City, DAR honor Miyo Koba

MOSES LAKE — The city of Moses Lake on Tuesday, along with the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, honored longtime Moses Lake resident and businessperson Miyo Koba with a special award and a key to the city in a ceremony at Tuesday’s regular Moses Lake City Council meeting. “As far as I know, this is the first of its kind,” said Mayor Don Myers. “We created the key to the city and I will be presenting it to Miyo to acknowledge the recognition by the Karneetsa chapter of women in history.” According to Stephanie Massart, regent of the local Karneetsa Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the society was recognizing Koba for her place in local and national history as a Japanese-American who was interned in a camp during World War II, as well as helping her husband Frank to run Frank’s Market on Nelson Road for many years.

Local ag leaders join Cantwell for farm bill forum

WENATCHEE — Sen. Maria Cantwell, chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, joined a forum of nearly 30 state leaders in agriculture to discuss the upcoming re-authorization of the farm bill, according to a press release from Cantwell’s office. Cantwell was joined in Wenatchee by Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, the release said...

Carl S. Cunningham

On May 7, 2023, Carl S. Cunningham, beloved husband, father, mentor, brother and friend, passed away at the age of 70 surrounded by his loved ones in his home. He is survived by his wife Carol, his children Julie, Andrea, Joshua, Laura and Samuel, his many grandchildren and his extended family. Carl was born in Gooding, Idaho. He was a curious person who loved to tinker. He played many sports in high school. He married his sweetheart Carol in 1973. They successfully raised their large brood of children into adulthood. Carl worked at Oregon Steel Mill as a lab manager for many years. He made a career change to sales at Starrett. He then moved to Exova for sales and worked his way up to manager of operations. His last career stop was at IMR where he returned to sales, his true passion. He retired to his hometown of Moses Lake, Washington to live the farm life in 2018.

Spud sales volume down but values up in 2022

DENVER — While the overall volume of U.S. potato sales fell slightly in 2022 when compared with 2021, the value of those same sales rose 14.4% to $15.5 billion, according to data published by Colorado-based PotatoesUSA, a marketing organization of U.S. potato growers...

‘Almost, Maine’

Masquers new production set to open this weekend

SOAP LAKE — A play about the many variations of love, as revealed as a cold night in a small Maine community, comes to the stage at the Masquers Theater for the next three weekends. “Almost, Maine” opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the theater, located at 322 E. Main St., Soap Lake.

Food pantries seek flexibility to aid families

OLYMPIA — Legislation currently making its way through the Washington State Legislature would give food banks the ability to spend more money on diapers, toiletries, feminine hygiene products and other non-food items in order to meet increasing demand. Substitute House Bill 1499, by Rep. Clyde Shavers, D-Oak Harbor, allows food banks to expand the percentage of food assistance funding they can spend on non-food items from 10% to 25%.

Quincy Valley Medical Center bonds issued

QUINCY — Property owners in Grant County Hospital District 2 will be paying a little less than first projected for the construction bonds to build the new Quincy Valley Medical Center. Property owners will be paying an estimated 39 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, down nine cents from the original projection.

Bill would make WA clergy mandatory reporters of abuse

OLYMPIA — A bill currently making its way through the Washington State Legislature would require clergy to report child abuse, neglect or sexual abuse to the authorities, according to a press release from bill author and sexual abuse survivor Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle...

Students First Program legislation introduced in WA House

OLYMPIA — State Rep. Carolyn Eslick (R-Sultan) introduced a bill on Thursday that would allow parents to use their share of state education funds for private or home-based education, according to a statement from Eslick’s office...

Data center under construction in Quincy

QUINCY — Construction has begun on a new data center near the intersection of D Street Northwest and Road R Northwest in Quincy...

Ecology fines Coulee City ranch for wetlands damage

COULEE CITY — The Washington State Department of Ecology has fined a Coulee City-area rancher nearly $268,000 for illegally damaging about two-dozen alkali wetland areas near Park Lake just south of Coulee City...

Health district expands Wilbur-Ellis advisory

GRANT COUNTY — The Grant County Health District announced late Friday that it is expanding its health advisory to two miles around the Wilbur-Ellis facility at Road 1.3 SE and Road O SE, southeast of Moses Lake, which caught fire on Sunday, Oct. 23. “There are several different agencies on-site monitoring the situation,” said GCHD spokesperson Lexi Smith. The GCHD is extending the advisory because work crews will begin excavating the smoldering remains of a company fertilizer facility which could stir up particulates and release additional sulfur dioxide and other pollutants into the air, according to a health district press release...

