SR 17 repaving begins April 1 in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Construction begins April 1 on a project to resurface a seven-mile section of State Route 17 through Moses Lake.

VROOM into 2024

Car shows in the Columbia Basin

MOSES LAKE – As spring pulls up and shows its face in the beams of our headlights, there are loads of car shows coming to the Columbia Basin over the next few months. Car aficionados can polish their valve covers, get their cameras ready and head out to take a look at streets full of classic sedans, antique vehicles, street rods, rat rods, lowriders, modern mods, trucks, motorcycles and much more at car shows throughout the rest of the year.

Legals for March, 12 2024

Officers soon will be allowed to work part-time

OLYMPIA – Washington remains 51st in the nation for police officers per capita, and one answer to that problem might be allowing officers to work part-time. Senate Bill 5424, sponsored by Sen. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, would do just that. It awaits the governor's signature.

Odessa groundwater project receives $5.5M in state funding

RITZVILLE — The 2024 Supplemental Capital Budget for Washington includes $5.5 million in funding for the EL 22.1 Pipeline Turnout Project in the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program, according to a Monday announcement from the EL 22.1 Landowner Association.

Tigers roar onto the diamond

Ephrata opens season with wins over Orting, Quincy

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tigers opened the 2024 season with two wins on Saturday, defeating Orting and Quincy at home with scores of 3-1 in both outings. “We had great pitching in both of those games,” Ephrata Head Coach David Tempel said. “Our pitchers were able to minimize big innings from the other team in both games; we gave up an early run, and then they were able to settle in and all three guys played really great for us.”

Weather for the week of March 11, 2024

Weather for the week of March 11, 2024

Deena Vietzke: Othello’s 2023 Woman of the Year

OTHELLO — Othello resident and Port of Othello Commissioner Deena Vietzke was awarded the 2023 Woman of the Year honor during the Greater Othello Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Awards Banquet Feb. 23 as recognition for her positive impact on the Othello community.

Royal City Council votes to support GCHD

ROYAL CITY — Royal City will kick in to fund the Grant County Health District this year, the Royal City City Council affirmed March 5. “Every fall I send a letter out to all the cities with an agreement asking for $3 per resident for public health services in your community,” Theresa Adkinson, GCHD administrator, told the council. “As of today … we’re already at $139,000. So our cities have really stepped up.”

Eastern Washington spring home and garden shows begin

SPOKANE — As the days get longer and spring inches closer, thoughts turn to - well, lots of things, but getting out in the garden and sprucing up the house, among others. So spring is the season for home and garden shows.

Ephrata girls tennis looks to anchor players as new faces fill team

EPHRATA – Britney MacLeod, head coach for girls tennis at Ephrata High School, said she’s excited for the new season to start, especially since it means she’s working with her cousin, Courtney Burck, who took the mantle of head boys varsity tennis coach this season.

Head coach talks priorities for new Warden softball season

WARDEN – Warden Softball Head Coach Randy Wright shared some of the ways he and his team are approaching the new softball season. “We've got five seniors,” Wright said. “They've been around, they're all starters. So we got players coming back, we’re just trying to fill a couple of holes, actually just trying to find another outfielder, but we'll come up with somebody.”

Senior-heavy Mavericks take the field in 2024

MOSES LAKE – The Mavericks will bring in another senior-heavy roster to the 2024 softball season, aiming to get back to the 4A State Softball Tournament after qualifying a year ago.

WDFW seeks public input on northern pike plan

SPOKANE — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has released a draft Interagency Northern Pike Rapid Response Plan that guides coordination and resources for species management, according to a Thursday announcement from the WDFW asking for public input. Species management includes preventing the spread of northern pike to new areas in Washington and developing long-term management plans for northern pike, the announcement said. The draft plan is undergoing a State Environmental Policy Act review; as part of that process, WDFW is asking members of the public for input. “This plan is important to conservation in our state as it maps out the response of WDFW and coordinating partners to a number of situations that could arise with the spread of northern pike,” Justin Bush, aquatic invasive species policy coordinator with WDFW, wrote in the announcement. “It will help to speed our response when timing is critical as partnering agencies and groups will already know their role and be prepared to respond.”

Academic athletes

Soap Lake girls basketball team brings home academic state championship

SOAP LAKE — When a team sets a goal, it takes - well, teamwork to reach it. A new banner soon to be installed in the Soap Lake High School gym illustrates what happens when the SLHS girls basketball team took the concept and put it into practice.

Legals for March, 7 2024

City, ACPR advisor discuss Othello animal control contract

OTHELLO — Retired veterinarian Ernie Summers addressed the Othello City Council during the Feb. 26 meeting to raise concerns about Adams County Pet Rescue’s sheltering contract negotiations with the city, which fell through in December.

Connecting community: Warden seniors trying to restart a senior center

WARDEN – A group of senior residents in Warden have begun meeting weekly at the Warden Public Library in hopes of restarting a senior center. Warden resident Tinker Ansel is part of the small group that initiated the meetings, which are currently being held every Saturday from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the library.

Cellarbration! inbound!

BBCC Foundation to hold annual fundraiser March 16

MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Foundation will cellarbrate a little earlier this year. The Cellarbration! benefit dinner and auction, usually held in May, will take place March 16.

Othello officers sworn in, Dorow appointed mayor pro tem

OTHELLO — Monday’s regular Othello City Council meeting featured a ceremony for the promotion and oath of office for Othello Police Officers Bryan Jacobsen and Omar Ledesma respectively, as well as a motion to approve a new Mayor Pro Tempore.