CHERYL SCHWEIZER

Othello Municipal Court achieves first anniversary

OTHELLO – It’s been a bit more than a year since the city of Othello ended its interlocal agreement with Adams County for court services in favor of establishing its own Othello Municipal Court. Municipal Judge Carolyn J. Benzel said the court has since grown into a well-functioning system.

Jacks softball takes two Ws from Wahluke Warriors

QUINCY — A pair of hard-fought games went to the Quincy Jackrabbits softball team in a doubleheader against the Wahluke Warriors Saturday.

Jobs, programs at risk as voters to decide on MLSD levy

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District patrons will have the choice to accept or reject a two-year educational programs levy in a special election April 23. It’s the same proposal as the one rejected by voters in February.

Roundabout planned near Royal City

ROYAL CITY — A new roundabout at Road 12 Southwest and South Dodson Road could be installed in 2024 - and will be, if Grant County officials can swing it. “We’re hoping to get that done in 2024,” said Grant County Engineer Dave Bren. “But we’re still working on some right of way.”

Budget, intended uses important when planning a deck

MOSES LAKE — The process of building a deck - one that will last, anyway, and one that will be what the homeowner wants it to be - starts long before construction. “It’s just like building a home,” said Omar Jones of Handyman Starz Unique, Moses Lake.

Samaritan to demonstrate new surgical robot Monday

MOSES LAKE — People who are curious about the new surgical robot put into service in November at Samaritan Hospital can see it for themselves during a demonstration at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the 4-H building at the Grant County Fairgrounds, 3593 Airway Drive NE.

Historic road trips

Quincy museum announces 2024 educational field trip schedule

QUINCY — The Quincy Valley Historical Society & Museum will be back on the road for 2024 with a series of tours and lectures detailing the geological and human history of the region. Seating on the bus is limited; interested people can go on the museum website and purchase tickets. Ticket prices vary depending on the tour and whether or not the tour includes lunch, said QVHSM Director of Operations Harriet Weber.

Quincy boys golfers looking to learn, improve

QUINCY — Coach Chris Trevino said the Quincy boys golf team will be a work in progress in 2024. “We’ve got a couple of guys that I think are going to be pretty good for us, and we’re just trying to build out the next two guys to post a team score,” he said. Six players make up a high school varsity team, with the top four individual scores counting for the team score. Quincy has nine players out for golf, but Trevino said 2024 fits into a pattern that’s been going on in Quincy for a while.

Grant County bridge work under way

MOSES LAKE — Two Grant County bridges will be closed for a while, maybe a long while, while one is repaired and the other designed and rebuilt. Bridge 247, southeast of Warden on Road W Southeast, has been removed completely. Bridge 202, east of Moses Lake on Road N Northeast, is still there but one end is resting on temporary supports. Grant County Engineer David Bren said the trouble at Bridge 202 was discovered by an anonymous truck driver.

SR 17 repaving begins April 1 in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Construction begins April 1 on a project to resurface a seven-mile section of State Route 17 through Moses Lake.

VROOM into 2024

Car shows in the Columbia Basin

MOSES LAKE – As spring pulls up and shows its face in the beams of our headlights, there are loads of car shows coming to the Columbia Basin over the next few months. Car aficionados can polish their valve covers, get their cameras ready and head out to take a look at streets full of classic sedans, antique vehicles, street rods, rat rods, lowriders, modern mods, trucks, motorcycles and much more at car shows throughout the rest of the year.

Work on Vantage Bridge begins this week

VANTAGE — The Vantage Bridge will be subject to single-lane closures beginning this week as crews start a multiyear project to replace the bridge deck.

Eastern Washington spring home and garden shows begin

SPOKANE — As the days get longer and spring inches closer, thoughts turn to - well, lots of things, but getting out in the garden and sprucing up the house, among others. So spring is the season for home and garden shows.

Quincy boys soccer looks to build on 2023 success

QUINCY — New Quincy head boys soccer coach Hector Vaca said the biggest challenge for the Jackrabbits heading into the 2024 season might be on their side of the field. “I think our biggest challenge is ourselves,” Vaca wrote in response to questions from the Columbia Basin Herald. “We need to go into every game with a positive mindset and ensure we take each game one at a time, as well as not overlook any opponent.”

