CHERYL SCHWEIZER

Terrence Leas is new BBCC president

Comes to Moses Lake from Minnesota

MOSES LAKE - Terrence Leas will be the next president of Big Bend Community College, pending acceptance of a contract.

'Boob Tour' comes to town

Three comedians fight cancer with laughs

MOSES LAKE - Comedy enlisted in the fight against cancer is the inspiration behind the Boob Tour, which arrives in town June 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Civic Center auditorium, 401 S. Balsam St.

Business owner also skateboarding legend

MOSES LAKE - Check out the videos for Josh Mohs online, and - yeah, that's Josh riding that skateboard off that loading dock. That's Mohs sliding down the hand rail on that staircase. That's Mohs looping back and forth in that concrete storm drain, stopping to throw a few tricks on the edge, looping back through ankle-deep running water.

Vaccinations urged against whooping cough

Adults urged to vaccinate children, selves

MOSES LAKE - Washington residents are being urged to get re-immunized against whooping cough (pertussis) following a dramatic increase in cases in 2012.

Jet ski racing comes to Soap Lake

First race of 2012 season

SOAP LAKE - The inaugural Lava Lap Regatta will bring more than 20 jet ski teams to town Saturday and Sunday for two days of racing.

Heron Bluff trail project gets $25,000 pledge

Columbia Basin Foundation pledge

MOSES LAKE - The Columbia Basin Foundation has announced a pledge of $25,000 to the proposed Heron Bluff walking trail project.

MedStar cuts ribbon on new Moses Lake base

Helicopter now stationed locally

MOSES LAKE - Northwest MedStar officials cut the ribbon at their new base north of town Thursday.

Relay for Life steps off Friday

Walkers raise money to fight back against cancer

MOSES LAKE - Participants will have the chance to "fight back" against cancer at the annual Relay for Life this Friday and Saturday, with the first lap at 6:30 p.m. Friday. The last lap is at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Moses Lake seniors reach milestone

Cheers, laughter, tears during ceremony

MOSES LAKE - The class of 2012 rang down the curtain on high school in ceremonies at Lions Field Saturday.

Ephrata class of 2012 graduates

Seniors celebrate, look back

EPHRATA - Family members were carefully scanning the field as the class of 2012, to the strains of "Pomp and Circumstance," waited their turn to walk to their seats:

Othello senior following dreams, ambitions

Araceli Placensia had big decision

OTHELLO - About two years ago Araceli Placensia faced a decision, one that had her leaving home in pursuit of a better future.

Moses Lake High School announces top 10

Students chosen for academic, extracurricular accomplishments

MOSES LAKE - High school administrators have announced the top 10 students in the class of 2012.

Ephrata seniors savored high school

EPHRATA - Fidel Bazan and Gabrielle Schmidt learned how to take everything the high school had to offer, and make the most of it.

New skills center targeted for September start

Will serve 10 schools

MOSES LAKE - Construction on the new Grant County Skills Center is projected to begin this fall, possibly as early as September, with classes beginning January 2014.

Moses Lake Spring Festival draws big crowds

Events range from fun run to car show, basketball to parade

MOSES LAKE - A float full of colorful sea creatures and dancing mermaids won the Miss Chewelah and the Chewelah community float the Queen's Trophy at the annual Moonlight Parade.

Soap box racers take to Soap Lake's streets during the weekend

Third annual race

SOAP LAKE - Racers reached speeds 25 to 30 mph as they zoomed down Main Street in the third annual Soap Box Derby on Saturday.

New Ephrata principal announced Friday

Board will meet Friday at 6 a.m.

EPHRATA - The Ephrata School Board will hire a new principal for Columbia Ridge Elementary at a special meeting 6 a.m. Friday at the district office, 499 C St. NW.

Jam-packed weekend at Spring Festival

Basketball, pool opening, parade among highlights

MOSES LAKE - A full schedule of events, from a car show to basketball to the opening of Surf 'n Slide water park, is scheduled for Memorial Day weekend during the annual Spring Festival.

