Going fast in Moses Lake

Maple Grove homes selling faster than construction

MOSES LAKE — There’s a lot happening in a little area by Highway 17 and Grape Drive, just a little north of the new roundabout. Houses are going up fast, and being snapped up even faster.

Cattlemen's Association convention announced

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association will hold its annual meeting and Cattle Producer’s Forum in Nashville this year on Dec. 8-10, according to a press release from the organization. The annual meeting is the association’s 15th, and gives ranchers from across the opportunity to review the past year and set the association’s agenda for the upcoming year as well, particularly with legislation reforming U.S. cattle markets currently making its way slowly through Congress, the press release said...

Lands commissioner calls for fire caution during Labor Day weekend

OLYMPIA – Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz is asking members of the public to help prevent wildfires during Labor Day weekend. “Fire season is not over. Over the 2020 Labor Day weekend, more than 500,000 acres of land burned in just 36 hours,” Franz said in the release. “We’ve seen firsthand that a single spark, in the right conditions, can make or break an entire fire season. Let’s all make sure we’re not that spark this holiday weekend.” The release said there have been 445 Department of Natural Resources fires across Washington so far this season – the lowest number of ignitions in the last decade – burning approximately 40,000 acres. However, hot and dry conditions are projected east of the Cascades and parts of the western side of the state over the weekend. “Thanks to a wet spring, and the hard work of our firefighters and aviation crews, we’ve largely been fortunate so far this fire season,” Franz said in the release. “But we’re not out of the woods yet. Washingtonians must continue to be vigilant and responsible.”

Grant Co. looking for Tourism Commission volunteer

EPHRATA – The Grant County Board of Commissioners announced on Aug. 31 that they are looking for citizens to serve on the Grant County Tourism Commission. The announcement stated that the selected applicants will act as a member of the commission that will plan, organize and implement the tourism marketing and promotion plan for Grant County Tourism for a three-year term...

Ritzville event more than just a fair

Wheat Land Community Fair kicks off in Ritzville

RITZVILLE — Hannah Towne was rushing to get her steer, Chuck, ready to show at this year’s Wheat Land Communities’ Fair on Thursday. “So I bought this steer in October, and I’ve been working on getting him tamed and leading him around our pen, washing him, clipping him, making sure he’s all prepped and ready for the chaos of the show,” Towne, 14, said. Her dad Gordon Towne, who farms and ranches a small herd near Ritzville, gave her a few pointers on how best to use the electric razor to shape the hair on the cow’s tail just right. “I have a lot of fun showing with these people around me. They’re all my friends,” Hannah said. “I really enjoy coming here. It’s a big community and everybody’s willing to support (us) and I just really love showing here.” ...

GCSO investigating possible DUI

MOSES LAKE - The Grant County Sheriff’s Office said in a release Wednesday that they are investigating a possible DUI after a car collided with a house in the Larson Community. The collision occurred at Vandenberg Loop and Halsey Drive. The driver, identified as 58-year-old Richland resident Abel Ramos, has been charged with a DUI and was cited and released, GCSO Spokesman Kyle Foreman said...

Ahoy matey: Pirate-themed regatta takes to Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE – Boaters dressed in pirate garb will take to the waters of Moses Lake this Sunday, dressed in theme for the 6th Annual Pirates of Camas Cove Regatta. The regatta, hosted by Camas Cove Cellars, sees human-powered vessels decorated in pirate-themed decor for a fun day of races, music and more. “We have a race, and people bring water cannons and so they shoot each other and race for different prizes,” Camas Cove Co-owner Nancy Parr said. “So, we have prizes for the events. And we have a lot of people come in boats, and they line the course. Last year we got almost 30 boaters out there and they all brought water cannons and they were shooting each other. It was really (fun)...

Washington pro sports summary for Sept. 1

M’s enter final stretch, Storm fight in playoffs and a new quarterback for the Seahawks

SEATTLE – With the Storm making waves in the playoffs, Mariners nearing the regular season’s final stretch and the Seahawks entering the regular season, Washington’s professional teams have been busy over the past week. Mariners Seattle began a four-game home stand against the Cleveland Guardians last Thursday, winning the first two games 3-1 and 3-2 before losing 4-3 in the third game. In the final game of the series, the Mariners shut out Cleveland for a 4-0 win. Pitchers Marco Gonzales, Penn Murfee and Robbie Ray all earned wins in the series. Along with the series win against the Guardians at home, the Mariners locked up their prized rookie Julio Rodríguez last week. The 21-year-old rookie’s deal is difficult and drawn out, but it can be briefed as a 12-year extension worth, at minimum, $209.3 million over that span. The deal can move upwards in value to nearly $470 million with incentives. If Rodríguez were to win an MVP over the span of the contract extension, it increases in value to $280 million and up to $350 million if he wins two MVP awards according to spotrac.com...

Masquers Theater gala to kick off 2022-23 season

SOAP LAKE — The Masquers Theater troupe will announce the plays for the 2022-23 season and present the annual Masquers awards at its membership gala, scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 10 at the theater, 322 E. Main St., Soap Lake. Admission is free. “A Nautical Night Out” is the gala theme for 2023. Attendees are encouraged to wear their most sea-worthy costumes, according to a Masquers press release. The program will be preceded by a social hour. The program includes a preview of the 2022 musical, “Once on this Island,” a review of the 2021-22 season, recognition of Masquers members and a panel of directors for the 2022-23 productions.

