Quincy employee recognized for 10 years with the city

QUINCY — Howard VanBaugh, right, receives a certificate recognizing his 10 years with the city of Quincy from Mayor Paul Worley, left, at the Quincy City Council meeting Tuesday.

Soap Lake fire causes evacuation notice

SOAP LAKE — A level 3 evacuation notice was issued for the 3000-4000 block of Road 20 Northeast near Soap Lake Wednesday evening, according to a statement from Grant County Fire District 13. A level 3 evacuation means “Leave now,” the statement added...

Contract awarded to widen sidewalk near Quincy High

QUINCY — A section of Jackrabbit Way opposite Quincy High School will get a wider sidewalk. Quincy Public Works Director Carl Worley said city officials are hoping the project will be completed by the time school starts in late August. “That’s our goal,” Worley said...

Washington sports schedule July 7-11

COLUMBIA BASIN – Check out this week’s Washington sports schedule, featuring local, regional and statewide sporting events.

San Juana Dominguez

San Juana Dominguez, 84, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to many, went to be with the Lord July 1, 2023. She was born on Nov. 6, 1938, in Pharr, Texas, and has resided in Moses Lake, Washington the last 35 years. San Juana was a strong woman of faith. Her career was as a certified nursing assistant where her heart and compassion touched many.

News Bites for July 6, 2023

A collection of news tidbits for July 6.

Peshastin-area paving project next week will delay travel

PESHASTIN — Drivers planning to use the interchange at US Highway 2/97 next week should plan for delays while the bridge at the Don Senn Memorial/Big Y interchange is paved...

Gesa CU celebrates 70

RICHLAND — Gesa Credit Union will celebrate its 70th anniversary next week and will open its first full-service branch outside the state of Washington later this year...

Newhouse reintroduces bipartisan labor reform act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, reintroduced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act to the House alongside several Republican and Democrat representatives from across the United States, according to a Monday news release from Newhouse’s staff...

Wenatchee Valley Senior Center lowers lunch cost

WENATCHEE – The Wenatchee Valley Senior Activity Center has lowered the price of its lunch program to $5 to increase awareness of the program and community engagement, according to a Tuesday press release from the senior center...

Washington fire update for July 6

OTHELLO — An Othello-area home was completely destroyed by fire in the early hours of Wednesday morning, according to a statement from Adams County Fire District 5. Two vehicles were also destroyed, but all occupants got out of the house safely. The investigation determined that the cause of the fire was fireworks that had been collected and placed in a trash can...

Rehaume chosen as Othello PD chief

OTHELLO — Dave Rehaume, a 34-year veteran of the Othello Police Department who was named interim chief in May, was hired and sworn in as chief during the Othello City Council meeting Monday. The council's vote to hire Rehaume was unanimous...

Grant Co. to contract for animal control study

EPHRATA — The Grant County Commissioners will contract with the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society to conduct a study of animal control in Grant County and the options for improving it...

Annual celebration

Othello community celebrates Independence Day

OTHELLO — Othello organizations, residents and visitors marched down Main Street during Tuesday’s Fourth of July parade before moving the festivities to Lions Park for the remainder of the Independence Day celebration. Heather Miller, president-elect of the Greater Othello Chamber of Commerce, which organized the Fourth of July celebration, said the number of participants – about 40 entrants – in the parade was larger than in previous years...

Alleged Gorge shooter pleads not guilty

EPHRATA – James Kelly, the suspect accused of killing two people and injuring two others at the Gorge Amphitheatre campground during last month’s Beyond Wonderland music festival, has entered a plea of not guilty, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office...

GALLERY: Basin summer sports

COLUMBIA BASIN – From the diamond to the gridiron, Basin athletes have been hitting the field over the past couple of weeks. Check out these photos from the Earl Barden Classic and the Spokane Wood Bat Classic.

PRO RECAP: M’s and Storm send players to all-star games, Kraken open free agency

SEATTLE – Both the Seattle Mariners and Storm had players named to their league’s respective all-star games, while the Kraken opened free agency by bringing some new faces to the ice. Check out this week’s professional sports recap for an update on the three teams...

‘Red, white and sparkle’

George celebrates America with parade, politics and pie

GEORGE — Perhaps no town does up the Fourth of July with more vigor than George. “I love it when we all get dressed up in our country's colors,” said state Sen. Judy Warnick. “There's one little girl that had ‘Red, White and Sparkle’ on her shirt. And I think that's what George is doing right now. We're celebrating our independence with red, white and sparkle.” ...

Larry Ray Harmon

Larry, 73, was born Oct. 20, 1949, in Yakima, Washington to Jim and Carol Harmon, along with his twin brother, Gary. The twins were born 6 weeks premature, which resulted in an extended hospital stay and additional time spent with grandparents in Wapato, Washington. When they were strong enough to travel, the twins, their older brother Mike and their mother Carol rejoined Jim who was in the U.S. Navy stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. From there they traveled to many places including Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where they were stationed for three years and then on to Brunswick, Maine for four years where the family welcomed his little sister, Karen. At this point Jim had a chance to move his family back to Washington with the Navy as a recruiter, which allowed them to be closer to grandparents and extended relatives. Larry started his schooling in Wapato. The family moved to Moses Lake in 1957 and he continued his elementary through high school education; he was part of the Moses Lake High School class of 1969. These years were challenging for Larry as he navigated having dyslexia during a time where learning disabilities were very misunderstood and unrecognized. Larry joined the U.S. Navy in 1969 and was stationed aboard the USS Hornet, which landed him as part of both Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 recoveries.

Othello Food Bank requests county funds

OTHELLO – Jose Garza, lead facilities director at the Othello Food Bank, went before the Adams County Board of Commissioners during last Wednesday’s meeting to workshop potential options for funding and support for the food bank and its programs. “Without funds, you can’t operate, you can’t move, you can’t buy equipment,” said Garza, who joined the Othello Food Bank in August 2022...