ENZO opens event room, expands kitchen

MOSES LAKE — ENZO owners and staff cut the ribbon on the restaurant’s newest facility, called the Riviera Room, Wednesday. ENZO already had a smaller banquet facility, called the Amalfi Room, owner Rhonda Cacchiotti explained, but it’s also used for everyday dining and even when it’s booked for private functions it can only accommodate 25-30 people. “This (Riviera) room has capacity for 60-80 people.” Cacchiotti said. “It has a private entrance. It has AV equipment (with) a drop-down screen. We have speakers, we have microphones. We have a podium that can be used. We have room to push tables into different configurations, where we can have a small dance floor. We have a full banquet buffet menu that we can also customize.”

Basin events for Jan. 10-17, 2025

COLUMBIA BASIN — Crafts, hoops, dancing and handbells are just part of what’s in store for the Basin this week. Here are a few things to check out:

Kathryn Schmalz Rackham

July 17, 1943 – December 31, 2024

Kathryn (Kathy) Schmalz Rackham, 81, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Moses Lake after a long battle with Alzheimer’s/dementia. Kathy was born July 17, 194,3 in Ogden, Utah to William Moyes Schmalz and Karma Chadwick. She was born the middle child of three. She lived in Salt Lake City and Seattle before moving to a farm north of Warden in 1952. In 1961 she graduated as the valedictorian of Warden High School and attended Central Washington State College in Ellensburg receiving a degree in Education and French in 1965. She taught English and French at Tyee High School prior to spending a summer abroad in France.

Open Mic brings out the talent in Soap Lake

SOAP LAKE — It’s 5:30 p.m, and 11-year-old Jimmy Ocampo is singing “Die with a Smile” in front of an audience of about 25 people. He’s the fourth performer to take the stage in the last half hour, and there’s a long waiting list after him. It’s Open Mic Night, and the sky’s the limit.

Community servant

Peny Archer put her heart into feeding the hungry

MOSES LAKE — Peny Archer first encountered the Moses Lake Food Bank more than 20 years ago. It changed her life. Her youngest child was starting school, Peny said in a 2023 interview. “Because of working and having a career, I had missed a lot of school plays, a lot of things my children were involved in because I had to work,” she said. “I wanted to spend some time with our youngest during the summer and so on. When school started again, I thought ‘You know, I’m going to go to the food bank and volunteer for two hours a week.’” That volunteer shift was a revelation, she said.

Moses Lake’s Richardson signs to play for Walla Walla CC

MOSES LAKE – Family, friends, teammates and coaches gathered at the Moses Lake High School commons on Tuesday afternoon to celebrate senior Paige Richardson signing to play softball for Walla Walla Community College. “It’s really exciting; it feels real now, now that all that’s done,” Richardson said. “Overwhelming, but exciting.” Richardson has been a three-year starter for the Maverick fastpitch softball team, earning numerous accolades from the Columbia Basin Big 9. In the 2024 season, Richardson was the Big 9’s Most Valuable Player and a unanimous first-team pitcher.

Thirteen local football players earn all-state recognition

MOSES LAKE – The Washington State Football Coaches Association announced its All-State Football Teams awards on Sunday, with full lists representing each of the state’s six classifications.

Wahluke district patrons to vote on capital levy Feb. 11

MATTAWA — Wahluke School District voters will decide the fate of a three-year capital projects levy in a special election Feb. 11. District officials are asking for $2.58 million over three years.

New Umatilla youth leadership council takes oath of office

MISSION – The newest members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s Senior and Junior Youth Leadership Councils took their oaths of office on Jan. 3 at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino Rivers Event Center. The swearing-in ceremony, postponed twice out of respect for community losses, coincided with the Elders Christmas Luncheon. Although some councilors were absent due to school functions, CTUIR Chief Judge William Johnson administered the oaths to those present.

Environmental group highlights goals for upcoming legislative session

OLYMPIA — The 2025 Washington legislative session will begin Monday and the Washington Conservation Action’s Environmental Priorities Coalition has four goals for the upcoming session: advanced clean trucks and climate progress, climate action, sewage spill right-to-know and the recycling reform act. The EPC met for a press conference on Tuesday to discuss its legislative initiatives.

