Six Basin squads reach state softball tournaments

COLUMBIA BASIN – It all comes down to this; six Basin softball teams qualified for their respective state softball tournaments, with games being hosted in Richland, Selah and Yakima beginning Thursday afternoon. Read along for a look at where teams were seeded in their brackets as well as a look at first-round matchups.

Moses Lake’s Villegas signs with University of Idaho Spirit Squad

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Senior Kamaya Villegas signed her letter of intent Wednesday in the Moses Lake High School gym to join the University of Idaho’s Vandal Spirit Squad as part of both the university’s Vandal Gems dance and Vandal Cheer teams. “I'm feeling pumped up,” Villegas said before the signing. “I'm excited.” Villegas said her choice of UI was influenced both by the university’s dance and cheer programs and by the school itself. “I looked into it and, I don't know, I just wanted to try out for some dance teams and I kind of liked Moscow too,” she said. “And I like the campus and everything, so I was like, why not try out here? And I did. It was between going into the military or doing this or going somewhere far and dancing.”

Lupe (Mitzi) Cruz

Sept. 25, 1936 – May 22, 2024

Lupe (Mitzi) Cruz, 87, passed away on Wednesday, May 22 at 12:35 a.m. peacefully, with her loving family at her side. She was born September 25, 1936, in Fairmont City, Illinois. As a child she went to school in Cle Elum. She then moved to Yakima until she married Henry Zarate Sr. Later in life she married Pedro Serrano. Lupe is survived by her brothers Johnny Cruz (Jane) and Dennis Barbeau; sisters Mary (Linga) Vielmas (Jose), Josephine Manley, and Patricia Brogan; daughters Mary (Baby) Zarate, Margie Rodriguez (Carlos) and Kathy Zarate (Eddie); grandchildren Tom Zarate (Celinda), Shawna Garcia, Melissa Nimley (Sateah), Christina Garcia, Jason Zarate (Gina), Channel Enriquez (Clarence), Chalissa Badley, Kathleen Badley, Jessica Hayworth and Blake McDougall; 18 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. She is preceded in death by her parents Toribio and Martha Cruz; her brothers William (Memo) Cruz, Jack Cruz Jr. and Frank Cruz; her sisters Mary Lou Cruz, Sally Cruz and Ruth Cruz; her son Henry Zarate, Jr. and her first husband Henry Zarate, Sr.

Harvey Raymond Ruff

April 20, 1944 – May 13, 2024

The family of Harvey Raymond Ruff, 80, of Warden, Washington is saddened to announce his passing on May 13, 2024. He was born April 20, 1944, to Raymond and Hilda Ruff in Ritzville, Washington and was the older brother to his sister, Bonnie. Harvey was raised on a dryland wheat farm in Ruff; his love for farming and agriculture carried throughout his life. After graduating high school and Big Bend Community College, he married Barbara Gail. They had two daughters, Lori and Lisa, and he started his own farm raising wheat, hay and peas. He left the farm and became the manager for Brotherton Seed Company for 46 years before retiring. Harvey was a 4-H leader; he loved sharing his knowledge and skills with the youth in his community. He started raising sheep to ensure the best stock for his daughters and other 4-H members. Harvey spent a great deal of time, yearly, at the Grant County Fair supporting the 4-H and FFA organizations plus enjoying the rodeos.

Cruise Night Out

Moses Lake Classic Car Club to host cruise through Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Classic Car Club will take to the streets to celebrate its 50th birthday with a Cruise Night Out.

From player to coach

2023 graduate Ali Stanley begins coaching with the Royal Knights

ROYAL CITY – When Ali Stanley graduated from Covenant Christian School in the spring of 2023, she anticipated playing collegiate softball locally in Moses Lake, suiting up for the Big Bend Vikings.

Moses Lake’s Gephart signs with CWU

MOSES LAKE – Friends, family and coaches gathered in the gymnasium at Moses Lake High School to celebrate senior Sylvie Gephart signing her letter of intent to run cross country and track and field at Central Washington University on Tuesday afternoon.

