Quincy council approves downtown revitalization plan

QUINCY — A plan that provides a framework for possible improvements to downtown Quincy was approved by the Quincy City Council on July 19. The downtown revitalization plan was approved on a 5-1 vote, with Councilmember Dave Dormaier voting no. “Each of the projects will still have to be vetted again to go out for design and construction,” Municipal Services Director Carl Worley said. “We would look at things again, and if there was something that just wasn’t going to work, if it was identified in the plan, that doesn’t mean we have to do it. It’s not anything in concrete.” ...

Bronco Inn named Travelers’ Choice hotel

RITZVILLE — The Bronco Inn, a Best Western hotel in Ritzville, was recently selected for a Travelers’ Choice Award by the online travel company Tripadvisor. The Travelers’ Choice Certificate of Excellence is given annually to hotels, restaurants and other travel-related businesses that rank in the top 10% in consistently good reviews on Tripadvisor’s website, according to Bronco Inn General Manager Nichole Thiel...

'Beautiful Wounds' highlighted at next Wenatchee Valley Erratics meeting

WENATCHEE — The Wenatchee Valley Erratics chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute will host its next program on Aug. 9...

New Samaritan Hospital project paused

Increased costs cause delay while officials work to bridge $31M funding gap.

MOSES LAKE — Construction of a new Samaritan Hospital has been put on hold while hospital district officials work to close the gap between the project cost and the amount of available financing. “(The estimate) is currently sitting at $31 million over where the prior funding was anticipated or received,” Jenks Abram Jenks, one of the consultants working on the project, said...

Lucha in Moses Lake

Mexican wrestling makes its Moses Lake debut

MOSES LAKE — There have been a lot of grand openings, ribbon cuttings and celebrations for new businesses in Moses Lake, but nothing quite like the shindig Paul Carney threw to mark the formal opening of EDUBS C/S at 1102 W. Broadway Avenue last Saturday. “It’s a great day today,” said Yesenia Guzman, an insurance agent with Comparion Insurance in Moses Lake. “It’s hot out here, we’ve got some misters out over at our tent, but absolutely, it’s a wonderful day today.” ...

Pop Stop

New beverage shop to offer custom soft drinks, homemade cookies

MOSES LAKE — Some call it pop, others say it’s soda. Either way, it’s going to get a new twist in Moses Lake when a new business opens this summer. “It's the sodas that you know and love,” said Kelsey Edwards, who co-owns Pop Stop with her friend Allie Earl. “And we add different flavorings and add-ins to them to make them fun and yummy, and then we bake our own cookies in the back.” ...

Q&A: Grant County Sheriff candidates

EPHRATA — The announcement earlier this year by long-time Grant County Tom Jones that he would not seek re-election, followed by his retirement in June, threw the race to be the county’s next top law enforcement officer wide open. Current Grant County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Joe Kriete, former Mattawa Police Chief Joe Harris and farmer James Baker have all filed to run. The two candidates who receive the most votes will face off in November to see who will become Grant County Sheriff. Each candidate was asked about their background and the same four questions, with the answers presented below and lightly edited for clarity. Baker did not respond prior to the deadline given to all three candidates...

Basin sports schedule for July 27-Aug. 1

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

Seahawks RB Carson released with injury designation, reportedly to retire

SEATTLE – The Seahawks released running back Chris Carson with a failed physical designation on Tuesday, and Carson will reportedly retire after five seasons in the NFL, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport...

No Limit fishing tourney set for Saturday

Potholes Reservoir to see kayaks aplenty

OTHELLO – The Big Bass Power Hour is coming to Potholes State Park on Saturday, presented by Native Watercraft. The tournament features anglers using kayaks to get across the Potholes Reservoir, either man- or engine-powered. It is part of a five-event series that spans across the U.S. “We are doing five of these events in different parts of the country this year,” Marvin Forte, an event organizer, said. “They’re sort of distinct events, so I wouldn’t really call it a tour.” ...

NCW Libraries open for those trying to stay cool

COLUMBIA BASIN - The Grant County Health District issued a release regarding cooling centers in the area for those trying to stay cool in the heat. The release stated that with temperatures expected to be 100 degrees and over this week, all North Central Washington Libraries are open as cooling centers. ...

Quincy fire damages apartment building, displaces dozens

QUINCY — About 30 people were displaced from their apartments in the 430 block of Quincy’s East Street NE, following a late-afternoon fire Monday that destroyed four of the units and heavily damaged the others. No one was injured...

Ephrata Schools looking for new board member

EPHRATA - In a press release on July 26, the Ephrata School District announced that they were seeking candidates for an open position on the Ephrata School Board.

QVMC board selects architect

Hospital project still dependent on bond approval

QUINCY — Quincy Valley Medical Center commissioners have selected Trinity:NAC, Spokane, to design the new Quincy hospital, if the project moves forward. “This is all contingent on the bond levy,” Joe Kunkel, the consultant working with the hospital district on the project, said. “So, negotiating the agreement, this all stops Tuesday if the bond agreement doesn’t fall in our favor.” ...

WSU linebacker named to Butkus Award watch list

CHICAGO – Washington State linebacker Daiyan Henley was one of 51 players named to the 2022 Butkus Award watch list on Monday, annually presented to the best linebacker in the nation...

EWU's Chism, Jerome named to All-Big Sky lists

SPOKANE – Eastern Washington University receiver Efton Chism III and defensive lineman Joshua Jerome were both named to the preseason All-Big Sky list on Monday at the Big Sky Conference Kickoff in Spokane...

Basic American Foods addresses labor shortage during tour

MOSES LAKE — Even as business in the Columbia Basin expands, companies like Basic American Foods are finding it difficult to find and retain employees, according to Brian Meiners, the Basic American Foods plant manager in Moses Lake. “We have not had a full slate of people since before COVID,” Meiners told Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Yakima, during a visit to the company’s Moses Lake production facility Monday morning...

Mega Millions jackpot at $810 million

OLYMPIA - A press release on July 25 states that the Mega Millions lottery jackpot had grown to $810 million after its most recent drawing yielded no top-tier winners...

Power pole fire causes Monday outage

EPHRATA - At about 8 a.m. Monday, Grant County Public Utility District reported a large power outage just south of Ephrata which had been caused by a power pole fire. Christine Pratt, Public Information Officer for Grant PUD said the outage affected about 1,000 customers initially...

Audition dates announced for Masquers fall musical

'Once on this Island' coming to Soap Lake

SOAP LAKE — Auditions are scheduled for Aug. 14 and 15 for the fall musical presented by the Masquers Theater company. Auditions for “Once on this Island” will be at 2 p.m. Aug. 14 and 6 p.m. Aug. 15 at the theater, 322 East Main St., Soap Lake.