Basin soccer roundup: Three top-10 teams in 1A

The regular season for local soccer teams is over halfway done, as Basin squads prepare for their final stretch of league games. Teams in Quincy, Royal City and Mattawa have all found themselves in the top 10 of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s Rating Percentage Index. 4A

Moses Lake BMX heads into 2024 season

MOSES LAKE — With the weather beginning to warm up, riders are returning to the Larson BMX Track for the 2024 season with Moses Lake BMX. “It’s awesome. We’ve got a ton of momentum this year, and a lot of new riders so far this year,” Moses Lake BMX Track Operator Jeff Niehenke said. “A really good board, and a ton of energy to really grow the program and put on good events.” Moses Lake BMX hosts weekly races on Saturday mornings until mid-May when the races shift to Friday nights at 7 p.m. There are also weekly practices held on Wednesdays, where riders can get a feel for the starting gate.

Wahluke scores four second-half goals, defeats College Place

MATTAWA – Two early goals were enough for the Wahluke boys soccer team to take down College Place on Tuesday, defeating the Eagles 6-1 to improve to 9-1 this spring. “We’ve been craving that,” Wahluke Head Coach Cele Lopez said of the team’s start to the match. “We need to start that way every single game. The boys, I think they’re getting the hang of it. They’re realizing that if we start strong, we don’t struggle as much. We run less, we keep possession of the ball and we can manage the timing of the game.” Senior Diego Olivares netted two goals early in the match, both of which came in the fifth minute. The senior noted the team’s chemistry as a significant factor in Tuesday’s win.

Wahluke gearing up for annual Outdoor Career Fair

MATTAWA — The Wahluke School District will be hosting its annual Outdoor Career Fair April 26 for Wahluke High School and Junior High students at the high school to connect with and learn from professionals in various outdoor careers.

Vikings swept by Blue Mountain

MOSES LAKE – Coming off dropping two games to Blue Mountain CC earlier in the week, the Big Bend Vikings traveled to face the Timberwolves in a doubleheader on Saturday, losing both games by scores of 7-2 and 6-5.

DIAMOND RECAP: Local squads stay busy over spring break

COLUMBIA BASIN – Even with many teams off last week for spring break, there was still plenty of action across the Basin baseball and softball fields.

Basin box score roundup for April 5, 2024

MOSES LAKE – Most of the student athletes in the Basin are on Spring Break this week, but there have been a few games for Moses Lake and Othello teams, both of which performed well in their respective sports.

Hands 'N Paws says temp shelter doing well one month in

OTHELLO — Hands ‘N Paws Animal Assistance officially began its contractual services for sheltering animals in the city of Othello March 1. After a month of operations, Hands ‘N Paws founder Carmon Derting said things are going well.

ACH’s Molitor looks to build off fourth-place state finish

COULEE CITY — A year after taking fourth at the 1B/2B Girls State Golf Championships as a freshman, Almira/Coulee-Hartline sophomore Naomi Molitor returns to the course this season aiming for yet another high placing. “It felt really good that it was my first year, and that I could accomplish something that big – it just made me think that in years to come, I can do that again and I can do a lot better,” Molitor said. Molitor won a district championship to qualify for the state tournament, coming back from a significant first-day deficit.

Kathleen Morley

Feb. 25, 1945 – March 28, 2024

Kathleen ‘Katy’ Ann (Baier) Morley, 79, passed away at home March 28, 2024 in Centralia, Wash.

Dean Mallory Owen

Aug. 24, 1937 – March 4, 2024

Colonel Dean Mallory Owen, 86, was born August 24, 1937, in Pullman, Washington to Frank Dean Owen and Stella Amanda (Farley) Owen in the family home located on South State Street across from the old Pullman High School.

CWU musician shines at National Trumpet Competition

ELLENSBURG — A Central Washington University music student etched her name in the history books last month when she won the undergraduate solo division at the National Trumpet Competition (NTC).

