Soap Lake City Council appoints new member

SOAP LAKE - The Soap Lake City Council filled its vacant seat at the end of its regular meeting on Wednesday night. Kat Sanderson will take the Soap Lake City Council position 6 seat. “I’m honored that they chose me,” said Sanderson.

WA increases heat, wildfire smoke protections for outdoor workers

TUMWATER — Workers in Washington will be entitled to greater protection from heat and smoke this summer, under new rules filed by the Washington Department of Labor and Industries Wednesday. The new rules will be in effect June 15-Sept. 30, according to a press release from L&I. They require employers to monitor temperature and air quality, take steps to protect workers from heat and smoke hazards, and provide training and information, among other things...

JustServe looks to help Basin community support Ukrainian refugees

GRANT COUNTY - In a justserve.org project, a group of local community members are organizing help for Ukrainian refugees who relocate to Grant County. “Many Ukrainian families have been forced to leave their home and find refuge in other countries. We are aware of nine families that have arrived in Grant County with very few personal belongings. These families are in need of housing and jobs but also personal and household items,” according to an announcement from justserve.org...

Cougars track team set for first home meet of the outdoor season

PULLMAN — The Washington State men's and women's track and field teams will compete for the first time at the Mooberry Track and Field Complex since 2018, as the Cougars take on the University of Washington in the WSU-UW Dual Friday, April 22, as part of the Boeing Apple Cup Series...

ACH receives grant

Funding will support STEM at ACH campuses

COULEE CITY - Isaak Brothers recently directed a $5,000 Bayer Fund America’s Farmers Grow Communities donation to the Almira/Coulee-Hartline Foundation which will use the grant for STEM activities within the school, according to a May 12 press release from the school district. “I’m really excited about receiving the grant. The money is going to go towards purchasing new technology that will help elevate our science curriculum throughout our district, and hopefully will encourage more of our students to pursue careers in STEM”, said ACH High School science teacher Hunter Lee in the release...

Body of Moses Lake resident found near Kennewick

MOSES LAKE — The body of a Moses Lake woman missing since early March was found late Thursday in a remote section of Walla Walla County not far from Kennewick...

State officials urge poultry growers to take steps to mitigate avian flu

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Agriculture is asking owners of chickens, ducks and other domestic birds to be vigilant following an outbreak of avian influenza in six non-commercial flocks statewide...

GALLERY: Ephrata touch-a-truck attracts a crowd

EPHRATA - The Ephrata Touch-A-Truck event saw dozens of families at the Splash Zone parking lot on Saturday. More than a dozen emergency, construction and military vehicles from around the county were lined up with staff ready to greet patrons. Children were able to climb aboard some, and even turn on the lights or sirens in some cases. Others had gear and tools to share and explain what they do.

Additional COVID-19 boosters recommended

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Health has approved a second mRNA COVID-19 booster shot for people over 50 and some immunocompromised individuals, according to a department press release issued Wednesday. The department said individuals eligible for the second booster shots of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines could receive those shots four months after receiving the first booster shots. The new guidance follows revised guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control...

Spring sports are here!

Baseball, softball, golf, track and field, soccer and tennis this weekend

COLUMBIA BASIN - Spring sports are already up and running around the Columbia Basin. Among the spring sports are baseball, softball, golf, track and field, boys soccer and tennis. This weekend’s events include, but are not limited to...

DMLA seeks out Adopt a Pot participants

MOSES LAKE — The Downtown Moses Lake Association is soliciting business owners and volunteers for its Adopt a Pot program for summer 2022. Association director Lexi Smith estimated there are about 200 flower pots downtown, and some are still orphans. “There are plenty left,” Smith said...

Jones not seeking fourth term as Grant County sheriff

EPHRATA — Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones announced on Tuesday that he will not seek re-election to a fourth term. “It was just a joint decision with my family,” Jones said. “I’ve been in the business for 30 years, and I think I’ve done...

Eagles named top 25 in preseason poll

CHENEY - Eastern Washington University was ranked No. 15 in the 2022 Athlon Sports Preseason Top 25 Poll. This is the second preseason poll that has the Eagles listed in the top-25, as they were ranked No. 18 by the HERO Sports Preseason Poll released on May 18...

WA apple scholarship awardees include 33 locals

WENATCHEE — Five students from Adams County and 28 from Grant County are among the 318 recipients of scholarships awarded this year by the Washington Apple Foundation, according to a press release. According to the press release, the foundation is giving out over $1 million in new and renewed scholarships to students whose families have ties to the growing, harvesting and packing of apples, pears and cherries, with most employed in orchards and packing houses...

MLSD sells land back to Grant Co.

MOSES LAKE — Grant County officials will be buying back a piece of property from the Moses Lake School District. Moses Lake School Board members approved the sale during the regular meeting Thursday. Grant County Commissioners had already approved the agreement. The votes by both the school board and the commissioners were unanimous...

CWU women’s soccer player heads to England

ELLENSBURG - After completing her fifth and final season with the Wildcats, Central Washington’s Sophia Keenan will continue her career on another continent. Keenan will be playing for Solent University in Southampton, England. Back in 2020, Solent was a finalist for the British Universities and Colleges Sport league before the season was canceled early due to the pandemic...

Fire put out quickly by GCFD3 and BLM crews

VANTAGE - A fire at the Frenchman Coulee climbing area was quickly put out Tuesday night but had initially prompted a Level 3 evacuation notice...

Deane case still active, pending lab results

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Prosecutor’s Office has yet to file charges against Eric Deane, who was arrested Tuesday in Moses Lake on suspicion of drug possession. “We’ve not filed charges yet. There are a couple of things we need from the investigators,” said Ed Owens, chief criminal deputy prosecuting attorney for Grant County...

Operation Teddy Bear Lift to aid children in Ukraine

SEATTLE - Warm 106.9 and the Ukraine Association of Washington State, or UAWS, have teamed up for Operation Teddy Bear Lift, a campaign to send over 10,000 teddy bears to children affected by the war in Ukraine, a UAWS press release stated. The release said in addition to Operation Teddy Bear Lift, Warm 106.9 and its promotional partners will be raising monetary donations for UAWS. Donations will be directed to www.uaws.org and will go toward purchasing neonatal incubators to replace those from destroyed medical facilities.

Former Cougar Ryan Leaf added to college HoF ballot

IRVING, TEXAS - Former Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf was among 80 ex-players from the Football Bowl Subdivision Selected for the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame induction ballot, the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame announced on Monday...