Cold to stay

Chances of snow to diminish, but it’s going to stay cold

MOSES LAKE — Of course, it’s that time of year, and the first snowfall of the season Tuesday night closed schools, left people with driveways and sidewalks to shovel, discombobulated morning commutes, annoyed a lot of cats and delighted a lot of dogs. And while the snow might get cleared off the road and schools will get going again, the snow is here to stay, at least for a while. Jon Fox, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Spokane, said Wednesday morning that snow showers might linger through Thursday, and possibly into Friday night. New snow amounts are forecast to be minimal, an inch or less. “It’s not going to melt though, unfortunately,” Fox said...

Mattawa City Council to consider annexation in January

Access points to planned development a sticking point for council members

MATTAWA — Mattawa City Council members may decide Jan. 5 to accept or reject a petition to annex 40 acres into the city. Setting a tentative date followed a two-hour discussion of the development agreement stipulations at the council’s regular meeting Thursday. Rachelle Bradley of SPJ Alliance, the city planners, laid out a timeline. “We still need to go through the negotiation side with the developer, and there’s a public comment period,” Bradley said. “Right now, I want to get this agreement into the developer’s hands (Friday), and we’ll give them about a two-week period to negotiate.” If the negotiations are successful, city officials will advertise the annexation petition and ask for the opinions of city residents...

Home sales drop, but show signs of bouncing back

MOSES LAKE — Home sales dropped pretty hard last month. According to data from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, home sales in Washington dropped from 8,017 in December 2021 to 4,524 in December 2022, a 43.57% decrease. Grant County followed the trend with a drop of 44.57% from 2021. For the year as a whole, 1,103 homes were sold in Grant County in 2022 compared to 1,311 in 2021, a dip of 15.87%. Adams County sales dropped from 163 in 2021 to 139 in 2022, a 14.72% decrease. “There was nothing for anyone to buy,” said Tera Zerbo, a Realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Mann Realty. “Nobody was putting their stuff on the market, so it made it really hard for you to move. Because you had your house you could sell, but where were you going to go? So there's no movement … Inventory was just non-existent. And the thing is last year, the interest rates were great, and people wanted to move and take advantage of all of that. And the appreciation in homes was fantastic. It's just we just didn't have any inventory.”

QSD upgrades

2 Quincy schools to receive utility upgrades, district office to move

QUINCY — A project to upgrade the heating-cooling systems at Pioneer and Mountain View elementary schools should go out for bid in late February or early March. It’s one of two remodeling projects planned by the district with proceeds from the sale of 155 acres south of town. The second project will remodel a district-owned building into a new district office. Quincy School Board members approved a proposal from the Spokane architectural firm NAC for design services for the heating-cooling project at the regular board meeting Tuesday. Quincy Superintendent Nik Bergman said after the meeting the total project cost will be about $1.1 million. The NAC contract, which is included in the total cost, is about $109,000...

Port of Othello looks to expand water in Bruce Industrial Park

OTHELLO — The Port of Othello’s industrial park out at Bruce isn’t lacking for water. “We have plenty of water available and plenty of water rights,” said Chris Faix, the port’s executive director. “We actually have enough storage, we have plenty of pressure and everything.” ...

ML Council OKs $111.5 million 2023 budget

MOSES LAKE — At a regular meeting on Tuesday, the Moses Lake City Council formally adopted the city’s $111.5 million 2023 budget, including $15 million to build a new police station on North Central Drive. The adopted budget is 33% greater than the $83.6 million the city approved for 2022. “There’s significant support for a new police station,” said City Manager Allison Williams, referring to a summer survey of residents the city conducted. The largest item in the city’s 2023 budget is the general fund, which pays for regular city operations like police and fire protection, administration, parks and recreation, the library and administration. The council approved a general fund budget of $35.1 million, a 13.3% increase from the 2022 budget, including $11.4 million for the Moses Lake Police Department (up 16.6% from 2022), $5.4 million for the Moses Lake Fire Department (up 9.2%) and $7.5 million for parks and recreation (up 3%)...

