Groff students settling into new campuses

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake School District is settling students and teachers into classrooms Groff Elementary will be closed for the remainder of the school year after electrical issues resulted in the injury of an unidentified individual. The school was originally planned to be closed March 3 through March 7 with students attending classes from home. However, at the March 6 school board meeting, it was announced the school would remain closed for the remainder of the school year.

March 2025 a busy month for Basin law enforcement

MOSES LAKE — March was a busy month for law enforcement with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, Moses Lake Police Department and Adams County Sheriff’s Office all involved in investigations. The month had high speed chases, drive-by shootings and suspects fleeing from law enforcement, along with some other cases. Here is a recap of the cases that occurred in March.

‘A great place at a great time’

Wampum auction raises money for Wheat Land Communities Fair

RITZVILLE — The Wampum fundraiser auction to support the Wheat Land Communities Fair in Ritzville was a small, home-grown affair, much like the fair itself.

Quincy Senior Center offers good food, good fun

QUINCY — It’s 12:30 p.m. and Chef Travis Wells is hand-rolling dough for homemade buns to go with French dip sandwiches while the beef waits to be roasted. No, it’s not a high-end restaurant; the sandwiches will be served at the Quincy Senior Center and dinner will be less than $15 per person.

Consumer alert issued for Bridge City Firm over alleged misconduct

VANCOUVER — The Better Business Bureau Great West + Pacific has issued a consumer alert concerning Bridge City Firm, a digital marketing and SEO service company based in Vancouver, Washington. Managed by Mark Davis, the firm has faced scrutiny from former clients who have raised serious concerns about its telemarketing tactics, misleading advertising claims and unfulfilled promises, according to a statement from BBB.

Construction projected by June on Royal City Lions Park soccer field

ROYAL CITY — The development of Royal City’s expanded Lions Park will begin with a new soccer field, scheduled to be ready for play in spring 2026.

Legals for April, 2 2025

QVMC move planning digs into details

QUINCY — It’s not really all that much fun to move – packing, boxes everywhere, stuff to get rid of, a million details to attend to. Possibly it’s easier when the move is a few hundred feet, but it’s also harder when the old building is in use right up until the moment it closes.

Grand finale: CBCCA ends 70th concert season with classical showcase

MOSES LAKE — The Central Basin Community Concert Association is finishing up its 70th season in a big way. “(We’re bringing) somewhere between 65 and 70 orchestra members,” said Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra Director Kevin Hekmatpanah. That may be the largest number of performers ever to take the stage at the Wallenstien Theater, CBCCA Vice President Carla McKean said.

Basin teams shine at 49th Ray Cross Invitational

EPHRATA — On a sunny Saturday, local high school track and field teams showcased their talent at the 49th annual Ray Cross Invitational, with performances and personal bests across the board. Ephrata, Quincy, Othello, Moses Lake Christian Academy and Royal all sent strong contingents to compete, but it was the Ephrata athletes who dominated many events.

Basin senior events calendar for April 2025

COLUMBIA BASIN — The weather is slowly improving and now is a great time to get out and about. Here are a few suggestions:

Legals for April, 1 2025

Grant PUD places limits on electrical demand from data centers

EPHRATA — Limits will be implemented on the growth of demand from data centers that get their power from the Grant County Public Utility District. Load growth limits may be applied to other large industrial customers, depending on how much power they’re requesting.

MLSD denies reports of rosaries being taken from students

MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake School District staff deny claims that students have had rosaries taken from them at Frontier Middle School after a student who attended that campus was killed in a March 21 drive-by shooting.

Columbia Basin Events for April 2025

COLUMBIA BASIN — Spring has sprung in the Basin and it’s time to check out the flowers in Othello and Quincy, art in Coulee City, businesses in Ephrata and jobs in Moses Lake, among a host of other things. Here’s what’s happening in April:

GCSO warns of assessor impersonation scam

MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Sheriff’s Office wants to warn the public of a subject impersonating Grant County deputy assessors.

Tommy William Wahl

1945 – 2025

Tommy William “Tom” Wahl, 79, of Moses Lake, Washington, passed from this world on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

WA Legislature passes school safety bill

Unanimous vote in both houses moves Nikki Torres's bill to Ferguson's desk

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Legislature has passed Senate Bill 5004, aimed at modernizing emergency response systems in K-12 schools, in a unanimous vote of 98-0 by the House and 49-0 by the Senate. The bill focuses on implementing advanced safety measures, including panic or alert buttons, to improve response times during emergencies. The bill is now making its way to Governor Bob Ferguson for review.

Homeownership in reach for Hispanic buyers

MOSES LAKE — The National Association of Realtors recently released its “2025 Snapshot of Race and Home Buying in America,” and the numbers tell several different stories, particularly where Hispanic homeowners and buyers are concerned.

Basin events for March 28-April 5

COLUMBIA BASIN — This week’s goings-on in the Basin include a car wash, an off-season farmers market, fundraiser auctions, movies and more. Here are some suggestions: