JOEL MARTIN

Moses Lake dentist buying back candy

MOSES LAKE — Children who got a little more Halloween candy than they wanted – or who just want to make a little cash – can sell it to the dentist. Smile Surfers Kids Dentistry in Moses Lake is holding a candy buyback this week, according to Front Office Lead Erica Cardenas. “We do $2 a pound,” Cardenas said. “It's not necessary to book an appointment; we are just doing walk ins.”

Audience participation

Crestview Christian School third-grader Delanie Palmen exchanges a high-ten with Sandy Eslick Friday at Monroe House in Moses Lake. Crestview students sang songs, recited Bible verses and showed off their cursive handwriting prowess for residents.

Senior events calendar for November 2025

COLUMBIA BASIN — Holiday shopping, music, crafts and fun await this month in the Basin. Here are a few things to put on the calendar.

P.E.A.C.E. from the Lord’s Kitchen

Local ministry serves meals without fanfare or judgment

MOSES LAKE — The Bible says that man does not live by bread alone, but that doesn’t mean that food isn’t pretty important.

NCW Libraries conversation to examine divisions in America

WENATCHEE — What we all have in common – and what we don’t – will be the subject of a virtual program at North Central Washington Libraries this month. “Can We Get Along? Examining Our Personal Experiences of Connection and Community” will be streamed on Zoom Nov. 13. “(It’s) an hour-and-a-half conversation about how do we come together to connect, especially when we're coming with different experiences in life (and) different opinions,” said Alicia O’Dell, director of adult programs for NCW Libraries. “How do we find ways to build community during divided times?”

Hayden opens model home at Sand Hill Place

MOSES LAKE — Sand Hill Place is coming along well, Hayden Homes Marketing manager Gina Donangelo Barnecut said Tuesday.

‘Puffs’

QHS play celebrates magical background characters

QUINCY — Some people are born to save the world. And some are born to, well, sit next to those heroes in class. “It’s really about the underdogs,” said director Haliey Weber. “They don’t want fortune or fame. They don’t care to be super smart or brave or cunning. They just are really loyal and they care about the people they care about.” The world of “Puffs” will look familiar, but don’t be fooled. Sure, there’s a boarding school with four houses – the Braves, the Smarts, the Snakes and the Puffs – and a dark lord, and messages delivered by owl and lots of wizardy classes, but “Puffs” is not to be confused with the more famous story. Rather, it tells the story of Wayne (Sawyer Golay), Megan (Jasmine Vasquez-Navarro) and Oliver (Jerrod Miller), who happen to be in the background while all that is going on. Wayne is a math-loving nerd who wasn’t born to wizardry but is trying to catch up, Megan is a would-be goth girl who resents being a Puff, and Oliver is an orphan raised by his uncle. Together, the three navigate the pitfalls of learning magic, as well as competing in a tournament, battling a giant snake and resisting the Death Buddies, one of whom is Megan’s mom. All while living in the shadow of the great young wizards of the other story.

Edge Physical Therapy

Local wellness center works to improve quality of life for patients

MOSES LAKE — When it comes to health, sometimes you have to start in the middle.

Twisting, shouting and giving

Youth Dynamics auction breaks fundraising records

MOSES LAKE — Youth Dynamics’ auction Oct. 18 was a record-breaker. “We had 245 people in attendance,” said Moses Youth Dynamics Director Sean Sallis. “We took in $70,000. The highest I’ve (seen) is $50,000, so that’s very encouraging.” The theme for the night was “Twist and Shout,” and attendees came in their best poodle skirts, penny loafers and bobby socks. The Moses Lake Classic Car Club brought some vintage vehicles to add to the atmosphere, and Firehouse BBQ grilled hamburgers served by Youth Dynamics students in red-and-white aprons. Auctioneer Chuck Yarbro Jr. conducted the live auction in a University of Idaho letterman’s jacket. Some of the money raised goes to maintain the Youth Dynamics building on Third Avenue, Sallis said, and some goes to provide meals for the youth who hang out there. Some also go to help students, who otherwise couldn’t afford it, go on outdoor adventures with Youth Dynamics. None of the money goes to pay the Youth Dynamics staff, Sallis added; all of them raise their own support from community donors.

Fallen Basin lawmen honored at Olympia memorial

OLYMPIA — Every day, thousands of law enforcement officers put on their uniforms and head out to protect Washington state. Most of the time, they come back. But sometimes they don’t.

