CHERYL SCHWEIZER

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.

Senior picnic draws big crowd

More than 400 people picnic in style Senior Picnic

MOSES LAKE — Seniors (being wise) know how to do things in style. When they have a picnic, it’s no blanket on the ground and cold fried chicken. No, the seniors took over a whole exhibit building at the Grant County Fairgrounds. An air-conditioned one, too.

Science, life lessons at Cub Scout Day Camp

MOSES LAKE — It turns out there are some rocks that look really cool when they’re sprayed with water. But the sun’s rays won’t make the water evaporate right away, even with a magnifying glass. Hey. look at that - science, right there, and it’s fun. Sometimes science tastes good, too. Cub Scouts at the annual Columbia Basin District Day Camp used graham crackers and pudding to mimic the layers of the earth - smashed up graham crackers for rocks and dirt, pudding for the molten lava layers. The Cub Scouts started to giggle over the idea they were eating the earth. Columbia Basin District Day Camp is designed to teach kids about science, and about the values of scouting. Each scientific experiment and activity came with a demonstration of ideas in the Cub Scout creed.

Moses Lake Fire Department dedicates new truck

First brand-new fire truck in 14 years MLFD

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Fire Department signed a new hire into service Friday, dedicating the city’s brand-new fire truck. The dedication included traditions that date back to the beginning of the fire service in America.

Fighting back

Teams ignore cloudy skies and rain to walk all night

MOSES LAKE — So what prompted Thomas Hamby to wear a wig and colorful board shorts –

Frontier students place in national contest

Yvette Amrocio takes first place in Builders Club contest Frontier students

MOSES LAKE — Yvette Amrocio drew a poster about kindness and helping others for a contest for the Builders Club, the middle school program sponsored by the Kiwanis. Addyson Barker wrote an essay, and Morgan Zeilenga wrote a speech. All three, students at Frontier Middle School, said they were surprised at what happened next.

Deb Shay honored at retirement party

Retires after 34 years with the Grant County Sheriff's Office Deb Shay

EPHRATA — Kari Alder said she always suspected Deb Shay had supernatural powers, back when Shay was a supervisor at the Grant County Jail. When deputies or municipal officers brought in a suspect, Shay could always find the paperwork among the stacks on her desk. She never had to look for it, Alder said.

Quincy students show off skills for Newhouse

QUINCY — Juan Zetina, a senior at Quincy High School, called it a roadblock. But to be honest it was more like his project ran into a ditch.

Quilt show opens today in Moses Lake

More than 180 quilts on display Friday, Saturday Quilt Show

MOSES LAKE — More than 180 quilts, table runners, wall hangings and quilted works of art will be on display Friday and Saturday at the annual Basin Piecemakers Quilt Show at Moses Lake High School, 803 East Sharon Ave. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

'Advanced meters' coming to Grant County PUD

Installation should start by late summer PUD meters

EPHRATA — The Grant County PUD will begin installing “advanced meters” sometime in late summer or early fall, starting in Moses Lake. The goal is to have all PUD customers hooked up to the new meters by mid-2018.

Friday night start for Moses Lake Relay

Goal to raise $100,000 for cancer research, patient support ML Relay

MOSES LAKE — Teams will be walking all night around the Moses Lake High School track Friday to raise money for cancer research and to support cancer patients. The Moses Lake Relay for Life kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday, and teams will be on the track through 7 a.m. Saturday.

'Aces are Feverish' premieres Friday at Masquers Theater

World premiere of Matthew Weaver play Masquers Theater

SOAP LAKE — The world premiere of a tangled tale of love, betrayal, murder and maple bars will hit the Masquers Theater stage this weekend. The curtain rises on “Aces are Feverish” at 7:30 p.m. Friday; the theater is located at 322 East Main Ave.

Ready to read

Kids can sign up at libraries or online for North Central Regional Library program Book-it

MOSES LAKE — The North Central Regional Library’s summer reading program will bring puppet theater, knights and a lesson on hydropower from the Chelan County PUD to Columbia Basin libraries.

Three-act application scores new lights for Masquers

Company's lighting director wrote play as application for donation Masquers

SOAP LAKE — Things are a little brighter at the Masquers Theater now. No, literally – the whole place is brighter at the result of new lights the company won in a national contest.

Big Bend's big day

Graduates, family, friends celebrate college graduation BBCC graduation

MOSES LAKE — Sometimes things get compared to a perfect storm. Melinda Dourte called her graduation from Big Bend Community College “perfect sunshine.”

