CHERYL SCHWEIZER

BBCC aviation maintenance program to expand

College receives $20 million grant

MOSES LAKE - It's a rocky economy and a nasty job market out there. Just ask Chris James - he left the Navy and spent six months looking for a job, and finally went back to college, he said. It's a nasty job market out there, but not everywhere and not for everybody. After graduating from the aviation mechanics technology program at Big Bend Community College, James got a job in three weeks, and will start at Boeing sometime this summer.

Ultimate Adventurers wheel Moses Lake

One stop on 1,000-mile trip, on and off-road

MOSES LAKE - So. Imagine you own an off-road vehicle, maybe expensive, maybe not, but a really kick-well, you know; anyway, a really sick ride. And imagine a trip, somewhere in the contiguous United States (so far), a week on and off-road, just hitting the trail and - driving. Driving and wheeling.

Samaritan board interviews candidates

Board hopes to name interim CEO by end of July

MOSES LAKE - Samaritan Healthcare commissioners have interviewed two candidates for the job of interim chief executive officer, and hope to have one appointed by the last week in July.

Picnic, fireworks on July 4 in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake will celebrate the nation's birthday with an all-town barbecue, live music and fireworks in McCosh Park. The event is free and open to the public.

Busy July 4 scheduled for Othello

From fun run to fireworks, something up all day

OTHELLO - The annual Patriot's Day celebration will keep Othello jumping all July 4, from breakfast and basketball in the morning to the fireworks finale.

Moses Lake School District administrators get raises

First salary increase in six years

MOSES LAKE - District superintendent Michelle Price will receive a 1 percent raise for the 2012-13 school year, making her salary $136,000.

World's largest cherry pie at 4th in George

Parade, fun run also part of festivities

GEORGE - The country's birthday will be celebrated with a parade, a fun run and the world's biggest cherry pie in the town named for the first president.

PUD manager was placed on leave at late-night meet

Vote comes at Sunday night meeting

EPHRATA - Grant County PUD commissioners convened at 8 p.m. Sunday, June 17 while at a trade show in Seattle to hold an executive session and eventually voted to place General Manager Tim Culbertson on leave, according to minutes approved by the board Monday.

Japanese trainees return to BBCC 46 years later

Program alumni donate to scholarship fund

MOSES LAKE - Eighteen graduates of an exchange program that places Japanese students on American farms returned to Big Bend Community College to help the college celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Samaritan board accepts CEO resignation

Hospital records $2.4 million profit year to date

MOSES LAKE - Samaritan Healthcare board members are soliciting resumes for an interim chief executive officer.

PUD manager placed on leave

EPHRATA - Grant County PUD General Manager Tim Culbertson was placed on administrative leave this week, pending an investigation into an unspecified personnel matter.

'Horse vaulting' event scheduled for weekend

Dance and gymnastics on horseback

MOSES LAKE - The Grant County Fairgrounds will host the regional "horse vaulting" championships this Saturday and Sunday.

School board considers changes to field trip policy

May end end-of-school pool parties

MOSES LAKE - Changes to school district policy under consideration may prohibit classes from leaving school grounds for end-of-year parties or related activities.

BBCC graduates 50th class

519 students earn 550 degrees

MOSES LAKE - The Big Bend Community College class of 2012 entered the gym about 15 minutes late, and retiring president Bill Bonaudi said he knew the culprit.

NEW BBCC president 'impressed' on first visit

Terry Leas takes over in July

MOSES LAKE - New Big Bend Community College President Terry Leas said his first impressions of the college have left him "very much impressed."

Senior Center to celebrate 40th birthday with barbecue

Event scheduled for Saturday

MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake Senior Center will celebrate 40 years in the business of serving senior citizens, and raise money to pay off the newly paved parking lot, with a barbecue and dance Saturday afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m. at the center, 608 E. Third Avenue. Don Wentz & the Country Boys will play from 4 to 8 p.m.

Samaritan CEO to resign

Andrew Bair resigns, effective Aug. 7

MOSES LAKE - Samaritan Healthcare CEO Andrew Bair has announced his resignation, effective Aug. 7.

Big Bend's 50th commencement Friday

Retiring president to receive Emeritus award

MOSES LAKE - More than 500 people will receive Big Bend Community College diplomas in graduation ceremonies celebrating the college's 50th year Friday. Commencement exercises begin at 7 p.m. at the Peter D. DeVries Activities Center.

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.

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.

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.