CHERYL SCHWEIZER

PUD seeks applicants for board position

Allred retires Nov. 1

EPHRATA - Grant County PUD commissioners are soliciting applications from people interested in filling the position that will be left vacant by the resignation of Commissioner Randy Allred.

Interim PUD manager will be Tony Webb

EPHRATA - Assistant manager Tony Webb has been named as the interim general manager of the Grant County Public Utility District. Commission members selected Webb during their regular meeting Monday.

John Michael Montgomery to headline Grant Co. Fair

MOSES LAKE - Veteran country music star John Michael Montgomery will be the headline act at the Grant County Fair next month.

Methodist pastor became own role model

JoAnn Schaadt conquered shyness to get where she wanted to be

MOSES LAKE - JoAnn Schaadt said she knew God was pointing her in a different direction when her satisfactory life all of a sudden wasn't quite so satisfactory.

Board approves transportation center contract

Construction date, ground breaking ceremony to be announced

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake School Board members awarded a nearly $7.8 million contract to Fowler Construction to build the district's new transportation center at the regular meeting Thursday.

Boys & Girls Club $100K donation brings challenge

MOSES LAKE - A local business owner has announced a donation to the Boys and Girls Club building fund and at the same time issued a fundraising challenge.

Hospital researches CEO candidate

Board has not yet offered contract

MOSES LAKE - Samaritan Hospital board members are doing additional background checks on one of two candidates for the position of interim chief executive officer.

Interim PUD manager named

Tony Webb worked for PUD since 1990

EPHRATA - Assistant manager Tony Webb has been named as the interim general manager of the Grant County Public Utility District. Commission members selected Webb during their regular meeting Monday.

Resigning Samaritan CEO receives severance package

Bair reads emotional farewell letter

MOSES LAKE - Outgoing Samaritan Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Andrew Bair will receive payments through his severance package and continuation of health insurance benefits through August 2013, according to a resolution approved by the board at its regular meeting Thursday.

Injured bird's fate remains unknown

Gone when animal rescuers arrived

MOSES LAKE - Some stories end in mystery.

Culbertson out as PUD manager

EPHRATA - Grant County PUD commissioners terminated the contract of PUD general manager Tim Culbertson during their regular meeting Monday.

Solution for plight of irrigators may be near

Possible enlargement of system south of Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE - Irrigation water in the Columbia River Basin, its most efficient use and expanding service to replace some of the groundwater wells in the Othello area was the topic of conversation at the monthly meeting of the Grant County Economic Development Council.

Meetings to address overcrowding in fall

Too many students for secondary schools to handle, say district officials

MOSES LAKE - School district patrons are being invited to a series of meetings this fall and winter to discuss ways to address overcrowding in the district's secondary schools.

Students explore aerospace careers at BBCC

Part of 12-day career exploration program

MOSES LAKE - Students from Spokane spent two days learning more about aviation careers at Big Bend Community College recently.

Boys and Girls Club nears funding goal

Donation originally intended for sports complex

MOSES LAKE - The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin got a step closer to a new home, thanks to a donation from a group formed a quarter-century ago to build new football and sports fields.

Hot weather expected to ease slightly

Temperatures should drop to high 80s by tomorrow

MOSES LAKE - Temperatures are expected to moderate today and stay slightly cooler through the middle of next week, but it's expected to warm back up next Thursday or Friday.

Tommie Tindell, longtime Othello volunteer, dies at 81

Remembered for efforts to help town, promote patriotism

OTHELLO - When Tommie Tindell's family returned home from the hospital after he passed away, the flag outside the Tindell home had been lowered to half-staff, the lawn was mowed, the deck washed, the ripe fruit picked from the cherry and apricot trees.

Retail development gains first tenant

Possibly two additional tenants for Gateway Commerce Center

MOSES LAKE - A building offering retail and office space on Patton Boulevard has signed its first tenant, and owners say two more tenants are in negotiations.

Culbertson out as Grant County's PUD manager

Board cites potential problems over relationship

EPHRATA - Grant County PUD commissioners terminated the contract of PUD general manager Tim Culbertson during their regular meeting Monday.

Soap Lake celebrates Smokiam Days

Parade, salmon feed, fireworks part of the festivities

SOAP LAKE - Residents and friends of the town celebrated Smokiam Days with a parade, salmon feed, bed races, horseshoe tournament and a fireworks show.

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.