Customer opinion sought on future Grant County PUD rate structure

MOSES LAKE — Grant County PUD electrical rates, relative power use and revenue and rates in the future were topics of discussion and questions during a “rate strategy” presentation from PUD employees Tuesday in Moses Lake.

Fire report: Wildfires slow down with cooler weather

COLUMBIA BASIN — Perhaps due to the cool, wet weather, wildfires were nowhere to be found Wednesday in the Columbia Basin. In Kittitas County, the Pumphouse Fire, which had been discovered Monday near Ryegrass Summit on Interstate 90, was controlled at 3 acres. A few prescribed fires continued to burn in Stevens and Ferry counties. The largest were the 300-acre Mima Mounds Fire and the 208-acre Bitterbrush Fire, both on the Spokane Reservation. These other wildfires were burning around Washington Wednesday afternoon:

North Central ESD Superintendent talks district services, goals moving forward

WENATCHEE – Washington’s North Central Educational Service District, also known as ESD 171, offers more than 140 programs and services that address all areas of K-12 education and administration, according to the NCESD website. Superintendent Michelle Price discussed what differentiates NCESD from other service districts and what similarities are shared between the nine different districts. “In the realm of student support, we provide all kinds of opportunities that would help with student outcomes in each school district,” Price said. “For instance, connected learning. We have a whole team on the ground that helps connect industry partners and school districts to help make experiences available for students that they would not otherwise have, to explore careers, to investigate careers and maybe even to go into internships and apprenticeships.” The other aspect of NCESD’s services are directed toward school districts more than directly to students.

Janea Fowles Pixton

Janea Fowles Pixton, 70, was a loving wife, a devoted mother, a favorite among grandmas, a caring daughter/sister/aunt, a loyal friend, and a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What more can be said of a great woman who left an undeniable imprint upon the hearts of everyone she met? Born on July 10, 1953, in Sandpoint, Idaho to proud parents LaVelle and Evona Fowles, Janea was the youngest of six children. While her family didn’t have much in material possessions, they more than made up for it with love in their home. Undoubtedly, Janea knew she had parents and siblings who loved her and that was enough.

Basin sports schedule May 22-28

COLUMBIA BASIN – Check out this week’s sports schedule, featuring local baseball, golf, soccer, softball, tennis and track and field events.

GALLERY: Basin spring sports

COLUMBIA BASIN – The spring sports season comes to a close this week, with state championship events being held in baseball, boys soccer, golf, tennis, track and field and softball.

Bowfishers reap harvest of carp at Carp Classic

MOSES LAKE — High winds affected participation, but bowfishers still removed about 2,600 pounds of carp from Moses Lake in the fifth annual Carp Classic Saturday.

Wallen to stay as Grant County PUD chief executive officer

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD General Manager Rich Wallen will stay in that position, rather than resigning to take a job with the Chelan County PUD. Utility district commissioners announced Wallen would be staying during a workshop Tuesday, followed by a statement from Commissioner Terry Pyle warning against listening to rumors.

Memorial Day remembrance events scheduled

MOSES LAKE — Veterans, especially those who died in service to their country, will be remembered with Memorial Day ceremonies in communities around the Columbia Basin.

Royal School District discusses reducing positions, tighter budget

ROYAL CITY – The Royal School Board discussed its efforts to work with a tighter budget during special and regular meetings Monday. Superintendent Roger Trail said the budget reductions will not require lay-offs, but will lead to reduced staff.

Desert Aire Airport District votes to eventually dissolve district

DESERT AIRE – Grant County Airport District 1, also known as the Desert Aire Airport District, held a special meeting Saturday with members of the Desert Aire community to discuss the district’s future, during which the commissioners voted to begin the process of dissolving the district.

Candidates vying to head OSPI spar over how state funds Wa's public schools

(The Center Square) – Amid district budget shortfalls and complaints from some school leaders about a lack of money from Olympia, state funding was a hot topic at an election forum featuring candidates for the office of Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Jacks close out 2024 season

VASHON – The No. 10 seed Quincy Jackrabbits traveled across the Cascades to begin the 1A Boys State Soccer Tournament over the weekend, opening with a 2-1 win over No. 7 Toppenish before seeing their season coming to a close with a loss to No. 2 Vashon Island.