‘Hometown rodeo’

Ritzville Rodeo is big entertainment on a small scale

RITZVILLE — It’s not a very big rodeo, but it’s an enthusiastic one. “We have all events,” said Ritzville Rodeo board member Julie Hartz. “Bareback, saddle bronc, ranch bronc riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, breakaway roping, calf roping, team roping head and heel and some junior events like goat tying.” ...

Race for Life series raises nearly $18K

MOSES LAKE – More than 100 BMX riders traveled to Moses Lake for the first night of the Eastern Washington Race for Life Series, part of a four-track series in collaboration with tracks in Spokane, Richland and Walla Walla. The Race for Life raises money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, with the Moses Lake track raising $5,500...

News bites for Aug. 29, 2023

EPHRATA — With school about to resume, it’s important for residents to know the rules of the road regarding school buses, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. On most streets and roads, all lanes of traffic in both directions must stop when a school bus is stopped to pick up or drop off kids, the GCSO wrote. However, on divided roads and highways, drivers traveling the opposite direction from the bus do not have to stop; only drivers traveling in the same direction as the school bus must stop. State law allows a fine double the standard limit up to $500, the GCSO added. Half the fine goes to the state's school safety zone account.

Legals for August, 28 2023

16 Cougars and Huskies named to Senior Bowl watch list

MOBILE, Ala. – Sixteen Cougars and Huskies were named to the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl watch list, a highly-touted college football all-star game hosted at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama in early February.

Water masters

Siphon setters show their skills at the Grant County Fair

MOSES LAKE — It’s a little ironic that the World-Famous Siphon-Setting Contest may be the best-kept secret at the Grant County Fair.

Warden teams to host community night on Friday

WARDEN – With the beginning of fall sports season just around the corner, the various fall sports at Warden High School are gathering for a community sports night on Friday, raising money for the Cougar cheerleading, cross country, football, girls soccer and volleyball programs. The idea for the event was brought by new Warden football coach Dallyn McLean...

Eagle offense shows efficiency in Monday scrimmage

CHENEY, Wash. — After having their scrimmage on Saturday canceled due to poor air quality caused by nearby wildfires, the Eastern Washington University football team was able to get back on the field on Monday afternoon for their first team scrimmage of fall camp. Offense earned bragging rights after two unexpected off days, turning in several highlight reel plays.

The lies advertisers tell you

“Why, all advertising is exaggerated. Nobody believes it”, said Coca-Cola's attorney, which inspired Coke’s Sam C. Dobbs to create a group of businesses to monitor each other’s advertising and was the beginning of the Better Business Bureau. During Dobbs' time, the early 20th century, advertising promised consumers various outcomes; however, the claims weren’t based on any facts. Fast forward to 2023, and if you have played any gaming apps or viewed social media recently, you have seen ads that promise you will lose weight fast or product offers that are too good to be true. The ads look authentic, and the offer is so enticing that consumers click the buy button. However, many customers are dissatisfied with their purchase after receiving the order because the product wasn’t as advertised or they never received it. While ethical businesses follow advertising codes, the market is filled with fraudulent companies exploiting consumers. How do consumers know if the ad is false and if it is, who can they report it to? With over 110 years of experience, the BBB still holds businesses accountable for eight standards, one of which is to advertise honestly.

'It’s always a good show'

Roundup wraps up with strong showings from competitors

MOSES LAKE — The 80th year of the Moses Lake Roundup was celebrated Thursday through Friday, when competitors from around the world traveled to Moses Lake for a chance to take home thousands of dollars in the rodeo. “It’s a good rodeo, good contractors,” saddle bronc rider Jake Clark said. “Great hospitality – they treat the competitors great here.” The stands in the Rodeo Arena were packed each of the three nights of the Roundup, watching the numerous competitors take part in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, breakaway roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding. “This is a great crowd; they all get into it the whole rodeo. It’s not just the bull riding,” bull rider Laramie Mosley said. “It makes it fun when you show up here and see the stands full, everybody cheering and hollering. It makes it enjoyable.”

Boil water advisory issued for Ephrata

EPHRATA — Ephrata residents in the southeast and northeast sections of town are being advised to boil city water before drinking it. The boil-water advisory was issued by city officials late Monday afternoon. Residents should bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute and let it cool prior to using it, according to a press release from City Administrator Ray Towry. Samples of the water have been sent to a state-certified lab for testing, he wrote. “The test requires 24 hours in the lab. The city anticipates receiving results by Wednesday,” Towry wrote.

