Events for February 2024

In February, love is in the air and spring is lurking somewhere around the corner. Here are a few things that are happening around the Basin this month.

Basin sports schedule Jan. 31-Feb. 6

COLUMBIA BASIN — Check out this week’s sports schedule, featuring local basketball, swim and dive and wrestling events. With district tournaments beginning later this week, check columbiabasinherald.com for schedule updates as teams progress through their brackets.

Knights win ninth straight game, improve to 15-5

ROYAL CITY — After starting the year with a 2-3 record and coming off an appearance at the Pro Image Sports Holiday Classic in Boise, Idaho, the Royal Knights have strung together wins in 12 of their last 14 games, including nine straight wins. “We were feeling really good, even though we started off 2-3,” Royal coach Greg Jenks said. “We played some pretty good teams, including a team that has the leading scorer in the nation, down in that Boise tournament. It was good to see something different and take a trip with basketball behind it. I think that helped the boys make that transition from fall sport to winter sport.” Royal’s last loss was a 79-55 home game against Zillah on Jan. 5, the state’s No. 1 team in 1A boys basketball according to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s Rating Percentage Index. Since that loss, there’s been a strong emphasis on rebounding, according to Jenks.

Constance Arlene (Nelson) Lindell

Oct. 2, 1926 – Jan. 27, 2024

Constance Arlene Lindell, 97, was born in Rathdrum, Idaho, on Oct. 2, 1926. She passed quietly on Jan. 27, 2024.

Norma Pittman

Sept. 14, 1949 — Jan. 22, 2024

Norma Pittman passed away at the age of 74 in Yakima, Washington after battling dementia for several years.

FRESH NEWS: Potholes Reservoir beginning to thaw

The current water level on Potholes Reservoir is 1,042.75 feet, coming up 0.7 feet this past week. We are 3.75 feet below full pool. While Potholes Reservoir is still frozen over, it is beginning to thaw around the edges and there may be a few open spots in the middle. This week’s forecast is looking good to continue the thaw. Highs will be in the mid- to upper 40s and lows around freezing. A good wind will help tremendously. No boat launches have open water and there are no reports of safe ice. Call the MarDon Resort tackle store for current conditions and fishing information at 509-346-2651.

James W. Johnson

Sept. 3, 1933 — Jan. 25, 2024

James W. Johnson, 90, was born Sept. 3, 1933, in Pollard, Ark. He passed Jan. 25, 2024. James was married to Phyllis Anne Johnson for 60 years and they had six children together. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. He was employed at Modern Agriculture Products for 36 years. He will be greatly missed by all.

Irvin Kent Howe

Jan. 11, 1945 — Jan. 25, 2024

Irvin Kent Howe was born to Ellen Alberdina Galloway Howe and Lawrence James Howe in Ontario, Oregon. He spent his first years in Ontario with his parents and older sister, Vivian Nadene Howe. Later on, his younger sister, Rita Howe, joined the family. When Irvin was four years old, he contracted polio, so he was taken to Boise, Idaho, and put into an iron lung. He also spent time at Shriner’s Hospital in Portland, Oregon, undergoing surgery to repair his leg. As a child, he mainly lived in Ontario and Madras, Oregon, as well as Eltopia and Blythe, Washington.

MLPD responding proactively to violent crime, chief says

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake has its share of issues with violent crime, but it’s dealing with those issues surprisingly well, Moses Lake Police Chief Dave Sands told the Moses Lake City Council last week in a special study session before the council’s regular meeting.

News Bites for Jan. 30, 2024

EPHRATA — An Ephrata man died Sunday night after a one-vehicle collision near Ephrata, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Funding research, educating public among jobs of potato commissions

KENNEWICK — Look at the pictures, and farming seems timeless: tractors and dramatic sunsets and all that. But like all other industries, farming is subject to change – and in the last half-century those changes have been big ones. Potato farmers, like farmers and growers in every other agriculture sector, have had to adapt and change with the times. There are visible signs of changing times. Rob Wagstaff’s family has operated a farm near Nyssa, Oregon for generations. Wagstaff, a member of the Oregon Potato Commission, keeps track of his acreage, and the map is dotted with the names of the people who used to farm that land. “We go to our acreage map, and we have about 53 that we have got from different people,” he said. “You’ve got 50 families that used to be there that aren’t there anymore.”

Staying sharp for four generations

Buck Knives continues to grow, evolve while honoring tradition

The first Buck knife was forged in 1902 and the rest of the Buck Knives legacy is history.

Legals for January, 30 2024

Warden School Board discusses ‘22-23 finances, end of federal relief funding

WARDEN — Thursday’s Warden School Board meeting at Warden High School featured a review and discussion of the 2022-23 school year’s finances and the upcoming end to Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding.

Grant PUD rates to go up 3%

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD customers will see an increase in their electrical rates beginning April 1. Utility district commissioners approved an overall 3% rate increase, averaged across all rate classes, on a 3-1-1 vote Jan. 23.

Moses Lake bests Eisenhower 59-23

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks defeated Eisenhower on Saturday 59-23, improving their overall record to 9-10. Head Coach Matt Strophy said he was very pleased with their performance throughout the game. The Mavericks held complete control of the first half, ending the second quarter with a score of 33-3. “We talked about setting the tone early and we did that,” Strophy said. “I think defensively we really were dialed in.”

Jacks host final regular season tournament

QUINCY — Nearly 30 eastern Washington teams gathered at Saturday’s Bring Home Da Beef girls wrestling tournament in Quincy, closing out the regular season as district tournaments rapidly approach. “Getting into January with all the tournaments, it’s just a grind,” Quincy Head Coach Mark Kondo said. “I think everybody was pretty relieved to get it done, and now we’re focusing on the postseason, which was our goal from the beginning of the year; to get better each day and be peaking at postseason time.” The Jacks placed sixth at their home tournament, scoring 116.5 team points and having seven wrestlers reach the podium; of the fellow local teams, Othello placed third (158 points), Ephrata took fifth (127 points), Royal placed seventh (107 points), Moses Lake finished eighth (98 points), Warden took ninth (85 points) and Wahluke placed 17th (48 points).

Framing starts new Samaritan Hospital

MOSES LAKE — The walls are rising at the site of the new Samaritan Hospital. The steel framing started going up about Jan. 19.

Nathan L. Jones

Nathan "Papa John" L. Jones has passed. Service will be held Feb. 3 at 11 a.m. at the Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, 1905 W. Basin Street with a viewing Feb. 2 from 5-7 p.m. at Pioneer Funeral Home Chapel, 14403 Road 2 NE, Moses Lake and on the morning of service at Galilee Church from 10-10:45 a.m.. Flowers may be sent to the church.

Potato Chip Challenge tests chip knowledge

Attendees have a bit of crispy fun at the Washington-Oregon Potato Conference.

KENNEWICK — Gustavo Garcia and Eric Toews took their time over the Potato Chip Challenge, thinking it over, going back for seconds just to be sure of their answers. Alas, it didn’t really help all that much.