CHERYL SCHWEIZER

Lady Mavericks Christmas Mixer wraps up today

MOSES LAKE — Sydney Macdonald (1) of Moses Lake brings the ball up the court against Addisyn Reffett (24) of Lake Stevens Thursday in the Mavericks’ second game of the Lady Mavericks Christmas Mixer at Moses Lake High School. Lake Stevens defeated Moses Lake 49-29. Mavericks coach Matt Strophy said he was encouraged by the way the Mavericks stuck to the defensive game plan. “Even though we gave up some things, they did what we asked of them,” he said. Moses Lake is back in action tonight in the tournament finale, playing the Othello Huskies at 5:15 p.m. Woodinville takes on Sunnyside at 1:45 p.m., and Central Valley plays Lake Stevens at 3:30 p.m.

Warden defense powers Cougars to 52-42 win over Othello

OTHELLO — The Warden girls basketball team used a scrambling defense and an intense press to come away with a 52-42 win over the Othello Huskies in Othello Wednesday. Warden Head Coach Josh Madsen said the Cougar defense helped make the difference on a night when the offense went cold. “Tonight we had a really rough shooting game. Our defense needs to keep us in it, and it did,” Madsen said. “We were just a mess to start the game, mentally,” he said. “It took us a while to settle down. We shot terribly most of the game, but really bad in the first half. Finally settled down in the late first quarter, second quarter, and started playing our game a little bit.” Othello jumped out to an 11-0 lead, and led 16-7 at the end of the first quarter. The Cougar press started gaining in effectiveness in the second quarter, however, and Warden took its first lead of the game, 23-22, with about two minutes left in the second quarter. The Cougars led 25-24 at the half.

Blanket statement

Keri Perez uses creative skills to make new quilts from old jeans

MOSES LAKE — Keri Perez said what started it all was the quilt made out of old jeans. “I grew up with a blanket my dad had – it was a huge jean blanket,” she said. The fabric came from her dad’s jeans. It was denim on both sides, very heavy, and her dad really liked it. He liked it so much that he paid a quilt maker to take more of his old jeans and make quilts for each of his kids. “He gifted each of us a jean blanket. Then when I moved back home to Moses Lake, I wanted one for my kids, so I just made a couple for my kids,” she said. “Then my dad had more jeans, and rather than paying another gal to put them together, he had me start putting them together. And for him I probably did (about) 45 blankets.”

Bail set at $1 million for suspect in Othello shooting, victim hospitalized

OTHELLO — An Othello man was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the neck after a shooting at his home Tuesday evening. Another Othello man was booked into the Adams County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder and assault in connection with the shooting, and two juveniles were booked on suspicion of assault. Freddy Gonzalez-Rodriguez, 20, was transported to Othello Community Hospital and then to an out-of-town medical facility for further treatment of his wound, according to a statement from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday. The shooting occurred about 8 p.m. Tuesday in the 600 block of Kristina Road, the ACSO statement said. Raphael Chavez-Hernandez, 22, was booked on suspicion of first-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm. He made an initial appearance in Adams County Superior Court Wednesday, and is being held on $1 million bail, according to an update from the ACSO. The two juveniles were booked on suspicion of first-degree assault and second-degree assault. They also made an initial appearance in Adams County Superior Court, and bail was set at $500,000 each. The ACSO statement said the third juvenile suspect was being sought on the same charges. Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner said in answer to a separate question from the Columbia Basin Herald that all suspects are from Othello. The ACSO said in the statement a search warrant was served in the 600 block of Eagle Road near Othello late Wednesday morning. The shooting appeared to be gang-related, the ACSO statement said, but as of Wednesday morning the motive was unknown. The case is still under investigation. The ACSO said more information will be released as it becomes available. Cheryl Schweizer can be reached at [email protected].

