Festive Ephrata

City, chamber kick off the holidays with Bells on Basin

EPHRATA – The holidays are officially in full swing in Ephrata after Saturday’s Bells on Basin celebration The Ephrata Chamber of Commerce hosted the event which was capped off with a bit of snowfall.

Soap Lake resort showcases recent updates

SOAP LAKE – The Soap Lake Natural Spa & Resort recently added several new additions to its facilities, including new spa and heat therapy devices, renovated rooms and more activities, said the resort’s owner Sherry Xiao. A first wave of additions and renovations began last year, with additions to the resort’s spa capabilities, she said

Legals for December, 14 2023

Ephrata schools defeasing bonds due to inflation

EPHRATA – The Ephrata School District is moving forward with the process to defease a nearly $28 million bond approved by voters in 2019, said Superintendent Tim Payne in a Monday morning interview. “Where we’re at in the process is the board had a hearing,” Payne said. “You have sort of changed the bond away from its intended purpose, (so) you have to go through the same process (as the initial approval) whether you’re defeasing or you’re gonna say, ‘Gosh, we couldn’t build that building now.’”

Fuhr named Person of the Year, council approves increased sales tax

MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake City Manager Kevin Fuhr was named Person of the Year by the Moses Lake Community Coalition at Tuesday’s regular city council meeting, during which the council also approved a 0.001% increase to sales tax within city limits. Coalition Vice Chair Matt Paluch introduced the award.

A vehicle for learning: CB Tech gets fire engine for fire science class courtesy of MLFD

MOSES LAKE — There’s a tradition in the fire service when a new piece of apparatus is added to the fleet, and students at Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center followed that tradition Wednesday morning.

Mavs boys take advantage of turnovers

MOSES LAKE – The Mavericks were able to capitalize off of numerous Pasco turnovers in Tuesday’s 69-25 win over the Bulldogs, playing well in transition while locking down on defense in the second half.

RIS bazaar showcases crafts from students and others

ROYAL CITY — Earrings, slime, T-shirts and tamales were just a few of the things on offer at the holiday bazaar at Royal Intermediate School Wednesday.

Basin sports schedule Dec. 13-19

COLUMBIA BASIN – Check out this week’s sports schedule, featuring local basketball, swim and dive and wrestling events.

Legals for December, 13 2023

Soap Lake receives $2.15M streets grant

SOAP LAKE — The city of Soap Lake will be doing some work on its streets in 2024 with the help of a $2.15 million grant from the Washington Transportation Improvement Board.

Mattawa considers new NCW Libraries contract

MATTAWA – The Mattawa City Council and NCW Libraries Executive Director Barbara Walters, attending via video conference, discussed renewing the city’s contract with NCW Libraries for the Mattawa Public Library during Thursday evening’s regular meeting.

Grant PUD approves interim rate-setting resolution

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners have approved a new resolution on rate setting policy, which Commissioner Larry Schaapman said was a temporary fix while commissioners revisit the way rates are established.

ACPR declines Othello contract offer

OTHELLO — Othello Mayor Shawn Logan announced during Monday evening’s city council meeting that the city of Othello had made an offer in its re-negotiations for the contract between Adams County Pet Rescue and the city, and that ACPR had declined the offer.

LaVerne Marie (Shetler) Horst

May 2, 1918 — Dec 2,2023

LaVerne passed away peacefully at home surrounded by members of her family. She was born in Cheraw, Colorado, the second in a family of 11 children born to Milton & Ada (Miller) Shetler. The family moved to Hesston, Kansas in 1930 so the children could attend school there. She graduated from Hesston High School in 1937.

Elizabeth (Betty) Holben

May 13, 1925 — Dec. 9, 2023

Longtime Moses Lake resident Elizabeth (Betty) Holben passed away peacefully on December 9 at the age of 98. She is survived by five children: Cynthia Holben, Sylvia Allen, Kirk Holben, Bruce Holben, and Katherine Hogan. Her husband Melvin and son Marcus preceded her in death. She also leaves behind seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Moses Lake BMX looking at continued growth

MOSES LAKE – Over the past few years Moses Lake BMX has been upgrading its track and building on turnouts of BMX riders from across the state; now the track is getting ready for what could be a big 2024 season with even more track improvements plus the addition program for beginning riders.

Legals for December, 12 2023

Mattawa Council hears report on H-2A workers, approves 2024 budget

MATTAWA — Representatives of Seattle University and Universidad Iberoamericana Puebla attended Thursday’s regular Mattawa City Council meeting via video conference to present their report on temporary agricultural workers in the Mattawa area. The council also approved the final 2024 budget in the meeting.

Opportunities for holiday kindness

Columbia Basin communitiess still have time to support locals in need.

MOSES LAKE — The Christmas season is traditionally a time of charity, and there are still opportunities out there to donate to charities for people in need.