Fundamentals, communication key to Wahluke baseball strategy

MATTAWA – Wahluke Head Baseball Coach Chet Bangs said he’s feeling optimistic as his team moves into the spring season. Five seniors are returning this year, and he’s had players step up to ensure the team’s success. “(We’ve got) five seniors stepped up this year, showing a lot of leadership together,” Bangs said. “It’s starting out pretty good.”

Wahluke Warriors starting tough to play strong soccer

MATTAWA – The Wahluke Warriors soccer team is working the pitch to ensure a successful season and Head Coach Cele Lopez said he’s hoping to set the team up to represent their school, community and families well. He’s working to address the gaps left by last year’s graduates while building up returning players.

Tigers looking to grow toward success on the diamond

EPHRATA – The Ephrata baseball program had a really solid turnout this year with about 40 students, resulting in a good mix of players at all skill levels, according to Tigers Head Coach David Tempel. “We have 12 on varsity, 13 on our JV and then 15 on our C-squad,” Tempel said.

State Senate Bill has proposed restrictions on weapons in public spaces

OLYMPIA — A bill to increase restrictions on firearms in public places has passed in the Washington State Senate.

Meeting with Blitz leads to new kicks for kids in Othello

OTHELLO — Shawn Christopherson, mascot coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, said he understood why Othello Police Officer Tyson Cox decided to investigate those guys parked along an Othello street one day last summer. “A bird on a scooter with four influencers following him draws some attention,” Christopherson said. “Officer Cox kind of pulled over just to check out what was going on.” Well, of course a bird wasn’t actually driving the scooter – it was Blitz, the Seahawks mascot.

Legals for March, 11 2025

Port of Moses Lake acquires 3 miles of rail

MOSES LAKE — After about two decades of work and three years of negotiation, the Port of Moses Lake took ownership of about three miles of railroad track between State Route 17 and Port property Monday. The rail line had been the property of the Columbia Basin Railroad.

MLSD announces plan in light of Groff closure

MOSES LAKE – Groff Elementary will be closed for the rest of the school year, according to an announcement from Moses Lake School District Superintendent Carol Lewis at the March 6 school board meeting. As a result, district officials have initiated plans to ensure Groff students continue their education without interruption. “We understand that this is going to be challenging, frustrating and new for families to go through,” MLSD Director of Public Relations Ryan Shannon said. “This is a pretty big lift that we're asking of families and even staff and most importantly, the students. This is a big deal, and we are just appreciative of the ongoing communication that teachers and families are having as we start to map out those educational plans for the coming weeks.”

Addressing growth focus of Moses Lake comprehensive plan update

MOSES LAKE — Growth, and how Moses Lake manages it and adapts to it, is already a focus of attention by city officials. Moses Lake Mayor Dustin Swartz said a lot of things go into answering that challenge, the city’s comprehensive plan among them.

Business Expo showcases an expanding community

MOSES LAKE — The signs of construction were everywhere at Tuesday’s Business Expo: fluorescent vests, orange shirts, barrier tape and even a traffic cone wandering around the show.

Madcap murder

‘Clue: On Stage’ opens Friday at MLHS

MOSES LAKE — If you’re looking for a calm, slow-paced play, “Clue: On Stage” ain’t it. The comic farce, based on the 1985 movie which in turn was based on the classic board game, careens from one surprise and plot twist to another at breakneck speed, which makes it a challenge to stage.

No timeline set for replacement of Grant PUD CEO

EPHRATA — Commission chair Terry Pyle said the search for a new chief executive officer for the Grant County Public Utility District is starting with talking to employees.

Wildcats women’s soccer coach resigns

ELLENSBURG — Lindsey Lee, head coach of the Central Washington University women’s soccer team, has announced her resignation.

Betty Wallschlaeger looks back on a century

EPHRATA — Betty Wallschlaeger got an early start. “I was a six-month baby, and I fit in the palm of (my mother’s) hand,” she said. “They didn't know how much I weighed, because they didn't want to handle me too much. But I was in an incubator for eight weeks.”

Area districts respond to OSPI immigration guidelines

OLYMPIA —The Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction released guidelines in January outlining practices it said are to ensure the protection of immigrant students' rights in K-12 public schools. The OSPI report comes after President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14148 rescinded a policy that limited Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s ability to operate in schools, hospitals and places of worship.

Legals for March, 5 2025

Home and Garden Show kicks off spring in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — It was only an hour into the two-day show, and already there was a pretty sizable crowd at the third annual Columbia Basin Home and Garden Show Friday. “We always have a good turnout on Friday and Saturday,” said Lisa Villegas, owner of Seed Cupboard Nursery in Royal City and the organizer of the show. “Saturday is usually about twice as busy, but Friday’s always good.”

Illegal burn escapes, consumes 61 acres near Ephrata

EPHRATA – An illegal burn in the 12500 block of Road C.3 NW escalated into a significant wildfire on Friday, threatening nearby residences and posing challenges for firefighting crews, according to a statement from Grant County Fire District 13. “It definitely is a large fire,” GCFD 13 Battalion Chief Mathew Meulman said. “That was pretty uncommon to see that rate of spread this early in the season with how our temps are, and especially during the nights that we're going to give it very wet, cool nights. It definitely was a large fire for this time of year.”

Community volunteers sought for Wahluke facility committee

MATTAWA — People interested in helping write a plan to determine when and how the Wahluke School District will maintain and upgrade its facilities, among other things, are being invited to be part of a planning committee. The first meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. March 11 in the Wahluke School District office, 411 Saddle Mountain Drive.

Legals for March, 4 2025