Grant County Health District receives grant to increase distribution of Narcan

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Health District officials are hoping to get a medication that helps fight narcotics overdoses into the hands of more people, with the aid of a grant from the North Central Accountable Community of Health. Mariah DeLeon, GCHD Harm Reduction Program coordinator, said the grant will provide Narcan kits, along with training in how to use them. “Our goal is to supply people who use drugs, or people who are affected by people who use drugs, with Narcan. Our goal is to get Narcan embedded into the community,” DeLeon said. Narcan inhibits the effect of an opioid overdose, she said.

Othello 2023 budget includes park, city hall upgrades

OTHELLO — The city of Othello is projected to spend about $31.4 million on city services and projects in 2023. Othello Mayor Shawn Logan said city officials have put together a long list of projects for next year. “This 2023 budget is an ambitious budget that’s designed to accomplish a lot of things,” Logan said. The city’s general fund was budgeted at about $8.3 million in 2023; the general fund pays for most city employee salaries and operations not funded through specific departments. The city’s sewer utility fund was budgeted at about $5.7 million, and the water utility fund at about $4.3 million. Operation of water and sewer services are paid for out of those funds. The street fund is budgeted at $2.175 million. The city also has about $1.25 million of the money the city received to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 outbreak.

How to read the range

Quincy High School’s Levi Kukes to compete in international rangeland management contest

QUINCY — An experienced observer – or somebody who’s done their homework – can study a piece of rangeland and find clues to its condition. The vegetation on a specific section of range, its distribution, the way the land slopes, the soil type – it all has something to say, at least to someone who’s done their homework. Levi Kukes has done his homework.

Planning for A Street next step for Quincy

QUINCY — Planning may start in 2023 for the next phase of a project designed to reroute semi-truck traffic away from Quincy’s Central Avenue and residential streets. The B Street Northeast phase of the project was the focus of the work in 2022, and prompted questions and concerns from residents and business owners along the street. Quincy administrator Pat Haley said city officials will be working on A Street Northeast, with no date for construction established, but hoping it can begin in 2024. “That’s the next step. That’s the next project,” Haley said.

Quincy city service rates to increase in 2023

QUINCY — Quincy residents will see a 10% increase in their water, sewer and garbage rates in 2023. Quincy City Council members approved the rate increase by a unanimous vote at the regular meeting Dec. 20. “We haven’t had a rate increase for a couple of years,” City Administrator Pat Haley said....

School and holiday spirit

Ephrata High School student Eric O’Neel found a seasonally appropriate costume for the Ephrata-Quincy basketball game Dec. 21.

Defense powers Ephrata girls to 50-34 win over Quincy

EPHRATA — The Ephrata girls basketball team used aggressive defense to pull away from the Quincy Jacks and take the 50-34 win Wednesday night in Ephrata. Tigers coach Alain Black said she prefers a man-to-man defense, but Quincy forced the Tigers to switch...

‘One point and about three seconds’

Ephrata wins Battle of the Basin overtime thriller

EPHRATA — Ephrata boys basketball coach Rick Walter detailed the difference between the Tigers and the Quincy Jacks in Ephrata’s 61-60 overtime win Wednesday in Ephrata. “One point and about three seconds,” Walter said. Hayden Roberts hit the winning shot with about two seconds left, after Julian Ibarra had given the Jacks the lead, 60-59, with about eight seconds left. Quincy’s Pierce Bierlink got off a shot at the buzzer, but it bounced off the rim...

Snowdrift closes Quincy-area road, strands drivers

QUINCY — Snowdrifts closed sections of Road 8 NW and Road 9 NW and temporarily stranded some drivers late Wednesday night. No one was stranded overnight, although some vehicles were stuck in the snowdrift until morning. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office issued a travel advisory at about 11:47 p.m., asking drivers to avoid the two roads between Road M.7 NW and Adams Road North. Grant County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman wrote in a release that multiple vehicles were stuck, including a delivery truck blocking the roadway...

QVMC looks at rebranding

New logo, updated website possibilities for Quincy Valley Medical Center

QUINCY — A new logo and an updated website would be part of a possible rebranding campaign for Quincy Valley Medical Center, an option discussed at the regular commission meeting Monday. Shannon Durfee, QVMC community relations and marketing director, said the idea is still in the discussion phase; there’s nothing proposed for a new look yet. But with a new hospital being designed, Durfee said it was time to think about a new look...

