LETTER: The high cost of school construction: A call for reform

Excessive soft costs • 35-45% of school construction budgets are consumed by soft costs – engineering, design and planning – before a single nail is driven or cement poured. • These costs must be reined in and redirected toward actual construction.

Young Broncos roster ready to hit the mats

LIND – As the 2025 wrestling gets started, Head Coach Jason Hilzer’s excitement is growing. He said if he had to pick a favorite sport to coach, it would be wrestling. “I get super excited,” Hilzer said. “I always tell (students), I don't know if I have a favorite sport, but I will tell you, whatever you put into wrestling is what you'll get out. If you want to put 110% in, that's what you're going to get out.” Unlike most other sports structured with starters and backups, Hilzer said wrestling is great because everyone gets to participate because they are spread across multiple weight classes.

ACH Warriors ready for another run to state

COULEE CITY – After falling short by three points in the state championship last season, the Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors (27-2) return to the court this season with the same expectations. Head Coach Graham Grindy said the standard has been set especially since they return most of last year's roster. “Bringing back what we brought back, statistically, we're bringing back a lot of our major players that led us in scoring, rebounding, defensively, all the areas. We definitely have high hopes,” Graham said.

MLIRD, Port of Moses Lake enter cooperation agreement

MOSES LAKE — The Port of Moses Lake and the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District have approved a memorandum of understanding with the intention of pooling their efforts when it comes to projects of mutual interest. Port Commissioner Darrin Jackson said working together should be both more effective and more cost-effective.

Bingo nights raise money for K-9 programs

MOSES LAKE — About 100 people filled the Moses Lake Taproom Thursday, hoisting pints and stamping bingo cards to support Columbia Basin K9s. So far this year, the bingo nights have raised a bit more than $100,000. “I’ve done a ton of fundraisers down there over the last couple of years, and that was probably one of the biggest ones,” said Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete, who served as MC and bingo caller for the event.

Legals for November, 25 2025

Port of Moses Lake spending $2.8M for military training upgrades

MOSES LAKE — Upgrading the military training area at the Grant County International Airport, extending sections of the fire suppression system and changing runways designations are among the projects in Port of Moses Lake’s 2026 capital budget. But Kim DeTrolio, director of finance and administration, said the capital budget is subject to change.

Janet Staples

Janet (Jan) Kay Staples, 67, of Moses Lake, Wash. passed away due to a stroke on November 19, 2025, at the Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Wash., surrounded by family and friends.

Carson steps down as Soap Lake Chamber VP

SOAP LAKE — Soap Lake Chamber of Commerce Vice President Susan Carson made a statement at the recent regular council meeting that she will be stepping down from her role and the chamber as a whole, at the end of 2025. She also let the community know Abate of Grant County will not host any further events in the Soap Lake community.

Legals for November, 24 2025

Soap Lake Creative District creating tile mural

SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake Creative District is inviting residents and visitors alike to participate in a unique community art project—the Tile Mural Project. Designed to engage the local community in a creative pursuit while beautifying the town, this initiative encourages participants to paint tiles that will be displayed as a large mural on the James Building.

Knights dominate on the gridiron to advance to semifinals

ROYAL CITY — The Royal Knights (11-0) stormed through Seton Catholic Cougars 48-10 in a rematch of last year's 1A state football championship. However, this came in the quarterfinal round as the Knights earned a first round bye.

Sex offender arrested near Royal City

ROYAL CITY — Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Tyler May, 30, at his home in the 14200 block of Road A.7 SW about 3.5 miles east of Royal City Saturday.

Quincy to pay Yakama Nation in civil settlement

QUINCY — The city of Quincy will make a $400,000 payment to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation for fisheries restoration along the Columbia River. The payment is part of the settlement of a civil lawsuit brought against the city by the organization Columbia Riverkeeper. Tom Elliot, Yakama Nation fisheries manager, said the money will be used to pay part of the cost of riverbank restoration.

Grant County Sheriff’s Office logs as of Nov. 21, 2025

The reports below were provided by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

City of Ephrata, port enter interlocal agreement for economic grant

EPHRATA — In a move towards driving economic revitalization, the City of Ephrata has entered into an Interlocal Agreement with the Grant County Port District No. 9. The agreement aims to facilitate a joint application for a grant from the Community Economic Revitalization Board, providing an opportunity for the City and Port to collaboratively develop a comprehensive economic development plan.

Soap Lake applying for $40,000 ARTS grant

SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake City Council unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding between the Soap Lake Creative District and the city to move forward on a $40,000 ARTS Washington grant application for new wayfinding signage. The council also approved for city officials to move forward on finalizing a budget for the project before the grant application was due Thursday.

Major work coming to Quincy’s A Street Northeast in 2026

QUINCY — People driving around Quincy will be encountering some roadwork next spring, with two projects along a major thoroughfare. City Engineer Ariel Belino told Quincy City Council members a third project will close a section of A Street Northeast.

Knights, Mavs, ACH head to state quarterfinals

MOSES LAKE — On Saturday, three Basin football teams will look to take the next step in state football competition. The Royal Knights (10-0), Moses Lake Mavericks (11-0) and Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors (9-1) will all play in quarterfinal games Saturday afternoon.

Legals for November, 21 2025