CASEY MCCARTHY

Othello boys soccer coach discusses difficulties of missing season

OTHELLO — Othello High School boys soccer head coach Bernie Garza said he tried to keep his players’ hopes up initially with a possibility of the season returning late. Garza said he told his players “we got this,” and had them continuing to work on drills for the season’s return.

State parks welcome back visitors after reopening

GRANT/ADAMS COUNTY — Outdoor enthusiasts, cooped up since restrictions were put in place to combat the spread of COVID-19, descended on state parks after they reopened two weeks ago.

Seniors honored with art project at LRHS

RITZVILLE — The 2020 senior class was honored at Lind-Ritzville High School over the weekend, with an art installation on the football field beside LRHS. 63 seniors from Lind-Ritzville, Sprague, Washtucna and Kahlotus high schools were honored.

Othello senior commits to Yakima Valley College baseball

OTHELLO — Othello High School senior Jaxon Rocha said he’s been treating this spring like another offseason after his final baseball season was canceled.

ACH senior Kendel Correia comes to terms with missing out on final season

COULEE CITY — Almira/Coulee-Hartline High School senior Kendel Correia said she never would have thought the coronavirus would affect her little town of Coulee City when she first heard of it, let alone school or sports.

Warden ace to play college baseball in California

WARDEN — Ryan Arredondo, a senior baseball player at Warden High School, was pretty optimistic about his team’s chances this season.

State parks bring out huge crowds since reopening May 5

MOSES LAKE — Eager Washingtonians have flocked to state parks since their reopening May 5.

Three Big Bend sophomores returning for extra year of eligibility

MOSES LAKE — Three sophomores will be returning to Big Bend Community College next season to “finish what they started” after seeing their softball season come to an early end in March.

Moses Lake’s Mick Hansen honors nurses with liberty parade around the shoreline

MOSES LAKE — Faint sounds of patriotic music were swiftly followed by a glimpse of a green torch over the treetops as Mick Hansen made his way around Moses Lake in his Statue of Liberty boat on Tuesday.

Warden senior Ryan Arredondo focused on what he can control moving to the next level

WARDEN — Warden High School senior Ryan Arredondo said having his final baseball season canceled helped him realize that no matter how hard you work, some things are simply uncontrollable.

Anglers flocked to the waters on May 5 as recreational fishing returned

MOSES LAKE — Recreational fishing reopened across the state last Tuesday, May 5. The state had closed fishing as a measure against the coronavirus in mid-March. Anglers have flocked back to the waters, excited to return to their pastime.

Mother’s Day parade helps families come see their mothers at Coventry House

OTHELLO — A Mother’s Day parade passed by Coventry House assisted living community in Othello on Sunday as families drove by to see, and celebrate, their mothers out front.

Area school districts continuing to work to provide meals for students, families

School districts continue to provide meals

OTHELLO — School districts continue to do their part to ensure that students and families have meals available to them each week as businesses slowly try to open back up.

DCYF offers support to child care providers through grant funds

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families announced a grant program last week to help child care providers dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

ACH softball senior Makenna Oliver tries to deal with losing shot at another title

COULEE CITY — Almira/Coulee-Hartline senior Makenna Oliver said she was in denial when she first heard the news that her final softball season might be canceled.

Avamere at Moses Lake employees go room to room to help residents celebrate Mother’s Day

MOSES LAKE — Jodi Montoya, executive director at Avamere at Moses Lake assisted-living facility, said she had to think of a way to change up their annual Mother’s Day celebration in this time of social distancing.

Local restaurants forced to adjust on one of their biggest days of the year, Mother’s Day

EPHRATA — Restaurant booths remained empty on what’s typically one of the busiest days of the year Sunday – Mother’s Day.

Moses Lake honors graduating seniors with art installation; graduation plans announced

MOSES LAKE – What looks like white ripples in the grass slowly becomes letters and names as you walk onto the football field behind Chief Moses Middle School in Moses Lake. The list becomes clear on the “Field of Chiefs,” a project created to honor the 638 Moses Lake High School seniors inching closer to graduation next month.

