Firefighters keep battling Vantage fire, Lind fire out

Wet spring adds fuel to region's fire season, officials say

GRANT COUNTY — While the fire that threatened the Adams County town of Lind has been extinguished, firefighters still continue to battle a fire in the hills north of Vantage and have that blaze 75% contained, according to a spokesperson for the Washington Department of Natural Resources. “That’s good news,” DNR spokesperson Janet Pearce said of the Lind fire. “It was contained as of Aug. 4.” The Lind fire consumed roughly 2,500 acres south of town, according to Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner, destroyed six homes and eight garages and outbuildings. The fire, which broke out Thursday, prompted local officials to issue an evacuation order last Thursday for the entire town. However, the evacuation order was eventually restricted to residents in the southern portion of Lind, and was fully lifted on Friday when the fire was contained, Wagner said. “The Adams County Posse assisted with security and guarded the burnt out buildings over the weekend,” Wagner said. “One individual was found doing something he shouldn’t have.” Wagner said he would release more details about the incident later. According to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, a joint operation overseen by major federal land management agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of Interior, a collection of state agencies and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, reported that firefighters continued to battle the Vantage Highway fire. The fire, which erupted on Aug. 1 near Vantage, has burned more than 32,000 acres north of I-90 and west of the Columbia River in Kittitas County...

MLSD Learning Services Center gets new landmark

Student-built sculpture a work of 'perseverance'

MOSES LAKE — The entrance to the Moses Lake School District Learning Services Center is now identifiable by a stack of books. Okay, not actual books, but a book sculpture constructed by students at the Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center. “It’s pretty cool-looking, isn’t it?” former MLSD Board Member Vickey Melcher said. The metal statue was installed Monday afternoon while an interested audience of MLSD personnel watched. A crew from Miers Construction, Moses Lake, moved the sculpture into place. Melcher said the project started when the district offices moved from their former location on Ivy Street. The sculpture depicts two books leaning against each other and sitting on a third book. Former MLSD administrator Dave Balcom said the design was a collaboration between skills center students, instructors and former MLSD superintendent Josh Meek...

Seattle Kraken add Dave Lowry to staff as assistant coach

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Kraken have added former Winnipeg interim coach Dave Lowry to the coaching staff for the upcoming season, the team announced Monday.

Winker hits slam, Mariners drop Angels 6-3; Ohtani shaken up

SEATTLE (AP) — Jesse Winker hit a grand slam, Marco Gonzales struck out seven and the Seattle Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-3 on Sunday as Shohei Ohtani received a visit from trainers and continued to struggle.

Babe Ruth World Series brings in teams from across U.S.

Tourney a growing experience for young players

EPHRATA – Baseball teams from around the country gathered in Ephrata last week for the 2022 16-18U Babe Ruth World Series held at Ephrata High School. With the Columbia Basin Riverdogs serving as the host team, they are joined by teams from Washington, Alabama, Missouri, Oregon, Connecticut, California and Pennsylvania. “It’s a blast,” Northwest Bakersfield (California) Manager Jacob Brum said. “I think the best part is the experience for the kids. To be able to come out to a different state and play against other states - and just see what baseball around the world is like.” The World Series is held from Aug 6-13, with teams beginning with pool play before entering the tournament phase...

Play begins in 16-18U Babe Ruth World Series

Riverdogs win first match

EPHRATA – The 16-18U Babe Ruth World Series began in Ephrata this weekend, with the Columbia Basin Riverdogs winning their first game. The Riverdogs defeated the Middle Atlantic Region champion KUBA Kings on Saturday evening 10-0, with 12 hits in the process. The Riverdogs played again Sunday evening, but results were not available in time for publication. They’ll play again on Monday and Wednesday, with both games beginning at 7 p.m. Ian Bivona may be reached at [email protected].

Folk musician Billy Prine to perform at Cave B

QUINCY — A concert featuring folk musicians Billy Prine and the Prine Time Band has been rescheduled to 6 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Cave B Winery, 348 Silica Road NW. The concert originally was scheduled for Aug. 6 but had to be postponed due to poor air quality, according to information from Shawn Cardwell, Columbia Basin Allied Arts executive director. Cave B and CBAA are the concert sponsors. Prine is the brother of legendary folk musician John Prine, who died in 2020. Billy Prine will perform original music and some of his brother’s songs, along with telling stories about his brother and their family life. Tickets are $35 and are available at the CBAA website, www.cba-arts.org.

Ag officials warn against rabbit virus

OLYMPIA — Officials with the Washington State Department of Agriculture have confirmed the presence in the state of yet another highly infectious animal disease with the discovery of two cases of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type 2, also known as RHDV2, in a single household in Thurston county in late July. In a press release issued last week, WSDA said the confirmation of the Thurston County cases follow the discovery of RHDV2 in King County in May and two Oregon counties in late July. WSDA said in response, state officials and rabbit owners need to improve biosecurity in order to limit the spread of the disease. “Stopping this disease from spreading starts with rabbit owners employing biosecurity measures such as limiting contact with wild rabbits, isolating new rabbits from existing ones for 21 days, paying attention to where feed is sourced from, and keeping your rabbits housed off the ground or indoors,” Washington State Veterinarian Amber Itle said in the press release...

Grant County business survey shows mixed results

EPHRATA — China is the most important export market for major businesses in Grant County, according to the Grant County Economic Development Council’s recently released Wage and Benefits Survey for 2022. The survey, conducted with assistance from the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Analysis at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, received responses from 19 companies operating in Grant County, found that 84.5% of the companies surveyed export some share of their output, with China being the most important buyer of Grant County products. China is followed by Japan, the rest of Asia and then Canada. Companies responding to the survey were not named in the 57-page report. Of the responding companies, 14 had operations in Moses Lake, two in Quincy, and two in Othello, while the others did not respond. One company responding to the survey has been operating at its current site in Grant County for 106 years, while the newest company in the survey has only been in the area for five years. The largest company in the survey reported having 678 full-time employees — 94 of them salaried — for a total payroll of $44 million while the smallest company reported having 11 full-time employees with only one salaried position for a total annual payroll of $550,000...

