Lind facing unbudgeted expenses, errors and $1.7 million loan

LIND – The Lind Town Council dealt with several issues during Tuesday’s regular meeting, including about $40,000 in unbudgeted expenses due to clerical errors dating back to 2008, other staff errors and a $1.7 million loan offered by the Department of Health.

Uzbek delegation visits Big Bend

MOSES LAKE — Interest in a longtime Big Bend Community College educational exchange program brought a delegation of business owners and university professors from the central Asian nation of Uzbekistan to campus Tuesday.

Honor Flight fundraiser set for Saturday

EPHRATA – A nacho and taco feed and dessert auction will be held on May 18 – also known as Armed Forces Day – by the Ephrata American Legion and Auxilliary. Proceeds from the event will help veterans who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the War on Terror go to see memorials in Washington D.C. that were built in their honor.

Sprucing up downtown

Work of Moses Lake students yields colorful results downtown

MOSES LAKE — Samatha Underwood said one lesson she’s learned in three years of planting the flower boxes in downtown Moses Lake is that people really are paying attention. “People actually do appreciate this,” she said. “We actually had somebody in a truck roll down the window and yell, ‘Thank you.’”

Huskies defeat Tigers for CWAC title

SELAH – A five-run bottom of the fifth inning helped surge No. 1 seed Othello past No. 3 Ephrata in Tuesday’s Central Washington Athletic Conference district championship game, as the Huskies moved on to the 2A State Softball Tournament with a 12-5 win over the Tigers.

Former customs officer found guilty in Othello child sex case

SPOKANE. — Koby Don Williams, 49, has been found guilty of one count of Attempted Online Enticement of a Minor, according to a May 15 press release from Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

Are home sellers on strike in Washington? Realtors speculate on the market

(The Center Square) – Springtime typically sees increased buyer and seller activity when it comes to houses. But in Washington state, “Sellers are on strike,” according to Jeff Smart, president of Washington Realtors.

LETTER: Vacation rentals in the R-1 zone

Dear Editor, Vacation rentals in the R-1 single-family zone are parasites. They lower property values of adjacent homes, infringe on multiple neighbors’ rights to peacefully enjoy their homes, are vacant months at a time, and use limited residential parking and other infrastructure for commercial purposes – infrastructure paid for by neighborhoods. They are a source of friction and hard feelings. There is no value added living near a vacation rental.

Mavs softball team wins Big 9 title

Split doubleheader with Eastmont not enough to keep Moses Lake from trophy

MOSES LAKE – Splitting Friday’s road doubleheader against Eastmont was enough for the Moses Lake softball team to lock up the Columbia Basin Big 9 league title, winning the first game 2-1 before falling 15-4 in the nightcap. “After our previous three tough games – against West Valley and Othello – where we played pretty well in all three, I think we had a lot of confidence going in,” Moses Lake Head Coach Mike Hofheins said. “We were playing sharp, we were playing clean. The girls were mentally and physically ready to go.”

Groundbreaking celebrates new Coulee City clinic, library

COULEE CITY — Construction could begin this year on the first phase of a project to build a new medical clinic and library in Coulee City. Local officials held a groundbreaking for the project May 10. Officials from the Town of Coulee City and the Port of Coulee City have been working on obtaining funding to build new facilities for the library and clinic, an effort that dates back to 2015, according to a press release from the port.

MLSD board approves layoffs after levy failure, accounting issues

Notices will be provided to employees in the coming weeks, program cuts expected as well.

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District Board of Directors voted in a special meeting Saturday to move forward with a resolution to authorize needed budget cuts after the district’s maintenance and operations levy failed on the ballot for the second time this year. More than 100 staff, including teachers and staff, are expected to lose their jobs after the levy failure.

Tigers open postseason with win over Prosser

EPHRATA – The No. 3 seed Tigers dominated in Thursday’s Central Washington Athletic Conference district tournament game, defeating No. 6 Prosser 14-0 in five innings. “We have a problem with us getting ahead of ourselves and thinking past the certain game that we’re playing, so we were really (focusing) in against Prosser so we can be prepared against East Valley this weekend,” Ephrata junior Jaemyson Durfee said.

Mavs win Big 9 baseball title, punch ticket to state with win over Eastmont

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Mavericks are once again moving on to the 4A State Baseball Tournament, having defeated Eastmont 8-2 in Friday’s Columbia Basin Big 9 district championship game in Moses Lake.

Othello to terminate contract with ACFD 5

OTHELLO – The city of Othello announced Wednesday that they have provided a two-year notice of termination of its agreement with Adams County Fire District 5 due to a significant increase in the contract’s cost over the last year.

Road work season in full swing

MOSES LAKE — Road construction throughout the Columbia Basin is chugging along as several area projects move forward as spring progresses into summer. Resurfacing of State Route 17 through Moses Lake has moved on to the resurfacing part of the project. Crews started working on the project in April, with the first phase being the replacement of ADA-accessible sidewalk ramps at intersections throughout the project area. The second phase of the project will involve resurfacing about seven miles of SR 17 where it runs through Moses Lake. Work on that began May 8.

Reading riders: Moses Lake school bus driver collects books for kids

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake school bus driver has found a way to encourage students to love the written word. Tony Lavalle, known to his young passengers as Mr. Tony, has begun distributing books to the students who ride his bus to and from Groff Elementary School. “This year, I started Read a Book Monday,” Lavalle said. “The student comes on board and they read a book, and that usually keeps them quiet, and it keeps them in their seat. This is a really effective tool for me to help manage the kids to ride safe and ride respectfully.”

BASIN SOCCER ROUNDUP: Three teams clinch state bids

COLUMBIA BASIN – Three Basin squads have qualified for their respective boys state soccer tournaments, as district tournaments wind down to a close.

Budget, CBTECH director hot topics at MLSD board meeting

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School Board conference room was filled to capacity Thursday evening as community members came to hear about the district’s financial prospects and to speak about alleged disciplinary action taken against a school administrator.

New name, new owners, same family

Third generation of Harrisons to run jewelry store in Ephrata

EPHRATA - The jewelry store voted Best of the Basin for 2022 and 2023 is back, but it might look a little different. Located in the same spot in Ephrata, 4 Basin St NW, Harrison’s Jewelry Co. will have the same great service, quality jewelry and even jeweler as Harrison’s Diamonds and Designs, just under a new name and new ownership.

Huskies win over East Valley

Othello baseball headed to CWAC title game after successful Saturday outing

OTHELLO – A three-run bottom of the second inning helped push Othello over East Valley (Yakima) in Saturday’s Central Washington Athletic Conference district semifinal, with the Huskies defeating the Red Devils 4-2. “We were excited and confident,” Othello junior Sonny Salazar said. “We worked all year for this – all summer, the winter – we were ready and prepared.”