EHS Athletic Hall of Fame welcomes seven new members in 2020

EPHRATA — The Ephrata High School Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed six new individuals and one team as this year’s class of inductees.

Local courses prepare for return of golfers

MOSES LAKE — Golfers are set to dust off their clubs as courses around the state were allowed to reopen Tuesday, under restrictions.

Golfers dust off their clubs as courses across the state reopen

MOSES LAKE — Golfers didn’t seem to be letting the course get the best of them on their first day back, with only smiles and excitement to get their clubs back out. Golf courses around the state reopened under rules and regulations coordinated by Gov. Jay Inslee in partnership with the Washington Golf Alliance and state officials after the state’s long closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Anglers flock to Potholes as recreational fishing returns

Anglers take advantage of end of state closure

MOSES LAKE — The word of the day was excitement for anglers as they returned to the water in waves on Tuesday as recreational fishing tentatively reopened across the state after the state closed fishing as a measure against the coronavirus.

Wahluke senior Tanu Buck carrying a chip after losing final shot at state

MATTAWA — Wahluke senior Tanu Buck said it’s been tough dealing with having his final track season ripped away this spring.

Wahluke High School welcoming pair of new head coaches next season

MATTAWA — Wahluke High School athletics will have a pair of new head coaches stepping into the fold next season. Anfernee Cortez will take over as head coach of the Warriors’ football program this fall, while Jeffrey McClelland will take over as the head coach of the girls basketball team.

Recreational fishing is back, with guidelines

Recreational fishing reopened Tuesday, and anglers were reminded to follow guidelines and rules put in place to ensure safety by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, or WDFW.

Restrictions in place as recreational fishing reopens statewide

Recreational fishing reopens today, with anglers reminded to follow guidelines and rules put in place to ensure safety.

Courses prepare for return of golfers

MOSES LAKE — Golfers are set to dust off their clubs as courses around the state are allowed to reopen today, under restrictions.

Hundreds come out to Moses Lake parks each day last week for gnome scavenger hunt

MOSES LAKE — Hundreds of people came out to Moses Lake parks as part of the Gnome Scavenger Hunt coordinated by the city’s Parks and Recreation department.

Anytime Fitness trainer looks to bring workouts to clients’ living rooms

MOSES LAKE — Jitka Garza said it was surprising to watch as businesses and stores closed around the state and the nation as concerns over COVID-19 grew in mid-March. Garza said she didn’t really believe it at first.

School districts look to bring some light to their seniors

GRANT AND ADAMS COUNTIES — Wahluke High School Principal Cody Marlow said the turnout was good on Friday night for the school’s Be the Light celebration, the third week in a row the high school has participated.

Wahluke boys soccer team forced to come to terms with losing title shot

MATTAWA — Wahluke High School boys soccer head coach Arthur de Victoria said they held out hope after closures began that they might still be able to salvage the spring season. Once the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, or WIAA, made the cancellation official, de Victoria said delivering the news to his students was tough.

DCYF releases resource guide to assist families during COVID-19 pandemic

OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families released a resource guide recently to help parents, families and caregivers work through the struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic.

School districts take part in honoring senior class with Be the Light campaign

Local school districts honor Class of 2020

EPHRATA — Ephrata head baseball coach Jason Laugen waved as cars passed by Johnson-O’Brien Stadium on Friday night, illuminated in honor of the 2020 senior class. Ephrata High School took part in the Be the Light campaign for the second week in a row, with schools around the area continuing to do their part to honor their students.

Some recreational fishing, hunting, and golf set to reopen May 5

MOSES LAKE — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, or WDFW, announced yesterday that it plans to reopen some recreational fishing and hunting, with many wildlife areas and boat ramps reopening on May 5 for day-use only.

Moses Lake Parks and Rec hosting gnome scavenger hunt this week

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Parks and Recreation Department will be launching a new initiative to try and encourage, and remind, residents they can still visit the parks while practicing social distancing.

