CHERYL SCHWEIZER

Wahluke track team focuses on personal, team improvement

MATTAWA — Track is both an individual and a team sport, and Wahluke’s head track coach Josh Dugan said the Warriors work on both parts of that equation. “It doesn't matter if you went to state last year or you're running a 20-second 100 meter. We emphasize PRs – personal records. So again, if somebody starts out at 20 seconds (in the 100 meters), but if you end the year at 17, that's our focus. The first time you write an essay it might be terrible, but then you start getting better and better,” he said. “So, we're focused on just pure self-improvement, because I always tell the kids that if you beat your own record enough, you start to beat everybody else as well.” It's a team sport at the same time, however, and Dugan said the track team also is asked to think of that.

Wahluke soccer coach expects to be competitive in tough league

MATTAWA — Wahluke boys soccer coach Cele Lopez said the 2026 season is shaping up to be competitive and Wahluke is going to be in the middle of it. “I think we're going to do just fine this year. We lost a few key players, but there are some freshmen coming up, and there's some other guys that have been stepping it up – they've been grinding over the offseason,” Lopez said. “I think we'll we're going to be just fine, at least at the point where we can be competitive.” With only a week of practice behind the team, Lopez said it’s too early to pick varsity lineup.

Quincy tennis focusing on the mental game

QUINCY — New Quincy girls tennis coach Joahan Fregoso said the team is set up to challenge his players, which helps them over the course of the season. "I feel like a big strength is (that) our girls really compete with the boys (in practice), which keeps them on their toes, which is really good for them,” he said. There are things the team needs to work on, however.

Adams Road bridge, other projects in planning or underway

Quincy soccer sets high expectations

QUINCY — The Quincy boys soccer team has a lot of returning experience and as a result the players are expecting a successful season. “We have really high expectations this year for them – as well as they do. They really set that bar pretty high,” said head coach Hector Vaca. The Jacks shared the Central Washington Athletic Conference title in 2025 in their second year in the league. They lost in the opening round of the state playoffs to North Kitsap, the eventual second-place finisher.

Hansen Road bridge construction to begin late June, early July

MOSES LAKE — Demolition of the Hansen Road overpass will begin in late June or early July. Chris Keifenheim, North Central Region administrator for the Washington State Department of Transportation, said DOT officials will be monitoring the Hiawatha Road overpass to ensure it stays open during construction.

State Senator Judy Warnick announces retirement

MOSES LAKE — State Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, has announced her retirement from the Washington Legislature at the end of her term in January 2027. Warnick represents the 13th District and has been in the Senate since 2015. “Serving the people of the 13th Legislative District has been the greatest honor of my professional life,” Warnick wrote in a press release issued Wednesday. “I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together to protect our water rights, support our small businesses and empower the next generation of leaders.”

Asking questions, curiosity, knowledge focus of Wahluke FFA project

MATTAWA — The fifth graders from Morris Schott Elementary had seen bugs and gross worms and skulls and some gross compost during their lesson on decomposition from Wahluke High School Future Farmers of America students. Their last stop, said ag teacher and FFA advisor Jonathan Betts, was out in the greenhouse.

High winds forecast for Columbia Basin

MOSES LAKE — Rachel Fewkes, meteorologist for the National Weather Service office in Spokane, said that while the Columbia Basin is not forecast to get the heavy snow anticipated for the Cascades, it’s forecast to be tree-blowing-down windy.

Registration open for hunter safety classes

OTHELLO — The Adams County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, is sponsoring one-day classes for people needing field training to complete their hunter safety courses. Classes are scheduled for March 21 and April 18, with the potential for more classes later in the year.

George man arrested after standoff

GEORGE — A George man was arrested Wednesday morning after he allegedly assaulted a woman during a domestic dispute then refused to come out of his house.

Port of Moses Lake rail project moving to construction

MOSES LAKE — With two decades of work already in the project, the Port of Moses Lake is looking for someone to oversee construction of its new and refurbished rail line. Milton Miller, port facilities director, said hiring a construction manager is the first step.

