After two-year-plus effort, Soap Lake Creative District is official

SOAP LAKE – Anyone who’s been to Soap Lake for a bite to eat at the Del Red Pub and heard live music there or seen a production at the Masquers Theater knows that Soap Lake has a thriving arts scene. The arts are an important part of the community, and now even the State of Washington recognizes that.

Legals for February, 24 2025

Several gun bills working their way through the Washington State Legislature

(The Center Square) – Friday marks a critical cutoff date for bills in the Washington State Legislature. This means bills must pass through a policy committee in their house of origin, or they are likely dead for the year. While several bills related to the regulation of firearms are moving ahead, a bipartisan bill to increase penalties for repeat juvenile offenders when it comes to gun crimes has not received a public hearing.

Legals for February, 21 2025

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: A good man on the team...

You never know when someone or something is going to enter your world and make a significant impact. About three years ago, the Columbia Basin Herald had one of those people show up and make a difference. Not just for us, for the Columbia Basin, the high school and youth athletes it holds, and for Washington sports writing in general.

Fairy tales meet marathons

Ephrata High School drama puts on double feature with a month to prepare

EPHRATA —This weekend, Ephrata audiences will step into a whimsical world where fairy tales meet marathons and laughter dances in the air like confetti. Ephrata High School’s drama department invites the community to join them for a double feature: “Race Day” and “Snow White and the Seven Endings” are taking the stage for closing weekend this Friday and Saturday. The opening weekend kicked off with enthusiastic crowds and some unexpected twists for the cast and crew. “It’s been an incredible journey,” said director Marla Allsopp. “We had to pivot from our original plan of performing ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ due to some casting challenges, but the students showed immense resilience and commitment. They wanted to keep moving forward, and we ended up choosing two new, hilarious shows that would allow them to shine.”

Annexation request may be coming to Othello

OTHELLO — New property could be coming into the city of Othello, destined for eventual development. Othello City Council members approved a “notice of intent” for annexation at the regular meeting Feb. 10. Development Director Anne Henning said in a separate interview that the notice of annexation starts the process, but that’s just the start. “The council looks at the boundaries of the proposed annexation, the zoning and the indebtedness,” Henning told council members. “Approving it to move forward doesn’t mean you’re approving the annexation.”

Ephrata HS Honor Society hosting Oscars for character awards

EPHRATA — The Ephrata High School Honor Society will host its fourth annual Oscar Night today. The event starts at 7 p.m. in the Ephrata High School commons. “It was four years ago; our honor society president came up with the idea for it,” EHS National Honor Society advisor Sheila Massey said. “They were looking for a way to do a little bit more with something that tied in with the pillars of Honor Society, which are scholarship, leadership, service and character. They were hoping to kind of get away from only the focus on scholarship and grades, and so the president at that time kind of brainstormed some ideas and came up with the idea of Oscar night to celebrate character awards.”

Legals for February, 20 2025

E Hele Mai i Kaua‘i: Leave the Moses Lake Winter Behind and Find Aloha on the Garden Isle

Aloha mai kākou! If you’re waking up to frost-covered windshields and dreaming of warm sands between your toes, let me introduce you to the perfect winter escape—Kaua‘i.

Moses Lake freshman basketball team finishes with undefeated season

MOSES LAKE — About halfway through the season, Moses Lake High School freshman boys basketball coach Ryan Carlstrom and his players noticed something – they were undefeated. They wanted to keep it up.

'Big hospital care'

General surgeon joins Othello Community Hospital staff

OTHELLO — General surgeon Sam Hsieh – pronounced “shay” - traveled an interesting road to his full-time job at Othello Hospital. “I was born in Hong Kong and moved to Canada when I was five,” he said. “I did my med school in Ireland and met my wife there. We went to Texas for our residency training program.”

Boys & Girls Clubs, Ross Stores partner for homework support

MOSES LAKE — The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin is getting an annual boost this month from a local retailer. Ross in Moses Lake is raising money for the children’s resource in a special event called “Help Local Kids Thrive.” This is the seventh year the store has supported the program in Moses Lake, according to BGCCB Resource Development Director Anastasia Carpenter “This program sponsors our Power Hour, academic support for our club members,” Carpenter said.

Legals for February, 18 2025

Gonzaga men's basketball coach Mark Few finalist for Basketball Hall of Fame

The selection of 17 finalists came from the following committees: North American, Women’s, Men’s Veterans, Women’s Veterans, International, and Contributors. The finalists will then be put forward to the honors committee to be considered for election as members of the Class of 2025. The new class will be announced in San Antonio on Saturday, April 5, at the NCAA Men’s Final Four.

Home market moving, but affordability still iffy

MOSES LAKE — The housing market is moving faster than a year ago in Washington, but affordability is still up in the air, according to data released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service for January. Active listings increased 44.6% between January 2024 and January 2025 in the 26 Washington counties covered by the NWMLS data. Grant County had one of the largest rates of increase in the state at 48.8%, but Adams County, with its much smaller population, dipped very slightly.

Nat Washington Way roundabout coming summer 2025

EPHRATA — Construction is planned this summer on a new roundabout at the intersection of State Route 282 and Nat Washington Way near the new Grant County Jail construction site. Grant County Central Services Director Tom Gaines said there is a tentative timeline.

Joann Fabric and Crafts Moses Lake location to close

MOSES LAKE — The Joann Fabric and Crafts location in Moses Lake is one of 21 stores that will be closing as the company continues bankruptcy proceedings. Locations in East Wenatchee, Walla Walla and Clarkston also will be closing, along with one of two locations in Spokane and one location in Spokane Valley.

Legals for February, 14 2025

Black History Month celebrated at B&G clubs of the Columbia Basin

MOSES LAKE – The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin invited Maryamu Givens to speak about Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday Friday as part of a presentation for Black History Month.