JOEL MARTIN

‘A story of hope’

Moses Lake residents gather for the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast

MOSES LAKE — About 80 people gathered in the dining room at Brookdale Hearthstone Assisted Living Facility early Thursday morning for bacon, eggs and prayer.

Skills on display

Job Corps hosts open house

MOSES LAKE — Dylan Sanders credits Job Corps with showing him a path forward. “I graduated high school and I wasn’t really doing much,” Sanders said. “I was working at Walmart as a cashier, but that’s not really what I wanted to do. I wanted to get an education, but I didn’t want to go to college. I heard about Job Corps and (I looked into it) and saw they offered computer networking, which is exactly what I wanted to do.” Sanders was representing the Computer Networking program at an open house Wednesday at the Columbia Basin Job Corps Center in Moses Lake, giving visiting students an idea of what Job Corps has to offer. About 200 students from high schools around central Washington had come through the open house in the first hour and a half, Community Liaison Susan Mann said. Students took a tour of the campus, located in the Larson area across from Big Bend Community College, and then fanned out among tables and displays, inside and out, where current students told them about the programs the center offers. Students from the construction trades – plastering, carpentry, cement masonry – had small workspaces set up in the closed-off driveway to demonstrate the skills they were gaining.

BASIN EVENTS: May 8-16

COLUMBIA BASIN — The weather is just about perfect and there are things going on all over the Basin. Here are some options to check out. May 8-10 ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Basin Community Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning musical. 7:10 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 1:10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Moses Lake High School Theater, 803 E. Sharon Ave. Tickets and info: basincommunitytheatre.com.

Palos Verdes moves into Moses Lake

Mae Valley homes a first for the Othello-based builder

MOSES LAKE — One of Othello’s biggest developers just started its first new housing development in Moses Lake. “We’ve been building in Othello for the past 12, 13 years, and then moved to the Quincy area seven, eight years (ago),” said Angel Garza, owner of Othello-based Palos Verdes. “We’ve always had our eye on Moses Lake.” Garza was there Wednesday to cut the ribbon at Sandhill Place, the new Palos Verdes development in Mae Valley. Palos Verdes has 31 lots under development, Garza said, with right of first refusal on another 50 or so, including some that face the Moses Lake Golf Club. The homes at Sandhill Estates are a little different from Palos Verdes’ previous floor plans, Garza said, something he had some reservations about at first.

‘Dear Evan Hansen’

Basin Community Theater musical packs an emotional punch

MOSES LAKE — Some stage musicals are grand, brightly-colored affairs, with lots of dancing and flamboyant sets and unbridled joy. “Dear Evan Hansen” is not that kind of musical. “There’s a lot of emotion,” said Basin Community Theatre producer Marion Wyman. “It’s going to make some people shed some tears. In fact, one of our adult cast members at (a rehearsal) sat down and just cried over the emotion he felt during the last song.” “Dear Evan Hansen,” which opens tonight, is loaded with heavy-duty themes: bullying, mental illness, drug abuse and suicide. The story centers around Evan (Kaleb Stanberry), a high school senior who is beset with social anxiety and depression, with a single mother who works too many hours to provide him the support he needs. Evan’s therapist has him writing notes to himself during the day to cope with his problems. Meanwhile Evan’s school bully nemesis Connor (Gus O’Donnell) comes from an outwardly healthy family but turns to drugs to cope with his own depression. When Connor takes his own life, one of Evan’s notes is found in his possession and Evan pretends to have been Connor’s best friend in an attempt to comfort Connor’s parents Larry (Weston Beck) and Cynthis (Amy O’Donnell), and especially Connor’s sister – and Evan’s crush – Zoe (Emma Leavitt). The story is told partly through Evan’s internal monologue and narration by Connor’s ghost, as Evan’s pretense spirals out of control.

