CHERYL SCHWEIZER

Chris Hurst new Othello school superintendent

OTHELLO — Chris Hurst said it’s about giving back.

Grant County Fair opens Tuesday

4-H and FFA competition, Moses Lake Roundup among highlights

MOSES LAKE — Fair exhibits, rodeo, demolition derby, carnival rides, fair demonstrations, fair food – it’s fair time. The Grant County Fair begins Tuesday and runs through Saturday at the fairgrounds in Moses Lake.

ML School Board approves construction bond proposal including second high school

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District voters will be asked to approve or reject a construction bond for a new, second high school, a new elementary school and upgrades to the existing Moses Lake High School. The current cost estimate is $135.3 million, but Moses Lake School Board members Kevin Donovan and Eric Stones said they wanted the board and administration to look for ways to lower the cost.

Adams County unemployment rate remains steady

But number of non-farm jobs drops Adams County unemployment

RITZVILLE — The unemployment rate in Adams County dropped one-tenth of a percentage point between May and June, but remained the same as June 2015. But the number of non-farm jobs available in the county shrank between June 2015 and June 2016.

Othello School District budget reviewed at meeting

OSD budget

OTHELLO — The general fund budget for the Othello School District for the 2016-17 school year will be $48,552,376 for the 2016-17 school year. The general fund pays salaries and most district operations and maintenance costs.

New dean of Student Services, registrar at Big Bend

Dawna Hayes comes to BBCC from Colorado, Ruth Coffin has 10 years at college Dawna Haynes

MOSES LAKE — Dawna Haynes was appointed dean of Student Services and Ruth Coffin as registrar at Big Bend Community College.

Samaritan, Confluence drop negotiations for affiliation

Adams County unemployment rate drops

Unemployment

RITZVILLE — Unemployment in Adams County dropped in May, both when compared with May 2016 and April 2016.

New ways of thinking about math at math camp

Getting creative to solve math problems goal of curriculum Math Camp

MOSES LAKE — Hmmm.

Blaze near Wilson Creek prompts state mobilization

More than 23,000 acres by Sunday evening Black Rock fire

ODESSA — A fire about 13 miles east of Wilson Creek grew to more than 23,000 acres Saturday, moving so quickly it prompted state fire mobilization Saturday afternoon.

Fire near Wilson Creek prompts state fire mobilization

ODESSA — A fire about 13 miles east of Wilson Creek grew to more than 23,000 acres Saturday, moving so quickly it prompted state fire mobilization Saturday afternoon.

Grant PUD expenses to increase in 2017

Budget hearings scheduled for October

EPHRATA — The Grant County PUD will spend an estimated $313.4 million in 2017, according to preliminary budget estimates. Utility district employees reviewed the preliminary numbers with commissioners at the regular meeting Tuesday.

Finding the right fit: Responses to new high school options mixed

MOSES LAKE — So. Expand the existing Moses Lake High School? Build a second high school? Build a campus designated for eighth graders and freshmen? Add grade schools? None of the above?

Newhouse gets (and gives) hugs at the Boys and Girls Club

Lots of handshakes, too, when congressman visits the club Newhouse

MOSES LAKE — It isn’t often that a real congressman visit the Boys and Girls Club.

Light bulb giveaway Thursday to encourage unity

Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones announces 'Citizens Uniting with Blue' campaign

MOSES LAKE — Personnel from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office and other partnering agencies will be giving away blue light bulbs Thursday to encourage Grant County residents, law enforcement and EMS to express unity with each other.

Hot, hot weather forecast all week

Lower temperatures forecast to move in Sunday Hot weather

MOSES LAKE — Check the air conditioner and lay in a supply of ice – it’s going to get hot this week. Hot, hot. Good and hot. All the way up to blast-furnace hot.

Dale Walker seeks second term on PUD commission

EPHRATA — Incumbent Dale Walker will run for a second term on the Grant County PUD commission.

Newhouse tours Othello hospital

Hospital officials talk about programs, challenges of rural medicine Newhouse

OTHELLO — Rep. Dan Newhouse got a look at Othello Community Hospital and talked with hospital officials about some of the challenges the hospital faces in a tour Friday morning.

Columbia River Water levels a balancing act between power and recreation

EPHRATA — Recreation expectations and the raising and lowering of water levels behind Wanapum and Priest Rapids dams a subject of a discussion at the regular meeting of the Grant County PUD commissioners on June 28..