Dent, Sackmanns named to Ag Hall of Fame

MOSES LAKE — Some leading lights in the Moses Lake area agricultural community were inducted Oct. 21 into the Moses Lake Ag Hall of Fame.

Peace and tie-dye at St. Rose auction Nov. 8

EPHRATA — The 42nd annual St. Rose of Lima Catholic School auction Nov. 8 will have a 1960s-70s theme, “A Time for Peace,” which has two meanings, said St. Rose PTO President Jennifer Hickok. The first is taken from the third chapter of Ecclesiastes in the Bible: “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens … A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

Chamber banquet celebrates accomplishments, opportunities

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce had a good year, outgoing Chair Kim Pope said Tuesday evening at the Chamber’s annual meeting and banquet.

Two-tone cabinets, quartz counters in style for kitchen remodels

MOSES LAKE — The kitchen is the heart of your home, so naturally you want it set up to suit you. Matt Adame, owner of RD Construction, a Moses Lake-based contractor specializing in kitchens, said the current trend in cabinets is two-tone. “In (a house) we just built, they went with white Shaker uppers and black Shaker on the bottom,” Adame said. “And then in another house, they did white panel uppers and dark gray flat acrylic on the bases as well.” The dual-style trend popped up about a year and a half ago, Adame said. Wood cabinets are cycling back into vogue as well, he said.

Civics 101 workshops coming to Grant County libraries

WENATCHEE — NCW Libraries will host “Civics 101,” a series of workshops to learn more about state, federal and local government, according to an announcement from NCW Libraries. The workshops are offered through the Washington Secretary of State’s Civics Engagement Program, according to Alicia O’Dell, adult programs coordinator for NCW Libraries.

WISe treatment

Intensive program cares for children with complicated needs

MOSES LAKE — Sometimes, a child or teen with problems needs to take a different approach. “This is designed to be completely different than the traditional ‘Come to therapy for 50 minutes, sit on my couch, we'll talk about it, and off you go. We'll see you in a month,’” said Andrea Peyton, a WISE program director in Kennewick. “This is a much more intensive service.”

No injuries in Moses Lake house fire

MOSES LAKE — Nobody was injured in a fire in the Larson community Monday afternoon, according to Grant County Fire District 5 Chief Dan Smith.

Hundreds rally in Moses Lake to protest Trump admin.

MOSES LAKE — Almost 300 people turned out Saturday for the “No Kings 2.0” rally in Moses Lake, according to Grant County Democrats Vice Chair Jill Springer Forrest, considerably more than the rally held in June.

Keep Halloween safe for little monsters

QUINCY — Next Friday, hordes of little ghosties, ghoulies and things that go bump in the night will be on the streets with one thing on their minds: massive amounts of sugar. And when they’re that focused, they don’t always watch out for themselves.

Summit to bring together regional community advocates

WENATCHEE — The Thriving Together Toward Tomorrow summit will bring together people from across North Central Washington Wednesday with a single goal – to make the communities they live in better, according to Thriving Together NCVW Director of Network Development Veronica Farias.

Power line sparks small fire near Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — A downed power line sparked a small fire in the McConihe Flats area northwest of Moses Lake Friday afternoon.

New complex in Moses Lake ready to rent

MOSES LAKE — The Modern Heights apartments, located smack in the middle of Moses Lake, are almost finished. “We have about half of them ready to go,” said Doug Robins, development coordinator for the project and the designer of the complex. “We have people moving in right now.”

AI learners win prizes, gain skills in NCW Tech Alliance contest

MOSES LAKE — The North Central Washington Tech Alliance Skill-a-Thon has ended, and four Grant County residents are among the winners. “The winners walked away … with some knowledge of cybersecurity and different kinds of AI technology,” said David Estrada, NCW Tech Alliance STEM Program manager for Moses Lake.

Basin housing market stabilizing

MOSES LAKE — Just a few years ago, homes for sale in the Basin were few and far between. Today, things seem to have moved more or less back to normal.

50 years of art

Old Hotel Gallery celebrates golden anniversary at auction Saturday

OTHELLO — The Old Hotel Art Gallery will celebrate its 50th anniversary at its benefit auction Saturday.

