JOEL MARTIN

FIRE REPORT: Wildfire closes SR 17 near Ephrata

EPHRATA — A fire broke out Tuesday in the northern portion of the Y formed by State Route 17 and SR 282, according to first responder alerts. The fire, a few minutes southeast of Ephrata was reported a little before 6 p.m. and had burned an estimated 500 acres. The fire resulted in a closure of SR 17 between SR 282 and SR 28 to ensure public safety. A cause was unknown but initial reports indicated it began at the Ephrata Gun Range. The fire was named the Marksman Street Fire. Further information was not available by press time. The Dearinger fire, which has been burning in the North Cascades about 40 miles northeast of Everett since June 22, is 80% contained at 48 acres, according to the Western Washington Incident Management Team.

Royal Intermediate welcomes new principal

ROYAL CITY — For Royal Intermediate School’s new principal, it’s sort of a homecoming. “I grew up around Royal, my whole life,” said Karl Edie, who officially became the principal at RHS at the beginning of July. “My mother worked for the Royal Review (newspaper), a long time ago. So I’m excited to be back among the great people in Royal City.”

Exchange students to head to Yonezawa, Japan

MOSES LAKE — The exchange is on again. The Moses Lake-Yonezawa Sister City Student Exchange, which has been on hiatus since 2020, will resume this month as three Moses Lake students visit Yonezawa, Japan. Ambassadors Keziah Roman Panlaqui, Emmanuel Zepeda Lopez and Ethan Ramsey will leave on July 25, accompanied by chaperone Amador Castro, to spend 10 days in Moses Lake’s sister city. While in Japan, they’ll stay with three Yonezawa students and their families, and on Aug. 7, those Japanese students will return the visit and spend 10 days in Moses Lake. Moses Lake and Yonezawa have been sister cities since 1981, according to the program’s website, and the student exchange was organized shortly thereafter. The program was originally suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Terry Moore, treasurer for the Moses Lake-Yonezawa Exchange Program, but the publisher of the Yonezawa Shimbun newspaper, which handled the exchange from the Japanese end, passed away soon after, and the exchange was mothballed indefinitely. Until April, when a group called the Yonezawa International Relations Association reached out through a translator who had assisted the newspaper in the past.

STRENGTH: Tony Leibelt

On the front lines of his hometown

QUINCY – After 36 years as a firefighter, Tony Leibelt has seen it all. He’s stood on the front lines of wildfires, he’s rescued rock climbers on the cliffs above the Columbia River and once he even delivered a baby on a bathroom floor. Some of the calls are routine, some are tragic, and some are just plain weird.

STRENGTH: Don Nutt

Coulee City artist lives out his dream supporting other artists

COULEE CITY – Don Nutt has been an artist all his life. “Every 5-year-old likes to draw and color,” he said. “I just never really stopped. Family members gave me how-to-draw books, (which was) the 1960s YouTube.”

Moses Lake Airshow showcases all things airborne

MOSES LAKE — The weather on Saturday, the first day of the Moses Lake Airshow, gave a whole new meaning to the word “barnstorming.” “We almost didn't get the planes off the ground because it was a side wind,” said the show’s organizer, Terry Quick. “On the big runway, it was strong enough that if they were trying to lift off it would have blown them off the runway. As it worked out, we were able to open up a different runway and they could take off into the wind. One guy got airborne in less than 100 yards, so it was pretty strong winds, to say the least.”

FIRE REPORT: Ephrata volunteers put out brush fire

EPHRATA — Wednesday afternoon a brush fire, possibly sparked by a passing train, broke out in the area of Road F Northwest and Road 11.7 southwest of Ephrata, according to a statement from Grant County Fire District 13, which is based in Ephrata. With the help of Grant County Fire District 3, out of Quincy, the fire was caught at about two acres.

‘My journey has come full circle’

Big Bend graduates 613 Friday

MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College graduated a wide spectrum of students at Lions Field in Moses Lake Friday, President Sara Thompson Tweedy said.

FIRE REPORT: Local firefighters train for the busy season

SOAP LAKE — Grant County Fire District 7 volunteers and staff have been training for wildland-urban interface structure defense in preparation for wildfire season, according to an announcement from GCFD 7. Training Monday night was available remotely, but next week will include hands-on training in evaluating structures and determining escape routes, safety zones and temporary refuge areas.