Operation Friendship

Moses Lake Food Bank program works to help children in need have a great holiday.

MOSES LAKE — The volunteers circulated among the big cardboard boxes Saturday morning, consulting the notes on the clipboard, selecting a doll and a puzzle here, a game ball and toy cars there. The goal of Operation Friendship, sponsored by the Moses Lake Food Bank, is to empty the bins and get the toys into the hands of children for Christmas. Moses Lake Food Bank Operations Manager Peny Archer said Operation Friendship had more than 300 children registered...

Bitterly cold weather, then freezing rain, in forecast

MOSES LAKE — A combination of cold air and even colder air will cause winds to start blowing and push temperatures to 25 to 30 degrees below zero in Grant County early Thursday morning. Steven Van Horn, meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Spokane, said Tuesday night that temperatures are forecast to be about seven to 10 degrees below zero early Thursday morning. But the winds will be blowing out of the north, forecast to be about 10 to 12 miles per hour. “Those winds are going to have a significant impact,” Van Horn said...

QVMC board authorizes bond sale

Proceeds to be used to build new Quincy hospital

QUINCY — A general contractor for the new Quincy Valley Medical Center is scheduled to be hired by the end of January, with the goal of starting construction in the summer of 2023. Hospital district commissioners authorized the sale of $46 million in construction bonds at the regular meeting Monday. “That is a big deal,” said commissioner Anthony Gonzalez. The vote to authorize the bond sale was 4-0; commissioner Sherri Kooy was absent. “That is a huge deal,” commissioner Michelle Talley said in agreement with Gonzalez...

Othello PD, ACSO play Santa

Children fulfill their shopping lists with help of law enforcement at Shop With a Cop

OTHELLO — Even when kids have a shopping buddy - courtesy of the Othello Police Department and Adams County Sheriff’s Office - that Christmas shopping thing is tough. Jesus Caramillo has a big family, and he had a budget. It was a pretty healthy budget. Caramillo was part of OPD’s annual Shop With a Cop day, and OPD Assistant Chief David Rehaume said the community was very generous in 2022...

‘I want my car to look cool, but I want to do it my way’

Customizing cars and turning wrenches is for women and girls too

OTHELLO — Jessica Preciado’s car is pretty much like she wants it. More or less. Of course, it still needs some work. A cool car usually needs some work. “I can’t say this car will ever be 100% done,” she said. “I’ll see where it goes.” The 2003 Mazda Protege has had a lot of work done already - a new wheel setup, engine modifications, a modified suspension, among other things. “I have started a list, but I lost track,” she said...

Walking path construction discussed by Mattawa Council

MATTAWA — The Mattawa City Council wants to know when will work will resume on a walkway along Government Road. At a regular meeting on Thursday, Council Member Tony Acosta asked about the procedure for resuming work, which was halted in late November with the arrival of cold weather, and who is in charge of setting a date for the construction restart. “My concern is figuring out if we were going to put a date to start back up, so the clock can start ticking again,” Acosta said. “Are we going to leave it open-ended?” ...

Late morning fire damages Quincy shop Friday

QUINCY — Grant County Fire District 3 firefighters gain entry to a shop while fighting a fire in the building late Friday morning. The fire, in the 40 block of F Street SE, was reported at about 11:35 a.m., said GCFD 3 Assistant Chief Jim Kling. He added that the building sustained damage but was not destroyed. Kling said the cause of the fire was undetermined, but that an electrical issue was suspected. Firefighters were on the scene about an hour.

Bond question: Samaritan commissioners weighing construction bond for new hospital

MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare commissioners will sponsor a public forum Jan. 18 to get input from district patrons on a possible proposal for a construction bond to pay some of the costs of building a new Samaritan Hospital. “We are committed to moving forward in some way,” Christian said. “We are (discussing) what the best way is. We’re still gathering data, evaluating our community. We’re not ready to make a decision yet, because we want to make sure the decision is the correct one.” ...

