W. Broadway accident snarls Moses Lake traffic

MOSES LAKE — A two-car accident at the intersection of W. Broadway and Dogwood in Downton Moses Lake left one person injured and snarled traffic for more than an hour, according to the Moses Lake Police Department. At around 11:45 a.m., MLPD Sgt. Juan Rodriguez said the accident happened when the driver of an eastbound Dodge Avenger swerved into the parking lane and hit a Dodge Durango parked along the eastbound side of W. Broadway, forcing the Durango to hit and topple a streetlight. “There were no injuries, though one person was transported as a precaution,” Rodriguez said...

Ephrata HS announces Athletic Hall of Fame inductees

EPHRATA — On April 22, The Ephrata School District announced that five individuals and one team were to be inducted to the Ephrata High School Athletic Hall of Fame for 2022. The inductees are Brandi (Evans) Faith, Troy Zerb, Greg Metcalf, Richard Mayer, Jacob Laird and the 1984 Girls Cross Country Team...

Legals for April, 26 2022

Scratching the surface of Atopic Dermatitis

For many people and pets, spring (aka “allergy season”) is a time of excessive sneezing, itching, and scratching. For some pets, however, their allergy season is never ending, lasting into summer, fall, and winter. Veterinary dermatologist Dr. Adam Patterson, a clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, discusses allergic skin disease and how to best relieve the itch for affected pets, which can include dogs, cats, horses, and other species...

Worth the trip: Used book sale at Mid-Columbia Libraries

KENNEWICK — The Friends of the Mid-Columbia Libraries is giving book lovers a chance at some bargains at the organization’s spring used book sale, continuing through May 1 at the Kennewick MCL branch, 1620 South Union St. Sale hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, according to a MCL press release. Sale items include CDs, DVDs and audiobooks on CD along with books. Debit and credit cards are accepted. Customers are encouraged to bring their own bags.

Commercial building code updates set to reduce carbon emissions

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Code Council, which oversees the state’s building regulations, voted 11–3 on Friday to adopt a new commercial and multi-family building energy code that will be the “most climate-friendly in the country,” according to a press release from Seattle-based renewable energy advocacy group Climate Solutions...

Basin Brief: Deadline for lodging tax grants extended

EPHRATA — Applications for the second round of grants from Grant County’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee will be accepted through 5 p.m. May 6. Grant County Commissioners announced an extension of the deadline Friday.

Grant Co. PUD reopens visitor centers

WANAPUM DAM — After being closed for more than two years, the Grant County PUD has reopened its Wanapum Dam visitor center and the Wanapum Heritage Center to the public. The Wanapum Dam visitor center is located at the PUD office at the dam located at 14352 Highway 243 near Beverly. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day from May 1 to Sept. 30...

Basin baseball weekend roundup

Ephrata takes Chelan 10-2

COLUMBIA BASIN — On April 21, the Ephrata High School Tigers traveled to Chelan where they took the game 10-2. Ephrata took an early lead of 3-0, before Chelan brought in two runs in the fourth inning. Both teams were scoreless in the fifth inning but the Tigers made quick work in the sixth inning to bring in two runs and hold Chelan from home plate. The seventh and final inning the Tigers brought in five runners and again held Chelan scoreless. The final score was 10-2, bringing the Tigers overall record to 15 - 3.

Used car shopping

Local dealers offer tips to ensure a satisfactory experience

MOSES LAKE — Eric Gutierrez knows a thing or two about selling used cars. He ought to. The 25-year-old Gutierrez, owner of Wenatchee-based Mega Auto Sales, which has just opened a lot at 1230 W. Broadway Avenue in Moses Lake, has been buying and selling used cars for nearly a decade...

Strange weather affects Potholes fishing

The current water level on Potholes Reservoir is 1041.75 feet, rising 1.35 feet over the past week – finally!

MLPD report shows ‘successful’ department, chief says

MOSES LAKE — In 2021, Moses Lake Police Department officers responded to 22,423 calls — 18,773 calls for service and 3,650 traffic stops, according to the MLPD’s 2021 annual report.

