2023 Othello Fair coming to town Wednesday to Saturday

OTHELLO – The Othello Fair will be held this week from Wednesday to Saturday at the Adams County Fairgrounds. Fairgoers can expect a variety of games, rides, attractions, competitions, livestock showings, food vendors and entertainment over the week, according to the Othello Fair website...

Norman Massey

Norman Jay Massey, 88, was born on Jan. 27, 1935, near Garrison, North Dakota, the fifth child of Joseph and Pauline (House) Massey. The family farmed, but decided to move west for additional opportunities when Norman was around 10 years old. They settled in Toledo, Washington, and began logging and farming there. Norman attended school in Toledo and played high school football. Additional siblings were born and everyone was expected to pitch in around the Massey household. Between occasional exchanged punches, they always got along well.

Grant County Fair ‘23 in review

A visual look back at the annual event’s 80th year of fun.

MOSES LAKE – Another year of the Grant County fair is come and gone, with victories, memories and maybe too much junk food eaten and beverages imbibed. Here’s a visual look back at this year’s Grant County Fair...

Well stocked

Real estate professionals deliver classroom supplies to local schools

MOSES LAKE — Some students in the Basin will be a little better equipped this year thanks to local real estate professionals. “I got a wild idea in May to do a Grant County-wide school supply drive,” Anna Lucero, an agent with CENTURY 21 Alsted Real Estate in Moses Lake. “I chose to do all of Grant County because I personally grew up in Ephrata and that school is still near to my heart. My boys go to Moses Lake, my daughter attends Wilson Creek and my family is originally from the Quincy area.” Lucero started out in early August, publicizing her drive originally through social media and word of mouth. The response to that wasn’t great, she said, so she decided to hit potential donors where it counts: in the taste buds.

‘Bushels of Fun’

Wheat Land Communities’ Fair kicks off today

RITZVILLE — In late summer and early fall, when county fairs are at their peak, the Wheat Land Communities’ Fair can easily slip under the radar. There’s no carnival, no big-name musical acts on the stage or clowns wandering the grounds. This year’s theme is “Bushels of Fun,” and that’s what it offers. “We're a small community fair serving the communities of (Ritzville), Lind, Washtucna and Benge,” said Lori Williams, a volunteer and fair board member. The event used to be called the East Adams County Fair, but the name was changed in 1981 when the fair moved to its current location outside Ritzville. The fair has no staff, just a board of volunteers. It’s grown in the last 42 years, according to its website, from a single building to 13 buildings and an amphitheater...

‘Hometown rodeo’

Ritzville Rodeo is big entertainment on a small scale

RITZVILLE — It’s not a very big rodeo, but it’s an enthusiastic one. “We have all events,” said Ritzville Rodeo board member Julie Hartz. “Bareback, saddle bronc, ranch bronc riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, breakaway roping, calf roping, team roping head and heel and some junior events like goat tying.” ...

GALLERY: Agri-Service Demolition Derby and Moses Lake Roundup

MOSES LAKE – Both the Agri-Service Demolition Derby and Moses Lake Roundup brought exciting action to the Grant County Fairgrounds last week. For results from the derby and the rodeo, see the links below. Moses Lake Roundup: https://bit.ly/3qOfbCX. Agri-Service Demolition Derby: https://bit.ly/3P8PAOq.

Water masters

Siphon setters show their skills at the Grant County Fair

MOSES LAKE — It’s a little ironic that the World-Famous Siphon-Setting Contest may be the best-kept secret at the Grant County Fair.

His father’s son

Ned LeDoux follows proudly in his dad’s musical footsteps

MOSES LAKE — Some children of legendary performers struggle to get out from under their famous parent’s shadow when they make a name for themselves. Ned LeDoux is not one of those. “He's Dad to me,” LeDoux said of his father, singer-songwriter Chris LeDoux, who passed away from cancer in 2005. “That's it. And I know what everybody else sees and it just makes me a proud son.” ...

'It’s always a good show'

Roundup wraps up with strong showings from competitors

MOSES LAKE — The 80th year of the Moses Lake Roundup was celebrated Thursday through Friday, when competitors from around the world traveled to Moses Lake for a chance to take home thousands of dollars in the rodeo. “It’s a good rodeo, good contractors,” saddle bronc rider Jake Clark said. “Great hospitality – they treat the competitors great here.” The stands in the Rodeo Arena were packed each of the three nights of the Roundup, watching the numerous competitors take part in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, breakaway roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding. “This is a great crowd; they all get into it the whole rodeo. It’s not just the bull riding,” bull rider Laramie Mosley said. “It makes it fun when you show up here and see the stands full, everybody cheering and hollering. It makes it enjoyable.”