Presentation looks at Big Bend railroads

MOSES LAKE — Before there were freeways and airlines, the life of the Columbia Basin centered on the rail lines, a heritage that can still be seen today in the small towns that dot the Basin’s landscape. Those trains will be the subject of the season opener Thursday in the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center’s Spring Speaker Series, according to an announcement from the museum. Railroad historian and author – and former Columbia Basin Herald columnist – Dan Bolyard will present “Fires, Wrecks and Floods: Highlights of Railroading in the Columbia Basin,” according to the announcement. The event will be at 6 p.m. at the Moses Lake Civic Center, 401 S. Balsam St. Admission is free but seating is limited to the first 200 attendees.

WA addresses AI in public schools

OLYMPIA — The widespread use of artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the classroom experience for students and teachers across Washington state. As educators find themselves at the forefront of this technological revolution, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction has released guidance and resources intended to adopt responsible use of AI, according to an OSPI press release..

Gonzalez’s late goal propels Othello over Selah

OTHELLO – A late goal broke a 1-1 tie between Othello and Selah in Saturday’s Central Washington Athletic Conference match, giving the Huskies a 2-1 win to improve to 4-1 in league games this spring.

26th Annual Sandhill Crane Festival one of the largest in years

OTHELLO — The 2024 Sandhill Crane Festival flew into town the weekend of March 22, bringing with it a flock of visitors and bird enthusiasts heading into Othello. Festival Co-chair Kurt Braunwart said this year’s event had one of the largest attendances yet. “As we lead up to it, we always worry about how it's going to go, and then we get here for the day, and the attendees are so appreciative of being able to learn about the area, learn about the wildlife, learn about the connection of people, farming, and wildlife,” Braunwart said. “It's going wonderful.” The event featured numerous lectures, tours, informational booths and activities for event attendees, covering birds, nature and wildlife in the Othello area. “(There were) a lot of topics about geology, the Ice Age flood, other birds, mammals, the interaction of that wildlife with human life, like the heritage garden talk,” Braunwart said, “and then that springs into how can you do a type of local landscape garden that helps promote the native (vegetation and wildlife) as well, which helps to tie everything together.”

Weather for the week of April 1, 2024

Weather for the week of April 1, 2024

STUDIO BASIN: Soap Lake School District, traffic updates and Maverick baseball

MOSES LAKE — A developing story in Soap Lake, awards for local law enforcement officers for their heroism and summer traffic season in the Columbia Basin were the subjects of the STUDIO BASIN podcast for March 29. The Soap Lake School Board asked for the resignation of Superintendent Aaron Chavez during the board meeting March 25, and board members also declared a financial emergency. According to the resolution, the financial emergency could lead to reductions in school district staff. Law enforcement officers from the Moses Lake Police Department, Grant County Sheriff’s Office and Quincy Police Department received recognition for acts of heroism. Quincy officer Stephen Harder received the Carnegie Medal for Heroism for his part in rescuing an unconscious woman from a burning house in January 2023. Moses Lake officers Edgar Salazar, Kyle McCain, Omar Ramirez and Curt Ledeboer, along with Korey Judkins from the GCSO received the Washington State Medal of Honor for their actions in saving a woman during a shooting at the Gorge Amphitheater in June 2023.

Active April

Events scheduled for the next month of 2024.

COLUMBIA BASIN — Spring is finally springing up, and the Basin is teeming with things to do and enjoy. This listing is noncomprehensive and event details may change or events may be canceled at the organizers’ discretion. Readers are encouraged to call ahead or verify the information below online prior to the event.

Studded tire removal deadline Sunday

OLYMPIA — According to a March 21 reminder from the Washington State Department of Transportation, studded tires must be removed by the end of the day Sunday to avoid a potential fine of $137. "We know that studded tires cause between $20 million to $29 million in damage to state-owned roads in Washington each winter and also damage city and county roads," WSDOT Maintenance Operations Manager James Morin said. "We urge travelers to explore all their traction options, including non-stud, winter-tread tires which are different from all-season tires. These tires are legal year-round and don't damage our highways." The statement said the removal date falls on a holiday this year, which could mean some shops are closed, so WSDOT urges travelers to plan ahead now. Studded tires are legal in Washington from Nov. 1 to March 31. There is no individual exception or out-of-state waiver to the studded tire dates. The announcement said tickets could be issued by the Washington State Patrol as soon as Monday, April 1. WSDOT does not issue tickets.