Bulls, broncs and biscuits

Cowboy Breakfast kicks off fair week Friday

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Fair is a big deal in Grant County, and it’s only fitting that it should have a proper introduction. That happens the Friday before the fair, which this year is Aug. 9. The breakfast, hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Moses Lake, will be from 7 to 10 a.m. at Sinkiuse Square next to the post office. “A lot of people who work in Moses Lake come and eat before they go to work,” said Dayna Dent, who’s coordinated the breakfast for the Kiwanis for the last three years.

Spirit of the rodeo

Moses Lake Roundup to unveil signature whiskey

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo and Moses Lake Distillery will debut Spurstride, the rodeo’s official signature whiskey, tomorrow at Business After Hours at the Grant County Fairgrounds.

Columbia Basin events calendar for August 2024

COLUMBIA BASIN – The weather is hot. The fun is too. There’s plenty to do in Grant and Adams counties this month and people are set to have a good time. The events below are a wide variety of what the Basin has in store

FIRE REPORT: Swawilla Fire uncontained, still growing

GRAND COULEE — The Swawilla Fire, ignited by lightning July 27, is located 11 miles east of Grand Coulee and grew to roughly 17,389 acres by Thursday. The fire remains uncontained according to the Washington Department of Natural Resources.

‘We are here to fight’

Purple Party gets community ready for Walk to End Alzheimer’s

MOSES LAKE — Alzheimer’s disease is a terrifying thing for many people: the fear that one day they will watch helplessly as they cease to remember their families and even who they are. The 150-200 people who came to the Purple Party at the Porterhouse Steakhouse in Moses Lake Thursday want to make that fear a thing of the past.

Royal City Summerfest delivers

ROYAL CITY — The Royal City Summerfest went off well over the weekend, said Jill Larsen, a member of the festival committee. “The heat was a little much, but it's always hot,” Larsen said. “So always we try to keep it in mind; that's why we tried to put all of our vendors in the shade.” The food vendors were arranged around the perimeter of Lions Park, with the craft vendors toward the front. The sunny part of the park was used for the Headlights and Summer Nights Car Show Friday evening. The vehicles arranged around the park ranged from antiques to low riders. There was even a perfect replica of the General Lee from the TV show “The Dukes of Hazzard,” right down to the horn that played “Dixie.” “We picked up this car about a year ago and it wasn't running,” said Jeff Cobb of Ephrata, who restored the General with his 13-year-old son Clayton. “So we updated the motor and the transmission … It’s a 383 motor with a 727 transmission, and we have a 440 at home in the shop that we’re rebuilding, getting ready to put it in.”

Royal City celebrates Summerfest this weekend

ROYAL CITY — Royal City’s annual celebration will take place this week. Summerfest, traditionally held the second weekend in July, will take place this Friday and Saturday, and it promises to be fun.

‘A pre-party before the party’

Purple Party set to fight Alzheimer’s on July 18

MOSES LAKE – Losing your grip on memories is not only frustrating for Alzheimer’s Disease patients and their families, but it’s something that impacts the community in multiple ways. On July 18, the Columbia Basin community will have a chance to come together to support the fight against the condition by participating in the Purple Party, a precursor to the local Walk to End Alzheimer’s set for September 14.

Exchange students to head to Yonezawa, Japan

MOSES LAKE — The exchange is on again. The Moses Lake-Yonezawa Sister City Student Exchange, which has been on hiatus since 2020, will resume this month as three Moses Lake students visit Yonezawa, Japan. Ambassadors Keziah Roman Panlaqui, Emmanuel Zepeda Lopez and Ethan Ramsey will leave on July 25, accompanied by chaperone Amador Castro, to spend 10 days in Moses Lake’s sister city. While in Japan, they’ll stay with three Yonezawa students and their families, and on Aug. 7, those Japanese students will return the visit and spend 10 days in Moses Lake. Moses Lake and Yonezawa have been sister cities since 1981, according to the program’s website, and the student exchange was organized shortly thereafter. The program was originally suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Terry Moore, treasurer for the Moses Lake-Yonezawa Exchange Program, but the publisher of the Yonezawa Shimbun newspaper, which handled the exchange from the Japanese end, passed away soon after, and the exchange was mothballed indefinitely. Until April, when a group called the Yonezawa International Relations Association reached out through a translator who had assisted the newspaper in the past.

GCSO, horse owner disagree on horse’s level of care after seizure, euthanization

MOSES LAKE– The Grant County Sheriff’s Office is seeking animal cruelty charges against the owner of a neglected horse that was euthanized this past week. However, the horse’s owner says the horse, Buddy, likely suffered from cancer which had caused a rapid decline in his health.

