Zamora scores four goals, Mavs defeat Cheney

MOSES LAKE – The Mavericks snapped a six-game losing skid with Monday night’s 4-2 win over Cheney, with senior Joshua Zamora leading his squad by scoring all four of Moses Lake’s goals in the win. “We’ve been dealing with injuries with players throughout the season, so (Monday) we had a gameplan of making sure we touched and moved – that way we can avoid injuries and be ready for the second half of the season,” Moses Lake Head Coach Miguel Segura said. “That was working for us really well, and all the communication that we were doing was helping a lot.”

Vikings swept by Blue Mountain

MOSES LAKE – Coming off dropping two games to Blue Mountain CC earlier in the week, the Big Bend Vikings traveled to face the Timberwolves in a doubleheader on Saturday, losing both games by scores of 7-2 and 6-5.

DIAMOND RECAP: Local squads stay busy over spring break

COLUMBIA BASIN – Even with many teams off last week for spring break, there was still plenty of action across the Basin baseball and softball fields.

MLHS alum Maximus Zamora earns All-American honors at NAIA tournament

MOSES LAKE – The success of Moses Lake's storied wrestling program stretches beyond the high school ranks. Maximus Zamora, a 2021 graduate of Moses Lake High School, recently proved that at last month’s National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Championships after battling through injuries throughout the season.

Sprint to success: Mavs 4x100 relay team breaks school record set in 1978

MOSES LAKE — As everybody who’s ever been involved in track and field knows, relays are tough. Sprint relays are even tougher. Not only does the leadoff have to get out of the blocks - a clean start is crucial in sprints - but the handoffs have to be precise, especially when runners are coming in fast and going out fast. It’s so easy to mess up the pass. Or worse, drop the baton...

Othello Easter Egg Hunt draws large crowd, plans for bigger event next year

OTHELLO – The Othello Holiday Committee put on Othello’s first Easter Egg Hunt event in Lions Park Saturday afternoon, drawing in a large attendance according to Committee Manager Tania Morelos.

Inconvenient accommodation

Short-term rentals have Moses Lake residents upset, but city may be able to help

MOSES LAKE — The prevalence of short-term or vacation rentals has upset some people in Moses Lake. “(There’s been) increased activity, a lot of vehicles and trailers,” said Moses Lake resident Rebecca Hutsell, who said her neighborhood has at least four homes available for short-term rental that she knows of. Traffic through the one entrance into her neighborhood can get hectic, she said. “Everybody wants to bring their trailers ... A lot of strangers in the neighborhood we don't know,” Hutsell said.

Ephrata Chamber events scheduled

EPHRATA – The Ephrata Chamber of Commerce has dates set for its annual events for 2024. More information regarding these events may be found at EphrataChamber.org.

Road upgrades near Gorge Amphitheater on schedule

GEORGE — The asphalt is going down on sections of Silica Road Northwest and Southwest and West Baseline Road near the Gorge Amphitheater. Grant County Engineer David Bren said the project is on schedule. “They’re paving already,” Bren said.

CWU musician shines at National Trumpet Competition

ELLENSBURG — A Central Washington University music student etched her name in the history books last month when she won the undergraduate solo division at the National Trumpet Competition (NTC).

Grant County property tax statements mailed

EPHRATA — While some property owners will see new taxes and levies on their 2024 property tax statements, for most areas the total levy rate is lower than 2023. Grant County Treasurer Darryl Pheasant wrote in a press release that property tax statements were mailed late last week.

Town hall gathers Ephrata officials together in one room

EPHRATA — Eight public officials and figures from Ephrata gathered onstage at the Ephrata High School Performing Arts Center Thursday evening for the We Are Ephrata Town Hall, providing updates on the various agencies and organizations in the city. The event was organized and moderated by the Columbia Basin Herald with assistance from students in Ephrata High School’s TigerVision group and community leaders.

Molahiettes bring home state championship

MOSES LAKE — Being a member of the Molahiettes brings with it a set of expectations. The Moses Lake High School drill team successfully defended its title in the military category at the WIAA Drill/Dance State Championships March 23. By the nature of competition, few teams win a state title, but for the Molahiettes it’s kind of – expected. It’s what the Molahiettes do. It’s tradition. Co-captain Ashlynn Tate said coping with the pressure is a tradition too.

Abell announces candidacy for Washington House

INCHELIUM — Hunter Abell, of Inchelium, has announced his candidacy for the state House of Representatives, according to an announcement from Abell Thursday.

Two Basin residents sworn in as WSP troopers

OLYMPIA — Colton Conner of Ephrata and Kay Lester of Othello were among the 47 newly commissioned troopers added to the ranks of the Washington State Patrol Wednesday at the 118th Trooper Basic Training graduation ceremony held at the state Capitol Rotunda, according to an announcement from the WSP. The graduation marks the completion of more than 1,400 hours of training, including classroom and practical exercises at the WSP Academy in Shelton, according to the announcement. The training culminated with a coaching trip where the cadets worked the roads alongside field training officers. The combined efforts of the 118th TBTC class resulted in 9,065 driver contacts, 3,069 calls for service, the removal of 540 impaired drivers from the roadways, and 976 collision investigations during their two-month-long coaching trip, the WSP wrote.

City to revise parking time limits

MOSES LAKE — The parking situation in downtown Moses Lake may get a little easier, under new regulations the city is considering. Some downtown businesses have complained to the city that there’s no place for their employees to park, and others have complained that downtown employees are taking up spaces that customers could be using. “Customers were saying things to me that they got a good parking spot and they usually don't, or they had to go around the block a couple of times to pull up and find a parking spot, or they had to park (farther away),” said Magen Evans, owner of Hello Nature, which opened in November at 312A S Division St., in the space formerly occupied by Sears. “So I kind of started keeping an eye on the cars out there. But I noticed that all 10 spots (in front of the store) were full, and it seemed to be the same cars every day, and sometimes some would swap out and different ones would come in. And they were here from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. typically, and they weren’t leaving.”

Ephrata council considers compression brake ordinance

EPHRATA -- Last week the Ephrata City Council discussed the possibility of adding a “Jake” Brake Ordinance, stemming from a letter from a community member.

ACH baseball sweeps Wellpinit in doubleheader

COULEE CITY – The Almira/Coulee-Hartline baseball team continued its strong start to the season with a doubleheader sweep of Wellpinit on Tuesday, winning by scores of 17-1 and 16-1.

Royal City library starting to take shape

ROYAL CITY — The new Royal City Public Library marked another milestone this month, as the concrete was poured March 14.

Local officers to be honored for bravery

MOSES LAKE — Five law enforcement officers from the Basin will be honored for their bravery in last year’s shooting at the Gorge Campground, according to an announcement from the Moses Lake Police Department. Det. Edgar Salazar, Det. Sgt. Kyle McCain, Det. Corp. Omar Ramirez and Officer Curt Ledeboer, of the MLPD, and Grant County Sheriff’s Office Det. Korey Judkins will receive the Washington State Medal of Honor for Exceptionally Meritorious Conduct in the Performance of Duty in a ceremony May 3 in Olympia, the announcement said. On June 17, 2023, the five detectives were working undercover at a concert at the Gorge Amphitheatre when a man, later identified as 26-year-old James M. Kelly, began shooting in the campground, killing two women and injuring three others, the MLPD wrote in the announcement. Kelly then took a captive female with him out into a field, where he continued to abuse her.