Spend a day at the museum

COLUMBIA BASIN — We often think of museums as something you find in big cities, but there are lots of them just a short drive away here in the Basin. Here are some places to enjoy art or learn about the area. Note: Many museums are staffed by volunteers and funded by donations, which means that hours and days of operation can change without warning. Visitors are advised to call ahead.

Caleb Perez

Local student tackles the news business and other adventures

MOSES LAKE — Caleb Perez, whose byline you may have seen floating around in the Columbia Basin Herald’s pages, likes to try a little bit of everything, whether that’s sports, journalism or making a podcast with friends. “I did not do anything in high school other than what was required of me,” Perez said. “I did kind of have a philosophy that, if I don’t commit to anything in high school, then I can kind of try a lot more things, which I was able to do because I’d spend after school either playing games or learning to shoot hoops or even trying Frisbee golf. … Basically, anything that came up, I could try.”

Legals for June, 22 2023

Legals for June, 22 2023

Grace named George clerk-treasurer

GEORGE — There’s a new clerk-treasurer in George, and she has a new assistant. Former Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Amy Grace, who has holding down the fort since the last clerk-treasurer left in March, was officially appointed to the position at Tuesday night’s city council meeting. SA temporary worker the city contracted to help Grace, Tonya Nelson, was appointed the new deputy clerk-treasurer at the same meeting. The city will pay more than $8,000 to the agency Nelson currently works for to allow her to work for the city immediately...

GALLERY: Local sports

COLUMBIA BASIN – Almira/Coulee-Hartline and Soap Lake wrapped up spring practices with a jamboree in Coulee City over the weekend, while the 18U Columbia Basin River Dogs hosted the Jerry Henderson Memorial Tournament in Ephrata. Check out these photos from the tow events over this past weekend.

Washington fire report for June 21

MOSES LAKE — These are the wildfires that were burning in Washington as of Monday afternoon, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow website...

Weather impacts hay quality

COLUMBIA BASIN — The first cutting is in for alfalfa hay in the Basin, and it’s not all it should be, according to Mark Anderson of Anderson Hay & Grain. “We were hoping to get a lot more high-test supreme and premium alfalfa for dairies,” Anderson said. “We struggled a little bit with weather that interrupted the perfect harvest window. So there's there's been a fair amount of inventory that's just under that supreme and premium testing.” ...

Animal party

Tickets on sale for ‘Party for the Paws’ supporting Adams County Pet Rescue

MOSES LAKE — Groundbreaking is scheduled for early July for a new facility that its owners say will manufacture aviation fuel from hydrogen, carbon dioxide and electricity. Nicholas Flanders, co-founder and CEO of Berkley, California-based Twelve, announced the construction of the new facility Monday at the Paris Air Show, accompanied by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.

The Podium to host Big Sky indoor championships

FARMINGTON, Utah – The Big Sky Conference announced last week that the 2024 Indoor Track and Field Championships will be held at The Podium Powered by STCU in Spokane, in collaboration with Spokane Sports and Eastern Washington University.

Washington sports schedule June 21-27

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

Rattling Portland

Local 18U team competes at Valley Invite in Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. – The 18U Moses Lake Rattlers were one of nearly 60 teams to compete at the Triple Crown Valley Invite in Portland, Oregon over the weekend, though the final day of competition was rained out.

Legals for June, 21 2023

UPDATED: Gorge victims, alleged shooter identified

EPHRATA — Grant County Coroner Craig Morrison has released the identities of the two fatally-shot victims from the Sunday evening shooting at The Gorge Amphitheatre’s campground and Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete has identified the alleged shooter. “The suspect is 26-year-old James M. Kelly of Joint Base Lewis-McChord. He was hospitalized for a gunshot wound and was returned to Grant County today where he is lodged in the Grant County Jail. He is held for investigation of two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, and one count of first-degree assault domestic violence,” Kriete said...

BBCC celebrates a first with 2023 graduation

MOSES LAKE — With cloud cover providing cool weather Friday evening at Lions Field in Downtown Moses Lake, Big Bend Community College made history conferring its new Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management degree on 26 students along with 513 other graduates who received associate degrees or high school diplomas. “I really want to thank Big Bend for implementing this new BAS-AM program and making it accessible to our community,” said BAS-AM Cohort 1 representative Shelley Mease...

Patrick Patterson

Patrick O. Patterson, 75, dedicated family man, community sponsor and exceptional musician passed away June 13, 2023. He had a passion for continuous learning and immersing himself in the educational process. Patrick’s entire life has been dedicated to teaching his children and grandchildren about music and engaging them in his many interests. As a longtime teacher of music, he taught at Big Bend Community College for 23 years. He enjoyed engaging his students in the passion of making and appreciating music, as well as helping to coordinate their success at the college. Patrick immersed himself in all things musical, and enjoyed the chaos of coordinating community events, participating in a variety of regional musical groups, and diving into his church music ministry.

Washington wildfire summary for June 19

MOSES LAKE — These are the wildfires that were burning in Washington as of Monday afternoon, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow website...

Mattawa considering second cleanup event

MATTAWA — The spring cleanup in Mattawa was a big enough success that city officials are considering a second one in the summer or fall. “We collected 10.8 tons, which is 21,000 pounds of solid waste,” said city Public Works Director Juan Ledezma during the Mattawa City Council meeting June 15...

Legals for June, 19 2023

STUDIO BASIN: Fire and water, football and diamond action

MOSES LAKE – On this episode of the Studio Basin podcast, Managing Editor Rob Miller and senior reporter Cheryl Schweizer discuss water conservation across the Basin, fires and fire season as well as recap graduation and Quincy's 100% graduation rate. Next, Sports Reporter Ian Bivona recaps the Pete Doumit Memorial Tournament, a football scrimmage held in Royal City and other sporting goodness in the Basin. The Studio Basin podcast can be found on your favorite podcast apps, or downloaded directly at https://bit.ly/446s0GA.