Suky’s Daycare

Local center celebrates a year at second location

MOSES LAKE — It was 23 years ago when Suced Yusso started a daycare business in her home. “I always had a dream to open a center,” Yusso said through a translator, Jose Ureste, Associate Pastor at the Warden Assembly. “My husband thought I was crazy, but it was a dream that I had.” As Yusso speaks, Ureste’s four-year-old daughter Sofia sits at a table playing. It’s the end of a long day, and she’s the last child in the center. After getting a college degree and a lot of hard work, Yusso now has two Suky’s Learning Centers — an initial location at 414 Buress Ave. and a second location she opened a year ago at 900 E. Nelson Road in the offices of a former chiropractic clinic — and managed to keep the first location going in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic while she looked at that second building and dreamed. To keep the business going during the pandemic, Yusso said she and her husband borrowed from his 401(k) because they weren’t eligible for aid and couldn’t get a business loan...

Primary election results certified, recount possible in Grant County Commission race

EPHRATA — Terry Thompson, incumbent Adams County Commissioner, will be challenged by Mike Garza in the November general election. The race for Grant County Commissioner may be headed for a recount, at the request of one of the candidates and paid for by that candidate.

Seattle QB Lock tests positive for COVID-19; out vs. Bears

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday and will miss the team's preseason game against Chicago.

Mariners break up perfect game bid in 6th, beat Angels 8-2

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Adam Frazier broke up José Suárez's bid for a perfect game in the sixth and added a two-run triple in the ninth, leading the Seattle Mariners to an 8-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night.

The Chicks take the Gorge

GEORGE - The Chicks, formerly known as the Dixie Chicks, wrapped up the final concert of their summer tour on Aug. 13 at the Gorge Amphitheater. The Chicks Tour was a 27-city tour starting in St. Louis, MO on June 14. “I saw them at White River Amphitheater (and) this is so so much better,” said concert attendee Madison Thomas. The Gorge filled with people from all over the Pacific Northwest as two-time Grammy award-winner and seven-time nominee, singer-songwriter Patty Griffin opened for the Chicks. Griffin has released nine classic studio albums and two live collections since her debut in 1996, according to her official website. The Chicks is made up of three members; Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer After a 14-year gap, The group released their fifth studio album, a 12-track record named “Gaslighter” in July 2020...

SLSD to hold surplus sale Saturday

SOAP LAKE - The Soap Lake School District will be holding a surplus sale this Saturday in Soap Lake to get rid of old and unused items for a great bargain. Soap Lake School District Superintendent Kim Casey said the items in the sale are old, out of date, mismatched or unused items and may have some damage. “The items are not in stellar condition,” said Casey. Items in the sale include but are not limited to things such as filing cabinets, chairs, tables, desks and other school-related supplies. She explained that the idea behind putting the unwanted...

Basin sports schedule Aug. 17-23

Check out this week’s sports schedule, featuring local, regional and national events...

GCHD to offer COVID-19 vaccinations at county libraries

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Health District will be offering COVID-19 vaccination clinics at NCW Libraries locations throughout the county beginning Aug. 23. The clinics will serve patients six months of age and older who haven’t been vaccinated, as well as providing booster doses, according to a joint press release from GCHD and NCW Libraries. They’re walk-in only; no appointments are required, the press release said. People should be ready to wait 15 minutes after receiving the shot. Health department staff will be using the Moderna vaccine. Booster doses can be administered to all patients regardless of the previous type of vaccine they received, according to the press release. No insurance or identification is required. People will be asked for their name, date of birth and some pertinent medical history, the press release said.

GCSO officers give theft victims new bikes

MOSES LAKE - A Grant County Sheriff’s Deputy headed an effort to raise money to gift two new electric bikes to a family who had theirs stolen, according to a GCSO statement. In a release by GCSO, Deputy Zane Bundy delivered two new electric bikes on Sunday to a family who had been the victim of a burglary. The Larson Community family had expressed to deputies that their kids had respect for law enforcement officers and that the loss of the bikes would be a huge impact on the family, the release said. “Deputy Bundy, with his heart strings pulled, passed the hat to all GCSO members, raising enough money to buy two new bikes for the kids,” thestatement said.

Fair chicken showing goes virtual and...stuffed

MOSES LAKE — Poultry judge Emmett Wild stands across the table from the two young women in FFA jackets. He looks serious, as do the two teenage exhibitors, even as they each tightly grip a stuffed chicken. “Check your bird for external parasites,” he commands. Jeslan Valdez, 16, lifts up a wing of her stuffed chicken, slides a finger along the underside to show where she would look, then quickly lifts up the rear and brushes her hand against it. “What would be the signs that your bird has parasites?” Wild asks. “It would be stressed out,” Valdez said, continuing her response with a list of signs and symptoms her bird would clearly show if it had mites, lice or anything else that can make its home on a real, live chicken. Valdez and her fellow FFA poultry shower Paige Ball, both FFA members, are showing off stuffed chickens in the Poultry Barn at this year’s Grant County Fair following a request from the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s chief veterinarian to hold off on live poultry shows until 30 days after the last confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza, which was most recently detected in a small, backyard flock in Jefferson County on July 26...

Grant County Fair begins with sheep showing

MOSES LAKE — Patience and responsibility. That’s what Anabelle Brown, 13, said she’s learned showing sheep at this year’s Grant County Fair, which started on Tuesday. “My mom thought sheep; I would do good with sheep,” Brown said. “So we signed up.” Brown stood in a pen in the Sheep Barn of the Grant County Fairgrounds with her friend Ariel Montoya, 14. Both wear Skyline 4-H Sheep 2022 tee shirts. And both are exhibiting animals for the very first time. “I've shown art and stuff, but I've never shown animals,” Brown said. “Okay, this is my first year trying to work with all these people. I didn't really know how to work some of the equipment. I had to ask for help learning how to use them.” “This is actually my first year,” Montoya added. “Yeah, I started this year.” ...

