Schoonover Road construction begins, other road projects progressing

RITZVILLE — A section of Schoonover Road north of Ritzville is closed to traffic as construction crews start work on a complete rebuild. Schoonover Road is closed from Rosenoff to Rehn roads. “Currently the contractor has ground the existing pavement and is working on clearing vegetation on the shoulder, and will then begin the earthwork portion,” wrote Adams County Engineer Scott Yaeger in response to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald. Construction is scheduled for completion Nov. 4. The old road surface will be removed, the roadbed rebuilt with improved drainage, the road widened, and guardrails added where needed, Yaeger said in an earlier interview. It’s the first year of a multiyear project; the first phase project cost is about $3.13 million.

Wildcats football returns to the field

ELLENSBURG – The seventh season of Wildcat Football under the tutelage of Head Coach Chris Fisk is officially underway, CWU Athletics said in a statement. 111 Wildcats reported for camp to officially begin the 2025 campaign. "We are very excited for the opportunity to build up the 2025 Wildcats through fall camp," CWU Head Football Coach Chris Fisk said. "We got off to a good start last week and are looking forward to seeing this practice pay off when we open our season at home in Tomlinson Stadium for the Rodeo Bowl."

Robert (Bob) Bozeman

March 15, 1944 – Aug. 5, 2025

Robert (Bob) Lynn Bozeman, 81, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at home surrounded by his family. Bob was born on March 15, 1944, in Ontario, Oregon to Nathan and Nannie Maud Bozeman. His family moved to various places, eventually settling in Moses Lake, Washington where Bob graduated from Moses Lake High School in 1962. After high school he attended Big Bend Community College for two years, then transferred to Central Washington University in Ellensburg. It was during his time at CWU that he met his future wife, Jolyne Reiswig, when she happened to be visiting a mutual friend on campus. While at CWU, Bob enlisted in the United States Army and served our country for three years from 1966 to 1969 with one year of service in Vietnam.

Robert 'Bob' Duffy

Robert "Bob" Duffy, 90, of Moses Lake, died Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. Arrangements are by Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.

Attorneys behind landmark Bruen gun case take on WA high-cap magazine ban fight

(The Center Square) – The law firm that successfully argued the landmark Bruen case has agreed to take up the high-profile Gator’s Custom Guns case concerning Washington state’s prohibition on the sale, manufacture and distribution of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. In 2022, the law firm of Clement & Murphy successfully argued the case of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, a United States Supreme Court decision that significantly expanded the scope of the Second Amendment's protection of the right to carry firearms in public for self-defense.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Living in one desert is enough...

A healthy chunk of the Columbia Basin’s population likes living in a desert. The sagebrush calls out. The tumbleweeds meander through town and the sunshine is warm without the gross need to use the word “muggy.”

ESA to hold charity golf tourney in Soap Lake

SOAP LAKE – On Saturday, August 16, the Alpha Omega chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha will be holding a charity golf tournament at Lakeview Golf and Country Club. ESA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and money for local charities and families in need, event organizer Abby Smith said.

Surplus multi-season deer and elk tags soon available

OLYMPIA – Deer and elk hunters who applied for a Washington multi-season application earlier this year will have a chance to purchase some of the remaining surplus tags this month. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Tuesday that 2,693 multi-season deer tags and 160 multi-season elk tags will be available for sale in August, with sales occurring on separate days to streamline the process.

Grant PUD line safety demo focused on safety

MOSES LAKE — It is the message of the Lineman Safety demonstration put on by Grant County Public Utility District that while it’s easy to forget power lines are overhead, the electricity they transit must be respected.

Volunteering at the fair can be a family affair

MOSES LAKE — The benches in the horticulture building at the Grant County Fair are filled with flowers, carefully matched with entries and ribbons. Of course, somebody has to do all the work of matching the ribbons to the right flowers. That was the work of the two sisters and their children sitting around a table piled with supplies. “We’re the Kalamakis crew,” said Hailey Everett, Spokane.

Ultra-sweet treats at GCAO

MOSES LAKE -- Four sweet pups are up for adoption at Grant County Animal Outreach including Swiss Roll, Cosmic Brownie, Nutty Buddy and Star Crunch. Swiss Roll and Star Crunch are girls and Nutty Buddy and Cosmic Brownie are boys. All are spayed or neutered, up to date on vaccines and microchipped. If one, or four, or these pups have your heart, visit GrantCountyAnimalOutreach.org and fill out an application. If you can't adopt right now but you would like to help a local shelter, visit the website and click "donate."

Ephrata PD logs for Aug. 14, 2025

The reports below were provided by the Ephrata Police Department. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

19 plants added to WA quarantine list

OLYMPIA – Following extensive public outreach and community petitions, the Washington State Department of Agriculture has amended its Noxious Weed Seed and Plant Quarantine list, adding several new plant species. The updated rule will take effect on August 9, 2025.

Legals for August, 14 2025

Legals for August, 14 2025

Ephrata approves grant programs

EPHRATA – During the August 6 regular Ephrata City Council meeting, the city approved six resolutions addressing a variety of issues including contracts, street maintenance, transportation and communication. Two of those involved grants that would make improving transportation and managing growth easier.

Raising livestock is the tough part of fair competition

MOSES LAKE — Participants in livestock classes at the Grant County Fair exhibit a diverse range of animals, including steers, chickens, and horses; they come from various communities with varying levels of experience. There does seem to be one point of agreement: raising animals is a lot of work. It's even more work than the show ring.

Two local health licenses suspended

MOSES LAKE – The Department of Health has suspended or restricted two licenses of healthcare providers in Grant and Adams counties.

2025 Hay King named

MOSES LAKE – Stevens Hay was named Hay King for the third year in a row Tuesday, the first grower to achieve that distinction. From left: Stevens hay co-owner Kye Stevens, 3-year-old Hudson Stevens and contest superintendent Kirk Jungers. Look for the full story in the August edition of the Basin Business Journal.

Equitation takes center corral at Grant County Fair

MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Youth Equine Program is in the midst of its fourth year of hosting Equitation at the Grant County Fair. According to Becky Shay, president and founder of GCYEP, this is also the fourth year the program has existed.