Elderberry juice shows benefits for weight management, metabolic health

SPOKANE, Wash.—Elderberry juice may be a potent tool for weight management and enhancing metabolic health, according to a recent Washington State University-led study. A clinical trial published in the journal Nutrients found that drinking 12 ounces of elderberry juice daily for a week causes positive changes in the gut microbiome and improves glucose tolerance and fat oxidation. Elderberry, a small dark purple berry found on elder trees native to Europe, is commonly used as a medicinal plant and supplement to promote immune function. Its other potential health benefits are poorly understood, however.

Legals for January, 13 2025

Teresa Jean Galliart

May 5, 1960 – November 29, 2024

Teresa Jean Galliart, 64, passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 29, 2024, at home in Moses Lake, Washington. Teresa was born on May 5, 1960, to Marilyn and Kenneth in Kirkland, Washington. Teresa was married to William “Eric” Galliart in October 1993 and they lived happily in Moses Lake for 31 years. She had a very eventful life, from the amazing cruises she went on with family to the fun concerts she went to. She worked so hard at everything she did, being a mom, wife, sister and daughter.

Challenge, innovation, appreciation at law enforcement luncheon

MATTAWA — Staffing, recruitment and innovation were among the subjects discussed by Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete and Yakima County Sheriff Robert Udell during a luncheon in Mattawa Thursday recognizing law enforcement contributions.

Law Enforcement logs for Jan. 10, 2025

Reports below were provided by the sheriff's office or police department. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Grant Co. upgrades law enforcement software

MOSES LAKE – Grant County, with the assistance of the Multi-Agency Communications Center – 911, switched its law enforcement reporting software at the beginning of 2025. The new software is a cloud-based platform with more assets and less crashes than the previous program which the county has been using since 1996, according to Moses Lake Police Department Captain Jeff Sursely.

Hands-on aerospace events for students coming to Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — The Apple STEM Network, in collaboration with a team of elementary educators in Moses Lake, will host three Family STEM Nights this spring, according to an announcement from the organization. These events, sponsored by the Boeing Company, aim to ignite curiosity and foster an understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, among students and their families, with a special focus on sustainable aviation fuel and the future of aerospace.

Moses Lake School District EP&O levy on February ballot

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District will submit an educational programs and operations levy to district voters on the Feb. 11 ballot. The levy, using local taxes, provides funding for programs and services beyond the state’s basic education requirements.

Ephrata’s Dave Johnson inducted into ABCA Hall of Fame

EPHRATA — Dave Johnson has received plenty of recognition at the local and state level for the success his baseball teams had while serving as the head coach at Ephrata High School, but the former Tiger baseball coach received a new honor last week – being inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Vikings start conference play with gritty win over Wenatchee Valley

MOSES LAKE -- The Big Bend Community College Vikings continued their impressive run, opening East Region conference play with a hard-fought 63-55 victory over Wenatchee Valley College on January 8th at the DeVries Activity Center. Coming off a strong 11-4 preseason, the Vikings showed their resilience in a game featuring dominance and late drama.

A career of grace

Pastor Walter Klockers prepares to retire

MOSES LAKE — Pastor Walter Klockers has a guiding principle: “This is Christ's Church, and I know my place.” It’s a part of the creed he maintains for his ministry, he said; he regularly reminds himself that he is an imperfect person who is called to proclaim a perfect Gospel and to serve others rather than feed his own ego. “That, I review, because I fail so many times,” he added.

Concerns remain over data collection for AGO police use of force database

(The Center Square) – Ongoing concerns remain among 911 dispatch centers in the state over the use of certain data by a police use of force database project headed by Washington State University under the guidance of the State Attorney General’s Office. In 2023, WSU received a contract from the AGO following a request for proposal to create a police use of force database that would collect certain information from law enforcement agencies regarding use of force incidents. That information would then be available for anyone to view and download from the website. However, the project has experienced numerous setbacks due to a variety of factors, including stipulations with vendors that they hand over their intellectual property.

Interest rates continue to drag down housing market in Washington

KIRKLAND — 2024 ended with a disappointing housing market statewide, according to data released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which tracks real estate across 26 of Washington’s 39 counties. Interest rates were responsible for much of the gloom, according to the NWMLS. While potential home buyers and sellers had hoped for a reprieve, the Federal Reserve’s three interest rate cuts in 2024 failed to produce a significant increase in the market. Rather, in early January the average 30-year mortgage rate was 6.91%, the highest it’s been since last July. Median home prices went up statewide by 4.3% between December 2023 and December 2024. In Grant County, however, the median price dropped very slightly from $360,950 to $356,582 over the last year, and in Adams County the median price dropped 10.3% from $322,500 to $292,300, the second-lowest median home price of any county.

Building permits for Jan. 10, 2025

City of Moses Lake building permits, November 2024

ENZO opens event room, expands kitchen

MOSES LAKE — ENZO owners and staff cut the ribbon on the restaurant’s newest facility, called the Riviera Room, Wednesday. ENZO already had a smaller banquet facility, called the Amalfi Room, owner Rhonda Cacchiotti explained, but it’s also used for everyday dining and even when it’s booked for private functions it can only accommodate 25-30 people. “This (Riviera) room has capacity for 60-80 people.” Cacchiotti said. “It has a private entrance. It has AV equipment (with) a drop-down screen. We have speakers, we have microphones. We have a podium that can be used. We have room to push tables into different configurations, where we can have a small dance floor. We have a full banquet buffet menu that we can also customize.”

Basin events for Jan. 10-17, 2025

COLUMBIA BASIN — Crafts, hoops, dancing and handbells are just part of what’s in store for the Basin this week. Here are a few things to check out:

Legals for January, 10 2025

Beverly Barbara Russell

April 15, 1950 - Dec. 15, 2024

Beverly Barbara Russell, 74, was born in Wenatchee Washington, to Terry and Sherry Hayes. In 1968 she graduated from Bridgeport High School. After graduating from Yakima Valley College in Dental Hygiene, she spent the next 42 years working in dentistry. Before retiring she volunteered on the USS Comfort, the Mercy Ship of the United States Navy offering dental services around the world. Bev had a big heart; she was very funny and always knew how to have a good time. Bev was a strong woman who believed in God. Growing up on a wheat and cattle ranch known as Hayes Ranch in Mansfield, Washington held many fond memories for Bev.

Kathryn Schmalz Rackham

July 17, 1943 – December 31, 2024

Kathryn (Kathy) Schmalz Rackham, 81, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Moses Lake after a long battle with Alzheimer’s/dementia. Kathy was born July 17, 194,3 in Ogden, Utah to William Moyes Schmalz and Karma Chadwick. She was born the middle child of three. She lived in Salt Lake City and Seattle before moving to a farm north of Warden in 1952. In 1961 she graduated as the valedictorian of Warden High School and attended Central Washington State College in Ellensburg receiving a degree in Education and French in 1965. She taught English and French at Tyee High School prior to spending a summer abroad in France.

‘Interweavings’ exhibit opens Jan. 16 at CWU

ELLENSBURG — Beginning next week, the Sarah Spurgeon Gallery at Central Washington University will host an exhibition titled “Interweavings: Photography and Sculpture” by Jeanne K. Simmons. The opening reception is scheduled for Thursday, January 16, from 5-7 p.m. in Randall Hall, room 141.