Mavs swim best times at state

FEDERAL WAY – The Moses Lake Mavericks left this weekend’s State Boys Swimming and Diving Championships in Federal Way with their heads high, and some new personal bests to hang their hats on. Moses Lake had swimmers advance to the finals in six different events and placed 20th as a team with 28.5 points...

Advocates press for highly capable testing for all students

OLYMPIA - School districts should be required to test all students to see if they qualify for more challenging classes. That is the message behind Substitute Senate Bill 5072, proposed by T’wina Nobles, D-Fircrest. It requires districts to screen all students during the school day for participation in a “Highly Capable Program (HCP)...

Jacks open 2023 season with 10-0 win over Tonasket

QUINCY – The Jackrabbits put on a show to start the year, scoring 10 goals in their 10-0 win over Tonasket on Saturday. Quincy senior Antonio Valadez opened the year with a hat trick, while fellow senior Jorge Nunez and freshman Erick Zepeda both netted two goals of their own.

Spreading love

Local musician looks to ensure his passion for music is contagious

MOSES LAKE — For L.J. Polmateer, music is a labor of love. “I love playing music. I love taking care of my family, and what got me into music was the message of love,” Polmateer said. “I like trying to spread that message of love.” A guitarist, Polmateer has been playing his reggae-flavored music in and around Moses Lake both as a solo artist and as part of One Solution with percussionist Cotey Fondren for about 12 years now, keeping busy as he raises his family and works full-time during the days on RVs...

Abortion bill protects Washington residents from outside restrictions

OLYMPIA — Reproductive health care services including abortion and gender affirming treatment would be protected in Washington State under a bill passed recently by the House in a 59-38 vote. The legislation, House Bill 1469, was sponsored by Rep. Drew Hansen, D-Bainbridge Island. Hansen said it establishes the state’s right to protect the insurance coverage of protected healthcare services, regardless of a person’s location when receiving those services.

Driver’s education making a comeback?

OLYMPIA - Prospective drivers aged 18 to 22 will be required to pass a driver’s education course before receiving a drivers license undr a bill recently passed the Washingto State Senate. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5583, which passed 41-7 on March 1, also includes fee increases. The measure now moves to the state House of Representatives.

'Rainbow fentanyl'

Drug panic obscures real dangers of contaminated drug supply, experts say

PHILADELPHIA — As Halloween approaches, the federal government has been warning parents of a spooky new danger: Drug cartels are using rainbow-colored pills and powders that look like candy to introduce children to highly addictive synthetic opioids. One taste could kill. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s press releases in recent months have warned that drug dealers are using the pills’ appealing bright colors to entice children and young adults into addiction. A slew of news outlets and national legislators have seized on the idea, with some advising parents to check their children’s Halloween candy, just in case...

Huskies overcome rough start

Othello defeats East Valley 35-10 in season capper

OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies overcame a raggedy first half, shut down the East Valley (Yakima) offense in the second half and finished the regular season with a 35-10 win. “That’s about as ugly as you can play and still win,” said Othello defensive coach Kevin Hale. He attributed the rocky start in part to the two-week layoff since the team’s last game; the Oct. 21 game with Kelso was canceled at the last minute. But the Red Devils came out ready to play, Hale said. “I give East Valley credit, their hustle, their toughness,” Hale said. I’ve got a lot of respect for those guys.” ...

Huskies’ season ends in 2-1 loss to Grandview in penalty kicks

OTHELLO – Tied at one entering overtime, Saturday’s Central Washington Athletic Conference district tournament match between Othello and Grandview couldn’t get any closer. Grandview had struck first early in the game, which Othello quickly answered with a goal by senior Serenity Peña. “On that play, we actually just passed past a through ball and scored,” Peña said. “That’s a matter of our style of play, that’s how we play.” Othello goalkeeper Bresais Ybarra saved three shots in the overtime period, setting up penalty kicks to decide which team would advance. Through five shots both Othello and Grandview were tied, but a shot by Grandview hit the back of the net, giving the Greyhounds a 2-1 win...

Bad day from Geno Smith, shaky run defense doom Seahawks

SEATTLE (AP) — For most of this season, the Seattle Seahawks have not faced a day where Geno Smith was unable to make up for whatever issues were on the other side of the ball. This time was the exception, and it might have been the final blow in Seattle's hopes of a division title.

Picture perfect

Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center raises $43,000 for 3-D ultrasound machine

MOSES LAKE — Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center had an ambitious series of goals as it prepared for this year’s fundraising banquet. “This is the biggie. We need $43,000 for a new ultrasound machine,” said Marc Newman, author and president of Speaker for Life, during his keynote speech at Saturday’s fundraiser. “For $43,000, we can get a new ultrasound machine that will be a massive game changer. … You want to save more kids? We need the tech to do it.” It was a long list. In addition to raising the money to keep Crossroads going for the next year, the center was also seeking $1,000 for a new computer, $800 for chairs for consultation rooms, $5,000 for a conference table and $17,000 to finish covering the costs of hiring a bilingual client resource specialist. By itself, those things would be a big ask. But they weren’t everything the organization sought from attendees of its annual fundraising banquet in the 4-H Building at the Grant County Fairgrounds on Saturday.

