SOAP LAKE MAYOR: Candidates Q&A

SOAP LAKE – There is one candidate and one write-in candidate for the Soap Lake mayoral race. Incumbent Peter Sharp is the only candidate listed on the ballot. However, Karen Woodhouse is running as a write-in candidate.

$30M hospital bond to run again in general election

EPHRATA – The Columbia Basin Hospital Board has decided to run its $30 million bond measure on the general ballot in November after it failed in the primary election. Chief Executive Officer Rosalinda Kibby during the Aug. 26 meeting said the district needed to work on getting more information out to voters. She explained that the primary didn’t even get enough voters for the bond package to pass. They needed 2,600 voters, but only 2,277 people voted in Ephrata, according to the Grant County Auditor results.

Generations of coaching

The Trammell-Haneberg family discusses coaching tradition in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE – Three generations of the Trammell-Haneberg coaching family are ready for another season of Mavericks sports. For Mavericks Volleyball Head Coach Krystal Trammell, it all begins with her dad, Bob. “Dad was amazing at what he did, and he made each athlete feel important. He had that relationship with his athletes and his students, and I saw those athletes TP the house when we were young. Mom and dad would sit in the dark, watch his athlete's toilet paper the house and laugh,” she said. Krystal grew up in Warden, where her parents were teachers and Bob coached multiple sports for 40 years, she said. As she grew up, she played volleyball, basketball and softball. Eventually, she would go on to play volleyball at Big Bend Community College before heading to play for Eastern Oregon.

Rec grants fund local projects

MOSES LAKE — The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board recently awarded almost $2.8 million in Grant and Adams counties, part of more than $148 million awarded statewide to build and improve parks and trails, conserve wildlife habitat and maintain land for farming and forestry, according to an announcement from the board.

PUD moves forward with eminent domain process for Quincy area line

EPHRATA – The Grant County PUD Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to proceed with the condemnation of privately owned lands intended to help establish a route for a new transmission line from its dams on the Columbia River south of the Vantage Bridge to the Quincy area.

Former Quincy athlete enters final soccer season at collegiate level

QUINCY – Israel Perez has led a full athletic career, participating in a variety of sports as a Quincy Jackrabbit, but soccer has been the sport that has stuck with him the most over the years. “I used to live in front of a park when I lived in a different state, we just saw the rec league and signed up,” said Perez. “Then, when I came over (to Quincy), I got into club soccer in middle school with a couple of friends.” Perez said he played with the club soccer team, Quincy United, throughout his middle school years before moving on to play for the Jacks at the high school level. His career with the Jacks was met with an unexpected bump when COVID caused both his sophomore and junior seasons to be cancelled.

EWU honored for student engagement and opportunity

CHENEY — Eastern Washington University was recently named a College of Distinction, a national designation awarded to institutions that set themselves apart with their commitment to providing an engaged, experiential education, according to an announcement from the university.

Warden welcomes new AD

WARDEN – The Warden School District has hired Greg Lucas as the new Athletic Director. Lucas moved to the area from Wisconsin and said he is ready to learn about the community and help athletics grow at Warden schools.

A place for veterans

Moses Lake American Legion post building back up after slow times

MOSES LAKE — The American Legion in Moses Lake was on the ropes for a while, but it’s coming back swinging. “We were only open on Wednesday (nights) and Sundays for breakfast,” said Vice Commander Mike Ford. “We’re currently reopened back to Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and then Sundays if we have somebody available to cook breakfast.”

First-time exhibitor, 12, wins big at fair

Skill, good breeding and family tradition lead to victorious first fair outing.

QUINCY —Twelve-year-old Kayson Hull of Quincy cleaned up at the Grant County Fair, walking away with seven ribbons, all for one cow. What’s more, this is Kayson’s first time showing an animal at the fair. “Yeah, I’m shocked too,” he said.

MLSD approves balanced $144.6M budget for 2025–26

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School Board unanimously approved a balanced budget for the 2025–26 school year during its regular meeting Thursday evening. The $144.6 million budget matches projected revenues with expenditures.

Wahluke community to hold prayer vigil on first day of school

MATTAWA — It’s no secret that young people starting the school year face a lot of negative influences. Some folks in Mattawa plan to counter some of that negativity with prayer.

Soap Lake staffing up with new police chief, departmental staff

SOAP LAKE – During the Soap Lake city council meeting held Wednesday evening, the city officially swore in Patrick Canady as the new police chief for Soap Lake Police Department. The city also has a fully staffed Public Works Department, which allows for smoother operations.

ESA holds annual charity golf tournament

SOAP LAKE – On Saturday, the Alpha Omega chapter of the Epsilon Sigma Alpha nonprofit organization held its annual charity golf tournament at Lakeview Golf and Country Club. According to President Abby Smith, the tournament was a success.

'Let's take it beyond that'

Cox named new Warden football head coach

WARDEN – Former Warden Athletic Director Brent Cox has been selected as the new head football coach at Warden High School. “I’m happy to be head coach, and I want these kids to compete and get after it,” said Cox. “We’ve got to change the culture a little bit around Warden and get these kids thinking bigger, instead of just being part of a football team I want them to be part of a winning program.”

EPHRATA MAYOR Q&A: Bruce Reim

EPHRATA – Incumbent Ephrata Mayor Bruce Reim is running for reelection on the November ballot against challenger Steve Oliver. Both Reim and Oliver were concurrently presented with the questions below and given identical deadlines and word count restrictions for their answers. Reim’s responses are below. Both submitted their responses in a timely manner.

Temporary traffic revisions planned for Ephrata’s A Street SE

EPHRATA — Traffic revisions are coming to the intersection of Nat Washington Way and A Street Southeast in Ephrata during the times parents are dropping off or picking up students at Ephrata Middle School. Mayor Bruce Reim said he hoped the traffic revisions would be very short-term.

Group14 obtains, leverages new investments

WOODINVILLE — The owners of Group14 Technologies have announced the company has acquired full ownership of its facility in South Korea. The company also obtained additional funding from the previous co-owner of the South Korea property and other investors, according to a company press release.

Hellewell becomes first inductee in Moses Lake Demo Derby Hall of Fame

MOSES LAKE – During the second day of the Demo Derby, the Moses Lake Round Up organization honored Vern Hellewell as the first inductee into the Moses Lake Demo Derby Hall of Fame. Hellewell said he has been participating in the event since it first started at the fairgrounds. “I was there from the beginning and from that point until (today) it’s just been tremendous,” said Hellewell.

Vaughn Sigvart Hagen

1954 – 2025

Vaughn Sigvart Hagen, 70, of Bellingham, WA, passed away on August 6, 2025, the result of a violent crime. He was tragically taken from us while executing his duties as executor for a long-time client of his CPA firm.