A memory of the Mount St. Helens eruption 44 years later

Guillermo V. Castaneda of Granger sent this poem to the Columbia Basin Herald in commemoration of the eruption of Mount St. Helens, which took place 34 years ago Saturday. At the time of the eruption, Castaneda was the director of the Migrant Health Clinic in Wenatchee and was in the process of setting up a community medical and dental clinic for migrants in Moses Lake, he wrote.

FIRE REPORT: Royal Slope Fire District puts out fire with limited water

ROYAL CITY — A small fire broke out at an orchard around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 12000 block of Road A Southeast near Royal Camp, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. Because the fuel involved polyurethane netting and other combustibles, Royal Slope firefighters allowed the fire to burn under controlled conditions for a while, in order to limit water use and avoid creating contaminated runoff in irrigation waterways. The fire was out by about 4:30, the GCSO wrote.

Lind facing unbudgeted expenses, errors and $1.7 million loan

LIND – The Lind Town Council dealt with several issues during Tuesday’s regular meeting, including about $40,000 in unbudgeted expenses due to clerical errors dating back to 2008, other staff errors and a $1.7 million loan offered by the Department of Health.

Legals for May, 17 2024

Uzbek delegation visits Big Bend

MOSES LAKE — Interest in a longtime Big Bend Community College educational exchange program brought a delegation of business owners and university professors from the central Asian nation of Uzbekistan to campus Tuesday.

Honor Flight fundraiser set for Saturday

EPHRATA – A nacho and taco feed and dessert auction will be held on May 18 – also known as Armed Forces Day – by the Ephrata American Legion and Auxilliary. Proceeds from the event will help veterans who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the War on Terror go to see memorials in Washington D.C. that were built in their honor.

Sprucing up downtown

Work of Moses Lake students yields colorful results downtown

MOSES LAKE — Samatha Underwood said one lesson she’s learned in three years of planting the flower boxes in downtown Moses Lake is that people really are paying attention. “People actually do appreciate this,” she said. “We actually had somebody in a truck roll down the window and yell, ‘Thank you.’”

Shoppers hunt for the good stuff at museum yard sale

MOSES LAKE — The appeal of a yard sale is that hunt for treasure. Maybe the treasure is a 1930s radio in a handsome wood cabinet. Maybe it’s jewelry or artwork, maybe a vintage baseball mitt or even a 1970s sewing pattern catalog. The thrill of the hunt attracted shoppers to the Rusty Mammoth sale Friday night and Saturday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center.

Huskies defeat Tigers for CWAC title

SELAH – A five-run bottom of the fifth inning helped surge No. 1 seed Othello past No. 3 Ephrata in Tuesday’s Central Washington Athletic Conference district championship game, as the Huskies moved on to the 2A State Softball Tournament with a 12-5 win over the Tigers.

Lind council rescinds vote to vacate Mayor’s position

LIND – The Lind Town Council voted 4-0 Tuesday to approve motions by council member Robert Dew to rescind the council’s April 23 votes to vacate Mayor Paula Bell’s position and appoint council member Jamie Schmunk as temporary mayor. Council member Mike Wold was absent. Dew said that he had previously believed the votes to be legal, but has since heard conflicting opinions on the subject.

Aerobatics coming to Ephrata this weekend

EPHRATA – The International Aerobatic Club Washington Chapter No. 67 begins their slate of activities at the Port of Ephrata this weekend with an aerobatic camp set to begin Saturday and run through the following Saturday.

Five MLPD officers promoted, civilian honored

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Police Department swore in a new generation of leaders at the Moses Lake City Council Tuesday, according to an announcement from MLPD Chief David Sands, and also awarded the Citizen Service Award. The officers who were promoted following a rigorous and stressful training process, according to Sands, were:

Annual Chamber Golf Tournament celebrates 24

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce held a luau-themed golf tournament at the Links at Moses Pointe on Friday to help raise money for the chamber. This was the 24th year of the chamber golf tournament which saw a record number of participants as they had to increase the number of teams from 32 to 36 making the total number of golfers 144 for the day. All 18 holes were sponsored with most having games for golfers to play to win prizes as they made their way through the course, said Debbie Martinez President of the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Former customs officer found guilty in Othello child sex case

SPOKANE. — Koby Don Williams, 49, has been found guilty of one count of Attempted Online Enticement of a Minor, according to a May 15 press release from Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

Four Mavs sign to play college softball

MOSES LAKE – Four Maverick softball players signed on to continue both their athletica and education careers at the collegiate level on Monday, and were celebrated by friends, family, coaches and teammates. Moses Lake seniors Trinity Nations, Emmie Olsen, Morgan Ross and Mikayla Schwartz were celebrated at the softball field at Moses Lake High School Monday afternoon...

Acting super issues letter to MLSD families:

Moses Lake School District Acting Superintendent Carol Lewis released the letter below to families of students in the district Wednesday afternoon. The letter is printed in full without any editing from Columbia Basin Herald Staff:

Edward Harry Dawson

Edward Harry Dawson, 92 of Soap Lake, Wash., passed away at McKay Healthcare on Sunday, May 12, 2024. No service is scheduled at this time. Arrangements are under the care of Nicoles Funeral Home in Ephrata, WA.

Othello seeks contract mediation with ACFD 5

OTHELLO – The city of Othello is seeking third-party mediation for contract negotiations with Adams County Fire District 5 after giving two-year notice on May 8 that the city will be terminating its current contract due to increasing costs. Othello Mayor Shawn Logan said in the May 8 announcement that ACFD 5 has been unwilling to negotiate with the city. He said the mediation process is written into the city’s contract with the fire district, a five-year contract was implemented in Feb. 2018.

Four Mavs sign to play college football

MOSES LAKE – The gymnasium at Moses Lake High School was crowded on Monday afternoon, as numerous fellow players, coaches, friends and family gathered to watch Maverick seniors Caleb Jones, Hayden Throneberry, Joel Middleton and Kyson Thomas sign on to play college football. “It’s like a dream come true,” Thomas said.

Garden Party highlights new things coming for CBAA

MOSES LAKE — The Columbia Basin Allied Arts Garden Party brought folks together from all over the Basin to further the local arts scene Saturday. The amount of money raised was not available before press time. “We don't have to leave our area for amazing arts and culture,” Cardwell told the crowd. We are the arts and culture here. You are the arts and culture here.”