MLSD board approves walking path agreement

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District will pay up to 50%, to a maximum of $50,000, of the cost of building a walking path along East Nelson Road on the approach to Groff Elementary. “Last year, the school district and the city were working together to partner on a walking path to (Groff Elementary). For some reason that fell apart last year, even though we had met with a contractor. We walked the property, the city has the space to do it on the right of way, but it fell through,” MLSD Board Chair Kevin Fuhr said. “I am proposing this year that we get it done - we can get it done this summer.” ...

'It Feels Amazing’

Open Doors graduates receive diplomas

MOSES LAKE — Kekuni Robello-Dorsey expressed a common feeling of the students who earned a high school diploma or GED, or both, through the Open Doors Program sponsored by the Moses Lake School District. “It feels amazing,” Robello-Dorsey said. More than 40 students donned caps and gowns for the graduation ceremony at the Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center Thursday. Family and friends filled almost every seat. “I’m blown away right now at the number of people that have come to support these kids,” said Open Doors counselor Annie Hindman in her speech during the ceremony...

Roe overturned: State by state impacts

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that had provided a constitutional right to abortion. The ruling is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states. In anticipation of the decision, several states led by Democrats have taken steps to protect abortion access. The decision also sets up the potential for legal fights between the states over whether providers and those who help women obtain abortions can be sued or prosecuted. Here is an overview of abortion legislation and the expected impact of the court's decision in every state...

Buying still the best option

Despite market challenges, area agents still suggest purchasing over renting

COLUMBIA BASIN - Jennifer Kron a broker with Moses Lake Realty Group said it still makes more sense to purchase rather than rent, despite the increase in mortgage rates, a housing shortage and rising home prices throughout the Columbia Basin. “It’s our job to educate the community and educate the buyers and remind them that it is still the best investment of your life to purchase real estate,” said Kron...

Legals for June, 24 2022

CWU to host high school basketball camp starting this weekend

ELLENSBURG - Central Washington University will be hosting a basketball camp on its courts this weekend, hosting varsity, junior varsity and freshman teams from around the state. Wildcat head coach Brandon Rinta said the camp - which runs Saturday through Tuesday - is a great way to build relationships with the area athletes and coaches. “What I love is the relationships that are built between our staff and all the high school coaches across the state,” Rinta said. “That’s what we put a lot of effort into throughout the camp, is just building those relationships, getting to know them.” ...

Golf tourney set to raise money for Warden wrestling

WARDEN - Warden wrestling assistant coach Alan Martinez talked with his fellow coaches and thought back to when they were in high school, and how the teams had challenges with bringing in top-tier clinicians to the school for camps. “We could never bring top-tier clinicians to our area to give our kids camps, and even when camps were available in the area that we're in they're usually too expensive, and a lot of our kids couldn't go to them. So we got together as coaches and just kind of decided how do we make something like this happen for our kids,” Martinez said...

Carlos Elpideo Castro

Carlos Elpideo Castro entered through the gates of heaven on June 19, 2022.

Legals for June, 23 2022

Top NBA Draft prospects have ties with Washington

BROOKLYN, NY - Ahead of today’s 2022 NBA Draft, the state of Washington has ties to two of the top prospects - Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren and Duke’s Paolo Banchero. Banchero committed to the Blue Devils in August of 2020, choosing Duke over finalists Washington, Gonzaga, Tennessee, Arizona and Kentucky. He was the No. 1 power forward in the class of 2021 according to 247 Sports, and the No. 3 overall player in America...

Forecast raises state revenue $1.46 billion

OLYMPIA — A new report from the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council estimates an increase of $1.46 billion in tax collections for the state’s current two-year budget, which was passed in 2021. In a forecast released on Wednesday, the council attributed the increase in tax revenue to the continued strong housing market in Washington, low levels of unemployment, and more spending prompted by rising rates of inflation...

State laws force change in Samaritan financial assistance rules

MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare will change some of its patient financial assistance provisions July 1 in response to changes in Washington law. The changes will affect the number of patients receiving treatment at the hospital who qualify for full assistance, as well as patients who qualify for some assistance. Jen Charlo, director of patient financial services and patient access for Samaritan, said hospital officials were, and are, committed to helping patients find ways to pay the bills. “If there’s an avenue (for assistance), we will help them,” Charlo said. “It all comes down to people applying. We will help them if we can.” ...

Gerald E. Plank

Gerald E. Plank, 72, of Ephrata, Washington, died May 20 in Castro Valley, California after a brief illness.

Joanne Louise Syre

Joanne Louise Syre lived a grace filled life as a loving wife, devoted mother and Oma (grandmother).

Taking back the town

ML church works to take back town from gangs

MOSES LAKE — One Moses Lake church is working to reclaim the town and build community in the middle of an area struggling with gang violence.

Booked! Schedule full for 2022 Grant County Fair

MOSES LAKE — The 2022 Grant County Fair will have a lot of things for people to do. “The fair schedule is full. We are absolutely packed,” said Grant County Fairgrounds Director Jim McKiernan. McKiernan gave an update on fair preparations in a report to Grant County Commissioners Tuesday. The fair is scheduled for Aug. 16 through 20...

Legals for June, 22 2022

AFA clinic travels to Ritzville

RITZVILLE - Mario Adams has been helping young athletes grow their game since 2006, when he was a player at De La Salle High School in Concord, California. Now, he has founded Adams Fundamentals Academy, an organization that helps young athletes focus on the intricacies of basketball to help them make their high school teams, and even go on to play college ball. One of these camps will be making its way to Ritzville in July. “My varsity coach was a very big, influential person in my life, and he's one of my mentors to this day, and I remember back in 2006, he asked me if I would be willing to help him run a basketball camp. Being in high school at that time, you know, I kinda want to have my own vacation. ‘You know, we play basketball year-round coach …,’ (I said). But he says, ‘You know, you have an opportunity to make an impact,’” Adams said ...

Dakota Michael Tapio

Dakota Michael Tapio passed away on May 21, 2022, at age 29.

Area colleges set soccer schedules

WASHINGTON - Conferences announced full schedules for the upcoming collegiate soccer season last week, with Gonzaga, Central Washington and Washington State all seeing their finalized matchups.