Health and Wellness Expo set for Sept. 24

Lots to do for children and adults

MOSES LAKE — The annual Central Washington Health and Wellness Expo is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 24 in the ATEC building on the Big Bend Community College campus. Sponsors are Columbia Basin Herald, Confluence Health, Samaritan Healthcare, Moses Lake Community Health, Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata and Health Alliance. Admission is free. As its name implies, the expo focuses on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, providing information on health issues, introducing people to agencies and companies that can help them negotiate the healthcare system. And it’s more than that - it’s fun. “Lots of prizes and games for kids and adults,” said expo organizer Tera Redwine. The expo features a Kid Zone, which includes 300 teddy bears for kids to take through the Teddy Bear Clinic. Kids get a new teddy bear and go through the clinic, which teaches them about maintaining good health. Bears get a checkup and along the way their owners (and their moms and dads) get information about healthy habits. Local fire departments and EMS companies and agencies will bring emergency equipment for kids to look at and get close to. Depending on its availability, the LifeFlight emergency medical response helicopter will set down and let kids (and adults) take a peek inside. There’s a coloring contest sponsored by Samaritan Healthcare, and lots of other activities for children, Redwine said. Information will go out to schools in Moses Lake, Soap Lake, Ephrata and Quincy about two weeks prior to the expo. The ATEC building is filled with vendors all day. “The vendors come from all over,” she explained. The 2015 expo attracted more than 70 vendors, from agencies and health care providers, to skin care and nutrition companies, to health insurers, to financial planning, to home healthcare to retail companies (like Costco). Fall is the season for open enrollment in public health insurance programs like Medicare, and there will be Medicare information for seniors. Other topics for seniors will be covered as well. Demonstrations are also scheduled. One of her goals, Redwine said, is to expand the demonstration list, adding more exercise options for people of all ages, and regardless of their initial physical condition. The expo has its own Facebook page, and it will be updated as the date gets closer and more information becomes available.

Grant, Adams Counties add jobs

YAKIMA — Grant and Adams counties added jobs in 2015, but neither matched the statewide rate of employment growth, according to information from the Washington Employment Security Department.

ML school construction bond questions discussed

Bond will be submitted to votesr February 2017

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District patrons are getting a look this week at three options for a construction bond, which will be offered in some form in February 2017.

Local swimming pools open next week

Moses Lake pool open this week Pools opening

MOSES LAKE — Whatever the calendar says, one of the signs summer is here is the swimming pool opening. By that measure summer is here next week in Ephrata, Moses Lake and Quincy.

Moses Lake school patrons get first look at construction options

Three options discussed at Tuesday symposium, two more meetings scheduled MLSD

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District patrons got their first look at the three options for a possible construction bond at a community meeting Tuesday. The bond would be offered to voters in February 2017.

Big Bend CC commencement Friday

More than 450 students will receive degrees BBCC commencement

MOSES LAKE — Commencement exercises for the Big Bend Community College class of 2016 are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Lions Field, behind Frontier Middle School, 517 West Third Ave.

MLHS fishermen qualify for national tournament

Cole Tabert, Dylan Hansen raising money for trip to nationals Fishing tournament

MOSES LAKE — Family and friends of Moses Lake High School junior Cole Tabert will hold a fundraising car wash from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the parking lot in front of Quiznos, 933 North Stratford Rd. The money raised will go toward Cole’s trip, with his fishing partner Dylan Hansen, to the national high school bass fishing tournament in Kentucky Lake, Tenn., in August. Dylan graduated last weekend with the MLHS class of 2016.

Quincy students show their computer skills

Congressman Dan Newhouse visits Quincy High School Code kids

QUINCY — Juan Zetina, a senior at Quincy High School, called it a roadblock. But to be honest it was more like his project ran into a ditch.

Ephrata class of 2016 leaves high school behind

Cheers, tears, a little fun at graduation ceremony Ephrata graduation

EPHRATA — Every school has its graduation traditions, and at Ephrata High School that includes a picture of every graduate as they walk up the aisle (two by two, sometimes as a trio) to take their seats. That has spawned another tradition – not everybody participates, but a lot do – of striking a pose as the shutter clicks.

Ephrata council talks field upgrade project

Ephrata council

EPHRATA — Whether or not the city of Ephrata can participate in a project to update the Ephrata baseball field – and whether the city should – was a topic of discussion at the regular Ephrata City Council meeting Wednesday.

Possible record-breaking temperatures Sunday, Monday

Hot flash forecast, rather than hot spell Hot flash

MOSES LAKE — It’s going to get hot out there – but not a hot spell, really. More of a hot flash.

Auditors: accounting errors at 2 local school districts

Moses Lake, Othello school districts should change accounting practices, according to auditors

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake and Othello school districts were asked to change some accounting practices after auditors from the Washington Auditor’s Office found what they considered accounting mistakes.

PUD still working on steelhead growth

EPHRATA – The Grant County PUD is still working on reaching fish passage survival targets for steelhead, a goal that’s part of the PUD’s license.

Moving on up, high school graduation

Warden, Othello, Ephrata Friday, Moses Lake, Wilson Creek, Lind-Ritzville Saturday High school graduation

MOSES LAKE — Seniors from local high schools start the next chapter with graduation ceremonies beginning this weekend and continuing June 10 and 11.

Cost of Priest Rapids Dam refurbishment may increase

Primary construction contract could exceed $100 million Refurbishment cost increase

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.

