Photographer to speak on shooting the stars

MOSES LAKE — Shooting photos of outer space will be the topic of a presentation in Moses Lake Thursday. Astrophotographer Mike Brady will discuss the techniques of capturing the night sky, the equipment needed and the processing that’s needed to make the photos clear at the Moses Lake Civic Center auditorium, starting at 6 p.m. Admission is free, but seating is limited to the first 200 attendees. Brady, who graduated from Big Bend Community College, went on to earn a degree in biology from Central Washington University, followed by a career in the army. When he retired, he taught biology at a community college in North Carolina before coming back to Columbia Basin College in Pasco, where he became the director of the observatory. That’s where he fell in love with photographing the heavens, he said.

Washington to fund more non-armed vehicle pursuit technology for law enforcement

(The Center Square) - As restrictions on law enforcement pursuing criminals are set to take effect on June 6 after passing in the Legislature, the state is offering police agencies a second funding opportunity to buy equipment capable of pursuing suspects without the use of firearms.

WA law enforcement org weights in on pursuit law changes

(The Center Square) – In less than two months, law enforcement agencies across Washington state will have a less restrictive set of rules when it comes to vehicle pursuits of fleeing suspects.

Area leaders assemble to address opioid epidemic

DESERT AIRE – Leaders from around the Columbia Basin gathered at the Wanapum Heritage Center Thursday to discuss the ongoing battle against Fentanyl – a synthetic opioid that caused nearly two dozen deaths in Grant County last year – and other opioids in the Columbia Basin. “(In Grant County in 2022), for opioids in general there were 486 patients and 23 deaths to an opioid overdose,” said Grant County Health District Harm Reduction Program Coordinator Mariah Delon Munoz.

Chilly and dusty weather returns to the Basin

MOSES LAKE — The good news is the likelihood of snow in Tuesday’s forecast isn’t all that likely in the Columbia Basin. The bad news is that the warm, tantalizing, sunny, summerlike weather is gone and the dust and chilly temperatures will be sticking around for a few days.

Apple Blossom Festival 104-year-old Wenatchee tradition

WENATCHEE — Apples, apple blossoms, parades, a car show, carnival rides, live music, crafts for children, food booths and plenty of activities will fill the streets of Wenatchee during the 104th Apple Blossom Festival. Activities begin this week, with the grand finale, the Stemilt Grand Parade, May 4. There have been some interruptions – little events like World War II and a coronavirus pandemic – but for the most part, Apple Blossom has been part of Wenatchee since 1920. Director Darci Christoferson said the festival’s purpose, then and now, is to highlight the Wenatchee Valley and the industry that gave it a big part of its identity - and still plays a crucial role in the valley’s economy. “It celebrates our comm

Law enforcement reports for April 12, 2024

Ephrata Police Department, Moses Lake Police Department, Grant County Jail

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.

Classic Grill’n

Othello’s newest sit-down barbecue café opens for business

OTHELLO – Othello-based catering business and food truck Classic Grill’n has been operating in the area for about 20 years, helmed by barbecue lovers Tim and Birdie Fought. Now they’ve opened the very first sit-down Classic Grill’n café.

Big Bend co-op's Caring Neighbors donates $10K to local organizations

RITZVILLE – According to an April 3 announcement, nonprofit organization Caring Neighbors, a five-member volunteer board established by Big Bend Electric Co-op, recently donated more than $10,000 to eight local non-profit organizations.

Ybarra sees wins, disappointments in 2024 legislative session

OLYMPIA — Washington state Rep. Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, who represents the 13th legislative district, said there are a lot of things that went well during the short 60-day 2024 legislative session in Olympia. Ybarra said this was his sixth and best session, as he was able to put a lot more bills into the legislature. “I think it went better than the first five sessions I was at. This was the best session yet, because we're always playing catch-up,” he said. “There's nothing that we can pass because we lack votes, and that’s just a given, so because of that we always just basically try to stop bad bills.”

Agencies team up to head off fire season

OLYMPIA — A collection of state and federal agencies will join forces this year to combat wildfires, according to an announcement from the Washington Department of Ecology.

Grant County building permits Feb. 24 – April 1

Grant County building permits Feb. 24 – April 1

Earned honor: Civil Air Patrol celebrates prestigious cadet promotion

EPHRATA — Daisy Carpenter, a member of the Columbia Basin Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, was promoted from cadet first lieutenant to cadet captain during a ceremony at Camp Boucher in Ephrata Thursday evening.

Othello museum requests funds from Adams County

OTHELLO – The March 27 Adams County Commissioners’ meeting in Othello featured an update from the Othello Community Museum on its operations, as well as a request for financial assistance for the museum to start its own website. Secretary for the museum LuAnn Morgan introduced the request.

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.

On the flip side

Moses Lake youth qualify for gymnastics finals

MOSES LAKE — Sometimes working really, really hard at something pays off. As the athletes at AIM Gymnastics are finding out. The club, which has about 70 gymnasts ranging in age from 11 to almost 18, has four going to regional competitions this year. One competition will be held in Boise, according to coach Natassia Garcia, and the other in Anchorage. Many of them have been doing gymnastics most of their lives, they said. Clara Knapp is 15, a freshman at Moses Lake High School, and she’s spent 12 1/2 years learning and practicing. “I'm glad I started young because I have so much flexibility and stuff I can do, like flips that a lot of people my age can't do,” she said. “It gives me something to show off.”

Mammoth exhibit comes to Moses Lake museum

MOSES LAKE — Mammoths are kind of hard to find these days, but local folks will get to see the next best thing Saturday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center.

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.

UPS to become primary carrier for USPS

UPS will become the primary air cargo provider for the United States Postal Service. The Atlanta shipping company said Monday that it had received an air cargo contract from the U.S. Postal Service that significantly expands an existing partnership between the two. UPS will move the majority of air cargo in the U.S. for the postal service following a transition period, according to UPS. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.