Cold Diggers opens stand in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — The name of the new ice cream and waffle stand at Nelson Road and Pioneer Way came out of the blue. “We already had a different name picked out,” said Laura Farias, who owns the new business with her husband Martin Farias. “But ‘Cold Diggers’ came to me randomly, and it was super catchy. I bounced the idea off my 9-year-old son and he loved it, so we went with it.” The Fariases have been offering homemade ice cream at the Moses Lake Farmers Market since the market opened for the year in May, she said. In July they added waffles to their menu, and now they’ll continue to offer both from a trailer next to FAA Coffee House.

Hazardous waste events coming to Mattawa, Moses Lake

EPHRATA — Grant County residents who have chemicals and other things that can’t go in the trash will have a chance to get rid of them this month at two hazardous waste collection events.

A walk for health

Coulee Medical Center to hold fundraiser walk for mammograms

GRAND COULEE — Coulee Medical Center will hold its Walking Together for Mammograms health fair and walk Thursday, to help put a new mammography machine to use.

Masquers to stage ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

SOAP LAKE— Horror and horticulture are in bloom at the Masquers Theater, with the production of the darkly comedic musical “Little Shop of Horrors.” The play, which opens Oct. 16, is directed by Clifford and Stacy Bresee, who have directed most of the troupe’s musicals over the last decade. “It’s one I’ve wanted to do for quite a few years,” Stacy Bresee said. “So the opportunity came and we took it.” The musical, based on the campy 1960 horror-comedy of the same name by Roger Corman, was written by Howard Ashman and Alan Mencken, who a few years later would fuel the Disney Renaissance with films like “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast.” It premiered on Broadway in 1982 and was adapted for the screen in 1986.

Home prices dip slightly statewide, but up in the Basin

MOSES LAKE — Inventory is climbing and home prices slipped in the housing market in September, according to data released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which tracks real estate trends in 27 Washington counties. “People are starting to come out from under the rocks, the buyers that were on the fence a little bit, because we're getting a little bit of a break here and there on interest rates,” said Johnny Reyes, a broker with Windermere Real Estate in Ephrata. “People are starting to feel a little more comfortable about coming out and buying.” Active listings increased by 27.3% statewide between September 2024 and September 2025, according to the NWMLS. The increase was greater in Grant County, at 30.77% year-over-year, while Adams County increased only 6%.

Getting the bugs out

Pest and weed control service opens in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — With the weather getting colder, some creepy crawly critters are likely to decide that your home should also be their home. A new business in town aims to help evict them. “Spiders, ants, just generally insects,” said Josh Gilliam, owner of Bug Out Pest and Spray. “We’re a very hot and arid environment, but we also have access to a lot of water, so that brings out the bugs.” Bug Out opened for business Aug. 1 and held its official ribbon-cutting Tuesday in Moses Lake. Gilliam has been in the extermination business for about 25 years, he said, first in Spokane and then in Moses Lake. He decided to go out on his own after meeting with his partner Kip Burns, who also owns Blinds for Any Budget and B and B Doors.

Fatality collision east of Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE – One person is dead after a collision east of Moses Lake Thursday afternoon. Thursday afternoon. The collision occurred at a little after 2 p.m. on South Frontage Road East at the westbound off-ramp from I-90 to Road O Southeast, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman. A passenger vehicle collided with a 10-wheel truck hauling a trailer of dry fertilizer, Foreman said.

Fire closes highway in Grand Coulee

GRAND COULEE — A wildfire on the edge of town disrupted traffic on state Route 174 Thursday morning, according to a statement from the Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department.

Living comic book 'Frankenstein' coming to Wallenstien Theater

MOSES LAKE — A classic story of love, pride and horror will take the stage as a living comic book at the Wallenstien Theater Oct. 18. Columbia Basin Allied Arts will present “Frankenstein: A Living Comic Book,” an adaptation of the 1818 novel “Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus” by Mary Shelley.

Heartache to hope

Baseball tournament supports students in memory of a life cut short

QUINCY — Some Quincy students are getting a boost with their educations because of a young man who never got to finish his own. “My son got leukemia when he was 18 years old, a senior in high school,” said Linda Guzman, president of the Mario J. Guzman Foundation. “For five years he went back and forth. He relapsed a couple of times, (had) a bone marrow transplant, but it didn't take and he lost his life Sept. 6, 2012.”

