Moses Lake Co-Ed softball league begins

MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake’s Co-Ed adult softball league began this week with the first games taking place Tuesday at Paul Lauzier Athletic Complex. The league is hosted by Moses Lake Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services. “Just to provide a recreational softball league for people in the community,” said Felicia Laird, Recreation Supervisor of Athletics with the City of Moses Lake. “Something fun to do in the summer, we have a couple other adult sports leagues, but they’re in the winter so we were looking to offer something during the summer.”

The Mariners need to seize the moment

Whenever a trade deadline rolls around, it’s always a great opportunity to assess your favorite team’s production. For the Seattle Mariners, they sit right on the fence of opportunity. Depending on what moves they make before the trade deadline on July 31, they could go from just being a playoff hopeful, to a World Series contender. Their success this season cannot be denied.

Chester Dorsey

Aug. 29, 1938 — July 14, 2025

On July 14, 2025, at the age of 86, Rev. Dr. Chester Ray Dorsey was welcomed into the arms of the Lord as a good and faithful servant. Chet was born to Chester Gilbert and Nile Fern Dorsey on Aug. 29, 1938, in Garnett, Kansas, and was the oldest of four children: two brothers Ralph and Charles and one sister, Linda. Chet grew up in St. Louis and at a young age, he felt the calling of the Lord to pursue a life in ministry and sharing God’s word. He followed this call wholeheartedly, graduating from Sterling College in 1961, graduating from Dubuque Seminary in 1965 and graduating from Fuller Theological Seminary with a doctorate degree in Theology and Ministry in 1983. While attending Sterling College, he met and began courting Barbara and they married in St. Louis on Oct. 2, 1965. In March of 1969 they welcomed a son, David, and in February of 1973 they welcomed their daughter Kristen, who was chosen to join the family through adoption.

Ruby Joyce Love

Oct. 24, 1936 — July 19, 2025

Ruby “Joyce” Love, 88, of Spokane Valley, Washington went into the arms of the Savior she so faithfully worshiped on July 19, 2025. Joyce was born on Oct. 24, 1936, to James and Johnnie Mckee in Wilmot, Arkansas. Joyce met and married Jim Berry in Livermore, California and they enjoyed military life along with two daughters. Later, Joyce settled in Moses Lake, Washington where she married Jim Love and they enjoyed motorcycle rides and the Moses Lake Old Car Club. Joyce had a simple love of flowers, hummingbirds, her family and her God. Joyce is survived by her daughters Karen Zundel (Ed) and Peggy Barker (Jack) along with six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her youngest brother John Mckee (Della), of Soap Lake, Washington.

Norman (Gene) Lublin

Sept. 25, 1936 — July 16, 2025

Longtime Moses Lake resident Norman E. “Gene” Lublin, 88, passed from this earthly life at his home in Overland Park, Kansas, on July 16, 2025. Gene was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sept. 25, 1936. He was the 10th of 15 children born to his parents, Blaine Lublin Jr. and Della Mae Hislop. Growing up, Gene dealt with and overcame several challenges due to his being born with both a cleft lip and a cleft palate. Through those physical challenges, he developed an innate ability to seek out, be mindful of the one, and help others feel cared for and valued.

William ‘Don’ Thompson

Aug. 10, 1948 — July 10, 2025

William Donald Thompson Jr., 76, passed away peacefully at home on July 10, 2025, with his wife, his grandson and his faithful dog Maggie at his side. Don was born in Colfax, Washington, on Aug. 10, 1948, to William Donald Thompson Sr., and Rowana McPherson Thompson. He moved to Ephrata, Washington, when he was 4 years old and attended Columbia Ridge Elementary School. He graduated from Ephrata High School in the Class of 1966, where he lettered in basketball, played “Harvey” (the tall white rabbit), and played clarinet in the marching band. He also attended two years at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington. Don was quite the history and literature buff, with extensive knowledge of American Indians, American wars and the English language. He was an avid fisherman – mostly fly fishing – and an avid hunter, including small and big game as well as birds. He knew all the best places to hunt mule deer and often said that he had walked every square inch of Grant County.

Free dental clinic coming again to Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — A free dental clinic next month will fill a need that often goes overlooked. “The thing that everybody (wants) is dentistry, because that’s the thing they can’t access,” said Linda Morgan, who organizes the clinic every year for the Moses Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church. “A lot of dentists will not accept Medicaid. It’s very, very hard to get in. That’s why dentistry is so needed.”

The Kids become men’s softball upper division champs

MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake Men’s softball season ended Monday evening when the Desert Dawgs faced The Kids in a double header for the upper division championships. The competition was close, but The Kids came out on top to become upper division champions. “We did good. We hit the ball when we needed to. We locked down,” said The Kids team captain Sakiel Garza. “A lot of scoreless innings on defense which was good. A lot of just taking our base one at a time.” The Kids entered the night with the advantage as the higher placed team, only needing to win the first game to become champions. The Dawgs entered Monday’s matchup coming off of their Thursday victory against the Ten Pin Brewts.

Immigration arrests surged last month in Washington

Federal immigration arrests across Washington rose sharply in June as the Trump administration continues its aggressive nationwide push for deportations, according to new data. Arrests in June, more than 275, were at least double any month since President Donald Trump reclaimed the presidency in January. At the same time, the share of arrestees in Washington with criminal records dropped sharply, to less than one-third. The figures come from the Deportation Data Project out of the University of California, Berkeley, where researchers received the information via Freedom of Information Act requests. The data runs through June 26. “I think that every community member in our country who is watching the news and comes from an immigrant family is increasingly concerned about their safety here,” said Caedmon Magboo Cahill, director of policy advocacy at the American Civil Liberties Union’s Washington chapter.

