Columbia Basin Events for Feb. 14-22

COLUMBIA BASIN — Live music, theater, art and family fun await those who are willing to venture out this week. Here are a few possibilities around the Basin:

Home market moving, but affordability still iffy

MOSES LAKE — The housing market is moving faster than a year ago in Washington, but affordability is still up in the air, according to data released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service for January. Active listings increased 44.6% between January 2024 and January 2025 in the 26 Washington counties covered by the NWMLS data. Grant County had one of the largest rates of increase in the state at 48.8%, but Adams County, with its much smaller population, dipped very slightly.

NEWS BITES: Feb. 14, 2025

NEWS BITES: Feb. 14, 2025

Voters rejecting Wahluke capital levy request in early results

MATTAWA — Wahluke School District voters are saying no to a proposal that would help pay the balance of a loan taken out for improvements at Mattawa Elementary School and pay for upgrades to fire and security alarm systems in four district buildings. “I guess it means we have to weigh staffing against these capital upgrades, and how much more can we cut?” said Wahluke Superintendent Andy Harlow.

Moses Lake Air Show to move to different dates for 2025

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Air Show will move to a new weekend in 2025 and change back to a Friday-Saturday show. Rich Mueller of the air show’s board of directors (and the airport director for the Port of Moses Lake) reviewed the 2024 event and talked about some of the changes coming for 2025. He spoke during the regular port commission meeting Monday morning.

GALLERY: A day at the Spokane Ag Show

SPOKANE – Thursday was FFA Day at the Spokane Ag Show, and students from all over Eastern Washington came to check out the exhibits, attend a career expo and hear a presentation by podcaster and TV personality Rob Sharkey, better known as the Sharkfarmer.

Regional college sports schedule for Feb. 7-13

MOSES LAKE – Check out this week’s college sports schedule, complete with baseball, basketball, softball, tennis and track and field events for Big Bend, Central Washington, Eastern Washington, Gonzaga and Washington State.

FIRST RESPONDER FOCUS: Married firefighters save lives together

SOAP LAKE — Lots of couples have a special activity that they share. Some garden together, some do home improvement projects, some do charity or church work. And some, like CW and Emily Forrest, save lives together. “There'll be times at night where she'll have to take off and go to the call and I'll stay with the kids,” said CW Forrest, a firefighter with Grant County Fire District 7. “Or Grandma. My … mom lives with us, so sometimes we'll both be able to go on calls.”

Ephrata Rec Center, City Hall receive HVAC upgrades

EPHRATA — Upgrades to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning at the Ephrata Recreation Center are now complete. “The Ephrata Rec is one of our oldest buildings in the city and (upgrading it) is really impressive to get done,” Ephrata Mayor Bruce Reim said. “We're really happy with it, and it'll improve our environmental concerns over there. It'll also be a better environment for visitors and renters.”

'I learned to fly before I learned to drive'

Moses Lake's Betty Warnick stays busy at 100

MOSES LAKE — Betty Warnick, who turned 100 in January, has never been one to sit still, whether it was taking off cross-country for a new job or taking a plane up in the air. “I learned to fly before I learned to drive,” she said.

BASIN SENIOR EVENTS for Feb. 2025

COLUMBIA BASIN — There are plenty of opportunities to stay active in the Basin this month. Here are a few possibilities:

CWU honor rolls include 101 Basin students

ELLENSBURG — More than 100 Central Washington University Wildcats from the Columbia Basin were named to the honor roll for fall quarter 2024, according to an announcement from the university. To qualify, a student must complete a minimum of 12 credits with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

Moses Lake museum to showcase preschool artists

MOSES LAKE — The 200-plus artists whose work will go up this week at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center draw their inspiration from many giants in the field: Picasso, Mondrian, Kahlo. What they have in common is that they’re all 3-5 years old.

Legals for February, 3 2025

Cupid’s Market coming Feb. 8

MOSES LAKE — Love, as well as a whole lot of crafts and food, will be in the air Feb. 8 at the Moses Lake Farmers Market’s Cupid’s Market. “I have 68 stalls and they’re full, with two vendors outside,” said Market Manager Chris Haguewood.

Basin events for Feb. 2025

COLUMBIA BASIN — Crafts, music and a whole lot of Valentine’s Day events are in store this month in the Basin. Here are a few things to check out:

Building Permits for Jan. 31, 2025

Building Permits for Jan. 31, 2025

Two major power outages in Grant County

MARDON — On both Wednesday and Thursday, Grant Public Utility District had large-scale power outages. A major outage affects more than 50 customers, according to the PUD.

Garnet Belle Wilson

1938 – 2025

My mother, Garnet Belle (Ritchie) Wilson, born on Friday January 14, 1938, in Calloway, Nebraska, passed away peacefully at her home in Moses Lake, Washington, on Friday, January 10, 2025, just four days shy of her 87th birthday.

Welding mishap causes Simplot fire

MOSES LAKE – Grant County Fire District 5 and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office responded to a fire at the new Simplot freezer facility in the 2100 block of Road O Northeast at around noon Monday.