FIRE REPORT: Yakima Valley fire threatens town, Pioneer Fire swells again

MOSES LAKE — Evacuation notices for the Yakima Valley town of Zillah were downgraded Monday to level 1 as crews fight the Beam Road Fire, which flared up Saturday afternoon.

MLSD board continues close examination of funding

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School Board heard about some measures being taken to cut costs at its meeting Thursday, scrutinizing some items that were brought to it for approval and discussing with Acting Superintendent Carol Lewis some ways of making up the roughly $13 million shortfall.

Viking celebration

MOSES LAKE -- New Big Bend Community College graduate Digna Rodriguez, takes a celebratory photo with family friends Bobbie Lee Hubbard, left, and Amanda Carson, right, and Rodriguez’s daughters Kira McEachern, 9; Mila McEachern, 7; and Jada McEachern, 5. Rodriguez was one of 20 members of BBCC’s first Bachelor of Applied Science program graduating Friday.

FIRE REPORT: Pioneer, Cold Creek fires increase

MOSES LAKE — The Pioneer Fire on the shore of Lake Chelan about 30 miles northwest of Wenatchee had almost tripled in size Thursday, swelling from 600 acres to 1,756 acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The cause of the fire was still undetermined. The estimated cost of suppressing the fire was $10 million.

Boys & Girls Club begins serving summer meals

MOSES LAKE — The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin will begin offering breakfast and lunch to local children today through the Summer Meal Program.

Fire report: New blaze flares up on Hanford Reservation

MOSES LAKE — A wildfire kindled suddenly Wednesday morning on the Hanford Reservation, and was estimated at 150 acres at a little after 2 p.m., according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

MLSD deficit more than $13 million after cuts

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School Board held a study session Tuesday to discuss the district’s reduced education program for the next school year.

UW president to step down next year

SEATTLE — Ana Mari Cauce, who has served as president of the University of Washington for a decade, announced Wednesday that she’ll be stepping down at the end of her second five-year term in June 2025. She plans to return to her faculty position. “Throughout her tenure, President Cauce has been a skilled relationship-builder, a champion for student success, and a strong advocate for the importance of public universities like the University of Washington,” said Ken Denman, UW Foundation Board chair. Cauce, the 33rd president in the university’s history, is the first woman, first Latina and first openly-gay person to serve as president.

FIRE REPORT: Spokane neighborhood evacuated

SPOKANE — A fast-spreading wildfire triggered level 3 (leave now) evacuation orders to a 2.5-square mile area southwest of Spokane Tuesday afternoon, according to Spokane County Fire District 3.

Parks and places

Easy day trips in the Columbia Basin

MOSES LAKE — School is letting out for the summer, which means families have a chance to spend a little more time together. Most communities have pools and summer programs, but sometimes it’s nice to go a little farther afield. One option is to pile the kids into the car and spend a day – or a weekend – at one of the state and national parks within easy driving distance.

FIRE REPORT: Lake Chelan fire strands hikers

MOSES LAKE — A wildfire along the shore of Lake Chelan necessitated the evacuation of some hikers Saturday, according to a statement from the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office.

FIRE REPORT: Wind whips up wildfire at Sun Lakes

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Fire District 7 tackled a wildfire June 1 at Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park, according to a statement from the fire district.

Single-vehicle crash in Moses Lake claims life

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man is dead and another is in jail after a single-vehicle collision in the wee hours of Friday morning, according to a statement from Moses Lake Police Chief David Sands.

‘A step back in time’

Washington’s oldest rodeo is June 7-9

BICKLETON — Out in the wheat country of eastern Klickitat County, time sort of stands still. The little town of Bickleton, population 92 at the last census, is home to a couple of Washington’s most time-honored institutions. The Bluebird Inn, established in 1887, has a good claim to be Washington’s oldest tavern. The Herschel-Spillman carousel at the Bickleton Carousel Museum is one of fewer than 10 still operating. And the Alder Creek Pioneer Association is host every June to the state’s oldest rodeo.

Pesticides a necessary but increasing expense in ag

MOSES LAKE — Where there’s a crop, there are critters trying to eat that crop and it’s up to the grower to ensure that doesn’t happen before it gets to market. That means using a variety of tools, including pesticides, to protect crops and keep them profitable.

