JOEL MARTIN

Basin hospitals honored by state association

MOSES LAKE — Four local hospitals were awarded the Achievement of Quality Excellence by the Washington State Hospital Association at the WSHA Rural Hospital Leadership Conference in Chelan on June 28. “For this year's award, the measures that we looked at related to quality, and those are: working on climate change; working on health equity; our safe deliveries road map, which is related to perinatal work, quality work in the delivering babies arena; fall prevention; opioid harm prevention; sepsis; and workplace violence,” said WSHA Director of Clinical Excellence, Rural Programs Megan Herman. Confluence Hospital in Wenatchee, which serves Moses Lake, Royal City and Ephrata through branch clinics, was a gold honoree, according to an announcement from Confluence Health. Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake and Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee also received gold awards, according to the WSHA, and Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata received the silver award.

Where to swim in the Basin

MOSES LAKE — In case you haven’t noticed, it’s hot. And it’s likely to get hotter before the summer is over. Which makes plunging yourself into water seem like a really nice idea.

Quincy Lakes Fire spurs evacuations

QUINCY — A fire that broke out in the Ancient Lakes area south of Quincy Saturday night prompted a Level 3, or Go Now, evacuation order. Nobody was hurt, and no structures were threatened, according to Grant County Fire District 5 firefighter Daniel Garland, who spoke from the scene. “We evacuated all the campers,” Garland said. “Probably five to seven people, no cars or trucks, not a crazy amount.” The blaze, dubbed the Quincy Lakes Fire, was officially at 200 acres Sunday morning, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, but Garland, who was at the south end of the fire, estimated it at closer to 800. It was discovered at about 9:30 p.m., according to the NIFC.

Improv camp coming to Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake students can immerse themselves in the world of improvisational theater at a new camp coming in August. “It’s an entry point for 7- to 18-year-olds into theater and improv comedy,” said Columbia Basin Allied Arts Director Shawn Cardwell. “They’ll go through the games and the thought processes behind improv acting.” The week-long camp, called Yes, And Academy, will take students through four different classes with multiple instructors, where they’ll learn scene work, devising, improv fundamentals, and performance through fun, interactive improv games and exercises, according to an announcement from CBAA, which is collaborating with MG Teams of Spokane to produce the camp. Students will get to explore a variety of games and activities tailored to their age group, according to the announcement. Classes will be 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday, with a lunch break. Students should bring their own lunch, according to the announcement.

Achieving the dream

Catholic Charities brings homeownership into the realm of the possible

MOSES LAKE — Catholic Charities Housing Services, based in Yakima, operates multi-family housing in 19 communities including Moses Lake, George, Royal City, Warden and Mattawa. Some of those residential properties are for seniors, some for farmworkers, some for anyone who needs an apartment to rent. But for those residents who are ready to move beyond renting, CCHS has programs to help them get into a home of their own. “We have two different models that allow families access to homeownership opportunities,” CCHS Vice President and Director of Housing Services Bryan Ketcham said. “They're both sweat equity-based, a component where there's buy in and commitment from the families.”

BASIN EVENTS: July 10-18

COLUMBIA BASIN — Whether you soak up the sun or the air conditioning, there’s something happening to suit you in the Basin this week. Check these out.

Drought prospects looking dire this year, experts say

The question isn’t whether we’ll have a drought in the Inland Northwest this summer, according to regional experts. It’s just a question of how bad it will get.

Tribute, cover bands finish out Moses Lake’s summer concert series

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Summer Concert Series, sponsored by the Moses Lake Creative District, has come into its own in its fourth year, said Creative Programs Coordinator Jenni Shelton. “I think it’s growing, as things like this do,” Shelton said. “We didn’t have super high attendance with our first two concerts this summer, but we had bad weather. It wasn’t very warm out and there had been rain earlier in the day. But I think word is getting our more and I’m hoping that these tribute bands are going to get people out even more.” Two of this year’s concerts were tied in with other events: R and B singer Lady A performed at Juneteenth and the 133d Army National Guard band performed last week at Red, White and Boom. In between, tejano/conjunto band Los Volcanes de Eddie Rodriguez brought the sounds of the south Texas border country to the Centennial Amphitheater.

Ouija board leads to car prowl arrested

MOSES LAKE — A Ouija board led to an arrest in a vehicle break-in Friday afternoon, according to a statement from the Moses Lake Police Department.

George celebrates Independence Day in a big way

GEORGE — The town of George, Washington began its existence as a city on July 4, 1957, and it’s been celebrating America ever since. But this Independence Day marked a quarter of a millennium of American history, and that meant going above and beyond the usual festivities. “I love the enthusiasm people have for the red, white and blue this year,” said Marissa Vela of Ephrata, who had her Blessed Beads vendor booth set up at the George Community Park. “I think it makes America feel so (much) heart with the 250th year, plus the World Cup. I’m loving that vibe.” George’s celebration had many of the elements that have been par for the course in past years: the parade, the patriotic program with song and speakers and the town’s trademark, the world’s largest cherry pie. In addition, there was a historical display by the Quincy Valley Historical Society, where reenactors showed kids how Benjamin Franklin’s printing press worked, recounted the experiences of a young Revolutionary War soldier and let them sign the Declaration of Independence with an actual quill pen. The display made the rounds of Quincy-area elementary schools earlier this year, said QVHS Director Harriet Weber, and gave those students a perspective they might not otherwise have had.