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...

Area libraries offering Ohme Gardens and museum passes

WENATCHEE — Residents of the North Central Washington Libraries District now can check out passes to the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center and Ohme Gardens in Wenatchee through the NWCL system...

Othello SD asking for input on in-district boundaries

OTHELLO — Othello School District residents will get the chance to give their opinions on revised boundaries for school director districts during a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the district office, 1025 South 4th St. District officials are required to review Othello School Board member districts every 10 years, after the federal census. By state law school director districts must have about the same number of residents in each district. The OSD has four director districts, with one at-large seat. The at-large board member can live anywhere in the district, but people who represent a district must live within that district. Mike Garza is the current at-large board member. The changes to director districts would not affect the elementary school boundaries, according to a district press release.

Prom dress giveaway scheduled for this weekend

WENATCHEE — The Women’s Service League of North Central Washington will hold the club’s annual Prom Dress Giveaway from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Wenatchee High School, 1101 Millerdale Ave. The giveaway is sponsored by the Peoples Bank. Club members have collected more than 1,000 prom dresses, both new and used, to be given away, according to a WSL press release. Girls must show current high school identification to participate. Shoes and jewelry will be available as well. The last giveaway was in 2019 and drew about 315 young ladies from throughout north central Washington, from Brewster and Omak to Quincy, according to the press release. People who want to donate prom dresses, shoes or jewelry can drop them off at the Wenatchee Banner Bank branch, 501 North Mission St.

Police reports for April 20, 2022

EPD, OPD, MLPD, jail

‘Seatbelt Convincer’ comes to Soap Lake

Education efforts hoped to reduce the rise in unbelted driving

SOAP LAKE — When it comes to traffic collisions, certain rules of physics apply. “We all know here (that) in a traffic crash, the more you move, the more you will be injured,” said Alison Mitchell, Region 15 manager for the Washington Traffic Safety Commission’s Target Zero program...

Columbia Basin sports scores for April 11-18

Columbia Basin sports scores for April 11-18...

Tire collection scheduled for Grant County residents

QUINCY — Grant County residents who have passenger car or small truck tires hanging around will have a chance to dispose of them Friday and Saturday. A tire collection event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days at Grant County Road District Shop 3, 4718 Road P NW, Quincy. Passenger car and light truck tires measuring 38 inches or less will be accepted, with or without rims. Rims alone will not be accepted, according to information from Grant County Public Works. No commercial tires will be accepted. There’s a 12-tire maximum...

Federal funding set aside for wildfire management

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Forest Service on Monday announced $31 million for landscape improvement and forestry health projects across the United States, including roughly $4.4 million in Washington...

Friday morning fire destroys shed, chicken coop

MOSES LAKE — A Friday morning fire in the backyard of a residence destroyed a shed containing a chicken coop but caused no injuries and only slight damage to permanent structures, according to Moses Lake Fire Department Deputy Chief Pete Kunjara. The fire in the 300 block of W. Loop Drive was reported at about 8:40 a.m., Kunjara said, and city fire crews responded quickly, dousing the fire by 9 a.m. “When we got there, the shed was fully involved,” Kunjara said. “Our crew did a very good job on it.” Kunjara said no one was at home at the time, and the MLFD had been unable to contact the residents yet. Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at [email protected]

Man Injured in I-90 Rollover Near Ritzville

RITZVILLE — An Enumclaw man was injured after being thrown from his vehicle on Tuesday, April 12, when the truck he was driving rolled over on westbound I-90 about five miles west of Ritzville, according to the Washington State Patrol. William Winstead, 58, was traveling west...

As war in Ukraine threatens global wheat supply, Washington farmers 'pray for rain' and good harvest

WASHINGTON — Russia's invasion of Ukraine has sent global food prices soaring, but Washington wheat farmers like Marci Green aren't celebrating. Green, a sixth-generation farmer who grows wheat outside Fairfield, is concerned rising costs of supplies like fuel and fertilizer will whittling away at this year's profits even after wheat prices hit a record high in March. She's also worried about the threat of a global food crisis as the war threatens to cut the supply of wheat and other crops from Ukraine and Russia...

Forum set for Quincy SD assistant superintendent candidates

QUINCY — Quincy School District patrons will have the chance to talk to the finalists for the assistant superintendent’s job during a community forum from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Quincy High School library, 403 Jackrabbit St. NE. The finalists are David Garza, director of student support services for the Wahluke School District; Jeff Dillon, superintendent of the Wilder School District in Wilder, Idaho; Teresa Rensch, director of curriculum and instruction for the Konocti Unified School District in Lower Lake, California and John Parker, director of innovation and educational technology at the Colegio Nueva Granada in Bogota, Columbia. Participants will have the chance to submit written reactions to the candidates for consideration as part of the selection process. The new assistant superintendent will replace Nik Bergman, who was selected as the district’s superintendent in February.

The ins and outs of pet feeding tubes

In certain cases, because a lack of nutrition can lead to serious health complications, veterinarians can suggest using a feeding tube until the pet begins to eat on its own again.

California man dies in collision near Ritzville

RITZVILLE — A Eureka, California man died when his car traveled over an embankment and landed on a road under Interstate 90 about eight miles east of Ritzville Wednesday afternoon, according to an announcement from the Washington State Patrol. Thomas Hosford, 73, was driving westbound on I-90 about 3:15 p.m. when his car entered the median for an unknown reason, the announcement said. Hosford’s car vaulted off an embankment and landed on Hills Road where the road crosses under the freeway, the memo said. The collision is still under investigation.

Chinook salmon fishing rules change on Snake River

OLYMPIA — The spring Chinook salmon fishing season will open in early May with some restrictions along the Snake River, according to a press release from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Starting May 3, the area below Little Goose Dam...

Cold weather means tough fishing at Potholes

The current water level on Potholes Reservoir is 1040.4 feet, dropping 0.35 feet over the past week.

Basin students make Spokane CC honor roll

SPOKANE - Spokane Community College released its winter quarter honor roll list on April 14. Ten students from the Columbia Basin were recognized by the campus for academic excellence. SCC listed 1,986 students on its honor roll for the 2022 winter quarter, which ended in March. The honor roll lists those students who achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or above, according to the release...

Basin Brief: Quincy to sponsor spring cleanup day

QUINCY — Quincy residents will have the chance to get rid of some of that stuff that’s accumulated around the place during the annual Spring Cleanup Day, scheduled ffrom 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 23 according to an announcement from the city...

Boys and Girls Club holds virtual egg hunt

MOSES LAKE — The weather may have turned wonky for Easter weekend, but that won’t stop the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin from having their Easter egg hunt, according to an announcement by Rich Comeaux of Moses Lake. That’s because the whole event is virtual. Participants can start the hunt by going to https://satellitestreet.com/bngclub, which leads to a virtual tour of the club’s McGraw Clubhouse on Paxson Drive in Moses Lake. There they can navigate the classrooms, halls and grounds of the clubhouse and find little hidden eggs. Clicking on an egg will reveal a piece of a 21-letter password. Once the password has been unraveled, the victorious egg seeker can enter it at https://satellitestreet.com/bng-photos to see some photos taken by club members. Comeaux created the hunt as a way of showcasing the work the Boys and Girls Club ids doing in the community, the announcement said. Check out our Friday Lifestyle section (Page B2) for more Easter events for the family.