Richard J. Childress

Richard J. Childress, 74, left his earthly home on Sept. 27, 2022, surrounded by his wife of 47 years, Robin, their children and grandchildren. He was born on Nov. 1, 1947, in Yakima, Washington to Jack and Doreen Childress. When he was quite young, Richard and his family moved to Moses Lake, Washington, where he attended school from kindergarten through 12th grade and graduated from Moses Lake High School in 1966. Richard was always active in his church as a boy and spent many happy summers at Camp Lutherhaven. He was also quite athletic and always played a variety of sports while growing up. He attended Central Washington State College, where he played college football, as a tackle, and earned bachelor’s degrees both in secondary education and in health and fitness.

GC Fair attendance down from 2021, up from 2019

MOSES LAKE — Attendance at the 2022 Grant County Fair was lower than 2021, but higher than 2019. Fairgrounds Manager Jim McKiernan estimated about 68,000 people came through the gate over the 2022 fair’s five-day run. That was about 16% lower than the 2021 fair, but higher than 2019, the last pre-pandemic year. “Overall, the (2022) fair went very well,” McKiernan said. The annual stock sale, where 4-H and Future Farmers of America participants sell the animals they raised for competition, may have set a record. McKiernan said the sale generated about $876,000 for the participants.

Fall fun in Grant Co.

GRANT COUNTY — With October right around the corner, fall and Halloween activities will be in full swing, including local pumpkin picking and corn mazes. There are several pumpkin patches and mazes for Grant County residents to enjoy this season. Some of the offerings:

Kidding around

Assisted living residents spend morning with baby goats

MOSES LAKE — It’s been a long time since Ken Gregory has seen a goat. “When I was 10 years old, we always had 15 or 20 goats,” said Gregory, 93, and a resident of Brookdale Hearthstone Assisted Living in Moses Lake. “It was out in the middle of nowhere, we had an acre or two, but it was hardly a farm for us. But we raised goats and rabbits.” As Gregory spoke, a small tan goat hopped around, licking hands and looking for whoever has a bottle. There were two goats at Brookdale Hearthstone last Friday morning, both five months old and denizens of Brookdale Hearthstone Administrator Joe Ketterer’s farm. They’re here because Ketterer believes animals are an important way to help keep Brookdale Hearthstone’s residents connected to each other and to the world.

Week in sports: Sept. 13-19

COLUMBIA BASIN – From the gridiron to the rodeo arena, the Basin saw several athletic competitions throughout the past week. Check out some photos from athletic events over the past week.

Othello PRCA Rodeo results

OTHELLO – The Othello PRCA Rodeo wrapped up Saturday evening at the Adams County Rodeo Grounds, with a total payoff of $35,269. Events included bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding.

A lot going on during Othello Fair finale

OTHELLO — The announcer ran down the list of events at the Othello Fair just after noon Saturday – the car show near the entrance, music on the brand-new main stage, the stock sale underway at the livestock barn. “We have so much going on today,” she said. There was in fact a lot going on during the fair’s finale Saturday, from the annual fair parade downtown on Saturday morning to the second performance of the Othello Rodeo Saturday night.

Down and dirty

Demolition Derby rides into Othello

OTHELLO – The Othello Rodeo Grounds was full of smoke, engines revving and cheers for the 2022 Othello Demolition Derby, held on Wednesday night, which brought in drivers for a variety of different events. Once time trials were completed, drivers were separated into different heats based on the time recorded during the preceding trials. Eight cars entered the arena for each heat, and completed eight laps before having a winner declared. Each heat saw smoke, dust and dirt fly through the air, with drivers maneuvering past other cars in an attempt to place first. Throughout the heat races, several cars had to be either pushed out by fellow competing drivers or towed out using a bulldozer – with some cars ending with their wheels displaced, rendering the vehicles unable to move. Spectators cheered on other events at the demolition derby as well, including a trophy dash, powder puff, Australian pursuit and more. Results from the 2022 Othello Demolition Derby were not made available at press deadline.

Othello Fair, Rodeo return for 2022

OTHELLO — Exhibits, rides, rodeo, a demolition derby, the annual parade; there’s going to be a lot to do at the annual Othello Fair, Othello Rodeo and Demolition Derby which begin Wednesday. Events get started early Wednesday with market class livestock judging at 9 a.m. for all participants. Market class will continue all day. The exception is the poultry class, according to information on the fair website. Following recommendations from the Washington State Veterinarian’s Office, waterfowl will not be allowed on the grounds, and all market-class birds will be terminated at the end of the fair. No birds will be returned to their owners, according to the announcement from fair organizers. Children who want to participate but not bring a bird to the fairgrounds can substitute a stuffed animal with a circus theme. Organizers also are planning a “purdie birdie” photo contest, where participants dress up their animals and submit a photograph for judging.

Warden celebrates Community Days

Grand marshal checks off bucket list item

WARDEN — Gary Olson always wanted to be the grand marshal of the Warden Community Days Parade.

Ritzville event more than just a fair

Wheat Land Community Fair kicks off in Ritzville

RITZVILLE — Hannah Towne was rushing to get her steer, Chuck, ready to show at this year’s Wheat Land Communities’ Fair on Thursday. “So I bought this steer in October, and I’ve been working on getting him tamed and leading him around our pen, washing him, clipping him, making sure he’s all prepped and ready for the chaos of the show,” Towne, 14, said. Her dad Gordon Towne, who farms and ranches a small herd near Ritzville, gave her a few pointers on how best to use the electric razor to shape the hair on the cow’s tail just right. “I have a lot of fun showing with these people around me. They’re all my friends,” Hannah said. “I really enjoy coming here. It’s a big community and everybody’s willing to support (us) and I just really love showing here.” ...