‘My honor and pleasure’

Grant Co. Fire District 7 chief set to retire

SOAP LAKE — Grant County Fire District 7 Chief Kirk Sheppard is set to retire on Sept. 16. Sheppard is hanging up his helmet after a total of 28 years in fire service, 24 of those as chief of GCFD7.

Hay King Travis Herring excels despite bad season

MOSES LAKE — There’s always plenty of work to do on a farm.

Grant Co. Democrats announce contest winners

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Democrats have announced the winners in their second annual Candy Count game. The game took place at the Democrats’ booth at the Grant County Fair. Contestants were invited to guess the number of candies in a jar. The container held 297 candies, according to an email from Grant County Democrats Vice Chair Jill Springer Forrest. Leo Dabalos guessed the closest at 296. Dabalos won the jar of candy as well as a four-pack of Super Soaker water guns. Second place went to Clorissa, whose last name was not given. Third place winner was Logan Myers, fourth was Analia Valdez and fifth was Angelo Adams. The contest garnered hundreds of entries and was a huge success, Forrest wrote.

‘Science in Our Valley’ seminars announced

WENATCHEE — The Apple STEM Network will sponsor a series of seminars on scientific topics of interest in Central Washington. The “Science in Our Valley” seminars are scheduled for 4 p.m. each Wednesday, beginning Sept. 28 and lasting through mid-November at the Washington State University Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, 1100 N. Western Ave., Wenatchee. Subjects include artificial intelligence, tree fruit disease and pest management, data analysis and wildfires. The seminars are free and are targeted at an audience interested in science, according to a press release from the organization.

MLHS freshman get started

Administration puts out extra effort in post-pandemic school start

MOSES LAKE — The freshmen sitting through orientation in the Moses Lake High School gym can be forgiven for their skepticism when MLHS teacher Tiffany Janosov started talking about head and shoulders, knees and toes. Janosov and the administrators had something more fun than that old grade school game in mind. The game did involve heads, shoulders and knees, as well as plastic cups and all-class competition. Freshmen paired off and attempted to grab the cup when Janasov gave the word. Janosov, co-coordinator for MLHS Associated Student Body, said teachers and administrators decided to rethink the start of the school year. “This is a full revamp of the first day of school,” she said...

Record-breaking jump

Harvill’s accomplishment made official 10 years later

EPHRATA - Slightly more than a decade after he made the record-setting jump, Alex Harvill is being recognized by Guinness World Records for his accomplishment. “I started the process in February (to get the jump recognized),” said Debi Chamberlin, Alex Harvill’s mother. “And just, you know, like a thought came in my head - I swear it came from Alex, ‘You know, why not try to get his jump recognized because there's enough evidence all over the place, it just needs to be gathered.’” Harvill passed away in June 2021 after suffering fatal injuries while practicing a record jump that he would perform during the Moses Lake Airshow. He was rushed to Samaritan Hospital after a bad landing that sent him flying over his handlebars. Unfortunately, he passed away from his injuries...

The Favored Farmhouse

Helping Basin residents find ways to just slow down - or wake up

MOSES LAKE — Daphne Martinez has a rather odd confession to make for a coffee shop owner. “So, I’m not a coffee drinker,” Martinez said as she sat with her husband Derek in front of the Favored Farmhouse’s espresso machine. “I grew up on Folgers. My mom, my grandparents, all drank Folgers drip coffee.” “So, I like black coffee with sugar. I’m not a fancy coffee drinker,” she added. While you can get fancy coffee drinks at The Favored Farmhouse, the menu at the coffee bar betrays another of Daphne’s loves — mixed non-alcoholic drinks made with soda pop. From the Summer Kiss (Sprite, raspberry puree, pineapple and cream) to the Gone Wild (Coke or Diet Coke, fresh lime, coconut, cream), the menu is full of soda drinks Daphne Martinez created and named herself...

Mavericks hoping to build off winning season

MOSES LAKE – After having the school’s first winning season since 2017 last year, the Moses Lake football team - under their first year as the Mavericks - is looking to improve upon the lessons they learned from last season under second-year head coach Brett Jay.

'Winning Mentality"

Jacks prepare for 2022 season

QUINCY – With years of unsuccessful seasons in the rearview mirror, new Quincy head coach Russ Elliott hopes to change the school’s football team’s mindset to that of a winning program.

Young Cougars take the field

Arredondo focuses on connections in Warden

WARDEN – Warden head coach Robert Arredondo is facing a new challenge with the 2022 Cougars that he hasn’t seen in his prior seven years at the school – a predominantly young team.

Steady with tradition

Lind-Ritzville Broncos enter the Bermea era

RITZVILLE – After receiving a top-four seed in the 2B playoffs a season ago, the Lind-Ritzville Broncos are preparing in hopes of another successful season – now with first-year head coach Brendan Bermea at the helm.