Business Expo showcases an expanding community

MOSES LAKE — The signs of construction were everywhere at Tuesday’s Business Expo: fluorescent vests, orange shirts, barrier tape and even a traffic cone wandering around the show.

Madcap murder

‘Clue: On Stage’ opens Friday at MLHS

MOSES LAKE — If you’re looking for a calm, slow-paced play, “Clue: On Stage” ain’t it. The comic farce, based on the 1985 movie which in turn was based on the classic board game, careens from one surprise and plot twist to another at breakneck speed, which makes it a challenge to stage.

Van donated to Boys and Girls Clubs

MOSES LAKE — The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin received some new wheels last week, thanks to Group14 and the Moses Lake Elks Lodge. “I swear, it was like the stars aligned,” said Kim Pope, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club.

Wildcats women’s soccer coach resigns

ELLENSBURG — Lindsey Lee, head coach of the Central Washington University women’s soccer team, has announced her resignation.

MLSD institutes security protocols after Columbia Middle School threat

MOSES LAKE – On Wednesday at around 11:45 a.m. the Moses Lake School District was made aware of a potential threat related to Columbia Middle School for Friday, according to MLSD Director of Public Relations Ryan Shannon.

Area districts respond to OSPI immigration guidelines

OLYMPIA —The Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction released guidelines in January outlining practices it said are to ensure the protection of immigrant students' rights in K-12 public schools. The OSPI report comes after President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14148 rescinded a policy that limited Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s ability to operate in schools, hospitals and places of worship.

WA lawmakers consider extending unemployment to striking workers

OLYMPIA - Washington lawmakers are revisiting a bill that would extend unemployment insurance to workers on strike. The bill was reintroduced this year by Sen. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane, reviving debate among labor advocates and business associations. “Without a social safety net during a strike, workers are faced with tremendous pressures to end the strike quickly or never go on strike in the first place,” Riccelli said in public testimony. “I think this levels the playing field.”

Balance class helps seniors avoid falls

OTHELLO — There are few things more frightening to seniors than the possibility of a bad fall. Besides the obvious potential for serious injury, there’s a feeling of helplessness that comes with vulnerability to falling and a very real fear of being stranded and unable to get help. A free class called A Matter of Balance starting in Othello today can help.

New Quincy hospital close to completion

QUINCY — As of Tuesday it’s 78 days until a new hospital opens. The brand-new Quincy Valley Medical Center is still in the final stages of construction, with the first day for patients scheduled for May 21.

Illegal burn escapes, consumes 61 acres near Ephrata

EPHRATA – An illegal burn in the 12500 block of Road C.3 NW escalated into a significant wildfire on Friday, threatening nearby residences and posing challenges for firefighting crews, according to a statement from Grant County Fire District 13. “It definitely is a large fire,” GCFD 13 Battalion Chief Mathew Meulman said. “That was pretty uncommon to see that rate of spread this early in the season with how our temps are, and especially during the nights that we're going to give it very wet, cool nights. It definitely was a large fire for this time of year.”

Community volunteers sought for Wahluke facility committee

MATTAWA — People interested in helping write a plan to determine when and how the Wahluke School District will maintain and upgrade its facilities, among other things, are being invited to be part of a planning committee. The first meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. March 11 in the Wahluke School District office, 411 Saddle Mountain Drive.

Three stitches and a championship

Ritzville's Brock Taylor leaves Mat Classic with championship hardware

RITZVILLE – With sweat glistening on his brow and blood dripping down his eye bandage, Brock Tracy, a senior wrestler from Lind-Ritzville High School, etched his name into the annals of state championship history at the Mat Classic. This season’s grappling events culminated in an electrifying moment as Tracy claimed first place in the Boys 1B/2B 285-pound weight class in Tacoma. “I never expected to get as far,” Tracy said.

BBCC hosts welding competition

Event highlights viability of trades as careers, aids student networking

MOSES LAKE – Students from Moses Lake High School, Columbia High School and Newport High School participated in a friendly welding competition Friday morning at Big Bend Community College. Teams of students split into six teams to weld metal sculptures inspired by their school mascots. “We are a community college and we work with (the high schools we serve) to try to make sure that we’re able to meet the educational needs of the surrounding community, including all the various trades that we train for,” said BBCC Senior Associate Professor Shawn McDaniel, who helped organize the event.

Dent's ag exemption bill for CCA costs moving forward

OLYMPIA - Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, is working to fulfill lawmakers' promise to exempt Washington farmers and ranchers from cap-and-trade fuel taxes in a newly proposed bipartisan bill. “Finding a solution is a challenge,” Dent said in a public hearing. “We know that, but a promise was made, and we need to find a way to keep that promise.”

Top seed ACH opens boys state championship play today

WENATCHEE — The top-seeded Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors open the first round of the Class 1B state tournament against the Ocosta Wildcats at 6 p.m. Friday at Wenatchee High School.

Show of skill

CBTECH students to vie at state vocational competition

MOSES LAKE — It seems like everybody is talking about students going to state. Wrestling, basketball, swimming – all the state tournaments have been a topic of discussion. But not every state competition involves coaches and locker rooms.

Legals for February, 28 2025

Multimillion-dollar commitment will advance key cwu initiatives

ELLENSBURG - Central Washington University has received a multimillion-dollar commitment from Rob and Valerie Moehring to create a Presidential Innovation Fund, which will be used to invest in new strategic priority initiatives.

Grant Co. road construction season starts March 10

EPHRATA — A section of Westshore Drive is scheduled for a complete rebuild in 2025, and upgrades are planned for a section of Stratford Road. Westshore Drive construction begins March 10. A pedestrian trail and traffic circles will be added in Desert Aire, and a third section of Drumheller Road will be graded. Those are among the road improvement projects scheduled for Grant County in 2025.

ICE arrests Othello woman, teen son left to run family food truck

OTHELLO —Eighteen-year-old Raul Gomez-Eudave woke up on a Saturday morning earlier this month to a flood of missed calls and text messages. When he unlocked his phone, his heart dropped.