Vernon Mullings

1948 — 2025

Vernon Oscar Mullings left his earthly body behind and went home to be with his Savior, Jesus, and experience the glory and presence of God firsthand, on October 4th, 2025. He was 77.

Long-term GCAO residents still hope for homes

MOSES LAKE – For many furry friends, a forever home can often feel like a distant dream. At the Grant County Animal Outreach, three dogs have taken up residence longer than others, waiting patiently for their chance to find loving families.

Crestview School plans Fall Festival Sunday

MOSES LAKE — Crestview Christian School will hold its traditional Fall Festival Sunday, with bouncy houses, pony rides, games and more on Oct. 12. “Thirty-plus years we’ve had Fall Festival, and generally it’s been on a Saturday night,” said Azure Goltz, a volunteer at the school. “This year we decided to try a Sunday afternoon and see how that would work.”

MLSD board passes resolution on sex-ed

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District Board passed resolution 2026-02 about sexual education at the Oct. 2 meeting.

150-acre fire burns near SR 17

SOAP LAKE — At around 2 p.m. firefighters were called to a brush fire around milepost 81 on state Route 17 at the south end of Lake Lenore. “Heavy sage brush and dry lands fueled the fire,” Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman said. The fire quickly spread to around 150 acres. As of 5 p.m. crews are still working on containment. There is no threat to the public, Foreman said.

Quincy Renew office closed for remodeling beginning next week

QUINCY — The Quincy office of Renew, Grant County’s mental health provider, will be closed for most of October and all of November while the space is remodeled. “The Quincy building closure is temporary and part of a planned renovation to improve client experience and service delivery,” wrote Dayana Ruiz, Renew community relations manager, in response to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald. “The Quincy office has served the community for many years, and these updates will create a more welcoming, accessible, and efficient space for both clients and staff.” The Quincy facility is owned by Grant County, she said, and as a result Renew officials want to keep it in good condition.

Downtown improvements part of proposed 2026 Moses Lake city budget

MOSES LAKE — If it’s approved by the Moses Lake City Council, changes could be coming to Third Avenue and downtown in general to make it more appealing to residents and non-residents alike.

Basin football round up – week 5

MOSES LAKE – October is here, and the Basin football teams have completed another week of competition. Some teams continued to show their dominance while others faced tough challenges. See below where your favorite teams stand and their current records.

ACH Warriors dominant at home

COULEE CITY — On Friday, the Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors (3-1) were victorious 58-20 over the visiting Curlew Cougars. The Warriors dominated with their run game. Head Coach Brandon Walsh said his players were sharp in all phases of the game. “We're happy with how we played,” Walsh said. “It was fun to see the kids starting to take on some of the little things that matter for good teams. We're getting better at some of that stuff, and it's starting to show in the results."

FIRE REPORT: Oct. 7, 2025

Fire season coming to an end

MOSES LAKE — The fire season is starting to come to an end in Washington, according to Department of Natural Resources Communications Manager Ryan Rodruck. “We’re certainly winding down the season,” Rodruck said. “I would say that for western Washington, we have seen that season-ending precipitation at this point. I would not expect any large, costly fires to materialize in western Washington at this point.” However, eastern and central Washington are still waiting for season-ending precipitation, which will likely not happen this week, Rodruck said.

Mark Murray Wilson

Feb. 8, 1961 – Aug. 18, 2025

Mark Murray Wilson, beloved father, grandfather, brother, son, husband, and friend, passed away on Aug. 18, 2025, at the age of 64. He was born Feb. 8, 1961, to Geraldine (Murray) and Jerry Wilson. Raised in Moses Lake, Mark was known for his adventurous spirit and his love for life. As a young man, he was a bit of a wild child who loved baseball and loved his friends, always exploring and making memories that would last a lifetime. He married his junior high sweetheart, Lisa Gibson, in 1982 and together they raised four daughters Tiffany, Nichol, Courtney and Brittney. Throughout his life, family was at the heart of everything he did. He worked hard to provide for his family and was a proud and dedicated father.

