Ice cream truck provides marketable skills, educates community, owner says

EPHRATA — The Street Sweets Ice Cream and More truck is a good place to get a cold snack on a hot day, but co-owner Tiffany Mullings said it’s about more than that. “I am the autistic mother to two autistic children,” she said. “And my husband and I had a little money left over from a (financial transaction), and we thought, ‘Hey, let’s look for a step van and if we can, we’ll start an ice cream truck, as a way to give them an opportunity for meaningful employment and to build some marketable skills that they can use throughout their life.” For two years Mullings and her daughters Riley and Dorieann Mullings, 22 and 21 respectively, her co-owners in the business, have driven the streets of Ephrata throughout the spring, summer and fall. She drives, she said, and her daughters do the serving.

Driver shortages main challenge facing Othello trucking companies

OTHELLO – Othello trucking companies AGB Trucking and Flamingo Trucking are both in healthy positions, according to their respective owners, but are nonetheless both facing similar problems finding drivers.

WDFW opens public comment on 2024-2028 North of Falcon policy

OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has opened the public comment period for its updated draft of the North of Falcon Policy for the 2024-2028 salmon fishery planning process, according to a Dec. 22 announcement from WDFW. Comments will be accepted through Jan. 15. The announcement stated the draft of the North of Falcon Policy directs the WDFW to manage salmon and steelhead fisheries using a science-based, transparent approach that is consistent with all conservation and legal obligations. “Public feedback on this updated policy is critical,” wrote Kyle Adicks, WDFW Intergovernmental Salmon Manager, in the announcement. “This policy will provide guidance to the Department on how to plan and implement fisheries around the state within the complex legal and conservation frameworks that overlay salmon management.”

Weather forecast for Jan. 2-4

Weather forecast for Jan. 2-4

ACPR gets involved with Othello schools

OTHELLO – Adams County Pet Rescue board member and Othello resident Kim Bailey do what they can to help the ACPR, and one of the ways they do this is by volunteering to go to schools in Othello and teach students about the compassionate care of animals.

Cave B Estate Winery - Local winery provides refreshments and entertainment

QUINCY – Cave B Estate Winery, whose sweeping views of the Columbia River and basalt cliffs could be nearly unmatched in beauty, has graced the area with award-winning wines for over 20 years. Located at 348 Silica Rd NW in Quincy, right next door to the Gorge Amphitheatre, Cave B is tucked away from the noise of main roads and city lights. It is a family-owned and operated winery that has earned its name across the state and beyond for the high-quality wines they produce and serve.

CWU priorities included in governor’s 2024 supplemental budget proposals

ELLENSBURG – The Office of Governor Jay Inslee released its Supplemental Operating and Capital Budget proposals for the 2024 fiscal year on Wednesday, including funding for several ongoing Central Washington University projects and priorities.

Splash pad coming to Othello’s Kiwanis Park

OTHELLO — Planning is underway for upgrades to Othello’s Kiwanis Park, which are tentatively scheduled for summer 2024. City Engineer Shawn O’Brien said that’s the plan, but there are details still to be worked out. “The schedule is still up in the air,” he said. “The final plan has not been ironed out yet.”

Ian Lyle Kimmey

Aug. 13, 1971 — Dec. 10, 2023

Ian Lyle Kimmey, 52, died December 10, 2023, at his home in Warden, Washington. He was born on August 13, 1971, in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Brent Tilson

Brent E Tilson, 64, died from cancer on November 30, 2023, at his home. He was born in Seattle, Washington but was raised in Wilbur, Washington on his family’s hog farm. Brent was the son of Clarence and Mildred Tilson (Jones).

Down-to-the-wire gardening gifts

Plenty of choices out there for the gardener in your life

MOSES LAKE — This is it. Christmas is dead ahead, so there’s no more time for lollygagging. It’s time to find something for the gardeners on the Christmas list.

Wildcats improve to 10-3 with win over Evergreen State

ELLENSBURG – The Central Washington Wildcats picked up their seventh straight win with a 28-point defeat of Evergreen State Tuesday night, shooting 46.3% from the field and 41% from beyond the three-point arc in an 83-55 win.

Florence Sue Bunch

Nov. 7, 1935 — Dec. 16, 2023

Florence Sue Dobyns (Bunch) was born in Drury, Missouri on Nov. 7, 1935, to Thomas and Eva Dobyns; she passed away on Dec. 16, 2023, in Othello, Washington, at the age of 88. She was known all her life as "Sue" or "Susie" to her family and friends. In 1943, when she was 7 years old, her family moved from the green Ozarks of southern Missouri out west to Yerington, Nevada, a semi-arid basin and range landscape, where Sue's father had found work at a dairy, close to relatives of Sue's mother. In 1949, the family moved again, this time to the Treasure Valley farmland around Wilder, Idaho, where Sue graduated from Wilder High School in 1954.

Jane D. Pierpoint

Jane D. Pierpoint, 85, passed away the morning of Dec. 4, 2023. A memorial will be held in the spring.

WDFW opens public comment on draft Conservation Policy

OLYMPIA – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is opening a public comment period through Jan. 12. on its updated draft Conservation Policy, according to a Monday announcement from the commission.

Ephrata schools defeasing bonds due to inflation

EPHRATA – The Ephrata School District is moving forward with the process to defease a nearly $28 million bond approved by voters in 2019, said Superintendent Tim Payne in a Monday morning interview. “Where we’re at in the process is the board had a hearing,” Payne said. “You have sort of changed the bond away from its intended purpose, (so) you have to go through the same process (as the initial approval) whether you’re defeasing or you’re gonna say, ‘Gosh, we couldn’t build that building now.’”

LaVerne Marie (Shetler) Horst

May 2, 1918 — Dec 2,2023

LaVerne passed away peacefully at home surrounded by members of her family. She was born in Cheraw, Colorado, the second in a family of 11 children born to Milton & Ada (Miller) Shetler. The family moved to Hesston, Kansas in 1930 so the children could attend school there. She graduated from Hesston High School in 1937.

Moses Lake BMX looking at continued growth

MOSES LAKE – Over the past few years Moses Lake BMX has been upgrading its track and building on turnouts of BMX riders from across the state; now the track is getting ready for what could be a big 2024 season with even more track improvements plus the addition program for beginning riders.

Supporting local: Grant County Tourism Commission works to bring visitors while supporting area businesses

EPHRATA – Grant County has a lot to offer travelers, whether they’re passing through or coming for a show at The Gorge Amphitheatre or maybe spending a weekend at a bed and breakfast by the Columbia River – but it takes work to get the word out about the attractions in the county. That’s what the Grant County Tourism Commission is for though. “Fundamentally, when you break it down, we utilize funding from LTAC, which is the Lodging Tax Advisory (Committee), and we take the revenue generated from tourism – all the people that travel to our county and spend money staying in hotels and campgrounds and RV sites – and we use that to promote the entire county,” said Tourism Commission Chair Amanda Laramore.

Running for paws: Othello Christmas 5K raises funds for ACPR

OTHELLO – Saturday’s Othello Christmas events started off with a bang as community members congregated outside Othello City Hall at 8 a.m. to begin the Run, Run, Rudolph 5K run or walk fundraiser for Adams County Pet Rescue.