Warden SD updates procedures in response to audit findings

WARDEN — The Warden School District is reviewing changes to district accounting and contract procedures following the results of a state audit released in August 2021.

Powerball at about $400M

OLYMPIA — With no matching winning numbers following Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing, the Powerball jackpot has reached roughly $400 million — the biggest jackpot since January, according to Washington’s Lottery. The next Powerball drawing is set for Saturday, April 23, at 7:59 p.m., with Powerball tickets on sale until 6:45 p.m. the day of the drawing. The Powerball drawing has not been won since Jan. 5, when the prize was $632 million. Tickets are $2 each, and can be purchased at locations across the state. To play, players pick five numbers between one and 69 and one final Powerball number between one and 26, or they may use Quick Pick and let the computer pick their playing numbers. Established in 1982, Washington’s Lottery has generated over $4.5 billion in support for college scholarships and early childhood education and assistance programs, according to a state lottery press release.

One arrested after initially escaping law enforcement

GEORGE — Oregon State Police have arrested a George-area man on Thursday who was wanted in connection with an assault on two Grant County Sheriff’s deputies earlier this week as well as for failing to register as a sex offender. Javier Nunez, 33, was the subject of an intense, six-hour-long search on Wednesday by GCSO deputies as well as members of the Moses Lake Regional Tactical Response Team and the Kittitas County Regional Tactical Response Team at a residence near S.R. 283 and Road 2 NW, according to GCSO Spokesperson Kyle Foreman...

Cougars track team set for first home meet of the outdoor season

PULLMAN — The Washington State men's and women's track and field teams will compete for the first time at the Mooberry Track and Field Complex since 2018, as the Cougars take on the University of Washington in the WSU-UW Dual Friday, April 22, as part of the Boeing Apple Cup Series...

Internet outages pepper Grant and Douglas counties Wednesday

COLUMBIA BASIN — A Douglas County Public Utility District work crew accidentally cut a fiber optic line feeding into Grant County on Wednesday, causing problems for Internet and cell phone service for some customers across Grant County. “A main fiber line that feeds into Grant County was cut in Douglas County,” wrote Grant County Public Utility District Ryan Holterhoff in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald. “Douglas County PUD’s fiber crews are on-site actively working to repair the issue.” “They will need to fix the conduit and pull and splice new fiber to restore service,” Holterhoff added. Holterhoff said the work should be completed and full Internet and cell phone service restored by 1 a.m. Thursday. The outages were patchy and sporadic, Holterhoff said, affecting some service providers but not others, and some areas of Grant County and not others.