September in review

COLUMBIA BASIN – September in the Columbia Basin was filled with events, new businesses and athletes excelling in their sports.

Josephine Hoff

Nov. 22, 1924 – July 4, 2025

Jo Hoff, 100, passed away peacefully in her home in Ephrata on July 4, 2025. She was born to Ralph and Mary Walker in Burke, South Dakota, on Nov. 22, 1924. She met the love of her life, Jacob Hoff, and married him on Sept. 27, 1942. After the war, they adopted Mary Jo and Michael. They raised them in South Dakota and Soap Lake. They moved to Grant County, Washington, in 1968. Jo was a lover of animals. She is survived by her son Michael Hoff of Ephrata and grandson Tyson, grandchildren Michele Deems (Aaron) of Carmichaels, Pennsylvania, great-grandchildren Jacob Riddle of Del Rio, Texas and Jared Broyhill of Ruther Glen, Virginia, Brandon Mccann of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania and Jacob Deems of Carmichael, Pennsylvania, Jody Forrest and great-granddaughter Lily of Ephrata, Beth Ries (Jonathan) and great-grandchildren Isaac, Jacob, Josephine and Cecilia of East Helena, Montana, and grandsons Robert Wilkinson of Bakersfield, California, and Justin Adreniran of Selah, Washington. She is also survived by her many loving nieces and nephews, cousins, and relatives around the world. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Jacob Hoff; siblings Ann Marie Hullinger, John Walker, and Lilian Peters; daughter Mary Jo Wilkinson; grandsons Michael Yount and Derek Adreniran; and several relatives.

David's pick sets up winning FG as Bucs beat Seahawks 38-35 in duel between Mayfield and Darnold

SEATTLE (AP) — Lavonte David slid toward the middle of the field in anticipation as Buccaneers teammate Antoine Winfield Jr. pressured Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold. After a deflection off defensive end Logan Hall’s helmet, David found himself in the right spot to intercept Darnold with 58 seconds left. His pick set up Chase McLaughlin's 39-yard field goal as time expired, and Tampa Bay escaped with a thrilling 38-35 win over Seattle on Sunday.

MLEA protests for contract negotiations adding back elementary programming

MOSES LAKE – Members of the Moses Lake Educators Alliance, Wenatchee School District employees and residents picketed before Thursday evening’s school board meeting. The group of over 200 chanted down Yonezawa Boulevard, in front of CB Tech, asking for the reinstatement of an additional 30 minutes of instructional time in elementary schools and calling for a fair contract.

TAKE3 to mix classical with rock Wednesday

MOSES LAKE — Classic rock will rub elbows with, well, classic classical music, Wednesday evening at the Wallenstien Theater.

Youth Dynamics auction to have a ’50s twist

MOSES LAKE — It’s time to dust off the poodle skirts and penny loafers. The theme for the annual benefit auction for Christian outreach Youth Dynamics is “Twist & Shout for Youth,” bringing a 1950s vibe, said YD Director Sean Sallis.

MOSES LAKE CITY COUNCIL 1 Q&A: Martinez vs. Davis

MOSES LAKE — Deanna Martinez and Jeremy Davis are running for Position 1 on the Moses Lake City Council. The Columbia Basin Herald sent identical questions to each candidate with a 150-word limit on the answers. Martinez did not respond by the deadline.

Budget cuts projected to reduce Moses Lake 2026 deficit

MOSES LAKE — The city of Moses Lake’s general fund is projected to have a smaller deficit than it did in 2025, but still to have a deficit. While spending in the general fund is projected to decrease, the city’s overall preliminary budget includes an increase in capital projects.

Knights fight into overtime to win against Cashmere

ROYAL CITY – The Royal Knights (5-0) pulled off a comeback in overtime to defeat the Cashmere Bulldogs 21-15 Friday. Head Coach Wiley Allred said a win like this serves as a valuable experience for his players who have not often played in situations like that. “We just had a lot of mental mistakes, but it was a great growing experience for the players, and they fought like crazy all game long, played hard,” Allred said.