Quincy school board passes $74.14M budget

QUINCY — The Quincy School District will operate with a budget of about $74.14 million for the 2022-23 school year. Quincy School Board members approved the budget, in part based on student enrollment, with a unanimous vote at the regular meeting July 26. “It’s a crystal ball,” said Quincy superintendent Nik Bergman of the yearly enrollment projections. “You never know.” Of the total, about $62.86 million is in the district’s general fund, which pays for most operations and maintenance. State funding for education in Washington is based on the number of students in school. Quincy district officials are projecting district-wide enrollment will be the equivalent of 3,140 students. The funding mechanism means that district officials must estimate enrollment before the school year begins. “We budget very conservatively. We feel that’s the prudent thing,” Bergman said...

Race for Life raises more than $4,000 in the fight against cancer

MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake BMX hosted its Race for Life event, part of a 600-point weekend with fellow BMX tracks in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. The event raised money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, with riders raising money on their own and pooling it together. “The event turned out great,” Track Operator Jeff Niehenke said. “We had a great turnout; we raised a ton of money.” The track had a goal of raising $1,500 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and more than doubled that goal. “Our goal was $1,500 for the track, and we raised $4,027.” Niehenke described the feeling of support as “incredible.” “It’s incredible to exceed our goal by that much,” Niehenke said. “Each year we keep getting bigger and bigger, and it just shows how strong the BMX community is and how much we love each other.” With the collaborated weekend with tracks in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, many riders came to Moses Lake from out of town. “We do have quite a few riders from out of town for this, because it is a double points weekend,” Niehenke said. “I’m hoping a lot of riders go out and support the other tracks for their Race for Life as well.” ...

Eagles begin fall camp

Annual transition allows new leaders to step forward

CHENEY – Following a long offseason, Eastern Washington hosted its first full team practice of the season. The Eagles, coming off a 10-3 season and an appearance in the second round of the FCS Playoffs, lost key offensive starters in quarterback Eric Barriere, left tackle Tristen Taylor, running back Dennis Merritt and receiver Talolo Limu-Jones. “(It’s) always a transition year, because you lose the top-end seniors or you lose some guys,” EWU Head Coach Aaron Best said. It’s a different year because you had a combination of spring and fall guys last fall, so it is different that way, but it’s kind of a more normal fall (now).” Several players have stepped up into more leadership roles, something he likes to see in his teams, Best said. “The guys that took over for the senior class that left have been yearning to lead,” he said. “They led all spring; they led all summer, and I’m excited to see them lead this fall for their first real opportunity when they’re keeping score.” ...

WCC announces men’s basketball conference schedule

SAN MATEO, CALIF. – The West Coast Conference announced its 2022-23 men’s basketball conference games schedule on Tuesday, which will be held over a nine-week period spanning from December 31 through February 25.

Cougars named in top 25 of preseason poll

PULLMAN – The United Soccer Coaches released its preseason poll for women’s soccer Tuesday, with the Washington State Cougars placing at No. 20.

World Series in Ephrata begins Saturday

EPHRATA – The 2022 16-18U Babe Ruth World Series makes its way to Ephrata this weekend, bringing in teams from around the United States.

Washington town told to leave due to wildfire, 10 homes lost

LIND — An entire eastern Washington town was being evacuated Thursday because of a growing wildfire south of town that was burning homes, officials said.....

BBCC releases spring academic lists

MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College released its spring president’s and vice president’s lists. According to Big Bend’s website, students who make the president’s list must complete 12 or more graded credits with a GPA of 3.75 or above. Students who make the vice president’s list must complete 12 or more graded credits with a GPA between 3.33 and 3.74...

Watershed brings country stars to the Gorge

Stars perform in 100-plus-degree heat

GEORGE - Watershed Festival celebrated 10 years this past weekend at the Gorge Amphitheater, bringing people from around the Pacific Northwest and across the nation together through country music.

Quincy hospital design set to start in September after primary vote

Unofficial results show 64% of voters approving of bond funding

QUINCY — The first phase of designing a new Quincy Valley Medical Center is tentatively scheduled for early September after Tuesday’s election results indicate likely final approval of a $55 million bond proposal for Grant County Hospital District 2. “Once (certification) is behind us, we’ll be setting the wheels in motion,” Quincy hospital administrator Glenda Bishop said Wednesday. “And then we will follow the lead of the team that we’ve put in place, and who I have tremendous confidence in.” Bishop said some planning has started and will ramp up after the election is certified Aug. 16. Initial results show that voters are approving a construction bond proposal for a new hospital.. The proposal had received 951 yes votes and 531 no votes as of Tuesday night, about 64.3% voting yes. Because the proposal was a revenue measure, it required at least 60% yes votes to pass...

Moses Lake celebrates National Night Out

Annual event allows first responders to connect with community

MOSES LAKE - National Night Out returned to Moses Lake Tuesday night at McCosh Park for the first time since 2019. “It's just all about us and our citizens,” said Moses Lake Police Chief Kevin Fuhr. Fuhr and Grant County Sheriff Ryan Rectenwald were the two victims in the dunk tank at the annual event that allows law enforcement officers to connect with the communities they serve, although if you asked them, it was their favorite part of the event. Fuhr and Rectenwald mirrored each other in that the happiness that being dunked brought to the children was what they enjoyed...