CASEY MCCARTHY
Staff Writer
Recent Stories
Royal, Warden kick off season at Saturday football jamboree
Royal and Warden footballl were among the six teams from the North Central Washington Region that kicked off their season with a jamboree at Lions Field in Moses Lake on Saturday afternoon.
Ready for a new season: MarDon Resort looks forward to a good 2021
As the ice disappeared from the surface of Potholes Reservoir in recent warmer weather, MarDon Resort in Othello started getting calls asking if the boat ramp and fishing would be open.
Ephrata sweeps Quincy, Cascade in doubleheader
Ephrata volleyball picked up the 3-0 sweep against rival Quincy and visiting Cascade in the season-opening double header at Marty O’Brien Court at Ephrata High School on Saturday.
Lind-Ritzville falls 9-0 in home opener against Chewelah
Lind-Ritzville football fell 9-0 in their home opener against Chewelah on Friday night at Lind-Ritzville High School on Friday night. The Broncos honored their senior class before the game with a short ceremony on Senior Night.
NCW Region squads open football season with Saturday jamboree
Moses Lake High School hosted six teams on Saturday afternoon for a football jamboree at Lions Field as programs from the North Central Region kicked off their spring season.
Heating up the garden: Dave Ruffin grows peppers
Add a little spice to your crop haul this year with peppers.
Setting the stage: Masquers eager to welcome back patrons after a year without shows
Set pieces still sit on the stage, but the seats have been empty for more than a year at Masquers Theater in Soap Lake.
Quincy coach Greg McMillan ready to kick off his first season
Quincy High School football will kick off the season this weekend under first-year head coach Greg McMillan.
Local musician Alysen Hesselroth excited for chance to return to performing
Navigating the coronavirus pandemic has been challenging for nearly everyone. For local musician Alysen Hesselroth, the past year has meant almost reinventing herself.
Back to the boards: MLHS Drama Club prepares for live performance
Moses Lake High School Drama Club will begin auditions for its spring performance in early March, as the region is in Phase 2 and live performances can happen.
Music's in the air: Musicians await the opportunity to perform again
An exciting sound rang through local musicians ears last week when it was announced the region was moving into Phase 2, opening up the opportunity for some live performances.
A glimmer of green: Gardeners keep growing despite snow
It’s hard to imagine anything growing with the ground buried in snow, but the persistence of gardeners is tough to match. But local green thumbs have kept plants alive through the chilly, snowy days in their greenhouses, in their homes, and even in milk jugs in the yard.
Huskies bounce back with sweep of East Valley in home opener
The Othello Huskies volleyball team were able to pull off the 3-0 sweep against East Valley (Spokane) at home on Thursday night to win their home opener and move to 1-1 on the season. The Huskies fell in their season opener on Tuesday in Spokane against North Central High School, 3-0.
Fairchild Cinemas in Moses Lake to reopen
Fairchild Cinemas in Moses Lake will reopen its doors to the public once again for weekends only.
Ephrata senior O’Neel picks University of Montana Western
Ephrata High School senior Tony O’Neel extended his football career when he signed a commitment last week to join the University of Montana Western in the fall.
Face coverings, social distancing still vital in Phase 2
While the state has moved into Phase 2 of the reopening plan, the importance of following social distancing and safety guidelines for COVID-19 are still important to avoid steps backward, said a local doctor.
New indoor golf facility coming to Moses Lake this spring
A new indoor golf facility, Divots Indoor Golf, will open by the end of March or early April on West Broadway Avenue in Moses Lake.
Basin business owners, community members discuss moving to Phase 2
Business owners and community members began adjusting Monday to opportunities available since Washington state transitioned into Phase 2.
Donations taken for Open Doors Sleep Center
Donations are being accepted for the Open Doors Sleep Center in Moses Lake through the Help for the Homeless drive at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center through March.
Winter weather expected through Monday after blanketing Basin
A winter weather advisory and hazardous weather outlook from the National Weather Service for the majority of the Columbia Basin remains in effect through most of Monday.
Grant, Adams counties moving to Phase 2 opens possibility for competition for high school athletes
The moves of North Central and Eastern Washington Regions to Phase 2 of the state’s reopening process provide hope for the return of athletic competition schedules for the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association's Season 1.
Spreading the love: Moses Lake florists gear up for Valentine’s Day
It's that time of the year.
NCW Libraries launches live bilingual story time
With library doors shut, NCW Libraries on Wednesday launched a live storybook time series for children and parents. The series will be bilingual: in Spanish on Wednesdays at 10 a.m., and in English on Thursday at 10 a.m.
Othello's Jonathan Rocha heads to Montana for track
Othello High School senior Jonathan Rocha will go to Montana State University Billings next season to continue his track career.
Moses Lake's Samantha Shelton signs to play volleyball at Olympic College next season
Moses Lake High School senior Samantha Shelton signed Saturday afternoon at MLHS to continue her volleyball career next season at Olympic College in Bremerton, Washington.