New Samaritan Hospital opens its doors

MOSES LAKE — The tarp covering the “Emergency” sign at the new Samaritan Hospital could be removed a few minutes early, but it wasn’t officially open until the sign’s lighting was turned on. The timing had to be precise. “I’ve got to wait until 6:59 (a.m.),” said Jason Wilbur of Graham Construction.

With fewer applicants, Grant PUD trying to fill what’s left

EPHRATA — A steep increase in application fees for Grant County PUD customers has reduced the number of pending applications dramatically. Andy Wendell, vice-president of customer experience, said that was one of the goals, but there were others. “There were a number of things that we wanted to do. We wanted to become contemporary. What I mean by that is that we (want to) have application processes that are providing certainty in our queue,” Wendell said. “(We wanted to ensure) that when we dedicate engineering and planning staff to reviewing applications, we want to increase the probability that we're working on applications that are going to come to fruition as much as possible. So yes, we did achieve results that we had hoped for, which is to have applicants in the queue that are more certain (to) come to fruition.”

Coolidge Rd. extension to improve access to Moses Lake Community Health

MOSES LAKE — Construction is scheduled to be completed in late April on a project to extend South Coolidge Street to connect it with East Wheeler Road. The goal, said Moses Lake Community Health Center Sheila Berschauer, is to improve access MLCHC.

Quincy PD releases annual report

QUINCY — Quincy Police Chief Ryan Green said full staffing and proactive policing are important factors in combating crime and that some of the results show up in the QPD’s 2025 annual report.

Moses Lake residents to weigh in on city fiscal plans

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake residents are being invited to discuss city finances and programs and how to make them work together at a public workshop from 6:30 to 8 p.m. March 16 at the Moses Lake Civic Center. It’s part of the city’s plan to get the opinion of residents on how they want the city to spend its general fund money – and where there might need to be some cuts.

Roadwork season gets rolling

MOSES LAKE — Washington Department of Transportation crews will be sealing cracks along State Route 17 between Moses Lake and Ephrata starting Monday. Drivers should plan for flagger-controlled traffic and delays in the work zone.

I-90 Adams Road overpass closed until further notice

GEORGE — The Adams Road overpass on Interstate 90 east of George has been closed to traffic while Washington Department of Transportation inspectors assess its condition.

Othello School Board considers new meeting schedule

OTHELLO — The Othello School Board will consider moving one of its two monthly board meetings to a different time. Board members will be discussing their options March 9.

Victim of 2011 Grant County homicide identified

POTHOLES RESERVOIR — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help from the public in determining what happened to a man whose body was found near the Potholes Reservoir in 2011 and recently identified.

Royal High School to add new classes

ROYAL CITY — Royal High School will be expanding its class offerings for students in the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years. Kaiden Garcia, RHS counselor, said the subjects were chosen after a survey to determine which classes students want to take and teachers want to teach.

Moses Lake fiscal sustainability discussion kicks off

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake City Council and city officials are starting a process to determine what services the city should be providing – and paying for – and which could be reduced if necessary. It’s part of city officials’ attempt to eliminate a budget deficit in the city’s general fund, a deficit that’s projected to increase over time without changes to the way the city is spending its money.

Focused on family and community

A look at the life of Othello's Frank Ochoa Jr.

OTHELLO — Frank Ochoa Jr. did a lot of things in his life, from coaching children in boxing and baseball to helping build Lions Park in Othello to helping raise eight children – and being good at all of that, his family said. And while he had other careers, he really was a farmer.

Gonzaga, UW program designed to improve region's health care

MOSES LAKE — Geoff Jones, a physician and assistant clinical dean at the University of Washington Medical School, said giving medical students a wide variety of experience benefits both the students and their future patients.

Open house Saturday at new Samaritan Hospital

New facility set to open to serve patients March 7

MOSES LAKE — The final doors are being installed in the intensive care unit, one of two surgical robots is in the building, the signs are up – although they’re still covered – on Yonezawa Boulevard. The new Samaritan Hospital opens for patient care March 7.

