A long process: Finding the next popular apple variety takes time tenacity

KENNEWICK — For all the research, all the focus groups, all the test marketing, it is the consumer who ultimately decides the success of something new or different. That’s as true in the tree fruit industry as anywhere else - the apple variety that was the queen of the orchard in 1967, or 1997 or 2017, might have a fraction of market share today. Or maybe it’s not on the market at all.

Othello Easter Egg Hunt draws large crowd, plans for bigger event next year

OTHELLO – The Othello Holiday Committee put on Othello’s first Easter Egg Hunt event in Lions Park Saturday afternoon, drawing in a large attendance according to Committee Manager Tania Morelos.

First-year Othello goalkeeper learns to fit in with team, local area

OTHELLO – Guarding the net for the Othello boys soccer team this season has been senior Aksel Jebsen, who’s been using his six-foot-eight frame to break up opposing shots in the early weeks of the season. Even though he’s a senior, this is Jebsen’s first year playing with the Huskies. In fact, this is his first year in the country.

GALLERY: Basin baseball, softball and soccer

MOSES LAKE – Spring sports kicked off less than three weeks ago, and local squads are wrapping up their non-league slates before heading into their respective conference matchups.

Grant County bridge work under way

MOSES LAKE — Two Grant County bridges will be closed for a while, maybe a long while, while one is repaired and the other designed and rebuilt. Bridge 247, southeast of Warden on Road W Southeast, has been removed completely. Bridge 202, east of Moses Lake on Road N Northeast, is still there but one end is resting on temporary supports. Grant County Engineer David Bren said the trouble at Bridge 202 was discovered by an anonymous truck driver.

Warden golf coach discusses young team, season aspirations

WARDEN – Warden Boys Golf Head Coach Tim Carlberg outlined what the team is expecting as the spring golf season begins and what the team’s focuses are this year. “Our turnout numbers have been really good,” Carlberg said. “The size of our team is doubled this year, so I've got quite a few kids turning out. Some of our core players are very young, and they have a little bit of experience playing golf, so we're building our program, and the kids that have a little bit of experience under their belt are competitive with the kids from other schools.”

Othello approves temporary dog housing, CRNA week and new legal counsel.

OTHELLO – The Othello City Council’s regular meeting Monday featured the approval of improvements to a Public Works building for temporary dog housing, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Week and new legal counsel, as well as discussion of a donation to the city and cargo container ordinances.

McFarland staff present on new teaching programs

OTHELLO – Faculty and Staff at Othello’s McFarland Middle School attended Monday’s regular Othello School Board meeting to present on ongoing programs and changes at the school following the board’s annual McFarland site visit that morning.

LETTER: Being heard matters

Dear Editor, I just read your article in Wednesday’s (June 26) paper about my court and sentencing. I’m really glad you wrote the article because I’ve wanted the message that I tried to express in court to be out to the public. I had your name and address already because I had seriously wanted to reach out to you to see if you would be interested in speaking out to the community from the perspective of someone who has experienced what addiction truly entails – and how the fentanyl crisis is alive and even thriving in the Grant County area.

Exhibits, activities on the schedule for local museums

MOSES LAKE — A photo contest in Moses Lake, tractor rides and honeybees in Quincy and ice cream and Scoundrels Getting their Just Deserts in Ephrata are among the activities planned for Grant County museums this summer.

Cougars head to NCAA Championships in Eugene

PULLMAN — The Washington State Track and Field programs will send four members to the 2024 NCAA Track and Field Championships, June 5-8, in Eugene, Oregon. Competing for the Cougars will be decathlete Lee Walburn, shot putter Nana Gyedu and 100m hurdlers Maribel Caicedo and Micaela De Mello.

Quincy hosts Special Education Field Day

QUINCY — Connie Martin, special education director for the Quincy School District, said she had a goal for the participants in the Special Education Field Day Friday. “I want them to be able to have their moment to shine,” she said. “To be able to participate in a sports event and get their moment in the spotlight. And for their parents to see it.”

Four basin football players to play in Earl Barden Classic

YAKIMA – Four Columbia Basin high school graduates will suit up on the gridiron for the last time in their high school careers on Saturday, playing in the Earl Barden Classic at East Valley High School in Yakima.

10th Annual Senior Picnic brings the color, conversation and fun

MOSES LAKE — The annual Senior Picnic has become something of a tradition for Bryce Newcomb and his wife Nancy Newcomb. There’s always a photo booth, and attendees are encouraged to stop by and pose for a picture. “We’ve been to many (senior picnics), and we always do that,” Bryce Newcomb said. “And every one is on display at the house.”

Moses Lake defeats Eastmont, West Valley and Davis in track meet

MOSES LAKE – The Mavericks picked up wins against West Valley (Yakima), Davis and Eastmont on both the boys and girls side of Thursday’s Columbia Basin Big 9 meet. Moses Lake’s girls team defeated West Valley 106-43, Davis 120-29 and Eastmont 101-49. The Maverick boys won 98-47 over West Valley, 114-30 over Davis and 75-70 against Eastmont.

Nation’s birthday draws big crowd to Othello

OTHELLO — It was a good day for a birthday party. Othello residents and visitors turned out for the parade and filled Lions Park for the annual July 4 celebration - games, a car show, sports tournaments, food, live music, fireworks - sponsored by the Othello Chamber of Commerce.

Batcopter creator’s home destroyed

SOAP LAKE – Looking at what is now left of his home after a structure fire Tuesday evening, Gary White of Soap Lake, known for his community involvement with his passion for all things Batman, including his replica Batcopter, admitted that he was still in shock from the events that took his home in the 500 block of Main Avenue East in Soap Lake and two of the family dogs’ lives.

STRENGTH: Gregg Fletcher

Focused on medical administration, provider success

MOSES LAKE — Gregg Fletcher said a career in medical technology, which eventually led to a career in medical administration, started with an interest in math and science and a conversation with a guidance counselor at Central Washington University.

Huddleston wins WA Golf Men’s Amateur Championship

MOSES LAKE – Woodland native Dane Huddleston’s score of 66 in the final round was enough for him to capture a title at last week’s WA Golf Men’s Amateur Championship at The Links at Moses Pointe, finishing with a total gross score of 202 and three strokes ahead of the runner-up. “I won the Royal Oaks invitational a couple weeks ago, so that gave me some momentum,” Huddleston said. “Games were feeling good this week, I think the key was my driving; kept it in the fairway, golf’s just easier when you’re in the fairway. Got the putter rolling the end of round two, and carried that over today.”

Prayer space: Moses Lake’s first mosque moves into renovated church building

MOSES LAKE — The former church building at Third Avenue and Elm Street is once again a house of worship, as the Moses Lake Islamic Center. “In central Washington state there (were) only three mosques, in Yakima, Tri-Cities and Spokane,” said Abdelnasir Elmalik, one of the regular congregants at the Islamic Center. “But now we have two (more), in Wenatchee and Moses Lake.”