Sage-N-Sun '23

Not much sunshine but a lot of fun at Ephrata festival

EPHRATA — With an overcast sky and temperatures in the mid-60s, there wasn’t much sun on Saturday for Ephrata’s annual Sage-N-Sun festival. But that didn’t bother participants or spectators one bit. “It’s a good day today. It’s a wonderful day,” said James Burton, a long-time Ephrata resident who rode a little electric scooter alongside this year’s parade down Basin Street. “It’s nice to have Sage n’ Sun with nice weather.” ...

Saddle up!

State high school rodeo finals coming to Grant County Fairgrounds in 2024 and 2025.

MOSES LAKE — The Washington State High School Rodeo Association finals are coming to the Grant County Fairgrounds in 2024 and 2025, according to incoming association President Chance Gartner. The state championship will feature high school and junior high school-age riders, Gartner said, and will take place on Memorial Day weekend both years...

CBBRC hosts Spring Classic race

MOSES LAKE – The Columbia Basin Barrel Racing Club kicked off its classic race schedule with the Spring Classic on Saturday at the Grant County Fairgrounds, where riders competed in two races on Saturday morning.

Fairgrounds seeking some fee increases for 2024

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Fairgrounds Director Jim McKiernan is proposing a new fee structure for the Grant County Fairgrounds next year that will set minimum stall usage requirements for horse events and raise some fees for commercial and animal-related events. “We’re raising some rates slightly,” McKiernan said. “These are fairly small increases, and we’ve decreased the fee for the rodeo arena to get more people to use that.”

Entertainment to help you close out May

The local events listed below may help you close out May with a bit of fun.

Making health and comfort a priority for show animals

Throughout the year, youth across the country prepare and travel to various events, such as livestock shows, rodeos, and fairs, to show their animals. Because an animal’s performance at an event can be impacted if they are stressed or sick, Dr. Kevin Washburn, a professor of large animal internal medicine at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, offers tips for keeping animals relaxed and healthy every step of the way...

May 2023 community calendar

A community calendar for the Columbia Basin.

Moses Lake Roundup to raffle demo derby experience

MOSES LAKE – Have you wanted to participate in a demolition derby, but didn’t have a car? The Moses Lake Roundup has a solution for that. Along with sponsor Brandon Douglass from Windermere Real Estate, the Moses Lake Roundup is auctioning off an opportunity to participate in the Agri-Service Demo Derby by driving a 1974 Camaro Demo Car...

Roger Thieme

Roger Lee Thieme – innovator, visionary, philanthropist, mentor, and owner of Evergreen Implement in Othello, Washington for over 50 years – passed away peacefully in his sleep in Encinitas, California, on Nov. 6, 2022. He was 87 years old. Roger began life on a farm in Hebron, Nebraska, with his parents Fred and Minnie (Mimi) Thieme and his older siblings Bill, Dwayne and Wilma (Willie). In 1944, when Roger was 9, the family moved to the promised land, a new farm in Kimberly, Idaho, where they raised potatoes, sugar beets, wheat and cattle. In high school there, Roger met his future wife, Joyce Petersen. They courted in Roger’s 1936 Ford stepside pickup, listening to the new ’50s hits on KLIX AM radio.

The Bicycle Shop

Moses Lake store offers vehicles to adventure in the Basin

MOSES LAKE — Bill Spark said he had already retired a few years ago when his son called him and said there was a business opportunity in Moses Lake. “He said, ‘Hey dad, we have this chance to buy this bicycle shop,’” said Spark, 81. “And so we got involved together, and we did it together for maybe a year or two. And then my son decided he wasn’t making enough money.” Spark’s son went back to driving truck for a living, while Spark stayed in Moses Lake. “So I took over the shop,” Spark said...

Othello, Mattawa, Ritzville projects included in House, Senate capital budgets

MATTAWA — Projects in Mattawa, Othello and Ritzville could receive funding through the Washington Legislature’s biennial 2023-25 capital budget. Capital budget proposals for each legislative district were released by the Washington House and Senate last week. The budgets released last week are proposals only; the projects that make the final list will depend on negotiations between the House and Senate. House and Senate capital budget proposals differ because each chamber has different spending limits.

