GCAO egg hunt fills Blue Heron Park

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Animal Outreach got a jump – or a hop – on the holiday by holding its Easter egg hunt last weekend. “We knew a lot of our staff and the people that were going to be helping us were going to be gone this weekend having Easter with their own families, so that's why we chose to do it the weekend before,” said Kar Vanerstrom, vice president of GCAO.

Design starting for event center at Grant Fairgrounds

MOSES LAKE — A preliminary design for a new event center across the street from the Grant County Fairgrounds could be finished this year. The existing fairgrounds complex is scheduled for some upgrades sometime this year, including additional lighting in a spot that’s very popular during the fair. Fairgrounds manager Jim McKiernan said the event venue would be something a little different for Grant County. “Our goal is to be able to host a 750-person event, with catering, kitchens and some breakout rooms, and stuff like that,” McKiernan said.

Knights defeat College Place 5-1

ROYAL CITY – Three first-half goals against College Place were enough to push the Knights over the Eagles in Saturday’s South Central Athletic Conference (East) matchup, with Royal going on to win 5-1.

School resource officers offer human connections at MLSD campuses

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Police Department Officer Ray Lopez said the biggest part of the job of a school resource officer – also known as an SRO – is to make connections.

Tigers split doubleheader with East Valley

EPHRATA – The Tigers split Friday’s doubleheader against East Valley (Yakima) first falling 2-1 before responding with an 8-4 win over the Red Devils. “Our guys don’t stop fighting,” Ephrata coach David Tempel said. “Every pitch, they’re in it. We did some great things with our short game today, played some small ball when we had to. The guys never quit fighting, and that’s what they’re known for.”

DIAMOND RECAP: Basin teams in full swing

COLUMBIA BASIN – Baseball and softball season is now in full swing across the Columbia Basin, as local squads have been competing in non-league contests to prepare for their respective conference seasons. Read along for a look at how teams have fared through the early weeks of the season.

Cougar bats come alive to sweep Seattle U

PULLMAN – All nine Washington State starters recorded a hit as the Cougars finished off a two-game sweep with a 10-3 win over Seattle U at Bailey-Brayton Field Wednesday afternoon.

Quincy council approves B Street Northeast variance

QUINCY — Quincy City Council members have approved a variance for two blocks of B Street Northeast, ending long-standing discussions about the street and a repaving project that narrowed it. Some residents and business owners along that section of the street said in their opinion the repaving project narrowed it too much. The variance was approved on a 5-1 vote, with council member Dave Dormaier voting no. Council member Josey Ferguson did not vote. After the vote Mayor Paul Worley said city employees will be looking to see if there’s any way to alleviate some of the concerns with B Street. The city’s 2024 budget includes money for preliminary design work on A Street Northeast, the next block over.

‘We are on a mission’

Cellarbration! breaks its own fundraising record for BBCC scholarships

MOSES LAKE — You know it’s a successful auction when a carrot cake sells for $10,000.

It’s a jungle out there

Business Expo fills buildings with safari-themed fun

MOSES LAKE — The 2024 Business Safari Expo was, well, a roaring success, according to organizers.

Knights open season with 11-0 win over Selah

ROYAL CITY — The Knights opened the 2024 season with a double-digit defeat of Selah, winning 11-0 in five innings. Royal scored seven runs off of six hits in the bottom of the third inning to grow its earlier 1-0 lead.

Tigers defeat Wenatchee 10-3

EPHRATA — A four-run bottom of the third gave Ephrata the lead for good in Tuesday’s non-league softball contest against Wenatchee, defeating the Panthers 10-3 and improving to 3-2 this spring.

Experts preview 2024 Washington apple industry

MOSES LAKE — Several factors will likely play a significant role in 2024’s apple industry, including labor shortages, legislation, water availability issues, a strong export market and last year’s opening of the Indian market, according to representatives of the Washington Apple Commission and the Washington Tree Fruit Association. Washington State Tree Fruit Association President Jon DeVaney said it is too early for a real crop prediction. “We will not really start trying to do an initial estimate for talking to our members until later in the spring,” DeVaney said. “Crops can be affected by so much weather in between the early part of the season and when harvest begins. We try not to make too many firm predictions too early.”

Road closure revisions starting Monday north of Soap Lake

SOAP LAKE — Traffic control measures will be changed for a few weeks on a project to remove some of the rock slope along state Route 17 from Soap Lake to the Lake Lenore Caves. Sebastian Maraga, communications consultant for the Washington Department of Transportation, said the changes will go into effect March 25, and may last at least three weeks. “The contractor will move to single-lane alternating traffic with 20-minute holds,” Moraga wrote in a press release. “At 20 minutes, traffic will be released in one direction, then stopped to allow traffic to clear in the other direction. The road will be open to two-way traffic without restrictions during non-working hours.”

Vikings stretch win streak to five games

After splitting their last two series, the Vikings hoped to continue to take steps in the right direction as they hosted Grays Harbor Community College for a four-game series.

Property crimes such as vandalism may qualify as hate crimes in WA

OLYMPIA – Some property crimes now can be classed as hate crimes if they are racially motivated or if they target other marginalized communities. Sen. Andy Billig, D-Spokane, said he was motivated to press for changes in what can be classed as a hate crime when vandals attacked a gay pride display in Spokane that shocked the community.

Legals for March, 18 2024

Mavs open season with 7-2 win over Mt. Spokane

MOSES LAKE – A three-run bottom of the third inning helped Moses Lake take the lead for good over Mt. Spokane in Friday’s non-league softball contest, holding on for a 7-2 win over the Wildcats. “I like playing good teams because it makes us better,” Moses Lake Head Coach Mike Hofheins said. “What do they say, ‘Iron sharpens iron?’ Our non-league schedule is a gauntlet, and I think it makes us better than if we’re playing teams we can dominate. I think, in the long run, it’s going to be good for us.”

WA to study viability of ag mental health hotline

OLYMPIA – In a move aimed at supporting farmers amidst rising demands for mental health resources, the Washington state legislature allocates funds in the fiscal year 2025 budget to establish a workgroup. This group will specifically concentrate on mental health and suicide prevention within the agricultural community, aiming to address privacy and accessibility concerns.

BBCC's Ernette named educator of the year

MOSES LAKE – Dawnne Ernette, an instructor with the English department at Big Bend Community College, has been named the Washington Education Association Community and Technical College Educator of the Year.