Temp staff costs push up Samaritan expenses

MOSES LAKE — The effort to recruit employees to fill open positions at Samaritan Healthcare may not bear fruit until 2024. Samaritan Chief Administrative Officer Alex Town said temporary employee expenses have not dropped as much as hospital officials hoped...

Evolving retail

Expanded opportunities for online shopping, but still room for brick and mortar

OLYMPIA — From pandemic lockdowns to a surge in thefts to major changes in shopping habits, it’s been a bumpy few years for retail businesses. Renee Sunde, president and CEO of the Washington Retail Association, said the road ahead could be getting smoother - or maybe not...

Six Basin athletes help take home win in Earl Barden Classic

YAKIMA — After a full 48 minutes of scoreless football, the Earl Barden Classic needed an overtime period to decide the winner of the all-star matchup between senior football players from 2A/1A/2B/1B classifications across the state. “It kind of feels like a dream come true,” Othello wide receiver Sonny Asu said. “I heard about this game when we were freshmen and sophomores, and as soon as I heard about it I knew I wanted to be here. I did everything I could to get here right now.” Royal running back Kaleb Hernandez scored the game’s first points on a three-yard touchdown run, and the ensuing two-point conversion attempt was true to give East an 8-0 lead. West scored on the ensuing drive, but a defensive stand on the two-point conversion gave East an 8-6 win. With the touchdown, Hernandez earned Offensive Most Valuable Player for the East team.

CWU nutrition program helps student find her passion

ELLENSBURG - When Leah Dambacher moved to Washington in the fall of 2020 for a dietetic internship with CWU, nothing felt certain. She wasn’t sure how to apply her undergraduate degree, she didn’t know anyone in Ellensburg, and the world was in the midst of a pandemic...

Local pride

New Hope hosts second annual color run in support of LGBT+ community.

MOSES LAKE - Almost 50 adults and children participated in Moses Lake’s second annual Pride Color Run, hosted this Saturday by Moses Lake organization New Hope. Sponsors of the event took up stations along the five-kilometer course to coat participants in colored powder as they passed by. “We had a good turnout for volunteers,” said Debbie Gonzalez, one of four lead advocates at New Hope...

Employers to begin deducting Washington Cares premiums

OLYMPIA - Washington employers will begin deducting premiums from Washington workers’ paychecks on Saturday for the Washington Cares Fund, announced a news release from the Washington State Employment Security Department. The Cares Fund is the state’s new long-term care insurance program. “Most of us will need some form of long-term care but don’t have a way to pay for it,” said Washington Cares Fund Director Ben Veghte. “Washington Cares will make a modest but critical amount of long-term care coverage affordable for all Washington workers for the first time.”

Abraham Guzman: Quincy SRO focuses on patience and uplifting students.

QUINCY — Abraham Guzman said the job of school resource officer involves a whole lot of responsibilities, only one of which is law enforcement. “For me, the school resource officer means being more of a mentor and advocate for our children in our community. I’m not there to punish or lay down the law.” ...

FIBERED UP: Grant Co. fiber expansion nears finish line

EPHRATA — A decades-long project to provide fiber optic cable, and fiber access, to most Grant County locations is almost done. Terry McKenzie, senior manager of wholesale fiber for the Grant County PUD, said the buildout is scheduled for completion in 2024. “We’re about 90-ish (percent) complete with the project customer base, with the customer count,” McKenzie said. “We’re about 60-ish (percent) complete on miles. The very last year and a half is going to be a lot of miles, getting very little customers, because we waited to do the rural (areas) at the end.” ...

News Bites for June 26, 2023

News briefs from first responder agencies across Grant and Adams counties.

Weather for Monday, June 6, 2023

Weather for Monday, June 26, 2023.

“It was definitely really special”

Moses Lake’s Marwan Warnick had a strong 2023 with the Mavs, aims for similar results in 2024

MOSES LAKE – Marwan Warnick brought home several awards on the tennis court for the Mavericks last season, setting himself up for a strong senior season with Moses Lake. Warnick left the 4A Boys State Tennis Singles tournament with a seventh-place finish, earning Player of the Year, first team and sportsmanship honors in the Columbia Basin Big-Nine...

Volunteers provide free dental care

Moses Lake Seventh-day Adventist congregation helps locals take care of their teeth.

MOSES LAKE — From the outside the Crestview Christian School looked like it does every summer day last Friday and Sunday, but inside it was a dental clinic, and a busy one at that. The Moses Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church congregation and an Adventist charitable organization teamed up to offer a free walk-in clinic. “We’re offering free dental services to the community. Moses Lake and the surrounding area,” organizer Linda Morgan said...

Grant Co. seeking new library board member

EPHRATA - The Grant County Commissioners Office announced Thursday they are seeking an interested citizen of Grant County to serve on the North Central Washington Libraries Board of Trustees, preferably one with a variety of skill sets...

Eastern Washington wineries earn awards

OLYMPIA - Nearly 80 wineries located throughout Eastern Washington won numerous medals at the 2023 Washington Wine Awards, according to an announcement from the organizers of the event, which was held in April...

Soap Lake council passes 6-year Transpo Plan.

SOAP LAKE - The Soap Lake City Council unanimously passed a motion Wednesday to update and amend the city’s Six-Year Transportation Improvement Plan. With the motion passed, the Council will now submit the plan to the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board...

MLK Committee celebrates Juneteenth

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Martin Luther King Jr. Committee commemorated a milestone in American history with a Juneteenth celebration June 17 at McCosh Park. The festivities included dancing, music, poetry, exhibits and games. “(Juneteenth) recognizes the contribution and struggles of African Americans in the United States, and it commemorates the end of slavery and the beginning of a new era of freedom,” wrote Miranda Bridges, vice president of the Moses Lake MLK Committee, said via email. “Juneteenth also serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight for racial equality and justice. It is a time for reflections, education and celebration of African American culture and history.” ...

CWU police expect therapy dog to make positive impacts

ELLENSBURG - The Central Washington University Police Department has a new best friend. And once the rest of campus gets to know him, they will, too. During a brief ceremony on May 30, Chief Jason Berthon-Koch swore in Archie, a therapy dog and the newest member of the police department. In a letter to colleagues, the chief said Archie's primary mission will be to provide support, comfort, and stress relief to CWU students, faculty, and staff — and "lend a helping paw when it matters the most." ...

Wilson Creek hosts bluegrass gathering

WILSON CREEK — Bluegrass in the Park is set to start today at Wilson Creek City Park. The inaugural event is set to bring music and visitors to one of Grant County’s smallest towns. “I've been listening to bluegrass my whole life,” said the event’s organizer Shirley Billings, whose family band plays on their porch every year for the crowd at the Little Big Show. “My whole family plays bluegrass. And I just wanted to kind of get something for the community going. So I just invited all the people that I know and they’ll come and camp and jam.” ...

Basin community calendar for June 23-25

COLUMBIA BASIN – There’s no need to be bored this weekend. Head out to enjoy these community events and spend some time with your neighbors...

George council OKs chickens, tables park district

GEORGE — Pavement, parks and poultry were among the topics of discussion at the George City Council meeting Tuesday. The first order of business was bids for street improvements to North Washington Way and East Montmorency Boulevard. The low bidder was Wheeler Excavation, which City Attorney Chuck Zimmerman pointed out had performed street improvements on South Washington Way. The council voted to award the contract to Wheeler for just less than $1.2 million...