I-90 closures scheduled Tuesday, Thursday

HYAK — A section of Interstate 90 will be closed Tuesday and Thursday, beginning at 7 p.m. and lasting about an hour, to allow crews to do some rock blasting along the roadsides, according to a press release from the Washington Department of Transportation. Eastbound travelers will be stopped at milepost 63 and westbound travelers at exit 70 near Easton...

Demo derby rolls into Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE – The two-night Agri-Service Demolition Derby wrapped up on Wednesday night, with nearly 200 drivers hitting the track inside the Rodeo Arena at the Grant County Fairgrounds across the two nights. “It was pretty awesome to take over and try to put on a good show,” said Alex Alvarado, a member of the board of directors for the Moses Lake Roundup overseeing the derby. “That’s what we’ve always wanted to do, just put on a good show for everybody. It was a lot of responsibility, but in the end, I think it was worth it. And, I enjoyed it.” ...

BBCC's TRiO Upward Bound celebrates Summer Academy graduates

MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College’s TRiO Upward Bound program celebrated the end of its annual six-week Summer Academy with an awards banquet on campus Friday, formally recognizing the 45 students from Moses Lake, Othello, Royal City, and Warden high schools who successfully completed the program...

CWU Deaf and Sign Language Studies celebrates first deaf graduate

ELLENSBURG - Ivan Alfaro knew that being deaf was about more than just sign language, so when he found the Deaf and Sign Language Studies program at Central Washington University, he knew this was the degree to pursue. At June’s commencement ceremony, he became the first deaf student to graduate from the DSLS program...

WSU's Ward named to Manning Award watch list

NEW ORLEANS – Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward was named to the 2023 Manning Award Watch List, the Allstate Sugar Bowl announced Tuesday.

Sizzlin’ fun

Shade, staying hydrated among keys to keeping cool at the Grant County Fair.

MOSES LAKE — It being summer and with the weather gods sometimes having a nasty sense of humor, it was probably to be expected. “It’s going to be hot this week,” said fairgrounds manager Jim McKiernan while talking to volunteers Monday morning...

BBCC brings on Daviaire Dickerson as men’s wrestling coach

MOSES LAKE — As a former collegiate wrestler himself, Daviaire Dickerson knows how to connect with wrestlers from the role of a coach. Now, Dickerson is looking to continue that as the new head coach of the Big Bend men’s wrestling program. “I definitely can sympathize with my athletes and understand why they might be struggling in wrestling, because it may be coming from a completely outside source,” Dickerson said. “I graduated from college four years ago, so I remember those times. I remember how hard some of those days were.” A graduate of Arizona Christian University, Dickerson got his first head coaching gig at Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska, where he coached the Warriors’ women’s wrestling team on an interim basis.

News bites for Aug. 14, 2023

MOSES LAKE — The Washington State Patrol has released more information regarding the fatal collision on I-90 east of Moses Lake Aug. 9. Derek Jay Duplichan, 30, of Warden, was driving a 2001 Acura MDX eastbound in the left lane on I-90 near the Road U/Warden exit when he drove into the median in an attempt to pass a 2014 Chevrolet Captiva driven by Brent T. Palmen, 34, of Moses Lake, according to the WSP. Duplichan then reentered the lane and struck Palmen’s vehicle, causing both drivers to lose control. Palmen’s vehicle crossed the median into the westbound lanes, where it struck a 2022 Toyota Highlander driven by Kellie A. Taylor, 54, of Snohomish, causing Taylor’s vehicle to run into a fence. Palmen’s and Taylor’s vehicles came to rest on the westbound shoulder, while Duplichan’s vehicle rolled multiple times and came to rest on the cable barriers in the median. Duplichan, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle.

80th ride: Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo has full slate for its oak anniversary

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo turns 80 this year, and it’s doing it in a big way. “It's going to be huge,” said Tyler Brown, treasurer of the rodeo committee. “We've got 430 entries for all the events, which is a pretty big number. Probably up 10-15% (compared to previous years). We've got a full slate of contestants in every event, which is really spectacular.” ...