Final piece of mural project dedicated

MOSES LAKE — A mural depicting some of the attractions of Grant County, designed with the help of people who attended the Grant County Fair in the last few years, got its official unveiling Tuesday morning. Columbia Basin Allied Arts director Shawn Cardwell said the project started about 2016, and was and is designed to add art in and around the fairgrounds. It evolved a little over the years, she said. The mural, on a water cistern across Airway Drive from the fairgrounds, depicts flora and fauna found in Grant County, along with a rider on horseback. Artist Erika Kovalenko, Moses Lake, said she’s done a lot of murals in her career. “This has been one of my funnest pieces to paint,” she said...

Pasco man injured in Mattawa collision

MATTAWA — A Pasco man was transported to Kadlec Medical Center in Kennewick after he failed to negotiate a roundabout near Mattawa and ran off the road Tuesday morning. Roy Limon, 80, was attempting to go through the roundabout at the intersection of State Route 243 and Government Road about 5:30 a.m. when he ran off the road, according to a press memo from the Washington State Patrol. Limon’s car came to a stop in a ditch on the southbound side. Limon was not wearing a seatbelt, the WSP memo said. The collision is still under investigation...

Columbia Basin school start dates 2022

Columbia Basin school start dates...

Benevolent Golf Tournament returns to Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Firefighters’ Benevolent Golf Tournament will be making its return on Aug. 27, following a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Benevolent foundation chair Jason Koziol said that they are excited about the return of the tournament. This will be the tournament’s second year. “Initially, it started the year prior to COVID,” Koziol said. “That was our first annual golf tournament, and then COVID struck, and we had two years of absence. Right now, it’s firing back up for this year, and so we’re hoping nothing else happens – no more pandemic happens.” The benevolent foundation, part of Moses Lake Firefighters Union Local 1258, raises money to give back to the community: Operation Warm gives jackets to children during the colder months and Firefighters for Kids assists families during the holiday season. The fund also supports displaced residents due to fires, among other things. “Our benevolent foundation is a non-profit group that helps out between different charity causes here,” Koziol said.

Golf tournament raises money for Walk to End Alzheimer's team

WARDEN – The first annual Larry Hollenbeck “Dude! Where’s my CART?!” Alzheimer’s Awareness Golf Tournament was held at Sage Hills Golf Club late in July, part of a fundraiser for the Columbia Basin Area Walk to End Alzheimer’s. “We competed against Watershed (Music Festival) and the boat races in Tri-Cities, and I had to close registration two weeks before the event because we had sold out of carts,” Columbia Basin Area Walk to End Alzheimer’s Chairperson Karisti Cox said. Cox, who also serves as the Community Resource Director at Summer Wood Alzheimer’s Special Care Center, said that the tournament was brought up to help with costs associated with the upcoming walk in September...

Moses Lake woman dies in rollover

MANSFIELD — A Moses Lake woman is dead after a single-vehicle accident early Saturday morning, according to a press release from the Washington State Patrol. Stephanie M. Starkweather, 35, was driving south on state Route 17 about 15 miles south of Mansfield in a 2005 Dodge Magnum at about 2 a.m. when she failed to negotiate a curve. Her vehicle left the roadway, rolled multiple times down an embankment and caught fire, according to the WSP. Starkweather died at the scene. It was unknown whether drugs or alcohol was involved, or whether Starkweather was wearing a seatbelt, the WSP wrote.

Wenatchee pet organizations support pet owners in need

WENATCHEE - Several Wenatchee Valley pet organizations have come together to support pet owners experiencing hard times. In a press release, Wenatchee Valley Humane Society, Firehouse Pet Shop, Earthwise Pet Shop, PetSmart, and Petco said they would like to remind pet owners that they are there for support during trying times. If someone is in need of pet boarding, food or supplies due to an emergency they are asked to reach out. The release also says that those who are issued a level 3 evacuation notice during a wildfire can look to the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society for free emergency pet boarding if needed. Anyone interested in emergency boarding should call the shelter ahead of time to ensure there is space available, even if that means calling while driving to the shelter, the release states. Wenatchee Valley Humane Society also offers a free pet food pantry on the last Saturday of every month. If pet food is needed before the last Saturday of the month please reach out. “Make sure you’re prepared and remember that your community has your back,” the release states. To volunteer, donate, or for more information visit wenatcheehumane.org, email [email protected] or call (509) 662-9577.

Spokane man sentenced for COVID-19 relief fraud

SPOKANE — A Spokane man has been sentenced to five years probation for COVID-19 relief fraud, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Eastern Washington. Roshon Edward Thomas, 42, was sentenced in federal court for fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief funding for small businesses, according to the release. This is the first sentence in a case brought by the Eastern Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force since its creation earlier this year, the release said...

State awards grants to support local arts and festivals

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Commerce announced Monday that it is awarding more than $71,000 to arts organizations and local festivals in the Columbia Basin. The grants, made in collaboration with the Washington Festivals and Events Association and ArtsWA, are part of $3.3 million in funds awarded to 284 organizations in 36 of Washington’s 39 counties, according to the announcement. Grants can be used to restart local festivals and events suspended in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic or to stabilize depleted budgets, according to the press release. Recipients can use the funds for deposits on infrastructure (security, temporary fencing, staging, lights, sound equipment, etc.) and staff and labor costs. Grants ranged from $178 to $35,000 and were based on need and demonstrated losses. The program was made possible through a tourism relief grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration...