CHERYL SCHWEIZER

Five decades of muscle

Moses Lake Classic Car Club kicks off 50th anniversary year

MOSES LAKE — The first car for Dave Robins was a 1947 Frazer. Robins and his twin brother were about 14 years old, he said, and were mowing lawns that summer. One of their clients was an older man, a veteran with limited mobility and limited means. He gave the brothers the old Frazer as payment for their work.

Demolition to start next Monday at Grant jail site

EPHRATA — People driving by the site of the new Grant County Jail will start seeing the existing buildings coming down Jan. 15. The jail will be built on the site of the old Ephrata Raceway, and the grandstands, ticket booth, concession stand and track are still in place. Grant County Central Services Director Tom Gaines said demolition of all of that will start next month. The contractor is Sellen Construction, Seattle. While there hasn’t been much visible work at the site, there’s been work underway, Gaines said. Testing found asbestos and lead paint in some of the structures, and petroleum products in the pit area and on the racetrack. Crews have already removed hazardous materials from the buildings and the site, he said, preparatory to demolition. “All the environmental hazards have been remedied,” he said.

Port of Moses Lake starts executive director hunt

MOSES LAKE — A new executive director for the Port of Moses Lake should be announced by the end of March. Port commissioners hired Prothman, a business based in Issaquah, to conduct a search for candidates for the position Monday. The contract is $19,500 plus applicable expenses, which were expected to be about $5,000 to $6,500 for placing recruitment ads. Jim Darling, a consultant working with port officials on recruitment, said the port saved money by doing some of the work before looking for a consultant. “Their fee is a little bit less than they normally would charge, because we spent several months on a draft job description and characteristics summary,” Darling said.

Othello boys, girls basketball teams drop two games

OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies boys basketball team got off to a slow start and never caught back up in an 88-49 loss to Prosser Friday in Othello. The Huskie girls basketball team made a run but ultimately lost to Prosser 73-36.

Winter hits as passes close and snow falls

MOSES LAKE — It took a while, but winter is finally here in earnest in the Columbia Basin. And it looks like it’s not going away soon. The snow started Monday morning and was still coming down at press time.

Port says no: Municipal Airport in Moses Lake will not change management from city to port.

MOSES LAKE — Port of Moses Lake commissioners have declined a proposal from the city of Moses Lake to assume control of the Moses Lake Municipal Airport. Port commissioners suggested forming an airport district as an alternative.

January weather dead ahead; snow, lows near zero on the way

MOSES LAKE — It being January it had to happen sometime, and it looks like it’s happening later this week. Temperatures are expected to drop to near zero by Friday night.

Road project starts next month north of Soap Lake

SOAP LAKE — Work will begin in late February on a project to reduce the possibility of rocks falling onto State Route 17 north of Soap Lake. Miguel Castillo, engineer on the project for the Washington State Department of Transportation, said the project is scheduled to start Feb. 20. The project area is the section of SR 17 from Soap Lake to the Lake Lenore Caves, where the road runs between Soap Lake or Lake Lenore and the rock embankment. Due to the intricate nature of the work, he estimated the project will take about seven months to complete. “There’s a lot of work there,” Castillo said. “All that work is very slow – it is time-consuming.”

Living small

Grant County proposes revised rules for accessory dwelling units

EPHRATA — Revised regulations for building accessory dwelling units in the unincorporated areas of Grant County are available for review and comment through Jan. 20. Jim Anderson-Cook, Development Services deputy director, said the revisions were designed to address some problems residents had experienced when trying to build an ADU, and to clarify the process. The new rules allow up to two ADUs on a property, but how they can be built depends on the location. People living in an ADU must be permanent residents, and they can’t be rented for less than 30 days. A place that’s rented for less than 30 days is called a short-term rental and is handled under a different ordinance.

More money for ambulance service, senior center in Quincy 2024 budget

QUINCY — The city of Quincy is projected to spend about $107.13 million in 2024, according to the budget approved by the Quincy City Council in December. The ongoing discussion over a block of B Street Northeast, whether changes are needed and how to pay for them if they are needed, prompted council member Dave Dormier to vote no on the budget resolution. The city’s general fund was budgeted at $16.77 million. The general fund includes the Quincy Police Department, parks and recreation, part of the salaries of some city workers and some city operations. Some contracted services and other agreements with local entities also are in the general fund.

