Paws and applause: 4-H youth compete in obedience contest

MOSES LAKE — The Happy Tails 4-H Club held its annual dog competition show at the Grant County Fair for children and their dogs. Wednesday’s events included obedience and dog judging.

NEWS BITES: Aug. 19, 2024

EPHRATA – The Ephrata Police Department put out a statement that the crime rate in the city is down 27.3% for 2023.

Grant Health says no blue-green algae advisories at this time

MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Health District released a statement saying that there are no current blue-green algae advisories in Grant County late last week in response to rumors on social media.

FIRE REPORT: GCFD 7 receives grant funding for fire equipment

SOAP LAKE – Grant County Fire District 7 received two U.S. Department of Homeland Security firefighter grants totaling almost $773,000. The department’s press release says that these grants are very competitive.

Weather for the week of Aug. 19, 2024

Weather for the week of Aug. 19, 2024

GALLERY: 2024 Moses Lake Roundup

MOSES LAKE — Contestants from around the country and beyond traveled to Moses Lake for the 2024 Moses Lake Roundup, a three-day rodeo held at the Grant County Fairgrounds. Check out Tuesday’s edition of the Columbia Basin Herald for full coverage of the rodeo.

Crazy Train plays homage to rock legend at the Grant Co. Fair

MOSES LAKE – Colorful lights blared in all directions as the sun set behind the stage. People were dancing, falling over and screaming lyrics back to the band on the stage. The sound of drums, strings and Vinny Cormier’s voice could be heard from the gates of the fair.

'We just want to be the best team possible at the end of the year'

Former assistant Groth takes over as Mavs boys basketball coach

MOSES LAKE – The Mavericks will have a new head coach leading the way from the bench this boys basketball season, with Craig Groth set to take over the program after years as an assistant coach.

Law enforcement logs for Aug. 16, 2024

Reports below were provided by sheriff’s office or police department. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

ROAD REPORT: Repaving work underway on Road H SE

POTHOLES RESERVOIR — Drivers thinking of using Road H Southeast between Potholes Reservoir and Othello should be prepared for delays as the road gets rebuilt.

Creative artists show their talents at Grant County Fair

MOSES LAKE — At the Grant County Fair, almost anything can be art.

Basin events calendar for Aug. 16, 2024

COLUMBIA BASIN — The Grant County Fair is wrapping up and life is getting back to normal. Here are a few things happening around the Basin next week.

Listings are up, interest rates may come down

COLUMBIA BASIN — More homes are on the market this month than a year ago, according to data recently released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which tracks real estate trends in 26 of Washington’s 39 counties. Active listings increased 37.7 percent in July 2024 compared to July 2023, according to the NMLS. The increase in Grant County was less of a swing; there were 346 active listings in Grant County in July 2024, a 25.8% increase from July 2023. Adams County had 46 active listings in 2024 versus 35 in 2023. The biggest jump in active listings was in Douglas County, where listings rose 80.8% between the Julys.

FIRE REPORT: International firefighters in PNW to fight fires

MOSES LAKE – A team of 65 senior firefighters from Australia and New Zealand has arrived in the Pacific Northwest to help combat the region's severe wildfires. Upon arrival, the firefighters received briefings at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, before being dispatched to major wildfire incidents, including the Willamette Complex South on the Willamette National Forest and the Pioneer Fire in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

Battle Buddies fundraiser brings in $10,000

Ephrata Legionnaires pull together to support nonprofit fighting PTSD with all four paws.

EPHRATA - The American Legion Art Semro Post and Unit 28 held a fundraiser Saturday to raise money for Northwest Battle Buddies, a nonprofit that gifts professionally trained service dogs to veterans battling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as PTSD.

Quincy Special Olympics sees strong first year

QUINCY – When a Special Olympics team was announced as coming to Quincy, co-Coordinator Yesenia James said there was a positive reaction among residents hearing the news. “They were saying, ‘Finally, something’s happening!’” she said.

2024 Royalty

MOSES LAKE - The 2024 Grant County Hay King is Stevens Hay Growers, the Mid-Columbia Basin Hay Growers announced Tuesday. Owners Kye and Brynna Stevens, shown here with their boys Hudson, 1, and Callahan, eight months, are second-generation growers who farm near Soap Lake.

Home Ec building at the fair a reminder of a bygone age

MOSES LAKE — A traveler from a century ago would recognize the craftsmanship of the displays in the Home Economics Building at the Grant County Fair, possibly more readily than a modern observer.

FIRE REPORT: Kachess Complex continues burning

CLE ELUM — The Kachess Complex consists of three lightning-sparked fires that began in the Cle Elum Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest on August 9 and 10, 2024, according to InciWeb, an interagency wildfire-tracking website.

Charles Gary Aubertin

Feb. 25, 1936 – July 28, 2024

Charles Gary Aubertin, age 88 of Keller, Wash., passed away July 28, 2024, surrounded by family. Charlie was born Feb. 25, 1936, at the Tribal Agency in Nespelem, Wash., to Charles and Clarabelle "Peggy" (Hubbard) Aubertin.