WA energy choice initiative qualifies for the Nov. ballot

(The Center Square) – Initiative 2066 to protect energy choices like natural gas has officially qualified for the November ballot, according to the Washington Secretary of State's Office.

Legals for July, 25 2024

Run defense a focus for Eagles in 2024

SPOKANE – While Eastern Washington’s offense is looking to build off significant strides made during the 2023 season, the Eagle defense is looking to turn itself around after surrendering the second-most points in the Big Sky last fall.

Grant Co. Jail project moving quickly

EPHRATA – The New Grant County Jail is progressing rapidly according to Tom Gaines, the Grant County central services director. He provided updates on the new Grant County Jail during the County Commissioners meeting on Monday.

GALLERY: Summer baseball in the Basin

MOSES LAKE – Summer sports action is beginning to wind down across the Columbia Basin. Check out these photos of local baseball teams from games throughout the summer.

Legals for July, 24 2024

JR Simplot donates $50K to CAA

Students, parents and coaches turn out to show appreciation.

MOSES LAKE — The word went out from coaches and advisors - the JR Simplot company was stepping up to help out the Moses Lake School District extracurricular program with a $50,000 donation. The coaches and advisors suggested the students should turn out to show their appreciation.

Pilot program

Civil Air Patrol trains young fliers in Ephrata

EPHRATA — This week, that plane buzzing overhead could be piloted by a teenager. The Civil Air Patrol in Ephrata is holding its Desert Eagle National Flight Academy, for CAP cadets between the ages of 16 and 19. They’ll get intensive flight instruction for 10 days, both in powered planes and on the ground, learning , said Lt. Col. Sid Wiggs, the public affairs officer for the academy.

‘We are here to fight’

Purple Party gets community ready for Walk to End Alzheimer’s

MOSES LAKE — Alzheimer’s disease is a terrifying thing for many people: the fear that one day they will watch helplessly as they cease to remember their families and even who they are. The 150-200 people who came to the Purple Party at the Porterhouse Steakhouse in Moses Lake Thursday want to make that fear a thing of the past.

Eagles bringing experienced offense into 2024

SPOKANE – There was an excited energy regarding the Eastern Washington offense at Monday’s Big Sky Media Days, with the unit that finished third in both total yards and points scored bringing a veteran group to the field in 2024.

‘We had baserunners in traffic all night’

ACH Legion reaches AA state tournament

SPOKANE – The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Senior Legion baseball team locked up a berth in the AA State Tournament with a fourth-place finish in the Area 3 AA district tournament over the weekend, where they went 4-1 in games to reach next week’s state competition.

Major upgrades coming to Westshore Drive next summer

MOSES LAKE — Drivers who use Westshore Drive can get an overview of the work planned for spring 2025 along Westshore Drive, and get their questions answered, at a meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Moses Lake Country Club, 1373 at Road F.2 NE.

Basin Summer Showdown coming Saturday

EPHRATA — The Basin Summer Showdown car show will take to the streets in Ephrata again Saturday.

Soap Lake sewer leak stopped quickly

SOAP LAKE – On Saturday, a citizen alerted authorities to effluent seeping out of a manhole cover near West Beach in Soap Lake. The City of Soap Lake Public Works team, led by Supervisor Darrin Fronsman, swiftly responded to the emergency, according to an announcement by Soap Lake Mayor Allen DuPuy.

Grant Co. commissioners receive infrastructure updates

EPHRATA – During the Grant County Board of Commissioners meeting Monday they received updates from the central services and the development service directors to begin their day, followed by a variety of other updates.

FIRE REPORT: Local fire causes road closure, lightning storm causes 9 WA fires

EPHRATA — Grant County Fire District 13 and Ephrata firefighters dealt with a 25-acre burn near Highway 28 and Road E NW Sunday, closing Highway 28 at Naylor Junction and Neva Lake Road. By 5:14 p.m. the fire was handled, and by 5:35 p.m. the highway was reopened. Fire is inferred to have been sparked by a bird on a power line, and was wind driven. The Miners Complex Fires consist of nine wildfires caused by lightning strikes on July 17 and 18. The storm caused about 1,000 lightning strikes across Oregon and Washington. Fire crews are battling a 500-acre complex of lightning-caused fires in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, which has prompted trail closures and warnings from the U.S. Forest Service. The Miners Complex include: Miners Fire, Vista Ridge Fire, Dolly Creek Fire, Sulphur Three Fire, Sulphur Four Fire, Sulphur Thirty-Four Fire, Upper Sulphur Thirty-Two Fire, Lower Sulphur Thirty-Two Fire, and Plummer Fire.

Legals for July, 23 2024

New Moses Lake nonprofit seeks to preserve student experience, motivation

MOSES LAKE — With financial struggles, the Moses Lake School District cannot afford extracurriculars of all sorts, from football to band to theater, for the 2024-25 school year. However, community members have formed the nonprofit Community Athletics and Activities to make sure children don’t miss out on important experiences. “Just to give some idea of the motivation and the determination of the group (our) board put together, their nonprofit got their tax ID in three weeks when they were told three to six months. That’s a persistent, dedicated group that’s motivated to get things done quickly,” said Brian Skaug, a CAA member.

‘I’ve always loved the ocean’

Seascapes and serenity at The Drip art gallery

MOSES LAKE — There’s a definite theme to Hannah Fountain’s artwork. “I always loved the ocean,” she said. “I love the water, and painting it has always been my favorite subject.”

NEWS BITES for July 22, 2024

NEWS BITES for July 22, 2024