County seeks volunteer to serve on MLIRD board

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Commissioners are looking for a volunteer to fill out a vacancy in the board that oversees the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District following the resignation of board member Kaj Selman. The successful volunteer must live and own property within the district and if appointed, will serve the remainder of Selman’s term, which ends in January 2024, the press release said...

Wahluke SD works to plug gaps with ‘Warrior Friday’

MATTAWA — Wahluke School District officials are using four days throughout the school year dedicated to classes, activities and games to help students fill some of the gaps left by the Covid-19 pandemic. The first “Warrior Friday” for the 2022-23 school year was held last week. District Superintendent Andy Harlow said it’s voluntary for children and staff members. It attracted a significant number of students and staff, he said. “Our students had activities like math Fear Factor, where they practiced solving math problems and had to look for the answers in mystery boxes,” wrote Lucy Tapia, district communications director. “(Other activities included) camp counseling, where students practiced reading with their counselors, math races, knowledge escape rooms, and more.” Elementary and junior high students did math and science through cooking lessons and ran obstacle courses in the gym. Wahluke High School students spent some time on special projects. Three additional Warrior Fridays are planned in January, March and May, Tapia wrote.

Collier off IR; Brown, Homer return to practice

SEATTLE – Seahawks defensive end L.J. Collier was activated off of Seattle’s injured reserve on Wednesday, and cornerback Tre Brown and running back Travis Homer both were designated to return to practice. Collier, who has an elbow injury, has been out since Seattle’s second preseason game against the Chicago Bears. The 2019 first-round pick out of TCU was designated to return to practice earlier this month but suffered a thumb injury which set him back. In Collier’s three seasons as a Seahawk, he has three sacks, 33 tackles and three passes defensed in 37 career games. Homer missed the previous four games with a rib injury that he suffered in Seattle’s loss to Atlanta on Sept. 25. Brown returns from the team’s physically unable to perform list after a knee injury from last season. Both Brown and Homer will not count toward Seattle’s 53-man roster until they are added to the active roster. Brown had elevated himself into a starting role with the Seahawks last season before his knee injury. In five games, the then-rookie out of Oklahoma had 10 total tackles and one pass defended. Homer is a former sixth-round pick out of Miami who had 16 yards on four carries in three games this season. The fourth-year veteran also has four catches for 33 yards this year.

Cougs to face Boise State in Spokane this December

PULLMAN – The Washington State men's basketball team will face Boise State in a neutral site game, Dec. 21, 2023 at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, as part of the Numerica Holiday Hoops 2023 supporting Numerica CARES for Kids, the organizations announced in partnership with the Spokane Chiefs and Brett Sports.

Ephrata dismisses Parks and Rec director

EPHRATA — Ephrata city officials are considering options to replace Parks and Recreation Director Traci Bennet after her employment was terminated. Ephrata City Council members confirmed Bennet’s firing on a 6-0 vote at the regular meeting Aug. 16...

Moses Lake's Carlile takes first runner up in Distinguished Young Women program

PULLMAN — Sydney Ohlemann, a senior at Cle Elum/Roslyn High School, has been selected as Washington’s Distinguished Young Woman for 2024, according to an announcement from the Distinguished Young Women program. Addy Carlile of Moses Lake was the first runner-up...

Lightning, rain cause electrical outages

MOSES LAKE — A lightning strike during a Monday morning thunderstorm cut power to customers in the Warden and Moses Lake areas, while the same storm resulted in other outages throughout Grant County. The outages affected about 5,500 customers countywide, said Christine Pratt, PUD public information officer...

Concepcion Gonzalez

Concepcion Gutierrez Gonzalez, "Concha," 89, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Aug. 3, 2023. Born Dec. 3, 1933, to Alfredo and Benita Gutierrez in Barancos de Guadalupe, Chihuahua, Mexico, she moved to Texas at 8, California at 17 and settled in Moses Lake, Washington in 1953. She married Manuel V. Gonzalez on Nov. 7, 1955. She was the mother of 10, five girls and five boys; grandmother of 26; great-grandmother of 46; and great-great-grandmother of 10. Concha will be remembered as a strong and courageous woman, as well as being independent. From home repair to crafts, you name it; she got it done on her own. Concha had a heart for the sick, needy and less fortunate. Her loving ways, big smile and happy heart is how she will be remembered.