-V-3 Basketball Tournament was held on the court at Smokiam Park on Saturday, hosted by the Soap Lake Prevention Coalition with assistance from various other groups around the area. “It was the first year that we’ve held it, and it was quite a success,” SLPC Coordinator Ryan Boldman said. In addition to putting on a fun tournament for youth aged 13-19, the goal of the tournament was to bring awareness to the dangers of vaping. Items like basketballs, wristbands, towels, markers and journals were handed out with anti-drug messaging and featured the Choose You campaign, a state-wide vaping and commercial prevention campaign organized by the Washington State Department of Health.

Legals for July, 10 2024

New WA law gives green light to more red light and speed zone cameras

(The Center Square) – Washington drivers may soon see a lot more red light cameras and other automated enforcement cameras across the state, thanks to a law that took effect last month.

Historic celebration

George’s Patriotic Observance combines solemnity with festivity

GEORGE — The flag raised at George’s Patriotic Observance on Independence Day has only 48 stars. “The flag we’re flying is a World War I vet’s casket flag,” said Mark Owens, who is the quartermaster for Grant County’s Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter.

16U Sixers win CWU Summer Series

ELLENSBURG – The 16U Central Washington Sixers came out on top of last weekend’s 15/16U Central Washington University Summer Series, winning all three of their games in pool play before going 2-0 in bracket play on Sunday. The Sixers played in the 16U Summer Series the weekend prior as well, going 2-2 that weekend.