JOEL MARTIN

Dave the Tire Guy opens new, bigger shop

EPHRATA — Dave the Tire Guy has expanded with a new shop and improved equipment offerings. “We’ve got a 7,000-square-foot shop, and then we’ve got another 7,000-square-foot storage and alignment area,” said Dave Pierce, better known as Dave the Tire Guy. “Inside our shop, we’ve got eight two-post lifts, a couple of tire machines, a couple of balancers and then we’ve got a nice 25-by-100 drive-thru tire bay.” Dave the Tire Guy’s new location, which opened in May, is right at the junction of state routes 28 and 283 south of Ephrata. It’s the first business in an industrial park that’s springing up at that location, owned by Tommer Construction.

Skill-A-Thon offers free AI training

MOSES LAKE — The North Central Washington Tech Alliance is offering free courses to help locals put artificial intelligence to work for them, and offering some prizes to boot.

Masquers Theater gala coming Saturday

SOAP LAKE — The Masquers Theater will hold its annual gala Saturday, with a theme that may be long overdue. “We’re actually kind of laughing, because we’ve never done a masquerade at Masquers, so we thought it would be fitting,” said Masquers Board Secretary Cecily Hendricks.

One-man band rolls around the Grant County Fair

MOSES LAKE — Drums, horn, banjo, whistles – Eric Haines plays them all. At the same time. On wheels.

Settling down

Caffeine Fix moves out of the trailer and into its own digs

OTHELLO — After more than a year of roaming around Othello, Caffeine Fix has found a home.

High-tech model trains stop at GC Fair

MOSES LAKE — This is not your grandfather’s electric train set. “In the old days, you had a dial,” said Steve Riegel, who oversaw the model railroad display in the Youth Building at the Grant County Fair last week. “You turned it one way and (the trains) all went forward. Then you stop it, you put it in reverse, it all goes in reverse. In today’s world, we can have (multiple trains) on the same track, any direction, any speed.”

Cage riders take danger for granted

MOSES LAKE — Sometimes zooming around on motorcycles inside a cage runs in the family.

Nonprofits the heart of community life

Celebrating the organizations that uplift the Columbia Basin on National Nonprofit Day

MOSES LAKE — It takes a lot of people, many of them working for nothing, to make a great community. This weekend will be a chance to honor those folks. Aug. 17 is National Nonprofit Day, a day set aside to recognize those organizations that serve their communities, from the big nationwide charities and advocacy groups to the small local service club. The one thing they all have in common is their impact on the communities they serve.

Realtors step up with school supply drive

MOSES LAKE — We’re still a few weeks away from the beginning of the school year, but the Moses Lake-Othello Association of Realtors got a head start Aug. 7, handing over a heap of school supplies to the Moses Lake School District.

2025 Hay King named

MOSES LAKE – Stevens Hay was named Hay King for the third year in a row Tuesday, the first grower to achieve that distinction. From left: Stevens hay co-owner Kye Stevens, 3-year-old Hudson Stevens and contest superintendent Kirk Jungers. Look for the full story in the August edition of the Basin Business Journal.

Dental caring

Volunteers serve dental patients at free clinic

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church’s annual free dental clinic seems to be making a difference. About 100 people came through each day of the clinic, Meyer said, and about half of those were just there for cleanings.

Biscuits, bacon and buckin’ broncs at the Cowboy Breakfast

MOSES LAKE — The chute opened, the rider came out and for eight seconds, the bull and rider flung themselves every which way. But this time, the bull was inflatable and the rider’s age was a single digit. This was the Peewee Stampede Rodeo at the Moses Lake Cowboy Breakfast, the longstanding traditional kickoff to the Grant County Fair. This year’s stick horse rodeo drew about 20 young cowboys and cowgirls.

Hanford Reach turns 25

RICHLAND — Sen. Patty Murray visited the Hanford Reach Wednesday to mark the 25th anniversary of the Reach’s designation as a national monument. “Even though a lot has changed over the last 25 years, still one thing that hasn’t changed,” she said. “The Hanford Reach. And that’s a testament, not just to the huge victory we won that day, but also to the hard work that this community has done every year since to continue preserving and protecting the Hanford Reach.”