Students write letters, fight for TRIO program

MOSES LAKE — Some Moses Lake High School students gathered April 30 to make their voices heard. “I’ve grown up in a low-income first-generation household,” Vanguard Academy student Daniel Heeney wrote in a letter to state Rep. Alex Ybarra. “I’ve always wanted to pursue higher education and a career as a veterinarian, but that would not have been possible without TRIO (Upward Bound). Before I joined TRIO UB I lacked things like motivation, knowledge, and leadership. TRIO UB provided me with knowledge and insights that have helped me find and win scholarships making college more affordable.”

Mail carriers to collect food Saturday

MOSES LAKE — Mail carriers in Moses Lake will collect food for the Moses Lake Food Bank Saturday, part of the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. “(We’re asking) for a small donation of non-perishable food by your mailbox,” said carrier Michelle Schmidt, who’s coordinating the drive this year for Moses Lake. “And then on Saturday when we’re delivering, we’ll be picking up the food as we go along our route.” Schmidt suggested marking the food donation clearly, so carriers don’t pick up someone’s delivery order from a store. Anyone wanting more information can ask their mail carrier. The drive, put on by the National Association of Letter Carriers the second Saturday in May, has been going on since 1993, according to the NALC’s website.

Rusty Mammoth Sale supports museum in a big way

MOSES LAKE — This year’s Rusty Mammoth Sale at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center was, well, mammoth. “We about doubled what we usually bring in for this type of thing,” said Museum Superintendent Dollie Boyd. “We got really close to $6,000, and we’re accustomed to making closer to $3,000. Our friends and supporters really came out to show us some love.” Part of the reason, Boyd said, was that the sale came at the beginning of yard sale season. “The bargain hunters are hungry after a winter of being trapped inside,” she said. “And I think people are seeing what’s going on with city budgeting and want to help any way they can. And if they get to take home some treasures, then all the better.”

Tooth Fairy visits Moses Lake schools

MOSES LAKE — Some Moses Lake schoolchildren recently got a lesson in dental care from the world’s foremost authority: the Tooth Fairy. “(Presenters) dress up like the Tooth Fairy and come in and explain oral hygiene and read a story to kids,” said Stephanie Bannon, the school nurse at Sage Point and Peninsula elementary schools. “They provide oral hygiene kits for all the students kindergarten through second grade.” The program, called “The Tooth Fairy Experience,” is a service of Delta Dental to improve children’s dental health, according to an announcement from Delta. The kits included a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss and a two-minute timer to help children remember how long to brush for, according to the announcement.

New tech lets home carers and hospice providers communicate better, more safely

WENATCHEE — Anyone who’s ever had to deal with communication between medical providers, home caregivers and Medicare or insurance knows the frustration of trying to get everybody on the same page. A new system debuted by Confluence Health is expected to make those connections easier and safer. “Suppose a patient fell and (injured themselves) and they go in for (treatment),” said Adam MacDonald, corporate communications program manager for Confluence Health. “This is going to make it so their home health and hospice nurses are looking at the exact same record.” Dorothy, for home health care patients, and Comfort, for hospice patients, are both made by the same company that operates MyChart, which many medical providers use for communication between patients, providers and Medicare. Both systems integrate with MyChart.

GCAO cat room open again after outbreak

MOSES LAKE — The cat room is reopened at Grant County Animal Outreach, and the shelter could use a little help.

Hot stuff

Pride meets taste buds at Greenpoint chili cookoff

MOSES LAKE — Greenpoint Technologies engineer Gary Neu walked away with $100 and some serious bragging rights at the company’s annual chili cookoff April 27. “My reliable meat pimps at Ernie’s (Quality Meats and Wine) came through for me again,” Neu said. His chili wasn’t very spicy, he said, just traditional. “Just a good, solid, basic chili,” he said. “I’ve learned through the competitions that you have to cater to a very neutral element … If it even looks hot (people) will run and hide. There’s bell peppers in there, so it’s got a good color, but it doesn’t really have much heat.” Greenpoint, a company that does custom interiors for private planes, has held chili cookoffs for its employees for years, but this is only the fourth year that the company has invited judges from outside the company. This year’s judges were all from the Port of Moses Lake: Executive Director Dan Roach, Facility Director Milt Miller, Airport Director Rich Mueller, Executive Assistant Bonnie Peterson and Commissioner Darrin Jackson.