Seasoned gardeners give tips for newcomers starting out this spring
Tired of being cooped up indoors? Sick of the limitations on activities and gatherings and looking for an excuse to get outside? Then why not start a garden this season.
Lind-Ritzville fall athletics set to kick off practice Wednesday
Lind-Ritzville High School athletics will start the fall sports schedule Wednesday as part of the Northeast Region 2B League this season.
NCW Libraries celebrates Black History Month with reading lists, challenges
North Central Washington Libraries is celebrating Black History Month in February with reading lists and a reading challenge to celebrate African-American authors, voices and experiences.
Saw power: MLHS junior hones his woodworking skills
The pandemic spurred many people to find new hobbies and activities to pass the time with community events on hold. For FFA student and Moses Lake High School junior Austin Kern, he’s honing his skills in the woodworking shop.
Former Moses Lake soccer player continues career in Oregon
Former Moses Lake High School soccer player Anthony Cortez will head to Warner Pacific University in Portland, Oregon, in the fall to continue his athletic career.
Moses Lake beginner soccer league signups open
Signups for beginning soccer leagues through Moses Lake Parks and Recreation are open online now through Feb. 19 for the spring season. Beginning soccer leagues are for children ages 3-7.
Basin wrestlers take first place at 2021 Tulsa Nationals
A team of wrestlers from around the Columbia Basin with Team Takedown took first place at the 2021 World of Wrestling Tulsa Nationals tournament on Jan 14-17.
Othello joining the Greater Spokane League 2A programs for athletics this season
Othello High School sports teams have a tentative plan in place for what competition will look like this season after they received approval on Tuesday to join the Greater Spokane League for 2021.
DCYF highlights parents, caregivers throughout February
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) will celebrate parents and families throughout the month after Gov. Jay insole proclaimed February as “Parent Recognition Month” Jan. 21.
CBHA hosting vaccine clinic in Royal City Wednesday
Appointments are full for the event, but people can call the CBHA at 509-488-5256 to be on the waiting list for the clinics in Othello, Connell and Mattawa.
NCW Region game schedules mostly set for Season 1 sports
Pre-competition practices for Season 1, including traditional fall sports, open today.
Moses Lake Hockey association makes most of time on ice
The Moses Lake Youth Hockey Association has had a unique opportunity to keep practices going this season with its outdoor arena.
Cars line up early for food box giveaway in Moses Lake
Volunteers from Moses Lake Christian Church handed out 30-pound food boxes at the Yonezawa Boulevard church Thursday afternoon, dispersing 480 boxes to families.
County employees prepare roads for snowy weather
Snow in the Ephrata, Othello, Quincy and Moses Lake areas was expected to begin late last night and continue into the morning.
Big Bend's Dax Lindgren surrounded by familiar faces as he looks forward to freshman season
Big Bend Community College freshman Dax Lindgren is getting ready for his first baseball season with the program, after making the decision to stay local last spring.
Moses Lake Christian Church to host weekly food distribution beginning Thursday
Moses Lake Christian Church is teaming with Cascadia Produce to distribute USDA food boxes for the Farmers to Families Food Box Program beginning Thursday, and every Thursday thereafter through Feb. 25.
A dream comes to life: Family's home begins to come together despite pandemic hurdles
Building a new dream home is a process that takes time, especially in a pandemic.
Not looking back: Warden teen ready to get back to normal after a tough year
Avree Pruneda and her family received possibly the worst news Jan. 15, 2020, when the Warden High School junior was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, an extremely rare form of cancer.
Ephrata football coach optimistic for holding a season after plans announced last week
Ephrata High School will be the lone 2A school at the North Central Washington Region for athletics and interscholastic activities this season, as changes were announced last week.
Patrick Azevedo continuing to work on his game in first year at University of Wyoming
Former Othello golfer Patrick Azevedo continues his game as he heads into his second semester ahead of the upcoming season at the University of Wyoming.
Wahluke soccer coach still has concerns with new season plans in place
Wahluke School District head boys soccer coach Arthur de Victoria was among state- and countrywide coaches who watched their players' seasons taken out from under them last spring, as COVID-19 put a halt to competitions.
Moses Lake softball team practices as players, coaches remain hopeful for a season
The Moses Lake High School softball team took advantage of the warmer weather this week and took to Lions Field on Thursday afternoon for practice and scrimmages as players and coaches hold out hope of a season in spring.
Warden girls basketball players hope to pick up where they left off
College and pro basketball are firmly in the midst of their seasons after getting late starts this year, but high school basketball players in Washington are still waiting to get going in 2021.
North Central Region high schools work together for athletics
Several high schools will combine in the new North Central Washington Region for athletic competition this season.
Cutting edge: Broken Branch Carvings owner watches passion project become a business
Much like one of his wood carvings, Cole Liebrecht didn’t see his business becoming what it has when he first picked up the craft in November 2019. But what started as a passion project transformed before his eyes.