Cruise Night Out

Moses Lake Classic Car Club to host cruise through Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Classic Car Club will take to the streets to celebrate its 50th birthday with a Cruise Night Out.

Fire report: Wildfires slow down with cooler weather

COLUMBIA BASIN — Perhaps due to the cool, wet weather, wildfires were nowhere to be found Wednesday in the Columbia Basin. In Kittitas County, the Pumphouse Fire, which had been discovered Monday near Ryegrass Summit on Interstate 90, was controlled at 3 acres. A few prescribed fires continued to burn in Stevens and Ferry counties. The largest were the 300-acre Mima Mounds Fire and the 208-acre Bitterbrush Fire, both on the Spokane Reservation. These other wildfires were burning around Washington Wednesday afternoon:

Fire report: Burn barrel triggers wildfire near Ephrata

EPHRATA — A 10-acre wildfire started Monday evening after an unsupervised burn barrel spread to nearby vegetation in the area of Naylor Junction, southwest of Ephrata, according to a statement from Grant County Fire District 13. A quick response had the wind-driven fire contained within 20 minutes of the call, but mopping up took two-plus hours for 10 trucks. Nothing was damaged, although if the fire had gone unreported or unchecked several minutes longer property damage would have likely resulted, the district wrote. Burn barrels have been illegal in Washington since 2000, according to GCFD 13, whether they’re attended or not. These other wildfires were burning around Washington Tuesday afternoon:

Fire report

Grant County firefighters train near Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Fire District 5 got in some training on an acquired structure on Road 10 Northeast Saturday, according to an announcement from the fire district

FIRE REPORT: State mobilizes for Tidyman Road, other fires burn around WA

KLICKITAT COUNTY — State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the Tidyman Road Fire located in Klickitat County across the Columbia River from The Dalles, according to a statement from the state fire marshal’s office Friday.

‘Paintings of My Life’

Artist with Down syndrome opens show at the Moses Lake Museum

MOSES LAKE — Beth Anna Margolis sees a potential painting in everything. “You’ve got to get out there, out in the daylight, and see nature,” she said. “You have to see, and see, and see more.”

FIRE REPORT: Royal Slope Fire District puts out fire with limited water

ROYAL CITY — A small fire broke out at an orchard around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 12000 block of Road A Southeast near Royal Camp, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. Because the fuel involved polyurethane netting and other combustibles, Royal Slope firefighters allowed the fire to burn under controlled conditions for a while, in order to limit water use and avoid creating contaminated runoff in irrigation waterways. The fire was out by about 4:30, the GCSO wrote.

A dash of caffeine

MOSES LAKE – Desert Coffee owners Shannon Paine, left, in pink, and Kimberly Berry cut the ribbon on their new location at 5219 Patton Blvd. in Moses Lake Tuesday, surrounded by Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce members. Paine and Berry have been selling coffee drinks from a mobile trailer, they said, and recently had the opportunity to add the stand.

Garden Party highlights new things coming for CBAA

MOSES LAKE — The Columbia Basin Allied Arts Garden Party brought folks together from all over the Basin to further the local arts scene Saturday. The amount of money raised was not available before press time. “We don't have to leave our area for amazing arts and culture,” Cardwell told the crowd. We are the arts and culture here. You are the arts and culture here.”

Moses Lake superintendent placed on admin leave

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School Board voted in a special meeting Tuesday to place Superintendent Monty Sabin on administrative leave. Assistant Superintendent Carol Lewis was named acting superintendent at the same meeting.

Four arrested in burglary case

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Sheriff’s deputies arrested four people Monday suspected of a Friday robbery near Moses Lake, according to a statement from the GCSO.

Small fire scorches land near Soap Lake

SOAP LAKE — A small fire broke out Monday near Soap Lake, but was quickly extinguished, according to a statement from Grant County Fire District 7, which serves the Soap Lake and Coulee City area.

FIRE REPORT: 2 fires hit Grant Co. Monday

COLUMBIA BASIN — The warm weather has arrived and with it the fire season, as Grant County faced two wildfires Monday. At about 1 p.m. a report came in of a blaze about a mile south of Wanapum Village in southwestern Grant County, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. The fire grew to 100 acres and caused SR 243 to close briefly due to smoke across the roadway before it was knocked down, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The fire was human-caused, the NIFC wrote.