Moses Lake senior Dax Lindgren swaps commitment to Big Bend

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake senior Dax Lindgren said he’s just tried to stay positive and make the best of an abnormal situation. Lindgren’s senior baseball season, like others around the country, was canceled due to closures put in place to mitigate the COVID-19 outbreak.

Frontier Middle School principal wrapping up four decades in education

MOSES LAKE — Frontier Middle School Principal Greg Kittrell said it would take a book to highlight everything he’d want to mention from his long career, as retirement in June inches closer.

Stimulus checks bring mixed reactions among residents

MOSES LAKE — The U.S. government began sending out economic impact checks electronically last week to assist families and individuals dealing with financial struggles as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals earning less than $75,000 per year, heads of households making less than $112,500, and married couples bringing in less than $150,000 are eligible to receive the full $1,200 amount.

Othello sewers describe trying to meet the challenge of face mask shortages

Sewers describe trying to meet the challenge of face mask shortages

OTHELLO — Sewers across the country have continued to try and fill the need for protective face masks in their communities, banding together to do their part. Taking advantage of a skill set many of them had learned from an early age, these sewers have stepped up to try and help protect those at the highest risk in the community.

Royal School District honors seniors with lights on Friday night

Royal School District honors seniors with stadium lights on Friday night

ROYAL CITY — At 8:20 p.m. on Friday night, the Royal School District honored its high school senior class by lighting up the football field at Royal High School.

Royal senior headed to California to play baseball next season

ROYAL CITY — Springtime brings flowers blooming, longer days, warmer weather and, of course, and baseball. Now, athletes such as Royal High School’s J.C. Worsham will have to wait for their return to the diamond for another season.

Book ’em: Grant County deputies offering book readings for kids stuck at home

MOSES LAKE — It’s not every day children get to hear “Goodnight, Moon” being read by a sheriff’s deputy with a trained K-9 named Chewbacca on the table beside him. Thanks to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, scenes like this are becoming a daily routine.

MLHS senior Gina Skinner commits to Northwest Nazarene

MOSES LAKE — The trophy case inside the Moses Lake High School office may have been replaced with the Skinner family living room, but the sentiment and excitement were all the same. Family, coaches, teammates and friends gathered virtually as Moses Lake senior Gina Skinner signed the dotted line, committing to play softball for Northwest Nazarene University next season.

Fairchild Cinemas distribute more than 1,700 bags of popcorn in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Cars snaked through the movie theater parking lot and out down the street as local folks were treated to a buttery gift on Saturday afternoon. Fairchild Cinemas distributed free large popcorns to residents between 4 and 7 p.m., with customers also welcome to purchase additional bags for $5 apiece.

Corona Virus: Number of cases in Grant County up to 140 confirmed

GRANT COUNTY - There are 140 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Grant County as of Friday evening, with three new cases reported in Moses Lake, two new cases in the Quincy area, and one new case in both Ephrata and the Mattawa area, according to the Grant County Health District.

More locals wear masks in public, though not mandated in Washington

MOSES LAKE — As closures and social distancing measures carry on into another week, face masks are being seen on more people in grocery stores and other places that are still open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Potholes Bass Club donates $8,000 to local food banks

MOSES LAKE — The Potholes Bass Club, or PBC, decided to make an $8,000 donation to food banks around the Basin in an attempt to help during the COVID-19 outbreak.

A career launched from Moses Lake

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — More than 30 years ago, a young man looked up at the stars through his telescope in his parents’ backyard in Moses Lake, not knowing just how close to them he’d end up coming. Doug Aguilar hasn’t taken his eye off the sky since.

American Legion baseball season canceled in Washington

OTHELLO — The American Legion summer baseball season in Washington was canceled last week, following cancellation of the national World Series and regional tournaments a few days prior.

Old Hotel director assists mask effort in Othello and surrounding areas

OTHELLO — Jenn Stevenson, director at the Old Hotel Art Gallery in Othello, said she was late to the party when she started contacting people two weeks ago about helping with the shortage of masks for the community.