Auction set to support local accident victim

MOSES LAKE – Central Washington Livestock, Inc., Moses Lake, is set to auction off Panda the Mexican steer Wednesday at 1 p.m. to support Caleb Berquist and his family as he recovers from a side-by-side ATV accident. “I actually grew up with Shane Berquist, Caleb’s dad,” said Randy Hull, Jr. of Central Washington Livestock, Inc. “We’ve been close friends our whole lives – grew up in the same little town. (He’s) the closest thing to a brother that I’ve got, and so, obviously I have known Caleb since he was born.” ...

Record hunt

Youth Outdoors Unlimited raises largest amount of funds for young hunters and anglers to date

MOSES LAKE — The room was brimming with both people and emotion at the Youth Outdoors Unlimited fundraiser banquet the evening of March 4. “We made a little over $129,000, which is an all-time record,” said YOU founder and director Cindy Carpenter. “We are so blessed to have such generous support from our hometown.” ...

Drive to succeed

Moses Lake-Othello Realtor of the Year making waves in the business

MOSES LAKE — The signs in Tara Zerbo’s office say it all: “I’m not bossy, I’m motivational” and “Wake up, kick (backside), repeat.” Zerbo, 37, was named Realtor of the Year by the Moses Lake-Othello Association of Realtors on Jan. 21. She also stepped down at that time as the president of the association, a role she handled with the same drive and energy her signs attest to. “Tara Zerbo is a first class person, takes her career extremely seriously and is a great role model,” said Jason Hall, managing broker at BHGRE Gary Mann Realty. “She was successful before entering the real estate industry so it's not surprising how well she is doing.”

Columbia Basin events calendar for December 2022

Note: The events below are subject to change without notice at the sole discretion of the organizers. Readers are encouraged to visit the associated websites and call ahead if necessary in order to verify details that may not have been available at press time. Only those legally allowed to consume alcoholic beverages should participate in such events and all event attendees should avoid drinking and driving. Dec. 2 27th Annual Agricultural Parade Join the Downtown Moses Lake Association and other sponsors for the annual street party and ag parade in downtown Moses Lake. Entry is free though vendors will charge for goodies and wares. The street party begins at 5 p.m. and the parade will roll out at 7 p.m. The street party will be centered around Sinkiuse Square and floats will line up in the Surf N’ Slide parking lot. Free admission. For more info, visit http://bit.ly/3gQUilr.

First and foremost cowgirls

Young women vie to become Miss Moses Lake Roundup 2023

MOSES LAKE — Annabelle Booth said she was a great deal more confident going into this year’s Miss Moses Lake Roundup competition than she was in 2021. “I ran flags for the Moses Lake Roundup and this is my second year running for Miss Moses Lake Roundup queen,” said Booth, 23, before the roundup’s annual queen pageant on Saturday. “I’m definitely more prepared than I was last year, and I knew exactly what to expect.” Booth, who was Miss Last Stand Coulee City Rodeo in 2019, was one of four contestants — along with Milie Cobb, 19, of Ephrata; Jenna Penrose, 20, of Moses Lake; and Alexis Shoults, 19, of East Wenatchee — vying to wear the crown of Miss Moses Lake Roundup 2023. The four young women spent the day riding patterns on their own and other contestants’ horses, giving speeches, being interviewed by judges and answering questions about their favorite part of the Moses Lake Roundup and what they would do if they were thrown from a horse during a rodeo. “I’d get back up and say ‘rodeo on!’” Booth told pageant emcee Emma Gunderson, herself a former Miss Moses Lake Roundup in 2017.

