2023 Othello Fair coming to town Wednesday to Saturday

OTHELLO – The Othello Fair will be held this week from Wednesday to Saturday at the Adams County Fairgrounds. Fairgoers can expect a variety of games, rides, attractions, competitions, livestock showings, food vendors and entertainment over the week, according to the Othello Fair website...

Patsy Lynn Kelly Bates

April 26, 1953 – Aug. 31, 2023

Patsy Lynn Kelly Bates, 70, of Moses Lake, passed away at home with her dogs and family by her side on August 31, 2023, after a long battle with health issues...

Fire safety for the elderly

OLYMPIA – According to a report published by the U.S. Fire Administration, people over the age of 65 face the greatest risk of dying in a fire. That is more than two-and-a-half times that of the general population of the United States. As people age, they may become unable to react quickly in emergency situations, or may take medication that slows their ability to make rapid decisions. Last year in Washington state, 63% of the people who died in fires were age 50 or older. The State Fire Marshal’s Office encourages the following safety tips:

Legals for September, 7 2023

Legals for September, 1 2023

Quincy superintendent welcomes students back

Dear Quincy School District families,  Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! I hope you had a wonderful summer break...

Coulee Medical Center important resource in isolated area

GRAND COULEE — Coulee Medical Center is one of those places that highlights the challenges and opportunities of rural medicine. “We’re just really looking to see what can we do that makes sense. That’s financially viable, that meets our mission and the needs of the community,” said Chief Executive Officer (and Chief Nursing Officer) Roberta Hicks. One of the examples is the Grand Coulee-based hospital’s obstetrics department, the only one in the area with the exception of Mid-Valley Hospital in Omak. Hicks said it’s a necessary service. “If you can make it to Omak from here, it’s 58 miles,” she said.

Homeland Security, Dept. of Education announce school safety awareness campaign

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in partnership with the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services and Justice, announced Aug. 17 it had launched a public awareness campaign to highlight federal school safety resources and evidence-based practices available through SchoolSafety.gov...

Homeland Security, DOE push school safety awareness

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in partnership with the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services and Justice, announced Aug. 17 it had launched a public awareness campaign to highlight federal school safety resources and evidence-based practices available through SchoolSafety.gov. “Government has few responsibilities more important than ensuring the safety of our communities – especially our children. To protect our children and educators, we must ensure the schools they attend and work in are safe and secure,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.

Ephrata superintendent welcomes students back

Ephrata Students, Families and Educators: It is with great joy and a heart full of gratitude that I welcome you all back to Ephrata Schools for the start of a new school year...

Ephrata boil advisory lifted

EPHRATA — The boil water advisory for the city of Ephrata was lifted shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday, Ephrata City Administrator Ray Towry said. The advisory had been issued because of some concerns with water pressure and backflow into the city’s water infrastructure. “We felt very confident the results would indicate there was no threat to the community based on the situation, and we think the state drinking water people felt the same way. That’s why it was an advisory boil and not a full-blown boil order. It was strictly a precautionary step,” said City Administrator Ray Towry...

Eagle offense shows efficiency in Monday scrimmage

CHENEY, Wash. — After having their scrimmage on Saturday canceled due to poor air quality caused by nearby wildfires, the Eastern Washington University football team was able to get back on the field on Monday afternoon for their first team scrimmage of fall camp. Offense earned bragging rights after two unexpected off days, turning in several highlight reel plays.

The lies advertisers tell you

“Why, all advertising is exaggerated. Nobody believes it”, said Coca-Cola's attorney, which inspired Coke’s Sam C. Dobbs to create a group of businesses to monitor each other’s advertising and was the beginning of the Better Business Bureau. During Dobbs' time, the early 20th century, advertising promised consumers various outcomes; however, the claims weren’t based on any facts. Fast forward to 2023, and if you have played any gaming apps or viewed social media recently, you have seen ads that promise you will lose weight fast or product offers that are too good to be true. The ads look authentic, and the offer is so enticing that consumers click the buy button. However, many customers are dissatisfied with their purchase after receiving the order because the product wasn’t as advertised or they never received it. While ethical businesses follow advertising codes, the market is filled with fraudulent companies exploiting consumers. How do consumers know if the ad is false and if it is, who can they report it to? With over 110 years of experience, the BBB still holds businesses accountable for eight standards, one of which is to advertise honestly.

