CWU expects art history program to draw students regionally

ELLENSBURG - Central Washington University’s newest degree program has been a long time coming, and this fall it will finally become a reality. After ironing out the details for the past 18 months, the Department of Art + Design will be introducing a Bachelor of Arts in Art History, giving a number of current students an opportunity to pursue their passion without having to go elsewhere. The new degree offering will also provide incentive for art history aficionados to consider Central...

Fire Report for July 25, 2023

GOLDENDALE — The Newell Road fire in Klickitat County had burned 30,000 acres about 17 miles east of Goldendale Saturday morning. The fire, which was discovered about 3:30 p.m. Friday, was 0% contained Saturday afternoon and the costs had mounted to $750,000, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Bonds form the basis of CWU sculptor’s work

ELLENSBURG - Every artist can point to an inspiration behind their work. For Kate Im, it’s the power of human connections. The CWU Art + Design professor’s lifelong focus on interpersonal bonds often reveals itself in her artwork, although her passion is equally evident in her teaching and relationship-building...

“We’ll all be under one roof”

A look CWU’s Nicholson Pavilion renovation

ELLENSBURG – Built in 1959, Nicholson Pavilion at Central Washington University began going under renovation in the fall of 2021. When the fall quarter rolls around, the new facilities will be available for both academic and athletic use according to CWU Director of Athletics Dennis Francois. “Nicholson is a shared academic and athletic facility, priority of usage it to academics,” Francois said. “That is our Sport and Movement Studies Department who’s housed here. They have pedagogy, physical education, dance, sport management program, outdoor leadership and things of that nature.” ...

CWU anthroplogy grad looks to bring Indigenous perspective to her profession

ELLENSBURG - When Raelynne Crow arrived at CWU, she had no idea she would be interested in anthropology, let alone that the university even had a program...

Baird Springs fire costs $1.5m, new fires in Pierce, Klickitat counties

QUINCY — The Baird Springs fire is estimated to have cost $1.5 million to extinguish, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The blaze, which sprang up quickly the afternoon of July 10, triggered evacuations in the Crescent Bar and Trinidad communities. There were no injuries and no reported structure damages, but 2,400 acres of grassland were scorched before fire crews pulled out Thursday. These wildfires were also burning in Washington as of Friday afternoon, according to the NIFC:

Baird Springs fire in mop up, other fires continue to cause problems in WA

QUINCY — The Baird Springs fire is nearly out, according to the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office. Several additional fires were burning across Washington as of early Thursday afternoon.

Basin students make EWU Dean's List

COLUMBIA BASIN – Students from 14 cities in the Columbia Basin were placed on Eastern Washington University’s 2023 Spring Dean List, according to the university’s website. The website stated that any undergraduate student who earns what the university defines as 12 quality hours and receives a GPA of 3.5 or better is placed on the Dean's List.

Baird Springs fire calming, others burn statewide

CRESCENT BAR — Evacuation warnings were downgraded Wednesday morning to Level 1 for the Crescent Bar and Trinidad communities just north of Quincy, according to a statement from Southeast Washington Incident Management Team 1, which is in charge of firefighting efforts...

FIRE UPDATE: Baird Springs fire near Crescent Bar prompts evacuation

QUINCY — The Baird Springs fire north of Crescent Bar continues to blaze away, but it’s not spreading, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kyle Foreman. He said a proactive evacuation was implemented in the area to protect residents. “We were erring on the side of safety,” he said. “It was going to be safer for them and safer for firefighters if we could evacuate Crescent Bar. We proactively evacuated them rather than wait for conditions to worsen, since there's only one road out of Crescent Bar.” ...

