10th Annual Senior Picnic brings the color, conversation and fun

MOSES LAKE — The annual Senior Picnic has become something of a tradition for Bryce Newcomb and his wife Nancy Newcomb. There’s always a photo booth, and attendees are encouraged to stop by and pose for a picture. “We’ve been to many (senior picnics), and we always do that,” Bryce Newcomb said. “And every one is on display at the house.”

Royal’s Scroggins receives High School Broyles Award

ROYAL CITY – Royal Defensive Coordinator Jeremy Scroggins received the High School Broyles Award for Washington, the Washington State Football Coaches Association announced on social media last week.

Moses Lake Special Olympian throws out first pitch at Mariners game

SEATTLE – When Moses Lake resident Kassandra Sandgren was told she could throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Seattle Mariners game, she couldn’t believe it.

FIRE REPORT: Pioneer, Cold Creek fires increase

MOSES LAKE — The Pioneer Fire on the shore of Lake Chelan about 30 miles northwest of Wenatchee had almost tripled in size Thursday, swelling from 600 acres to 1,756 acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The cause of the fire was still undetermined. The estimated cost of suppressing the fire was $10 million.

Coumbia Basin events calendar for June 14 – 21

Coumbia Basin events calendar for June 14 – 21

Hayden Homes cuts ribbon on new model home in Polo Ridge

MOSES LAKE — Hayden Homes held a ribbon-cutting June 6 to celebrate a new model home in Moses Lake’s Polo Ridge community for potential home-buyers to tour, attended by Moses Lake city officials and Hayden Homes representatives. During the ribbon cutting, Marketing Coordinator Holly Anderson said a few words. “I also wanted to thank the community for their support with Hayden Homes,” she said. “We really appreciate the city of Moses Lake just coming and supporting us.” The model home is one of Hayden Homes’ Hudson designs. Regional Marketing Director Gina Donangelo Barnecut talked about the benefit of a new model home.

Legals for June, 14 2024

Court to hear legal challenge to new WA Parents Bill of Rights

(The Center Square) - A King County Superior Court judge will next week hear arguments in a lawsuit over the new parent’s bill of rights, adopted by lawmakers from citizen initiative I-2081. The new law gives parents, among other things, access to instructional materials and notification when a student is seeking counseling or medical care for issues related to sex or gender confusion.

‘Old Ephrata’ spirit

Live music, family fun highlights of Sage-N-Sun 2024

EPHRATA – The annual Sage-N-Sun festival for 2024 featured a lot of music, a lot of food and a lot of people enjoying an outing on the Grant County Courthouse lawn Thursday, Friday and Saturday. “I was just very excited that we had such good music,” Ephrata Chamber of Commerce Board President Jenni Bates said after the event.

Building permits for June 14, 2024

Building permits for June 14, 2024

MLSD deficit more than $13 million after cuts

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School Board held a study session Tuesday to discuss the district’s reduced education program for the next school year.

Fire report: New blaze flares up on Hanford Reservation

MOSES LAKE — A wildfire kindled suddenly Wednesday morning on the Hanford Reservation, and was estimated at 150 acres at a little after 2 p.m., according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Legals for June, 13 2024

Miller to take the reins at Ephrata High

EPHRATA — The Ephrata School District has selected Ashlie Miller to take over as principal of Ephrata High School after Aaron Cummings, her predecessor, was selected to take on the assistant superintendent role for the Ephrata School District. “I just want you to know, we're ecstatic to have (her) join our team. She's going to push us with some innovative thinking, innovative ideas, and Ephrata is better off because Ashlie is joining us and we're just super, super excited to have her,” said Ken Murray, incoming superintendent for Ephrata schools. Miller, who will be the first female principal at EHS, said she was excited to make the move from Dallas, Oregon – just west of Salem – to Ephrata. The move is a solid fit for her, she said, because she enjoys working in smaller school districts and at the high school level so that she can have deeper interactions with students. High schoolers have a different level of academic thought and social experiences, and that appeals to her.

UW president to step down next year

SEATTLE — Ana Mari Cauce, who has served as president of the University of Washington for a decade, announced Wednesday that she’ll be stepping down at the end of her second five-year term in June 2025. She plans to return to her faculty position. “Throughout her tenure, President Cauce has been a skilled relationship-builder, a champion for student success, and a strong advocate for the importance of public universities like the University of Washington,” said Ken Denman, UW Foundation Board chair. Cauce, the 33rd president in the university’s history, is the first woman, first Latina and first openly-gay person to serve as president.

Funds allocated, possible sites identified for new GC Animal Outreach shelter

MOSES LAKE —There definitely is funding – and some tentative ideas about a design and location – for a new animal shelter to be operated by Grant County Animal Outreach. Animal Outreach board president Sara Thompson Tweedy said the project was awarded a $500,000 grant from the Paul Lauzier Foundation earlier this month, which will be paid over time, to buy new indoor-outdoor kennels for the facility when it’s built. The Moses Lake City Council voted May 14 to award $1 million from the city’s American Rescue Plan funding to the project, with the provision that the city would have space in the facility for 20 years. The Grant County Commissioners also are considering awarding $1 million in ARPA funding to the project. The GCAO board has a tentative design that would provide about 3,800 square feet of climate-controlled space for dogs and cats. Dogs would have kennels with outdoor access, with a separate room for cats.

Joyce Ninnemann

May 27, 1941 – May 23, 2024

Joyce Ninnemann, 82, our loving mother, matriarch, mentor and force of nature has passed from this world to be with her beloved husband, Jerry, in Heaven. Joyce passed on May 23, 2024. Joyce was born in Yakima, Washington on May 27, 1941, to Ellen Sheets and Lloyd Wise. Depending on who you ask, she was either born moments before or after her twin sister Janice.

Local squads clash in spring football jamboree

ROYAL CITY — There are still a few months to go until the scoreboard gets turned on and teams step onto the field for Friday night lights, but local football squads from Moses Lake, Royal, Wahluke and Warden hit the field for their spring jamborees on Tuesday afternoon in Royal City. “It’s great, we love it,” Royal Head Coach Wiley Allred said. “It’s a good time, we have the surrounding towns in here and their squads. It’s a good chance for the kids to play against somebody else and get the feel of full-speed football again.” Brief scrimmages were played at the varsity, junior varsity and C-squad levels Tuesday afternoon, with one school’s offense matching up against another school’s defense for a 10-play scrimmage beginning on the opposing 40-yard line.

MLCA/CCS’s Wiser takes the podium at state track

MOSES LAKE — While MLCA/CCS’s Rebecca Wiser hasn’t reached high school yet, the Lion eighth grader has already started to leave her mark on the track. Wiser took fourth in the 3,200-meter run at last month’s 1B State Track and Field Championships in Yakima, completing the event with a personal-best time of 12:32.06 minutes.

Othello PD achieves accreditation for third consecutive term

OTHELLO – Othello Police Chief David Rehaume announced Monday during the regular Othello City Council meeting that the OPD had achieved accreditation through the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Cheifs. The city will also seek grant funding to continue funding a second School Resource Officer.