CB Job Corps to hold open house Wednesday

MOSES LAKE — The Columbia Basin Job Corps Center will hold an open house Wednesday, to show prospective students and their community what the program has to offer. “We’ll have all our training programs on display,” said Community Liaison Susan Mann. “We … have our construction trades – carpenters, plasterers, cement masons and painters – and computer networking, office administration, culinary arts.” Each program will have an interactive display to let attendees see what the program is all about.

Bourbon & Bowties

Samaritan raises money to bring doctors to the Basin

MOSES LAKE — The fourth annual Bourbon & Bowties fundraiser raised more than $350,000 April 24 to bring more doctors to Samaritan Healthcare. “The population in our hospital district is large enough that we’re about 22 primary care physicians short,” said Roberta Bigalk, executive director of the Samaritan Foundation. The solution Samaritan is working on, Bigalk said, is a partnership with the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine at Washington State University to bring physicians to the Columbia Basin to do their residency. Starting in 2029, Samaritan hopes to bring four or five new resident doctors a year. “The hope is that they come here with their families,” Bigalk said. “They spend three to four years, and they want to stay here because they love the rural community.”

BASIN EVENTS: May 1-9

COLUMBIA BASIN — Spring is finally here and it's time to get out in the sunshine. Music, sales and celebrations galore await you this week.

Hayden unveils Give as you Go community support program

REDMOND, Ore. — Hayden Homes, the Oregon-based builder behind more than a dozen Moses Lake housing developments, announced recently that it is pledging $25 million in charitable giving over the next four years through its Give as you Go initiative. “It always kind of bothered me when my friends’ companies would be like ‘Hey, it’s Christmas, so we should give back,’” said Hayden Homes CEO Dennis Murphy. “And as silly as it sounds, the thing in my head was, ‘Why’d you take so much in the first place?’ If you have to stop and give back, doesn’t it make more sense to just not take as much and give as you go?”

Museum’s Rusty Mammoth sale tomorrow to be the biggest in years

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Museum & Art Center’s annual Rusty Mammoth Sale is tomorrow, and it’s a doozy, according to Museum Superintendent Dollie Boyd.

Moses Lake Adventist Church finished after 20-plus years

MOSES LAKE — After decades of fundraising, labor and repeated setbacks, the Moses Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church building is finally complete. “It was miracle after miracle,” said Hugh Thomas, a member of the church’s building committee. The building, located on West Valley Road across from the Grant County Fairgrounds, was mostly complete in October 2024, but one last piece remained: the sanctuary. Sabbath services were instead held in the large waiting area outside the sanctuary, which was roped off and inaccessible. April 25 marked the first time services could actually be held inside the sanctuary, and about 120 people came to celebrate.

Children climb, dig and explore at MomCo Touch a Truck

MOSES LAKE — Fire trucks, excavators, police vehicles and even an aircraft became a playground for children at MomCo’s annual Touch a Truck event Saturday morning. “We have all new trucks this year,” said organizer Brittney Ketterer. “We have all new vendors. Our surprise is the airplane, which is a huge hit. All the kids are loving the airplane.” The airplane in question was a glider on loan from the aviation program at Big Bend Community College. The glider was called a Rutan VariEze, said instructor Cade Levine, who brought the craft over from the college, and was designed as a kit for the end user to put together. It was by far the most popular attraction, with children lined up for a chance to sit in it. “I was not expecting (it to be so popular),” Levine said. “They gave us a ton of room; I would have brought two planes if I’d known.”

