Grant Co. celebrates courage and community at Chief for a Day

EPHRATA — Laughter filled the air and smiles shone brightly Thursday as Grant County honored 11 exceptional children during the annual Chief for a Day celebration. “Seeing the excitement and happiness on their faces is heartwarming,” said Kyle Foreman, Public Information Officer for the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Soap Lake Class of 2025 faced trials, came out stronger

SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake Class of 2025 has not had an easy time getting where it is, said principal William Britt. “This journey, your journey, has been one to remember, from the late nights spent on homework to the anxiety of exams to moments when everything felt overwhelming,” Britt said. “You have made it all with grit, humor and heart. Statistically, many of you weren't expected to be here, and yet here you are walking proudly, head held high, chest out, proving to the world that I am someone. I am great. I will not be another statistic.” The 27 seniors who graduated May 31 persevered through the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, Britt said, as well as facing personal challenges and setbacks. But the students who struggle become creative thinkers and world-changers, he said.

Thomas Charles Krill

1946 – 2025

Thomas Charles Krill, 78, was born December 18, 1946, in Youngstown, Ohio, the son of the late John and Angela Krill. Tom was a Christian, and he went home to be with the Lord. His faith and peace deepened each year of his life.

Tracy Hill

Tracy Ann (Williams) Hill, 60, passed peacefully on June 1, 2025, after a brave and dignified battle with cancer. She was surrounded by those who loved her most—her family, her heart, her world. Tracy lived a life filled with love, laughter, and a deep, unwavering spirit that touched everyone she met.

Floyd William "Bill" Rigsby

Floyd William "Bill" Rigsby, Jr., passed away peacefully at home on May 28, 2025, in Melbourne, Florida, at the age of 80. Bill was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to Floyd William Rigsby, Sr. and Frances Elizabeth Rigsby. He grew up in Moses Lake, Washington, alongside his surviving siblings Donna Walden and Larry Rigsby of Washington, and Vicki Turner of Ohio. He graduated in 1963 from Moses Lake High School.

Mavericks athletics overcome levy obstacles

Community help, dedicated coaches and parental support make for a successful year of MLHS athletics.

MOSES LAKE – The school year has come to an end, the class of 2025 has graduated, and an unprecedented year of athletics has been completed. After the local levy in 2024 failed to pass twice, Moses Lake athletics and extracurriculars were faced with financial challenges like they had never seen. Loren Sandhop is the Athletic Director at Moses Lake High School and oversaw the task of making sports happen throughout the 2024-25 school year. According to Sandhop, due to a shortfall exceeding $20 million, athletics of any kind were being called into question.

Diamondbacks dominate three game series over Mariners

PHOENIX (AP) — Gabriel Moreno hit a three-run homer, Corbin Carroll added a pair of triples and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Seattle Mariners 10-3 on Tuesday night.

Seahawks punter Michael Dickson signs 4-year contract extension

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks signed punter Michael Dickson to a four-year contract extension that runs through the 2029 season, the team announced Tuesday.

Lind-Ritzville seniors ready to face the world

RITZVILLE — The Lind-Ritzville Class of 2025 has made it. “Today, we're walking across the stage in wizard hats, holding diplomas that prove we endured through it all: the chaos, the cramming and the laughter and all the growing pains that came with high school,” said salutatorian Temple Gefre.

MLSD celebrates inaugural graduation of Digital Learning Center

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District marked a historic milestone on May 4, as the Digital Learning Center proudly held its inaugural graduation ceremony at Lions Field. The school has had two other graduating classes, but they have been previously combined with Moses Lake High School. The event celebrated the academic achievements of the first graduating class, comprising a diverse group of students who have successfully completed their high school education through innovative digital learning methods. Attended by family, friends, educators, and community members, the ceremony featured heartfelt speeches, reflections on personal growth, and acknowledgments of the challenges faced throughout the academic year. “Your accomplishment marks not only a personal achievement but also the promise of a new beginning,” said Superintendent Carol Lewis during her opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of community support and perseverance throughout the students’ educational journeys.

ACH Warriors celebrate accomplishments at commencement

COULEE CITY – Last Saturday marked the end of an era at Almira/Coulee-Hartline High School for the class of 2025 as they graduated from high school and head into their futures.

Ephrata installs new sewer liner

Proposed TRIO cuts to impact around 1,300 BBCC students

MOSES LAKE – Big Bend Community College held its monthly board of trustees meeting last Thursday. They discussed their meeting with Congressman Dan Newhouse’s team on the topic of the One Big Beautiful Bill and 2025 graduation stats. “In the One Big, Beautiful Bill, there are some proposals in there to make some significant cuts to programs that really matter to our students and to our service district,” said BBCC President Sara Thompson Tweedy. “We wanted to make sure that anybody who was going to vote on that bill (is) aware of those direct impacts to their constituents.”

Jacks reflect on 2025 baseball season

QUINCY – The Quincy Jackrabbits baseball team finished their 2025 season with a 5-15 record and entered the District Five tournament as the seventh seed. This was their first year back in 2A as they played in the Central Washington Athletic Conference. “We wanted to try and secure a home field opening round district game,” said Jacks’ head coach Seth Longwill. “Keep improving, working up, having some momentum going into districts and be able to play with anybody to give ourselves a chance to advance.”

Naylor hits grand slam in 11th and Diamondbacks recover to beat Mariners 8-4

PHOENIX (AP) — Josh Naylor hit a game-ending grand slam in the 11th inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Seattle Mariners 8-4 on Monday night after losing closer Justin Martinez with two outs in the ninth and then blowing a four-run lead.

Women’s hockey is on the rise in Pacific Northwest, with young girls excited about PWHL's arrival

SEATTLE (AP) — Elly Garcia-Dudek can't help but gaze out toward the ice during hockey practices at the Kraken Community Iceplex.

Ephrata water tower gets its top

EPHRATA — The construction of the new Ephrata water tower reached a significant milestone on Saturday morning with the successful placement of its lid, marking the completion of the tower's main structural components. As community members looked on, the lid was hoisted to its final position, a crucial step forward in a project that is expected to enhance water pressure and reliability for residents. Mayor Bruce Reim, who has been closely following the project, expressed his excitement about the progress.

Mavericks softball season recap

MOSES LAKE — The Mavericks softball team concluded the 2025 season with a 16-9 record and appearances in the 4A district title game and the state tournament. Despite not bringing home hardware, Head Coach Mike Hofheins said his team had a successful season. “I think we had confidence within ourselves that we were going to be right in it for a league title, and we were, and we were able to capture the regular season title, and we took second in districts and qualified for state,” he said. The Mavericks started off 1-2; they won their first game against Walla Walla but dropped two in a row to Mt. Spokane and Richland. Despite the losses, Hofheins said those two games showed him what his team was capable of. According to him, his team was able to hang with both of them and put up a fight.

Rock Bottom Rocker Pet Pantry seeks forever homes for 16 animals

SOAP LAKE – In an era where pet adoptions have dropped due to economic challenges, Shawna Kluge, president of the Rock Bottom Rocker Pet Pantry, is on a mission to find loving homes for the many animals within her care. With 16 puppies and dogs currently available for adoption or fostering, Kluge is calling on the community to extend their support, whether through adoption, volunteering or donations. All Rock Bottom Rocker dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.

RMS Oceanic Outlaws take award at national robotics tournament

ROYAL CITY — The Oceanic Outlaws think fast. The robotics team from Royal Middle School, representing Washington state, took first place at the national First Lego League Western Edge national competition May 30-June 1 in a special “On the Spot” challenge.