Cowboy Breakfast in new hands this year

MOSES LAKE — ’Round these here parts, the Cowboy Breakfast is almost as much of a tradition as the rodeo. So when the Kiwanis Club wasn’t able to organize it this year, the Chamber of Commerce saddled up. “The Rodeo Association came to us and we said ‘Sure. We don’t want to see it go away,’” said Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce Director Debbie Doran-Martinez.

Moses Lake Police Department logs for July 28, 2025

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Police Department provided the incident details noted below. Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Legals for July, 28 2025

Sixers 14U rake in two solid wins in Saturday play

ELLENSBURG – On Saturday, the Central Washington Sixers 14U began their final tournament of their summer season. They went 2-0 in their two games Saturday. Head coach Ray Lopez had praise for one of his players' efforts. “Our first game kind of started off a little slow there, but we put some bats together. Drake Hansen started off for us, and got a triple in there, cleared the bases, so that kind of set the momentum,” Lopez said.

Moses Lake BMX receiving track upgrades

MOSES LAKE – On Wednesday, Moses Lake BMX announced on their Facebook page they were making changes to their track. According to track operator Jeff Niehenke, they are adding a patio cover to the snack shack and ADA sidewalks. “Having this has always been the vision for the facility,” Niehenke said. “All the other tracks in the state have concessions. We're trying to take it a step above and put it in some shade and paved sidewalks and patio. So, it's really going to make the facility look a lot nicer and just add so much more atmosphere to the facility, where people want to come and hang out in the evenings and race and grab some food.”

BASIN BOX SCORE: Sixers, Co-Ed softball, local wrestling, and Mariners outlook

COLUMBIA BASIN – On this week’s episode of the Basin Box Score podcast, your hosts Mike Maynard and Cheryl Schweizer discuss the recent happenings in local sports and beyond. They discuss upcoming tryouts for the Central Washington Sixers softball teams, a new co-ed adult softball league in Moses Lake, wrestler from the Mavericks makes an appearance at Fargo National Championship, and the current state of the Seattle Mariners. Check out this week's episode here: https://bit.ly/BBSEP6

Two Moses Lake annexations under consideration

MOSES LAKE — Two separate property owners have requested annexation into the city of Moses Lake, and Moses Lake City Council members have agreed to consider the requests. Vivian Ramsey, interim community development director, said considering the request does not mean the properties will be annexed.

Othello man convicted of sexually abusing child

RITZVILLE — A sentencing date will be announced in August in the case of an Othello man convicted Thursday of sexual assault of a child.

Tamara McFarland

1962 – 2025

Tamara McFarland nee Shimp, beloved mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, teacher and friend, passed away in her home on June 27, 2025, at the age of 62. Tammy was born September 1, 1962, in Crawford, Nebraska to Johnna and Donald Shimp.

BASIN BOX SCORE: Sixers softball, Co-Ed softball, local wrestling, and the Mariners outlook

COLUMBIA BASIN – On this episode of the Basin Box Score podcast, your hosts Mike Maynard and Cheryl Schweizer discuss the recent happenings in local sports and beyond. They discuss upcoming tryouts for the Central Washington Sixers softball teams, a new co-ed adult softball league in Moses Lake, wrestler from the Mavericks makes an appearance at Fargo National Championship, and the current state of the Seattle Mariners.

FIRE REPORT: Burdoin Fire exceeds 10,000 acres, fires contribute to smoke haze

WHITE SALMON – The Burdoin Fire, which ignited on July 18 in the southern border of Washington state, has rapidly consumed more than 11,000 acres and remains only 13% contained as of Thursday afternoon. State officials have called for increased vigilance among residents.

Eagles volleyball earns team academic award

CHENEY – On Monday, Eastern Washington University athletics announced the volleyball team received the American Volleyball Coaches Associations team academic award. According to their statement, they also received the AVCA team academic honor roll distinction.

ROAD REPORT: I-90, SR 282 projects under way

MOSES LAKE — It being the height of summer – long sunny days, long warm evenings, the swimming pool, barbecues – it's also the height of construction season. Drivers going to and from Ephrata and traveling certain sections of Interstate 90 through Grant County already know about the delays.

Civil Air Patrol cadets take to the skies over Ephrata

EPHRATA — There couldn’t have been a better climate to teach teenagers to fly in. “We’ve had really good weather,” said Civil Air Patrol Lt. Col. Kathy Maxwell. “Usually by now we’ve had a smoke day or a windy day, or an overcast day.” The CAP cadets are wrapping up the second week of this year’s Desert Eagle National Flight Academy, held every year at Camp Boucher at the Port of Ephrata. Nineteen cadets from around the country, plus one from Japan, came to Ephrata to learn the basics of flying: airplane systems, pre- and post-flight procedures, navigation. In between they’re flying around the Ephrata Airport, first with instructors, then finally solo. The skies between Ephrata and Moses Lake are pretty mellow for flying, but that doesn’t mean there will be no surprises, cadets said.

Perfect blooms

Tips for entering flowers at the fair

MOSES LAKE — You’ve worked all year to make your flower garden a thing of beauty. What better way to show it off than to enter them in the fair? The Grant County Fair has divisions and classes for every kind of flower or flower arrangement under the sun. Valerie Parrott, president of the Columbia Basin Garden Club and a judge in the fair’s horticulture barn, has tips for making your flowers look the best they can. “Flowers are judged on how close they are to perfection,” Parrott said. “It doesn’t matter if they’re the smallest flower or the largest flower. It only matters how close to perfect the bloom is.” With that in mind, Parrott said, timing is crucial. Exhibits are dropped off Monday morning of fair week, which this year is Aug. 11, and judging begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday. That means the flower you’re entering needs to be perfect right then.

BASIN EVENTS: July 25-Aug. 2

COLUMBIA BASIN — The weather is gorgeous and there’s lots happening around the Basin. Here are a few possibilities:

WA’s new rent cap set just below 10% for 2026

Washington’s statewide cap on annual residential rent increases will be just shy of 10% next year, down slightly from its current level. The limit, which takes effect Jan. 1, will be set at 9.683%, the state’s Department of Commerce said Friday. House Bill 1217, signed into law in May by Gov. Bob Ferguson, restricts annual residential rent increases to 7% plus inflation, or 10%, whichever is lower. The law went into effect immediately, with the rate for the rest of 2025 set at the 10% maximum, as 7% plus inflation equaled 10.8%. Going forward, the Department of Commerce will announce the annual rent limit each July. The timing is based on the release of inflation data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Building permits for July 25, 2025

City of Moses Lake Hayden Homes, 4300 block of Cove West Drive, new residence, $311,655.49. Pro Made Homes, 4200 block of North Sandy Court, fence, no valuation given. Jennifer Bell, 800 block of North Paxson Drive, plumbing, no valuation given. Carlos Socorro, 5400 block of Owen Road, addition, $20,000.

Legals for July, 25 2025

Wildcats selected to finish second in preseason poll

ELLENSBURG – On Thursday, the Central Washington Wildcats were selected to finish second in the Lone Star Conference, according to a statement by CWU athletics. The 2025 preseason poll also indicated the Wildcats received four first-place votes. “It's an honor that the schools in the LSC think that highly of us,” CWU Head Football Coach Chris Fisk said.