Adams Co. Commissioners discuss new evidence storage facility

RITZVILLE – The Adams County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday for their regularly scheduled meeting to discuss the location of a new Adams County Sheriff’s Office evidence storage building, temporary assignment of a law enforcement officer and an agreement with the Columbia Basin Conservation District...

Newhouse sets up workgroup to review Endangered Species Act

WASHINGTON D.C. – Congressman Dan Newhouse, R–Washington, has joined efforts with nine other federal legislators to form a workgroup to examine the Endangered Species Act and suggest updates to policy to better protect endangered wildlife, according to a press release from his office...

Seven Cougars named to 2023 Preseason All-Pac-12 teams

PULLMAN - Seven Washington State players were named to Preseason All-Pac-12 Conference Teams, the conference office announced Tuesday. Four players were named to the second team in EDGES Ron Stone Jr and Brennan Jackson, defensive back Chau Smith-Wade and punter Nick Haberer. Defensive back Jaden Hicks, kicker Dean Janikowski and running back Nakia Watson were each named honorable mention...

Washington sports schedule July 19-25

COLUMBIA BASIN – Check out this week’s Washington sports schedule, featuring local, regional and statewide sporting events. Next week, the Washington Range will be headed to nationals, but for this week’s local competition, look to the Columbia Basin River Dogs, Manta Ray Aquatics team, Moses Lake BMX and the Columbia Basin Barrel Racing Club for local competitions...

“We’ll all be under one roof”

A look CWU’s Nicholson Pavilion renovation

ELLENSBURG – Built in 1959, Nicholson Pavilion at Central Washington University began going under renovation in the fall of 2021. When the fall quarter rolls around, the new facilities will be available for both academic and athletic use according to CWU Director of Athletics Dennis Francois. “Nicholson is a shared academic and athletic facility, priority of usage it to academics,” Francois said. “That is our Sport and Movement Studies Department who’s housed here. They have pedagogy, physical education, dance, sport management program, outdoor leadership and things of that nature.” ...

Auditions next week for Masquers season opener

SOAP LAKE — Auditions for the Masquers Theater production of the classic comedy “Blithe Spirit” are scheduled for 4 p.m. Sunday and 6 p.m. Monday at the theater, 322 E Main St., Soap Lake...

News Bites for July 18

News bits from first responder agencies around the Columbia Basin.

Regional fire report for July 18

SHELTON — The McEwan fire northwest of Shelton, in Mason County, is in the mopping-up phase, according to a statement from Central Mason Fire and EMS. The fire, which has been burning since July 4, consumed 250 acres and has cost an estimated $1.8 million or more so far, according to the National Interagency Fire Center...

Hayden Homes donating new park to Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake will gain another park this week. Maple Grove Park, in the new Maple Grove housing subdivision on Grape Drive north of SR 17, will be donated to the city of Moses Lake Thursday at 11:30 a.m., according to an announcement from Hayden Homes, the developer of Maple Grove...

Moses Lake to consider annexation

MOSES LAKE — A request to annex about 84 acres into the Moses Lake city limits will be considered by city officials. Moses Lake City Council members agreed to allow evaluation of the application on a unanimous 4-0 vote at the regular meeting July 11. Council member Mark Fancher recused himself from the presentation and the vote, saying one of the applicants is a business client...

CWU recognized

Wildcats win GNA Academic All-Sports award for 3rd straight year

PORTLAND, Ore. – For the third straight year Central Washington University has won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s Academic All-Sports title, the conference announced in a release on Friday...

Ending on a high note

18U Rattlers close out 2023 season with win

RICHLAND – Playing at the D-BAT Summer Series in Richland, the Moses Lake Rattlers went 4-1 on the weekend with a win in the team’s final game of the season. “We were excited for our last tournament,” Head Coach Lisa Lawrence said. “A chance to wrap things up on a high point, which we did.” ...

The Cardman

Ephrata hobby shop looks to welcome everyone in a safe, fun place

EPHRATA — While there have been – quite literally – stumbles along the way, The Cardman hobby shop is now open in Ephrata and Derran Donoghue and partner Melissa Craven are excited to be in Tiger country. “The first thing I want to do is, I want to make this for the community,” Donoghue said. “That’s what (now-closed Ephrata Sports Cards) brought to the community. We want to just basically take the torch from (that store) and build it for the younger (people in the area).” ...

CWU anthroplogy grad looks to bring Indigenous perspective to her profession

ELLENSBURG - When Raelynne Crow arrived at CWU, she had no idea she would be interested in anthropology, let alone that the university even had a program...

Weather for Monday, July 17, 2023

Monday: Sunny. Not as warm. Highs in the lower to mid-80s. Windy. West wind 15-25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Clear overnight with lows in the lower to mid-50s. Breezy. West wind 10-20 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. Tuesday: Clear. Highs in the 80s. Lows in the lower 50s to lower 60s. Wednesday-Saturday: Mostly clear. Highs in the 90s. Lows in the mid-50s to mid-60s. SOURCE: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

On to regionals

River Dogs to vie for World Series spot

FERNDALE — The 14U Columbia Basin River Dogs begin pool play in the Babe Ruth Pacific Northwest Regional Tournament on Monday, aiming to reach bracket play for a chance to reach next month’s 14U World Series in Virginia. “The boys are really excited to be going,” Head Coach Jaret Fulbright said. “They’re getting prepared all week and are looking forward to some good competition this coming week to hopefully book our trip to the World Series.” Many of the players on the River Dog roster were on last year’s 13U squad that also reached regionals, but fell short of qualifying for a World Series berth. The past experience of playing in a regional tournament will help guide and motivate the River Dogs, according to Fulbright.

News bites for July 17, 2023

SOAP LAKE — A Quincy man is in jail after cutting his wife’s throat, according to a statement from the Soap Lake Police Department. Samuel Y. Montoya Arroyo, 51, was booked into Grant County Jail Thursday on charges of attempted first-degree murder, according to the announcement. Emergency personnel responded about 11:45 Thursday morning to a call from the Tutti Frutti ice cream shop at 27 Daisy Street South, according to the statement. There they found a woman on the sidewalk bleeding from the front of her neck. The woman, whose name was not given, was airlifted to Confluence Health-Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee. Her current condition is unknown, the statement said.

WSU student participates in research projects in Kenya

PULLMAN - This summer, Washington State University student Darya Maysam is joining research projects on antimicrobial resistance, infectious disease surveillance, and epidemiological modeling, while gaining course credit at the same time. The WSU junior, who plans to graduate in May 2024 with a degree in Animal Science and a minor in Mathematics, is also taking Swahili language lessons, visiting an elephant orphanage and giraffe research center, and learning about animal herding from the Maasai people...

Vital need

Red Cross seeking donors to prevent blood shortage

COLUMBIA BASIN – The American Red Cross announced in a press release July 10 that they are urging people to donate blood this summer to help avoid a significant shortage that may result from recent drops in donations. “The American Red Cross is sending blood donations to hospitals faster than they are coming in. We need more donors to give in July to help avoid a blood shortage that could impact patient care at hospitals across the country,” said the Red Cross’s Northwest Region Communications Director Betsy Robertson in the release...

Quincy's B Street Block Party seeking volunteers

QUINCY — The Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce is looking for volunteers to help with the B Street Block Party July 15, according to an announcement from the chamber...