Shining bright

Boys & Girls Club auction raises money for local children

MOSES LAKE — The theme for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin was “Shine Bright for the Kids,” and the community did exactly that, to an estimated tune of about $260,000.

Crestview School plans Fall Festival Sunday

MOSES LAKE — Crestview Christian School will hold its traditional Fall Festival Sunday, with bouncy houses, pony rides, games and more on Oct. 12. “Thirty-plus years we’ve had Fall Festival, and generally it’s been on a Saturday night,” said Azure Goltz, a volunteer at the school. “This year we decided to try a Sunday afternoon and see how that would work.”

TAKE3 to mix classical with rock Wednesday

MOSES LAKE — Classic rock will rub elbows with, well, classic classical music, Wednesday evening at the Wallenstien Theater.

Youth Dynamics auction to have a ’50s twist

MOSES LAKE — It’s time to dust off the poodle skirts and penny loafers. The theme for the annual benefit auction for Christian outreach Youth Dynamics is “Twist & Shout for Youth,” bringing a 1950s vibe, said YD Director Sean Sallis.

Fire destroys Warden produce shed Sunday morning

WARDEN – A fire destroyed a produce storage building in Warden Sunday morning. Firefighters responded just before 8 a.m. to a report of a burning shed at Road 7.5 and Road U Southeast, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman. No injuries were reported, and no employees were believed to have been in the building when the fire started, Foreman said. The building was used to store potatoes and onions.

Two injured in Ephrata collision

EPHRATA — A two-vehicle injury collision was reported at Airport Road and state Route 282 at about 2:15 p.m. Friday, according to MACC Dispatch. One vehicle was reported to be on its side and two people reported minor injuries.

Adams Co. high schools to highlight career opportunities

RITZVILLE — A pair of career showcases this month will let Adams County high school students see what future they may have in their own back yard.

‘This has changed our lives’

Moses Lake apartment community welcomes farm workers and low-income residents

MOSES LAKE — The Cape at Interlake had its grand opening Tuesday, with a ribbon-cutting and an open house for the community. “This property is primarily targeted for farm workers, folks who are in the agriculture industry, but we also have additional set-asides for people who are disabled or families with children,” said Taylor Hunt, development manager for Vaughn Bay Construction, which built the Cape at Interlake.

Royal City farm to host Dahlia Days this weekend

ROYAL CITY — Dahlia lovers will have a chance to top up their supply this weekend – and have a little end-of-summer fun at the same time. Gray Girl Farms in Royal City is holding its annual Dahlia Days U-pick event Saturday and Sunday.

Inside the lines

Art exhibit features mosaic-themed watercolors

MOSES LAKE — Looking at Angela Hagerty’s work, you might think she’s been painting for a long time. You’d be wrong.

Old Time Fiddlers keep tradition alive at senior center

MOSES LAKE — Old-time music is alive and well once a month at the Moses Lake Senior Center. “Anybody can join,” said Charlie Root, the chairman for District 11 of the Washington State Old Time Fiddlers Association, which covers Grant and Adams counties. “We play just acoustic instruments. It can get kind of wild when you get electric instruments. We try to keep the old-time sound. One person will do their song and everybody else will back them up. Everybody takes a turn, and they go around again until we run out of time.” Despite the name, there was actually only one fiddle at the Senior Center Sept. 21, played by Gail Johnson. Genie Wehling played an accordion. Leroy Boyd, Larry Ramm and Jerry Galahan all played guitar. Root also played guitar, but he alternated it with banjo.

WorkSource Job Fair coming Friday

MOSES LAKE — Job seekers will have a chance to connect with employers at the WorkSource Job Fair Friday.

Construction debris solutions available

MOSES LAKE — There’s a lot of construction going on in the Basin right now, and sometimes it can get a little messy. A construction site generates a lot significant amount of trash, and when the wind picks up, it sometimes of trash, and when the wind picks up, sometimes it ends up in the neighbors’ yards. There’s a way to deal with that, said City of Moses Lake Building Inspector Will Mumma.

‘Blockbusters to Broadway’

Central Basin Community Concert Association opens season with Jason Lyle Black

MOSES LAKE — The Central Basin Community Concert Association kicks off its 2025-26 season Thursday, with a performance by Jason Lyle Black’s Electric Trio.

Quincy Food Bank raising money for new facility

QUINCY — The Quincy Food Bank is trying to build a new facility to meet growing needs in the community.