Academic athletes

Soap Lake girls basketball team brings home academic state championship

SOAP LAKE — When a team sets a goal, it takes - well, teamwork to reach it. A new banner soon to be installed in the Soap Lake High School gym illustrates what happens when the SLHS girls basketball team took the concept and put it into practice.

Changes coming to Quincy administration

QUINCY — Quincy city officials will be revising city administration following the retirement of Clerk/Finance Officer Nancy Schanze, scheduled for later this year.

GALLERY: Basin competitors at state basketball

MOSES LAKE – Congratulations to the five local basketball teams that qualified for their respective state tournaments this season; the Almira/Coulee-Hartline girls, the MLCA/CCS boys, the Royal boys, the Soap Lake boys and Warden girls.

Grant Co. unpaved road grading to start as weather permits

EPHRATA — Grant County residents can expect grading to start on unpaved county roads as snow melts, rainy weather and roads dry out. Supervisors of all three county road districts gave an update to the Grant County Commissioners Monday.

Samaritan sees 2023 operating loss

MOSES LAKE — According to a preliminary review, Samaritan Healthcare finished 2023 with an operating loss of about $2.86 million. Chief Administrative Officer Alex Town said the year-end report prepared by Samaritan’s financial department must be reviewed by an outside auditor before it’s submitted to the state.

Samaritan Hospital construction moving forward quickly

MOSES LAKE — Construction crews have started pouring the concrete slab on the second floor of the Samaritan Hospital. “This is your first concrete slab that’s not on the ground,” said Damon Gardella of the Klosh Group, part of the construction management team.

Potatoes USA speaker highlights potato trends

KENNEWICK — Potatoes can and should be part of initiatives toward healthy eating, according to Bonnie Johnson, director of nutrition and industry relations for Potatoes USA. Johnson talked about the organization’s efforts to promote the place of potatoes in a healthy diet, among other things, at the Washington-Oregon Potato Conference in late January.

MLHS speech and debate team surprises coach, each other

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake High School speech and debate coach Kevin Chollman said the plan for the 2023-24 school year was to get a team going again.

Royal ends season at 1A state tournament

YAKIMA — A bad day rebounding and shots that wouldn’t quite fall ended the Royal High School boys basketball season with a 55-40 loss to Riverside (Chattaroy) at the state 1A basketball tournament Wednesday in Yakima. Royal Coach Greg Jenks said the rebounding made the difference. “We knew they were a good rebounding team, and found out they were a really good rebounding team,” he said. The Knights played intense defense throughout, holding Riverside scoreless in the second quarter. The Knights forced Riverside into a 30-second violation early in the first quarter, but struggled with turnovers in the early going. Riverside took a 12-8 lead with about 2:19 left in the first quarter, getting the rebound and converting the second chance. Jenks said that was the story of the game.

Moses Lake High School play premieres March 1

MOSES LAKE — The curtain rises March 1 at the Moses Lake High School theater on a tale of a teenager facing challenges within and without. The MLHS production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time” is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 1, 4 and 5 and 2 p.m. March 2. The title is from a Sherlock Holmes story, but the play has nothing to do with Victorian times. Beck Ashton, who’s one of the leads, said it presented the actors and actresses with a challenge. “It’s a difficult play,” Ashton said. Director and drama advisor Sharon Winningham said trying something new was the idea.

Concrete next phase of QVMC construction

QUINCY — Construction crews will start pouring the concrete slab at the site of the new Quincy Valley Medical Center sometime next week.

New crosswalk with lights is first 2024 road project in Soap Lake

SOAP LAKE — A crosswalk with flashing lights to make it a little easier to cross Daisy Street South in Soap Lake will be installed sometime this spring. Soap Lake City Council members approved a contract for about $282,620 with Ascent Foundation, Cle Elum, during the regular meeting Feb.21. Michael Woodkey of Gray and Osborne, the city’s engineers, said the city received an additional grant for about $51,200 after bids were opened to pay costs that were higher than projected. Flashing lights will be installed at the crossing, to be activated when pedestrians want to cross the street. State Route 17 is Daisy Street South where it runs through Soap Lake. Soap Lake Police Chief Ryan Cox said the setup would be similar to crossing lights that already exist at the Grant County Courthouse and Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata.

Soap Lake ends season with 78-71 state tournament loss

MOSES LAKE — The season ended for the Soap Lake boys basketball team with a 78-71 loss to Summit Classical Christian Academy in the first round of the state playoffs Friday at Moses Lake High School. Soap Lake and Summit were tied at the end of the first quarter and Soap Lake stayed close throughout the game, but Soap Lake Coach Daniel Simon said one factor made the difference. “They just shot the lights out tonight,” he said. “Sometimes it’s just out of your control. It’s part of the game of basketball.” The Archers took a quick 4-0 lead, but Soap Lake came back, hitting two three-point shots to cut the lead to 10-9. The Eagles took the lead with about three minutes to play, but Summit hit a three-pointer with three seconds left in the quarter to take the lead. A foul called right before the first-quarter buzzer allowed Soap Lake to tie the game at 19.

Fostered passion: Scholarship remembers woman committed to foster children and adoptive families

MOSES LAKE — Patty Honsowetz liked children, all children, and thought all of them deserved a chance. When her husband Rick and their children decided they wanted to do something in her honor, they thought about that. “I started talking to my kids about ways that we could, yes, honor her legacy, but also benefit something she was passionate about,” Rick Honsowetz said. “Which was children, specifically foster children and children from the foster system that had been adopted.”

Moses Lake levy request to go back to voters

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District voters will be asked to approve or reject an educational programs and operations levy in a special election April 23. Moses Lake School Board members approved the resubmission of the levy request on a unanimous vote Thursday.

Lions claw their way to 1B state tourney

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School boys basketball team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 1B state basketball tournament with a 64-54 win over Cusick Friday.

Quincy High School theater group to present ‘The Addams Family’

QUINCY — The curtain rises on a tale of love and its challenges, acceptance and an, um, unusual family March 1. The Quincy High School production of “The Addams Family” runs for two weekends at the QHS Performing Arts Center, 403 Jackrabbit St. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. March 1 and 8, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. March 2 and 9, and 6:30 p.m. March 7. Tickets will be available at the door, at the QHS office before and after school, or online. Director and QHS Theater advisor Haliey Weber said the 2023-24 drama club season is the year for something different, and the “Addams Family” fits the bill. “It’s a very different tone, different genre than we’ve done. It’s very comedic – it’s really funny,” Weber said.

Quincy Valley parks board being formed

QUINCY — The new Quincy Valley Regional Parks District could start holding its first meetings in April. Quincy City Administrator Pat Haley said the formation of the new district’s board is underway.

Slope stabilization along SR 17 underway

SOAP LAKE — The section of State Route 17 between the Lake Lenore Caves and the Soap Lake city limits will be subject to frequent closures on weekdays, probably at least through early September. Contractors will be working on a project to remove loose rocks and stabilize the remaining slope where the highway runs between the rock embankment and the lakes, a stretch of about 10 miles.

Grant County Jail construction second phase start dependent on permit approvals

EPHRATA — The first phase of construction of the new Grant County Jail - demolition and site preparation - was supposed to start next week, but cooperative weather meant the project actually started in late January. Grant County Central Services Director Tom Gaines said footings, foundations and walls tentatively are scheduled to start going up in March or April. When foundations will start going in and walls going up depends on the approval of a state-required environmental review. That process is still ongoing. “We’re digging the sewer line right now,” Gaines said. “A lot of the demolition is done.” The new jail will be at the location of the old Ephrata Raceway, at the intersection of State Route 282 and Nat Washington Way. The track and pits, the bleachers, the announcer booth and the concession stand have all been removed. As an old racetrack the site had contaminated dirt that had to be removed, Gaines said, and all that work is completed too.

Moses Lake, Wahluke levees failing in updated election results

EPHRATA — A two-year educational programs and operations levy in the Moses Lake School District is failing, and so is a capital levy proposal in the Wahluke School District, in updated vote totals from the Feb. 13 special election released Friday afternoon.

Quincy schools take a close look at security

QUINCY — Presentations for Quincy School District parents and secondary students on what to do in the case of a shooter at school are scheduled for March 27 and 28. Jesus Villahermosa, a nationally recognized expert, will talk to students March 27 and parents and district patrons March 28.

Young Life group wants to encourage connection

MOSES LAKE — Christopher Voigt and Lisa Naydenov said the goal of the Young Life group they lead is to connect with teens who otherwise might not have many connections. “I guess nowadays, kids don’t really have a sense of belonging,” Voigt said. “They’re friends with everyone on social media, but they don’t have that tight-knit group of friends in person. We want to be (a resource) for the kids in relationship building. Our goal is to build relationships with kids who may not have in-person relationships otherwise.” Naydenov said it’s rooted in the Christian faith and is open to all teens, regardless of personal beliefs. “It’s a faith-based organization. We are adults trying to get into the kids’ world, trying to meet them where they are. We try to get to know them, to earn trust with them, to walk beside them in life,” she said.

Tabletop exercise discusses expectations and responses for when the unthinkable happens

EPHRATA — Emergencies do not respect time or place, and sometimes the unthinkable happens. Ephrata School District officials already have thought about the response if the unthinkable happened at Ephrata High School, but how would they get the information out to parents and district patrons? Getting the word out was the subject of a tabletop exercise with ESD officials, law enforcement and firefighters and the district’s insurance carriers Thursday.

Silica Road Northwest, West Baseline Road work to start in March

QUINCY — Drivers in the area of Silica Road Northwest, West Baseline Road and Sunland Estates will experience traffic delays beginning in mid-March. Construction crews will widen a section of Baseline Road and a section of Silica Road, along with resurfacing another section of Silica Road, all around the Gorge Amphitheater. “So come mid-March, you’ll see that we’re already doing prep work on (West) Baseline, east of Silica (Road), about a mile,” said David Bren, Grant County engineer. “Because we’re going to widen Baseline and add a center lane – a queuing lane, a turning lane – too. So Baseline is going to be redone and widened, and it’s going to be restriped so it has a center turning lane.” Silica Road north and south of the entrance to the amphitheater also will get some work.

Soap Lake reviewing shoreline development regulations

SOAP LAKE — More research is underway, but when it’s done Soap Lake residents will get a chance to register their opinions on updated development regulations along the lake shoreline.

Ephrata 2nd, Royal 3rd, Quincy 4th in Region 4 girls wrestling

QUINCY — The Ephrata, Royal and Quincy girls wrestling teams finished second, third and fourth in the Region 4 2A/1A/2B/1B tournament Saturday at Quincy High School. The Wahluke girls took home a 12th-place finish.

Three Quincy wrestlers advance to state

QUINCY — The Quincy Jackrabbits boys wrestling team qualified three wrestlers for Mat Classic XXXV at the Region 4 1A tournament at QHS last Saturday.

A challenging game

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School Board member Amy Breitenstein tries - and alas, fails - to pull the paper from between two cups, one of the games school board members played with Endeavor Middle School students at the regular meeting Thursday. A busload of EMS students came to the meeting with teachers, staff and EMS principal Abe Ramirez to give a presentation on the school to board members.

Counselors detail MLSD bullying prevention efforts

MOSES LAKE — Counselors reviewed programs used by the Moses Lake School District to combat bullying in a presentation to the Moses Lake School Board Thursday. “I can tell you with assurance that all counselors employed by the Moses Lake School District care very deeply about this topic,” said Columbia Middle School counselor Chris Mason.

Success celebration

Moses Lake students celebrate hard work, overcome challenges at Open Doors graduation

MOSES LAKE — The diploma Kadence Spencer received Thursday night was the visible symbol of hard work and success.

Busy summer of roadwork coming to Soap Lake

SOAP LAKE — It’s going to be a bumpy ride in and through Soap Lake this summer, literally and figuratively. City streets are scheduled for extensive repairs and new crosswalk lights, and a major project is scheduled for state Route 17, just north of the city limits.

Quincy City Council scrutinizes fire agreement

QUINCY — Determining how much to pay for fire protection services was the subject of a lengthy discussion at the regular Quincy City Council meeting Tuesday.

Olympic stumble: Rent control bill passes House appropriations, fails in Senate appropriations

OLYMPIA — Legislation that would place a limit on raises in rent in Washington faces an uncertain future after a bill failed to advance in the Washington Senate.

Bullying at Frontier points toward frustrations for parents

MOSES LAKE — Harassment or bullying at school often leads to unknown territory for parents, who don’t always know what school officials can do, and may not be able to find out what they are doing. School officials can’t always answer parents’ questions, even in the case of recurring incidents.

Royal girls dominate in win, take league title

ROYAL CITY — The Royal girls basketball team dominated from the opening tip, taking a 75-25 win over the Wahluke girls Friday.