Sustainable jet fuel developer, Twelve, breaks ground in Grant County

MOSES LAKE — Production could begin by spring 2024 at a facility designed to reuse carbon dioxide and water to produce other products, in this instance jet fuel. Governor Jay Inslee joined the founders of Twelve at a groundbreaking ceremony for the facility on Wheeler Road in Moses Lake Tuesday. “The technology breaks apart (carbon dioxide) and water and then recombines the elements to make more useful products, such as jet fuel. Jet fuel is totally made of carbon and hydrogen, so we get the carbon from CO2, and the hydrogen from water, and that allows you to make jet fuel that can be used in any aircraft today, but without using oil,” said Twelve Cofounder and CEO Nicholas Flanders said.

Fire report for July 11, 2023

MOSES LAKE — Basin fire crews were kept busy over the weekend, with a couple of sizable brush fires that fortunately involved no injuries or structure damage, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kyle Foreman.

Level 3 evacuation in effect for Baird Springs Road

QUINCY — A level 3 evacuation notice due to wildfire has been issued for the area of Baird Springs Road and Road 12 Northwest north of Road W west of Quincy, according to an announcement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Fire report for July 10, 2023

MOSES LAKE — The Tunnel 5 fire burning in the Columbia Gorge about four miles west of White Salmon has grown to 556 acres and is 20% contained, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday morning that the evacuation notice for the area had been lowered to Level 2, which means residents should either leave now or be prepared to leave on a moment’s notice...

Central Washington Sixers to hit the field in 2024

MOSES LAKE – The Six Athletic Training Facility will be fielding youth baseball teams in the summer of 2024, with teams ranging from 9U through 16U donning the uniforms of the Central Washington Sixers...

New CWU student trustee appointed

ELLENSBURG - Every year, the Washington governor appoints one student to join the Central Washington University Board of Trustees, to serve as a voting member as well as a liaison between the board and the student body. This year, Governor Jay Inslee selected Sasha Mitchell to fill the role and represent her peers. Mitchell was surprised by the news...

Soap Lake fire causes evacuation notice

SOAP LAKE — A level 3 evacuation notice was issued for the 3000-4000 block of Road 20 Northeast near Soap Lake Wednesday evening, according to a statement from Grant County Fire District 13. A level 3 evacuation means “Leave now,” the statement added...

Washington fire update for July 6

OTHELLO — An Othello-area home was completely destroyed by fire in the early hours of Wednesday morning, according to a statement from Adams County Fire District 5. Two vehicles were also destroyed, but all occupants got out of the house safely. The investigation determined that the cause of the fire was fireworks that had been collected and placed in a trash can...

Larry Ray Harmon

Larry, 73, was born Oct. 20, 1949, in Yakima, Washington to Jim and Carol Harmon, along with his twin brother, Gary. The twins were born 6 weeks premature, which resulted in an extended hospital stay and additional time spent with grandparents in Wapato, Washington. When they were strong enough to travel, the twins, their older brother Mike and their mother Carol rejoined Jim who was in the U.S. Navy stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. From there they traveled to many places including Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where they were stationed for three years and then on to Brunswick, Maine for four years where the family welcomed his little sister, Karen. At this point Jim had a chance to move his family back to Washington with the Navy as a recruiter, which allowed them to be closer to grandparents and extended relatives. Larry started his schooling in Wapato. The family moved to Moses Lake in 1957 and he continued his elementary through high school education; he was part of the Moses Lake High School class of 1969. These years were challenging for Larry as he navigated having dyslexia during a time where learning disabilities were very misunderstood and unrecognized. Larry joined the U.S. Navy in 1969 and was stationed aboard the USS Hornet, which landed him as part of both Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 recoveries.

Red, White & BOOM

Moses Lake and visitors celebrate Independence Day

MOSES LAKE – Citizens of Moses Lake gathered on Saturday in Sinkiuse Square and McCosh Park for the Red, White, & Boom Independence Day celebration, hosted by the Moses Lake Museum and Art Center and the city’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department. Dollie Boyd, superintendent of the Museum and Art Center, explained the motivation behind the event. “We wanted to do not just fireworks, but we wanted to bring back the summer concert series. We did some surveying around town, and that was the number one thing that people wanted to see.” ...