Columbia Basin sports schedule April 20-26

Wednesday April 20 2:30 p.m./4:30 p.m. Moses Lake fastpitch doubleheader vs Lake City at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 4 p.m. ACH baseball vs Columbia (Hunters) at Hunters Thursday April 21 3 p.m./5 p.m. Quincy baseball doubleheader vs Cashmere at Quincy 3 p.m./5 p.m. Quincy fastpitch doubleheader vs Cashmere at Quincy 3 p.m./5 p.m. Ephrata fastpitch doubleheader vs Prosser at Prosser 3:30 p.m. Ephrata boys and girls track at Selah 3:30 p.m. Othello boys and girls track at Grandview 3:30 p.m. Royal, Wahluke boys and girls track at Zillah 3:30 p.m. Moses Lake boys and girls track at West Valley (Yakima) 4 p.m. Wahluke soccer vs La Salle at Wahluke 4 p.m. MLCA baseball vs Riverside Christian at Yakima 4:30 p.m. Soap Lake fastpitch vs Pateros at Pateros 4:30 p.m. Ephrata baseball vs Chelan at Chelan 5 p.m. Ephrata Unified soccer vs Wenatchee at Ephrata 5 p.m. Moses Lake Unified soccer vs Quincy at Moses Lake 6 p.m. Ephrata soccer vs Grandview at Ephrata 6 p.m. Othello Unified soccer vs Eastmont at Othello Friday April 22 3 p.m./5 p.m. Royal fastpitch doubleheader vs Naches Valley at Royal 3 p.m./5 p.m. Royal baseball doubleheader vs Naches Valley at Royal 4 p.m./6 p.m. Moses Lake baseball doubleheader vs Wenatchee at Moses Lake 4 p.m./6 p.m. Moses Lake fastpitch doubleheader vs Wenatchee at Wenatchee 6 p.m. Royal soccer vs Warden at Royal 7 p.m. Moses Lake soccer vs Davis at Moses Lake 7:30 p.m. Quincy soccer vs Kamiak at Mukilteo Saturday April 23 10 a.m. Moses Lake, Othello boys and girls track at Prosser 10:30 a.m. Quincy, Ephrata, Othello, Royal, ACH, Wahluke boys and girls track at Quincy 11 a.m. Royal soccer vs Kiona Benton at Royal 11 a.m./12:30 p.m. MLCA baseball doubleheader vs Riverside Christian at Moses Lake 11 a.m./1 p.m. Soap Lake fastpitch doubleheader vs Lake Roosevelt at Grand Coulee 11 a.m. Othello fastpitch vs Moses Lake at Moses Lake 11 a.m./1 p.m. Othello baseball doubleheader vs Brewster at Brewster 11 a.m./1 p.m. Wahluke fastpitch doubleheader vs Kiona Benton at Kiona Benton 11 a.m./1 p.m. Wahluke baseball doubleheader vs Kiona Benton at Kiona Benton 11 a.m./1 p.m. Ephrata baseball doubleheader vs Prosser at Prosser 11 a.m./1 p.m. Warden baseball doubleheader vs Columbia (Burbank) at Warden 11 a.m./1 p.m. Warden fastpitch doubleheader vs Columbia (Burbank) at Warden 12 p.m. Ephrata Soccer vs Cashmere at Ephrata 12 p.m. Othello soccer vs East Valley (Yakima) at Othello 12:30 p.m. Othello fastpitch vs Marysville-Pilchuck at Moses Lake 2 p.m. Moses Lake fastpitch vs Marysville-Pilchuck at Moses Lake 3 p.m. Quincy soccer vs Glacier Peak at Snohomish 3 p.m./5 p.m. ACH baseball doubleheader vs Odessa at Odessa Monday April 25 3:30 p.m./5:30 p.m. Ephrata fastpitch doubleheader vs Grandview at Ephrata Tuesday April 26 2 p.m./4 p.m. ACH baseball doubleheader vs Mary Walker (Springdale) at Hartline 2 p.m./4 p.m. ACH fastpitch doubleheader vs Mary Walker (Springdale) at Hartline 3 p.m./5 p.m. Warden baseball doubleheader vs Walla Walla Valley Academy at Warden 4 p.m./5:30 p.m. Quincy fastpitch doubleheader vs Okanogan at Okanogan 4 p.m. Royal soccer vs Mabton at Mabton 4 p.m. Wahluke baseball vs Grandview at Grandview 4:30 p.m. Quincy baseball vs Okanogan at Quincy 4:30 p.m. MLCA baseball vs Bridgeport at Moses Lake 4:30 p.m. Soap Lake fastpitch vs Waterville-Mansfield at Waterville 5 p.m. Moses Lake baseball vs West Valley (Yakima) at Moses Lake 6 p.m. Quincy soccer vs Omak at Quincy 6 p.m. Ephrata soccer vs Othello at Ephrata 6 p.m. Wahluke soccer vs Kiona Benton at Wahluke 6 p.m. Othello fastpitch vs Eisenhower at Eisenhower SOURCES: Information above was obtained from the respective school district’s published sports schedules and consolidated here. Schedules are subject to change at the discretion of event organizers.

Tire disposal event scheduled

QUINCY — Grant County residents can dispose of old tires for free in Quincy, April 22-23. The event allows Grant County residents to dispose of passenger or light truck tires for free. Tires must be 35 inches or less, with or without rims but rims alone will not be accepted...

WA unemployment falls, local rate above average

OLYMPIA — While Washington state’s unemployment rate continues to fall, it’s still higher than the nation as a whole, according to data published Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Washington State Employment Security Department...