'A great day for us'

Open house, ribbon cutting Saturday for new Moses Lake cancer treatment center

MOSES LAKE — After a fundraising campaign that persisted – and was successful – in the teeth of a global pandemic, a new facility to provide radiation treatment for cancer patients in Moses Lake will have its grand opening Saturday. The open house for the Confluence Health Radiation Oncology Center will be from 10 a.m. to noon at 905 E. Hill Ave. The new treatment center is a joint project of the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation, Confluence Health and the Confluence Health Foundation. The ceremony will begin at 10:15, and representatives from all three groups will be cutting the ribbon at about 10:30 a.m. “It means so much to our community,” said foundation director Angel Ledesma at the groundbreaking ceremony in August 2022.

Broncos fall at home to Northwest Christian

RITZVILLE — In a battle of 4-0 teams, Northwest Christian (Colbert) left Jimmie Snider Field in Ritzville with a 30-0 win over the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos on Friday night.

Darling dahlias

Nursery owner offers tour, growing tips

MOSES LAKE — Everything you always wanted to know about growing dahlias will be on display Monday. Valerie Parrott, owner of Pieces by Parrott in Moses Lake, held a dahlia tour on Sept. 25, and has another coming up on Monday. Parrott’s nursery supplies several local florists as well as her own flower-arranging business. In the course of that, she’s built up a reputation over the years for her skill with the finicky flowers and has invited the public to see her dahlia patch. About 50 people came out last week for the tour...

Groundbreaking held for new Royal City Library

ROYAL CITY — The golden shovels did their job Wednesday in Royal City as the Royal City Friends of the Library broke ground for the new library building downtown, tangible evidence of a dream a long time in the making...

UMANI Festival returns Saturday

MOSES LAKE — The second annual UMANI festival takes place Saturday in Moses Lake, and it looks to be even bigger than the first.

Mavs fall in four sets to Davis

MOSES LAKE – Despite a late surge, the Moses Lake Mavericks fell 3-1 at home to Davis on Tuesday, the team’s second-straight loss in league play after beginning the year 3-0 in the Big 9. “We had a good practice (Monday) and watched a lot of film, so we knew what Davis was going to have,” Moses Lake Head Coach Krystal Trammell said. “We felt confident but not overly confident, we don’t overlook anyone. We just had a lot of unforced errors tonight, that’s what it was.” ...

Throwing starfish

Down syndrome Buddy Walk spotlights parents, caregivers

MOSES LAKE — The annual Columbia Basin Buddy Walk drew a bigger crowd than expected Saturday. “We don’t have a number yet, but more than last year,” said Denise Ketola, one of the event’s organizers. One estimate had between 350 and 400 people, she added...

News Bites for Sept. 27, 2023

MATTAWA — SR 243 was closed briefly early Tuesday morning when a semi-truck rolled over just west of the Vernita Bridge, according to a statement from the Washington State Patrol. At a little after 5:30 a.m., Mykel D. Spurlock, 35, of Kennewick was driving a 2020 Peterbilt northbound on SR 243 at milepost 1 when he drifted off the roadway onto the soft shoulder, according to the WSP. Spurlock overcorrected and the trailer disconnected from the tractor and rolled over. A gash about two inches long caused a minor gasoline leak. There were no injuries. Spurlock was wearing his seat belt, the WSP wrote, and neither drugs nor alcohol was a factor in the incident. Spurlock was cited for wheels off the roadway and failure to maintain lane.

CWU selects new executive director of Institutional Effectiveness

ELLENSBURG - Jason Jones will be joining the Wildcat family on October 16, coming to CWU from the Board of Governors, State University System of Florida, where he has served as the chief data officer since 2017...

Two Quincy streets slated for improvements

QUINCY — Sections of Third Avenue SW and Sixth Avenue NE in Quincy are scheduled for improvements. Quincy City Council members approved bids for two separate road projects Sept. 19, with bid opening Sept. 28...

Adaptation and change

Imagine Realty and Palos Verdes to offer new custom floor plan

OTHELLO — Othello residents might soon be able to purchase houses with floor plans that include an attached second primary suite, one of a number of options an Othello realty company is using to adapt to the market.

Past perfect

Moses Lake-raised author takes pains to research her historical novels

MOSES LAKE — You could say A.L. Sowards is living in the past.

BASIN SPORTS RECAP: Eight teams reach top-10 in WIAA’s RPI

COLUMBIA BASIN – Teams from across the Columbia Basin began to enter league play in their respective conferences over the past week, battling it out on the field. Check out this week’s local sports recap for a look at how local squads fared in contests over the previous week. All scores and records are according to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

Physicality a focus as Cougars begin Pac-12 play vs Oregon State

PULLMAN — The 2023 Pac-12 slate opens on Saturday across the conference, with the No. 21 Washington State Cougars preparing for a “physical” No. 14 Oregon State squad. OSU ran for 203 yards in last season’s meeting on Oct. 15, and the Beavers have averaged 219 yards on the ground through their first three games of the season. “You look at these guys as a whole – what an opportunity for us,” WSU Head Coach Jake Dickert said at a press conference on Monday. “By most metrics, they have a top-five offensive line in the country … These two backs are phenomenal, physical and run their scheme. They’re patient, very multiple.”

Eagles move to 3-1 with sweep of Cascade Christian

SOAP LAKE — Soap Lake improved to 3-1 in the early season, clinching its third-straight sweep after a 3-0 win over Cascade Christian on Tuesday night.

Operating hours may be reduced temporarily at Quincy Animal Shelter

QUINCY — The Quincy Animal Shelter hours may change temporarily as city officials work to add new staff. Municipal Services Director Carl Worley told Quincy City Council members Tuesday that it’s difficult for the existing staff to manage both the animals and the current hours. “The animal shelter is currently shorthanded until temporary employees are hired,” he said. “I think we’re down to pretty much two people at this point. So it’s sometimes difficult for them to meet the public at the door. Sometimes they’re in the back and don’t hear it.”

Soap Lake water accounts cause frustration

SOAP LAKE – The city of Soap Lake has experienced an increase in past-due water utility payments and shut-off notices, said Mayor Michelle Agliano. However, city residents say the issue is as much with the city’s billing processes as it is with nonpayment. “Payments are due on the 28th,” said Agliano. “The late notices go out the 29th and then if we have not gotten a payment by, usually the 4th after the new billing, we start sending out shut-off notices, which are hand delivered to each resident and I’ll tell you what, there were a ton of them this time that had notices.” ...

Warriors fall in second-half Saturday

COULEE CITY – Though the score didn’t fall in the Warrior’s favor, ACH Head Coach Brandon Walsh said there were positive takeaways from Saturday’s 64-34 loss to defending 1B state champion Liberty Bell. ACH was down by a score after the first half, but the Mountain Lions outscored the Warriors 36-14 in the second half...

Sandra Doreen Hintz

Sandra Doreen Hintz was born to Robert and Irene Weeks on Feb. 12, 1934, in Seattle Wash. She and her brother Bobby, born June 23, 1936, attended grade schools in Seattle and Bremerton.

WSU becoming a destination for Latine students

PULLMAN - The number of students of Hispanic and Latino origin attending Washington State University has grown substantially in the last decade — up 75% to more than 4,000 students systemwide. That’s a national trend, but it’s also a reflection of the success of programs offered at WSU that support students and their families...