New City Hall needed, but only being discussed informally thus far

EPHRATA — A new city hall for Ephrata has been talked about for at least 15 years, but isn’t on the immediate horizon, according to Ephrata City Manager Ray Towry. However, that doesn’t mean one will not be needed as city staffing continues to grow to meet the needs of residents. “We’ve certainly outgrown this space, so it’s out there on the horizon at some point,” Towry said.

New hospital will impact Samaritan bottom line in 2024

MOSES LAKE — While revenues for Samaritan Healthcare are projected to increase in 2024, Samaritan’s budget will reflect the current project of a new hospital, and will be in the red as a result.

COLUMN: CWU taking steps to help students create their futures

Despite all of the available information showing how higher education leads to better jobs and salaries, many people continue to remain skeptical of the benefits of college. This is evidenced by a 10-percentage point decline in college attendance in the state of Washington since 2018. In fact, Washington now has the nation’s third-lowest rate of students who attend college after graduating from high school.

Legals for January, 17 2024

WA lawmakers eye expanding foster care to 18 to 21-year olds

OLYMPIA- A legislative proposal has the potential to create a smoother transition into adulthood for teenagers and adults aging out of the foster care system.

Severe winter weather incoming

Columbia Basin to see more cold with added factors of snow, wind and possible freezing rain

SPOKANE — It being January and being winter, there’s some good weather news and some bad weather news. The good news is that temperatures are forecast to rise above freezing, at least a little. The bad news is the forecast is for nasty, messy, slippery weather.

Legals for January, 16 2024

Quincy school program takes students into community

QUINCY — A program that focuses on using a student’s interests to help them connect with school is having some success at Quincy Innovation Academy. How the “Big Picture Learning” program will work next year is still to be determined, since funding for some parts of the program come from a state grant that’s expiring.

Warden girls, boys earn double-digit wins over River View

WARDEN – Both the Cougar boys and girls picked up big wins over River View Friday night, with the girls first winning 76-16 and the boys winning 74-56.

Lavender Ranch

Quincy-area business works for sustainable, quality products that smell like relaxation.

QUINCY — Quincy farmer Joseph Downs first started planting lavender at his properties at the Upper Crescent Bar near Quincy and in East Wenatchee in 2015. He now grows more than 20,000 plants on 20 acres.

Officers, deceased identified in Quincy officer-involved shooting

QUINCY – The names of those involved in a Monday incident that lead to one Quincy Police Department officer being stabbed twice and the death of a man have been released by investigators with the Central Basin Investigative Team.

Adams Co. Development Council director discusses growth

OTHELLO – Adams County Development Council Executive Director Kyle Niehenke attended the Port of Othello’s regular meeting Tuesday morning to share some of ACDC’s plans on how he will partner with the port to help its growth in the future.

Runnin' Vikes pick up road win in Spokane

MOSES LAKE – After a tough loss to open up conference play, the Runnin' Vikes remained on the road as they traveled to Spokane Falls Community College to face off versus the Sasquatch on Wednesday.

Leading ladies: Moses Lake Museum exhibit celebrates the Washington women who led the way

MOSES LAKE — Washington, and the women who blazed its trails, will go on display Friday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center.

Cloudview Kitchen’s evolving local flavor, community focus

SOAP LAKE — Cloudview Kitchen was founded a little more than a decade ago by Jim Baird and Theresa Sergneri. Since then, the idea for the restaurant-slash-bakery-slash-coffee-house has evolved and matured. “Theresa and Jim started it …,” said co-owner Dusty Bolyard. “Jim wanted to start a nonprofit farm in Ephrata and with that, Theresa wanted to start the kitchen project to go along with it as a cooperative venture. They ran them together collectively – he ran the farm and she ran the kitchen.” The kitchen had closed down about a year before the pandemic started, but after talking with friends and family, the kitchen reopened with Bolyard, Blayne Walsh, Ursula Bolyard, Amanda Higginson and Geraldo Higginson coming together as partners in the business. Each brought their own flair to the shop that makes it unique, not just for Soap Lake and the Columbia Basin, but anywhere you might go.

Othello council deliberates cargo containers, increases splash pad budget

OTHELLO – The Othello City Council’s regular meeting on Monday featured a unanimous vote to spend an additional $35,000 on an improved future installation of a splash pad in Kiwanis Park, as well as discussion regarding the Planning Commission’s recommendation on cargo containers in C-1 commercial zones. City Engineer Shawn O’Brien said city staff had inquired about adding a “mega soaker” to the recreational splash pad design, which dumps 55 gallons of water at once onto the pad. “We took that to the Parks and Rec Committee (to see) if they were still interested at that price,” O’Brien said. “This is the very early stages of this project, which is about a $1.258 million project which $1.1 million of is a grant, and just because the additional cost may go outside of the original budget I wanted to bring it to council and ask for approval to give the mayor authority to make an amendment to the contract that we've entered into with Northwest Playgrounds.”

Precautions will prevent plumbing headaches caused by winter weather

MOSES LAKE — It’s going to be cold outside for the next few days - like, single-digit cold - and that can mean bad things for water pipes. And bad things for water pipes mean bad things for homeowners and tenants.

Project Guardian: Mattawa police start program to ensure positive interactions with the developmentally disabled

MATTAWA – The Mattawa Police Department has begun implementing a program called Project Guardian intended to help members of the department be better trained and equipped to interact with individuals with special needs, according to a presentation during Thursday’s regular Mattawa City Council meeting.

Five decades of muscle

Moses Lake Classic Car Club kicks off 50th anniversary year

MOSES LAKE — The first car for Dave Robins was a 1947 Frazer. Robins and his twin brother were about 14 years old, he said, and were mowing lawns that summer. One of their clients was an older man, a veteran with limited mobility and limited means. He gave the brothers the old Frazer as payment for their work.

Legals for January, 10 2024