Mavs swim to success

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Mavericks swam away with a win in the Columbia Basin Big 9 girls’ swim and dive district meet this weekend, scoring a combined 529 points. With the win, the Mavs advance to the 2022 state meet in Federal Way on Nov. 10-12. The Mavs had first-place finishes in the 50-yard, 100-yard, 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle events and the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays. Moses Lake also earned a first-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke event...

One killed in Sunday shooting in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Two males were shot at a Moses Lake residence Sunday morning, leaving one dead and one injured. A statement by the Moses Lake Police Department Sunday evening said that just before 6 a.m., MLPD officers responded to a report of shots fired in the 3000 block of Road H Northeast...

Area teams prep for state

A review of Columbia Basin sports results for Oct. 25-31

COLUMBIA BASIN – The area’s final district tournaments begin this week, with local teams beginning their final pushes toward state competitions. Read along below for updates on teams here in the Basin, along with records and results for each team...

NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn't happen this week

Social media users shared a range of false claims this week. Here are the facts: A graphic purporting to show House Republicans’ policy plan is fabricated and contains inaccurate information. The U.S. Postal Service says it won't reject or delay the delivery of mail-in ballots that are sent with insufficient postage. Colorado’s universal mail-in ballot system is legal and protected by the U.S. Constitution. Police in Southern California did not recently find fentanyl inside boxes of breakfast cereal. And the recent death of a red panda cub at Canada’s Toronto Zoo was not related to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Community calendar: Nov. 2022

November 1 Homeschoolers' Art Atelier: Drawing and Painting 9-11 a.m. first, second, third and fifth Tuesdays at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, 401 S. Balsam St. New program to support our growing homeschool community, taught by a professional art instructor with years of experience and expertise ready to spread her knowledge. These workshops will provide your student with the opportunity to engage with their peers with the guidance of an experienced art instructor. Museum members eligible for discounts on classes. Info: (509) 764-3830. Tech help hour 2-3 p.m. every Tuesday at the Ephrata Library, 45 Alder St. NW. Basic computer and internet use assistance with the librarian. Online guided basic computer use tutorials through Northstar digital and WISC-Online. Info: (509) 754-3971 or [email protected]. Lego Club 4-5 p.m. every other Tuesday at the Grand Coulee Library, 225 Federal Ave. Legos are provided and no registration is needed. This activity is geared toward children who are ages 6-12 years old, as there are small pieces. This is a great way for kids to meet other children and for parents to relax and browse the library. Info: 509-633-0972 or [email protected]...

Moses Lake Community Coalition

Local organization works to strengthen families, reduce substance abuse

MOSES LAKE — Helping parents navigate some of the challenges of the job, and to keep children away from substance abuse, is the goal of a group working to recruit partners in pursuit of that task. Moses Lake Community Coalition Coordinator Megan Watson said the group sponsors classes periodically throughout the year to give parents and children a look at the world from each other’s point of view. It also sponsors periodic classes to give parents specific strategies they can use to help with the job of parenting. “A lot of times, we just go off how we were raised. Everybody just does what their parents did,” Watson said. “But now we’re starting to see, as we’re tracking more and more child behavior, (that) negative, aggressive, difficult child behavior has increased over the last 10 years.” ...

A message from Samaritan Healthcare

New hospital on the horizon

MOSES LAKE – Samaritan Hospital has a 75-year history as being a community hospital. Grant County Public Hospital District No. 1 was formed in 1947 and two years later, with the support of the community, Samaritan Hospital opened in a converted barracks. In 1952, as the area continued to grow, the hospital board of commissioners agreed to construct a new hospital on Samaritan’s current site and it opened in 1955, with an increase to fifty beds. Since the last major addition/renovation, more than 20 years ago, the delivery of healthcare has changed dramatically. Changes to healthcare today include requiring more room for patients, equipment for medical and technology needs, and supplies. There are also additional regulations, such as more efficient air handling, fulfilling the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as well as energy codes, and specs and preparedness for seismic activity. With modern infrastructure—from energy-efficient windows to up-to-date construction materials and design—the increased efficiency in terms of utility costs will easily exceed Washington State’s new energy standards...

Washington state of emergency ends today

OLYMPIA — The state of emergency declared by Gov. Jay Inslee to fight the COVID–19 pandemic ends today at midnight. Inslee imposed the state of emergency in March 2020. A Washington Department of Health order mandating masks in healthcare and long-term care facilities will remain in effect, according to a press release from the governor’s office. The mask order also applies in some correctional facilities in communities with high levels of coronavirus transmission, the order said. Some rules governing workplace safety also will remain in effect. “Ending this order does not mean we take the pandemic less seriously or will lose focus on how the virus has changed the way we live,” Inslee wrote in the press release. “We will continue our commitment to (public health), but simply through different tools that are now more appropriate for the era we’ve entered.”

Weather report for Monday, Oct. 31.

Weather report for Monday, Oct. 31.

Adding perks to a Rose

Othello business owner adds new café to boutique

OTHELLO — Desert Rose Designs owner Melody Anguiano said she wants the new Desert Rose Cafe to be the kind of place where people can take their time. She had customers who already spent time browsing the Desert Rose boutique - and besides, she likes a cup of coffee and a conversation with friends, she said. “My dream was just to see people relaxing and meeting here,” Anguiano said. The new cafe, 745 E. Hemlock St., is open from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. It’s inside the building that has housed Desert Rose Designs for more than a decade. Desert Rose was a floral and gift shop when Anguiano bought it in 2015, and she expanded the gift line and added clothing and accessories to the boutique. Adding a coffee bar seemed like a natural next step. “I wanted the opportunity to invest in the building, and expand,” she said. “It was like, okay, coffee (and) flowers - obvious. Shopping while you’re drinking your coffee.” ...

