CHERYL SCHWEIZER

Lions win fourth straight Central Washington 1B district title

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Cascade Christan School boys basketball team won their fourth consecutive Central Washington 1B District 6 championship Feb. 21 with a 49-26 win over Waterville-Mansfield. The Lions were among local teams looking to qualify for the state tournament over the weekend.

Wahluke, MLSD, Ephrata levy requests approved by voters

EPHRATA — Voters in the Moses Lake and Ephrata school districts approved maintenance and operations levies and Wahluke School District voters approved a capital projects levy. The results of the Feb. 11 special election were certified Friday. Moses Lake School District patrons approved a four-year levy request with 6,690 yes votes to 4,533 no votes, 59.61% approving. The passage came after levy voters twice rejected a levy request in 2024. At the same time district officials discovered that accounting errors and inaccurate enrollment counts had drained MLSD reserves.

Applications sought for GCFD 8 commissioner

MATTAWA — Applications will be accepted through March 7 to fill an open seat on the Grant County Fire District 8 commission.

Othello man faces animal cruelty charges

OTHELLO — Dogs were confiscated from an Othello man Feb. 18 after a report that the animals were neglected. Ulises Neponoceno Pineda was cited for second-degree animal cruelty, a gross misdemeanor, according to a release from the Othello Police Department. The dogs were initially taken to a local veterinarian.

Moses Lake swim team looking for improvement at state meet

FEDERAL WAY — Moses Lake High School boys swimming coach Tony Preston said his team is ready to climb up the rankings at the state meet this weekend. “The top 16 (placers) go on to swim on Saturday, and we really want to do that,” he said. “Only two or three of our swimmers are ranked in the top 16, but I think we’re going to do a lot better than that.”

Fees set for Quincy short-term rental permits

QUINCY — Quincy residents who want to convert property into short-term rentals will be required to buy a permit and update it annually. Quincy Public Works Director Carl Worley said the ordinance is something relatively new in Quincy.

SkillSource offers skills development, employment aid

MOSES LAKE — Finding a job can be tricky. Job seekers may not have the right skills, or may need help polishing up their qualifications. They might need help making the right connections or face other challenges. Emily Anderson, career and training manager for SkillSource in Moses Lake, said its job is helping people find not only new jobs, but new careers.

Warden boys look for top 10 finish, seven Cougar girls make state

WARDEN — Warden boys wrestling coach Johnny Hernandez said his team has measured itself – and improved – against tough competition all year. It has paid off with 14 Warden wrestlers advancing to Mat Classic. “Last year we only took four guys. Now we’ve got 14. We’re definitely looking to do better than we did last year,” Hernandez said. “Our goal at the end of the year was to be in the top 10 (at the state tournament), and I think we’ve got the team to do it.”

Quincy takes large team to Mat Classic, hopes for hardware

QUINCY — Quincy girls wrestling coach Mark Kondo said the format for Mat Classic has changed, but his team will be competing against familiar opponents. Quincy moved to Class 2A at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year, and Mat Classic changed to a new format for 2025, with a separate tournament for Class 2A. But Kondo said those changes really won’t make much difference for the Jacks.

Knights ready for battle in the Dome, coaches say

ROYAL CITY — Royal High School girls wrestling coach Jesus Carlos Villa said the Knights have a chance to do well at Mat Classic 2025, and it’s a testament to his wrestlers and the coaching staff. “It’s about peaking at the right time. You never want to peak too early, because then you wrestle too flat, and you definitely don’t want to peak too late, because the opportunity is gone. I feel like the girls are coming along. The coaches are doing a great job of keeping the girls motivated, trying to keep them technically sharp,” Villa said. “I’m the head (coach), but they’re the ones that are in there helping motivate the girls.”

Huskies wrestlers work to achieve lofty goals in Tacoma

OTHELLO — Othello girls wrestling coach Sonny Rocha said the coaches set a lofty goal for the Huskies in the 2024-25 season, and he’s optimistic his team can reach it after earning the district championship this year. “Our goal at the beginning was to be state champions, so sending 14 quality girls, it’s going to be something that’s going to set us up for that stage,” Rocha said. “It's just going to be a matter of doing the same thing we’ve been doing all year.”

