Moses Lake Education Association approves agreement with MLSD

MOSES LAKE — Members of the union representing Moses Lake School District teaching (certificated) staff approved a one-year agreement Tuesday with the Moses Lake School District for the 2024-25 school year. With the union approval, the memorandum of understanding is submitted to the Moses Lake School Board; a vote to approve or reject is on the MLSB Aug. 22 agenda. Moses Lake Education Association President Heather Whittall said 388 teachers, about 90% of MLEA members, cast a vote.

Enrollment decline projected in Othello School District budget

OTHELLO — Othello School District officials are projecting lower enrollment for the 2024-25 school year and expect enrollment to keep decreasing in the future. District officials will sponsor a question-and-answer session on the 2024-25 budget for Othello School Board members and district patrons 1 p.m. Thursday in the district office, 1025 South First Ave. Amy Suarez, OSD executive director of business services, said it’s time to start looking at the future and getting ready for it. “I want to take you back to last year when we said, ‘We’re going to kick the rock down the road a little bit.’ This year we’re going to pretend that rock is a soda can. What happens when you kick it down the road? It explodes and goes everywhere. That’s what we’re trying to prevent,” Suarez said during a budget presentation Aug. 12.

Legals for August, 21 2024

New high in entries at Moses Lake Roundup

MOSES LAKE — Nearly 600 entries were made into the 81st Moses Lake Roundup, marking a new high in both contestants throughout the weekend of competition.

Quincy SD implements AI policy, other districts exploring similar action

QUINCY — The Quincy School District will add the use of artificial intelligence to the list of online uses subject to district policy, beginning with the 2024-25 school year. The rise of AI presents challenges for schools that QSD officials said needed addressing, and school districts across the Columbia Basin are reviewing policies and determining how they want to address it.

Applications open for tourism promotion grants

EPHRATA — Applications will be open through Sept. 27 for 2025 tourism promotion campaign grants from the Grant County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.

Chip-seal work near Brewster on Wednesday

BREWSTER — Drivers traveling between Wenatchee and Okanogan should expect delays on US 97 at the Brewster city limits Wednesday.

Washington Lands Commissioner primary race heads toward a recount

(The Center Square) – With fewer than 270 votes separating candidates in the second spot for Washington Commissioner of Public Lands, it appears a recount will be required.

FIRE REPORT: Two fires blaze up in Grant County over the weekend

QUINCY — At 2 p.m. Sunday a 35-acre blaze started on Overen Road outside of Quincy. The fire was quickly contained two hours after it started with Fire District 3, Fire District 13, Ephrata Fire Department and Bureau of Land Management Fire responding to the fire according to David Durfee, Interim Fire Chief of Fired District 3. “We got it under control pretty fast, air resources showed up, but we didn’t have to use them because our teams had it under control,” Durfee said. The fire only burned wildlands, no structures or injuries occurred according to Durfee. The teams continued to mop up the fire into Sunday night to ensure it wouldn't spread.

NEWS BITES: Aug. 20, 2024

MATTAWA — The Mattawa Police Department would like to remind citizens that there is a noise ordinance, according to a statement released Saturday. Mattawa Municipal Code Chapter 9.08 Noise Control provides a breakdown on what is and is not allowed within city limits. The statement breaks down some of the rules.  “It is unlawful for any person to cause, or for any person in possession of property to allow to originate from the property, sound that is a public disturbance noise,” the MPD wrote. Examples given of this are motor vehicle audio systems that can be heard from at least 50 feet from the source. Any sound from audio equipment, instruments, or similar devices that can be audible from 50 feet away. Violation of the noise ordinance can result in a civil infraction with mandatory minimum penalty.

Grant County officials address fair shooting

MOSES LAKE — On Aug. 19, the Grant County Commissioners and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office held a meeting to discuss the shooting Friday night at the fair. This was the first shooting to occur in the history of the Grant County Fair, according to Kyle Foreman, the GCSO public information officer. According to a statement issued Saturday by the GSCO, the incident began as a gang-related verbal argument between the suspect and members of a rival gang. The suspect, a 15-year-old from Wenatchee, drew a handgun and fired one round, striking a 16-year-old girl in the back and a 14-year-old girl in the leg. Jim McKiernan, Grant County Fair Director, said that the 14-year-old underwent surgery for a three-point repair of her femur. The 16-year-old girl's condition is stable, with no further updates.

Coulee-Hartline School District receives clean audit

COULEE CITY — In the most recent assessment audit conducted by the Office of the Washington State Auditor, Coulee-Hartline School District No. 151 was found to be in substantial compliance with applicable state laws, regulations, and its own policies. The audit, which covered the period from Sept. 1, 2022, to Aug. 31, 2023, did not uncover any issues that would indicate a lack of controls over the safeguarding of public resources. For the 2022-2023 school year, the district operated on a general fund revenue budget of about $4.4 million.

Dragon show

Reptile Isle takes the scary out of snakes, lizards and more

MOSES LAKE — It’s not every day a dragon visits the fair. “That’s exactly what they’re called, a black dragon,” said Don “the Reptile King” Riggs, Thursday. “One of only 250 in the world. We’re trying to increase those numbers; there were only four 11 years ago when we started working with them.” The dragon in question is a rare variety of Asian water monitor, and his name is Toothless, after a children’s book and subsequent movie titled “How to Train Your Dragon.” He was one of the animals that Reptile Isle, Riggs’ traveling show, brought to the Grant County Fair last week.

Serious silliness

Magician brings casual energy to fair

MOSES LAKE — Sometimes you just know early on that you want to spend your life doing card tricks. “I saw a show when I was 5, and I thought it was the coolest thing in the world,” magician Louie Foxx said. “I decided that was going to be my job.” Foxx was at the Grant County Fair last week doing three shows a day. He’s been to our fair a few times in the past, alternating years with the North Idaho State Fair in Coeur d’Alene, he said.

Legals for August, 20 2024

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Dateline wherever ...

If you’re reading this, you’ve seen a few datelines in your time. That city name at the beginning of a news article. Do you know what it means and why it’s put there, though?

Robert 'Ty' Ballinger

Oct. 24, 1932 — July 21, 2024

Robert “Ty” Ballinger was born in Ransom County, North Dakota on October 24, 1932. Ty passed from this world on July 21, 2024, at the age of 91 in Moses Lake, Washington where he had lived for 62 years.

Elena Freeman

1941 — 2024

Elena Freeman, 83, was born on February 15,1941, in Argentina to Nikita and Anastacia Koval. Elena accepted the Lord as her personal savior at a young age while listening to HCJB Christian radio. She loved and served the Lord from that day forward.

Merrill Spence

Nov. 19, 1924 — Aug. 18, 2024

Merrill Harold Spence, 99, passed at his home on August 18, 2024. A few years ago, Merrill composed the following obituary: Merrill was born on November 19, 1924, to Harold and Mary Spence in Seattle, Washington.

‘We just really want to keep kids in the arena’

Grant County Youth Equine Program returns for third year at the Grant Co. Fair

MOSES LAKE – For the Grant County Youth Equine Program, the Grant County Fair is just about the busiest time of the year. “Most of my kids do all the events,” said Becky Shay, founder and president of the GCYEP. “There’s some that don’t, it just depends on how their horse is feeling and how they are feeling.”