Grant PUD commissioners to vote on 3% overall rate increase

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners will vote on a proposal for a 3% overall rate increase, effective April 1, at the Jan. 9 commission meeting. While the overall increase is 3%, individual classes may pay more or less than that. Julio Aguirre Carmona, the PUD’s rates and pricing program manager, said that will be the recommendation from PUD staff. If commissioners approve it, it will be the same policy they followed in 2023. If commissioners approve the 3% overall proposal, residential and irrigation rates would increase by 3.5%; so would the rate for general service and large general service, which are typically businesses. The rates for large industrial customers would increase by 1.74%, and for industrial customers by 5.25%. The difference between the industrial classes is based on the amount of electricity they use.

Ice cream truck provides marketable skills, educates community, owner says

EPHRATA — The Street Sweets Ice Cream and More truck is a good place to get a cold snack on a hot day, but co-owner Tiffany Mullings said it’s about more than that. “I am the autistic mother to two autistic children,” she said. “And my husband and I had a little money left over from a (financial transaction), and we thought, ‘Hey, let’s look for a step van and if we can, we’ll start an ice cream truck, as a way to give them an opportunity for meaningful employment and to build some marketable skills that they can use throughout their life.” For two years Mullings and her daughters Riley and Dorieann Mullings, 22 and 21 respectively, her co-owners in the business, have driven the streets of Ephrata throughout the spring, summer and fall. She drives, she said, and her daughters do the serving.

Grant County Animal Outreach gets funds for new shelter

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Commissioners have approved $1 million in funding for a new Grant County Animal Outreach shelter, if GCAO meets some conditions. That matches a similar $1 million commitment from the city of Moses Lake. The $2 million, said GCAO Chair Sara Thompson Tweedy, should pay most, if not all, of the cost of construction of a new facility. “We think we have just about what we need,” she said.

Grant County eyes updating short-term rental rules

EPHRATA — Revised ordinances governing short-term rentals in Grant County will be available for review and challenge through Jan. 20.

A long process: Finding the next popular apple variety takes time tenacity

KENNEWICK — For all the research, all the focus groups, all the test marketing, it is the consumer who ultimately decides the success of something new or different. That’s as true in the tree fruit industry as anywhere else - the apple variety that was the queen of the orchard in 1967, or 1997 or 2017, might have a fraction of market share today. Or maybe it’s not on the market at all.

Projected revenues higher than expenses in Soap Lake 2024 budget

SOAP LAKE — The city of Soap Lake is projected to spend about $1.52 million from its general fund in 2024, which is below the revenue projection.

Wahluke SD capital levy going back to voters

MATTAWA — Wahluke School District voters will consider a request for a four-year capital improvements levy in a special election Feb. 13.

Splash pad coming to Othello’s Kiwanis Park

OTHELLO — Planning is underway for upgrades to Othello’s Kiwanis Park, which are tentatively scheduled for summer 2024. City Engineer Shawn O’Brien said that’s the plan, but there are details still to be worked out. “The schedule is still up in the air,” he said. “The final plan has not been ironed out yet.”

Longtime Moses Lake attorney Brian Dano announces retirement

MOSES LAKE — There were things about the practice of law that Brian Dano liked, and things he didn’t, he said. But overall it was a great career.

Quincy council approves annexation

QUINCY — Improvements will be made to a section of Monument Hill Road NW and M Street Northeast as part of an annexation agreement approved by the Quincy City Council December 18.

School district levies to be on February ballot

MOSES LAKE — Voters in several local school districts will be asked to approve or reject requests for educational program and operations levies in a special election Feb. 13.

Down-to-the-wire gardening gifts

Plenty of choices out there for the gardener in your life

MOSES LAKE — This is it. Christmas is dead ahead, so there’s no more time for lollygagging. It’s time to find something for the gardeners on the Christmas list.

‘This is the time of giving’

Children, law enforcement officers find presents, have good time at Shop With a Cop

MOSES LAKE — They might have been the best shoes ever.