Tentative date set for opening new Othello District Court

OTHELLO — Othello city officials have established Jan. 13 as the tentative date for the first hearings before the new municipal court. Jessica Melo, the court administrator, gave Othello City Council members a timeline for opening the court at the regular meeting Dec. 12. “Currently, we intend on having court once a week,” Melo said...

Othello voters to decide fate of Educational Programs and Operations levy

OTHELLO — Othello School District voters will be asked to approve or reject a three-year educational programs and operations levy in a special election on Feb. 14. The levy would replace one approved by district voters in 2020. If it is approved, the OSD would collect slightly more than $2.8 million in 2024, $3.05 million in 2025 and $3.3 million in 2026. Because it’s a school levy, the proposal requires a bare majority, 50% plus one vote, to pass. If it’s approved, property owners would pay an estimated $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. That’s unchanged from the current levy. The Washington Legislature changed the way levies are funded in 2018, and $1.50 is the maximum levy amount.

Operation Warm

Firefighters help children get through winter with new coats

MOSES LAKE — it’s cold out there, and not every child has a new coat to see them through the snow, ice and 20-degree temperatures. About 100 children at four Moses Lake elementary schools now have a new coat with the help of Operation Warm. Jason Koziol, a firefighter with the Moses Lake Fire Department, said it’s a longtime project. “Operation Warm is a program that has been set up through the (firefighters union Local 1258), for basically purchasing new coats for kids in need in the community that we serve,” he said...

Fuhr reelected as Moses Lake School Board chair

MOSES LAKE — Kevin Fuhr has been reelected for a new term as Moses Lake School Board president. Shannon Hintz was reelected as vice president. Board members voted 4-0 to retain the current officers without discussion during the regular meeting Thursday. Paul Hill is the board’s legislative representative and also retained his position. In other business, Stefanie Lowry, the district’s director of finance, gave the board a budget update through the end of October...

Two sides of a coin

mavs girls win, boys fall in dual meet with Sunnyside

MOSES LAKE — The first Columbia Basin Big Nine dual meet of the young 2022-23 wrestling season ended in a 54-24 win over Sunnyside for the Moses Lake girls wrestling team, and a 55-18 loss to Sunnyside for the boys wrestlers...

Fun times at Othello's Christmas Miracle on Main Street

Residents brave cold temps to celebrate the holiday

OTHELLO — It was cold, but not cold enough to keep people from watching the parade, playing in the beanbag tournament, attending the children’s carnival and taking part in all the activities in the Christmas Miracle on Main Street in Othello Saturday. The parade and other events are sponsored by the Othello Holiday Committee...

Donations sought for Othello Shop With a Cop

OTHELLO — The Othello Police Department is looking for monetary donations to help bring a little Christmas cheer to some Othello children. Donations for the department’s Shop With a Cop program can be dropped off at the OPD office, 500 E. Main St.. People who can’t make it to the office can call 509-488-3314 to make arrangements to donate. Othello Police Chief Phil Schenck said Shop With a Cop 2022 got a boost from Adams County Fire District 5, whose cooks won about $2,000 in the Chili Cook-Off at the Othello Fair in September. The prize money is donated to a charity of the winner’s choice.

Registration open for Light Up Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake residents and businesses are being invited to light up the town in celebration of the holiday season at Light Up Moses Lake, returning for its third year. Registration is $25 and is open to businesses and residences in Moses Lake. Participants must register by Dec. 15 at https://bit.ly/LUML2022. Pretty lights are only part of it – organizers will be collecting donations of money, non-perishable food and new and unwrapped toys for local charities. The 2022 beneficiaries are Moses Lake Youth Dynamics, the People for People transportation service and CARE Moses Lake, which provides food to organizations that serve people in need, and sponsors an information fair for local nonprofits. The Moses Lake Food Bank will receive the donated food items...

