Washington sports schedule June 21-27

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

Rattling Portland

Local 18U team competes at Valley Invite in Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. – The 18U Moses Lake Rattlers were one of nearly 60 teams to compete at the Triple Crown Valley Invite in Portland, Oregon over the weekend, though the final day of competition was rained out.

Sustainable jet fuel production coming to Grant Co.

MOSES LAKE — Groundbreaking is scheduled for early July for a new facility that its owners say will manufacture aviation fuel from hydrogen, carbon dioxide and electricity. Nicholas Flanders, co-founder and CEO of Berkley, California-based Twelve, announced the construction of the new facility Monday at the Paris Air Show, accompanied by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. “We have a groundbreaking next month,” said Richard Hanover, director of business development for the Port of Moses Lake Tuesday...

UPDATED: Gorge victims, alleged shooter identified

EPHRATA — Grant County Coroner Craig Morrison has released the identities of the two fatally-shot victims from the Sunday evening shooting at The Gorge Amphitheatre’s campground and Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete has identified the alleged shooter. “The suspect is 26-year-old James M. Kelly of Joint Base Lewis-McChord. He was hospitalized for a gunshot wound and was returned to Grant County today where he is lodged in the Grant County Jail. He is held for investigation of two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, and one count of first-degree assault domestic violence,” Kriete said...

Newhouse to help lead field hearing on Lower Snake River Dams

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, will help lead a field hearing in Richland for members of the House Natural Resources Committee on the importance of Eastern Washington’s Lower Snake River dams, according to an announcement from Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, who will join Newhouse at the hearing...

BBCC celebrates a first with 2023 graduation

MOSES LAKE — With cloud cover providing cool weather Friday evening at Lions Field in Downtown Moses Lake, Big Bend Community College made history conferring its new Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management degree on 26 students along with 513 other graduates who received associate degrees or high school diplomas. “I really want to thank Big Bend for implementing this new BAS-AM program and making it accessible to our community,” said BAS-AM Cohort 1 representative Shelley Mease...

Applications open for broadband funding grants

OLYMPIA — The Washington Public Works Board is currently accepting applications for broadband construction funding offering a total of $13.5 million in low-interest loans for projects in unserved areas of the state, according to an announcement from the Washington Department of Commerce...

MarDon Resort Fresh News: Keep an eye on depth

MARDON - The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1041.00 feet – dropping 1.10 feet this week, as of Tuesday. The water temperature is right around 70 degrees on the main reservoir. The water temps in the sand dunes are in the low-to-mid-70s...

Senator steps down to serve as Kitsap commissioner

OLYMPIA - Sen. Christine Rolfes (D-Bainbridge Island) announced her resignation Tuesday from the Washington State Senate. She is stepping down to serve on the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners, according to a press release from her office...

News Bites for June 20, 2023

OTHELLO — Caring Neighbors, a nonprofit established by Big Bend Energy Cooperative, donated $2,375 to Adams County Fire District 5 on Thursday, according to an announcement from ACFD 5. The money will help to fund the replacement of older extrication tools, the announcement said.

Idaho shooting leaves four dead

KELLOGG, Idaho – Four people are dead and a Kellogg man is in custody following a shooting on Father’s Day. "This is a tragic situation that will affect the Kellogg community. Detectives continue working to establish a timeline and what led to the shooting," Idaho State Patrol District 1 Investigations Lieutenant Paul Berger said. "As this case will go through the judicial process, we are ensuring every angle is covered with a thorough investigation." ...

Washington wildfire summary for June 19

MOSES LAKE — These are the wildfires that were burning in Washington as of Monday afternoon, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow website...

Mattawa considering second cleanup event

MATTAWA — The spring cleanup in Mattawa was a big enough success that city officials are considering a second one in the summer or fall. “We collected 10.8 tons, which is 21,000 pounds of solid waste,” said city Public Works Director Juan Ledezma during the Mattawa City Council meeting June 15...

BBCC to debut Intro to Communications

MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Communications Studies Department will add a new course to its offerings this year, Introduction to Communications, according to an announcement from the college...

Prowler caught following assault

MOSES LAKE — A suspected vehicle prowler who allegedly punched his victim and fled was caught in Moses Lake Wednesday...

Late Wanapum leader honored by Grant PUD

Rex Buck, Jr. recognized for contributions preserving tribal heritage, culture.

EPHRATA — The late Rex “Puck Hyah Toot” Buck Jr., longtime leader of the Wanapum, was honored by the Grant County Public Utility District commissioners at their regular meeting June 13. The resolution follows the end of a year of respect traditionally observed by the Wanapum after the death of a tribal member...

River Dogs drop North Spokane

Local sluggers knock down Dodgers on the diamond in memorial tourney.

EPHRATA — The 18U Columbia Basin River Dogs ended the Jerry Henderson Memorial Tournament with a win on Sunday over the North Spokane Dodgers, using a four-run rally in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead after being down three runs. “With a young ball club and playing quality, older teams, what we were most impressed with was their ability to continue to fight despite sometimes making young mistakes,” said Brock Lybbert, co-head coach for the River Dogs. “They were able to gut out some of those wins by continuing to compete and stay in the fight.” ...

School is OUT for MLSD retiree

‘I truly love the seven (and) eight-year-olds. I’ve always just related.’

MOSES LAKE — Joan Dopps said her career as a second grade teacher started with a visit to her former second grade teacher. “I went through many different bouts of ‘what am I going to do.’ I worked a year in a bank; I got an AA degree from Big Bend,” she said. “I went to visit (her former teacher) in California. And then I came back home and quit the bank, commuted to Ellensburg and became a teacher.” ...

Basin prepped for July 4

Area communities set to celebrate nation's birthday.

COLUMBIA BASIN — The nation’s birthday will be celebrated with parades, tournaments, flash and plenty of sparkles, with three local communities sponsoring festivities and fireworks. Moses Lake leads off with “Red, White and Boom!” July 1...

Juneteenth 2023 weather

Juneteenth: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. West wind 6 to 11 mph. A 20% chance of showers evening that will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 47...