Annexation request may be coming to Othello

OTHELLO — New property could be coming into the city of Othello, destined for eventual development. Othello City Council members approved a “notice of intent” for annexation at the regular meeting Feb. 10. Development Director Anne Henning said in a separate interview that the notice of annexation starts the process, but that’s just the start. “The council looks at the boundaries of the proposed annexation, the zoning and the indebtedness,” Henning told council members. “Approving it to move forward doesn’t mean you’re approving the annexation.”

Moses Lake freshman basketball team finishes with undefeated season

MOSES LAKE — About halfway through the season, Moses Lake High School freshman boys basketball coach Ryan Carlstrom and his players noticed something – they were undefeated. They wanted to keep it up.

BASIN HOOPS ROUNDUP: Some teams advance, some go home in district basketball

MOSES LAKE — The field is narrowing as boys and girls basketball teams from around the Columbia Basin work their way toward the state tournaments. Some teams are already on their way to state; others are still in contention. Where teams are and where they’re headed is listed below.

'Big hospital care'

General surgeon joins Othello Community Hospital staff

OTHELLO — General surgeon Sam Hsieh – pronounced “shay” - traveled an interesting road to his full-time job at Othello Hospital. “I was born in Hong Kong and moved to Canada when I was five,” he said. “I did my med school in Ireland and met my wife there. We went to Texas for our residency training program.”

Wahluke capital levy request passing in updated vote totals

EPHRATA — A Wahluke School District capital levy request that was losing after the first vote count Feb. 11 edged ahead in updated vote totals released Feb. 13, according to the Grant County Auditor’s Office. The total of yes votes increased slightly for educational programs and operations levies submitted to voters by the Moses Lake and Ephrata school districts.

Division Street sewer upgrade project almost complete

MOSES LAKE — A project to upgrade a sewer lift station on South Division Street in Moses Lake is in the final stages.

Nat Washington Way roundabout coming summer 2025

EPHRATA — Construction is planned this summer on a new roundabout at the intersection of State Route 282 and Nat Washington Way near the new Grant County Jail construction site. Grant County Central Services Director Tom Gaines said there is a tentative timeline.

Joann Fabric and Crafts Moses Lake location to close

MOSES LAKE — The Joann Fabric and Crafts location in Moses Lake is one of 21 stores that will be closing as the company continues bankruptcy proceedings. Locations in East Wenatchee, Walla Walla and Clarkston also will be closing, along with one of two locations in Spokane and one location in Spokane Valley.

2025 special election turnout in line with five-year trends

EPHRATA — As of Tuesday, 35.78% of eligible voters in five Grant County school districts cast ballots in the February special election, according to the Grant County Auditor’s Office. That’s a preliminary estimate; it may change as additional ballots are counted. Updated vote totals will be announced Friday afternoon. The election certification date is Feb. 21.

Moses Lake man pleads guilty to possession of child pornography

OTHELLO — A Moses Lake man will be sentenced April 8 after pleading guilty to three counts of possessing sexually explicit images of children Tuesday. Dustin Blaske, 40, pleaded guilty in Grant County Superior Court to three counts of first-degree possessing depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He was caught following an investigation in 2021, according to a release from the Othello Police Department.

‘Cat roundup’ under consideration in Othello

OTHELLO — Othello city officials will review the cost of doing a “cat roundup” to remove feral cats, spay and neuter them, then release them back into neighborhoods. Cats were part of a discussion of animal control by the Othello City Council Monday. Mayor Shawn Logan said a cat roundup probably wouldn’t be a one-time event, if city officials decide to go ahead.

Voters rejecting Wahluke capital levy request in early results

MATTAWA — Wahluke School District voters are saying no to a proposal that would help pay the balance of a loan taken out for improvements at Mattawa Elementary School and pay for upgrades to fire and security alarm systems in four district buildings. “I guess it means we have to weigh staffing against these capital upgrades, and how much more can we cut?” said Wahluke Superintendent Andy Harlow.