Margaret (Peggy) Stratton

Peggy Stratton, of Rathdrum, Idaho, passed away suddenly on Aug. 23, 2022. She was 75 years old.

Demo delight

Digging into the Grant Co. demolition derby

MOSES LAKE - The 2022 Northwest Ag Demolition Derby brought fast-paced fun to participants and excitement to attendees as cars smashed, rolled, collided and raced around the rodeo arena during the Grant County Fair. “I had a blast. It is such an adrenaline rush,” said Moses Lake resident Cindy Welsh. “When else do you get to strap in a car and just go crazy?” This is Welsh’s eighth year demoing and it is a way her family is able to spend time together. Her husband, Tony, used to demo before a neck injury and got her interested in demoing. He still helps but does not demo himself. This was her nephew, Cameron Zabala’s, first demo. The demo saw many different types of cars. “Everybody has a different opinion, a lot of the guys run rear-wheel drive cars like Camaros. Mines a front-wheel drive,” said Welsh...

GALLERY: Moses Lake Roundup

Coming in from all across the world, riders made Moses Lake their destination for the Moses Lake Roundup, held at the Grant County Fairgrounds from August 18-20. The Roundup hosted eight events; bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, women’s breakaway roping, saddle bronc, barrel racing and bull riding. Check out some photos from the Moses Lake Roundup here.

Moses Lake Roundup closes out for 2022

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Roundup, an annual rodeo event held at the Grant County Fairgrounds, wrapped up on Saturday with winners named in eight competitions. “I think it was great this year,” Roundup Volunteer Corbett Kolst said. “I love it every year. For the most part, I think everything went real smooth and the atmosphere was great.” The three-night event hosted eight different events, bringing out riders from across the United States and as far as Australia and Brazil. Thursday and Friday nights had themes, with riders and workers wearing pink shirts for breast cancer awareness on Thursday and Patriot Night hosted on Friday - which honored veterans and active duty members of the military. The competition began Thursday, opening with a pre-show that had mutton busting and other warm-up events. The mutton busting featured children ages 4-7 and under 60 pounds riding sheep, attempting to stay on as long as possible. Once pre-show festivities wrapped up, the rodeo events began with bareback riding. “There’s something special about the (Moses Lake Roundup),” Kolst said...

Roundup results for Day 3

MOSES LAKE – Day three of the Moses Lake Roundup saw champions crowned in all eight events, from bareback riding to bull riding. Tilden Hooper’s performance on Saturday gave him a score of 86.5, securing a win in the bareback riding competition. Entering Saturday’s competition there was a three-way tie for first place in the steer wrestling competition. Bryton Edmunds’ time of 3.5 seconds on Saturday locked in a win in the event. In team roping, the team of Egusquiza/Graves timed in an event-leading 4.1 seconds on Friday evening. Their score held true throughout the Saturday competition, giving them the win. Dawson Hay scored an 87 on Thursday in the saddle bronc, and no other competitors were able to surpass that mark in the following two days of the rodeo...

Day 2 Moses Lake Roundup Results

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Roundup carried on Friday night, bringing in more competitors to the arena at the Grant County Fairgrounds. The theme of the night was military appreciation, with the opening ceremonies having riders carrying the banners of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard along with a flag honoring prisoners of war. Following the opening ceremonies, the Rodeo once again began with the bareback riding event. Jacob Raine’s score of 79.5 moved him into first place through two days of competition. Steer wrestling began afterward, with Gavin Soileau, Cash Robb and Rowdy Parrott tied for first place. They all share a time of 3.8 seconds. The world champion team of Egusquiza/Graves took first place in the team roping event on Friday night, posting a time of 4.1 seconds. Dawson Hay remained in first place in the saddle bronc competition, with his score of 87 keeping him in first place through Friday night...

Moses Lake Roundup Day 1 results

MOSES LAKE – The 2022 Moses Lake Roundup kicked off on Thursday night at the Grant County Fairgrounds, bringing in competitors from around the country. The rodeo began with a pre-show that consisted of 4H riders making their way around the course, as well as a mutton-busting event for young riders. The theme of the evening was cancer awareness, with riders and volunteers donning pink-colored shirts and accessories. Shortly before the rodeo began, a memorial service was held for those who had passed away from cancer, releasing white doves to honor them. The rodeo began with bareback riding, with contestants exiting the pen atop a bucking horse, and attempting to stay on for eight seconds. Bull Tutor won the bareback riding competition with a score of 74.

Basin sports schedule Aug. 17-23

Check out this week’s sports schedule, featuring local, regional and national events...

Cowboy Breakfast kicks off fair, rodeo

MOSES LAKE — A sunny summer Friday drew a big crowd to the annual Cowboy Breakfast, so big the cooks ran out of waffles. And eggs. The Cowboy Breakfast is the traditional kickoff for the Grant County Fair, the Moses Lake Roundup and Demolition Derby. The fair starts Tuesday, the demolition derby is set for Tuesday and Wednesday and the rodeo is Thursday through Saturday. Harper Carey reigned as the queen of the Pee Wee Stampede, the ridin’ and ropin’ games for children that are a traditional part of the breakfast. Breakfast was sponsored by the Moses Lake chapter of Kiwanis, the Columbia Basin Rodeo Association, the Moses Lake Senior Center, Mason’s Coffee and AgriSured (Tom and Stacey Cobb). Kiwanis president James Shank said breakfast drew a good crowd, but people don’t just come for breakfast. “This is the real show over here,” Shank said, pointing to the children playing with the stick horses.