ML City to acquire new water right

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake City Council voted unanimously at a regular meeting on Tuesday to spend roughly $762,000 to acquire an irrigation water right for 50 acres located just north of the Port of Moses Lake. “That, unfortunately, is what water costs,” said City Council Member Mark Fancher. “I don’t think it’s a bad market price.” The council approved the purchase of the right, which comes from a shallow well and provides 220.9 acre-feet per year to 50 acres near the intersection of Stratford Road and Road 10 Northeast, as part of an ongoing effort to secure shallow well water rights to improve the city’s water supply and eventually reduce the amount of water the city draws from its deeper wells. City Engineer Richard Law said most of the city’s current wells are deep wells, drilled down into the basalt layer, and tap fossil water that is at least 10,000 years old and not being replenished. The shallower wells, which tap an aquifer just below the surface, were used extensively when the region was initially settled, but were replaced by the deeper wells because the quality of the deep water was better.

Mavs look to break Big 9 tie

Moses Lake team works to recover from loss, prepare for ground-dominant Eastmont

MOSES LAKE – The 6-2 Mavericks return to Lions Field on Friday after a 41-35 road loss to West Valley (Yakima) last week, with the loss creating a three-way tie for the lead in the Columbia Basin Big 9 Conference. Joining Moses Lake with a 4-1 record in league play is Sunnyside, who the Mavericks defeated two weeks ago, and Eastmont, who they play on Friday. “Mondays suck after a loss, it is what it is,” Moses Lake head coach Brett Jay said. “You come in and it takes a while to shake it, and the only way to shake it is by getting back to work. We know that we feel the mistakes that were made were preventable by us playing our technique and our fundamentals better.” Freshman quarterback Brady Jay, Brett’s son, entered the game for the Mavericks on Friday, completing 15 of 27 passes for 172 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Senior quarterback Brock Clark, who also plays linebacker for the Mavericks, had two sacks against West Valley...

New-look Cougs strive to push for NCAA tourney

SAN FRANCISCO – With all the turnover that the Cougars have faced this offseason, including bringing in six new players to replace four transfers, Efe Abogidi moving to the NBA’s G-League and Michael Flowers graduating, the Cougars remained excited about the upcoming season at Wednesday’s Pac-12 Media Day. “We talk about having great attitudes, working hard, guys having pride in being a Coug, and the group that's behind has done the same,” WSU head coach Kyle Smith said at Pac-12 Media Day on Wednesday. “We're just going to look a little different.” The Cougs lost their top-four scorers from a season ago, with Flowers graduation, guard Tyrell Roberts transferring to San Francisco, guard Noah Williams transferring to Washington and Agogidi in the G-League. “We're just a different team,” Smith said. “Despite our talent is different. We have a little bigger guards, I think. Our frontcourt is a little more skillful. I think our group's more skillful.” ...

Down and dirty

Demolition Derby rides into Othello

OTHELLO – The Othello Rodeo Grounds was full of smoke, engines revving and cheers for the 2022 Othello Demolition Derby, held on Wednesday night, which brought in drivers for a variety of different events. Once time trials were completed, drivers were separated into different heats based on the time recorded during the preceding trials. Eight cars entered the arena for each heat, and completed eight laps before having a winner declared. Each heat saw smoke, dust and dirt fly through the air, with drivers maneuvering past other cars in an attempt to place first. Throughout the heat races, several cars had to be either pushed out by fellow competing drivers or towed out using a bulldozer – with some cars ending with their wheels displaced, rendering the vehicles unable to move. Spectators cheered on other events at the demolition derby as well, including a trophy dash, powder puff, Australian pursuit and more. Results from the 2022 Othello Demolition Derby were not made available at press deadline.

Eagles eye defense

EWU football team excited for season as fall camp opens

CHENEY – Coming off a 3-8 season, the Eastern Washington defensive unit has been the subject of a months-long focus among players since January, which players and coaches got to get a first look at on Thursday at the opening of fall camp...

Making connections

Mattawa National Night Out a way for officers, residents to get better acquainted, chief says

MATTAWA — Joao Garcia was interested in all those mysterious things carried by Mattawa Police Department officer Edgar Villa, and Villa explained them all. Garcia was also intrigued by the police vehicles, lights flashing, sitting on the lawn in Hund Park. Villa invited him to take a look inside - Garcia could even sit in the police car if he wanted, Villa said...

ACDC to hold career showcases in Othello, Ritzville

OTHELLO — The Adams County Development Council will hold the 2023 Othello Career Showcase Oct. 24 at Othello High School and the 2023 Lind-Ritzville and Washtucna Career Showcase Oct. 19 in Lind-Ritzville High School, according to announcements from the council. ACDC wants businesses operating in Othello to take part in the event, which will be held inside the gyms of each respective high school...

Cougars open 2023 against Colorado State

PULLMAN – The long college football off-season ends on Saturday for the Washington State Cougars, who are preparing to travel to Colorado State for the 2023 season opener Saturday afternoon. “It’s very important to get a win and go 1-0, start fast on the year, because it gets that confidence going,” wide receiver Lincoln Victor said at a press conference on Tuesday. “It gets the ball rolling, and not only that, you get to see the mistakes you made and know we’re going to get better.” ...

Farmer Consumer Awareness Day Saturday in Quincy

QUINCY — A parade down Central Avenue, dancing horses, three-on-three soccer, a car show, a tractor pull – all the good old events return to Quincy Saturday on Farmer Consumer Awareness Day. While technically it’s not part of FCAD, the B Street Block Party is an unofficial kickoff; it’s from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday. One block of B Street, from Central Avenue South to First Street Southwest, will host vendors serving food and wine, along with some merchandise. The Olson Brothers Band will be performing live. Saturday’s events start early and run all day. Signup forms, or links to signup forms, are available on the FCAD website, www.quincyfcad.org.