Know the local law before setting off fireworks

MOSES LAKE — The calendar is counting down to Independence Day, and fireworks stands are offering combustible fun all over the Basin. Before you start lighting fuses, however, make sure you know the local laws.

Special Olympics sendoff

MOSES LAKE – Special Olympic teams around the Columbia Basin sent their teams to the state competition in Tacoma Friday morning. Each team held a sendoff for their players as they anticipated their trip to State.

Eagles Perez takes on prestigious honor at EWU

OTHELLO – On June 12, Eastern Washington University Eagles defensive lineman Isaiah Perez earned the honor of wearing No. 4 this upcoming season. Head coach Aaron Best announced this in a team meeting, an honor that Perez was pleasantly surprised to receive.

New Columbia Basin Herald sports podcast premieres

MOSES LAKE – On the first episode of the Basin Box Score, your hosts Mike Maynard and Caleb Perez discuss their goals for this new podcast. They hope to feature local athletes and coaches like the seniors from the Moses Lake High School softball team who are featured in this episode. Hear how their final season went and what is next.

Reopening of Soap Lake Library marks new chapter for community engagement

SOAP LAKE – The grand reopening of the Soap Lake Library Friday is showcasing a transformation that promises to reinvigorate the community's access to resources and programming, temporary librarian Stephanie Jackson said.

Sue’s Boutique owner announces retirement

MOSES LAKE — From the beginning, Sue’s Gift Boutique has been a true family business. “It was easy to work around with my kids,” said owner Sue Torrence. Her sons Brian and Brent grew up at the store, and at her late husband Les’s barbershop down the street – the barbershop her son Brent operates now.

Bids opened for Moses Lake downtown resurfacing project

MOSES LAKE — Some streets in Moses Lake’s downtown area that are now two lanes in each direction will be reconfigured to one lane in each direction with a center turn lane as part of a resurfacing project. The chip-seal project is tentatively scheduled to begin in July.

Seattle signs forward Natalie Snodgrass for its inaugural PWHL season

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle signed forward Natalie Snodgrass to a one-year contract, the PWHL expansion team said Wednesday.

Othello anticipates another fun year of summer sports

OTHELLO – As the summer kicks off this weekend, that calls for the start of summer sports like adult leagues and little leagues. According to Othello Parks and Recreation Coordinator Valerie Hernandez, there is plenty to look forward to.

Local athletes win PG State tournament with Reign

PASCO – Reign Sports Performance’s 18u team went 4-0 and became champions of the Perfect Game Washington State Tournament last weekend. The team consists of four basin players Anthony Gutierrez from Warden and Quade Gonzalez, Jordan Montemayor and Kal El Ozuna from Othello.

Russell Grove balances coaching and playing professionally going into a new era

CHENEY — The life of a coach is a balancing act between their job responsibilities and personal responsibilities, according to a statement by Eastern Washington Athletics.

Story hits 2-run homer, Crochet goes 6 strong innings as Red Sox earn series victory over Mariners

SEATTLE (AP) — Trevor Story hit a two-run home run and Garrett Crochet pitched six innings of one-run ball as the Boston Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 3-1 on Wednesday.

BASIN EVENTS: June 20-28

COLUMBIA BASIN — Festivals, art, crafting, live music – if you can’t find something to do this week, you’re not trying. Here are a few things to check out:

Washington deploys new tools hoping to prevent summer traffic deaths

OLYMPIA — Summer in Washington is supposed to be a season of celebration: high school graduations, family road trips, long weekends at the lake. But traffic safety officials view it as the most dangerous time of year. The 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are statistically the deadliest stretch on Washington’s roads. This year, the state is expanding efforts to turn the tide on a post-pandemic spike in highway fatalities. “In 2023, we had the highest number of traffic deaths that we’ve seen in 33 years,” said Shelly Baldwin, acting director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. Speaking on TVW’s Inside Olympia, she told host Austin Jenkins, “It’s just unbelievable when you think about all the progress we’d made prior to this.”

Washington State Patrol plans emphasis patrol around Gorge Amphitheater

QUINCY — The Washington State Patrol will be conducting additional patrols in the area around the Gorge Amphitheater this weekend, the first of a number of “High Visibility Enforcement” patrols scheduled over the summer. Jeremy Weber, WSP District 6 public information officer, said the goal is to ensure people get where they’re going and back home without incident.

Road reconstruction starts in Quincy, almost done on Westshore Drive

MOSES LAKE — There is an old saying in road construction that there are two seasons, winter and construction. It is officially construction season in Quincy; a six-month project to upgrade Second Avenue Southwest began this week.

City of Ephrata to apply for railroad crossing feasibility study grant

EPHRATA — The City of Ephrata will work on planning for future transportation development through the application for a QUADCO Unified Planning Work Program grant.

Double duck rescue: a tale of feather heroics in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Two daring rescues unfolded yesterday, reuniting ducklings with their anxious mothers for the first time and relocating them entirely after the second.

Robert Stucky

Nov. 6, 1935 – June 6, 2025

Robert Lee Stucky of Ephrata,Washington, graduated to his eternal home on June 6, 2025, at the age of 89, surrounded by loved ones. Robert “Bob” was born on Nov. 6, 1935 to Edmund and Lydia Stucky in Monroe, Washington. He was the seventh of 11 children. After graduating from Monroe High School in 1954, he went on to attend Grace Bible Institute, where he met and fell in love with Joyce Krehbiel. They married on Aug. 21, 1956, in Newport Washington, and have been lifelong partners ever since. They welcomed their first son James Edward a year later, and then a second son, Stanley Thomas. Bob worked on his father’s dairy farm in Monroe for the next 13 years. Then the family of four moved from Monroe to Ephrata, Washington in 1969 and started the Stucky Brothers Dairy with his brother Jim Stucky, later changing the name to R3J Dairy to incorporate their wives, both named Joyce. Two more sons were added to the family, Jeffrey Alan and Richard King. The family successfully ran the farm until retiring from farming in 1997.

Raleigh's grand slam helps Mariners end Boston's winning streak

SEATTLE (AP) — Cal Raleigh hit a grand slam for his major league best 27th home run and drove in six to tie a career high, Bryan Woo gave up one hit over seven innings, and the Seattle Mariners snapped Boston's six-game winning streak with an 8-0 victory over the Red Sox on Tuesday night.