White Trail roundabout may open next week

QUINCY — The new roundabout at White Trail Road and State Route 28 could be ready for traffic by next week and possibly by tomorrow, although that’s less likely. “Looks like we could see the intersection open by early next week, with a couple of days of flagging to add permanent striping after the materials have set,” wrote Lauren Loebsack, communications manager for the North Central region of the Washington Department of Transportation, in answer to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald...

Samaritan, Sportsman’s Warehouse team up to give away gun lockboxes

MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Hospital, along with a number of sponsors including Sportsman’s Warehouse, are teaming up to give away 300 lockboxes on Saturday to help people keep their handguns safely stored, according to a Samaritan statement. The giveaway will be held at Sportsman’s Warehouse at 1020 N. Stratford Rd. in Moses Lake on Saturday, June 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m, according to Carrie Nordberg, Samaritan Hospital’s physician recruiter and community outreach specialist, and is the first fully live version of the lockbox giveaway since 2019, prior to the outbreak of COVID-19...

Section of Quincy pool opening may be delayed

QUINCY — One section of the Quincy Aquatic Center may open late this summer, or may not open at all. Parks and Recreation Director Russ Harrington said mandatory revisions to the original pool, called the lap pool, may keep it dry for at least part of the summer. “Whenever you go to do something new to your pool, you have to come up to that (current) standard,” Harrington said Wednesday...

Addressing the Basin's water future

Local business leaders discuss water and other challenges in economic development.

MOSES LAKE — Kristofer Johnson noticed something a little different about the concerns of the Moses Lake business people who gathered to hear him speak on Wednesday. “Water. Water percolated here, which hasn’t in a lot of communities, I would say,” said Johnson, president and CEO of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s chamber of commerce. “I think that’s the next big challenge we have as a state, for communities, for industrial land development, for residential land development, it’s about water.” ...

Bill to protect gas stoves introduced in Congress

OLYMPIA — A bill introduced Monday would protect gas stoves from proposed federal limitations, according to an announcement from Rep. Dan Newhouse, R – Washington. In February, the U.S. Department of Energy proposed an “energy efficiency standard” for gas cooking products. This would be the first energy performance standard imposed on residential cooktops, the announcement said...

News Bites for June 7, 2023

EPHRATA — Some special kids will get a chance to wear the chief’s hat Thursday...

Lane changes

Mattawa approves speed limit update, no-parking zones.

MATTAWA — Speed limits will be lowered to 25 miles per hour on Road 24 SW from the roundabout at State Route 281 to Pat-Chee Drive, and no parking will be allowed on sections of Boundary Road and Riverview Avenue. Mattawa City Council members approved the changes after extensive discussion at the regular meeting June 1...

Summer entertainment coming up for local communities

EPHRATA – A long summer evening just seems like a good time to be outside. Three local towns will help families make the most of summer evenings with a monthly series of free outdoor movies. In Ephrata there’s also a free summer music series....

Congrats Desert Oasis grads!

OTHELLO - Graduation season is continuing across the Columbia Basin. As a reminder, we will be printing a special keepsake edition with full coverage of local graduations on June 14.

Varner named CEO of Washington STEM

SEATTLE — Washington STEM recently tapped Lynne K. Varner to be its new CEO, according to a release from the organization...

Birth announcements for June 7, 2023

The Columbia Basin welcomed several new residents over the last few weeks.

Health district seeks volunteers to sample lake water

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Health District and the Columbia Basin Conservation District are looking for volunteers who can regularly collect water samples from Moses Lake and take pictures to help both districts and the general public stay informed about the condition of the lake water...

Saddle up!

State high school rodeo finals coming to Grant County Fairgrounds in 2024 and 2025.

MOSES LAKE — The Washington State High School Rodeo Association finals are coming to the Grant County Fairgrounds in 2024 and 2025, according to incoming association President Chance Gartner. The state championship will feature high school and junior high school-age riders, Gartner said, and will take place on Memorial Day weekend both years...

Washington sports schedule June 7-13

COLUMBIA BASIN — Check out this week’s Washington sports schedule, featuring professional, collegiate and local events across the state. Wednesday, May 7 Seattle Mariners at San Diego Padres - 1:10 p.m. NCAA Outdoor National Championships - men’s track and field meet including athletes from EWU, Gonzaga and WSU. Begins at 7:30 p.m. at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.

Fish & Wildlife encourages hunter education before fall busy season

OLYMPIA — The fall hunting season may seem a long way off, but it’s still time to think about mandatory hunter education classes before it begins, according to a press release from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife...

Saving those who served

Empathy key to reducing veteran suicides.

EPHRATA — Every 28 seconds or so, a U.S. military veteran attempts to take their own life. “Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the U.S. There were 46,000 deaths by suicide in 2020 and there were 1.15 million attempts,” said Mike Badgley, a suicide prevention peer specialist for the Washington State Department of Military Affairs...

Reclamation releases Yakima Basin June water supply forecast

YAKIMA – The Bureau of Reclamation’s June 2023 water supply forecast for the Yakima basin indicates the water supply will be adequate to meet irrigation demands this season. The June–September total water supply available would provide senior water rights 100% of entitlements and junior water rights 77% of entitlements.

News bites for June 6, 2023

SOAP LAKE — A hike took a frightening turn when a hiker fell at the Lenore Caves Friday afternoon. At about 2 p.m., responders from Grant County Fire District 17 were called to the scene about half a mile from the parking lot of the popular hiking area north of Soap Lake. There they found a middle-aged woman who had fallen and injured her leg and hip, according to a statement from the fire district. The victim was unable to walk, the statement said...

CBBRC hosts Spring Classic race

MOSES LAKE – The Columbia Basin Barrel Racing Club kicked off its classic race schedule with the Spring Classic on Saturday at the Grant County Fairgrounds, where riders competed in two races on Saturday morning.

Dru Gimlin 3-on-3 tournament takes to streets of Quincy

QUINCY – The Dru Gimlin 3-on-3 basketball tournament returned to the streets of downtown Quincy on Saturday, commemorating the 20th year of the Dru Gimlin Foundation and honoring the 20 years since Gimlin’s passing in February 2003.