SR 17-Cunningham Road roundabout scheduled for 2026

OTHELLO — A long-delayed roundabout will be coming to State Route 17 and Cunningham Road in spring 2026.

Soap Lake plans upgrades for dog park, Smokiam Campground

SOAP LAKE — In a bid to enhance recreational amenities and boost tourism, the city of Soap Lake is currently undertaking upgrades to both its dog park and the Smokiam Campground. Mayor Peter Sharp elaborated on these enhancements, citing community engagement and improved safety as primary motivators behind the initiatives.

Arthur Sergio Castro

July 9, 1955 — July 6, 2025

Arthur was born to Cesar and Victoria Castro, who immigrated to Moses Lake from Mexico in 1949. The couple settled in a small farmhouse off of Stratford Road near Crab Creek. Arthur, the fifth of eight children, grew up a farm kid with his brothers and sisters. The Castros raised animals and young Art would fetch fresh milk from the farmer down the road. He and his brothers loved fishing near the creek and Art became an avid bass fisherman as an adult. Once, near Block 40, Art reeled in a largemouth bass that weighed nearly 12 pounds. Throughout his childhood and teenage years he worked construction jobs, drove potato trucks and learned mechanics. He graduated from Moses Lake High School in 1974 and soon after met the love of his life, Salina. Art and Salina were married in Moses Lake in 1979 and would raise four children in the Knolls Vista neighborhood.

Ozzy Osbourne, who led Black Sabbath and became the godfather of heavy metal, dies at 76

Ozzy Osbourne, the gloomy, demon-invoking lead singer of the pioneering band Black Sabbath who became the throaty, growling voice — and drug-and-alcohol ravaged id — of heavy metal, died Tuesday, just weeks after his farewell show. He was 76. “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time,” a family statement said. In 2020, he revealed he had Parkinson’s disease after suffering a fall. Either clad in black or bare-chested, the singer was often the target of parents’ groups for his imagery and once caused an uproar for biting the head off a bat. Later, he would reveal himself to be a doddering and sweet father on the reality TV show “The Osbournes.”

Legion A Warriors playoff run ends in Medical Lake

COULEE CITY – The ACH Legion A Warriors ended their season July 20 after a competitive 8-13 loss against the Medical Lake Dirt Dawgs. Despite the loss, head coach Hunter Lee was happy for his players to get the experience of playoff baseball. “It was a great experience for our guys to be able to play in a playoff type format, and in a bunch of games and not a lot of days, lots of guys got to pitch, played a ton of baseball and close games for all of them. It was a great experience for us,” he said.

ACH Legion 18U set for the state tournament

COULEE CITY – The Almira/Coulee-Hartline American Legion 18U baseball team played four games over the weekend to determine their spot in the state tournament. ACH would end up making the state tournament and placing as the number five seed overall. “I look at it as, it’s kind of wide open,” said ACH Legion head coach Mike Correia. “If we get the pitch performance that I’m hoping we get, I don’t see any reason why we can't push towards the end and maybe make a run at winning the whole thing.”

Brandon Woodruff’s gem propels Brewers to 11th straight win, 6-0 over Mariners

SEATTLE (AP) — Brandon Woodruff tossed six innings of two-hit ball and the Milwaukee Brewers won their 11th straight, 6-0 over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night. Woodruff (2-0) needed just 62 pitches to make it through his third start of the season, giving up two singles and walking none. The right-hander missed all of the 2024 season because of surgery on his pitching shoulder, and has been brought along slowly by the Brewers since his debut on July 6.

OTHELLO CITY COUNCIL POS. 1: Kelli Camp

OTHELLO — Kelli Camp said she thinks the Othello City Council may need a different approach, and that led her to run for an open position. “There has not been much, if any, turnover on the city council in a decade, as far as the seats that were open. I really felt like that was somewhere I could potentially bring fresh eyes and new ideas,” she said.

OTHELLO CITY COUNCIL POS. 1: Genna Dorow

OTHELLO — Genna Dorow said she’s running for a new term on the Othello City Council because she wants to see Othello grow in a way that doesn’t cause problems in the future, and thinks she has the skills to help do that. “I care about the future of Othello,” Dorow said. “As our city continues to grow, I want to make sure we do the right things the right way, with strong infrastructure, affordable housing, smart sustainable planning (and other things). I have a passion for service (for) the city, and there are reasons for that, because of my background. I bring a unique combination of know-how to lead Othello forward. I want to do my best for the people of Othello, and I want Othello to be its best.”

Boys & Girls Clubs honored with Turnip the Beet! Award

MOSES LAKE — The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin has brought home yet another prize, having received the Turnip the Beet! For 2024. “This is one I’ve been working toward for the last three years since I started, so I was really excited,” said the club’s Operations Director Cecily Hendricks. “(We’ve been) revamping our food program and it’s taken some time but I feel like we’re finally there.”

$30M hospital bond goes before Ephrata voters

EPHRATA – Those living in and around Ephrata will see a measure on their ballot for the August 5 election for a $30 million bond measure requested by Grant County Public Hospital District 3 – which most residents likely know as Columbia Basin Hospital. The measure has been in the works for some time. “The board started talking about this more seriously right before COVID, and then COVID hit, and everything took a back burner to that,” said GCPHD 3 Board President Amy Paynter.