Going back-to-back-to-back

Knights navigate exit of 2021 seniors to win 1A state title

LAKEWOOD – Playing late in the season has become second nature for the Royal Knights, who took on Mount Baker in the 1A Gridiron Classic championship game, their sixth appearance in a state title game since 2015 and 14th time overall. The Knights once again left the field victorious, taking down the No. 10 seed Mountaineers 35-20 to finish the 2022 season with a 12-1 record and another trophy. “It feels awesome,” junior tight end Bennett Brown said. “We’ve been working for this forever, we lost all those seniors (from last year), and just to come back and do it again, it’s awesome.” ...

Ritzville Shop with a Cop brings community partners together

RITZVILLE - The Ritzville Shop with a Cop was held on Dec. 10, bringing together Ritzville businesses, organizations and children for an afternoon of Christmas gift shopping. “I think that's what the satisfaction for us is,” said Ritzville Police Chief Dave McCormick about the joy of watching children having the opportunity to be independent in choosing Christmas gifts for themselves and their families. The event is put on by Ritzville Police Department in collaboration with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, the Ritzville Fire Department and community donations.

Berry elected as House Labor and Workplace Standards chair

OLYMPIA — Rep. Liz Berry, D-Seattle, has been elected to chair the Washington State House of Representatives Labor & Workplace Standards Committed for the 2023-2024 legislative sessions, according to a press release from the Washington House Democrats on Tuesday...

Property owners cast ballots in MLIRD board race

MOSES LAKE — It’s a rare sight in Washington — a polling place and a ballot box. “We’ve only been open an hour, and It’s been quiet so far,” said Beth Yonko, the interim manager of the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District, which held an election for one of five board of director seats on Tuesday...

Tentative date set for opening new Othello District Court

OTHELLO — Othello city officials have established Jan. 13 as the tentative date for the first hearings before the new municipal court. Jessica Melo, the court administrator, gave Othello City Council members a timeline for opening the court at the regular meeting Dec. 12. “Currently, we intend on having court once a week,” Melo said...

Kennewick man injured in Othello-area wreck

OTHELLO — A Kennewick man was transported to Othello Community Hospital after his car was hit by another car that crossed the centerline near Othello early Saturday morning. Stanislav Semenyuk, 53, was driving south on State Route 17 about one mile east of Othello when he was hit by a car driven by Santos Sontay Hernandez, 21, Othello. The collision occurred at about 2:40 a.m., according to a press release from the Washington State Patrol issued Monday. Sontay Hernandez crossed the centerline, the WSP release said. Semenyuk’s vehicle came to rest on the northbound shoulder, while Sontay Hernandez’s car stopped on the southbound shoulder. Sontay Hernandez was not injured. The collision is still under investigation.

Cold hunting

MARDON - The duck hunting has been tough this week with a lot of the small waters icing over, according to MarDon Resort’s Pete Fisher. Goose hunting has gone well for area sportsmen, as shown by the photo above.

Bells on Basin '22

Colorful Christmas parade makes holidays bright in Ephrata

EPHRATA — It may not have gotten all that much above freezing on Saturday, but that didn’t stop folks from lining Basin Street to watch this year’s tree lighting and Christmas parade. “It was longer than last year,” said long-time Ephrata resident Diane Clark. “Traditionally, we’re here every year.” “I like everything about living in Ephrata,” Clark added...

Basin sports schedule Dec. 14-20

COLUMBIA BASIN – Winter sports continue over the next week before teams begin to rest over the holiday break. Check out this week’s Basin sports schedule...

“Everything matters”

Royal’s Wiley Allred continues to lead Knights to success

ROYAL CITY – After spending 17 years as an assistant coach with the Royal Knights, Wiley Allred decided to “put my name in the hat” for head coach after Washington State Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer Bob Nielsen retired after the 1998 season. “I was a little apprehensive because I wasn’t sure,” Allred said. “Anyway, I knew that things would change. Responsibilities-wise, I’d have to get there on time every day and put a little more into it. There were more changes because it’s different than being an assistant coach.” ...

