Eco-gardening symposium coming April 5

MOSES LAKE — Here in the Columbia Basin, we have many things in abundance: sunshine, wide open spaces, fine wine, great tacos. What we don’t have in abundance is water. How to grow plants in spite of that lack will be one of the topics of an Eco-Gardening Symposium April 5. “One of our sessions will be on three gardeners who have taken out part or all of their yards to put in drought-tolerant plants,” said WSU Grant-Adams County Master Gardener Diane Escure, co-coordinator of the symposium. “They’re going to be saying, what’s the pros and cons? … Here are the things to be aware of, what are we looking for? What do they experience? We’ll have slides of their before and after landscapes, and what they hope to accomplish.”

CWU softball to face NW Nazarene at Frederick Field

ELLENSBURG – The Central Washington University Softball Team is looking towards a big weekend as they welcome the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks for their home-opening series of the 2025 season today and Saturday.

Legals for March, 14 2025

Nicholas Todd Olson

Nicholas Todd Olson, 57, died March 3, 2025, in Moses Lake, Washington. Arrangements are under the care of Kayser's Chapel of Memories.

Vicki Jeske

March 22, 1948 – Jan. 29, 2025

Vicki Diann Jeske, 76, passed away peacefully in the early hours of Jan. 29, 2025. Vicki was born on March 22, 1948, in Portland, Oregon to Emil and Eva Kociemba. She was raised with her sister Marci in Boring, Oregon and graduated from Sandy High School in 1966. She married right out of high school and started her family with the birth of Kenneth in 1970. These early years included lots of time spent at bowling alleys across Washington and Oregon. She continued bowling and raising kids with the birth of Christopher, Nikki, and finally, Michelle. Her bowling endeavors spanned across four decades.

Paws and applause: celebrating Ephrata’s outstanding Tiger leader

Erika Morford excels as student leader and community contributor

EPHRATA – Ephrata High School senior Erika Morford has been named one of the February Students of the Month, a recognition that the teacher who nominated her said highlights her significant contributions as treasurer of the Associated Student Body and vice president of the National Honor Society, among other activities.

More than just birds

The Othello Sandhill Crane Festival has something for everyone

OTHELLO — The Othello Sandhill Crane Festival is about much more than just the majestic birds it’s named for. Since the first festival 27 years ago, the Sandhill Crane Festival has ballooned to include tours and lectures to appeal to a wide range of enthusiasts. This year’s lineup includes lectures by experts in photography, geology, botany and more.

CBAA to screen silent Buster Keaton classic

MOSES LAKE — On March 28, the audience at the Wallenstien Theater will be swept back to a time when girls were flappers, young men were sheiks, jazz was king and liquor was bootlegged when Columbia Basin Allied Arts screens the 1924 classic silent comedy “Sherlock Jr.”

Basin sports schedule March 13-18

MOSES LAKE — High school spring sports kick off the Columbia Basin in earnest this week, with baseball, softball and other teams kicking off their seasons. Check the schedule below for local teams in action over the next week.

Wrestlers named to All-CWAC team

OTHELLO — Othello boys wrestling Coach Rudy Ochoa II was named Coach of the Year in the Class 2A Central Washington Athletic Conference for the second consecutive year. It was Ochoa’s third Coach of the Year award. Othello, Quincy and Ephrata wrestlers were named to the CWAC all-league team.

Othello, Ephrata, Quincy girls named to All-CWAC team

OTHELLO — Othello Huskies Coach Sammy Rocha and Quincy Jackrabbits Coach Mark Kondo were named co-Coaches of the year for girls wrestling in the Class 2A Central Washington Athletic Conference. Wrestlers from Ephrata, Quincy and Othello were named to the all-league teams

Ephrata PUD office receiving ADA upgrades, closed until March 21

EPHRATA – The Grant County Public Utility District headquarters building, 30 C St. SW in Ephrata, will be closed from March 10 to March 21 to install accessibility upgrades and refurbish some of the public areas, according to PUD public information officer Christine Pratt. The upgrades will cost the utility district around $32,500.

Legals for March, 13 2025

Young Cougars ready to repeat last year’s state showing

WARDEN — The Warden Cougars softball team pulled off a coup last year, taking second at state. “Nobody even thought we’d get out of districts,” said Head Coach Randy Wright. “We started the season pretty bad. But they got together and became a team and worked together and figured it out.”

Broncos hope to build on softball success

RITZVILLE — After qualifying for the state playoffs in 2024, the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague softball team is looking to for ways to continue that success in 2025.

Exciting season ahead for Eagles boys' and girls' teams

SOAP LAKE — As the spring tennis season approaches, excitement is palpable within the Soap Lake Tennis program. Head coach Lee Leavell said he remains optimistic about both the boys' and girls' teams as they begin a journey filled with hard work, growth and competition. Practices have kicked off, with Leavell noting an increase in participation this year.

Nancy J. Tracy

September 4, 1953 – March 6, 2025

Nancy was born on Sept. 4, 1953, and passed away on March 6, 2025. She was born to Richard A. and Hedwig Waslawski at Elmendorf AFB at Anchorage, Alaska. Nancy's father served proudly in the United States Air Force. From Anchorage she traveled with her family to Francis Warren AFB in Cheyenne, Wyoming; Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas; Brize Norton AFB in Great Britain; Larson AFB at Moses Lake, Washington and then Columbus AFB in Columbus, Mississippi, where he retired. Nancy's family then returned to Moses Lake where she attended school, graduating from Moses Lake High School in 1971.

Move to CWAC good opportunity for Jacks soccer, coach says

QUINCY — Quincy boys soccer coach Hector Vaca said he expects the Central Washington Athletic Conference to be a tougher test for his team. And that’s good. “I’m excited for the boys. I think it’s going to be a great opportunity for them to show off their skill, show how good they are,” he said. “We have a lot of great, talented soccer players here in Quincy, and I think this is a great opportunity for them to showcase that.”

New year for Royal softball after state championship

ROYAL CITY — Coach Lisa Lawrence said the Royal Knights softball team will be one to watch in 2025, although they have some holes from the team that won the state championship in 2024.

MLHS softball coach excited for deep talent in 2025

MOSES LAKE — Mavericks Head Softball Coach Mike Hofheins has a problem other coaches would love to have. “We have a lot of girls that are super versatile and can play multiple positions,” Hofheins said Friday. “We're trying to figure out where the puzzle pieces fit to make our team the best, because so many girls can play two and three and four positions. (They’re) probably more versatile than I've ever had.”