CHERYL SCHWEIZER

Grant County PUD commissioners choose new general manager/CEO

EPHRATA — Grant County Public Utility District commissioners voted 5-0 Tuesday to elect interim Grant County PUD General Manager/Chief Executive Officer Rich Wallen for the permanent GM/CEO position.

Lady Huskies wrestlers take Sub-Regional tournament title

OTHELLO — The Othello High School girls wrestling team brought home the team title from the North Girls Sub-Regional tournament Saturday in Spangle.

Othello to consider updated park master plan

OTHELLO — With any luck, Othello’s Lions Park will have a new playground and expanded basketball courts by the end of 2022.

Columbia Basin Rodeo Association Banquet recognizes key figures

Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, and Jill Tonne, queen director for the Columbia Basin Rodeo Association, were recognized for their contributions to the CBRA during the association’s annual banquet Saturday.

Quincy Valley Allied Arts returns to stage with ‘Sister Act’

QUINCY — Quincy Valley Allied Arts is telling the story of a murder witness on the lam, a nunnery, learning from others and making music.

A glass of comedy: Masquers Theater to present ‘Beer for Breakfast’

SOAP LAKE — The tale of three old friends, an all-night battle of the sexes and the impact of passing time comes to the Masquers Theater stage starting Feb. 11.

Growing viral: Pandemic contributes to collectible plants

MOSES LAKE — Roost Lifestyle owner Bruce Bailey said he brought some of his plants from home to his shop, just to decorate and soften the look.

Changing times: Othello High School to start new schedule in 2022-23 school year

OTHELLO — A whole new class schedule will come to Othello High School for the 2022-23 school year.

The opponent within: Othello athlete comes back from chronic illness

OTHELLO — Ethan Medina said his experiences taught him life can change in an instant. And he also learned to deal with setbacks.

Othello boys wrestling team wins three dual meets

OTHELLO — The Othello High School boys wrestling team finished the regular season Thursday with wins in two dual matches on Senior Night at OHS.

Lady Huskies take East Valley dual

OTHELLO — The Othello High School girls wrestling team defeated East Valley High School Thursday in a dual match on Senior Night at Othello High School.

Pet project: Donations help organizations, animals in need

MOSES LAKE — There likely are a lot of lost and stray dogs and cats in Grant and Adams counties.

Voters to decide on educational program and operations levies

ROYAL CITY, MATTAWA — Voters in two local school districts will decide on replacement educational program and operations (EP&O) levy proposals in a special election Feb. 8.

Vintage variety: Car repair shop is a walk into the past

MOSES LAKE — Walk in the door at Shade Tree Customs and there is a full-size 1920s-era gas pump straight ahead. It’s a reproduction, but there it is – 6 feet tall, glass dome and all, and a price sticker of 17.6 cents per gallon.

Sowing seeds: Winter gives time to plot garden

MOSES LAKE — It’s a sad fact unless the garden is somewhere like Australia or Argentina, January is not a gardening month. But it’s not to say there’s nothing for a gardener to do.

Words in pictures: Warden artist tells stories from old 35mm film

WARDEN — Vinnie O Bannon has been a photographer for most of his adult life, and has the 35mm film negatives to prove it.

Hanging in there: Wrestling team shows determination

OTHELLO — If one word can be used to sum up the girls wrestling program at Othello High School, it’s probably perseverance.

Every hat a story: Moses Lake man’s collection spans decades

MOSES LAKE — Every hat on the wall in Mike Cobb’s Moses Lake shed, about 140 of them, is a reminder of a person or a place. So are the 150 or so hats in storage.

Royal girls finish fifth at Lady Huskies invitational

OTHELLO — The Royal High School girls wrestling team finished fifth at the Lady Huskies invitational in Othello on Friday and Saturday, and Wahluke High School wrestlers competed.

Othello takes third at Lady Huskies invitational

OTHELLO — The Othello High School girls wrestling team finished third in its own tournament, the Lady Huskies invitational, Friday and Saturday in Othello.

Creating opportunity: Voters to decide on Wahluke School District levy

MATTAWA — Wahluke School District voters will decide the fate of a two-year educational programs and operation (EP&O) levy in a special election Feb. 8.

Flying field: Aviation maintenance technology offers high opportunity

MOSES LAKE — Christine Kelly said she was looking for training opportunities when she found some online information about the aviation maintenance technology program at Big Bend Community College.

Homes needed: Grant County housing market still contends with low inventory

MOSES LAKE — The housing market in Grant County is a seller’s market as 2022 moves in, although supply chain issues may be slowing down the selling.

Spreading out: Grant PUD is expanding its fiber-optic network to every corner of Grant County

Most business owners knew it already, but one of the lessons learned over the course of the coronavirus outbreak is that fast, reliable communication is a necessity.

Country for a cause: Cancer fundraiser to (hopefully) return in person

MOSES LAKE — After a year online, the annual Country Sweethearts cancer benefit auction, sponsored by the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation, will return in person Feb. 5.