District patrons get first look at new Samaritan Hospital

MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare District patrons got their first look at the new Samaritan Hospital Tuesday with tours of the building, a ribbon-cutting and a champagne toast.

Moses Lake starts new program to track city repairs, answer questions

MOSES LAKE — Now typically, when a business or an agency does the ribbon-cutting thing, they’re cutting a ribbon for a building, or because they moved to a new location, or because they have a new service truck – a physical asset. The Moses Lake City Council cut a ribbon Tuesday on a new web portal, making it a unique occasion.

East Adams Rural Health expects emergency rural hospital approval soon

RITZVILLE — East Adams Rural Healthcare could be converted to an “emergency rural hospital” as early as this summer.

City of Othello, ACFD 5 restart fire contract negotiations

OTHELLO — Officials from Adams County Fire District 5 and the Othello City Council have returned to the table to see if the two sides can come to an agreement on a new contract for fire services. Council members have scheduled a special meeting Thursday to discuss the city’s options.

Water rate increases likely for Moses Lake residents

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake water users could see a yearly increase in their water rates over the next seven to eight years as city officials work to save money for a series of water projects. Jessica Cole, the city’s utility services manager, said city officials have a lot to do.

Decision pending on state victim services funding

MOSES LAKE — A projected budget shortfall in 2026 has Washington legislators analyzing state spending, with agencies advocating to keep funding at what they say are adequate levels. Suzi Fode, director of the New Hope and Kids Hope Children’s Advocacy Center, said the news in the Senate and House budget proposals is promising.

Ritzville hospital announces $10.5 million loss over last three years

RITZVILLE — Investigations are ongoing into allegations that mismanagement and possible fraud left East Adams Rural Healthcare with what its current administrators say was a $10.5 million loss between 2022 and 2025. Hospital officials announced Thursday at a press conference in Spokane that they have filed a request with state and federal authorities to convert to a rural emergency hospital. “With our latest model, EARH will employ between 55 and 60 people,” said Chief Executive Officer Todd Nida in a statement. The current staff is 69 people, he said.

Quincy council approves co-living housing rule

QUINCY — Quincy city residents will be able to set up “co-living housing” units under the terms of an ordinance approved by Quincy City Council members Tuesday. Public Works Director Carl Worley said it’s something new in Quincy, required by recent actions by the Washington Legislature. Worley said city officials weren’t sure there would be much impact in Quincy, but council member Dylan Kling said he thought it could make a big impact.

Port of Othello breaks ground for new water tower

OTHELLO — It took a few years, but Port of Othello commissioners broke ground on a second water reservoir on port property in Bruce Thursday morning. Port Commissioner Gary Weaver said the new reservoir will mean more business opportunities in the Othello area. “The main reason we really needed the water here is so we can expand,” Weaver said. “We're kind of locked here because of our water – we had to have more water storage in order to develop this. And it's a big deal for Othello, because this gives the opportunity to bring businesses here, not just little business, but businesses with good paying jobs (and) benefits.” The new water tower will be on the east side of Booker Road and will hold about 200,000 gallons. The port received a combination of a $3.75 million low-interest loan and a $1.25 million grant from the Community Economic Revitalization Board to pay for the project.

Bill expanding military, veteran benefits passes WA Senate

OLYMPIA — A bill that would extend access to state benefits and other opportunities for veterans, military spouses and other uniformed personnel has passed the Washington Senate and is pending in the Washington House of Representatives.

Young Lind-Ritzville team looks to place wrestlers on the podium

RITZVILLE — Lind-Ritzville Head Coach Jason Hilzer said he’s optimistic that the Broncos can get some wrestlers on the Mat Classic 2026 podium in what has been a year of growth. “We’re young. The increase in the skill level from the beginning of the year to the end of the year is huge for the freshmen and sophomores,” Hilzer said. “That’s what I’m really pleased about.”

Experience big factor for Royal boys at Mat Classic

ROYAL CITY — Royal High School boys wrestling coach Darrin Miller said his team’s experience should help them when they get to the Tacoma Dome. “We have a large group of seniors this year, so I think the consistency of showing up to practice every day for four straight years for a lot of these kids, as well as the underclassmen learning from some of those upperclassmen,” Miller said. “Everybody has just been really committed up to this point, which is what it really takes in the sport to be successful.”