Soap Lake lights up with Moonlight Paddle

SOAP LAKE — The surface of Soap Lake was lit up Saturday night by canoes, kayaks, inflatables and paddleboards for the annual Moonlight Paddle. “We had an amazing turnout, probably one of the best I’ve seen,” said Susan Carson, vice president of the Soap Lake chamber of Commerce, which organizes the event. “We had 52 registered vessels and … probably at least another 10 that were just there for the fun. We had people (who) came clear from West Seattle, Wenatchee and Tri-Cities.”

QVAA to stage summer double feature

QUINCY — Quincy Valley Allied Arts is offering a two-fer this weekend, with a pair of short plays for the whole family. “Last summer (QVAA) … posted on Facebook, ‘We don’t have enough volunteers to have a summer production,” said director Emily Ellis. “And my heart is really in theater … so I wrote them and said I would volunteer. And they wrote back and said ‘So you want to direct.’ I said I haven’t directed a whole lot, just my second year of college. And they were like ‘That’s fine. You’ll be great.’ So here I am.”

Sun City Cycle & Sports: Moses Lake shop offers repair, new and used bikes

MOSES LAKE — The Columbia Basin has a new place to buy, sell or repair bicycles. “It was a service we wanted to offer the city of Moses Lake that it didn’t previously have,” said Andrew Spark, co-owner of Sun City Cycle & Sports. “I've had a lot of people walk in, not really to buy anything, just to say ‘We're so happy you're here now. We don't have to take our bikes to Wenatchee, Tri-Cities or Spokane.’”

Basin communities meet their protectors at National Night Out

MOSES LAKE — First responders and the people they serve mingled this week in three Columbia Basin communities for National Night Out.

Home sales, prices hold steady

COLUMBIA BASIN — Home sales increased sluggishly in the last year, according to a report by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which tracks real estate trends in 26 Washington counties.

Dahlia Festival coming to Royal City next month

ROYAL CITY — The first annual Columbia Basin Dahlia and Cut Flower Festival is coming next month. “Cut flowers and dahlias have become a huge thing, whether it's the backyard cut flower person or somebody that's making a small business out of it,” said Lisa Villegas, owner of Seed Cupboard Nursery in Royal City, which is hosting the festival. “I think it happened during COVID, where people just became fascinated with it.”

CBAA takes to the big screen

MOSES LAKE — Columbia Basin Allied Arts is branching out into the movies. “(It’s) part of our Civic Series vision,” said CBAA Executive Director Shawn Cardwell, “which is serving new audiences in non-traditional venues focused on collaboration.”

Shot fired, nobody hurt in Knolls Vista altercation

MOSES LAKE — A weapon was fired but nobody was hurt during an incident Tuesday afternoon in the Knolls Vista neighborhood of Moses Lake, according to the Moses Lake Police Department.

60 years of community health center excellence

MOSES LAKE — This week is National Health Center Week, and the Moses Lake Community Health Center is celebrating.

Regular screening can prevent heart attacks – if you take the time

MOSES LAKE — Heart health is nothing to take lightly. “Over the last 50 years, heart attacks have decreased almost 90% in the United States,” said Dollie Jo Cloud, a nurse at Samaritan Healthcare specializing in cardiac medicine. “(It’s due) to early detection, getting that preventative care.” With the children of the 1970s now nearing or in their 50s, more people are realizing they don’t want to follow in their parents’ footsteps, gritting their teeth and working through health problems until they get too big to ignore, Cloud said. “We can live a longer, healthier life,” she said. “The key is early detection, making sure we’re getting screened for congenital heart disease and heart failure, eating right, exercising and just making sure that we’re doing everything that we can.”

MLFD puts out small brush fire Saturday

MOSES LAKE — A small brush fire lit up the sky Saturday night, but was quickly extinguished, according to a statement from the city of Moses Lake.