Outstanding Resource Water recognition

Soap Lake's unique properties have helped garner protections for it under Department of Ecology Program

SOAP LAKE — The Washington Department of Ecology has designated Soap Lake an “outstanding resource water,” effective Jan. 18. Under the new designation, any new or expanded source of pollution on the lake could not make a measurable change in water quality.

GCFD 3 working on plan to ensure best use of levy money

QUINCY — Grant County Fire District 3 officials will be looking at the district’s long-term planning to determine the best use of additional funds generated by the levy increase approved by district voters in November. The “levy lid lift” received 812 yes votes and 534 no votes. It’s an increase in an existing levy, and will raise the amount levied in property taxes in the fire district to $1.30 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Collection of the additional levy money will start in 2024. The levy is paid by property owners within the district. The city of Quincy contracts with GCFD 3 for fire services, but is not part of the district...

Presents purchased, good time had at Othello Shop With a Cop

OTHELLO — Othello Police Officer Omar Ledesma and his shopping buddy were looking everywhere, but there was no slime to be found. Not in aisle G, or E or F. Evelyn, Ledesma’s shopping buddy for the OPD Shop With a Cop, needed slime for a present. “Let’s see.. .slime, slime,” Ledesma said as he searched the aisles of the Othello Walmart. But there was no slime. Finally, Ledesma pulled out his phone to do a search of Walmart’s website.

Ephrata girls take 64-23 win over Quincy

QUINCY — The Ephrata Tigers girls basketball team leveraged their height, experience and an aggressive defense to run their record to 5-0 with a 64-23 win over the Quincy Jackrabbits Thursday night in Quincy. The Tigers used a pressing defense and good outside shooting to build a 17-2 lead in the first five minutes of the first quarter. Ephrata Coach Alain Black said the team used its defense to make offensive opportunities, and that’s been a focus of the early season.

Book donation project ends in a kiss for a pig

MOSES LAKE — Usually the monthly assembly at Midway Elementary School holds the children’s attention, what with awards being handed out and things. But the students were a little fidgety Friday, and no wonder. Something was going to happen that had never happened at a Midway assembly before.

Basin Battle: Jacks take Tigers, 62-47 Thursday in annual Battle of the Basin

QUINCY — Good defense and a productive second quarter helped the Quincy Jackrabbits boys basketball team defeat the Ephrata Tigers 62-47 in a non-league game Thursday night in Quincy. Quincy Coach Scott Bierlink said the team has focused on defense, and the work is paying off. “We can really lock some teams down,” Bierlink said.

Water and power

Grand Coulee Dam such a big project some thought it was too big

GRAND COULEE — The editors of Life magazine could not hide their suspicion that President Franklin D. Roosevelt had decided a trip to check on a project was an excellent excuse to get out of town.

Water and power

Grand Coulee Dam such a big project some thought it was too big

GRAND COULEE — The editors of Life magazine could not hide their suspicion that President Franklin D. Roosevelt had decided a trip to check on a project was an excellent excuse to get out of town.

Soap Lake eyeing $7.15M budget

SOAP LAKE — The city of Soap Lake is expected to spend about $7.15 million in 2024, according to the proposed budget to be voted on by the Soap Lake City Council Dec. 20. The proposed budget includes a 5% decrease in spending. Utility rates may be increased in 2024, although that is still to be determined.

Benefit auction Saturday for GCAO

MOSES LAKE — Animal lovers are being invited to participate in a fundraising silent auction to benefit Grant County Animal Outreach Saturday afternoon. “Paws for a Cause” will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Rick’s Eatery & Entertainment, 810 W. Third Ave., Moses Lake.

A vehicle for learning: CB Tech gets fire engine for fire science class courtesy of MLFD

MOSES LAKE — There’s a tradition in the fire service when a new piece of apparatus is added to the fleet, and students at Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center followed that tradition Wednesday morning.

Masquers to audition for ‘Harvey’

SOAP LAKE — Open auditions for the Masquers production of “Harvey” will be Dec. 18 and 19 at 6 p.m.at the theater, 322 E. Main St., Soap Lake.

Soap Lake receives $2.15M streets grant

SOAP LAKE — The city of Soap Lake will be doing some work on its streets in 2024 with the help of a $2.15 million grant from the Washington Transportation Improvement Board.