Solar cars race down the track

Fifth-grade energy powers annual event Solar race

MOSES LAKE — There are different kinds of energy, as the exhibits at the Solar Car Races and Energy Fair demonstrate. The energy fair focuses on renewable energy, so there were exhibits on solar energy, wind energy, hydro energy.

Sweet sounds at choral dessert

Fundraiser for choral program Choir fundraiser

MOSES LAKE — Sweet treats and sweeter sounds were on the menu at the annual Jazz Dessert Social Tuesday night. The Moses Lake High School jazz choir took to the stage in the annual fundraiser for the MHLS Choral Boosters.

New PUD manager's salary set

Kevin Nordt will get $10,385 every two weeks

EPHRATA — New Grant County PUD general manager Kevin Nordt will make $10,385 every two weeks, or $270,010 per year. That’s compared to a salary of $10,300 every two weeks, or $267,800 per year, for former general manager Tony Webb, who resigned from the general manager’s position effective May 31. (Webb will remain as an assistant general manager.)

2 new, 5 upgraded substations on PUD construction schedule

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD will be building two new substations and upgrading five more by the end of 2017. Construction will cost a maximum of $23.9 million.

MLCA seniors receive awards at annual breakfast

A school tradition for 40 years, director says MLCA breakfast

MOSES LAKE — School officials announced the scholarship list and awards for the Moses Lake Christian Academy class of 2016 at the annual Senior Awards Breakfast Friday.

BBCC air rescue facility designed to test firefighters

Firefighter training

MOSES LAKE — By their very nature emergencies don’t follow the routine script.

Grant, Adams employment trends show 2015 growth

Neither county matched the statewide growth in 2015

YAKIMA — Both Grant and Adams counties added jobs in 2015, but neither matched the statewide rate of employment growth, according to information from the Washington Employment Security Department.

Ephrata pool gets new paint job

Ephrata council

EPHRATA — The Splash Zone, the Ephrata city pool, will open on time despite being in the process of getting a new paint job.

Choral jazz fundraiser Tuesday

Choir fundraiser

MOSES LAKE — Smooth jazz with chocolate and cheesecake as a chaser is on the program at the annual Jazz Dessert Social sponsored by the Moses Lake High School Choral Boosters. The concert, which includes a silent and live auction, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Moses Lake Presbyterian Church, 1142 West Ivy Ave. This will be the 12th annual concert with dessert.

Registration open for rodeo queen camp

Faith-based camp emphasizes leadership skills Rodeo Queen camp

WATERVILLE — Registration is open for a Christian-based camp for girls who want to learn about rodeo and being a rodeo queen.

Moses Lake School Board wins regional award

Warden woman receives North Central ESD Friend of Children award MLSB

WENATCHEE — The Moses Lake School Board received one of three School Boards of the Year awards for the North Central Washington Education Service District at a banquet May 11 in Wenatchee. Shanna Golladay of Warden was recognized with the Friends of Children award, along with an Oroville couple.

Moses Lake Dog Park dedicated Saturday

Place for dogs to run and 'just be dogs' Dog Park!

MOSES LAKE — It might have been drizzling, but the dogs didn’t care. They ran and barked and otherwise enjoyed the new park designed for them. The new Moses Lake Dog Park was dedicated Saturday.

Walker announces run for second term on PUD board

Electrical rates, fiber buildout among top concerns Walker for second term

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

Crescent Bar changes prompt conversation

WANAPUM DAM — The design of a new building for businesses on Crescent Bar Island brought an overflow crowd to the regular meeting of the Grant County commissioners April 26.

Postal carriers help 'Stamp Out Hunger'

Food donations to Moses Lake Food Bank Food bank

MOSES LAKE — When the mail trucks arrived, the big truck started filling up fast. Not with mail — the truck belonged to the Moses Lake Food Bank, and the mail carriers collected food donations from along their routes as part of the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive.

World War II veteran, 98, tells his story

WWII Vet

MOSES LAKE — Cesar Mijares is a genuine American hero. Although he disputes that. “Never mind hero,” he said.

Tribute to famous folk singer at Grand Coulee Dam

Concert, symposium remember Woody Guthrie Grand Coulee Dam

GRAND COULEE — Songs written by folk artist Woody Guthrie while he spent about a month touring Grand Coulee Dam and its surrounding area in 1941 will be the subject of a concert and symposium May 28 at the dam.

Spring Festival run registration open

Spring fest registration

MOSES LAKE — Registration is open for two running events scheduled for Saturday and Monday of Spring Festival (and Memorial Day) weekend, May 28 and May 30. Spring Festival is the annual town celebration in Moses Lake.

Assessor's office working to correct deficiencies

State audit covers 2013-14 State audit

EPHRATA — Oversight deficiencies at the Grant County Assessor’s Office in 2013-14 may have led to delayed or inaccurate property assessments, according to the findings from an audit released Thursday by the Washington State Auditor’s Office.

Two new but small parks under development in Ephrata

Council members discuss changes to nuisance ordinance

EPHRATA — Two new but small parks are being developed by Ephrata city officials.