Toys and financial donations sought for Operation Friendship

MOSES LAKE — Distribution is scheduled Dec. 17 for Operation Friendship, sponsored by the Moses Lake Food Bank. Operation Friendship is the annual toy drive that provides new toys to families in need. Food bank director Peny Archer said signups started Monday. “We’ll do signups the first two weeks of December,” she said...

Celtic celebration coming

Gothard Sisters return to Moses Lake for holiday concert

MOSES LAKE — A Celtic take on Christmas music comes to Moses Lake when the Gothard Sisters perform in concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Wallenstien Theater on the Big Bend Community College campus. The concert is part of the Central Basin Community Concert Association series, and is sponsored with the help of Moses Lake Steel, according to information from the CBCCA. The sisters are familiar to Moses Lake audiences; they have performed in town on multiple occasions, including earlier Christmas concerts. Sisters Greta, Solana and Willow are Puget Sound-area natives who’ve been performing together for more than a decade, starting at a local farmers market...

Quincy girls defeat Wahluke, 47-32

QUINCY — The Quincy Jacks girls basketball team defeated the Wahluke Warriors 47-32 in the season opener for both teams Friday at Quincy High School Micaiah McCreary, Quincy head coach, said she saw some improvement between the team’s first time on the court earlier in the week. “I thought we were hustling a lot better. We had a jamboree on Monday and it was - not good. They threw that away, and they came out ready to play,” she said. First-year Wahluke Coach Everardo Corrales said he was pleased with his team’s effort in the first game...

Quincy boys defeat Wahluke 71-53 in season opener

QUINCY — With Aiden Bews leading the way, the Quincy Jacks boys basketball team defeated the Wahluke Warriors 71-53 Friday at Quincy High School in the season opener for both teams. Quincy Coach Scott Bierlink said he knew the Warriors would be a quality opponent. “I knew Wahluke was a good team. They bring some guys back that they had last year when they were a game away from going to state. So we knew they were going to be a good scrappy team, and we’ve got a bunch of new guys. I thought we came out and played nervous - there’s no doubt about that. We looked a little rough. For a minute there I thought, ‘Boy, this is going to be a long season.’ But we righted the ship. I think some of our young guys kind of figured it out a little bit.” ...

Mattawa City Council to consider annexation in January

Access points to planned development a sticking point for council members

MATTAWA — Mattawa City Council members may decide Jan. 5 to accept or reject a petition to annex 40 acres into the city. Setting a tentative date followed a two-hour discussion of the development agreement stipulations at the council’s regular meeting Thursday. Rachelle Bradley of SPJ Alliance, the city planners, laid out a timeline. “We still need to go through the negotiation side with the developer, and there’s a public comment period,” Bradley said. “Right now, I want to get this agreement into the developer’s hands (Friday), and we’ll give them about a two-week period to negotiate.” If the negotiations are successful, city officials will advertise the annexation petition and ask for the opinions of city residents...

Quincy approves contract with employee union

QUINCY — Quincy city officials and the Teamsters Union local representing the city’s public works employees have reached an agreement on a new three-year contract. The Quincy City Council approved the contract on a 4-0 vote during a special meeting Nov. 28. City administrator Pat Haley said in a later interview that the contract replaces one that expired at the end of 2021 and was extended a year while city and union representatives worked on a new one...

Cold to stay

Chances of snow to diminish, but it’s going to stay cold

MOSES LAKE — Of course, it’s that time of year, and the first snowfall of the season Tuesday night closed schools, left people with driveways and sidewalks to shovel, discombobulated morning commutes, annoyed a lot of cats and delighted a lot of dogs. And while the snow might get cleared off the road and schools will get going again, the snow is here to stay, at least for a while. Jon Fox, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Spokane, said Wednesday morning that snow showers might linger through Thursday, and possibly into Friday night. New snow amounts are forecast to be minimal, an inch or less. “It’s not going to melt though, unfortunately,” Fox said...