Giving voice: MLHS Chamber Choir members discuss their experiences, competition

MOSES LAKE — The chamber choir broke apart into smaller groups, working on the music, trying to get the sound right.

Medical treatment options expanding

Medical treatment options in the Moses Lake area continue to expand, and will keep expanding, adding to the health care services available for residents and employers in a broad region.

Royal High School boys win two games; Wahluke boys lose two

MATTAWA — The Royal High School boys basketball team came away from Mattawa with a 50-45 league win Friday over Wahluke High School in a wild and hard-fought game that had the WHS gym rocking.

Royal High School girls basketball team splits games; Wahluke girls lose two

MATTAWA — The Royal High School girls basketball team split a pair of games, defeating Wahluke High School 57-18 Friday, but losing to College Place High School 46-40 Saturday.

Mattawa P.O. boxes will be removed; Postal window to remain open

MATTAWA — Mattawa residents won’t have access to post office boxes after Jan. 31 at the U.S. Postal Service contractor in Mattawa.

Ready to play: Royal High School celebrates new gym

Office, counseling center, classroom also added

ROYAL CITY — Royal School District officials will mark the halfway point of construction at Royal High School and Royal Middle School with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 7 p.m. Saturday in the rebuilt RHS gym.

Senior night: Wahluke students have a chance to look back – and forward

MATTAWA — The senior year of high school is, in part, a recognition of change. High school will be done; kids will be moving on.

Part of King's legacy: March, program in Moses Lake celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day

MOSES LAKE — The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was commemorated Monday with a march through a part of downtown Moses Lake and a service at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Donation to Serve Moses Lake helps another person in need

MOSES LAKE — Serve Moses Lake Director Brandon LaBonte said the donation of a truck was unexpected.

To fix, or not to fix: When it comes to cell phones, that’s often the question

MOSES LAKE — It can happen in a flash. The cell phone slips and crashes on a concrete floor. Or it’s safely stowed in a purse – except the purse gets slammed in the car door, and that crunching sound isn’t good.

Martin Luther King Jr. to be commemorated in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — The legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. will be commemorated in Moses Lake with a march and a service, featuring a recital of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, beginning at 1 p.m. Monday.

‘Healing music’: Violinist to perform benefit concert in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — An upcoming violin concert will help further Christian ministry and complete a local church.

Keeping up: Sticking with exercise has benefits for body and mind

MOSES LAKE — Bob Ray, who was doing upper body work at the South Campus Athletic Club in Moses Lake Friday morning, said regular workouts are important to him for his physical well-being, but more than that.

‘A voice for citizens’: Wanke reflects on 32 years on the Ephrata City Council

EPHRATA — Mark Wanke first ran for the Ephrata City Council in 1989. “I wanted to be a voice for the citizens,” he said.

Making room: Royal City to consider permit-only parking

ROYAL CITY — The Royal City City Council will discuss an ordinance to allow city officials to establish permit-only parking zones.

Heading east: Moses Lake student receives full ride to Vassar College

MOSES LAKE — For Moses Lake High School senior Samuel Rebuelta, it started with a postcard.

Buying furniture complicated by market conditions

MOSES LAKE — Maybe Santa didn’t deliver that new couch and chair after all. Or maybe Santa brought a couple of new chairs. Now that couch just has to go.

Snow business: Know the rules when clearing driveways, walks

MOSES LAKE — Yes, it is January. And yes, that is snow out there. There’s the potential for snow as late as mid-March. So the time has come to consider getting in and out of the driveway – after all, it won’t clear itself.

Three for the show: Country trio Taylor Red to perform in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Three-part harmony comes to the Moses Lake Alliance Church at 7 p.m. Jan. 13 when the trio Taylor Red performs in concert.

Clearing danger: County, cities have priorities in keeping roads safe in winter

EPHRATA — Winter might not be so annoying for some people if it didn’t mean snowy and icy roads – which the Basin has faced and will deal with more before spring.

New year, new hopes: Community members look back – and look forward

MOSES LAKE — Every year brings the unexpected, and 2021 brought more than its share.

Othello School District voters to consider capital projects bond

OTHELLO — Ballots will be mailed to Othello School District voters this month and will include a proposal for a $51 million capital projects bond. Ballots should be mailed about Jan. 24. and must be returned by Feb. 8.

Serious about service: Elks work to support community

MOSES LAKE — Bill West said the Elks service organization and its members are focused on service to community.

Othello library expands hours

OTHELLO — The Othello branch of the Mid-Columbia Libraries, 101 E. Main St., extended its hours starting Monday.

Rodeo royalty: Othello PRCA Rodeo queen reflects on two unique years

OTHELLO — Brianna Kin Kade rode in as many parades, went to as many rodeos, attended as many events as she could in 2021, and didn’t mind at all.