Business owners celebrate Small Business Saturday

MOSES LAKE — Mai Houvener wanted to make sure anyone looking for books to buy on Small Business Saturday knew exactly where to go. The owner of Sandbox Bookstore in downtown Moses Lake, Houvener posted a fairly creative sign in front of the Smith Martin Building she share’s with Mason’s Place coffee house, Ties That Bind Yarn, Ag World Support Systems and other local businesses. “This way books,” the sign said, with a big pink arrow pointing to the front entrance. Next to the arrow below pointing down Third Avenue, the sign read: “That way? Bears, maybe? We wouldn’t risk it.” ...

Join the kamp

Echternkamps Guide Services provide Columbia Basin hunting and fishing experiences

MOSES LAKE - Echternkamps Guide Services provides hunting and fishing experiences highlighting the abundance in the Columbia Basin. “We are more concerned about everybody’s experience, (we) want them to have a good time,” said Aaron Echternkamp, owner of Echternkamps Guide Services, which also goes by the name Eastern Washington Guides. The 50-year-old said he started his guide service when he was only 18. When he started, it was mainly focused on waterfowl hunting and later expanded to fishing, although he is focusing on waterfowl currently...

'A buddy bench

Larson Elementary hosts dedication of memorial honoring late student

MOSES LAKE — Ella’s Nana Lana Redal said purple was Ella’s favorite color. So the butterfly bench Redal commissioned in Ella’s memory reflects that. Sarah Steffler and her daughter Ella Muongmany were killed in a traffic accident in August of 2018, just before Ella was to start first grade at Larson Heights Elementary. Redal wanted to add a memorial for her daughter and granddaughter at Larson, where she is a first-grade teacher. The bench was dedicated Friday afternoon...

The last queen of the skies

Final production 747 briefly touches down at GCIA

MOSES LAKE — The last 747 touched down briefly at the Grant County International Airport Tuesday afternoon as part of its final check before being delivered to its new owner, New York-based cargo airline Atlas Air. David Bailey, a retired former executive director of the Port of Moses Lake who began his career in aviation as a flight engineer for Boeing in the late 1960s helping to design and test the 747, was on hand to watch the last one touch down as well...

Grant County Jail construction planning process starts today with kickoff meeting

EPHRATA — Grant County officials and representatives of the general contractor and architects will be meeting today to discuss the initial phases of construction of the new Grant County Jail. Tom Gaines, Grant County Central Services director, said Grant County Commissioners selected Lydig Construction out of Spokane Valley as the general contractor. “All of our pieces are in place,” Gaines said. “The team is now together, and we’re (planning) the next six to eight months.” Thursday’s meeting is the start of that process. “Everybody that’s responsible for getting this thing built meets in the same place,” Gaines said, and will review the work done to date. “Where we’ve been and where we’re going.” County voters approved a three-tenths of 1% increase in the county’s sales tax in 2019, with the money to go toward law and justice projects including a new jail. Grant County Commissioners approved the sale of up to $90 million in limited tax general obligation bonds for the project in July 2022.

Broncos look to close out tough games

RITZVILLE — With a team full of veteran experience, the Lind-Ritzville Broncos have started the season with an 8-3 record and 4-2 in league contests. All three losses have come on the road to other teams inside the top 15 of the WIAA’s RPI rankings. “All of our three losses have been on the road by a total of eight points, two games by three and another by two, all at the end,” Lind-Ritzville Head Coach Dustan Arlt said. “All three games have been against top teams: Burbank, Colfax and Northwest Christian.” ...

Gathered in Gratitude

Community comes together to support seniors at McKay

LAKEVIEW — The McKay Foundation, partnered with the Columbia Basin Foundation, held the second annual Gathered in Gratitude fundraiser at the Lakeview Golf and Country Club on Sunday. “We’re really trying to focus on the needs of our senior residents and trying to build for the future, and so a project like this, it just kind of showcases for everyone what our potential is,” said Corinne Isaak, executive director of the Columbia Basin Foundation. The event raised money for McKay Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center and was also meant to raise awareness about the center and all that it does and has done over the last year to improve the lives of its residents. The evening started out with a silent auction and social time, followed by dinner and a live auction...

