JOEL MARTIN

Celebrating safely

Fireworks restrictions vary across county, but safe mindset it key.

COLUMBIA BASIN — Independence Day is next Tuesday and residents can expect a lot of booms, bangs and whistles, but in a dry climate like this, fireworks get out of hand easily and set off wildfires, said Grant County Fire District 7 Chief Chris Baker. “We have warmer, drier conditions that are going to be affecting the area,” Baker said. “In our jurisdiction, especially the north portion, we haven't had a whole lot of fires in recent years, so we have a lot of light, flashy fuels that are of concern. And of course, the increase in vacationers in the area means that there's a potential for even more issues. If we do have a fire that means evacuations, potential for people to get trapped, things like that.” ...

News bites for June 27, 2023

EPHRATA — Nicole Shenefelt, 25, is being held at the Grant County Jail after reportedly setting a fire in Ephrata, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. OTHELLO — An investigation is underway into an officer-involved shooting near Othello Sunday.

Lower Crab Creek fire out, others still burning

BEVERLY — A wildfire that blazed up east of Beverly over the weekend is out, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kyle Foreman. The fire consumed about 65 acres, according to Neil Vargas, assistant chief for Grant County Fire District 10, which responded to the blaze. There were no injuries, Vargas added. No further information was available Monday afternoon, as Bureau of Land Management personnel were on the scene and no report had been made yet...

Judge lets weapon ban stand

OLYMPIA — Washington state’s ban on certain types of gun will stay in place, a Thurston County Superior Court ruled Friday. “It’s another setback, but we’re gonna keep pushing forward,” said Guardian Arms owner Bruce Davis. “That’s all we can do.” ...

George council OKs chickens, tables park district

GEORGE — Pavement, parks and poultry were among the topics of discussion at the George City Council meeting Tuesday. The first order of business was bids for street improvements to North Washington Way and East Montmorency Boulevard. The low bidder was Wheeler Excavation, which City Attorney Chuck Zimmerman pointed out had performed street improvements on South Washington Way. The council voted to award the contract to Wheeler for just less than $1.2 million...

Spend a day at the museum

COLUMBIA BASIN — We often think of museums as something you find in big cities, but there are lots of them just a short drive away here in the Basin. Here are some places to enjoy art or learn about the area. Note: Many museums are staffed by volunteers and funded by donations, which means that hours and days of operation can change without warning. Visitors are advised to call ahead.

Grace named George clerk-treasurer

GEORGE — There’s a new clerk-treasurer in George, and she has a new assistant. Former Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Amy Grace, who has holding down the fort since the last clerk-treasurer left in March, was officially appointed to the position at Tuesday night’s city council meeting. SA temporary worker the city contracted to help Grace, Tonya Nelson, was appointed the new deputy clerk-treasurer at the same meeting. The city will pay more than $8,000 to the agency Nelson currently works for to allow her to work for the city immediately...

Weather impacts hay quality

COLUMBIA BASIN — The first cutting is in for alfalfa hay in the Basin, and it’s not all it should be, according to Mark Anderson of Anderson Hay & Grain. “We were hoping to get a lot more high-test supreme and premium alfalfa for dairies,” Anderson said. “We struggled a little bit with weather that interrupted the perfect harvest window. So there's there's been a fair amount of inventory that's just under that supreme and premium testing.” ...

Prowler caught following assault

MOSES LAKE — A suspected vehicle prowler who allegedly punched his victim and fled was caught in Moses Lake Wednesday...

Forest Service waives fees for Juneteenth

PORTLAND, Ore. — The USDA Forest Service is waiving recreation fees for day-use sites in Washington and Oregon on Monday, June 19, in recognition of the Juneteenth holiday, according to an announcement from the Forest Service...

Little Big Show '23

Wilson Creek hosts annual car show

WILSON CREEK — The little town of Wilson Creek more than doubled in numbers Saturday. The town, which had a population of 207 at the last census, welcomed more than 300 visitors to its annual Little Big Show, according to organizer Nicholas Odorizzi. “Good turnout this year,” Odorizzi said. “We had, I think, 104 cars. We had more vendors this year, which was great. One of our food vendors sold out. So that was a good problem to have.” ...

Barnyard brawl

Farm machines duke it out at Lind Combine Derby

LIND — In the heart of Adams County, wheat is king. And once a year, its knights meet in the Lind Lions Club Arena for a tournament to rival the most enthusiastic joust, armored in blue jeans and ball caps and mounted on steeds familiar to anyone who lives in farm country: combines...

