CHERYL SCHWEIZER

Sewing, exercise classes to be offered through Parks and Rec

MOSES LAKE — Sewing and quilting lessons, exercise classes for children and tai chi instruction for adults are among the classes scheduled for January and sponsored by Moses Lake Parks and Recreation.

Holding solid position the goal of Grant County potato growers

MOSES LAKE — Grant County potato growers are in a pretty sweet spot. The job for the future is finding ways to stay there, according to Chris Voigt, executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission.

Museum party draws big crowd

Kickoff for annual membership drive Museum party

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Museum & Art Center was filled with art lovers and kids consulting Santa during the museum’s annual holiday party Friday evening.

Wanapum Village being sold by Grant Co. PUD

For Sale

WANAPUM DAM — The houses and office building owned by the Grant County PUD and known as Wanapum Village could go on sale, although there’s no time frame for a possible sale.

Wanapum Dam museum just months from opening

Museum

WANAPUM DAM — The sign on the door says the new hydro museum at Wanapum Dam is almost finished – but not quite.

Arc flash declared cause of Priest Rapids Dam explosion

DESERT AIRE — An arc flash triggered by the failure of a circuit breaker caused the explosion that injured six workers at Priest Rapids Dam, just south of here, on Oct. 8.

Priest Rapids Dam Explosion PUD employee in critical condition improves

Priest Rapids

EPHRATA — The last Grant County PUD employee who was listed in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle has improved to serious condition. Both patients in Harborview are now listed in serious condition, said Susan Gregg, hospital spokesperson.

Quincy donations help horse riding therapy

QUINCY — A donation from the Microsoft data center in Quincy and donations from other Quincy businesses will help a Wenatchee-area nonprofit group continue to provide horse riding therapy to people with special needs in Grant, Chelan and Douglas counties.

Medical Lake company hired for improvements at Crescent Bar

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners awarded a $6.9 million contract on Oct.13 to the West Company of Medical Lake for recreation improvements along the Columbia River shoreline at Crescent Bar.

Adult ice hockey team returns to Moses Lake

Ice hockey

MOSES LAKE — Ice hockey for adults, kickboxing for kids and adults, and music for small children are among the classes offered the next two weeks by the Moses Lake Parks and Recreation department.

'Triple Nickel' paratroopers subject of museum lecture

Unit selected for top-secret mission in closing days of World War II Triple Nickel

MOSES LAKE — The story of a top-secret operation in the closing days of World War II, featuring an elite – and all-black – paratrooper unit will be the subject of a lecture at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Civic Center Auditorium.

Downtown Art and Wine Walk Saturday

Downtown businesses host wine tasting, art exhibits Art and Wine Walk

MOSES LAKE — Participants get the chance to check out local wines, brews, the work of local artists and writers, and downtown businesses during the annual Art and Wine Walk, from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday. The event is hosted by the Moses Lake Business Association with support from BBSI, Inland Cellular, Venue, and Washington Trust Bank.

Tractor pull gives enthusiasts fun outlet

Basin life

MOSES LAKE — Three days of competition to see whose tractor can pull the most weight is scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the Ardell Pavilion at the Grant County Fairgrounds. The Northwest Fall National Antique and Classic Tractor and Truck Pull is sponsored by the Columbia Basin Antique Power Club.

Art classes in October at museum

Pumpkins, polymer clay among classes for children and adults at Moses Lake Museum & Art Center Art classes

MOSES LAKE — Painting pumpkin pictures, tie-dying, and polymer clay for adults and children are among the classes offered during October at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center.

Washington photographer subject of museum lecture

Asahel Curtis was well-known for his photography, but he did a lot more, biographer says Asahel Curtis

MOSES LAKE — Pioneering Washington photographer Asahel Curtis, and his role in developing Washington, will be the subject of a lecture at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Moses Lake Civic Auditorium, 401 S. Balsam St.

Friends will raise money for Cody DeTrolio memorial with his steers

WARDEN – Friends of Cody DeTrolio, along with Cody's fellow FFA members, are looking to raise as much money as they can for a memorial scholarship.