Huskies’ season ends at Enumclaw

Othello football finishes year with 9-2 record

ENUMCLAW – The No. 5 seed Othello Huskies traveled to Washington’s west side for a state quarterfinals matchup against Enumclaw, with the Hornets eventually prevailing in a physical, 20-17 win. “It was pretty intense,” Othello Defensive Coordinator Kevin Hale said. “State quarterfinal matchup, the weather was absolutely beautiful – about 50 degrees at game time. The support from the Othello community, our stands were completely full. It was a real intense environment.” Senior running back Julian Alegria found the end zone early in the game, and a field goal by senior Brandon Garza gave Othello its first nine points of the afternoon. Still, Enumclaw’s high-powered offense kept them in the game against a stout Othello defense. With the Hornets up 13-9 and facing a fourth-and-two in the fourth quarter, Enumclaw was able to convert and score a touchdown to go up 20-9 late in the game...

Daiyan Henley named finalist for Butkus Award

CHICAGO - Washington State linebacker Daiyan Henley was named a finalist for the 2022 Butkus Award, The Butkus Foundation announced Tuesday. The Butkus Award is presented annually to the best linebacker in college football. Note on criteria: The Butkus Award is focused on recognizing linebackers who consistently play off the ball on their feet in a two-point stance in traditional LB form. (Outside linebackers primarily rushing the passer in 30 fronts are regarded as pass rushers, not linebackers.) Henley is one of five finalists, the only player from the Pac-12 Conference and is the first Butkus Award Finalist in program history.

Quincy schools discipline policy undergoing changes

QUINCY — Quincy School District officials are working on a program designed to improve discipline while keeping students in school. Assistant Superintendent DJ Garza discussed the district’s “Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports” plan with Quincy School Board members at the regular meeting Tuesday. “(The program) is a framework for building better habits for students,” Garza said. “We’re all creatures of habit, and all students come to us with a set of habits, good or bad.” The goal is to change bad habits, hopefully before student behavior becomes a problem in the classroom. The program starts with a set of behavior expectations that are the same at all five elementary schools, Quincy Middle School and Quincy High School, Garza said...

Tips for cops and kids

Officers serve food, drink, hospitality to raise money for Christmas

MOSES LAKE — There was hardly a place to park at Rock Top Burgers and Brew Wednesday evening as diners gathered to have law enforcement officers from three local agencies take their orders, get their drinks, and bus their tables – all to help some needy families get a little Christmas cheer. “We were trying to come up with a fundraising idea to help Shop With a Cop,” said Rock Top Marketing Coordinator Lindsey Crothers. “And one night this kind of just came into play. And now this is our fifth annual and it’s become a tradition.” ...

Mariners believe rotation set for future after Castillo deal

SEATTLE (AP) — In the middle of putting the finishing touches on the largest and most complex contract in franchise history, the Seattle Mariners began discussions about another impact deal. Would newly acquired right-hander Luis Castillo be interested in talking about calling Seattle home for the long haul?

Royal schools start year in almost-finished buildings

ROYAL CITY — School in Royal is off to a great start for the year, Superintendent Roger Trail told the Royal School Board Monday night. “We have opened school to what I would say probably the best we've done since pre-COVID,” Trail said. “Everyone just seemed to be in really fantastic spirits without all the extra rules and regulations that we've had to solve for the last couple of years. So that's been nice.”

No place like Moses Lake for the holidays

Residents gather for annual tree lighting in Sinkiuse Square on Friday

MOSES LAKE — Four-year-old Ruth Gladieux-Smith sipped happily on her hot chocolate Friday evening as she stood with her mother Robin and her five-year-old brother Weyllyn near a blazing fire pit in Sinkiuse Square as they waited for the annual lighting of the Moses Lake Christmas tree. She grinned and her eyes lit up when asked if she liked her hot chocolate, piled high with whipped cream and slowly melting marshmallows. It’s exactly why Robin said her family recently moved to Moses Lake from Bakersfield, California. Because a community tree lighting ceremony, complete with a visit from Santa and hot chocolate, isn’t something they do in Bakersfield, Robin said. “My husband’s actually originally from here and he has family here. We just wanted to come back. We know it’s a quiet town and that’s what we want coming from a crazy town like Bakersfield,” she said. “People kind of look out for each other. It’s a tight-knit community, and that’s what we wanted.” ...