QVMC contractor selection could start by mid-December

QUINCY — A request for bids from construction firms to build the new Quincy Valley Medical Center could be issued by mid-December. In addition, QVMC board members are scheduled to vote on a resolution to sell the bonds to finance the project at the Dec. 19 meeting. Hospital board members received an update on the project at the regular meeting Nov. 28. Joe Kunkel, the consultant working with QVMC officials on the project, said hospital officials will make a presentation Dec. 1 to the Capital Projects Advisory Review Board, asking that the hospital district be allowed to waive some of the requirements of the bid process. If the request is allowed, the district will be able to hire a contractor immediately, Kunkel said...

Jitka Garza takes over at Othello Anytime Fitness

OTHELLO — Jitka Garza said the goal of a fitness routine is to make life better, whatever that goal might be for each athlete. Garza is the new owner of Anytime Fitness in Othello, and she cut the ribbon at her business on Nov. 23. “That’s the goal, to get you better, in your movement, your mobility, whatever you need,” she said. “Very important for your daily life to do certain movements, to get better.”....

Tip a Cop fundraiser returns to Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — As a matter of fact, yes, those are police officers and sheriff’s deputies cleaning tables, delivering hamburgers and drinks and occasionally breaking into song. The fifth annual Tip a Cop is scheduled for 5:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7 at Rock Top Burgers & Brew, 930 N. Stratford Rd. in Moses Lake. Deputies from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office and Moses Lake Police Department officers will be working the floor for that two-and-a-half-hour stretch, handing out menus and delivering meals and drinks. The tips they earn go to the Shop with a Cop program sponsored by each department. Rock Top employees make a donation as well as sponsoring the event...

‘That’s what I heard about Moses Lake, the strength was in the people’

Moses Lake School District Superintendent sees challenge, opportunity ahead

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District Superintendent Monty Sabin said transparency and visibility are important, both in themselves and because they help build trust. Sabin was hired as the new superintendent in March, replacing former superintendent Josh Meek, who parted ways with the district in 2021. Sabin’s hiring also followed two years of turmoil as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The relationship between school districts throughout the country and their communities was damaged as a result. “I’m really hopeful of trying to earn the trust back. We don’t always agree on everything - which is understandable, it would be a boring world if we all thought alike,” Sabin said. “But no matter what we do as a district, I hope that people know we’re acting with integrity and with people’s best interest at heart, no matter what we’re doing. “You can disagree on an issue, a policy or a decision, but as long as you can do that knowing that the information was out there (and) that people understand why you did it, you can respect each other,” he said.

Quincy girls look to get more wrestlers to state, despite format changes

QUINCY — Changes are coming to Washington girls high school wrestling in 2022-23, but Quincy coach Devan Silva said he’s optimistic about his team’s chances no matter how the changes shake out. “Really high expectations for the team,” Silva said. “And I think our (returning wrestlers) have really expectations for themselves.” Girls wrestling has been split into two classifications for 2022-23; 4A and 3A schools will be in one classification, with 2A, 1A, 2B and 1B schools in the other. Previously wrestlers in all classifications competed in one state tournament. Quincy tied for 13th at the 2022 Mat Classic, with Shannon Workinger winning a state title and Gloria Ramirez finishing sixth.

Quincy boys basketball team wants to exceed expectations

QUINCY — Quincy High School boys basketball coach Scott Bierlink said the Jacks may very well exceed expectations in the 2022-23 season. “I’m optimistic that we can give ourselves a chance to win another league title, and win another district title and go back to state,” Bierlink said. The Jacks went 21-5 in 2021-22, winning the Caribou Trail League with a 13-1 record, winning the district title and advancing to the state tournament for the first time since 2009. They won their first game at the state tournament before losing to eventual state champion Lynden Christian.

Othello boys wrestling looks to keep on improving

OTHELLO — The Othello High School boys wrestling team came a long way last season, and coach Rudy Ochoa II said he hopes to build on that success for the 2022-23 season. “Last year was a unique year, in that we started the season with only one state participant on our team,” Ochoa said. The Huskies made up for that lack of experience – Othello finished third in class 2A at the 2022 Mat Classic after winning the district and regional championships.