Adams Co. residents urged to get respiratory vaccines

RITZVILLE — Adams County health officials are urging people to get vaccinations for respiratory illnesses as the rate of those diseases increases in the county.

Grant PUD approves interim rate-setting resolution

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners have approved a new resolution on rate setting policy, which Commissioner Larry Schaapman said was a temporary fix while commissioners revisit the way rates are established.

Opportunities for holiday kindness

Columbia Basin communitiess still have time to support locals in need.

MOSES LAKE — The Christmas season is traditionally a time of charity, and there are still opportunities out there to donate to charities for people in need.

Grant Co. October unemployment lowest in three decades

MOSES LAKE — While the month-to-month figures go up and down, unemployment rates in Grant County in October were some of the lowest seen in more than 30 years, according to information from the Washington Department of Employment Security.

Soap Lake Public Library facelift incoming

SOAP LAKE — Soap Lake residents are being invited to discuss their ideas for remodeling the Soap Lake Public Library at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Soap Lake Community and Senior Center, 121 Second Ave. SE.

Quincy PD holding raffle supporting Shop With a Cop

QUINCY — Tickets are on sale through Dec. 15 for a fundraising raffle sponsored by the Quincy Police Department for its Shop With a Cop program. The winners will be announced at 4:30 p.m. December 15.

Community generosity

Fundraising dinner nets more than $35,000 for McKay Healthcare and Rehabilitation

SOAP LAKE — A November fundraiser for McKay Healthcare and Rehabilitation generated enough money to pay for new televisions for all McKay residents.

Hispanic presence in tree fruit industry reflected at annual meeting

KENNEWICK — As the presence of Hispanic workers, managers and growers has increased in Washington’s tree fruit industry, so have efforts to provide training and support. The Spanish-language sessions at the Washington Horticultural Association annual meeting earlier this week reflect that. Jacqui Gordon-Nuñez, director of training, education and member services for the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, said the Spanish-language sessions have grown a lot since the first class in 2011. “They began with a tiny room of 50 people with a couple of talks, and now it’s the biggest session in the hort convention,” Gordon-Nuñez said. “It’s evidence of how much the Hispanic community wants to get educated, and wants to get the trending information of the industry.”

Bright Quincy: Lights, pictures, the Christmas story at community celebration

QUINCY — Grant County Fire District 3 decked out their ladder truck in lights, Santa posed for pictures and the Quincy Valley Historical Society and Museum told the Christmas story during the Quincy Valley Christmas celebration Friday night.

Horticulture focus

KENNEWICK — Attendees at the 119th annual meeting of the Washington Horticultural Association look over a farm implement during a break in classes Tuesday. The convention and trade show filled the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick with all things tree fruit-related, from wind machines to rootstock and vendors from multi-generational family operations to international companies. Washington State University researchers gave attendees samples of a new apple variety, WA 64. The convention also included two and a half days of classes covering all phases of the industry.

Holiday parade returns to Mattawa Friday

MATTAWA — There’s so much going on in Mattawa to celebrate the Christmas season that events are scheduled on two days. In fact, Christmas events are happening throughout the first half of December throughout the Columbia Basin. Mattawa’s annual Christmas parade will walk and roll down Government Road at 6:30 p.m. Friday. The Winter Festival will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec 14 at Wahluke High School; it’s sponsored by the city of Mattawa and the Mattawa Community Medical Clinic. Most holiday events were in Hund Memorial Park for a few years, but in 2022 the festivities were moved to WHS.

Grant PUD profits higher than projected

EPHRATA — The Grant County PUD is making more money than anticipated through the first nine months of 2023 and projections show revenues will be above the budget estimates for the year. Utility district staff are suggesting using some of that money to provide some extra cushion in the district's bond repayment fund.

Tigers boys basketball falls to Pullman, 56-48

EPHRATA — The Ephrata High School boys basketball team played tough in the second half, but couldn’t overcome an early deficit and lost to Pullman High School, 56-48, in the Tigers’ home opener Saturday.

Tiger victory: Ephrata girls take first home game of season 56-36

EPHRATA — The Ephrata High School girls basketball team took an early lead and never looked back in a 56-36 win over Pullman High School in the first home game for the Tigers Saturday.