Donation helps Confluence Health purchase new equipment

WENATCHEE — A donation from a longtime Wenatchee physician helped Confluence Health officials buy equipment for an upgraded patient monitoring system and simulators for emergency response.

Ephrata installs new latrines at Sports Complex

MOSES LAKE – Ephrata Parks and Recreation sports complex will be getting new bathrooms. Crews are working on getting everything connected for public use.

Legals for April, 17 2025

Soap Lake council appoints Arnold to vacancy

SOAP LAKE – At the April 16 Soap Lake City Council meeting the council appointed Andrew Arnold to fill seat six. One open seat remains on the council. Arnold said he had previously been on the council for two years before he resigned.

Michael Andrew Ward

1964 – 2025

Michael Andrew Ward, 60, a longtime resident of Moses Lake, Washington, passed away on April 12, 2025, in Seattle, Washington, after facing ongoing health challenges with grace and strength. He was surrounded by loved ones, a peaceful passing for a life well-lived and well-loved.

Clara M. Woodward

1944 — 2025

Clara M. Woodward was born January 5, 1944, in Tacoma, Washington to Frank and Louise Plattner. Clara passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning of her 81st birthday, January 5, 2025, in Moses Lake, Washington.

Firearm permit bill moving to governor's desk

OLYMPIA – Washington State House Bill 1163 passed the Senate with a vote of 29 to 19 Monday following its earlier passage in the house. The bill seeks to implement stricter regulations surrounding the purchase, transfer and possession of firearms by requiring a permit to purchase them.

Wahluke High students bring home SkillsUSA medals

MATTAWA — Wahluke High School junior Diana Barber said her performance in regional SkillsUSA competition left her a little unsure going into state competition. While she was satisfied with her performance on the test in the medical math category, she just wasn’t sure. “I try not to get my hopes up,” she said.

Basin sports schedule: April 16-23, 2025

MOSES LAKE – Spring sports continue this week as student athletes look to continue their push toward success and improve their abilities whether it be running, kicking, or swinging a bat, club or racquet.

Public hearings set for Othello housing regulations

OTHELLO — The Othello Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. April 21 on amendments to city zoning regulations that would allow the establishment of transitional and other types of temporary and supportive housing within the city limits. A public hearing is scheduled for the April 28 Othello City Council meeting. Othello Community Development Director Anne Henning said state law mandates the changes. The city is not required to build what is called “STEP” housing, however.

Adams Co. Sheriff addresses driver’s license suspension

RITZVILLE — Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner has had his driver’s license reinstated; it had been suspended in mid-2023 over a traffic fine Wagner said he didn’t know he owed.

Cougs finish top-13 at Marcero Classic

DAVIS, Calif. – The Cougars men's golf team finished 13th at the 2025 El Macero Classic Sunday. The Cougars shot a final round of 18-over, 306, and, played at the par 72, 7,127-yard El Macero Country Club, according to a statement from Washington State Athletics.

Moses Lake cleanup day scheduled

MOSES LAKE – The Downtown Moses Lake Association isn’t messing around – no, really. The organization has planned its annual Downtown Spring Clean-up for April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WA ranks 34th of 50 states in ALEC's 'Rich States, Poor States' report

(The Center Square) – Washington remained in the lower half of U.S. states in terms of economic outlook, according to a Tuesday – Tax Day – report from the conservative Arlington, Va.-based American Legislative Exchange Council that faults the Evergreen State’s tax burden and high labor costs for the state’s No. 34 ranking.

Eagles victorious over Portland State

CHENEY — The Eastern Washington University women’s tennis team wrapped up its final home match with a victory on senior day, according to a statement by EWU athletics. Eastern stands at 4-12.

Talent on Main Street

Coulee City Art Walk highlights local artists

COULEE CITY — Seven local businesses played host to artists from the Basin at the third annual Coulee City Art Walk Friday. The walk brought a pretty good-sized turnout to the town of about 600, said Don Nutt, owner of Cariboo Trail Studio and the organizer of the event, “It’s kind of been in waves,” Nutt said. “I stepped out just for a second, and all the parking spaces were pretty much filled on Main Street. And the next time I looked, there weren’t very many there, so I think it’s just going to be a lot of people filtering in here and there.”

Documentary of JFK in Moses Lake to premiere Thursday

MOSES LAKE — On Sept. 26, 1963, President John F. Kennedy stepped off Air Force One onto the tarmac at Larson Air Force Base in Moses Lake. Instead of getting straight on another plane as scheduled, Kennedy stopped for a few minutes, shook hands and chatted with locals at the base. A documentary premiering Thursday at the Moses Lake Civic Center will offer a glimpse into that day. “Imagine spending five minutes somewhere and making an impression on the people you meet for the rest of their lives,” says narrator Shane Humphrey in the 12-minute film “JFK in Moses Lake, Washington.” The film, made by filmmaker Lee O’Connor, features archive footage of Kennedy’s stopover and interviews with people who were present on that day. The screening is hosted by the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center.

Legals for April, 16 2025

Bill to electronically track sexually violent predators in WA signed into law

(The Center Square) – A bipartisan bill to keep communities in Washington state safe from sexually violent predators has been signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson.

Richard Lee Oestreich

Richard Lee Oestreich, 96, our beloved dad, uncle, grandpa and great-grandpa, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 10, 2025, just weeks before his 97th birthday. Richard (Rich) was born in Portland, Oregon to Jerry and Lee Oestreich. As a teenager, he moved to Hoquiam, Washington with his older brother, Jim—his only sibling—where he completed high school.