‘At the end of the day, I’m a teacher first’

For Rudy Ochoa II, teaching way to give back

OTHELLO — Rudy Ochoa II said the influences that led him to a teaching career were all around him. His mom Gloria Ochoa was, and is, a counselor who works for Adams County, and his dad Rudy Ochoa Sr. works at Scootney Springs Elementary, and as a coach in Othello, Rudy Sr. is something of a legend. “My dad, he coached all of us,” Ochoa said. Ochoa’s wife Eden is a teacher at Scootney Springs. His brother is a teacher and coach too; his sister was a teacher and coach, and still coaches. Another sister also is a coach, and so are two of this brothers-in-law, while his sister-in-law works in education too.

Parades, celebrations mark start of holiday season

MOSES LAKE — The first two weeks of December will be filled with parades, visits with Santa, tree lighting - lots of lights everywhere, in fact – as local communities celebrate the season. The annual Ag Appreciation Parade will roll down Third Avenue in Moses Lake at 7 p.m. Dec. 2. The parade is preceded by a street party beginning at 5 p.m. in Sinkiuse Square, at the intersection of Third and Ash streets. The ag parade is sponsored by the Downtown Moses Lake Association and is a way to recognize one of the most important economic sectors of the community, according to the DMLA.

Quincy to look for funding for indoor recreation facility project

QUINCY — Quincy city officials will be looking for funding options in 2023 to build an indoor recreation facility. Quincy City Council members directed city employees to start looking for money for the project on a 6-0 vote during the regular meeting Tuesday. With no discussion, council members decided to look for funding to build a facility of approximately 143,000 square feet, the largest of the four options presented to the council in late 2021. When it’s completed the Quincy Field House will be located in a currently-undeveloped section of Lauzier Park, just off 13th Avenue Northwest. City Administrator Pat Haley said in a later interview that preliminary plans for the project included the option of building the facility in phases or all at once. ‘“They chose the full buildout option,” Haley said. “The council decided they didn’t want to phase it.” Quincy Parks and Recreation Director Russ Harrington said in a later interview that the field house would be part of a larger project of both indoor and outdoor recreation facilities in the park. “It’s about 30 acres that we’re going to develop out there,” Harrington said.

Quilted service

Seamsters recognize veterans' service to nation

MOSES LAKE — The quilts come in a variety of designs and sometimes in different colors. They all have the same purpose - to recognize military veterans for their service to the country. The Basin Piecemakers make the quilts, and their members took some of them to Brookdale Hearthstone in Moses Lake on Nov. 9 for the facility’s veterans. Guild member Nancy Latham said the group has donated 24 quilts in the Moses Lake area this year, and sent another five to the VA hospital in Spokane. “We’ve wanted to cover the local veterans, and especially the Vietnam veterans because they weren’t recognized at all,” Latham said...

Traffic collision leads to new path for Quincy veteran

QUINCY — Nicole O’Shea said she had planned out at least some of her future, starting with her enlistment in the U.S. Army. And then all of a sudden everything changed. It was the winter of 2004, and she was on her way from Quincy to Yakima for training. “It was February and it was super-foggy,” O’Shea said. “I had to pull over to clean my windshield off, so I could see. I got rear-ended at 70 miles an hour; I was almost at a complete stop. Rocked my world, in a not-so-good way.” At the time O’Shea said she thought she was okay...

Wagner leads in ACSO race

RITZVILLE — With an estimated 800 ballots left to count, incumbent Dale Wagner is leading challenger Matthew Carlson in the race for Adams County Sheriff. In vote totals released Tuesday night, Wagner had 1,091 votes (56.24%) to 832 (42.89%) for Carlson. To date, there are 17 write-in votes. Wagner is running for his third term. “I am happy with the results thus far,” Wagner wrote in response to an email from the Herald. “I am excited to continue to press forward with the work of our office. Our campaign support has been great.” ...