Volunteers clean up downtown ML, plant trees

MOSES LAKE — The downtown core of Moses Lake is tidier due to the work of about 75 people at the Downtown Moses Lake Association’s annual Spring Cleaning Saturday morning. “I expected to see more trash, but we did a lot of picking up of weeds,” said Sara Guadarrama, “Weeds and cigarette butts.” Guadarrama and her coworker Kari Rodriguez were part of a group from Moses Lake Industries who came out together. Other local companies also came out in force for the event. “Moses Lake Industries and Sila Nanotechnologies wanted to work together for an Earth Day collab,” Rodriguez said. “We coordinated with the city and with DMLA … I saw a bunch of people from LocalTel and a couple of people from Genie. There a lot of groups out here.” About 75 people came out altogether, Guadarrama said.

Fairgrounds turns Grant County into a destination for horse competitors

MOSES LAKE — The sound of hoofbeats is a constant at the Grant County Fairgrounds. “We have a horse event almost every weekend starting in March through October, not including August because we’ve got the fair going on (that month),” said Events Administrator Shayla Anderson. The fairgrounds boasts two pavilions, a 5,000-seat rodeo ground, 444 horse stalls, more than 450 RV camping sites, located in the middle of the state and with a sunny desert climate. That combination draws horse enthusiasts from all over Washington.

Library activities for May 2026

COLUMBIA BASIN — There’s a lot going on at your local library. Find yours and check it out.

BBCC Job and Career Fair connects job seekers with jobs

MOSES LAKE — More than 1,200 job seekers were expected to come out to Big Bend Community College for its annual Job and Career Fair Thursday. “(We’ve had) a great turnout, said Mindy McManis, human resources manager for Simplot in Othello. “We have a lot of people from the public. We have college students and even high school students who have attended today … I have, in the first hour or so, talked to a good 50-60 people.” More than 60 employers were represented, from huge companies like Microsoft and Simplot down to small local businesses, and including government agencies, health care facilities, high-tech companies and more. Tables were set up through the Masto Conference Center at the ATEC building, and out in the halls around. Some employers accepted resumes on the spot; others directed job seekers to a QR code listing available openings.

Moses Lake collects debris, serves up lunch at Citywide Cleanup

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake’s Citywide Cleanup took in a lot of trash Saturday.

A glimpse of history

Quincy Valley Historical Society celebrates America’s semiquincentennial

QUINCY — The Quincy Valley Historical Society is going all-out for America’s 250th year. “I’ve been talking with people in the last six months about this, (and) some people will say, ‘Why do you want to celebrate America at 250?’” said Harriet Weber, director of operations for the Quincy Valley Historical Society and Museum. “And I said, ‘You know, no matter what your political stance is, (we’ve had) 250 years of freedom, which I believe we take for granted.” One way the museum is celebrating is with its first-ever traveling exhibit, “Journey to Philadelphia 1776.” Volunteers are making the rounds of Quincy’s five elementary schools, one a week, with a sixth session at the museum for New Life Christian School in Ephrata and homeschool students, Weber said. “Journey to Philadelphia 1776” features 12 volunteer interpreters in costume, who lead the students through some of the high points of America’s founding.

BASIN EVENTS: April 24-May 31

COLUMBIA BASIN — We’re swinging into May and there are festivals, rodeos, live performances and more. Here are a few possibilities. April 24 Children’s Day Get ready for a day full of smiles, laughter, and community spirit at the new stage area in the park. Each child will receive a treat bag packed with goodies like snacks, candies, and fun surprises. 4 p.m. at Hund Memorial Park, Mattawa. Info: 509-932-4037. Hiram B. Freedom and his Honky-Tonk Holy Ghost Revival Live outlaw country music by the King of the Hillbilly Poets. 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Michael’s Market & Bistro, 221 W. Broadway Ave., Moses Lake. Info: 509-765-4177.