Pokémon fever raging in Moses Lake

Everybody's hunting with the new game app Pokémon fever

MOSES LAKE — They’re out there – invisible to the naked eye, but they’re there. In the parks, around city hall, around the post office, at the end of the block. The creatures are everywhere.

Registration still open for YOU golf tournament

Tournament scheduled for Saturday afternoon Golf tournament

MOSES LAKE — Registration is still open for the third annual Youth Outdoors Unlimited benefit golf tournament, scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Moses Lake Golf Club, 1373 Road F.

Adams County unemployment rate drops

But number of nonfarm jobs decreases too Adams County

RITZVILLE — Unemployment in Adams County dropped in May, both when compared with May 2016 and April 2016.

Volunteers sought for 2nd Harvest food package distribution

Distribution set for July 28 in Moses Lake Volunteers needed

MOSES LAKE — Volunteers are being sought to help repackage and distribute food to needy families in the Moses Lake area July 28. The 2nd Harvest mobile food bank will be distributing donated food from noon to 2 p.m. at the Head Start building, 1402 East Craig St.

Moses Lake's Natalie Luttmer takes title

Will compete for Mrs. America title next month Mrs. Washington

MOSES LAKE — Natalie Luttmer said one of her goals in competing in the Mrs. Washington pageant was to challenge stereotypes – about pageants of course, but also about her town, Moses Lake.

Grant PUD auditors to review safety reports

Grant County PUD

EPHRATA — The Grant County PUD’s auditors will be among the employees reviewing safety audits and reports.

Moses Lake administrators receive raise

Board to review field trip policy

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School district administrators will receive a small raise for the 2016-17 school year. Moses Lake School Board members approved raises for the district’s administration team at the regular board meeting Thursday.

CB Tech students place at FBLA national conference

Clayton Latimer, Quinten Sand place ninth in nation CB Tech

MOSES LAKE — Students from Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center (CB Tech) finished ninth in national competition at the annual FBLA National Leadership Conference.

Some Ephrata streets to close during music festival

EPHRATA — Some Ephrata streets will be closed Friday and Saturday to accommodate concerts and activities at the 13th annual Basin Summer Sounds music festival.

Carbon initiative could cost Grant PUD

Some type of carbon tax or fee expected

EPHRATA — A ballot initiative that would place a tax on carbon emission would cost the Grant County PUD at least $4.6 million per year at current prices for carbon offsets. And that amount would increase as carbon offset prices increase.

Laura Christian new Wilson Creek superintendent

Likes small schools best, she said New superintendent

WILSON CREEK — Laura Christian is the new superintendent for the Wilson Creek School District.

Country, jazz, rock at Basin Summer Sounds

Concert Friday, Saturday in Ephrata Basin Summer Sounds

EPHRATA — Country singer Barrett Baber, a finalist on the NBC series “The Voice,” and the country band The Railers will be the featured acts at the Basin Summer Sounds concert Friday and Saturday in Ephrata.

Refurbishment costs for Priest Rapids Dam may exceed $100 million

EPHRATA — The primary construction contract for upgrades and refurbishment to the generators and turbines at Priest Rapids Dam may exceed $100 million by the end of the 10-year project. That’s up from the current estimate for the contract of about $95 million.

PUD discusses idea of 'employer-sponsored' health clinic

Goal would be to cut, or slow, health care costs PUD

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners may consider operating an “employer-sponsored clinic” as a way to help cut medical insurance costs. Commissioners were given a presentation on the concept at the regular meeting Tuesday.

Old-time music workshop returns to Moses Lake

Traditional violin, guitar, mandolin, banjo sound fills Frontier Middle School Music workshop

MOSES LAKE — After a career as a musician with the Spokane and Edmonds symphonies, Nancy Rothwell, Seattle, said she was ready for something different. Classical music is “perfectly structured,” she said, and required close attention to a strict script. “I wanted to just have fun,” she said. Having some fun was the reason she attended the annual workshop sponsored by the Washington Old-Time Fiddlers Association.

Second Harvest helps 247 Mattawa area families

MATTAWA — Volunteers from Mattawa and throughout Grant County repackaged and distributed more than 9,000 pounds of food to needy families in the Mattawa area recently. It’s part of a series of monthly food distributions around the county, a partnership between Quincy-area data centers and 2nd Harvest, of Spokane.

County unemployment declines in May

But number of people looking for work drops too Unemployment

YAKIMA — Grant County’s unemployment dropped between April and May, and between May 2015 and May 2016, according to information from the Washington Employment Security Department.