GoFundMe hub set up for fire victims

MOSES LAKE, Wash. — A centralized hub has been established at GoFundMe for anyone who would like to help people affected by wildfires in eastern Washington, according to an announcement from the fundraising site. The hub will direct people to organizations that GoFundMe has verified as legitimate, to keep scam artists from preying on potential donors. “Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the wildfires burning throughout Eastern Washington,” GoFundMe Communications Manager and Spokesperson Jeff Platt wrote in the announcement. “At GoFundMe, being a safe and trusted place to give and receive help is our top priority. To help keep the platform safe, donations are processed by our payment partners, held, and then released only to the person named as the recipient of the funds (the beneficiary). Before funds are transferred to the beneficiary, their personal information must be verified. If any questions arise, our processors will hold the funds until the recipient is verified.”

'It’s always a good show'

Roundup wraps up with strong showings from competitors

MOSES LAKE — The 80th year of the Moses Lake Roundup was celebrated Thursday through Friday, when competitors from around the world traveled to Moses Lake for a chance to take home thousands of dollars in the rodeo. “It’s a good rodeo, good contractors,” saddle bronc rider Jake Clark said. “Great hospitality – they treat the competitors great here.” The stands in the Rodeo Arena were packed each of the three nights of the Roundup, watching the numerous competitors take part in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, breakaway roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding. “This is a great crowd; they all get into it the whole rodeo. It’s not just the bull riding,” bull rider Laramie Mosley said. “It makes it fun when you show up here and see the stands full, everybody cheering and hollering. It makes it enjoyable.”

Hundreds attend Grant County Fair Livestock Awards

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County branches and chapters of 4-H, Future Farmers of America and Washington State Grange partnered to host the annual livestock awards at the Grant County Fair Saturday afternoon in the Sale Barn. The awards honored youths for their livestock showings throughout the fair week. Bleachers surrounding the hay-covered floor were filled with hundreds of children, teens and family members waiting to see if they won an award or to support other youth livestock competitors. The Washington State University Extension Animal Sciences Regional Specialist Sarah Maki Smith – who works with and organizes 4-H and FFA educational programs – was one of the organizers of the awards and one of the many presenters at the event itself.

News Bites for Aug. 18, 2023

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake Police Department Interim Chief Cpt. Dave Sands issued a statement regarding a Sunday shooting in the 800 block of Loop Drive in Moses Lake. In the announcement, Sands said Jeremy Flores, 36, of Moses Lake, was killed as a result of wounds sustained in the incident. Two other Moses Lake residents, ages 16 and 18, are expected to recover from their injuries sustained in the same shooting...

Sizzlin’ fun

Shade, staying hydrated among keys to keeping cool at the Grant County Fair.

MOSES LAKE — It being summer and with the weather gods sometimes having a nasty sense of humor, it was probably to be expected. “It’s going to be hot this week,” said fairgrounds manager Jim McKiernan while talking to volunteers Monday morning...

Couple convicted in carjacking on reservation

YAKIMA — A White Swan couple was convicted Friday of serious felonies on the Yakama Nation Indian Reservation, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Eastern Washington...

News bites for Aug. 14, 2023

MOSES LAKE — The Washington State Patrol has released more information regarding the fatal collision on I-90 east of Moses Lake Aug. 9. Derek Jay Duplichan, 30, of Warden, was driving a 2001 Acura MDX eastbound in the left lane on I-90 near the Road U/Warden exit when he drove into the median in an attempt to pass a 2014 Chevrolet Captiva driven by Brent T. Palmen, 34, of Moses Lake, according to the WSP. Duplichan then reentered the lane and struck Palmen’s vehicle, causing both drivers to lose control. Palmen’s vehicle crossed the median into the westbound lanes, where it struck a 2022 Toyota Highlander driven by Kellie A. Taylor, 54, of Snohomish, causing Taylor’s vehicle to run into a fence. Palmen’s and Taylor’s vehicles came to rest on the westbound shoulder, while Duplichan’s vehicle rolled multiple times and came to rest on the cable barriers in the median. Duplichan, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle.