Design of new Quincy Valley Medical Center released

QUINCY — Cost estimates for the new Quincy Valley Medical Center should be available by mid-May. Preliminary exterior design drawings of the building were released late last week, and hospital officials will be hiring electrical and mechanical contractors. “It definitely feels real now,” said QVMC commissioner Anthony Fernandez during an April 24 meeting of the hospital district commission. Hospital district voters approved a construction bond for up to $55 million in August 2022.

Weather for Monday, May 1, 2023

Monday: A 30% ance of showers before 11 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Southwest wind around 6 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Monday night should see a 20% chance of showers after 11 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83, while Tuesday night should be partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Wednesday night is forecast a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 56. The chance of precipitation is 20%. Thursday: A 20% chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 78, while Thursday night should see a 40% chance of showers and mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Friday: A 30% chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67.

Moses Lake FFA plant sale does brisk business

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake High School FFA co-advisor Tony Kern, busy helping a customer, had a one-word reaction to the early Friday morning crowd at the annual FFA plant sale. “Incredible,” Kern said.

Remembering the day the volcano blew

MOSES LAKE — It’s been 43 years since Mt. St. Helens erupted, spewing ash across vast swaths of the Pacific Northwest, covering towns, roads and fields of crops, and permanently changing the lives of many for days and weeks to follow. “It was just everywhere. People put pans out. They were shoveling it,” said Stephanie Massart, the regent of the Karneetsa Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Moses Lake. “People were using wheelbarrows to put it out on the street and dump trucks would come pick it up.”

‘The godfather of softball’

Huskies celebrate Ochoa, seniors in wins over Grandview

OTHELLO – Wrapped around the Huskie’s doubleheader against Grandview on Friday was a day of celebration – first for the 10 seniors on this year’s varsity and junior varsity squads, then for longtime head coach and Washington State Coaches Association Hall of Fame member Rudy Ochoa. After a celebration held in between games for the seniors – including Camryn McDonald, Makiah Galindo and Natalie Martinez off the Othello varsity squad – Othello students, alumni, fellow coaches, administrators and fans gathered around the softball field for a ceremony for Ochoa’s final regular season home game as head coach of the Huskies...

Warriors win SCAC East

MATTAWA – The Wahluke boys soccer team clinched the South Central Athletic Conference (East) with Thursday’s 8-0 win over Kiona-Benton, ending the regular season with a record of 11-3-2.

Hospital update, MLHS girls wrestling coach David Peralez on Studio Basin Podcast

MOSES LAKE – On this episode of the Studio Basin podcast, senior reporter Cheryl Schweizer and staff writer Rebecca Pettingill discuss this week's headlines, including the Blake Fix and an update on the Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake. Next, sports reporter Ian Bivona sits down with David Peralez, the head coach of the girls wrestling team at Moses Lake, to talk about the team's 3A/4A state title, being nationally recognized and more. The Studio Basin podcast can be found on your favorite podcasting apps, or downloaded directly at https://bit.ly/3Hpfo4C.

Local fastpitch teams win tournaments

COLUMBIA BASIN – Two local fastpitch teams took home championships at tournaments in mid-April, as the Washington Rage 14U and 10U squads found success on the diamond...

Governor signs My Health, My Data Act into law

OLYMPIA – Thursday, Governor Jay Inslee signed House Bill 1155, the WA My Health, My Data Act into law. The bill is aimed at protecting Washingtonians' personal health data. “As a mother and a pharmacist, I recognize the importance of protecting our health data and access to comprehensive health care,” said prime sponsor Rep. Vandana Slatter, D-Bellevue. “As a woman and a legislator, I am honored to have sponsored the My Health, My Data Act in the House to protect all Washingtonians' health and data privacy in Washington state, including reproductive and gender-affirming care.” ...

Ironworks Cafe and Market

Othello business seeks to provide customers unique experiences with a touch of history.

OTHELLO – Ironworks Cafe and Market in Othello is located at 335 S. Broadway in the old welding and fabrication shop. Today they serve a variety of amenities such as coffee, food, and different floral and plant starts. The owner Erika Rattray has had Ironworks open since 2014 and since then has been seeking to provide her customers a more and more enriching experience especially now that the restrictions brought on by Covid-19 have been lifted...

You’re all doers’

Job Corp graduates prepare to make their mark in the world

MOSES LAKE — It was a small ceremony as commencements go, but the emotions were huge at the Columbia Basin Job Corps Center graduation. “This is home,” said Susan Mann, the center’s liaison officer. “Most of the students are here for about a year, 24-seven. They become very, very well-bonded. That's actually the part of Job Corps that I've always loved, is that student bonding."

‘Full of knowledge’

Symposium digs deep in eco-gardening techniques

MOSES LAKE — The Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center was a hive of activity Saturday, hosting the sixth annual Columbia Basin Eco-Gardening Symposium. “The list of the exhibitors didn't look that long,” said Dinah Rouleau, project manager with the Columbia Basin Conservation District. “But when you went there was filled up with a lot of really full informational booths and really knowledgeable people.” ...

Letter from the editor: Fond farewell

MOSES LAKE – Rebecca Pettingill, one of the Columbia Basin Herald’s reporters for the last few years is leaving the publication for an opportunity with Big Bend Community College...

Public invited to ad hoc homeless committee meeting Tuesday

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake city’s Ad Hoc Homeless Committee will hold a public meeting to solicit input on the future site of the city’s proposed homeless RV parking site in the city council chambers on Tuesday, May 2, at 6 p.m.

Two arrested in Soap Lake burglary

SOAP LAKE — Two Soap Lake men have been booked into the Grant County Jail on suspicion of residential burglary and malicious mischief after they allegedly broke into a Soap Lake residence late Wednesday afternoon...

'The work really now begins'

Groundbreaking could come in late summer for new Samaritan Hospital

MOSES LAKE — The dirt won’t be flying for a while, but the work will ramp up on the construction of the new Samaritan Hospital. “The work really now begins,” said Chief Administrative Officer Alex Town...

Steele elected House Republicans deputy leader

OLYMPIA – During a recent reorganizational meeting, Rep. Mike Steele, R-Chelan, was elected Deputy Leader of the Washington State House Republicans...

Canal access to expand

Odessa water project gets $32.8M in state funding

OTHELLO — The Washington State Legislature’s recently passed $8.98 billion capital budget for 2023-25 includes $32.8 million in funding to help extend the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program, according to a press release from the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District. "The funding for the Odessa (Groundwater Replacement Program) is huge," said Washington State Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake...

I-90 upgrades

Construction coming to east-west thoroughfare vital for Washington travel, economy.

GRANT COUNTY — Travel along I-90 between Ellensburg and North Bend through Snoqualmie Pass will be interesting for the next few years as the Washington State Department of Transportation prepares for the next phase of improvements to the eastbound section of the interstate and replaces the Vantage Bridge. “It’s the primary east-west corridor for the state,” said Madison Scully, a design project engineer with WSDOT, during a Moses Lake City Council meeting on Tuesday. “It’s very important for the state.” ...

CWU athletes set PRs at Wildcat Open

ELLENSBURG – Along with honoring seniors, Central Washington track and field had 30 athletes set personal records and 11 titles were won at last weekend’s Wildcat Open, the lone home meet of the 2023 season...