Employment Security Department releases July unemployment rates

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Employment Security Department announced Tuesday county unemployment rates and employment data for July 2023 are now available online on the ESD’s website. According to the EDS website, Grant County’s unemployment rate for July was 3.6% and Adams County's unemployment 3.2%. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the EDS unemployment report stated that preliminary estimates from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate non-farm employment in Washington fell by 6,400 in June 2023. BLS estimates the private sector lost 1,400 jobs during the month and the public sector lost 5,000 jobs. Estimates for July 2022 through July 2023 – not on a seasonally adjusted basis – indicate

‘Very preliminary’ 2024 Grant PUD budget released

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD customers could see an overall 2.5% rate increase in 2024. The preliminary 2024 budget was released for the first review at the PUD commission meeting Aug. 8. John Mertlich, senior manager of financial planning and analysis, called it a “very preliminary” review. According to information presented to the commissioners, the Aug. 8 presentation meets a state-mandated requirement. Commissioners will approve a resolution to file a preliminary budget today, also meeting a state requirement. The budget will be presented for two public hearings in October, and commissioners will approve the final version in November.

Local residents tell cancer to take a hike

MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake Police Department officers, members of the community and at least one loving wife joined Moses Lake Police Chief Kevin Fuhr Saturday morning at 9 a.m. for a fundraising walk to support the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center’s efforts to battle the disease. “I’m not a crier,” Fuhr said. “But, when I came around the corner and saw how many people had showed up, I got a little verklempt.” ...

Sizzlin’ fun

Shade, staying hydrated among keys to keeping cool at the Grant County Fair.

MOSES LAKE — It being summer and with the weather gods sometimes having a nasty sense of humor, it was probably to be expected. “It’s going to be hot this week,” said fairgrounds manager Jim McKiernan while talking to volunteers Monday morning...

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.” ...

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, 7 2023

Scientific collaboration takes Wildcat Rocketry to NASA competition

ELLENSBURG – Every year, a dedicated team of Central Washington University students assembles a rocket, and launches it 5,000 feet into the air as part of NASA’s Student Launch(link is external) competition in Huntsville, Alabama...

Unique home town

Circumstances make Quincy real estate market different

QUINCY — The old saying in real estate is that it’s all about “location” – a word that means a variety of things., Quincy makes the point; it’s like all other towns in Grant County, but it’s not. “The Quincy market is different,” said Tom Parrish, managing broker at Windermere Real Estate Central Basin-Quincy office. “Based upon one factor, and that’s price.” ...

Moses Lake city staff share public participation plan for development code

MOSES LAKE — The Director of Moses Lake’s Community Development Department Kirsten Peterson presented the Public Participation Plan portion of the city’s new development code to the city council during Tuesday’s regular meeting. “I guess really I’m referring to it now as a development code rewrite,” said Peterson. “We are going to be basically just starting over with an entirely new code. We’re not just editing it or revising it; we are putting together a brand-new development code.” ...

Soap Lake City Council examines city budget

SOAP LAKE — Members of the Soap Lake City Council gathered Monday at the Soap Lake Senior Center for a budget workshop led by Fiscal Specialist Cheryl Brandt on correcting the city’s ongoing finance and accounting struggles. Brandt said during the workshop that the city needs more training for its staff on dealing with the financial aspect of running a city and budgeting for the year...

Legals for July, 26 2023

CWU expects art history program to draw students regionally

ELLENSBURG - Central Washington University’s newest degree program has been a long time coming, and this fall it will finally become a reality. After ironing out the details for the past 18 months, the Department of Art + Design will be introducing a Bachelor of Arts in Art History, giving a number of current students an opportunity to pursue their passion without having to go elsewhere. The new degree offering will also provide incentive for art history aficionados to consider Central...

Well Adjusted

Chiropractor seeks to improve the quality of life for people living with spinal issues

EPHRATA — Columbia Basin Chiropractic is a place where people with a variety of musculoskeletal conditions can seek treatment.

Quincy to research property annexation requests

QUINCY — Quincy city officials will consider a request to annex two pieces of property on the east side of town into the city limits. If they are annexed, both properties will be zoned industrial. Municipal Services Director Carl Worley told Quincy City Council members July 18 that the application doesn’t commit the city to annexation. “The staff will proceed with the studies and analysis to see what impacts they have (on the city) and what they may have to provide to mitigate those impacts,” Worley said.

SEAL team comes to Grant County Health District

MOSES LAKE — Grant County will serve as a training ground for a pair of University of Washington graduate students, according to an announcement from the Grant County Health District. The GCHD will partner with two UW master's in public health epidemiology students who are current members of the Student Epidemic Action Leaders Team at the UW, according to the announcement. The SEAL Team provides students with experience in applied epidemiology training and field assignments at state and local health departments. Last week, the students, identified only as Sarah and Ashley, were on-site at the GCHD office to collaborate with staff and initiate a successful launch for their respective projects. “This is our first SEAL Team to come to Grant County and it is a wonderful opportunity for GCHD to gain deeper insights into areas of public health concerns. Our staff and community partners will be able to use the work of the SEALS to better refine and inform our programs and interventions” Theresa Adkinson, GCHD administrator, wrote in the announcement.

Lake Wenatchee to open for sockeye fishing July 26

WENATCHEE — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Tuesday that Lake Wenatchee will open for sockeye fishing and retention one hour before official sunrise July 26, and will be open until one hour after official sunset Aug. 31. According to the announcement, Fish and Wildlife are opening sockeye retention based on sockeye passage analysis at Tumwater Dam and mainstem Columbia River Dams, which project a surplus of harvestable sockeye headed for Lake Wenatchee.

Legals for July, 20 2023

Bonds form the basis of CWU sculptor’s work

ELLENSBURG - Every artist can point to an inspiration behind their work. For Kate Im, it’s the power of human connections. The CWU Art + Design professor’s lifelong focus on interpersonal bonds often reveals itself in her artwork, although her passion is equally evident in her teaching and relationship-building...

CWU anthroplogy grad looks to bring Indigenous perspective to her profession

ELLENSBURG - When Raelynne Crow arrived at CWU, she had no idea she would be interested in anthropology, let alone that the university even had a program...