‘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.

Open Mic brings out the talent in Soap Lake

SOAP LAKE — It’s 5:30 p.m, and 11-year-old Jimmy Ocampo is singing “Die with a Smile” in front of an audience of about 25 people. He’s the fourth performer to take the stage in the last half hour, and there’s a long waiting list after him. It’s Open Mic Night, and the sky’s the limit.

WIC mobile app now available in 22 languages

OLYMPIA – WICShopper, the free smartphone application for families in the Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program, is now available in 22 languages for Washington state participants, according to an announcement from the Washington State Department of Health.

Community servant

Peny Archer put her heart into feeding the hungry

MOSES LAKE — Peny Archer first encountered the Moses Lake Food Bank more than 20 years ago. It changed her life. Her youngest child was starting school, Peny said in a 2023 interview. “Because of working and having a career, I had missed a lot of school plays, a lot of things my children were involved in because I had to work,” she said. “I wanted to spend some time with our youngest during the summer and so on. When school started again, I thought ‘You know, I’m going to go to the food bank and volunteer for two hours a week.’” That volunteer shift was a revelation, she said.

Othello teams up with partners to work on improving water storage permitting process

OTHELLO — Othello city officials will be working with a coalition of regional partners to make it easier to work on – and finish – projects to find and build additional water sources.

GCAO animal adoptions double in 2024

'It’s about finding every animal the home they deserve'

MOSES LAKE – Grant County Animal Outreach reported a significant increase in adoptions for the year 2024. The shelter successfully placed 582 cats and dogs into new homes, nearly doubling the figure from the previous year. The rise in adoptions marks an important milestone for the organization, which has actively worked to address the challenges of overcapacity and resource limitations.

LETTER: Grant County must address its lack of juvenile detention facilities

Grant County is currently failing to meet its legal and moral obligations to provide a juvenile detention facility. This deficiency not only violates Washington state law but also fails to address the growing mental health crisis among our youth. Under RCW 13.16.030, counties are required to construct, acquire and maintain juvenile detention facilities, separate from adult facilities, for dependent, wayward and delinquent children. For counties with populations exceeding 50,000, RCW 13.04.135 further mandates the establishment of these facilities.

Moses Lake’s Richardson signs to play for Walla Walla CC

MOSES LAKE – Family, friends, teammates and coaches gathered at the Moses Lake High School commons on Tuesday afternoon to celebrate senior Paige Richardson signing to play softball for Walla Walla Community College. “It’s really exciting; it feels real now, now that all that’s done,” Richardson said. “Overwhelming, but exciting.” Richardson has been a three-year starter for the Maverick fastpitch softball team, earning numerous accolades from the Columbia Basin Big 9. In the 2024 season, Richardson was the Big 9’s Most Valuable Player and a unanimous first-team pitcher.

Republican rep offers bill to amend Washington's 'mature minor doctrine'

(The Center Square) – In March 2024, the Washington State Legislature passed Initiative 2081, the parents’ bill of rights, which took effect on June 6 of that same year. Under I-2081, parents have the right to examine textbooks, curriculum, and any supplemental materials used in their children's classrooms. They also have the right to inspect their child's public school records and receive a copy within 10 business days of submitting a written request. According to Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, I-2081 did not go far enough in protecting parents' rights to be involved in healthcare decisions for their minor children.

Legals for January, 9 2025

Peny Rae Archer

Aug. 1, 1960 — Jan. 5, 2025

Peny Rae (Massie) Archer, 64, was born on Aug. 1, 1960, in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. She moved to Moses Lake with her parents and sister in 1973. She graduated with her GED from Moses Lake High School in 1978, began her adult working career as a dispatcher with AAA Readymix, and then married her soulmate and the love of her life, Richard Archer, on March 11, 1983. Her strong will and personality were as endless and beautiful as the Moses Lake Sand Dunes. In 1990 Peny and Rich were instrumental in founding the Moses Lake Sand Scorpions off-road group. She put in countless hours helping to keep the dunes open, and in the beginning, she was the brains behind the financial and family events for the club. Back in those days you could always find them in the dunes by spotting their old red bronco or bright blue sand rail.