PUD doing better than expected with fiber

EPHRATA — The Grant County PUD is making more money from its fiber optic network than projected. But fewer people have signed up for its wireless service than anticipated.

Work of Moses Lake native featured in museum exhibit

Architect, artist Bob Hull subject of show Bob Hull

MOSES LAKE - An exhibit focusing on the works and life of the late Bob Hull, Seattle architect and Moses Lake native, opens Sept. 18 at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center. The opening reception for "Investigation, Innovation and Influence: The Life and Work of Bob Hull" is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 18 the museum, 401 South Balsam St.

'People are your greatest resource' - PUD's retiring hydro manager

WANAPUM DAM — There were signs something was not quite right at Wanapum Dam on Feb. 27, 2014. An investigation was underway, but the hydro division employees were going about their regular business.

First Central Basin Community Concert is Sept. 20

For first time, tickets available for individual concerts Concert

MOSES LAKE — Tickets are on sale for the 2015-16 Central Basin Community Concert Association season, with the first concert scheduled for Sept. 20 at the Wallenstien Theater on the Big Bend Community College campus. This will be the concert association's 62nd season.

Make paper apples for Free Family Saturday

Monthly museum program makes turn to fall Free Family Saturday

MOSES LAKE — Stuffed apples - paper apples stuffed with paper, that is - are on the menu for Free Family Saturday this weekend.

Costs going up at Priest Rapid Dam

WANAPUM DAM - Upgrading the turbines at Priest Rapids Dam will cost an additional $22,698,254. The new contract price for the entire turbine project will be $87,062,072.

'Pop-up museum' comes to fair

Moses Lake Museum & Art Center provides the space, participants provide the exhibits Pop-up

MOSES LAKE - A museum exhibit created by the participants will be sponsored by the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center during the Grant County Fair.

Library summer program ends with party Aug. 13

Games, contests, movie among activities scheduled Library

MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake Public Library will wrap up the summer reading program with an "end of summer bash" from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 13.

Glass sculpture, yarn dyeing among museum classes

Museum classes

MOSES LAKE - Glass sculpture, string art, beading and yarn dyeing will be among the classes sponsored by the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center in August.

Heat causes issues with local cherry crops

QUINCY - Every industry has its good news and bad news, and the good news for cherry growers is that fruit coming off the trees is of good quality.

Sheriff seeks help finding David Santos

EPHRATA - The Grant County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in finding a fugitive who allegedly eluded a police chase with Moses Lake officers on July 4.

'Bird Friendly Community Day' set for Saturday

Designed to promote interest in wildlife and conservation Birds

MOSES LAKE - The first "Bird Friendly Community Day" is scheduled for Saturday at the Moses Lake Public Library and the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center.

Registration open for SpringFest 10k, 5k runs

Sign-ups also open for triathlon, duathlon

MOSES LAKE - Registration is open for the annual 5-kilometer and 10-kilometer Spring Festival fun runs, and the festival's triathlon and duathlon. The 5K and 10K runs take off at 8 a.m. May 23 from McCosh Park. The triathlon and duathlon are scheduled for 8 a.m. May 25, and the races begin and end in Montlake Park.

New exhibit opens at Moses Lake Museum Friday

Landscape artists Gregg Caudell, Aaron Cordell Johnson to display works Exhibit

MOSES LAKE - The opening reception for an exhibit of eastern Washington landscapes is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center.

Wanapum Reservoir full

BEVERLY - More than a year after a crack was discovered in a spillway pillar, Wanapum Dam is back at normal operating levels, and the reservoir behind the dam is full.

2 teens from Royal shot

EPHRATA - The Ephrata Police Department Thursday was asking for the public's help in finding assailants who shot three people at a mini-mart in Ephrata the night of March 31.

Boeing donates plane to BBCC

MOSES LAKE - A single-engine aircraft popular with bush pilots around the world has been donated to the Big Bend Community College aviation maintenance technology program.