Curiosity keeps centenarian young

MOSES LAKE — It could be that the secret to living a long time is just not to get old.

Beta Lambda brightens Christmas for farm worker families

OTHELLO — Sixty Othello children had a better Christmas this year, thanks to the ladies of Beta Lambda. Members of the women’s service organization took gifts to families at Guadalupe Haven, the low-income housing complex owned by Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington. This is the third year the organization has brought gifts to Guadalupe Haven, Beta Lambda member Trudy Doolittle wrote in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald. Guadalupe Haven manager Maria Guzman said a representative of Catholic Charities put her in touch with Beta Lambda.

Senior events calendar for January 2025

COLUMBIA BASIN — The weather is dreary, but that’s no reason to stay home. Here are a few opportunities to get out and about:

Budget deficit may mean protecting, not expanding, substance abuse treatment programs

(The Center Square) – A prominent state senator indicated that fiscal reality could mean prioritizing and protecting substance abuse recovery programs that are already working over any plans to expand them. Washington state is facing a projected operating budget deficit of between $10 billion and $16 billion over the next four years. “I want to be realistic, but I am also optimistic and have faith in my fellow legislators and for me, success really means that we are protecting the programs that are already in play,” Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, said at a Monday morning virtual meeting of the Substance Use Recovery Services Advisory Committee, or SURSAC, that included legislative priorities for the upcoming session. “I’m not optimistic enough to talk about expansion.”

Three juveniles booked for alleged vehicle theft and eluding police

MATTAWA — Three juveniles were arrested Saturday for stealing a car in Mattawa at around 6:30 a.m. followed by a short police pursuit near Ephrata.

Mammoth dig site tours open

KENNEWICK — Reservations are being accepted for tours of the Coyote Canyon Mammoth Site offered by Mid-Columbia Basin Old Natural Education Sciences, or MCBONES, according to an announcement from the organization.

Date of Downtown Moses Lake Association annual meeting to be announced

MOSES LAKE — The Downtown Moses Lake Association will review its plans for 2025 and its schedule of events during its annual public meeting, tentatively scheduled for early February. The date will be determined during the annual DMLA board member retreat this weekend.

Larry Pittack

June 24, 1947 — Jan. 2, 2025

Larry Gene Pittack, 77, went to be with the Lord on Jan. 2, 2025. Larry was born in Fresno, California on June 24, 1947, to parents Claudie C. Pittack and Carmelina A. (Paolercio) Pittack. They moved to Madera, California in 1955 and then to Wenatchee, Washington in 1963. He graduated from Eastmont Senior High School in 1965 and received an AA degree from Wenatchee Valley College in 1967. He was married to Patricia Hill in 1968. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1970 with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering. He worked for Grant County Public Utility District in Ephrata, Washington starting in 1970. He worked in various positions leading up to the position of Hydro Supervisor, which he held when he retired in 2004. He married his wife Barbara in 1993. Upon retirement Larry and Barbara moved to Hamilton, Montana where they built a home and lived the remaining years of his life.

Knights avenge state playoff loss, defeat Riverside 78-39

ROYAL CITY – While the 2023-24 season is in the past, the Royal Knights had a chance to avenge their loss in last season’s state boys basketball tournament with Friday night’s non-league matchup against Riverside, doubling up the Rams in a 78-39 win. Riverside defeated Royal 55-40 in the Round of 12 at the 1A State Boys Basketball Tournament last February in Yakima. Both teams returned three starters from their previous matchup.

Four Seasons Farm Service

Serving the community year-round with practicality and a smile

EPHRATA — J.J. Heston, owner of Four Seasons Farm Service, was already familiar with the store long before he owned it. “All through high school and my young adult years, I’d say ‘Hey, Dad, what do I spray on this weed?’ ‘Go see (then-owner Bernie Martin),’” he said. “‘Hey Dad, where do you get fertilizer?’ ‘Go see Bernie.’ So I just kind of bypassed Dad and came to talk to Bernie.”