Grant PUD auditors to review safety reports

Audit team reports at commission meeting

EPHRATA — The Grant County PUD’s auditors will be among the employees reviewing safety audits and reports.

Three cheers for cherries; good weather produces profitable crop

Season winding down locally after early start Cherries

QUINCY — Growing cherries – growing any crop, really – isn’t for control freaks. Some of the most critical factors to producing a profitable crop are outside the grower’s control. Cherry harvest weather in 2015 and 2016 is an illustration.

Homeless task force looking for building

Goal is to operate warming shelter or homeless center from December through March Homeless Taskforce

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Homeless Task Force members are spending the summer looking for a place to set up when winter returns.

New exhibit opens Friday at museum

Four artists exhibiting together for first time Museum

MOSES LAKE — The opening reception for a new exhibit featuring four artists – and friends – from Wenatchee is scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, 401 South Balsam St.

Rex Calloway elected Potato Commission chair

Nelson Cox, Warden, recognized for eight years on WSPC Potato Commission

MOSES LAKE — Rex Calloway, Quincy, was elected as the new chair of the Washington State Potato Commission’s executive committee. He was elected during the commission’s annual meeting last week.

Knit (and crochet) group has serious purpose, a lot of fun

'Pray, Knit, Sip, Chat' knits prayer shawls for people in need Knitters

MOSES LAKE — The Pray, Knit, Sip, Chat group at the Immanuel Lutheran Church meets for serious, prayerful business. Its members meet three Mondays a month to knit prayer shawls for people in need, especially people undergoing medical treatment that causes them to get cold. Now some of them are branching out into mittens and hats for children and for the homeless.

Let freedom ring , Local communities prepare to celebrate Fourth of July

Fireworks in Moses Lake, Othello, George Fourth of July

MOSES LAKE — Back when the United States was founded, John Adams told his wife Abigail the day should be celebrated with fireworks and “illuminations” and general good times. And in the Columbia Basin the country’s birthday will be celebrated with fireworks – and parades and music and running events and classic cars and soccer tournaments and the world’s largest cherry pie and – whew. That’s a lot.

Recreation and water levels discussed at PUD meeting

Cooperation among hydropower operators valuable

EPHRATA — Recreation expectations and raising and lowering the water levels behind Wanapum and Priest Rapids dams was the subject of a discussion at the regular meeting of the Grant County PUD commissioners Tuesday.

Mattawa food distribution goes to 247 families

Sponsored by 2nd Harvest and Grant County businesses and organizations Mattawa

MATTAWA — Volunteers from Mattawa and throughout Grant County repackaged and distributed more than 9,000 pounds of food to needy families in the Mattawa area recently. It’s part of a series of monthly food distributions around the county, a partnership between Quincy-area data centers and 2nd Harvest, Spokane.

The heat is on

High heat

MOSES LAKE — The sun was shining, the water was splashing, the kids were playing the water – and just to make this summer picture perfect, it was hot. And it's going to stay hot. The second week of summer will feature summer-like temperatures, although it’s expected to cool down by July 4.

Samaritan Healthcare opens new cardio rehab unit

Option for patients previously required to travel New rehab unit

MOSES LAKE — Patients who enroll in an exercise rehabilitation program after suffering cardiovascular troubles now have an option in Moses Lake. Samaritan Healthcare showed off its new cardio rehabilitation department at an open house recently.

Doug Sly ends 31-year Big Bend CC career

Worked for four college presidents, and one interim president BBCC

MOSES LAKE — Doug Sly said he liked his job as public information officer at Big Bend Community College, and the reason was the students.

Tickets for Rubber Duck Regatta available now

Duck Derby scheduled for July 9 Rubber Duck Regatta

MOSES LAKE — The ducks will hit the water and race to the finish July 9 at the fifth annual Rubber Duck Regatta, beginning at 11 a.m. at Cascade Park. The ducks will be dumped overboard into Moses Lake about noon. The duck race is a fundraising benefit for the Moses Lake Boys and Girls Club.

Ephrata residents who helped catch fugitive recognized

Business employee, owner receive 'Chief's Coin' Chiefs Coin

EPHRATA — A quick-thinking employee at an Ephrata business helped catch a criminal, and she and her boss received a “Chief’s Coin” from Ephrata Police Chief Mike Warren at the June 15 meeting of the Ephrata City Council.