Book club kits available from NCW Libraries

WENATCHEE — Book clubs in the NCW Libraries system looking to mix it up, or a group looking to start a new book club, can take advantage of additional “Book Club Kits” added to the library system collection...

Ecology fines Coulee City ranch for wetlands damage

COULEE CITY — The Washington State Department of Ecology has fined a Coulee City-area rancher nearly $268,000 for illegally damaging about two-dozen alkali wetland areas near Park Lake just south of Coulee City...

USDA adds $850 million in conservation funding

NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making an additional $850 million in funding available to farmers and forest owners nationwide this year to help adopt and implement conservation programs, according to a press release from the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service...

New watermaster selected for ECBID Othello district

OTHELLO — Kyle Carlson has been selected as the Othello watermaster for the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District. Carlson will replace current watermaster Rod Barker, who is retiring March 31. “I’d like to thank Rod for his years of service to the district and wish him well,” wrote Craig Simpson, ECBID secretary-manager, in a press release. “We’re thrilled to promote Kyle Carlson to the Othello watermaster position.” District officials also announced that Joel De La Torre has been hired as the ditchrider for Othello 523, and Wyatt Ivey has been hired for the ditchrider’s job in Othello 522. Jonathan Quezada has been hired as a district construction worker. “Our team has continued to grow and evolve as we remain focused on providing reliable and sustainable irrigation water for our landowners,” Simpson wrote. “I am confident that these new team members will enhance our ability to do so.”

Moses Lake to host water seminar

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Municipal Services Director Kirk Holmes will be speaking on the subject of water at the Moses Lake Museum and Art Center on Thursday, March 9, at 6 p.m., according to a city press release...

CWU Recognized for Fulbright achievement

ELLENSBURG – Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing institution for the 2022-23 school year, according to a CWU press release. “Our faculty is among the best in the world, and this honor only further validates what we already know about their commitment to excellence,” CWU President Jim Wohlpart said. “The entire CWU community is already extremely proud of the work our esteemed faculty does every day. But for Central to be included in this elite class of higher education institutions gives us even more of a reason to keep improving.” ...

Grant Co. to lengthen two rural canal bridges

EPHRATA — Grant County is looking to extend a pair of wooden bridges over the East Low Canal this year, allowing the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District to finish widening the canal, according to Grant County Commissioner Danny Stone. “Every bridge that’s not fixed is a choke point,” Stone said...

ACSO personnel recognized for outstanding service

RITZVILLE — Deputies and staff at the Adams County Sheriff’s Office recognized their fellow employees for outstanding effort in 2022 at the ACSO awards dinner last week...

Warnick introduces state cactus bill in response to students' request

OLYMPIA - Washington’s nickname, “the Evergreen State,” doesn’t only apply to the green of the pine trees but also applies to the green of the shrub-steppe that covers most of Eastern Washington...

Newhouse named wine caucus co-chair

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Yakima, was named co-chair of the Congressional Wine Caucus in the 118th Congress, a job he will share with Rep. Mike Thompson, D-California, according to a statement from Newhouse’s office.s “As a proud grape grower, I know firsthand the strong economic contributions made by the grape and wine producers and the issues our industry faces,” Newhouse said in the statement. “I am honored to represent the flourishing, high-quality wine region of Central Washington. I look forward to working with Thompson to ensure the nation’s wine industry – from grape growers to winemakers and sellers –can continue to thrive and grow.”

Raise a glass

Wine production increases while worldwide demand decreases

KENNEWICK — There’s more wine out there than there are people drinking it, according to Christian Miller, a wine marketing specialist and researcher with California-based Full Glass Research. “There’s a substantial deficit in consumption versus production, and all that wine has to go somewhere,” Miller told attendees on Thursday, the final day of WineVit, the annual conference sponsored by the Washington Wine Growers Association.

Cannabis-related bills work through Wash. legislature

OLYMPIA — Monday was a big day for cannabis-related bills working their way through the Washington House and Senate. Several bills had public hearings and executive sessions which could determine if a bill will continue through committee, or die...

RECAP: Regional wrestling placings

COLUMBIA BASIN — Local wrestlers competed in regional tournaments across the east side on Saturday, including 15 Basin wrestlers taking home regional championships. See below for a full list of placings for area wrestlers, and stay tuned later this week for a full preview of the 2023 Mat Classic. 1A Boys Region 3 tournament Royal: freshman Dennis Hernandez (113), second place; freshman Kevin Almonte (132), fifth place; freshman Jesus Morales (138), sixth place; freshman Shea Stevenson (145), fifth place; freshman Mario De La Rosa (152), sixth place; freshman Alan Garcia (160), sixth place; junior Aram Garnick (170), third place; freshman Jack Gilbert (170), sixth place; Wahluke: sophomore Victor Mateo (106), fifth place; sophomore Leandro Bucio (113), sixth place; sophomore Jose Valdovinos (120), fifth place; senior Josue Mendoza (126), third place; freshman Antonio Valdovinos (126), fifth place; senior Anthony Zebrano (220), third place;

Maverick boys, girls prep for postseason

MOSES LAKE — Both the Moses Lake boys and girls basketball teams wrapped up their regular seasons on Saturday, and now quickly move into their respective Columbia Basin Big 9 tournaments. The Maverick boys will travel to Sunnyside while the girls will host West Valley (Yakima). Both games will be played on Tuesday.

Bill to ‘fix’ Blake decision passes Wash. Senate committee

OLYMPIA - A substitute bill to mend Washington’s drug possession law has passed the Senate Committee on Law and Justice Thursday...

Wash. commerce director to step down

OLYMPIA — Lisa Brown, director of the Washington State Department of Commerce, will step down effective March 3, according to a statement from the department...

Fire near Moses Lake destroys home

MOSES LAKE – A family home in the 6000 block of Road N NE burned to the ground Sunday morning, according to a Grant County Sheriff’s Office statement...

Data center under construction in Quincy

QUINCY — Construction has begun on a new data center near the intersection of D Street Northwest and Road R Northwest in Quincy...

One convicted in sex abuse case

EPHRATA — Michael Gene Rice, 48, of Ephrata was convicted last week of multiple charges related to the sexual abuse of a minor. He goes back to court March 15 for sentencing...

Juvenile arrested with K-9, public assistance

OTHELLO — A juvenile suspect was taken into custody after an alleged car theft required a search involving one of the Adams County Sheriff’s K-9 units Sunday.