PUD, Crescent Bar may settle lawsuit

EPHRATA - After almost five years of litigation, Grant County PUD officials and representatives of three organizations representing leaseholders on Crescent Bar Island have reached a tentative settlement.

Royal's Villafana speaker at banquet

MOSES LAKE - Seven people who beat the challenges they faced on the road to college were recently honored by the Big Bend Community College trustees at the "Transforming Lives" banquet.

Added security costs Grant Co. PUD big bucks

EPHRATA - Patrolling the shoreline behind Wanapum Dam is costing the Grant County PUD about $411,210 per month in 2015. That's about $225,000 less than the PUD was paying for shoreline security last summer.

Flight program is designed for student success

MOSES LAKE - Joseph MacDougall said his interest in aviation began on a long trip, when he got bored and started teasing his little sister.

Quincy voters to decide fate of school M&O levy

Four year levy on Feb. 10 ballot

QUINCY - Quincy School District voters will receive ballots this week for a special election that will decide the fate of a four-year maintenance and operations levy.

Bird removal helps fish in Wanapum pool

EPHRATA - A project to move Caspian terns off an island at the Potholes is paying dividends in steelhead survival around Wanapum and Priest Rapids dams.

Grant PUD commissioners to consider rate policy

Review could take up to three months

EPHRATA - Grant County PUD commissioners will spend two and a half to three months reviewing the PUD rate policies, and the assumptions underlying the policy, before moving on to set rates for 2016.

Wireless, broadband discussed at PUD meeting

EPHRATA - Grant County PUD will be able to offer additional broadband options to its ISP (internet service provider) customers, possibly as early as February. The ISPs then will be able to offer those options to retail customers.

Shoreline decision to come in January

Grant County PUD may open portions of shoreline, or wait until spring and open it all

EPHRATA - Grant County PUD officials will announce some time in January whether or not any part of the Columbia River shoreline between Wanapum Dam and Rock Island Dam will be opened for public access before the water is raised back up to normal operating levels.

Inslee details education budget proposal

Proposed $2.3 billion for teacher pay, basic school support, higher education

MOSES LAKE - Gov. Jay Inslee revealed some details of his education proposal this week in a teleconference at four schools including Moses Lake. But Inslee declined to specify how he would pay for the $2.3 billion program, saying that would be explained at a news conference today.

Othello Christmas basket project ramping up

Donations accepted through Dec. 19, distribution Dec. 20

OTHELLO - It's become a tradition in Othello, just like kids getting a picture with Santa, and clubs, businesses, churches and individuals all over town are getting ready.

New boutique opens in Moses Lake

Deane Duncan wanted to give her business an urban feel

MOSES LAKE - Deane Duncan said she wanted her new shop Hotoveli to look like a boutique customers would find in downtown Seattle or downtown Los Angeles. And it's a mix of antique display cases and repurposed materials, the clothing, accessories and home decor for sale has a midtown-Manhattan vibe.

Dexter leads Bennett in MLIRD voting

MOSES LAKE - Kris Dexter is leading Tom Bennett in early results of the election for the one contested seat on the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District (MLIRD) Board of Directors.

Quincy Christmas Bazaar scheduled for Saturday

QUINCY - The Quincy Community Center will sponsor its annual Christmas Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the center, 115 Southwest F St.

Quincy Community Christmas Concert Sunday

QUINCY - Yuletide carols will be sung by a choir (possibly including the "Christmas Song") and vocal and instrumental soloists will take the stage at the annual Community Christmas Concert, sponsored by Quincy Valley Allied Arts. The curtain goes up at 6 p.m. in the performing arts center at Quincy High School, 16 South Sixth Ave.

Tractors, combines featured in Ag Parade

MOSES LAKE - Tractors, stackers, combines and trucks will be decorated to the nines and then roll down Third Avenue Friday, a tribute to the season and the agriculture industry. The Ag Appreciation Parade starts at 7 p.m. Friday and will be celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Grant County unemployment 5.6 percent in September

OLYMPIA - Statistics released by the Washington Employment Security Department show Grant County's unemployment rate was below the state unemployment rate at the end of September.