Port of Moses Lake looking for more water

MOSES LAKE — Getting enough water for future needs at the Port of Moses Lake, where to get it, and how much it might cost is the subject of an ongoing study. Commissioner Stroud Kunkel said the port needs more water, even though it could be an expensive proposition.

Fuel costs slightly down from last week

MOSES LAKE – Washington state, Grant County and Adams County all saw decreases in average prices for regular fuel this week. However, the national average for fuel saw a slight increase, according to AAA.

Government shutdown means no paychecks for thousands of Washingtonians

(The Center Square) — Friday marks Day 24 of the federal government shutdown and the first missed paycheck for thousands of federal employees in Washington state.

Mavs win 2nd-straight game Saturday

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks (9-6) defeated the Prosser Mustangs 3-1 at home Saturday. Head Coach Krystal Trammell said they went into the game remembering to have fun on the court.

Jean Konishi

1934-2025

Jean Konishi, 90, a longtime Moses Lake, Wash. resident passed away in the comfort of her home on September 17, 2025.

Karen Lynn Barnes

1938-2025

Karen Lynn Barnes, 87, was born in Seattle to Bill and Marion Dettman in 1938 and passed away peacefully in Ephrata, Wash., on Oct. 19.

Dent, Sackmanns named to Ag Hall of Fame

MOSES LAKE — Some leading lights in the Moses Lake area agricultural community were inducted Oct. 21 into the Moses Lake Ag Hall of Fame.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Consider your perspective...

A few weeks ago, Wendy Brzezny of Thriving Together NCW contacted me and asked me to attend the organization’s 2025 summit, with the theme, “Thriving Together Toward Tomorrow.” The event was held at the Wenatchee Convention Center, and I’m grateful that I decided to go rather than deflecting it because I was worried about being out of the office. I tend to do that a lot, then wonder why I get deflated and feel burnt out.

Historic championship!

Mavs slowpitch brings state title trophy

YAKIMA – The Moses Lake Mavericks (16-1) are the 4A state champions after defeating the Chiawana Riverhawks 13-3 in five innings. This state title is the Mavericks first in school history.

New BBCC greenhouse expands Ag program for the Fall

MOSES LAKE – The Big Bend Community College’s Greenhouse project finished construction mid-summer, and students in the Agricultural program have been able to utilize the building to assist in their projects. The BBCC Board of Trustees was taken on a tour of the building on Thursday during a board meeting.

Grant Co. homeless plan update draft released

EPHRATA — Grant County residents are being invited to review a draft update to the county’s plan to address homeless issues. Part of the information county officials collected for the update included a survey, which Grant County Commissioner Rob Jones said highlighted one of the problems of dealing with the issues surrounding homelessness.

Chamber banquet celebrates accomplishments, opportunities

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce had a good year, outgoing Chair Kim Pope said Tuesday evening at the Chamber’s annual meeting and banquet.

Mavericks earn non-league win over Tigers

EPHRATA – On Thursday, the Moses Lake Mavericks (8-6) defeated the Ephrata Tigers (2-12) 3-0. Head Coach Krystal Trammell said they were able to try some new things during this game, and the players responded well.

Home sales rise 1.5% in September as mortgage rates dip

(The Center Square) – Home sales increased 1.5% in September as mortgage rates dipped, according to the National Association of Realtors.

A statement to the community from MLSD Superintendent Carol Lewis

I want to take a moment — one final time — to talk about something that’s been at the heart of nearly every conversation we’ve had since May of 2024: keeping our promises.

Ephrata Mayoral Candidate Bruce Reim

EPHRATA – As residents in Ephrata begin to fill out ballots, incumbent Bruce Reim is eager to share what he has learned during his campaign and outline his vision for the city’s future.

Cai, Coronado, Sims named to GNAC Preseason All-Conference team

Cai chosen GNAC Preseason Player of the Year

PORTLAND, Ore. — Three Central Washington University Women’s Basketball student athletes were honored by the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Tuesday afternoon, being named to the GNAC Preseason All-Conference Team. Asher Cai, Annalee Coronado and Capri Sims were all announced as members of the GNAC Preseason All-Conference Team. Cai was selected by the coaches of the GNAC as the Preseason Player of the Year. “I feel so grateful to coach the caliber of player each Asher, Capri, and Anna are but more importantly that gratitude runs even deeper because of the phenomenal young women they are and their unwavering commitment to our program and their teammates,” CWU Head Women’s Basketball Coach Randi Richardson said. “We are so proud of each of them and how they represent CWU WBB.”

Clarence Hamilton

Sept. 25, 1935 — Oct. 17, 2025

Clarence Edward Hamilton, 90, a longtime Colfax, Washington resident, passed away on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. He went by many names: Dad, Pops, Papa, FP (i.e. Favorite Person), Gramps, Grandpa, Sweetheart and Honey. Clarence passed very peacefully from this life into eternity, surrounded by Laura (his wife of 19 years), his three children, their spouses and his faithful dog Buddy. Clarence had dealt with the effects of dementia for approximately seven years. He was always fearful of ending up in a nursing home, and the family is eternally grateful for his loving caregivers who made his wish of passing at home possible. His caregivers were his daughter-in-law Soni Hamilton, stepdaughter Denise Beck and family friends Molly Overby and Rindy Waldo, as well as several of his other family members and Gentiva Hospice.

Rocket test causes boom near Moses Lake, no danger reported

MOSES LAKE — An explosion north of Moses Lake Tuesday night turned out to be harmless. “At approximately 8:50 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21, Stoke Space conducted a planned structural test at our Moses Lake facility as part of our Nova rocket’s qualification program,” Stoke Space Technologies Spokesman John Taylor wrote in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald. “The purpose of the test was to pressurize a propellant tank to its structural margins, eventually reaching its designed failure point – a standard engineering procedure during qualification testing.” The Moses Lake Stoke Space Technologies facility is used to test reusable second-stage rockets to deliver materials into orbit economically, according to Columbia Basin Herald archives.

QUINCY MAYORAL RACE Q&A: Worley vs. Rodriguez

QUINCY – The Quincy Mayoral Race consists of candidates, incumbent Paul Worley and Manny Rodriguez. Both candidates were given questions with a word count limit for responses and matching deadlines to respond.