Zags add EWU transfer Venters

SPOKANE – Eastern Washington transfer Steele Venters is signing with Gonzaga, the Bulldogs announced in a release on Monday...

Wreaths Across America visits the Basin

EPHRATA - Columbia Basin Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol and volunteers laid wreaths at the Ephrata, Quincy Valley and Soap Lake cemeteries Saturday in honor of Wreaths Across America Day. WAA Day’s purpose is to remember the fallen, honor those that serve and their families, and teach the next generation the value of freedom...

Masquers Theater announces ‘Sing On’ auditions

SOAP LAKE — The Masquers Theater will be holding auditions for the company’s production of “Sing On” Jan. 6 and 7. Auditions will be at 6 p.m. Jan. 6 and 1 p.m. Jan. 7 at the theater, 322 E. Main St., Soap Lake...

Confluence Health announces update to vaccination policy

WENATCHEE — Confluence Health employees who had been prohibited from working onsite if they had not received the initial COVID-19 vaccination for religious or medical reasons will be allowed back onsite, beginning March 1. Employees will have to meet certain requirements, according to a Confluence Health press release. The organization has clinics in Moses Lake, Royal City and Ephrata.

WA expands free school lunch program

OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee this week signed into a law a measure that will expand free school lunches to all students in kindergarten through fourth grade in districts where at least 30% of all students are eligible for free school meals under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s school nutrition program...

Macrophotography exhibit coming to ML Museum

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake minister will be featured at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, according to an announcement from the museum...

Photography contest focuses on mid-century modern Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Submissions will be accepted through June 2 for a contest highlighting the architecture of Moses Lake’s boom period. The “Mid-Century Modern of Moses Lake” contest is sponsored by the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center...

Kast sisters sign with BBCC

MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School seniors Kali and Makiya Kast have signed to play basketball at Big Bend Community College...

Othello man arrested following chase

OTHELLO — An Othello man was taken into custody late Friday after leading Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a chase that ended on Main Street in Othello, according to a statement from the ACSO. The statement said Andres Garza, 35, of Othello, was wanted in connection with a robbery when ACSO deputies located his vehicle and used a pursuit technique to bring his car to a stop. In an ACSO dash-cam video, a sheriff’s deputy pursuing Garza uses the front end of his car to nudge Garza’s vehicle so that Garza was forced to turn, spin out and come to a stop on Main Street.

Pets of the Basin – Round 2

COLUMBIA BASIN — A request for pet pictures in mid-December brought an avalanche of responses, more than 200 in fact. The Columbia Basin Herald pictured some of them in the Dec. 26 edition, and here are some more, with comments from the owners who are grateful for their companionship. To see more pet photos, look at our conversation on Facebook by following us at Facebook.com/cbherald.

Soap Lake schedules condo hearing

SOAP LAKE - The City of Soap Lake will be holding a public meeting on Friday to consider an application for a condominium development.

Mavs earn 10th win with sweep of Davis

YAKIMA – Moses Lake put together its ninth and 10th wins of the season with 16-0 and 18-0 road victories over Davis on Friday, moving to 10-2 on the year...

Bomb threat verified as hoax

GRANT COUNTY — A bomb threat emailed to the superintendents of 35 school districts across the state — including Ephrata School District and Almira-Coulee-Hartline — on Wednesday was determined to be a hoax, according to a statement issued Wednesday by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. “It was a global threat all through the state,” said Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete. “It’s been verified as a hoax.” ...

Quincy trout derby this weekend

QUINCY — Anglers of all ages are being invited to drop a line in Quincy Lake and Burke Lake Saturday and Sunday in pursuit of trout and prizes. The 14th Trout Fishing Derby begins Saturday morning...

GCSO Seeks info on man in custody

EPHRATA — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for any information the public might have about a man arrested near Coulee City on Thursday on suspicion of child rape. According to a GCSO statement released Friday, GCSO deputies arrested Tyrone Thomas Trexler, 52, of Coulee City, on March 23 on two counts of child rape and one count of unlawful imprisonment for an assault of a 6-year-old girl alleged to have occurred near Trexler’s previous home in the Moses Lake.

Household hazardous waste collection Saturday

EPHRATA — Grant County residents will be able to dispose of paint, pool chemicals, rechargeable batteries and other kinds of household hazardous waste at a collection event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Grant County Public Works Complex, 124 Enterprise St. SE, Ephrata. The collection is sponsored by Grant County Public Works. The dropoff is available to all Grant County residents, including residents of incorporated cities, according to information from Public Works. It’s free to county residents. Fire extinguishers, gasoline and motor oil, yard chemicals and fertilizers, fluorescent bulbs and aerosol cans are among the items that will be accepted, the Public Works post said.

9-11 memorial to be held in Ephrata

EPHRATA – The American Legion Auxilliary, Unit 28, with assistance from the Legionnaires of the post will host a service at 5:30 p.m. Monday in remembrance of the state’s fallen heroes, according to a press release from the auxiliary...

ECBID rep speaks at Water Law conference

OTHELLO – The East Columbia Basin Irrigation District Development Coordinator Jon Erickson gave a presentation during the sixth annual Water Law in Central Washington conference Sept. 21 to 22 at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, according to an announcement from ECBID...

ML to hold candidate forum

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a candidate forum and has invited all candidates running in contested local, district and statewide races, for Monday, Oct. 10, starting at 6 p.m. in the Moses Lake Civic Center. Invited to participate in the forum are: Grant County Sheriff candidates Joey Kriete and Joe Harris, Grant County Clerk candidates Kimberly Allen and Marla Rodunner, Grant County Commission candidates Jeff Foster and Cindy Carter, Superior Court Judge candidates Anna Gigliotti and Melissa Chlarson, Grant County Assessor candidates Melissa McKnight and James Liebrecht, Grant County Auditor candidates Michele Jaderlund and Richard Stevens, U.S. House of Representatives Fourth District candidates Dan Newhouse and Doug White, and U.S. Senate candidates Patty Murray and Tiffany Smiley. The forum is free and open to the public.

Giving back

Law enforcement works to support community during holidays

COLUMBIA BASIN — Several local law enforcement agencies are putting on charitable drives for the upcoming holiday season. The Moses Lake Police Department’s Fifth Annual Tip-a-Cop night hosted at Rock Top Burgers and Brew in Moses Lake raises money for the department’s Shop with a Cop Program. Members of the MLPD, Warden Police Department and Grant County Sheriff’s Office along with Columbia Basin...