Kenneth Layton Bohne

1940 — 2025

Kenneth L. Bohne, 84, of Moses Lake, Washington, passed away peacefully at home. Born in Cardston, Alberta to John and LaPreil Bohne, Ken was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and faithful servant of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ken grew up in Glenwood, Alberta, and moved with his family to Moses Lake, Washington, in 1954. He graduated from Moses Lake High School in 1958, where he was an accomplished trumpet player in the high school band. He enjoyed playing basketball and softball with the LDS Church and in city leagues, fostering lifelong friendships along the way. He was also a member of The Variations, a local singing group that performed at church and community events. Ken married his eternal companion, Buelah, in the Idaho Falls Temple. They celebrated 64 years of marriage and shared a life filled with love, faith, and service. He was a lifelong member of The Church, where he served in many leadership roles, including Bishop, Stake Executive Secretary, Ward Clerk, Gospel Doctrine Teacher, and Stake Athletic Director. His dedication to his faith and his service to others were central to his life.

Charlie Clark re-tapped to head DFI

OLYMPIA – Charlie Clark has been reappointed director of the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, according to a Monday announcement from Governor-elect Bob Ferguson. Clark’s reappointment was announced with that of another agency head.

Thirteen local football players earn all-state recognition

MOSES LAKE – The Washington State Football Coaches Association announced its All-State Football Teams awards on Sunday, with full lists representing each of the state’s six classifications.

Basin sports schedule Jan. 8-14

MOSES LAKE – Check out this week’s sports schedule for high school athletics across the Columbia Basin, including bowling, competitive cheerleading, basketball, swim and dive and wrestling events.

Environmental group highlights goals for upcoming legislative session

OLYMPIA — The 2025 Washington legislative session will begin Monday and the Washington Conservation Action’s Environmental Priorities Coalition has four goals for the upcoming session: advanced clean trucks and climate progress, climate action, sewage spill right-to-know and the recycling reform act. The EPC met for a press conference on Tuesday to discuss its legislative initiatives.

Curiosity keeps centenarian young

MOSES LAKE — It could be that the secret to living a long time is just not to get old.

Beta Lambda brightens Christmas for farm worker families

OTHELLO — Sixty Othello children had a better Christmas this year, thanks to the ladies of Beta Lambda. Members of the women’s service organization took gifts to families at Guadalupe Haven, the low-income housing complex owned by Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington. This is the third year the organization has brought gifts to Guadalupe Haven, Beta Lambda member Trudy Doolittle wrote in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald. Guadalupe Haven manager Maria Guzman said a representative of Catholic Charities put her in touch with Beta Lambda.

Medicare out-of-pocket cap on prescriptions takes effect

WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than 70,000 seniors in Washington state will save hundreds or thousands of dollars each year thanks to the new annual cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for folks on Medicare Part D, according to an announcement from the office of Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. The new cap is part of the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress in 2022, and it means seniors will pay significantly less for their prescription drugs this year, lowering costs for families and giving them more breathing room, according to the announcement. “Starting Jan. 1, anyone with a Medicare prescription drug plan – also known as Medicare Part D – now has their out-of-pocket drug costs capped at two thousand dollars each year,” Murray wrote in the announcement. “ … As everyone knows, high drug prices come with other painful costs – like stress over how to make ends meet, or what bills to skip in order to fill a prescription, or whether to take the risk of rationing medication. These are impossible choices that no one should ever have to make. But they’re the reality for so many people, and so many seniors especially.”

Senior events calendar for January 2025

COLUMBIA BASIN — The weather is dreary, but that’s no reason to stay home. Here are a few opportunities to get out and about: