CHERYL SCHWEIZER

Royal Knights dominate in 55-0 win

ROYAL CITY — On the second play of the Homecoming game against Kiona-Benton Friday, Royal quarterback Lance Allred took the snap, faked a handoff and flipped the ball to receiver Cade Allred. Cade Allred threw 36 yards to receiver Case Christensen for the touchdown. The Knights scored 35 points in the first quarter en route to a 55-0 win over Ki-Be. Lance Allred said after the game the key to a good performance is preparation. “(Watching) film,” he said. “Just seeing what we have, what they don’t – trying to find where we can penetrate, so we just hit that. We execute it every day in practice. It plays out on the field.”

‘Now let’s go dig some dirt’

After long road, groundbreaking signals start of Samaritan construction

MOSES LAKE — With the shovels in the ground, the hard hats ready and construction equipment on site, Samaritan Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Theresa Sullivan said there were times she wondered if the construction of a new Samaritan Hospital would get this far. “As many of you know, there were days when I wondered, is this really going to happen? Are we really going to have a groundbreaking?” Sullivan said during the groundbreaking ceremony Friday. “In fact, some of you know I didn’t really want to answer the question any more (about) when are we going to break ground, because I was wrong 100% of the time.” ...

Job fair gives glimpse into economic opportunities

MOSES LAKE — Friday’s job fair at the Moses Lake WorkSource office highlighted, in part, the evolving nature of the local economy...

Q&A: Moses Lake School District director candidates

MOSES LAKE — First-term incumbent Shannon Hintz is being challenged by Amy Breitenstein for one of three open positions on the Moses Lake School Board...

Local heritage

Wanapum traditions showcased at Archaeology Days

MATTAWA — An atlatl is definitely a help when throwing a spear, at least according to the children trying it out during Archaeology Days at the Wanapum Herritage Center. Presenter Tom Bailor showed the children how to use it – the blunt end of the spear in the socket on the atlatl, aim high and throw. He showed them how it had evolved; an unknown engineer added a notch that functions as a handle...

Othello Homecoming royalty announced

OTHELLO — Seniors Marlen Sosa and Kakyzz Gonzalez were named the queen and king of Homecoming at Othello High School Friday night. Othello students also pick Homecoming royalty from the Life Skills class. Reigning as the duchess and duke of Homecoming were Julia Alvarez and Andrew Arellano.

Tradition, culture highlighted at UMANI Festival

MOSES LAKE — Radel Llamas said the game was part of his childhood, but he hadn’t played it in a while. Llamas wound the string around the brightly colored top, and explained the goal was to make the top, called a trompo, do what he wanted it to. “You want to get it dancing,” he said. That part was relatively easy. He snapped the string and the top spun across the bricks in Sinkiuse Square. “El puente, that’s what they call it,” he said. “That was our internet back in the day.”

$4M capital levy request before Wahluke voters

MATTAWA —Wahluke School District voters will be asked to accept or reject a four-year, $4 million capital improvement levy in the November general election...

Q&A: Quincy School District director candidates

QUINCY – Incumbent Heather Folks-Lambert is facing Shannon Durfee in the race for Position 3 on the Quincy School District Board. The Columbia Basin Herald posed the questions below to both candidates concurrently with matching word count restrictions and a deadline to submit their responses. Both responded within the timeframe specified...

Senior living industry poised for growth

MOSES LAKE — Tana Gall, president of Merrill Gardens retirement communities, said she had entirely the wrong idea when she started working for a senior living facility.

'A great day for us'

Open house, ribbon cutting Saturday for new Moses Lake cancer treatment center

MOSES LAKE — After a fundraising campaign that persisted – and was successful – in the teeth of a global pandemic, a new facility to provide radiation treatment for cancer patients in Moses Lake will have its grand opening Saturday. The open house for the Confluence Health Radiation Oncology Center will be from 10 a.m. to noon at 905 E. Hill Ave. The new treatment center is a joint project of the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation, Confluence Health and the Confluence Health Foundation. The ceremony will begin at 10:15, and representatives from all three groups will be cutting the ribbon at about 10:30 a.m. “It means so much to our community,” said foundation director Angel Ledesma at the groundbreaking ceremony in August 2022.

Othello takes 42-0 Homecoming win

OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies football team scored early and took a 42-0 win over Grandview Friday on Homecoming night in Othello. The win pushed the Huskies to 3-2 on the season, 2-1 in the Central Washington Athletic Conference. Othello had a strong senior class in 2022, had to make a lot of changes, and defensive coach Kevin Hale said it’s been an adjustment. “We replaced a lot of guys from last year’s team, and it’s been a bumpy start in a lot of ways,” Hale said.

New mascot statue unveiled at Moses Lake High School

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake High School Athletic Director Loren Sandhop said the new statue outside MLHS was a continuation of school traditions. “You’re all a part of history, you guys,” Sandhop told MLHS students Monday morning as he stood next to the statue representing the school’s mascot, the Maverick. The district changed its mascot from the Chiefs to the Mavericks in May 2022, and the Maverick statue was revealed as students watched and the MLHS band played the fight song. The statue of a bull, echoing the skull on the school logo, replaces the arrow and dreamcatcher that stood outside the school for about a dozen years. Clint Scriven, assistant athletic director, said artists at the company Way Out West designed the statue with direction from MLHS administrators.

GCFD 3 voters to be asked for change in levy

QUINCY — Voters in Grant County Fire District 3 will be asked to accept or reject a proposal to change the amount of money collected by the fire district in the general election Nov. 7. The proposed “levy lid lift” would raise the amount levied in property taxes to $1.30 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Deputy Chief David Durfee said the current levy is about 65 cents. It’s an increase in an existing levy, he said, not a new one. Because it’s a levy, the request requires 50% approval plus one vote to pass. If it is approved, a property owner with property assessed at $300,000 would pay $390 per year, compared with the $195 the landowner pays now.

Frontotemporal dementia

Memory health means different symptoms, challenges for patients and families

MOSES LAKE — Dementia is an ugly disease, and there are variants that make it even uglier. Frontotemporal dementia is one of those variants...

Indigenous history

Culture, geology and wildlife, focus of Archeology Days

WANAPUM DAM — Children and adults will get a look at the history and culture of the Wanapum and Columbia Plateau people at Archeology Days, Oct. 2 and 3 at the Wanapum Heritage Center, 29082 Highway 243 South. Drivers should turn at the Wanapum Dam entrance of the site. Archeology Days is a longtime project of the Grant County Public Utility District...

Q&A: Samaritan Healthcare candidates

MOSES LAKE — Incumbent Katherine Christian and challenger Elliot DeLong are running for one of two open positions on the Samaritan Healthcare commission...

Moses Lake School Board election Q&A

MOSES LAKE — Two candidates are running for Position 3 on the Moses Lake School Board, the incumbent Susan Freeman and challenger Carla Urias...

CBHA receives grant to help youth access mental health care

OTHELLO — The Columbia Basin Health Association is the recipient of a $500,000 grant designed to help children and teens who need behavioral health care to get it more quickly. The CBHA was one of five winners nationwide in the “Community Health Entrepreneur Challenge.” ...

WARRIOR ROYALTY

MATTAWA — Wahluke High School seniors Christopher Gallardo, left, and Andrea Corrales, right, reigned as the Homecoming king and queen at the WHS homecoming game Sept. 22.

Final Quincy hospital contract consideration postponed

QUINCY — The approval of the last – and largest – contract for the construction of the new Quincy Valley Medical Center is scheduled for Oct. 30. Joe Kunkel, a consultant working with QVMC on the project, said Monday the hospital board originally was scheduled to approve the contract for the third phase of the project during Monday’s meeting. But waiting a month was determined to be the better option, he said. “We said, ‘Let’s take a little more time and let the market work on this.’ Because if we try to jam it through, we’ll get a lot of people not responding. And we need as many eyes as we can get on this thing,” Kunkel said.

WorkSource to hold Oct. 6 hiring fair

MOSES LAKE — More than 30 businesses will have opportunities for people looking for that next job at the fall Hiring and Resource Fair sponsored by WorkSource. It’s scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 6 at WorkSource Central Basin, 309 E. Fifth Ave., Moses Lake.

Grant PUD eyeing multiple projects in ‘24 budget

EPHRATA — Grant County Public Utility District customers will be invited to review and comment on the 2024 budget at three public hearings Oct. 10 and 12. In-person hearings are scheduled for 2 p.m. Oct. 10 at the PUD commission hearing room at the main office in Ephrata, 30 C St. SW, and 6 p.m. Oct. 12 in the auditorium in the Moses Lake office, 312 W. Third Ave. A virtual hearing will be held Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. The link to the online meeting is available in a press release under the “News” tab on the PUD website, www.grantpud.org...

Bike safety, bike fun on agenda for Moses Lake bike rodeo

MOSES LAKE — All things bicycle will be the focus of the annual bike rodeo, from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the ice rink and parking lot at the Larson Recreation Center, 2501 W. Broadway Ave. in Moses Lake. The bike rodeo has been a project of the Moses Lake Kiwanis and the Moses Lake Trail Planning Team since about 2019, with interruptions for the COVID-19 pandemic. Over time other sponsors have come on board. The bike rodeo was the brainchild of Kiwanis member Louis Logan, and he came up with the official name, “Bicycle Activities, Repairs, Giveaway and Skills.” It replaced a longtime Kiwanis project.

Two Quincy streets slated for improvements

QUINCY — Sections of Third Avenue SW and Sixth Avenue NE in Quincy are scheduled for improvements. Quincy City Council members approved bids for two separate road projects Sept. 19, with bid opening Sept. 28...

Bites 2 Go

Program aims to provide weekend food for Othello children

OTHELLO — Qualifying elementary students in the Othello School District will be getting food to tide them over the weekends with the help of a partnership between the Othello Food Bank, 2nd Harvest and the Othello School District. The first meals of the “Bites 2 Go” program were delivered Thursday. Food Bank Director Jose Garza said Bites 2 Go is the revival of a program that was a casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s designed for children who may not have enough to eat when school is not in session. “It’s food to be taken home,” Garza said. “They will be getting food every weekend. If there’s no school on a Friday, they will get their bags on Thursdays.”

Operating hours may be reduced temporarily at Quincy Animal Shelter

QUINCY — The Quincy Animal Shelter hours may change temporarily as city officials work to add new staff. Municipal Services Director Carl Worley told Quincy City Council members Tuesday that it’s difficult for the existing staff to manage both the animals and the current hours. “The animal shelter is currently shorthanded until temporary employees are hired,” he said. “I think we’re down to pretty much two people at this point. So it’s sometimes difficult for them to meet the public at the door. Sometimes they’re in the back and don’t hear it.”

Elevate Othello

Community event looks at building opportunities and enjoying ice cream this Saturday

OTHELLO — Othello residents are invited for some ice cream and a wide-ranging discussion about increasing opportunities in town Saturday afternoon. Organizers of the “Elevate Othello” project will host an ice cream social from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Othello City Hall, 500 E. Main St., to talk about what they’ve learned so far, and where residents want to go from here.

Nonprofits connect with community at Care Fair

MOSES LAKE — Representatives from 15 local nonprofit organizations filled the Youth Dynamics building Saturday to raise awareness and recruit volunteers. The second annual Care Fair was sponsored by Care Moses Lake, and founder Michaelle Boetger said the goal is to help make connections. “Our mission is to help out other nonprofits in our community, and also promote giving back. That’s really what we’re trying to do here,” Boetger said...

Lions topple Eagles

MLCA/CCS defeats Soap Lake for third straight win of new football program

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy-Covenant Christian School Lions football team pushed their record to 3-0 with a 44-30 win over the Soap Lake Eagles Saturday at Lions Field. It was the third game ever for MLCA/CCS, and Coach Aaron Noble said his team met and overcame some challenges Saturday night...

Sip & Stroll draws wine, art, music lovers downtown

MOSES LAKE — A warm sunny day brought wine and spirit aficionados, art lovers, music lovers and shoppers to downtown Moses Lake Saturday. The annual Sip ‘n Stroll was sponsored by the Downtown Moses Lake Association. Association board president Denise Kinder said in midafternoon that participants had been arriving in a steady stream. “It’s been a really great turnout,” Kinder said...

Tattoo art both interesting, challenging, artist says

MOSES LAKE — Blaire Knox said she’s always loved and experimented with art. “I’ve been sort of an eclectic artist my whole life, mostly centered around drawing,” she said. “Just as a personal interest. Beyond drawing, I’ve done painting and working with clay for sculptures, sewing clothes. I’ve (worked) with 3D modeling and drawing comics, and working with Photoshop. I’m a jack of all trades, master of none.” ...

Road projects under consideration near The Gorge

QUINCY — Grant County officials are working on options to alleviate traffic congestion on Silica Road and around the Gorge Amphitheater. One project already has been approved by the Grant County Commissioners; two more are under discussion with the goal of making improvements next spring...

QVMC commissioners award materials contracts

QUINCY — Quincy Valley Medical Center commissioners awarded about $4.57 million in contracts for materials for the new Quincy hospital in a special meeting Wednesday. It was the second of three contracts for construction. “The last approval that we’ll go through is for the full (guaranteed maximum price), and that is going to be next month,” said Kayla Van Lieshout of the Klosh Group, a consultant on the project. “We anticipate taking that to the Oct. 23 board meeting for approval.” ...

Samaritan board approves bond issuance

MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare commissioners approved the issuance of about $136.48 million in revenue bonds to pay for the construction of the new Samaritan Hospital Wednesday. “Wow,” said board chair Katherine Christian after the board voted to issue the bonds, and after the meeting she said it had been a long process...

Sip & Stroll, Care Fair set for Saturday in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Some wine, some art, information on volunteer opportunities – downtown Moses Lake will be full of events Saturday afternoon...

Getting musical

Central Basin Community Concert Association announced 2023-24 season

MOSES LAKE — The Central Basin Community Concert Association will open its 69th season with a group featuring four-part harmony in four different musical genres. “The Suits” will perform in concert Oct. 12 at the Wallenstien Theater, 6528 26th Ave. NW, on the Big Bend Community College campus...

Tigers claw out a W in Battle of the Basin

Ephrata takes down Quincy in 35-12 gridiron bout Friday

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tigers pulled away in the second half to take the 2023 Battle of the Basin over the Quincy Jackrabbits, 35-12, Friday night in Ephrata...

‘We start today’

Groundbreaking signals start of Quincy Valley Medical Center project

QUINCY — Quincy Valley Medical Center CEO Glenda Bishop characterized the new Quincy Valley Medical Center as a project about the past, present and future...

Stepping out for ag

Agriculture appreciation and fun emphasized at Farmer Consumer Awareness Day

QUINCY — The commemoration of Quincy’s past and future contributions to agriculture brought contemporary and antique farm machinery, dancing horses, pulling tractors and classic cars to town - and those were only some of the attractions at Farmer Consumer Awareness Day Saturday...

Battle of the Basin

EPHRATA - Ephrata players show the Battle of the Basin trophy to the team and the crowd after the Tigers’ 35-12 win over the Quincy Jackrabbits in Ephrata on Friday night. Quincy led 12-7 at the half, but Ephrata scored 29 unanswered points in the second half to take the win. Full coverage of the game will be available in the Columbia Basin Herald later this week.

Quincy Animal Shelter supervision leads to staffing discussion

QUINCY — Quincy animal shelter administration will be shifted from the Quincy Police Department to the city’s public works department, a proposal that prompted a discussion about staffing by the Quincy City Council Sept. 5. “With the move over to public works, the (animal shelter) manager’s supervision is done by the maintenance supervisor, which also makes sense because he can then better address some of the facility issues that come up from time to time, (such as) equipment, building repair (and) utilities,” City Administrator Pat Haley said in answer to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald...

Farmer Consumer Awareness Day Saturday in Quincy

QUINCY — A parade down Central Avenue, dancing horses, three-on-three soccer, a car show, a tractor pull – all the good old events return to Quincy Saturday on Farmer Consumer Awareness Day. While technically it’s not part of FCAD, the B Street Block Party is an unofficial kickoff; it’s from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday. One block of B Street, from Central Avenue South to First Street Southwest, will host vendors serving food and wine, along with some merchandise. The Olson Brothers Band will be performing live. Saturday’s events start early and run all day. Signup forms, or links to signup forms, are available on the FCAD website, www.quincyfcad.org.

New Ephrata water tower construction planned

EPHRATA — The city of Ephrata will build a new water tower adjacent to an existing city well near Columbia Ridge Elementary School. Ephrata City Council members approved the termination of a lease between the city and the Ephrata School District at the regular council meeting Wednesday. The vote was 5-0. “That’s the chunk of land that’s – where, exactly?” asked council member Kathleen Allstot. “Right in front of the preschool,” said City Administrator Ray Towry. “That’s the property that we own.”

Activity starts on Samaritan Hospital construction site Monday

MOSES LAKE — Dirt will start moving Monday on the site of the new Samaritan Hospital, with construction fences going up the week after. “We are going to start mobilizing on Monday. You will see there’s going to be all kinds of earthworking equipment that will show up in the first week,” said Matt Pulick of Graham Construction, general contractors for the project. “They’re going to be moving dirt around to prepare for the site fencing that’s going to go up the following week.” After the fence goes up crews will install construction offices, temporary electricity and internet service, along with a water source crews will use to keep down the dust. A “progress camera” will be set up as part of the site preparation; it will take pictures of the site every 10 minutes throughout construction, Pulick said. “We’re all good to go,” he said.

India lifts tariffs on apples, peas, lentils

WASHINGTON D.C. — Tariffs on American apples, peas and lentils imposed by the Indian government in 2018 were lifted Wednesday, following an agreement between the U.S. and India announced in June. The 20% tariff was imposed on U.S. agricultural products in retaliation for tariffs on steel imposed by the then-Trump Administration. The U.S. tariffs on Indian steel were removed as well. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) said removing the tariffs required continuing effort from the state’s Congressional delegation, as well as changing political and market conditions.

Back on track

Construction expected in 2024 on Port of Moses Lake rail project

MOSES LAKE — Construction could start in 2024 on a long-delayed project to replace the railroad tracks running through downtown Moses Lake with a new line between Wheeler Road and the Port of Moses Lake. Milton Miller, director of port facilities, said about five miles of track will be built. The project also will include the rehabilitation of about 3.5 miles of existing track near Patton Boulevard leading to the port...

QVMC to break ground Saturday

QUINCY — Fences are going up and other site preparation should start in early October and the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Quincy Valley Medical Center is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The groundbreaking will be at the construction site behind the existing hospital, 908 10 Ave. SW. Kayla Van Lieshout, project manager for project managers the Klosh Group, said Graham Construction, the general contractor, has a construction schedule and a tentative start date...

Jacks lose season opener vs. East Valley

QUINCY — The Quincy High School football team started fast, but East Valley (Yakima) had more speed in the end and defeated the Jacks 42-14 Friday night in the season opener for both teams. “I think we just had trouble catching up to their speed,” said Quincy Coach Russ Elliott after the game. “They had some pretty good skill receivers out there. And they executed really well.” ...

Layered learning

Onion Field Day offers growers and academics a chance to learn and network.

MOSES LAKE — The onion varietal trial in a field near Moses Lake is nearing harvest, but even once it’s in storage it’s still a work in progress. Like all farming, raising onions is a continual process of adjustment, which was highlighted during Onion Field Day Thursday. Co-organizer Carrie Wohleb, WSU Grant-Adams County Extension, said scientists planted 52 different varieties of onions. Brian Haddon, one of the many industry professionals in attendance, said farmers and industry experts were examining the onions for quality as they came from the field...