GALLERY: Moses Lake Roundup

MOSES LAKE – The first two nights of the Moses Lake Roundup took place at the Grant County Fairgrounds on Thursday and Friday, with competitors coming to Moses Lake from around the state, country and world.

Demo derby rolls into Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE – The two-night Agri-Service Demolition Derby wrapped up on Wednesday night, with nearly 200 drivers hitting the track inside the Rodeo Arena at the Grant County Fairgrounds across the two nights. “It was pretty awesome to take over and try to put on a good show,” said Alex Alvarado, a member of the board of directors for the Moses Lake Roundup overseeing the derby. “That’s what we’ve always wanted to do, just put on a good show for everybody. It was a lot of responsibility, but in the end, I think it was worth it. And, I enjoyed it.” ...

Washington sports schedule Aug. 16-22

COLUMBIA BASIN – Check out this week’s Washington sports schedule, featuring local and statewide sporting events.

Vittles for a queen

Fair, rodeo season kicks off with Cowboy Breakfast

MOSES LAKE — Seven-year-old Lila Stacy began her reign as queen of the rodeo at the annual Cowboy Breakfast Friday. The Cowboy Breakfast is the traditional kickoff to the Grant County Fair and the Moses Lake Roundup; the fair begins Tuesday, the rodeo Thursday. The breakfast is a community service project of the Moses Lake Kiwanis chapter, and for 2023 they got considerable assistance from Jessica Cox of Country Financial. Cox helped pay for the food and music, and ran the annual Pee Wee Rodeo...

News bites for Aug. 14, 2023

MOSES LAKE — The Washington State Patrol has released more information regarding the fatal collision on I-90 east of Moses Lake Aug. 9. Derek Jay Duplichan, 30, of Warden, was driving a 2001 Acura MDX eastbound in the left lane on I-90 near the Road U/Warden exit when he drove into the median in an attempt to pass a 2014 Chevrolet Captiva driven by Brent T. Palmen, 34, of Moses Lake, according to the WSP. Duplichan then reentered the lane and struck Palmen’s vehicle, causing both drivers to lose control. Palmen’s vehicle crossed the median into the westbound lanes, where it struck a 2022 Toyota Highlander driven by Kellie A. Taylor, 54, of Snohomish, causing Taylor’s vehicle to run into a fence. Palmen’s and Taylor’s vehicles came to rest on the westbound shoulder, while Duplichan’s vehicle rolled multiple times and came to rest on the cable barriers in the median. Duplichan, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle.

Fair week

Grant County prepares to show off

MOSES LAKE — Everything slows down a little bit in Grant County during the third week of August. It could be because it’s the hottest part of the summer, or it could be that a lot of people are out of town on vacation. But it could also be because that’s the week of the Grant County Fair, and that’s where everybody is. “In 2021 we had 92,000 people through the gates,” said Fairgrounds Manager Jim McKiernan. “In 2022 we had 87,000.” ...

80th ride: Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo has full slate for its oak anniversary

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo turns 80 this year, and it’s doing it in a big way. “It's going to be huge,” said Tyler Brown, treasurer of the rodeo committee. “We've got 430 entries for all the events, which is a pretty big number. Probably up 10-15% (compared to previous years). We've got a full slate of contestants in every event, which is really spectacular.” ...

Crusading against domestic violence

Auction buyers, donors Man Up to support New Hope in battling household violence

MOSES LAKE — If you see folks wearing purple at the Moses Lake Roundup this year, it’s not just a fashion statement. They’re manning up. For the last several years, the Moses Lake Roundup has partnered with New Hope Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services in Moses Lake in the Man Up Crusade, both to raise awareness of domestic violence and to raise funds to actually do something about it...

Eat up!

Annual Cowboy Breakfast, traditional fair and rodeo kickoff, set for Friday

MOSES LAKE — Following the tradition that any gathering of cowboys and cowgirls starts with a good breakfast, the annual Cowboy Breakfast is scheduled for 7-10 a.m. Friday in Sinkiuse Square. The breakfast is the traditional kickoff to the Grant County Fair and Moses Lake Roundup; the fair opens its gates Aug. 15, the annual demolition derby is Aug. 15-16 and the rodeo is Aug. 17-19...

Summerfest success

Changes in annual celebration build up local tradition

ROYAL CITY — Between 1,500 and 2,000 people braved the hot weather in Royal City Friday and Saturday for Summerfest 2023, according to Summerfest Committee Chairman Jonathan Cox. “There was a good amount of people there throughout the whole event,” Coix said. “I think there was a little bit for everybody, meaning we get a different crowd out multiple times. Different people come to different events.” ...