Home prices vary across Basin

MOSES LAKE — Home prices were up in Moses Lake and Warden last month, but other Columbia Basin communities didn’t see the same increases. The median price of a home in Moses Lake was $374,495 in March 2026, a 13.1% increase compared to March 2025, according to data released by the real estate website Redfin. Soap Lake’s median home price stayed fairly steady at $328,000, only 1% above a year earlier. Ephrata and Othello both saw decreases: Othello by 8.4% to $320,000 and Ephrata by 20.4 to $338,000. Warden’s median home price leapt up 57.9% between March 2025 and 2026, to $500,000.

Crestview school raises funds with jog-a-thon

MOSES LAKE — The students at Crestview Christian School in Moses Lake had a little outside support for their annual jog-a-thon fundraiser Friday. “We had some of the neighbors come over, and they walked a couple of laps with the kids,” said school secretary Kim Dieter. “It was a gorgeous day, perfect for outside activity. Not too hot, not too cold.” About 30 people, including students from both Crestview and Brite Beginnings Preschool as well as some teachers and other adults, ran, jogged or walked around a makeshift track behind the school. Grownup volunteers tallied the laps and kept the walkers hydrated. A neighborhood puppy named River even trotted over and walked a few laps with the children.

Student with Basin roots heads to West Point

MOSES LAKE — The U.S. Military Academy West Point has a reputation as a tough school to get into and an even tougher one to get through. But one young woman with ties to the Columbia Basin is headed there next year. “It was a long process,” said Élodie Bennett of Anchorage, Alaska. “I definitely had to push myself, but it was very much worth it.” Élodie, a senior at South Anchorage High School, is the daughter of David Bennett, a 1982 graduate of Moses Lake High School, and the granddaughter of Tom Bennett, a longtime instructor at Big Bend Community College who still lives in Moses Lake. She’ll follow in her dad’s footsteps next year as she enters West Point.

Youth baseball and softball season kicks off with parade

MOSES LAKE — The youth baseball and softball season kicked off in Moses Lake with the traditional Youth Day Parade downtown Saturday morning. The parking lots at McCosh Park and the Surf ‘n Slide Water Park were filled with pickup trucks and trailers, each decorated in team colors and bearing a team of eager young players from the Moses Lake Youth Baseball Association and the Columbia Basin Girls Softball Association. The parade wound down Fourth Avenue to Division Street, jogged north to head back up Third Avenue to Ivy Avenue, then returned to where they started. “The object is just to get as many kids playing as possible,” said MLYBA vice president Leo Cortez.

Piano students get expert guidance

MOSES LAKE — Forty-five Basin piano students participated in the Washington State Music Teachers Association’s Music Artistry Program March 27-28, according to an announcement from the association. “The students play two piano pieces, memorized or non-memorized, for the visiting artists,” said music teacher Harriet West, who had students participating in the program. “Then (the artists) write down comments and work with students at the piano.” The visiting artist was Dr. Fabio Menchetti, according to the announcement. Menchetti, a native of Lucca, Italy, is an assistant professor of piano at Washington State University. Menchetti has performed as a soloist with orchestras in Italy and the U.S., and regularly concertizes throughout the United States, both as a soloist and a chamber musician, according to his website.

CBAA auction moves inside with Kentucky Derby theme

MOSES LAKE — The Columbia Basin Allied Arts fundraiser auction will have a new venue this year, at the Best Western Plus Lake Front Hotel in Moses Lake. “They catered last year … and it was great,” CBAA Executive Director Shawn Cardwell said. “It felt like it would be fun to change it up … We really look forward to that beautiful lake view.”

Hayden Homes named Great Place to Work

REDMOND, Ore. — Hayden Homes is officially a great place to work, according to an announcement from the company.

Two dead after collisions near Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Two collisions left a driver and passenger dead on Road 3 Northeast near Moses Lake Sunday afternoon, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman. At about 4:45 p.m., the Washington State Patrol responded to a report of a hit-and-run collision on State Route 17 at the Stratford Road intersection, according to a statement from the WSP. An unidentified male driving a 2003 Toyota Corolla attempted to exit SR 17 at the same time as Savana R. Oliphant, 19, of Moses Lake. Oliphant was transported to Samaritan Hospital with injuries, and the unknown driver fled the scene with Grant County Sheriff’s deputies in pursuit.

