Building their way to nationals

Ephrata’s Parkway Pizzazz heading to national LEGO robotics championship

EPHRATA – Ten sixth-grade Parkway Intermediate students, two advisors and a Lego robot named Jeff will travel to New Jersey this week for the national Lego Robotics championship. For a handful of the students this is their first time on a plane, for others their first time on the east coast. For all of them, it will be their first time competing in the national Lego championship. “It was a really good experience working together because we all got to work as a team together. We do have some coders that code and people who worked on the innovation project, but we all share what we learned throughout the day,” Liliana Zaets said. “It was a really good experience because we learned a lot of things.” The Parkway Pizzazz team competed in state Jan. 18 and won the “Breakthrough” award at state competition. The award entered them into a lottery to compete at nationals. The group was selected from the lottery and now they are on their way to the American Robotics Open Competiton in New Jersey.

Wilson Creek gearing up to jam

WILSON CREEK — It’s time to rosin the bows, tune up the banjos and dust off the mandolin strings for the third annual Wilson Creek Bluegrass Jam. “It’s a laid-back jam,” said organizer Shirley Billings. “Anybody’s welcome to come, no matter what talent level they are. If they’re just starting out or if they’re great, or even if you just like music and want to just hang out.” Like last year, the Bluegrass Jam will be the second weekend in June, Friday the 13th through Sunday the 15th. The event draws local bluegrass players from all over the area, most of them devoted amateurs who love the genre.

Grant Co. Fairgrounds preparing for busy season

90 days until the Grant County Fair opens with food, competitions and carnival attractions

MOSES LAKE — The days are getting warmer and with the Grant County Fair just around the corner, the fairgrounds team is ramping up its preparations. Fairgrounds Director Jim McKiernan announced upgrades to the facility aimed at enhancing safety and overall visitor experience, while simultaneously addressing a crucial staffing shortage for seasonal positions. The legislature decided to table some bills that could have had impacts on the fairgrounds.

MLSD to host gang town hall today

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District will host a town hall today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Learning Services Center, focusing on youth gang awareness and prevention. This event seeks to engage families, educators and community members in a dialogue about the challenges that gang activity presents in the local area.

Blue Jays 3-for-3 in weekend series against Mariners

SEATTLE (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays took home a perfect series of wins over the weekend against the Mariners, with the Jays starting off with a 6-3 win in the Mariners’ home stadium Friday night, with Addison Barger tapping three doubles in the first match of the three-game weekend series.

Lake water improvement may not affect housing

MOSES LAKE — Owners of homes along the shore of Moses Lake may see an improvement in the view from their docks after treatment the water received last summer.

Ephrata passes 6-year transpo plan

EPHRATA – The Ephrata City Council passed its six-year transportation improvement program for 2026 through 2031 unanimously Wednesday night during the council’s regular meeting. “This is a plan for our roads, this is kind of a wish list,” Public Works Director Rob Harris said.

Five fantasy series for ages 12 and up

When I first started fourth grade, I despised reading. Now, that very thought sounds like sacrilege and I’ve gone on amazing adventures all through the pages of books. Not only do I have fond memories of reading particular books, but I grew as both a person and a writer as a result. Generally, fantasy and science fiction have been my favorite genres, though poetry and the occasional biography have drawn me in.

ROAD REPORT: Westshore Dr. and Othello roundabout updates

MOSES LAKE — The rebuilding of a 2.1-mile section of Westshore Drive west of Moses Lake has reached the sidewalk stage.

Bigger every year

Moses Lake Spring Fest to dominate Memorial Day weekend

MOSES LAKE — The biggest celebration in Moses Lake’s calendar just keeps getting bigger. Tens of thousands came to McCosh Park for Spring Fest last year. The 3-on-3 basketball tournament fielded 121 teams and there were 472 people at the fun run, said Spring Fest Committee Member Lori Valdez. “The car show had over 200 cars, and they ran out of room,” Valdez said. “They had to turn cars away.”

LAW ENFORCEMENT LOGS: May 9, 2025

The reports below were provided by the sheriff's office or police department indicated. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Robert Prevost of the United States is named Pope Leo XIV

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Cardinal Robert Prevost has taken the name Leo XIV. The Chicago-born missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and took over the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops was elected the first pope from the United States in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

Arts celebration

Nautical-themed CBAA fundraiser weathers a squall and sails on

MOSES LAKE — Mother Nature dealt the Columbia Basin Allied Arts kind of a bum hand Saturday, but the organizers of the fundraiser rode it out with aplomb.

First responders to face off at Guns & Hoses softball game Saturday

QUINCY — The reputations of Quincy’s first responders will be on the line Saturday at the community’s first Guns & Hoses softball game.

Mariners drop As in Tuesday and Wednesday games

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Mariners took down the Athletics twice in the past two days on the road with a pinch-hit single in the ninth inning leading to a 5-3 win Tuesday for the Washington team and a comeback from a five-run deficit giving them a 6-5 lead at the end of Wednesday’s match.

Othello receives $1 million capital budget allocation for water reuse facility

OTHELLO — The city of Othello will receive about $1 million from the Washington Senate capital budget for a long-running project for water aquifer storage and recharge.

New water main connection will have two roads down to one lane in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE – Today from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Moses Lake, Pegram Construction will be closing the two westbound lanes of Valley Road between Sunburst Court Northeast and Grape Drive Northeast to add a new water main connection.

MLPD uncovers large rooster fighting operation during drug search

MOSES LAKE – On May 1, the Moses Lake Street Crimes Unit, with assistance from the Moses Lake Tactical Response Team, executed a search warrant at 10032 Rd N.4 NE in Moses Lake. The operation, initially focused on methamphetamine sales and illegal firearm possession, unearthed an extensive illegal rooster fighting operation on the premises, according to MLPD.

‘The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered’ updates a beloved classic

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Bethesda Game Studios recently released “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered,” according to an announcement from the company. “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered” is the result of a collaboration between Bethesda Game Studios and their partners at Virtuos, according to the announcement. This allowed Oblivion Remastered to remain faithful to the original vision, while giving it a visual overhaul and some modern refinements.

MLSD’s Sandhop named AD of the Year

Local athletics manager looks back on 25 years with the school district

MOSES LAKE – The Washington Secondary School Athletic Administrators Association named Moses Lake High School’s Athletic Director Loren Sandhop as the 2024-25 Washington State Athletic Director of the Year. “It’s a great honor not only for me but for our community, it symbolizes a lot of people’s hard work,” said Sandhop.