NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn't happen this week

A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week.

Grant County Fair youth ag competition results

MOSES LAKE — While the week of the Grant County Fair means many things to many people, for lots of young people across Grant and Adams counties, fair time is about competition. Hundreds of young people entered animals at the year’s county fair. Young ag enthusiasts brought everything from pigs to rabbits, to show off their skills in raising animals for food and for show. Below is a list of all the grand champions, reserve grand champions, judges' choice and best of section awards given out to FFA, 4-H and Grange students at this year’s fair, courtesy of the Grant County Fairgrounds...

Legals for September, 2 2022

Excitement and Enthusiasm as Warden students hit the books

WARDEN — As he stands aside arriving school buses, Warden School Superintendent Scott West is clearly excited. “This is what it’s all about,” he said, high-fiving elementary, junior high and high school students as they stepped off the buses. “It’s a beautiful day for it too - and exciting.” Wednesday was the first day of school for most of Warden’s 870 expected students — kindergartners won’t start until next week — and West is happy to have them back. Especially given that it’s the first time since fall 2019 that no pandemic restrictions of any kind are in place, West said. He and his staff are hoping for a normal school year, and one in which parents can be more involved.

Back to the gridiron

2022 Gridiron Guide coming Wednesday in the Herald

COLUMBIA BASIN – The 2022 Gridiron Guide will be arriving on newsstands and at subscribers’ doorsteps on Wednesday with full coverage of the 10 high school football teams in the Basin.

What to do if a pet is having a seizure

One of the scariest things a pet owner can witness is their beloved companion having a seizure, especially if it is the first time. Knowing what to do in this situation can not only help an owner stay calm and collected but can also help protect a seizing animal from injury. Dr. Joseph Mankin, a clinical associate professor of neurology at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, discusses the causes of seizures in companion animals and what an owner should do during and after a seizure takes place. “Seizures are the most common neurologic disease we see in small animal medicine, happening more frequently in dogs than cats,” Mankin said...

Work to begin Monday on Nelson Road walking path

MOSES LAKE — Work is set to begin Monday on the dedicated path along Nelson Road intended to make it easier for children to walk to and from Groff Elementary School, according to Moses Lake City Engineer Ricard Law. Speaking at the end of a regular meeting of the Moses Lake City Council on Tuesday, Law said bids for the project — which is being jointly paid for by the city and the Moses Lake School District — came in a little higher than anticipated. “JM Pacific was the low bidder at right around $90,000,” Law said, noting the bid was higher than original estimates for the project...

Demo delight

Digging into the Grant Co. demolition derby

MOSES LAKE - The 2022 Northwest Ag Demolition Derby brought fast-paced fun to participants and excitement to attendees as cars smashed, rolled, collided and raced around the rodeo arena during the Grant County Fair. “I had a blast. It is such an adrenaline rush,” said Moses Lake resident Cindy Welsh. “When else do you get to strap in a car and just go crazy?” This is Welsh’s eighth year demoing and it is a way her family is able to spend time together. Her husband, Tony, used to demo before a neck injury and got her interested in demoing. He still helps but does not demo himself. This was her nephew, Cameron Zabala’s, first demo. The demo saw many different types of cars. “Everybody has a different opinion, a lot of the guys run rear-wheel drive cars like Camaros. Mines a front-wheel drive,” said Welsh...

Ephrata SD to hold tech safety lecture

EPHRATA - On Aug. 25, the Ephrata School District will be hosting a free lecture to help families navigate the challenge of creating a safe space online for children. “Students use technology to play, learn and communicate while at home and at school. It’s important that they use that technology responsibly,” said Sharon Scellick, Director of Teaching and Learning at Ephrata Schools, in a press release from the district. “Following a day working with our educators on these concepts, the community event will share similar, great information with our families. We aim to partner with families to help students maximize their learning and to keep them safe.”

Police records for Aug. 18, 2022

EPD, MLPD, jail

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...

Potholes Bass Club hosts event this weekend

MOSES LAKE – The Potholes Bass Club will take to the Potholes Reservoir on Saturday for their two-day tournament, part of the typical schedule the club offers. “I believe it’s been around for 50 years,” PBC President and Tournament Director Paul Harmon said. “We do six regular club events every year, and then we do an open, which is invitation.” The PBC currently sits at 125 to 130 members according to Harmon, with around 30 to 35 members participating in each of the tournaments. “A lot of people will sign up for a club member, but they won’t fish,” Harmon said. “They just do it to sponsor, just to keep our club going. We average 30 to 35 boats a tournament.” This weekend’s tournament will begin early Saturday morning, typically blasting off at 5:30 a.m. and fishing until 3 p.m.