GALLERY: Scenes of June

MOSES LAKE – June has been a busy month in and around the Columbia Basin. Community events, retirements and lots of sunshine have had the residents of Grant County out and about. The photos below are just some of the scenes that have made the area a wonderful place to live.

2024 PRCA Rodeos for Washington, Oregon and Idaho

MOSES LAKE – As the summer comes around, contestants around the country will travel to upcoming rodeos throughout the region.

‘Old Ephrata’ spirit

Live music, family fun highlights of Sage-N-Sun 2024

EPHRATA – The annual Sage-N-Sun festival for 2024 featured a lot of music, a lot of food and a lot of people enjoying an outing on the Grant County Courthouse lawn Thursday, Friday and Saturday. “I was just very excited that we had such good music,” Ephrata Chamber of Commerce Board President Jenni Bates said after the event.

‘A step back in time’

Washington’s oldest rodeo is June 7-9

BICKLETON — Out in the wheat country of eastern Klickitat County, time sort of stands still. The little town of Bickleton, population 92 at the last census, is home to a couple of Washington’s most time-honored institutions. The Bluebird Inn, established in 1887, has a good claim to be Washington’s oldest tavern. The Herschel-Spillman carousel at the Bickleton Carousel Museum is one of fewer than 10 still operating. And the Alder Creek Pioneer Association is host every June to the state’s oldest rodeo.

Last Stand Rodeo brings in thousands for 72nd annual event

COULEE CITY – The Coulee City Rodeo Association hosted the 72nd annual Last Stand Rodeo over Memorial Day weekend, featuring a range of competitions and events at the Coulee City Fairgrounds and around town. Pete Thiry, who has served as the CCRA’s president for almost 20 years, said the event was a success.

PRCA Last Stand Rodeo results

COULEE CITY – The Coulee City PRCA Last Stand Rodeo finished up Sunday evening at the Coulee City Fairgrounds, with a total payoff of $$52,802. Events included bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc, tie-down roping, barrel racing, steer roping and bull riding.

Moses Lake Distillery settles into new location

MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake Distillery has been bottling spirits for sale in the region since 2021, operating out of a shop off of State Route 17, as well as running a small tasting room now located in Downtown Moses Lake. Owner Zachary Hughes said the distillery began as a side project.

Harvey Raymond Ruff

April 20, 1944 – May 13, 2024

The family of Harvey Raymond Ruff, 80, of Warden, Washington is saddened to announce his passing on May 13, 2024. He was born April 20, 1944, to Raymond and Hilda Ruff in Ritzville, Washington and was the older brother to his sister, Bonnie. Harvey was raised on a dryland wheat farm in Ruff; his love for farming and agriculture carried throughout his life. After graduating high school and Big Bend Community College, he married Barbara Gail. They had two daughters, Lori and Lisa, and he started his own farm raising wheat, hay and peas. He left the farm and became the manager for Brotherton Seed Company for 46 years before retiring. Harvey was a 4-H leader; he loved sharing his knowledge and skills with the youth in his community. He started raising sheep to ensure the best stock for his daughters and other 4-H members. Harvey spent a great deal of time, yearly, at the Grant County Fair supporting the 4-H and FFA organizations plus enjoying the rodeos.

Eunice Mae Carpenter

Eunice (born Unas) Mae Carpenter, 95, passed away Sunday, April 14, 2024. She remained in her home of 65 years until the day of her death. Eunice was born in 1929 in Crystal, North Dakota. She was the firstborn of her mother Maggie and father Albert Springsted. Eunice spent her summers painting interiors and exteriors with her father in his painting business and working in the family gardens and farms. She often told the story of being on a runaway horse and buggy ride back in the North Dakota farmlands. Being almost six feet tall, she was a star basketball player throughout her youth. Paul met Eunice when he was on leave from the army and driving a potato truck through a field where she was picking potatoes in in North Dakota. She was a stunning beauty. Eunice was feisty until the end, living up to a dear neighbor friend’s nickname given her years before, Tiger. She was a caring and ever-present mother and grandmother. For many years she hosted large family holiday dinners and summer gatherings and was well known as a fabulous cook. Eunice was firm in her faith, daily praying for family and friends.

Basin events for May 11-19

COLUMBIA BASIN — Here are a few things to do in the Basin this week. This listing is noncomprehensive and event details may change or events may be canceled at the organizers’ discretion. Readers are encouraged to call ahead or verify the information below online prior to the event.