Exploring macro worlds

Macro photography exhibit brings bugs into focusing

MOSES LAKE — It all started with some boozy bugs. “I went out in the front yard, and I went up to a tree in which there were always tens of butterflies, and I couldn't figure out why,” said Walter Klockers, whose macro photography is currently on exhibit at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center...

Royal parents learn to identify drug risk factors

ROYAL CITY — Between 20 and 30 people gathered at Royal Intermediate School June 8 for Healthy Youth, Healthy Families. The bilingual event, sponsored by Educational Service District 105, among other organizations, was designed to help families identify signs of substance abuse in youth. “My demographic right now is particularly 10- to 13-year-olds,” said Ariana Martinez, a student assistance professional for ESD 105 attached to the Royal School District. “They're the ones kind of keeping up with the Tik Tok trends, whether that's using tampons to get drunk, putting them in alcohol, or challenges (to see) who can show up the highest at school and not get caught.” ...

‘Do hard things’

Royal High School grads prepare to change the world

ROYAL CITY — One hundred eleven Knights sallied forth from the Royal High School football field Friday, June 2, ready to take on any dragons that might come their way. “Many things make you an exceptional graduating class,” said RHS Principal Courtney McCoy in her welcoming remarks. “You are driven. You are strong. You are gregarious. You get things done. You have that we-can-do-things we-are-going-to-do-things je ne sais quoi about you … So take that magical mojo of yours and always remember the American author Glennon Doyle's mantra: ‘We can do hard things every day.’ You can do hard things. Do them: the big, the small, things for you, things for others, things for the entire world. Our world is waiting for you, Royal High School’s wildly capable Class of 2023.”

‘Exude compassion’

Lind-Ritzville students ready for the next challenge

RITZVILLE — “Exude compassion.” That was the advice given to Lind-Ritzville High School seniors at their graduation ceremony Saturday by LRHS history teacher and guest speaker Bryce Court. “When I say to do that, I mean it should be the defining attribute of your character, the thing you are and do by accident,” Court said. “And I believe compassion should be separated from synonyms like love and charity. Compassion is distinguishable from love because, while I know it's difficult to love those whom you strongly disagree with, you can always show those darn angry fools compassion.”

Royal City gains new council members, approves water main upgrade

ROYAL CITY — The Royal City City Council swore in two new members during its meeting Monday evening. Rick Kannely and Ryan Piercy were selected to fill vacancies left when other members moved out of town. “I'm here as a volunteer to support the community, to serve the community that I live in,” Kannely said. “I love this place. It’s the best place I’ve ever lived.” ...

Lending a paw

Builder rallies community to upgrade animal shelter

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Animal Outreach recently got some much-needed upgrades. Moses Lake developer CAD Homes teamed up with several other businesses this spring to build new kennels at the county animal shelter, along with some other much-needed improvements.

CBAA sponsors music at farmers market, demo derby

MOSES LAKE — It’s not all that difficult, actually, to find local musicians who want to play live music, according to Shawn Cardwell, executive director of Columbia Basin Allied Arts. It’s why Allied Arts has been able to sponsor performers at the Moses Lake Farmers Market nearly every other weekend this year until the end of October. “We did an open call for musicians in the spring, and it was those folks that kind of applied. And then we had some of the performers we’ve had from years past,” Cardwell said. “There’s never really been an issue of finding performers in Moses Lake and the surrounding areas.”

Added options

George development eases the housing strain a little

GEORGE — The new housing in George is almost finished. “We had a 27-lot subdivision,” said Drew Scott, owner of CAD Homes LLC, which is building the houses. “We started last year and it's all sold out now. It went quick.” ...

2023 Chief for a Day

Grant County youth honored by emergency responders.

EPHRATA — There were some very excited kids in uniform Thursday afternoon outside the Grant County Courthouse. “This is Chief Jesus Flores from the Royal City Police Department,” said Rey Rodriguez, who serves as Royal City’s police chief on all the other days. “He’s a second grader, attends Red Rock Elementary. He likes to color, and his favorite color is blue. And its favorite character is Spider-Man because he likes to save the day.” ...