Timme scores 26 as Gonzaga beats Northern Illinois 88-67

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Drew Timme scored 26 points and No. 15 Gonzaga beat Northern Illinois 88-67 on Monday night, extending the nation's longest home win streak to 71 games. Ben Gregg had a career-high 18 points and seven rebounds for the Zags (8-3), and fellow reserve Malachi Smith finished with 14 points. Timme went 9 for 15 from the field and 8 for 9 at the line.

Screen test

Royal High School News team keeps students in the loop

ROYAL CITY — Royal High School students can’t say they don’t know what’s going on in their school. “Hello, and welcome to this … edition of Royal High School News,” says a young anchorperson, holding a printed script and flanked by a classmate and a coffee mug that says “RHS News.” The edition changes according to whatever is being recognized on that particular day: National Education Week on Dec. 2, National Zipper Day on April 29. The teenage journalists go on to introduce themselves and the happenings of the day at Royal High School before launching into an interview with a teacher or an athlete...

Ziply Fiber announces purchase of iFiber

EPHRATA — Local internet provider iFiber has been sold to Kirkland-based Ziply Fiber. The sale was announced Dec. 12 via a Ziply Fiber press release. “Today’s agreement with IFiber not only expedites our ability to bring fiber internet to more customers but also supports our belief in building effective public-private partnerships,” wrote Ziply Fiber Chief Executive Officer Harold Zeitz...

Burakovsky helps Kraken beat Panthers 5-2

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Andre Burakovsky scored the go-ahead goal midway through the second period and the Seattle Kraken beat the Florida Panthers 5-2 on Sunday night. Matty Beniers, Jordan Eberle, Daniel Sprong and Yanni Gourde also scored to help Seattle snap a three-game losing streak. Martin Jones finished with 23 saves as the Kraken improved to 3-1 all-time against the Panthers — including 2-0 in Florida.

Bad day from Geno Smith, shaky run defense doom Seahawks

SEATTLE (AP) — For most of this season, the Seattle Seahawks have not faced a day where Geno Smith was unable to make up for whatever issues were on the other side of the ball. This time was the exception, and it might have been the final blow in Seattle's hopes of a division title.

Operation Warm

Firefighters help children get through winter with new coats

MOSES LAKE — it’s cold out there, and not every child has a new coat to see them through the snow, ice and 20-degree temperatures. About 100 children at four Moses Lake elementary schools now have a new coat with the help of Operation Warm. Jason Koziol, a firefighter with the Moses Lake Fire Department, said it’s a longtime project. “Operation Warm is a program that has been set up through the (firefighters union Local 1258), for basically purchasing new coats for kids in need in the community that we serve,” he said...

Graduation Day

Columbia Basin Job Corps hosts first public ceremony since pandemic

MOSES LAKE — A last chance for success in life. That’s how Columbia Basin Job Corps Civilian Conservative Center Director Maynard Spell described what the center does as it trains young people for work in the construction trades, building maintenance, managing offices, cooking in professional kitchens, and being nurses and caregivers. It’s also one reason he said Friday’s public graduation ceremony — the first since lockdowns and restrictions were imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 — was so important. “The graduation symbolizes the burden of hardship that (our students) dealt with prior to coming here,” Spell said. “Upon arriving here, succeeding and meeting their goals, this graduation is the closure of a successful chapter and the start of another chapter in their lives.” ...

Coats for the winter

Rotary Club of Moses Lake provides jackets to children in need

MOSES LAKE — If there was a perfect day to give away winter clothes to needy kids, Saturday — with its freezing rain atop two weeks of snow — was it. It was quite a change from Nov. 5, when the event was originally scheduled. Then, the temperature averaged in the 40s, and no snow was on the ground. “You know, when we first started, in comparison with last year, the weather was really warm,” said Alex Town, one of the organizers of this year’s Coats For Kids drive overseen by the Rotary Club of Moses Lake. “So we felt that a lot of families probably weren’t digging into their closets and looking at what coats they had.” ...

Weather forecast for Dec. 12, 2022

Weather for Dec. 12, 2022

Prescott on the mat

Reese Prescott (black) of Moses Lake works to turn Jocelyn Herrera of Sunnyside in Moses Lake’s dual meet with Sunnyside Wednesday.