FIRE REPORT: Annual burn ban ends Sept. 30 as fires continue across state

MOSES LAKE — The burn ban in Grant and Adams counties ends Saturday, according to Grant County Fire District 3’s website. Once the ban is lifted, the normal regulations will apply to residential and agricultural burning, the website said...

Grant PUD eyeing multiple projects in ‘24 budget

EPHRATA — Grant County Public Utility District customers will be invited to review and comment on the 2024 budget at three public hearings Oct. 10 and 12. In-person hearings are scheduled for 2 p.m. Oct. 10 at the PUD commission hearing room at the main office in Ephrata, 30 C St. SW, and 6 p.m. Oct. 12 in the auditorium in the Moses Lake office, 312 W. Third Ave. A virtual hearing will be held Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. The link to the online meeting is available in a press release under the “News” tab on the PUD website, www.grantpud.org...

GCFD 7 holds open house, plans more for future

SOAP LAKE – Grant County Fire District 7 hosted an open house Saturday at their station in Soap Lake to allow members of the community a chance to meet the fire chief and volunteers and get to know how the department works...

Winning trend

Mavs 2023 record at 3-1 in Big 9 with win over West Valley

MOSES LAKE – The Mavericks’ second clean sheet of the season came on Saturday, defeating West Valley (Yakima) 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at home. Moses Lake held the Rams to just one shot on goal in the second half, which came during second-half stoppage time...

CWU selects new executive director of Institutional Effectiveness

ELLENSBURG - Jason Jones will be joining the Wildcat family on October 16, coming to CWU from the Board of Governors, State University System of Florida, where he has served as the chief data officer since 2017...

Adams Co. working to address jail closure, maintenance needs

RITZVILLE – Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner met with the Adams County Commissioners Tuesday to discuss the requirements to re-open the Adams County Jail and make improvements beyond the basic facility needs. “You guys know the conditions. You know the things that are needed to be fixed. Part of the thing that I wanted to discuss today is where the board feels like we need to go next with the facility. I know the things are going to be worked on,” said Wagner. “I would like to see at least some ideas of the projects that the commissioners and the facilities managers want to do in the jail so we can at least get started on those things.” ...

Weather report for Monday, Sept. 25, 2023

Weather report for Monday, Sept. 25, 2023

Mistakes cost Wahluke in 48-7 loss to Zillah

MATTAWA — Zillah took advantage of some early Wahluke mistakes and defeated the Warriors 48-7 on Homecoming night Saturday. “Not something we expect, but that’s part of the game,” Wahluke head coach Anfernee Cortez said after the game.

Grant Co. Health District encourages vaccines as illnesses rise

MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Health District is encouraging area residents to ensure their COVID-19 vaccinations are up to date for the 2023-24 season citing increasing cases of COVID-19 and related hospitalizations, according to a Sept. 19 press release...

FIRE REPORT: Fire season not over yet

OLYMPIA — The weather is cooling, but fire danger is still high, according to a statement from Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz. Citing elevated temperatures and dry fuel conditions, Franz highlighted the need to protect both residents and firefighters from avoidable wildfire danger...

Two Quincy streets slated for improvements

QUINCY — Sections of Third Avenue SW and Sixth Avenue NE in Quincy are scheduled for improvements. Quincy City Council members approved bids for two separate road projects Sept. 19, with bid opening Sept. 28...

STUDIO BASIN: Ending Alzheimer’s and Basin football

MOSES LAKE – On this week's episode of the Studio Basin podcast, Karisti Cox with Summer Wood Alzheimer's Special Care Center stops into the STUDIO BASIN studio to talk about the recent Walk to End Alzheimer's with Managing Editor Rob Miller. While she's with us, she also talks about hope on the horizon for treatment of the disease and offers a few tips on how to help those facing Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia live better lives. Next, Sports Reporter Ian Bivona and Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer go over football games at Warden, MLCA/CCS and ACH, as well as the Soap Lake volleyball team's win over Cascade Christian. The Studio Basin podcast can be found on your favorite podcast apps, or downloaded directly at https://bit.ly/3rfIVsM.

Just weeks left to nominate your favs for Best of the Basin

MOSES LAKE – There are just five weeks left to make your nominations for the Third Annual Best of the Basin Community Choice Awards. Nominations began in August for the recognition program that is based on our local communities and their favorite businesses from around the Columbia Basin...

Tigers take the W

Late score gives Ephrata the win over East Valley

EPHRATA – An exciting second half came down to the wire in Friday night’s Central Washington Athletic Conference matchup between Ephrata and previously undefeated East Valley (Yakima), with the Tigers answering a late Red Devil touchdown to take a 21-17 win. “East Valley is a great team, and it was going to take everything that we had,” Ephrata head coach Patrick Mitchell said. “We’ve been through some adversity this year, and that’s only stuff that makes it stronger. There’s going to be an adverse atmosphere at some point and time, and we’re going to be ready for it.” ...

Knights defeat Wahluke 3-0 in SCAC opener

ROYAL CITY – The Royal Knights claimed a win in Thursday’s South Central Athletic Conference (East) contest against Wahluke, opening up league play with a 3-0 win over the Warriors. While the win is nice, Royal Head Coach Jens Jensen said the Knights are remaining humble after the league opener...

Past perfect

Moses Lake-raised author takes pains to research her historical novels

MOSES LAKE — You could say A.L. Sowards is living in the past.

BASIN SPORTS RECAP: Eight teams reach top-10 in WIAA’s RPI

COLUMBIA BASIN – Teams from across the Columbia Basin began to enter league play in their respective conferences over the past week, battling it out on the field. Check out this week’s local sports recap for a look at how local squads fared in contests over the previous week. All scores and records are according to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

Ric Johnson

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Ric Johnson, who left us on Aug. 27, 2023, at the age of 72. Though he departed this world unexpectedly, he was surrounded by his dear friends. Ric was born on Dec. 15, 1950, to Glenn and Joan (Burgess) Johnson in Pasco, Washington. His family eventually settled in Othello where he graduated from Othello High School. After high school Ric moved to Spokane to attend business school. While in Spokane, Ric married his first wife, and they had two children, Natalie and Patrick. Life led Ric to Georgia where he met his second wife Maxine. They eventually moved back to Washington to be closer to Ric’s family. Shortly after the move, Maxine was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Ric had become active in hospice after his mother passed away from cancer, which helped him through Maxine’s diagnosis. Ric continued to volunteer with hospice and served on the board for several years.

Eagles move to 3-1 with sweep of Cascade Christian

SOAP LAKE — Soap Lake improved to 3-1 in the early season, clinching its third-straight sweep after a 3-0 win over Cascade Christian on Tuesday night.

Apprenticeship program gathering to be held Sept. 27

MOSES LAKE — Interested high school students and their families from throughout Grant County and North Central Washington are invited to learn about a new apprenticeship program at a Moses Lake business through a Youth Apprenticeship Information Night set for Sept. 27...