'Just be prepared to go full circle.'

Othello housing market strong compared to surrounding area, local real estate pro says

OTHELLO – Brenda Roosma, co-founder of the Othello Realty Group, provided an update on the Othello housing and real estate market and said it’s fairly strong compared to surrounding areas, even as interest rates climb. “I feel the market is still pretty stable, overall,” said Roosma. “For the Othello area, I've never seen a decrease. I've been doing this for 24 years, and the Othello area has always been strong, and it's always increasing. I haven't seen it go the other way.” ...

Rotary project adds games to Moses Lake park

MOSES LAKE — Setting a heavy concrete top on an immovable concrete base is a game of inches. Sometimes quarter-inches. Moses Lake Rotary member Gary Ash was doing just that Wednesday morning, securing the top of a new concrete ping pong table in Carl T. Ahlers Memorial Park. It needed to be adjusted ever so slightly, about a quarter inch...

Law enforcement logs for Aug. 11

The reports below were provided by the sheriff’s office, jail or police department indicated. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law...

Crusading against domestic violence

Auction buyers, donors Man Up to support New Hope in battling household violence

MOSES LAKE — If you see folks wearing purple at the Moses Lake Roundup this year, it’s not just a fashion statement. They’re manning up. For the last several years, the Moses Lake Roundup has partnered with New Hope Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services in Moses Lake in the Man Up Crusade, both to raise awareness of domestic violence and to raise funds to actually do something about it...

Waterworks: Ephrata finalizing plans for water infrastructure upgrades

EPHRATA — Providing water and sewer services to a city laid out like a reverse saddle is challenging, but the city of Ephrata is working to improve the associated infrastructure, which is aging and needs adjustments to meet the needs of the county seat. “You know, 90% of this stuff is due to aging treatment plants,” said Nancy Wetch, a project engineer with Gray & Osborne, Inc., a Yakima-based firm helping the city with fresh water and sewer systems upgrades. “There are some issues with capacity, but for the most part, it’s because your plant is 25 years old. Nothing is getting younger and nothing is getting newer. That’s why we’re doing this upgrade.” ...

Othello approves facility use agreements

OTHELLO – Members of the Othello City Council voted unanimously Monday to approve two facility use agreements – for the Latino State Championship and the Columbia Basin Health Association Run for a Cause – as well as a Police Department dispatch console upgrade and a bargain collective agreement...

Annexation more complicated than it seems, Royal council told

ROYAL CITY — The Royal City City Council learned some things about the process of annexation at its Aug. 1 meeting. The discussion was occasioned by an application by Gerald Brown, owner of Golden West Farms, LLC, for the city to annex two parcels of Golden West land, one 70 acres and the other 7.7 acres south of the city limits. The council set aside part of the meeting as a public hearing on the petition...

Concepcion Gonzalez

Concepcion Gutierrez Gonzalez, "Concha," 89, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Aug. 3, 2023. Born Dec. 3, 1933, to Alfredo and Benita Gutierrez in Barancos de Guadalupe, Chihuahua, Mexico, she moved to Texas at 8, California at 17 and settled in Moses Lake, Washington in 1953. She married Manuel V. Gonzalez on Nov. 7, 1955. She was the mother of 10, five girls and five boys; grandmother of 26; great-grandmother of 46; and great-great-grandmother of 10. Concha will be remembered as a strong and courageous woman, as well as being independent. From home repair to crafts, you name it; she got it done on her own. Concha had a heart for the sick, needy and less fortunate. Her loving ways, big smile and happy heart is how she will be remembered.

Washington sports schedule Aug. 9-15

COLUMBIA BASIN – Check out this week’s Washington sports schedule, featuring local and statewide sporting events...

Mattawa developing parks plan

MATTAWA — Mattawa residents will be asked their preferences for recreation facilities in town as part of the preparation of a parks and open space plan. The city received a grant from the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office to write a plan, the prerequisite to applying for funding for parks projects...

Legals for August, 9 2023

NCW Community Foundation accepting grant applications

WENATCHEE — The Community Foundation of NCW is now accepting applications for its Regional Impact Grant and Woods Family Music and Arts Grant, according to an announcement from the foundation...

Adams Co. approves juvenile court contract

RITZVILLE – The Adams County Board of Commissioners voted during their regular meeting on Aug 1 to approve and sign the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Implementation County Program Agreement, which continues the Adams County Juvenile Services funding and cooperation with JDAI...

Othello annexes 445 acres east of 14th Avenue

OTHELLO – The Othello City Council voted unanimously during Monday’s regular meeting to annex a 445-acre portion of land east of 14th Avenue, from Lee Road to West Cunningham Road, including residential, commercial, and light industrial zoning. “Staff recommends accepting the annexation with the proposed zoning,” said the City of Othello staff recommendation section of the annexation agenda memo. “Additional land is needed for residential development in order to reduce the housing shortage, and commercial development along Main Street at a major entrance to the city makes sense.” ...

PRO RECAP: M’s string together wins, Seahawks prep for 2023

SEATTLE – Since the passing of last week’s MLB trade deadline, the Mariners have been on an impressive winning streak while the Seattle Seahawks prepare for the beginning of the 2023 preseason. Read along for updates on the two squads, as well as the Seattle Kraken and Storm...

Making connections

Mattawa National Night Out a way for officers, residents to get better acquainted, chief says

MATTAWA — Joao Garcia was interested in all those mysterious things carried by Mattawa Police Department officer Edgar Villa, and Villa explained them all. Garcia was also intrigued by the police vehicles, lights flashing, sitting on the lawn in Hund Park. Villa invited him to take a look inside - Garcia could even sit in the police car if he wanted, Villa said...

‘Cancer sucks’

Moses Lake police chief faces cancer with family, community and Fred Hutch by his side

MOSES LAKE — “Cancer sucks.” That’s what it says on the new cancer survivor’s ribbon tattoo on Moses Lake Police Chief Kevin Fuhr’s abdomen, which he got recently after having surgery to have his gallbladder and surrounding cancerous tissues removed...

Vehicles destroyed in Soap Lake area fire, other fires continue statewide

SOAP LAKE — A fire east of Soap Lake burned about 9.5 acres, according to statements from Grant County fire districts 7 and 13. The fire, in the 3800 block of SR 28, destroyed about 20 vehicles, five recreational vehicles and nearly 100 appliances. Volunteers fought the fire until about 4 a.m. Saturday, returning later in the morning for mopping up, according to GCFD 7...

Planning begins for new Quincy public works shop

QUINCY — The city of Quincy might be building a new public works shop. Quincy City Council members awarded a $22,000 contract to MJ Neal Associates, Wenatchee, to design the new shop and prepare a project budget at the regular meeting Aug. 1...

Eat up!

Annual Cowboy Breakfast, traditional fair and rodeo kickoff, set for Friday

MOSES LAKE — Following the tradition that any gathering of cowboys and cowgirls starts with a good breakfast, the annual Cowboy Breakfast is scheduled for 7-10 a.m. Friday in Sinkiuse Square. The breakfast is the traditional kickoff to the Grant County Fair and Moses Lake Roundup; the fair opens its gates Aug. 15, the annual demolition derby is Aug. 15-16 and the rodeo is Aug. 17-19...