Bill to protect gas stoves introduced in Congress

OLYMPIA — A bill introduced Monday would protect gas stoves from proposed federal limitations, according to an announcement from Rep. Dan Newhouse, R – Washington. In February, the U.S. Department of Energy proposed an “energy efficiency standard” for gas cooking products. This would be the first energy performance standard imposed on residential cooktops, the announcement said...

‘Desert Sun’

Moses Lake Museum exhibit reflects artist’s love of light

MOSES LAKE — Here in the Basin, we know we have a lot of sunshine, and we generally like it that way. But sometimes it takes a relative newcomer to give us a fresh appreciation. “I've lived here three years now, and I love all the sunny days,” said artist Fran Church, whose exhibit “Desert Sun” is currently showing in the Ramon Cerna Community Gallery at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center. “I thought the desert sun would be a good theme for the show since I've been doing sunbursts for a while.” ...

Fish & Wildlife encourages hunter education before fall busy season

OLYMPIA — The fall hunting season may seem a long way off, but it’s still time to think about mandatory hunter education classes before it begins, according to a press release from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife...

Encore!

Basin Community Theatre show samples the music of Broadway

MOSES LAKE — The tunes that made Broadway great will fill the air, as Basin Community Theatre presents “Encore! A Broadway Musical Review” this month. “We've taken favorite musicals from our cast and from our director, and put a show together,” said producer Marion Wyman. “So it's going to be songs, it's going to be dances … We had (cast members) write down their suggestions, and if they wanted to sing a solo, and that’s how we put the show together.” The show takes songs and dances, 12 of them solos, from about 30 different Broadway musicals, although Wyman said the list wasn’t yet complete as of Wednesday. The range of musicals is broad, including “Oklahoma!,” “Funny Girl,” Camelot” (and the Monty Python spoof, “Spamalot”), “The Wizard of Oz” and more.

Sage ‘n Sun to light up Ephrata

EPHRATA — Ephrata will take to the streets this weekend with the 111th annual Sage ‘n Sun Festival. “Last year we we had started out brand new, kind of redeveloped it And we're in the process to continue to make it grow and to build it into something a little bit bigger if we can. Last year we did not have very many vendors. This year, including food and craft or info booth-type vendors, we've got 42. That's pretty good for our small area, so we're really excited.” ...

Preventing invasion

State asks outdoors enthusiasts to clean their gear and pets to prevent the spread of invasive plants.

OLYMPIA — State agencies are asking people to clean up their gear, pets and clothing to prevent invasive plants from establishing here, according to a statement from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. State law requires landowners to control noxious weeds when they are present on their properties, the statement said, but when people are coming and going on public lands, that’s not completely possible...

Fees waived for Get Outdoors Day

PORTLAND, Ore. — Day-use sites in Washington and Oregon will be free on June 10 in celebration of National Get Outdoors Day, the USDA Forest Service announced Monday, as a way of encouraging people to explore the outdoors...

Salmonella outbreak hits Washington state

OLYMPIA — An outbreak of salmonella has sickened 13 people in Washington state, one of them in Grant County, according to a statement from the Washington State Department of Health. This is part of a nationwide outbreak that has sickened 104 people in 31 states, the statement said. In Washington, four people have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported, it said...

Home greenery

Tough, neglect-resistant houseplants need less maintenance

MOSES LAKE — The Columbia Basin has always been a place for people who love the great outdoors. Sometimes, though, that’s just not enough and you want to bring a little nature indoors. Houseplants add a touch of green to a room, and breathe life – literally – into a living space. Studies have shown that they can even remove some harmful chemicals from the air, as well as reducing stress. And if you get the right kind, they’re remarkably easy to care for, said Breanna Verduzco, owner of Evalee Ray’s Plant Shop in Moses Lake. “For beginners, I always recommend pothos,” Verduzco said. “It’s a pretty quick grower. You oftentimes see them in clinics, doctor’s offices, because they can do well in lower light. They will survive.”

‘The final reveille’

Short but reverent ceremony marks Memorial Day at Pioneer Memorial Gardens

MOSES LAKE — The Memorial Day ceremony at Pioneer Memorial Gardens in Moses Lake Monday wasn’t long, not more than about 20 minutes, but it was heartfelt. The ceremony was led by American Legion Service Officer Fil Rivera, a retired Green Beret master sergeant who served in Vietnam and the Dominican Republic...

