Thomas “Tommy” Brice

1960 – 2025

Thomas “Tommy” Lamar Brice, of Moses Lake, Washington, left this earth and joined R.D., Betty (mom and dad), Melvin and Larry (siblings) on August 23, 2025 at the age of 65. Born August 16, 1960, in Arcadia, LA.

Broncos looking to make memorable gallop onto the field

RITZVILLE – As the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos hit the gridiron for the first time this season, senior Jerod Harder hopes to leave an impact. When he thinks about what kind of impact, he said he wants it to be a memorable one. “I want coaches to remember me, the town to remember me. I do this for my family. My family loves football, I love football. I just want to have fun and play the game and leave a leave a statement,” Harder said.

ACH Warriors hoping to rebound this season

COULEE CITY — The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors put together a strong 10-3 season last year, but left with a sour taste in their mouth after a close loss in the 1B state semifinals. Head Coach Brandon Walsh said he was proud of what the Warriors did last year, despite the outcome. “Last year was a really good year for us. We lost in the semifinals, which was a little disappointing, you don't have hopes and dreams of going to the championship and come up one step short... we're hoping to build on that,” Walsh said.

Tigers enter 4th year under Coach Mitchell

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tigers are returning to the field for the 2025 season with a sense of confidence. They ended their previous season with a 5-5 record and plan to improve that record and make a deep playoff run. “We had a few key players leave last year, but I think we’re able to bounce right back just with the guys that played not as much,” said Tigers quarterback Brady Hendrick. “I think everyone on the team is ready to go.” Hendrick is one of the seniors with the Tigers this season and is coming into his third year starting. He said that during just the first few days of practice, he is starting to see strong chemistry between each of the players, where they’re building a tight friend group on a senior-heavy team.

BASIN EVENTS: September 2025

COLUMBIA BASIN — The days are cooling off – well, maybe a little – and the kids are back in school, which means fall is just around the corner. Here are some things to do to help you recover from the summer.

Positive drama: High school theater gives students confidence, people skills

MOSES LAKE — If, as Shakespeare wrote, all the world’s a stage, then a high school drama club must be the perfect place to prepare for life. “(Students who participate in drama) have a place where doesn't matter what's going on in school,” said Marla Allsopp, drama advisor at Ephrata High School. “They might feel like they don't quite fit in, but when they come to the theater, they're part of that group.”

Mavs motivated for a state run this season

MOSES LAKE — As the start of the 2025 season hits, the Mavericks bring in an experienced roster that has stayed hungry for a state title opportunity. Head Coach Brett Jay said the team has homed in on player development in the offseason. “We're going to focus on our locker room and develop every player we have. It's a yearlong process, our offensive linemen are all bigger and stronger, our receivers are bigger and faster, our backfield (quarterback and running back) is bigger and faster, and so it's exciting,” Jay said.

Knights hungry for another state title

ROYAL CITY — The reigning 1A State Champions, the Royal Knights, are looking to continue their winning ways as the 2025 football season nears. Head Coach Wiley Allred said he wants his team always to feel challenged. “We take nothing for granted, and we've three returning starters on each side of the ball,” Allred said. “We've got a lot of new faces. They're learning, and they're going to grow all year, and we hope they improve as we go ... I think they're expecting to do well, but we take nothing for granted. It's always a challenge.”

Green School offers gardener training online

MOSES LAKE — There’s more to gardening than just filling a pot with dirt and seeds and waiting for something to grow.

Ferguson pauses approval of major solar project in central Washington

Gov. Bob Ferguson is tapping the brakes on a controversial solar farm proposed in south-central Washington to allow more time to appraise concerns of Yakama Nation leaders. Ferguson on Friday turned down a recommendation for the Carriger Solar project from the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council and directed the state panel to reconsider tribal officials’ desire for tougher conditions to protect cultural resources. But the first-term Democratic governor signalled his eagerness to sign off on an updated development agreement that is due from the council by Oct. 21.

9th Circuit Court rebuffs bid to overturn WA state voting map

(The Center Square) – The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday ruled in favor of a group of voters in the Yakima Valley in a case concerning recently redrawn legislative boundaries in Washington state. The court said the new boundaries for the 15th Legislative District do not discriminate based on race.