The Spooky Season Cometh

Halloween happenings around the region

GRANT COUNTY — With Halloween just around the corner, there are tons of Halloween events for the whole family to enjoy throughout Grant County, including trunk or treat gatherings, Moses Lake’s Downtown Harvest Festival and a big celebration of Dia de los Muertos – the Day of the Dead. Here are some of the events: • Becerra Gardens in Quincy is hosting a straw maze and hayride every Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 30, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at 11235 Road 9 NW. • The Othello Straw Maze, every Friday and Saturday beginning on Oct. 7 and ending on Halloween, Oct. 31, at the Othello Rodeo Grounds, with the no-scare maze at 6-7 p.m. and the haunted maze 7-10 p.m. • The Moravida Festival, Oct. 29 at noon to 1 a.m. Oct 30, at the Grant County Fairgrounds. The festival commemorates Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, and includes a costume contest, traditional Mexican dancing, a screening of the movie Coco, a beer garden and live music from Banda Troyana. • The Downtown Harvest Festival in downtown Moses Lake, Oct. 29 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (the first hour is set aside for children with special needs and sensory issues) • Downtown Ephrata Trick or Treating, Oct. 31 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on C Street in front of the Grant County Courthouse • Grant County Sheriff’s Office Larson Community Trunk or Treat, Oct. 31 from 5 to 8 p.m., 1274 Lowry Drive • Soap Lake Police Department Trunk and Treat, Oct. 31 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Soap Lake Police Department and City Hall, 223 2nd Ave. SE • Halloween Trick or Treat, Oct. 31 from 4 to 7 p.m. at La Auto Rack Outlet Moses Lake (415 S Pioneer Way) • Quincy Downtown Trick or Treat, Oct. 31 from 5 to 7 p.m. from Central Avenue to B Street SE • 3rd Annual Trunk or Treat, Oct. 31 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Moses Lake Sportsman’s Warehouse, 1020 N. Stratford Road, Ste, D • Trunk or Treat, Oct. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church parking lot 200 N. Dale Road, Moses Lake • Trunk and Treat, Oct. 31 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Moses Lake Alliance Church, 1100 N. Grape Drive

Manuel Joseph Silva Jr.

Manuel was born May 15, 1937, in Tulare, California to Manuel J. Silva Sr. and Laura Ann Gastineau Silva. He was the oldest of four children and was raised on his parents’ dairy farm. Manuel married the love of his life on Feb. 13, 1957. In 1972 he came to Washington state to start his own dairy farm. Manuel was proud of his Portuguese heritage and spoke the language fluently. Manuel enjoyed many hobbies through life. He played quarterback in high school and enjoyed boxing. After high school he and two friends started following PBR rodeos and riding bulls. Manuel placed fourth in the nationals at LA Grand Nationals. He raced modified jalopies up and down the California coast. Later in life, he rode cutting horses throughout the Northwest. Manuel rebuilt his father's 1972 truck and showed it at events across the Northwest.

Scaling down

Moving into assisted living takes some adjustments

MOSES LAKE — It’s a time families dread. Mom, or Dad, or Grandma, is slowing down a little, becoming forgetful, maybe having some health problems, and it’s getting to be more than they and their family can keep up with alone. As hard as it is to think about, it’s time to look into assisted living. So how do you make that transition? “We see two very common types of situations,” said Joe Ketterer, executive director of Brookdale Hearthstone Moses Lake, an assisted living facility. “One is the senior living by themselves. It's an unsafe environment, you don't have the housekeeping, the basic assistance with daily living activities ... So it's the solo senior type of situation. Or what's very common is they're living with an adult child, or adult nephew or something like that, and the burden on the family has gone above what they can handle.”

50 horses hath October

Miss Rodeo Washington rides, eyes national title

RITZVILLE — Lexy Hibbs is on a mission. On Sunday, Hibbs stood underneath the high ceiling of the indoor riding facility at the Iron Legacy Ranch south of Ritzville. People are arriving with their horses, tying them up and getting them ready. Hibbs, Miss Rodeo Washington, is looking to ride as many of them as she can as part of a fundraiser for breast cancer as well as the upcoming Miss Rodeo America competition in Las Vegas in November. “So, today I am doing the Pink 50 Horse Challenge,” she said. “It’s for all of the state contestants.”