MLSD to cut about 100 teachers; further cuts coming

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District will start the next school year with about 100 fewer teachers, according to an MLSD press release. Non-renewal notices are expected to be issued to about 100 provisional teachers, according to the release. A provisional teacher is one who is either in their first three years of teaching in Washington or who has received a low evaluation and meets certain other criteria, according to RCW 28A.405.210.

Home sales up despite higher interest rates

KIRKLAND — Activity in the housing market increased in April in spite of rising interest rates, according to data from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which compiles statistics from 26 of Washington’s 39 counties. Interest rates have increased by 0.38 percentage points over the past month to 7.17%, continuing to constrain prospective buyers’ purchasing power and prospective sellers’ willingness to give up low-interest-rate mortgages, according to the NWMLS.

Reading riders: Moses Lake school bus driver collects books for kids

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake school bus driver has found a way to encourage students to love the written word. Tony Lavalle, known to his young passengers as Mr. Tony, has begun distributing books to the students who ride his bus to and from Groff Elementary School. “This year, I started Read a Book Monday,” Lavalle said. “The student comes on board and they read a book, and that usually keeps them quiet, and it keeps them in their seat. This is a really effective tool for me to help manage the kids to ride safe and ride respectfully.”

Budget, CBTECH director hot topics at MLSD board meeting

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School Board conference room was filled to capacity Thursday evening as community members came to hear about the district’s financial prospects and to speak about alleged disciplinary action taken against a school administrator.

Two arrested in pistol-whipping incident in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Two men were arrested Tuesday morning in a domestic incident at an apartment in downtown Moses Lake, according to a statement from the Moses Lake Police Department.

Stamp Out Hunger coming Saturday

MOSES LAKE — Mail carriers will be picking up more than the mail this Saturday, as part of the U.S. Postal Service Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger food drive.

Royal Intermediate School welcomes new principal

ROYAL CITY — Royal Intermediate School will have a new principal next year, according to an announcement from the Royal School District. Karl Edie will take over the reins at RIS in the fall, the RSD wrote.

Faith and perseverance at the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast

MOSES LAKE — “God’s not done with you yet.” That was the theme of this year’s Moses Lake Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Tuesday morning at Pillar Rock Grill in Moses Lake.

Carp Classic coming May 18

Annual tournament looks to put a dent in nuisance fish population

MOSES LAKE — Bowfishers in the Basin will get a chance to show their skills and help clean up the lake at the Moses Lake Carp Classic Saturday morning. This is the fifth year the tournament has been held at Moses Lake, organizer Ty Swartout said. The purpose is both to remove an invasive species from the water and to educate the public about the damage carp do in the lake by furthering the spread of blue-green algae, he said. Blue-green algae can be dangerous to humans, and parts of the lake are periodically closed to swimming and boating because of it.

Prayer space: Moses Lake’s first mosque moves into renovated church building

MOSES LAKE — The former church building at Third Avenue and Elm Street is once again a house of worship, as the Moses Lake Islamic Center. “In central Washington state there (were) only three mosques, in Yakima, Tri-Cities and Spokane,” said Abdelnasir Elmalik, one of the regular congregants at the Islamic Center. “But now we have two (more), in Wenatchee and Moses Lake.”

Local Boeing firefighters continue to picket during lockout

MOSES LAKE — Staffing, safety and pay scales are at the root of a contract impasse that’s had Boeing firefighters locked out of the company’s Moses Lake facility since Saturday. “Currently, there is no fire protection here at Grant County other than one manager that's been here since Friday,” said Daryl Gummere, business agent for IAFF Local I-66, the union representing Boeing firefighters. “They're trying to protect the plant with just one person.”

STCU coming to Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Spokane Teachers Credit Union’s Moses Lake branch should be open by fall, according to Dan Hansen, a spokesman for the credit union.

Ready to pour: Moore Brewing Company opens Tuesday

MOSES LAKE — Moore Brewing Company is ready to open its doors – and its deck, and its beer taps – to the public. “Our first thing was at Brews & Tunes (in 2022. It was super fun,” said Lorie Moore, who owns the business with her husband Chris and her father-in-law Brad. Chris’ son Zach is the brewmaster. “We were still home-brewing at the time,” said Chris.