FIRE REPORT: AUG. 28, 2025

Air quality moderate across most of Washington

MOSES LAKE – The fires below were burning and causing smoke and air quality concerns regionally as of Thursday afternoon.

New Columbia Basin Railroad owners assume operation

MOSES LAKE — The owners of Jaguar Transport Holdings, Joplin, Missouri, officially took over operation of the Columbia Basin Railroad Thursday. The owners of Jaguar Transport announced they were buying CBRR in mid-July. “We take a disciplined approach to acquisitions, and this opportunity – backed by proven success, strong infrastructure, a dedicated team and a growing customer base – truly excites us,” said Jaguar Chief Executive Officer Stu Towner in a press release announcing the change. Jaguar did not respond to questions from the Columbia Basin Herald about the purchase. The sale was completed in mid-August.

Othello man sentenced to 39 years for child sex assault convictions

OTHELLO — An Othello man has been sentenced to 39 years in prison following his conviction on charges for first-degree rape of a child, second-degree rape of a child and third-degree rape of a child with aggravating factors. According to a release from the Othello Police Department, Rodrigo Plascencia, 66, was sentenced Wednesday. The aggravating factors included Placensia’s use of a position of trust to facilitate the assaults, and an ongoing pattern of abuse.

Grant PUD gets upgrades with upcoming new Ephrata Service Center

EPHRATA – Not all of the construction near the intersection of Nat Washington Way and State Highway 282 is related to the Grant County Jail. The Grant Public Utility District broke ground on its upcoming Ephrata Service Center Tuesday afternoon, a new facility intended to address the growing demands on the district’s resources.

QUINCY MAYORAL RACE: Candidate Q&A

QUINCY — The Quincy Mayoral Race consists of candidates, incumbent Paul Worley and Manny Rodriguez. Both candidates were given the same deadline and set of questions, that they answered as follows. Q: Data Centers and food processing are the two major industries that we see in Quincy. What diversification of the city’s economy would you like to see and how would you go about making that happen? Worley: I would like to see all types of businesses come to Quincy. Motels, fruit and vegetable processors, industries, retail stores like Target, and various types of sit-down restaurants. We will continue working with the Port District, Chamber of Commerce, along with the School, Hospital, and Fire Districts to make Quincy an inviting place to attract businesses for our citizens to enjoy.

Road report

Construction suspended for Labor Day weekend, but some restrictions still in place

VANTAGE BRIDGE — Most road construction will be suspended during the Labor Day weekend, although lanes and sometimes roads will still be closed. “All four lanes across the Vantage Bridge will reopen by 7 a.m. Friday, Aug. 29,” according to a press release from the Washington State Department of Transportation. “Travel will return to one lane in each direction by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2.” Road construction in Grant and Adams counties is in full swing:

Grant Co. COVID-19 outbreak ends

MOSES LAKE — The COVID-19 outbreak that sickened 47 people and claimed at least two lives at a local long-term care facility is over, according to Grant County Health District Communication Coordinator Lexi Smith. The facility, which was not identified, has gone 14 days without an additional case, Smith wrote in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald. A third death was not immediately attributed to COVID-19 but was under investigation. “Long-term care facilities … house at-risk individuals, and that makes them an area where COVID can circulate in dining rooms and community areas,” Smith said in an interview Thursday. This is the eighth outbreak in a long-term care facility since October 2024, Smith wrote. By comparison, the period from October 2023 to October 2024 saw 19 outbreaks in care facilities and one in a school.

Warden Community Days coming this weekend

WARDEN — If you happen to have an inflatable costume – maybe a T-rex, or a cow, or a cartoon character – sitting around in the closet, Monday will be the perfect time to unearth it and try it on. Warden Community Days is introducing an inflatable costume race to the Labor Day festivities this year. “Basically, you put on these inflatable costumes and run through a small obstacle course,” said Renay Jorgensen, chair of the committee that organizes Warden’s annual festival. “One of the gals that I work with actually ordered a flying eagle costume … My boys had a bull rider costume.”

MLSD welcomes back most students Wednesday

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District welcomed back first through sixth graders and freshmen for the first day of school Wednesday. The seventh, eighth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth graders return to school Thursday.