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...

Playing through

Ten Pin mini-golf opens in Moses Lake to let locals putt their way to fun

MOSES LAKE — The new Ten Pin miniature golf course is a family dream come true. “(It’s) something we've always kind of talked about doing,” said Cale Russell, the CEO of Ten Pin Territory, which includes Lake Bowl, Ten Pin Brewing, Papa’s Casino and Ten Pin Inn & Suites, all located on the north side of SR 17 where it crosses Stratford Road. “There were plans kind of hanging in the office for years that we've toyed with.” ...

Walking buddies

Down Syndrome event to spotlight and honor parents, caregivers

MOSES LAKE — People with Down Syndrome, along with their friends and families, will gather Saturday at McCosh Park for the 11th annual Buddy Walk, hosted by the Down Syndrome Society of Grant County. The walk will be the same as in past years, but the festivities beforehand will have a little something extra. “We are honoring caregivers and parents for the first time,” said Denise Ketola, one of the organizers of the event and the mother of a 20-year-old with Down Syndrome. “That’s kind of our theme; it’s the first time we’ve done that.” ...

Livestock glamor

4-H and FFA youth take a turn in the show ring for Livestock Judging competition

OTHELLO – Future Farmers of America and 4-H members from all over the state of Washington traveled to the 2023 Othello Fair for the Livestock Judging event Friday morning, where they took a turn in the show ring to competitively judge animals. “What we do is we just take some animals that are pre-selected and we get four in a class and then the kids are asked to judge them on the quality,” said Grant County 4-H Program Coordinator Carolyn Russo. “This is market livestock judging, so most things are market. Sometimes we'll throw in a class of prospect breeding heifers or something.” ...

Elevate Othello

Community event looks at building opportunities and enjoying ice cream this Saturday

OTHELLO — Othello residents are invited for some ice cream and a wide-ranging discussion about increasing opportunities in town Saturday afternoon. Organizers of the “Elevate Othello” project will host an ice cream social from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Othello City Hall, 500 E. Main St., to talk about what they’ve learned so far, and where residents want to go from here.

Cougar women’s basketball announces nonconference slate

PULLMAN – Washington State Women's Basketball will host six contests and compete in the Cancun Challenge in Mexico as part of their 2023-24 nonconference schedule, Head Coach Kamie Ethridge announced Monday.

Basin sports schedule Sept. 20-26

COLUMBIA BASIN – Check out this week’s sports schedule, featuring local cross country, football, girls soccer, swimming and diving and volleyball teams.

Regional rodeo results: Aug. 10-Sept. 19

MOSES LAKE – Rodeos have been hosted across eastern Washington and northern Idaho over the previous six weeks, bringing in riders and competitions from across the country and beyond. Read along for a list of the top three placements from each rodeo, complete with scores, times and payouts. Results are as posted by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or organizers of the rodeo listed if it is a non-PRCA event.

FIRE REPORT: Firefighters knock down blaze in Soap Lake, fires season continues statewide

SOAP LAKE — Grant County Fire District 7, with a little help from its friends, extinguished a 2-acre wildfire Monday night in Soap Lake, according to a statement from the fire district. At about 10:45, GCFD 7 responded to a report of a structure fire at Division Street and SR 28, the statement said. When firefighters arrived, they found that no structures were actually burning, but a commercial building and multiple residences were threatened. Making matters worse were high winds, light fuels and a power pole brought down as a result of the fire...

One arrested after alleged theft of WashDOT vehicle

RITZVILLE – The Adams County Sheriff’s Department announced that ACSO deputies had taken a male subject into custody after a lengthy highway pursuit...

Moses Lake Ministerial Association hosts first United Community Worship Night

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Ministerial Association presented the city’s first inter-congregational United Community Worship Night Friday in the sanctuary of Restore City Church. Campus Coordinator at Youth Dynamics and Worship Leader at Grace Harvest Church Davie Sawyer, who was part of Friday’s worship team, explained the goal of the event...

New DOH dashboard tracks respiratory illness

OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Health has announced the debut of a new data dashboard tracking respiratory illnesses statewide. The new dashboard will include COVID-19 activity, and the old site that tracked only coronavirus data has been retired...

FRESH NEWS: Water rising and cooling, caution advised around underwater obstacles

MARDON - The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1027.85 feet – rising .05 feet this week. The reservoir is 1.35 feet above low pool. The water temperature is mid-60s to 70 degrees on the main reservoir. The water temps in the sand dunes are in the low 70s...

New exhibit to open Sept. 28 at CWU’s Sarah Spurgeon Gallery

The Sarah Spurgeon Gallery at Central Washington University will host a solo exhibition by Native American artist RYAN! Feddersen starting next week...

Moving bales

Hay Bucking Contest returns for 2023 Othello Fair

OTHELLO – Othello Fair attendees lined the North Lawn next to the Adams County Fairgrounds entrance Thursday evening to watch teams of two participants compete in the 2023 Hay Bucking Contest for a chance at the first place $1000 prize. This is the second year the Hay Bucking contest has returned to the Othello Fair after a long absence, said Othello Fair President Becky Flint...