Royal girls wrestlers rise to the challenge, have high hopes for state tournament

ROYAL CITY — They’ve had a lot of success on the mat, but it’s still been a tough year for the Royal High School girls wrestling team. Their coach Seth Weeks said the girls have risen to meet the challenge. Jesus Carlos Villa, the head coach who led the Knights to a second-place finish at the 2025 Mat Classic, suddenly passed in a car accident in July 2025. Coach Carlos has been missed, Weeks said.

Grant Co. solar projects moving forward

COULEE CITY — A new solar electrical generation facility near Coulee City has received a conditional use permit from Grant County officials. When it goes into operation, Dry Falls Solar is projected to generate up to 400 megawatts of electricity, said Grant County Planning Director Jim Anderson-Cook.

Wahluke qualifies two wrestlers for Mat Classic

MATTAWA — The Wahluke High School girls wrestling team advanced two wrestlers to Mat Classic 2026 in what coach Windy Lovejoy said was a learning year. “We have primarily freshmen on the team,” Lovejoy said. “There were three upperclassmen.” Her team adapted to a pretty steep learning curve, however.

Othello High next focus with EP&O levy passing

OTHELLO — Voters in the Othello School District are approving a four-year educational programs and operations levy in updated vote totals from the Feb. 10 special election released Friday. The levy proposal had 794 yes votes and 434 no votes, about 64.7% approving. Because it was a school levy, it needed a bare majority, 50% plus one vote, to pass.

Haley resigns as Quincy city administrator

QUINCY — Quincy City Administrator Pat Haley announced his resignation, effective immediately, in a press release issued by the city Tuesday morning. Danielle Marchant, the city’s attorney, declined to specify the reason for Haley’s resignation. “As a matter of policy and out of respect for his privacy, the city will not be commenting on this matter,” Marchant said.

Local REC Silicon plant remains closed as more stock issued

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake REC Silicon facility will remain closed, at least for now, as its owners announced an issuance of new stock to raise money for continuing operations and pay off debt.

Moses Lake to prioritize services in financial sustainability planning

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake City Council members – and Moses Lake residents – will be asked to determine where they think the city should spend its money, a process that started with a look at the city’s current financial state at the Feb. 10 council meeting.

Standalone energy project eyed for Quincy

QUINCY — While it’s only in the beginning stages, the Port of Quincy and a California Native American tribe will be working on a project to bring a standalone energy project to Quincy. Ken Ahmann, chief operating officer of Colusa Indian Energy, said the project would help the Quincy area in the search for a diversified – and robust – economy.

Moses Lake officials working to correct audit issues

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake city officials are working to correct errors identified by the Washington State Auditor’s Office and catch up on delayed audits. Municipal Finance Director Madeline Prentice said city officials are working to have the delayed audits for 2023 and 2024 submitted by May. “Trying to get caught up on the audits is our first priority,” Prentice said. “We have actually brought in an outside accounting firm to assist us with that.”

Hansen Road, Quincy basketball made news in January

MOSES LAKE — Traffic disruption in Moses Lake, historic numbers for a Quincy Jacks basketball player and a new Dancing with the Stars king are among the big stories of January 2026.

Wheeler roundabout construction scheduled for Feb 23

MOSES LAKE — If the weather cooperates, construction will begin Feb. 23 on a roundabout at the intersection of Road L Northeast and East Wheeler Road. Moses Lake’s financial contribution to the project is about $81,000. Contributions by other stakeholders in the project was not immediately available.

Intermodal terminal gets freight where it needs to go, supports Eastern WA economy

KENNEWICK — By definition, freight is something – goods of whatever kind, from fresh produce to sound system components – that is moved in bulk on trains, trucks, ships or aircraft. Teri Zimmerman, vice president for sales and marketing at Tri-City Intermodal in Kennewick, said the company’s role in the freight business is connecting different methods of transportation to move freight. Which sounds simple enough.