Deadline to apply for Wolf Advisory Group extended

OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has extended the deadline for members of the public interested in applying to serve on the citizen committee that advises WDFW’s Director on wolf conservation and management until June 13, according to a release by the WDFW...

Erratics to host program on kayaking the Columbia

WENATCHEE — The Wenatchee Valley Erratics of the Ice Age Floods Institute will host a Zoom program June 14 at 7 p.m. entitled “Kayaking down the Columbia River: Evidence of the Missoula Flood from the Perspective of the River,” presented by Bill Burgel, according to a press release from the Erratics.

Operation Teddy Bear Lift to aid children in Ukraine

SEATTLE - Warm 106.9 and Ukraine Association of Washington State, or UAWS, have teamed up for Operation Teddy Bear Lift, a campaign to send over 10,000 teddy bears to children affected by the war in Ukraine, a release stated.

Legals for June, 7 2022

Kershaw to lay off 125 in Yakima

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Employment Security announced Monday that Kershaw Fruit and Cold Storage is laying off 125 employees at its Yakima facility beginning June 10. In a notification issued under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act - also known as WARN - ESD’s website said notification of the impending layoffs was made on Monday, and that the layoffs are permanent. Under federal law, companies are generally required to give 60 days of notice prior to mass layoffs or plant closings that will require the dismissal of more than 50 employees. However, the same law states that companies are exempt from the 60-day notice requirement if they are facing financial difficulties or dealing with a natural disaster. ESD did not provide any details on what prompted the layoffs.

Ephrata schools sponsor free meals for children

EPHRATA - In a press release on June 6, the Ephrata School District announced that they will provide free meals for children 18 and under throughout the summer...

Erratics to host program on kayaking the Columbia

WENATCHEE — The Wenatchee Valley Erratics of the Ice Age Floods Institute will host a Zoom program June 14 at 7 p.m. entitled “Kayaking down the Columbia River: Evidence of the Missoula Flood from the Perspective of the River,” presented by Bill Burgel, according to a press release from the Erratics. The Columbia River was the pathway for many of the Ice Age floods that occurred repeatedly between 18,000 and 15,000 years ago. This hour-long presentation will show evidence of the power of these floodwaters at various points along the Columbia River, between the Grand Coulee Dam to the mouth of the Willamette River in Portland. The author has kayaked nearly the entire length of this stretch of the river taking hundreds of photos as he drifted along downstream. To join the program, go to https://bit.ly/3xoGG5t. The webinar ID is 84812873290, and the passcode is “erratics” (without quotation marks). For more information, contact chapter president Brent Cunderla at [email protected] or (509) 860-6067.

Former Cougar Ryan Leaf added to college HoF ballot

IRVING, TEXAS - Former Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf was among 80 ex-players from the Football Bowl Subdivision Selected for the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame induction ballot, the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame announced on Monday...

Social media threat causes modified lockdowns at four Othello schools Monday morning

OTHELLO — Four Othello schools were placed on a modified lockdown Monday morning after a social media message allegedly threatened McFarland Middle School. Othello School District officials instituted a modified lockdown at McFarland, Othello High School, Desert Oasis High School and Lutacaga Elementary. In a modified lockdown students and teachers stay in the classroom while classes keep going, and all doors are locked and monitored. “A high school kid made a social media threat,” said Othello Police Chief Phil Schenck...

CWU Dining Services garners award for Fresh Bar

ELLENSBURG — Central Washington University Dining Services recently earned a Loyal E. Horton Dining Award for its Fresh Bar concept, according to a press release from the company...

Aerobatic pilots coming to Ephrata

EPHRATA - Chapter 67 of the International Aerobatic Club, or IAC, will be conducting its Apple Cup Contest at Ephrata Municipal Airport on June 10-11. A press release by the International Aerobatic Club Ch. 67 states IAC pilots compete at different aerobatic skill levels. Some of the best aerobatic pilots in the nation will be flying their airplanes in loops, rolls, dives, stalls and turns. Each flight is thoroughly planned to ensure the highest levels of safety while testing the abilities of both pilot and airplane. The contest is free to the public to observe and starts at 9 a.m. each day. The airport is located at 1990 E. Division Ave.

Summer meal program set to begin

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction will offer its summer meal program again this year, according to a press release from the agency. The annual Summer Food Service Program provides children in lower-income areas with nutritious meals during the summer...

Masquers Theater presents thriller-comedy

SOAP LAKE — The curtain goes up Friday on a classic thriller rebooted to a comedy at the Masquers Theater, 322 Main Ave. E. in Soap Lake.

Parks Service announces Mt. Rainier open attractions

ASHFORD — Officials with the National Park Service announced on Monday said some portions of Mt. Rainier National Park remain closed and asked visitors to check before coming to the park to check the status of the roads, hours of operation and even the NPS’s webcams to get a sense of the current conditions at the park.

Grappling with Giardia

Tips for avoiding infection in pets

When pet owners think about protecting their animal from parasites, the first creepy creatures that come to mind are often fleas, ticks, and heartworms. But one less well-known parasite to watch out for is Giardia, which has strains that infect dogs, cats, and even people. Dr. Meriam Saleh, a clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, offers advice for protecting pets from this protozoan parasite. Giardia infections can cause diarrhea, gas, abdominal discomfort, nausea, and vomiting...

Operation Teddy Bear Lift to aid children in Ukraine

SEATTLE - Warm 106.9 and the Ukraine Association of Washington State, or UAWS, have teamed up for Operation Teddy Bear Lift, a campaign to send over 10,000 teddy bears to children affected by the war in Ukraine, a UAWS press release stated. The release said in addition to Operation Teddy Bear Lift, Warm 106.9 and its promotional partners will be raising monetary donations for UAWS. Donations will be directed to www.uaws.org and will go toward purchasing neonatal incubators to replace those from destroyed medical facilities.

Health insurance providers request rate increases

OLYMPIA — Fourteen of the state’s major health insurance providers are asking Washington state regulators to approve an average 7.16% increase in health insurance premiums in Washington for 2023, according to a press release from the Washington state Office of the Insurance Commissioner...

Library reading program announced

WENATCHEE — Registration opens June 13 for the summer reading program sponsored by North Central Washington Libraries. The NCWL system includes all community libraries in Grant County. “Read Beyond the Beaten Path” is the theme for 2022. “Summer Library Program is designed to encourage reading among people of all ages, decrease summer learning loss for students (and) engage the community,” NCWL public relations specialist Michelle McNeil wrote in a press release. A variety of activities are planned at individual libraries as well as system-wide special programs, some of them online. Participants earn rewards for reading and completing activities, and will be eligible for prize drawings at the end of the summer.

Basin youth participate in sports

COLUMBIA BASIN - Youth throughout the Basin compete in athletic events both in and out of school. Here are a few highlights with photos submitted by community members. If you have a photo of a sporting event in the area that you'd like to submit for publication, please email our sports reporter, Ian Bivona, at [email protected]. Please include the names of those pictured in the photo as well as a description of the event and the results for those pictured.

Social media post leads to arrest

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Police officers arrested a 17-year-old gang member and convicted felon after the youth posted a video of himself on social media with a pistol.