Rubber Ducks on sale for June 16 regatta

New Boys and Girls Club fundraiser

MOSES LAKE - Tickets - well, ducks - are on sale for the first Rubber Duck Regatta, a fundraiser set for June 16 by the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin.

Othello art student earns trip to state show

First-ever art competition

OTHELLO - Othello High School senior Janellie Pruneda's first-ever entry won the regional Student Art Show and is on display at the 39th Annual Superintendent's Art Show in Olympia.

Fire destroys Real Deals

Building fully engulfed when fire crews arrived

MOSES LAKE - Real Deals, a Moses Lake home decor business, was engulfed in fire and destroyed Thursday night.

Women find satisfaction, enjoyment, a little bit of themselves in art avocation

MOSES LAKE - Kayleen Simpson picked up her paintbrushes again during stormy times in her life. Deb Polito reconnected with art after seeing her son-in-law's reaction to a painting she presented to him as a gift.

Quincy senior third in international competition

QUINCY - Quincy High School senior Robin Thaemert spent a year recording the activities of the school's DECA chapter, and it earned her third place in the organization's international competition.

Columbia Crest residents parade to Dairy Queen

Celebrate National Nursing Home Week

MOSES LAKE - Residents at the Columbia Crest Care and Rehabilitation facility led the parade down to the Dairy Queen for some ice cream in celebration of National Nursing Home Week.

Othello alternative school to move

Site plan approved

OTHELLO - The Othello School District's alternative school, the Alternative Learning Placement Site, will be moving to a new home, possibly as early as January 2013.

Summer completion expected at school

OTHELLO - From the outside the new Wahitis Elementary School in Othello looks almost ready for the bell to ring, but there's still a lot of work going on inside.

Sage Point Elementary wins achievement award

Receives 'Closing the Achievement Gap' award

MOSES LAKE - Sage Point Elementary students and teachers were recognized for improving the school's test scores with a "Closing the Achievement Gap" award from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

On-the-job learning at the Water Park

Teaches communication and people skills

MOSES LAKE - It doesn't look like a classroom - that surf-simulator-thing is a lot cooler, for one thing - but working at Surf 'n Slide Waterpark will teach some lessons, according to employees.

Moses Lake School Board to review skills center plans

Study session at May 24 board meeting

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake School Board members will hold a study session May 24 to get their first look at the scope of work for the new Grant County Skills Center.

State community college board votes to raise tuition 12 percent

Big Bend students will be impacted

MOSES LAKE - The state Board of Community and Technical Colleges has approved an average 12 percent increase in tuition for the 2012-13 school year.

DOH investigates Soap Lake PA for alleged misconduct

Conduct allegedly occurred between 2008 and 2010

SOAP LAKE - An investigation is pending into allegations that a local physician's assistant had inappropriate sexual contact with two patients and three employees at the clinic, Soap Lake Family Medicine.

Housing Authority Director John Poling dies

Led Housing Authority for 12 years

MOSES LAKE - John Poling, executive director of the Housing Authority of Grant County for 12 years, died this week.

Board to discuss possible tuition hike

State board meets at Big Bend today, tomorrow

MOSES LAKE - Possible tuition increases of up to 12 percent will be on the agenda when the state Board for Community and Technical Colleges meets today and tomorrow at Big Bend Community College, 7662 Chanute St. NE.

'Real life consequences' of substance abuse

MOSES LAKE - A Big Bend Community College student had a question for Barbie Maier, a first responder and veteran of a number of crashes involving people driving under the influence of intoxicants.

Moses Lake cleanup is Saturday

Volunteers meet at 8 a.m.

MOSES LAKE - Residents are invited to help clean the main streets for summer on Saturday, with participants meeting at 8 a.m. at the Surf 'n Slide water park, at 401 S Fourth Ave., Moses Lake.