May 2024 Basin Events

COLUMBIA BASIN — There’s no excuse for being bored in the Columbia Basin this month. This listing is noncomprehensive and event details may change or events may be canceled at the organizers’ discretion. Readers are encouraged to call ahead or verify the information below online prior to the event.

WSU partners with community colleges to enhance urban forests

PUYALLUP — Washington State University is working with four community colleges to improve tree canopy cover in several urban areas throughout the state. The five-year project, designed to increase resilience amid a changing climate, is supported by a nearly $1.8 million Inflation Reduction Act grant from the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program. WSU researchers will collaborate with faculty and students at Spokane Community College, Highline Community College (Des Moines, Washington), Whatcom Community College (Bellingham, Washington), and Tacoma Community College to create thriving urban forests in neighborhoods near those schools.

Legals for May, 2 2024

Warden School Board fills vacant seat

WARDEN – During their April 25 meeting, the Warden School Board approved the appointment of Tiffany Hymas to board position 2, which has been vacant since January after former board member Dave Whitney left the position. Hymas will serve the remainder of the term, through 2025.

Experts give Moses Lake parents a heads-up about gangs

MOSES LAKE — Be alert – that was the message from educators and police at a parent night meeting held at the Moses Lake School District Tuesday to discuss youth gangs. “Do you know where your kid’s at?” said Shelby Jensen, school safety coordinator for Educational Service District 125, based in Tri-Cities. “Do you know who they're around? Do we make sure that we’ve got frequent bedroom checks? Are we getting up in their business?”

WDFW seeks public comment on proposed cougar season rules

OLYMPIA — The public comment period on proposed changes to cougar hunting seasons will be open through June 21, according to a press release from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Odessa groundwater area bridge rebuilds receive fed funds

WARDEN — The efforts of Washington legislators have resulted in federal funding to rebuild bridges as part of a long term project to switch irrigators to surface water in a section of the Columbia Basin Project.

Hundreds attend Mattawa Children’s Day celebration

MATTAWA – Hundreds of residents in and around Mattawa headed to Hund Memorial Park Saturday to celebrate El día de los niños/El día de los libros, also known as Day of the Children and Day of the Book.

Historic view: Things have changed a lot over Lillian Tokunaga’s life

MOSES LAKE — Lillian Tokunaga was born in 1924, into a much different world. Tokunaga turned 100 last week, and has lived in Moses Lake for 76 years. (She’s always liked Moses Lake, she said.) But before moving to Moses Lake her life took her halfway around the world, into some very challenging places.

Tommy Dye

Oct. 28, 1937 – April 19, 2024

Tommy J. Dye, 86, of Othello, passed away peacefully at home on April 19, after battling a long illness. Tommy was born on October 28, 1937, to George Washington Dye and Marinda Athalina Roberts in Busch, Arkansas. Tmmy enlisted in the United States Navy in 1956.

Bourbon & Bowties organizers express gratitude

MOSES LAKE — With framing going up for the new Samaritan Hospital, Chief Executive Officer Theresa Sullivan told the packed house at the Bourbon & Bowties fundraiser that it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of hospital district residents.

Debate attempts to address dam breaching questions

PASCO — People gathered at Columbia Basin College in Pasco last Thursday to witness a debate regarding whether it was a good idea to remove dams on the Lower Snake River to improve salmon populations. The debate comes after months of discussion at the local, state and federal levels about whether or not to keep the dams there. Policy set on that issue may impact the future of dams on the Columbia River and other streams in Washington and elsewhere.

Grant Co. rail expansions to aid economic growth

MOSES LAKE — Four Grant County port districts are working on projects to expand rail transport options available to existing and future businesses. The ports of Moses Lake, Quincy, Warden and Ephrata are researching, designing, planning, and getting ready for construction to expand or add rail service. Some received federal or state funding this spring. Representatives of each of the ports said the expansion of rail service in and around the county would help draw additional tenants to the port and likely the county as a whole. The expansion would provide options for manufacturers and others to bring in needed supplies. It will broaden the area’s cargo transport options to add rail to easy access to air, over-the-road and river-based industrial transport.

Legals for April, 29 2024

Grant Co. Community Court celebrates first graduate

EPHRATA – Grant County’s Community Court celebrated its first graduate after a year of serving the county with a program designed to divert defendants away from a cycle of jail time, substance use, arrests and more jail time Wednesday afternoon. State Rep. Alex Ybarra, R–Quincy, attended the event and said it was an emotional experience and equated changing the court environment to choosing a school that works for a student. While a criminal court may help some, Community Court might be a better fit for others.

Walk-off sends Mavs over Wenatchee

MOSES LAKE – After tying the ballgame in the bottom of the ninth, Moses Lake earned a walk-off win over Wenatchee to sweep the Panthers in Friday’s doubleheader, winning 3-2 after defeating Wenatchee 10-1 earlier in the day. “It’s been the same all year – whether we come off wins, come off losses, these guys are ready to go,” Moses Lake Head Coach Donnie Lindgren said. “Sometimes it works out for us and sometimes it doesn’t; we’ve had some struggles swinging it, but they worked hard in practice all week and were ready to go today.”

Quincy Animal Shelter works to address community’s large need

QUINCY – The Quincy Animal Shelter is one of only a handful of shelters with larger facilities in Grant and Adams County, alongside Adams County Pet Rescue and Grant County Animal Outreach, and faces the same issues other shelters in the area do. The shelter’s manager, Jessica Kiehn, spoke about the facility’s operations and dealing with increasing numbers of stray animals across the Columbia Basin.

If voters decide to allow WA Cares op-out, will the state refund tax collections?

(The Center Square) – More than nine months since Washington state workers started paying into the state-mandated long-term care insurance program known as WA Cares, most working Washingtonians have contributed at least a few hundred dollars to the program.

Diane Dunbar

Oct. 11, 1932 — April 20, 2024

Diane Patricia Donhoff Dunbar passed peacefully to be met by the loving arms of our Lord surrounded by family at her home April 20, 2024. Born in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 11, 1932, and raised by loving parents Wayne and June Donhoff, Mom enjoyed a truly happy childhood with her younger brother Ron and grandparents Fred and Grace Wells. Slated to be a concert pianist, Mom dashed her parents' dreams by marrying her first love, John Beatty, in December 1949 before the Air Force transferred him out of the area. Their first son, John Richard (Rik), was born in September 1950 and the three were sent to Alaska. Mom loved to recount stories of life in Shemya, the second-to-the-last of the chain of Aleutian Islands. Gary followed in May 1953, born at Donaldson Air Force Base in South Carolina. Retiring from the Air Force, John and Diane returned to Los Angeles where Steven Jay joined the family in August 1956. A daughter, Michelle Diane (Shelley), was born in February 1960 and Lori Patricia completed the family in January 1965.

Music, visual arts, drama talents on display at Quincy Arts Night

QUINCY — Music, drama, visual arts, even culinary arts were all on display Monday at Quincy High School at the district’s annual Arts Night. Quincy High School choir director Kylie Youngren said the program was designed to show what arts students have been doing – but also what arts do for the students, and why art is an important part of education. “The arts are important because it’s what makes us human. It helps teach collaborative problem-solving that students can use in a variety of areas, in and outside the arts,” Youngren said.