Basin Business Journal looking for 40 standouts under 40

COLUMBIA BASIN — The squeaky wheel may get the grease, but sometimes the other wheels are working just as hard without making noise. That’s true in the business world, too: sometimes the people making the most difference are the quiet ones, flying under the radar. The Basin Business Journal would like to know about those people...

Safe storage

Keeping household weapons secure

MOSES LAKE — It seems like guns and gun owners are in the news a lot these days. Plenty of people in the Basin keep firearms, both for personal protection and for recreational shooting. But when you have guns in the home, where you can access them, there’s always the risk that a child can too. So could a burglar or a friend or relative who, for whatever reason, shouldn’t be allowed access to a firearm. A recent study by experts at Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital indicated that if 20% more American households kept their guns securely stored, gun-related deaths among children and teens could be decreased by a third. It’s essential to make sure weapons are stored where the right people can get to them easily, but the wrong people can’t. That often means a gun safe. Household gun safes come in all sizes, from smaller 8-by-12-inch strongboxes to wardrobe-sized cabinets that can hold a dozen rifles or more. Prices range from $25 to about $2,500, according to Consumer Reports. The thing they all have in common is that they lock securely. When it comes to locking mechanisms there are several possibilities, said Moses Lake firearms safety instructor Edgar Salazar. Some use the traditional rotary lock, but others are more high-tech.

‘Big Bend Changed that for me’

Cellarbration! raises money for BBCC students

MOSES LAKE — The community once again showed its commitment to education Saturday with a full turnout at Big Bend Community College Foundation’s 22nd annual Cellarbration! For Education banquet and auction. The event, which brought in about 225 people, raised $167,000 to put toward scholarships for Big Bend Community College students, according to college spokesman Matt Killebrew.

Keeping the Basin eventful

How to list your community event with the Columbia Basin Herald

So you have an event planned. Maybe it’s a business seminar, maybe it’s a crafting class, maybe it’s a black tie fundraiser. No matter what it is, it’s only going to be successful if people know it’s happening. You need to get the word out somehow...

Built to spec

Home construction loans offer home buyers lots of options

MOSES LAKE — One of the peculiarities of the Columbia Basin is that, even in a housing crunch, we’ve got tons of land waiting to be built on. There’s space for housing, just not the homes themselves. One solution to that is for would-be homeowners to look into a home construction loan. “Because of the limited inventory that we're seeing in the existing home market, a construction loan gives (home buyers) the option to build a new home on a lot,” said Terran Brown, a sales manager with Churchill Mortgage, which recently held an online informational seminar in Moses Lake on home construction loans. “Specifically in the Moses Lake area, you have plenty of land, plenty of lots available for a good price where you don't have a ton of existing resale inventory.”

Spring Fest approaches

Late May festivities set to bring large crowds to Moses Lake with free concerts, loads of activities

MOSES LAKE — It’s an annual tradition in Moses Lake, the town’s biggest festival of the year, and it’s coming up again. The Moses Lake Spring Festival happens every Memorial Day weekend, which this year is May 25-28. Last year’s festival, as life returned to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic, had the highest attendance in the festival’s 43-year history, according to organizers. The goal, said Sean SallisSallispresident of the committee organizing the festival in a January Columbia Basin Herald interview, is “to provide so much stuff that you’ll never get to do it all.” ...

Eclectic bargains abound at Rusty Mammoth Sale

MOSES LAKE — Jewelry, art, household items and old books and magazines – the pickings at the Moses Lake Museum’s Rusty Mammoth Sale Saturday were pretty diverse. “(We sold) some furniture items and a really lovely jewelry box,” said Museum Director Dollie Boyd. “There was a lady lined up at the door this morning for that. Lots of cool ceramics and, you know, quirky things. We had a ton of costume jewelry this year, too. That took a long time to price.” ...

Health Department: Flu deaths up tenfold last year

OLYMPIA — 2022-23 was the deadliest flu season in five years, the Washington State Department of Health said in a statement Friday...

Building bust

Many factors causing housing crunch

COLUMBIA BASIN — It’s no secret that housing is pretty tight right now. Our population is increasing, and new homes aren’t being built. The law of supply and demand is rearing its economic head. “if you look at a 30-year window, our population in Washington state has increased around 60%, and our housing has only continued to grow about 33%,” said Lindsay Brown, executive officer of the Central Washington Home Builders Association. “So at that rate, the finish line feels that much farther.” One factor in the scarcity is the lack of people to do the actual building, said Joel White, director of the Spokane Home Builders Association. The economic crash of 2008-09 affected the construction workforce in ways that have ramifications today.