BBCC Job & Career Fair returns Thursday

MOSES LAKE — There are jobs out there, and people who are looking for jobs, and the two will come together Thursday at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake. “We’re incredibly excited to welcome more than 60 exhibitors to campus for the 33rd annual Job & Career Fair,” Alissa Scriven, Career Pathways Coordinator at Big Bend Community College, wrote in an announcement. “Each year, this event continues to grow, and it reflects the strong partnerships we have with local employers and organizations that are committed to strengthening our workforce. It’s a unique opportunity for students and community members to have real conversations with employers and explore what’s possible right here in our region.” The Job Fair is hosted by BBCC, and organized in conjunction with Washington State Employment Security, OIC of Washington, the Department of Services for the Blind, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services/DVR, SkillSource and Job Corps, all agencies that help connect people with jobs. Those entities will have booths, but they’ll be joined by scores of employers from the private sector looking to expand their teams.

BASIN EVENTS: April 17-25

COLUMBIA BASIN — Is it spring or isn’t it? You’d never know by the way the weather has gone back and forth this month. Don’t let that stop you from getting out and doing things this week, though. Here are some things to check out: April 17 Safe Kids, Strong Communities Free family-friendly event in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Pizza, face painting, child safety education and hands-on activities for children of all ages and abilities, as well as prize giveaways. All children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. 3-7 p.m. at Grant County Fairgrounds, 3953 Airway Drive NE, Moses Lake. Info: 509-764-8402.

Pipes, punk and tradition

Leavenworth to host Cascade Celtic Festival

MOSES LAKE — The pipes will skirl and the fiddles will ring out at the Cascade Celtic Festival in Leavenworth May 1-3. “Building on the success of its inaugural year, the 2026 festival expands its programming, deepens its cultural partnerships, and welcomes visitors for a full weekend of music, dance, storytelling, artisan craft, and community connection,” Festival President Alice Cloutier wrote in a press release announcing the festival. The festival will feature traditional – and not-so-traditional – Scottish and Irish music by more than 20 artists, many from Washington but also coming from Northern Ireland and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. There are also dance troupes from the Northwest and beyond, showing fancy footwork to Celtic strains. Three stages will showcase everything from traditional pipe and drum bands to high-energy Celtic punk rock.

Support students and save some green at FFA plant sales

MOSES LAKE — This is the time of year when FFA students get to show the fruits of their labor – literally – at plant sales all over the Columbia Basin. Nearly every high school will offer flower and vegetable starts for sale around the end of April and the beginning of May.

The Way Cafe opens in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — It had only been open about an hour and a half, but already The Way Cafe was bustling Tuesday morning.

Hands-on history

Youth Heritage Project to explore Ellensburg history, alternative energy

MOSES LAKE — Some students in the Columbia Basin will get a chance to experience history at close range this summer. The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation is accepting applications for its four-day Youth Heritage Project, which will be July 13-16 in Ellensburg this year. “We go to different places in the state every year … and do a deep dive into a place,” said Moira Nadal, director of preservation for the WTHP. “We … want the students to have a chance to get to know a place. They could be in a classroom anywhere, (but) walking around, spending time in a place, doing site visits, those are really important.”

Moses Lake ready for spring cleaning

MOSES LAKE — The annual Downtown Cleanup will be this Saturday, with an expanded range. “We’ll be cleaning up downtown Moses Lake, probably spanning from Balsam Street up to Cedar, and then we’re extending over to Neppel Landing Park this time,” said Mallory Miller, executive director of the Downtown Moses Lake Association, which organizes the cleanup. There has been some concern about needles or other sharps being found at Neppel Landing, Miller added, so only those volunteers who are comfortable with that possibility will be asked to clean that area.