Four dead after car hits bus near Wenatchee

EAST WENATCHEE — Four people were killed when a car hit a bus head-on about 11 miles south of East Wenatchee early Sunday afternoon.

Moses Lake Air Show to move to different dates for 2025

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Air Show will move to a new weekend in 2025 and change back to a Friday-Saturday show. Rich Mueller of the air show’s board of directors (and the airport director for the Port of Moses Lake) reviewed the 2024 event and talked about some of the changes coming for 2025. He spoke during the regular port commission meeting Monday morning.

Family Resources Home Care purchases Beneficial In-Home Care

MOSES LAKE — Two home health care agencies that have offices in Moses Lake have merged. Beneficial In-Home Care has been acquired by Family Resource Home Care; the sale was announced Feb. 5. Samantha Hoffman, marketing project manager for Family Resource Home Care, said patients shouldn’t experience any changes in the services from either agency.

Grant PUD general manager leaving for Georgia job

EPHRATA — Grant County Public Utility District General Manager Rich Wallen has announced his resignation from the PUD to take a new job in Georgia. Wallen will take the job of chief operating officer and executive vice president at Oglethorpe Power in Tucker, Georgia. Wallen worked there from 2014 to 2017.

Newhouse introduces bill to increase promotion money in export markets

YAKIMA — Additional funding could be available to promote farm products from Washington and throughout the nation under the terms of a bill introduced by Fourth District Congressman Dan Newhouse Thursday. The “Agriculture Export Promotion Act of 2025” has bipartisan co-sponsors from other parts of the country, including Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, California and Maine.

Future and development focus of ML council discussion

MOSES LAKE — Water, urban growth and future development was the focus of an extensive discussion by the Moses Lake City Council while they considered amendments to the city’s comprehensive plan. The council considered an extensive list of amendments, with the discussion focusing on the city’s urban growth boundary. That prompted a question from council member Deanna Martinez.

Group14 projects production delayed

MOSES LAKE — Production at the Group14 facility in Moses Lake is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2025. Company officials originally hoped to start production in late 2024. Katie Rolnick, Group14 senior communications manager, said the facility, known as BAM-2, is still under construction.

New law adds ID to Department of Corrections reentry plans

OLYMPIA — A new law will require the Department of Corrections to help state inmates to get some form of state identification before they are released. The law, which went into effect in January, requires the Washington Department of Corrections to make identification available as part of a reentry plan program that was already mandated by the state.

Students think fast during Amazing Shake

MATTAWA — Let’s see – the preamble to the U.S. Constitution. Aiden Avila Salgado ran through it one more time with his friend Ledger Carl while they waited their turn at what is known as the gauntlet. The school fight song? McFarland Middle School students practiced as they lined up.

Family seeks help in finding missing Moses Lake teen

MOSES LAKE — The family of a missing Moses Lake teen is asking for help in finding him.

Study will evaluate EMS service in GC Fire District 3

QUINCY — Emergency medical services in Grant County Fire District 3, what they cost and their future in the Quincy area, will be the subject of a study commissioned by the fire district and its EMS partners. “We’re in the process of selecting a firm to (conduct) the study,” said GCFD 3 Chief David Durfee. “We’re estimating it’s going to take about four months.”

Worker retraining, sick leave focus of new Washington laws

OLYMPIA — Changes to Washington law will give more options to Washington employers looking to keep on workers who are recovering from temporary disabilities. Other changes will expand eligibility to use sick leave to take care of family members and increase the amount families can receive through a once-yearly financial emergency program.

GCFD 3 pays off two fire stations

QUINCY — A facilities committee will be evaluating Grant County Fire District 3 stations to determine priorities for upgrades following the final payment on the bond that built the main fire station in Quincy. Fire district officials announced last week the bond was paid off at the end of 2024.

Big Bend Community College Viking Food Pantry fills a need

MOSES LAKE — For Big Bend Community College students, the Viking Food Pantry can help them bridge a crucial gap. Food Pantry Director Tara McCoy said there aren’t a lot of options out by the campus for students who don’t have transportation to the grocery store – or who might lack the resources for food.