Royal City talks insurance at council meeting

ROYAL CITY — Insurance was a significant topic at the Royal City City Council meeting May 2. The first order of business involved the city’s co-sponsorship agreement with Summerfest. The draft agreement called for Summerfest to indemnify the city in case someone gets hurt at the town’s community celebration, which takes place July 7-8. Summerfest, which operates as a nonprofit corporation, does not currently carry liability insurance because of the cost, council members said.

Copenhaver prepares to take over at RMS

ROYAL CITY — Royal Middle School is getting a new principal. Jerrod Copenhaver, who has been teaching fifth grade at Royal Intermediate School since 2014, has been tapped to take over from the retiring David Jaderlund starting July 1. “I'm very excited,” Copenhaver said. “It's a great opportunity to keep working in this community.” Teaching school in Royal City is a long way from what Copenhaver thought he’d be doing. He grew up on the west side and planned from an early age to work in law enforcement. And he did that, as a juvenile probation counselor in Kittitas County. He worked toward his teaching certification during that time, he said.

Ribbon Cutting

Dr. Brandon Penix, owner of Northwest Medical Services, with office manager Sidney Kriete to his left and surrounded by Moses Lake Chamber of commerce members, cuts the ribbon at his clinic at 821 E. Broadway. The clinic has been open since November, Kriete said. Northwest Medical Services specializes in occupational medicine, including drug screening and DOT and FAA physical exams.

A full deck

Former Moses lake bar aims to become a destination brewery

MOSES LAKE — It’s had a few names in its time, that old building at 302 W. Broadway Ave. It’s been Barney Google’s, Ginny’s, the Mighty Quinn, the LakeFront Bar & Grill and most recently, the Broadway Bar & Grill. Now it’s going to get a whole new lease on life. “The whole building is going to be stucco,” said Anna Van Diest, who with her husband Rob bought the building in November 2021. “It's going to be an off-white, like a bone color, with black windows and doors. And we're going to have a couple of new windows put on the front.” ...

Wrapped up to go

The staff at Chipotle in Moses Lake scrambles to keep up with the crowd of customers on Saturday, the restaurant’s first day open to the public. Chipotle, which specializes in burritos, quesadillas and tacos, is located at 2345 S. Maiers Road.

Moses Lake piano student honored for original composition

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake High School senior was honored recently for an original piano composition. Dariya Karnafel, 17, took second place in the Washington State Music Teachers Association Young Composers Project with her original composition “Sea of Memories.” “We do it every year and this is my second time doing it,” Karnafel said. “And I wasn’t really expecting that kind of place.” ...

Invasive species cropping up again in Washington

SPOKANE — The boating season is officially underway in Washington state. To keep lakes, rivers, and other water bodies clean and beautiful, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking the public to take a few simple steps when launching boats or other vessels this season, according to a press release from the department...

Local gun shop files suit over weapon ban

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake gun shop owner has filed a lawsuit in response to the assault weapon ban enacted last week. Guardian Arms LLC, located at 208 S. Division St., filed the suit in Grant County Superior Court April 25, the same day Gov. Jay Inslee signed the ban. The suit names Inslee, state Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete as respondents. Also named as petitioners are Ephrata gun dealer Millard Sales LLC, several individual gun owners and the Silent Majority Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy organization based in Pasco...

‘New life’

Seattle Rock Orchestra brings a different sound to the Beatles with Moses Lake performance

MOSES LAKE — The Fab Four never sounded like this. The Seattle Rock Orchestra, consisting of 17 instrumentalists, three vocalists and one highly-animated conductor, took the stage at the Wallenstien Theater Friday night, playing selections from the Beatles’ last two albums, “Abbey Road” and “Let It Be.” It was the last show of the Columbia Basin Allied Arts 2022-23 season...

‘Full of knowledge’

Symposium digs deep in eco-gardening techniques

MOSES LAKE — The Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center was a hive of activity Saturday, hosting the sixth annual Columbia Basin Eco-Gardening Symposium. “The list of the exhibitors didn't look that long,” said Dinah Rouleau, project manager with the Columbia Basin Conservation District. “But when you went there was filled up with a lot of really full informational booths and really knowledgeable people.” ...