Legals for August, 12 2022

What To Expect When Your Horse is Expecting

Witnessing the birth of an animal can be a beautiful experience, but it can also be stressful or even scary if things do not go as planned.....

Legals for August, 5 2022

Moonlight Paddle seeks volunteers

Soap Lake holds traditional

SOAP LAKE – The waters of Soap Lake will be lit up on Aug. 13 for the Moonlight Paddle, where residents decorate their water vessels to as far as their imagination yields. “The Moonlight Paddle has been going on for many years, and we always do it with the full moon in August,” Soap Lake Chamber of Commerce President Cindi Rang said. The Moonlight Paddle features a race earlier in the day, before a free ride later in the evening and into night. Their non-motorized vessels are decorated with features that help them glow in the dark, with prizes to those deemed the best decorated. “We have a contest with prizes for the funniest, the most colorful, the best theme,” Rang said. “Almost everybody wins a prize in some category. The most use of lights, the loudest.” ...

Vantage Highway fire causes haze, threatens 40 structures

Blaze impacts about 8,000 acres so far

VANTAGE - A fire is burning on the western side of the Columbia River north of Vantage along the Vantage Highway, leading to the mobilization of state resources to combat the roughly 10,500-acre blaze which threatened about 40 structures Monday. “We have resources from all across the state because this is a state mobilization fire now,” said Grace DeBusschere, public information officer with Kittitas Fire District 7. “We have (Washington State Department of Natural Resources) ground resources from all across the state. We have local fire district resources and mutual aid partners.” A small amount of Bureau of Land Management land is also involved in the fire, so BLM staff are on hand to assist as well, along with Department of Fish and Wildlife responders. The state mobilization order, authorized by Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste at the request of Kittitas County District 4 Fire Chief William Rose, allows those additional resources to respond to the fire, DeBusschere said. Efforts to contain the blaze, which caused a haze of smoke across much of northern Grant and Kittitas counties, include aerial firefighting apparatus such as planes and helicopters. Boats with first responders aboard could also be seen from the Frenchman Coulee area moving around the area impacted by the fire, which she said was spreading in a northerly direction as of Monday at about 2 p.m. No cause has been identified for the fire at this time; however, it is thought to have started around 1 p.m. Monday. The fire caused the evacuation of the city of Vantage, along I-90 on the east end of the bridge over the Columbia River. No injuries or structure losses have been reported at this time, DeBusshere said...

Hot weather presents challenges in dementia care

Hot summer weather can pose a special risk to people suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia conditions, but there are ways for caregivers to minimize the risk. “The dangers of extreme temperatures, which can cause heat stroke in a matter of minutes, are magnified for someone living with dementia,” Jennifer Reeder, director of educational and social services for the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, wrote in a press release. “Dementia-related illnesses can impair a person’s ability to know when they are thirsty or in danger of overheating, communicate basic needs or remember basic safety protocols. “Caregivers cannot solely depend on waiting for the person to express that they are too hot or need to cool off,” the press release said. As a result, caregivers should keep an eye out, watching for signs of hyperthermia. That’s abnormally high body temperature, caused by an inability to regulate heat. Seniors and people with chronic medical conditions are at the highest risk, the press release said...

Summer Classic brings barrel racing to the Basin

MOSES LAKE – The Columbia Basin Barrel Racing Club held its Summer Classic Race at the Grant County Fairgrounds this weekend, bringing in nearly 100 riders. “The different divisions go by age, and then the open is available to everyone.” CBBRC Secretary Jamie Bessette said. “So for example, a lot of people will run in multiple events and they'll run in the open, like my daughter, she'll run in the open and then she'll run in the youth because of her age group. Then she runs in something called the novice, because that means the horse has not won enough money to be considered experienced.” ...

Barrel racing competition coming to Moses Lake this weekend

MOSES LAKE – The Columbia Basin Barrel Racing Club will be hosting its Summer Classic Race this weekend at the Grant County Fairgrounds, bringing in riders from the Columbia Basin and beyond. “We put on four classic races a year, and that is our fundraiser for our club. That’s how we earn money for our awards at the end of the season for buckles and different things that we do,” CBBRC President Laurie Coombs said. ...