'Let's take it beyond that'

Cox named new Warden football head coach

WARDEN – Former Warden Athletic Director Brent Cox has been selected as the new head football coach at Warden High School. “I’m happy to be head coach, and I want these kids to compete and get after it,” said Cox. “We’ve got to change the culture a little bit around Warden and get these kids thinking bigger, instead of just being part of a football team I want them to be part of a winning program.”

Hawk successfully rehabilitated near Quincy

QUINCY – A hawk that was found injured in a yard in rural Quincy has recovered and been released back into the wild thanks to the efforts of Shawna Kluge, President of Rock Bottom Rocker Pet Pantry.

Some Banks Lake boat ramps closed next week due to drawdown

GRAND COULEE — Some boat ramps around Banks Lake will be closed over the Labor Day weekend due to lower water levels. According to a press release from the US Bureau of Reclamation, water levels could start dropping as early as Aug. 27 and will continue into the first week in September. Erika Lopez, office of communications for the bureau, said it happens every year in late August and early September.

Planting the future

Heritage Garden at Lower Peninsula Park ready to educate the public

MOSES LAKE — The Heritage Garden at Lower Peninsula Park, 3519 W. Peninsula Drive in Moses Lake, is beginning to come together, and now there are signs to explain to the public exactly what’s what. “The first sign has the riparian plants,” said Dinah Rouleau, conservation director for the Columbia Basin Conservation District. “Then (another) honoring the history of the site and the Moses Columbia Tribe, talking about some of their historically used plants. We have a Heritage Program sign, an Urban Water Efficiency Program sign and one about us and why we did this.” The signs are the latest phase in the Lower Peninsula Park’s Heritage Garden project, which began last October. The CBCD, with a lot of help from the city of Moses Lake and local businesses, removed the grass in a 15,0009-square-foot area of the park and replaced it with plants native to the area, interspersed with gravel beds and stone paths. The signs, designed by CBCD Communications Specialist Anna Maletzke, are affixed to stones and describe the plants in the garden, the animals and insects that live among them, and the history of the area, as well as what to do and what not to do to keep the flora and fauna thriving.

EPHRATA MAYOR Q&A: Steve Oliver

EPHRATA - Steve Oliver is running for the mayor’s seat in Ephrata against incumbent Mayor Bruce Reim. Both Oliver and Reim were concurrently presented with the questions below and given identical deadlines and word count restrictions for their answers. Oliver’s responses are below. Both submitted their responses in a timely manner.

EPHRATA MAYOR Q&A: Bruce Reim

EPHRATA – Incumbent Ephrata Mayor Bruce Reim is running for reelection on the November ballot against challenger Steve Oliver. Both Reim and Oliver were concurrently presented with the questions below and given identical deadlines and word count restrictions for their answers. Reim’s responses are below. Both submitted their responses in a timely manner.

Legals for August, 21 2025

Temporary traffic revisions planned for Ephrata’s A Street SE

EPHRATA — Traffic revisions are coming to the intersection of Nat Washington Way and A Street Southeast in Ephrata during the times parents are dropping off or picking up students at Ephrata Middle School. Mayor Bruce Reim said he hoped the traffic revisions would be very short-term.

Group14 obtains, leverages new investments

WOODINVILLE — The owners of Group14 Technologies have announced the company has acquired full ownership of its facility in South Korea. The company also obtained additional funding from the previous co-owner of the South Korea property and other investors, according to a company press release.

Slices Pizza to open early next week after fire

MOSES LAKE — A fire closed Slices Pizza in Moses Lake Tuesday, according to owners John and Becky Boyer. The restaurant is expected to be closed until early next week, the couple said.

Hellewell becomes first inductee in Moses Lake Demo Derby Hall of Fame

MOSES LAKE – During the second day of the Demo Derby, the Moses Lake Round Up organization honored Vern Hellewell as the first inductee into the Moses Lake Demo Derby Hall of Fame. Hellewell said he has been participating in the event since it first started at the fairgrounds. “I was there from the beginning and from that point until (today) it’s just been tremendous,” said Hellewell.

LETTER: On FEMA and its importance

I’ve read and heard of the news that the current administration wants to eliminate FEMA at the federal level and make the individual states responsible for any major disaster, that they may be hit by.

LETTER: Love the paper, and what's going on with downtown maintenance

Mr. Miller, I enjoyed your editor's letter! I enjoy the desert living! What I also enjoy is my morning newspaper. Lord, we have the BEST paper carriers in town! I give them treats once in awhile! Never get to visit because they’re here and gone!

Vaughn Sigvart Hagen

1954 – 2025

Vaughn Sigvart Hagen, 70, of Bellingham, WA, passed away on August 6, 2025, the result of a violent crime. He was tragically taken from us while executing his duties as executor for a long-time client of his CPA firm.

Othello Rotary donations to feed children and prepare them for school

OTHELLO — The Othello Rotary Club stepped up Thursday for school supplies and meals for school children, with donations to the Othello Food Bank and Lighthouse Community Center. Club President Don Burks and several fellow Rotarians passed on more than $4,500 to the Othello Food Bank for its Bite 2 Go program.

CBHA Run for a Cause coming Saturday

OTHELLO — A lot of folks in Othello will look very colorful this weekend. The Columbia Basin Health Association will hold its eighth annual Run for a Cause Saturday morning, with runners – and walkers, and strollers – making a loop through town and being sprayed with paint every few blocks.

Salaries for Adams Co. elected officials under discussion

RITZVILLE — Adams County commissioners decided to delay consideration of an ordinance to revise the way salaries for county elected officials are established. Board Chair Mike Garza emphasized the ordinance was still a work in progress after rumors about the proposed changes brought about half a dozen to the commission meeting Tuesday. “It’s not set in stone yet,” Garza said.

Wahluke schools budget for declining enrollment

MATTAWA — The general fund for the Mattawa School District will be about $51.5 million for the 2025-26 school year. That’s slightly higher than the 2024-25 budget, but district superintendent Andy Harlow said the district is seeing a trend of declining enrollment. He cited the incoming kindergarten class as an example. “I would say the last two years have been about 180 (students). Now we’re looking at bringing in 134-136,” he said.

Ritzville’s new chief has spent a lifetime in the police arena

RITZVILLE — On the wall behind Ritzville Police Chief Mike Suniga’s desk, there’s a quote from Theodore Roosevelt. “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better,” it reads in part. “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who … does actually strive to do the deeds.”

Othello Library provides free fun

OTHELLO — Othello Library branch manager Georgia Reitmire said the library offers something people can’t get just anywhere. “We’re a free place to have fun,” she said. Technology has changed the way libraries do business, she said, but not their purpose.