One killed in Moses Lake home fire Sunday morning

MOSES LAKE - A fire Sunday morning left one person dead at Harvest Manor Mobile Home Park in Moses Lake. A report by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office stated that the fire was called in to MACC Dispatch about 8 a.m. to Harvest Manor Mobile Home Park, located at 4815 Airway Drive Northeast...

Huskies’ season ends in 2-1 loss to Grandview in penalty kicks

OTHELLO – Tied at one entering overtime, Saturday’s Central Washington Athletic Conference district tournament match between Othello and Grandview couldn’t get any closer. Grandview had struck first early in the game, which Othello quickly answered with a goal by senior Serenity Peña. “On that play, we actually just passed past a through ball and scored,” Peña said. “That’s a matter of our style of play, that’s how we play.” Othello goalkeeper Bresais Ybarra saved three shots in the overtime period, setting up penalty kicks to decide which team would advance. Through five shots both Othello and Grandview were tied, but a shot by Grandview hit the back of the net, giving the Greyhounds a 2-1 win...

USDA recalls almost 150,000 pounds of chicken patties

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Saturday announced the recall of roughly 148,000 pounds of fully Foster Farms fully cooked and frozen chicken breast patties that may be contaminated with pieces of hard plastic, according to a USDA press release issued on Saturday. The contaminated breast patties were distributed to Costco distribution centers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah and Washington, and may have been further distributed to Costco retail locations, the press release said...

The Day of the Dead

Moravida Festival comes to Grant County Fairgrounds

MOSES LAKE — In Mexico, it’s called Dia de los Muertos — The Day of the Dead. Celebrations of this traditional holiday, which normally fall on Nov. 1 and 2 — the Catholic Church’s All-Saints Day and All Souls Day respectively — formally came to the Grant County Fairgrounds this year with the first annual Moravida Festival, and included music, dancing, food, a lowrider car show, trunk or treating, a Halloween costume contest, and a large community altar, where organizers and participants could honor their departed loved ones. “We want to always remember them,” said Anita Reyna, one of the organizers of this year’s festival. “And this is the time that we do it.” ...

Huskies overcome rough start

Othello defeats East Valley 35-10 in season capper

OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies overcame a raggedy first half, shut down the East Valley (Yakima) offense in the second half and finished the regular season with a 35-10 win. “That’s about as ugly as you can play and still win,” said Othello defensive coach Kevin Hale. He attributed the rocky start in part to the two-week layoff since the team’s last game; the Oct. 21 game with Kelso was canceled at the last minute. But the Red Devils came out ready to play, Hale said. “I give East Valley credit, their hustle, their toughness,” Hale said. I’ve got a lot of respect for those guys.” ...

Othello man sought in assault case

OTHELLO — The Adams County Sheriff’s Office is looking for an Othello man who allegedly threatened a woman with a firearm during a domestic assault, according to an ACSO statement. Deputies are looking for Nicholas Romero-Rivera, 34, of Othello, following a report on Friday from the 300 block of Reynolds Road of two men with a shotgun and a handgun threatening a woman, the statement said...

Health district expands Wilbur-Ellis advisory

GRANT COUNTY — The Grant County Health District announced late Friday that it is expanding its health advisory to two miles around the Wilbur-Ellis facility at Road 1.3 SE and Road O SE, southeast of Moses Lake, which caught fire on Sunday, Oct. 23. “There are several different agencies on-site monitoring the situation,” said GCHD spokesperson Lexi Smith. The GCHD is extending the advisory because work crews will begin excavating the smoldering remains of a company fertilizer facility which could stir up particulates and release additional sulfur dioxide and other pollutants into the air, according to a health district press release...

Moses Lake SD board approves state-required transgender policy

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School Board approved the addition of a policy governing district response to transgender students at the regular board meeting Thursday. A policy covering the issue is required per state law. “This is a requirement; our legal counsel is advising us to approve it,” Moses Lake Superintendent Monte Sabin said. “I know there are some strong feelings on both sides of this, but the law exists.” Board members Susan Freeman and Paul Hill voted against the measure in a 3-2 vote. Sabin brought the policy to the board at the Oct. 13 meeting, saying it had been discussed in June and July 2021, but that the board had not taken action. Hill and board member Alana DeGooyer asked for more information before taking a vote. Freeman asked if the proposed policy could be added to the district’s already-existing non-discrimination policy. That already included transgender students, she said...

Warden school board wary of S.R. 17 roundabout

WARDEN — Ar a regular meeting on Thursday, the Warden School Board mulled support for a proposed roundabout at the intersection of S.R. 17 and S.R. 170 west of town and the status of the ongoing upgrades to the heating and cooling systems at Warden Elementary School and the district’s middle and high schools. “I see some and some bad,” said Board Member Dave Whitney about the proposal to replace the intersection with a roundabout. “There are a few accidents there, but I don’t know any that were too serious.” ...

A tale of two comebacks

Mavs score 17 in 4th, lose to Eastmont 37-35 on hail mary

MOSES LAKE – The game was over. The stadium clock at Lions Field blared with the time reading triple zeroes. The Moses Lake Mavericks – who came back from 17 points down in the fourth quarter – rushed the field. Players jumped into the air and screams of cheer were let out from both the sideline and bleachers. Until it wasn’t. With the Mavs up 35-31, officials ruled that an Eastmont incomplete pass had left one second remaining on the clock, which the Wildcats used to pull off a 57-yard walk-off touchdown and win 37-35. “It’s why this sport is the most amazing sport in the history of the world,” Moses Lake head coach Brett Jay said. “Because one second you could feel on top, and the next second it rips your heart out.” ...