Ephrata Youth Fishing Derby Saturday

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Lions Club will host its annual Youth Fishing Derby from 6 to 8 a.m. this Saturday at Ping Pond, formerly Oasis Park Pond, according to Lions Club member Bill Sangster. The event is free for all children 4-14 years old. No registration is necessary; kids can just show up and fish. A fish farm is stocking the pond, Sangster said. “They (said they’re) going to put some big ones in, six- or seven-pounders,” Sangster said.

Family drama

‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ opens Friday in Quincy

QUINCY — The Biblical story of Joseph will come to life in song this weekend, as Quincy Valley Allied Arts opens “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” Friday. “(The writers) originally wrote it for a kids’ school,” Director Brian Higgins said. “You have a bunch of different genres of music. There’s a country-western song in the show. There’s a sad song. There’s a little bit of early rap elements. It’s kind of a tour through different musical genres to keep kids interested.” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” follows a story familiar to many from the Bible. The patriarch Jacob has 12 sons, but his clear favorite is Joseph, the second-youngest, who has dreams that his destiny is to rule over his brothers. Naturally, the other 11 are not huge fans of this idea, and when Jacob gives Joseph a fancy coat of many colors, that proves too much for them and they sell him into slavery.

Youth Dynamics to mark 30th anniversary

MOSES LAKE — Youth Dynamics will hold a three-day party this week to mark 30 years of Christian outreach. “I was talking to the president of Youth Dynamics, and I (said), ‘I’d really like to do a celebration weekend,’” said Moses Lake Youth Dynamics Director Sean Sallis. “It’s not a fundraiser; we’re not going to have an auctioneer here selling items or anything like that.” The event will celebrate four pillars of Youth Dynamics’ ministry over the years.

Farm fun

Palmer’s Adventure Farm features friendly animals, play equipment and apple artillery

MOSES LAKE — There’s a whole lot to do at Palmer’s Adventure Farm, about five miles east of Moses Lake. We have a train for the kids to go on,” said Shane Palmer, who owns Palmer’s Adventure Farm with his brother Kyle Palmer and their wives Vanessa and Janelle. “We added animals this spring. We’ve got a mini-Highland cow. We’ve got goats and bunnies and donkeys, and they can feed the animals. We just put in two jump pads for the kids. They’re air pillows inflated with a big blower and a fan, and the kids jump on it like a trampoline and have a blast. We’ve got a mega-slide (and) a double barrel slide into a corn pit. It’s like a sandbox, but it’s full of corn and the kids play in it.” Palmer’s Adventure Farm started out four years ago as Strawbelly’s Straw Maze on Wheeler Road, Shane said.

Young voices

Teen town hall tackles mental health, substance abuse with local officials

MOSES LAKE — Five middle school students from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin discussed mental health and substance abuse Wednesday with local officials.

A sea of color

Palmer’s Adventure Farm debuts Tulip Fest

MOSES LAKE — Palmer’s Adventure Farm has begun its first annual Inland Northwest Tulip Fest.

Active listings up, sales steady in Washington statewide

MOSES LAKE — More homes were on the market in March 2026 than a year earlier, but sales are about the same, according to data from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which tracks real estate trends in 27 of Washington’s 39 counties.

Party for the Paws

ACPR auction to support shelter

OTHELLO — There’s still time to run away with the circus at Adams County Pet Rescue’s Party for the Paws fundraiser Saturday.

Kids scoop up prizes at Brookdale Hearthstone Easter egg hunt

MOSES LAKE — How long does it take for 120 kids to pick up 2,000 plastic eggs? “Eleven minutes,” said Karisti Cox, Senior Living Sales Specialist for Brookdale Hearthstone. “I looked down at my watch (when) the door opened promptly at one, and when I saw people walking back because the eggs had been found, it was 1:11.” Brookdale Hearthstone has done Easter egg hunts in the past, Cox said, but only for the residents’ families. This year they put the invitation out on social media and got an enthusiastic response. Exactly how many people came, Cox wasn’t sure, but she did know that there were 100 ice cream treats to give out after the egg hunt, and some families had already left before getting ice cream.