Revised Washington law makes it easier for youth to get identification

OLYMPIA — It will be easier for young people 16-18 years of age to get a Washington identification card without a parent’s or guardian’s signature under revisions to ID laws that took effect Jan. 1.

Negligent driving law revisions add penalties in some cases

MOSES LAKE — Drivers will be subject to new penalties if they are charged with negligent driving in collisions that involve people who aren’t in a car or truck.

One infrastructure project complete, others planned for Royal City

ROYAL CITY — Cross one long, long project off the list. The last section of old water line in Royal City was replaced in 2024, wrapping up a project that Mayor Michael Christensen said took a while. “Over the years we’ve been trying to upgrade our water system, and now the entire city is upgraded,” Christensen said. “That was a long time coming and it was a bit of a task.”

2024 projects, challenges continuing into 2025 in Quincy

QUINCY — Accommodating growth and upgrading infrastructure were the big challenges facing the city of Quincy in 2024, and they’re the challenges going into 2025. Quincy City Administrator Pat Haley said the city’s water and wastewater treatment facilities have been, and will continue to be, at the top of the agenda. “(Evaluating) what’s required in terms of growth and upgrades. Our facilities are aged, or at capacity, and that’s probably true for those cities of our size or communities that are growing,” Haley said. “So, we’re still pretty aggressively working on those things.”

Voters to weigh Wahluke capital levy

MATTAWA — Wahluke School District voters will decide the fate of a three-year capital projects levy request in a special election Feb. 11. If the levy is approved, it would raise $2.58 million over the three years. The levy will allow the district to be more proactive, says Superintendent Andy Harlow. “I feel like we’re always in the tyranny of the urgent. We’re always putting out fires,” he said. District staff and students will be canvassing neighborhoods in Desert Aire from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday to remind residents to vote. The proposal requires a bare majority, 50% plus one vote, to pass.

Othello Public Works set for a busy 2025

OTHELLO — Some long-term projects in Othello reached completion in 2024, and there’s a whole list of new projects planned for 2025. Public Works Director Robin Adolphsen summed it up. “There’s a lot going on,” she said. Summer 2024 saw the completion of a project that was first considered in 2019, the opening of the new Iron Horse playground in Lions Park. Most of the project was paid for with grants the city received from the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office and a capital appropriation from the Washington Legislature.

Construction coming on new Quincy Aquatic Center

QUINCY — Residents could see work beginning on a new Quincy Aquatic Center by late spring. “Our architects are working on getting all the documents finalized,” said Russ Harrington, Quincy Parks and Recreation director. “They’re still tweaking things to make sure everything will fit.”

Priest Rapids Dam passes major safety inspection

MATTAWA — A comprehensive safety assessment of the structure at Preist Rapids Dam determined the dam met standards that will allow it to keep operating safely. That was the conclusion of a report released by Grant County Public Utility District officials.

Construction, repair projects starting at GC International Airport

MOSES LAKE — Construction and repair projects will be starting soon at the Grant County International Airport. Airport Director Rich Mueller said contractors are working on preparations for the reconstruction of the apron – a type of aircraft shelter – on the west taxiway, a project started in 2024.

Basin law enforcement, schools address immigration concerns

MOSES LAKE — Local law enforcement and schools will continue following state law regarding immigration enforcement, according to statements made by those organizations. The announcements come in response to rumors that began circulating last week after various immigration-related executive orders from President Donald Trump.

Fed. Judge issues order delaying stop on birthright citizenship

OLYMPIA — A Seattle-based federal judge granted a request from the Washington Attorney General’s Office for a temporary restraining order to delay an executive order that could reinterpret the rules of birthright citizenship issued by President Donald Trump. U.S. District Court Judge John Coughenour issued the restraining order Thursday, two days after the AG’s office had filed suit.

4 officers join Quincy PD

4 officers join Quncy PD

REC Silicon job fair and support events planned

MOSES LAKE — Former REC Silicon employees laid off due to the closure of the Moses Lake facility can learn about available benefits and reemployment assistance at a “rapid response event” Friday. Two sessions are scheduled, 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., at the WorkSource Central Basin office, 309 E. Fifth Ave. In Moses Lake.