Ephrata to debut resource fair

Local event aims to connect Ephratans with the resources they need to thrive

EPHRATA — The first Ephrata Community Resource Fair will take place Aug. 19 at the Ephrata Recreation Center, bringing together community resources in a single place.

Ephrata FD knocks down small fire Friday

EPHRATA – A small fire flared up in Ephrata Friday afternoon but was quickly dealt with, according to Ephrata Fire Chief Jeremy Burns.

Home prices down in Grant Co., up in Adams Co.

COLUMBIA BASIN — Home prices are down slightly in Grant County, and they’re also selling more slowly, according to the real estate website Redfin. On the other hand, Adams County is running somewhat in the opposite direction.

Rental market slowly loosening in Grant County

MOSES LAKE — The rental market in Grant County is slowly thawing as more inventory comes into the market.

Chamber snips its own ribbon

MOSES LAKE – State Rep. Alex Ybarra, flanked by Rep. Tom Dent and Boys and Girls Club Director Kim Pope and surrounded by Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce members, cuts the ribbon Wednesday on the chamber’s Catalyst Center at 301 W. Broadway.

First responders to connect with communities at National Night Out

COLUMBIA BASIN — Police, firefighters and other agencies will have a chance to rub elbows with the communities they serve next week at National Night Out. “Anytime you can engage (with) the officers (when they’re not) having to enforce the law brings out a better goodwill towards the community,” said Ritzville Police Chief Mike Suniga. “I think it's great for each other to see the human side instead of just the work side.”

DMLA debuts new digs, merch

MOSES LAKE — The Downtown Moses Lake Association has a new home, and it comes with sunshine. “The old location was kind of dark, and it didn’t have any windows,” said DMLA Event Specialist Sarah Page. “And now we have six beautiful, big windows.” This year, the DMLA has moved from the back hallway of the Desert Plaza Building at West Third Avenue and South Alder Street to its home at 205 S. Division St., the same location that housed the DMLA’s business incubator, the Obra Project. That incubator, which was designed to grow small businesses, proved successful enough to be retired, Page said. “A lot of their businesses flourished and have been able to get their own spots,” Page said.

Library story time keeps children engaged with books, songs and crafts

MOSES LAKE — Books are meant to be read, and children’s books are meant to be read aloud. And at the Moses Lake Public Library, that’s what happens. “We have our regular preschool story time on Tuesdays from 10:30 to 11:30,” said children’s librarian Zach Walker. “We … have sensory story time the second and fourth Fridays of the month. On the third Friday of every third month, we have the fire department come by to do a story time as well as a demonstration of their gear and equipment. That one is always very popular. I think the quietest one was like 30 (children).”

Remembering Chief Fuhr

Local law enforcement leader passes, leaving a legacy of service, kindness and community.

MOSES LAKE — Kevin Fuhr, it’s generally agreed, was a force of nature. “Man, that guy just kept moving,” said Moses Lake Police Chief David Sands, who succeeded Fuhr as chief in 2023. “I know there were times he probably relaxed, but by and large, he was always on the go.”

Brookdale Hearthstone restores chapel to use

MOSES LAKE — The chapel at Brookdale Hearthstone is blessed and ready to serve once again. “This is a sacred place,” said Pastor Rick Garcia. “This is a consecrated place. And today we've come to bless this space and this chapel (and) rededicate it to the Lord.”

Cowboy Breakfast in new hands this year

MOSES LAKE — ’Round these here parts, the Cowboy Breakfast is almost as much of a tradition as the rodeo. So when the Kiwanis Club wasn’t able to organize it this year, the Chamber of Commerce saddled up. “The Rodeo Association came to us and we said ‘Sure. We don’t want to see it go away,’” said Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce Director Debbie Doran-Martinez.

Civil Air Patrol cadets take to the skies over Ephrata

EPHRATA — There couldn’t have been a better climate to teach teenagers to fly in. “We’ve had really good weather,” said Civil Air Patrol Lt. Col. Kathy Maxwell. “Usually by now we’ve had a smoke day or a windy day, or an overcast day.” The CAP cadets are wrapping up the second week of this year’s Desert Eagle National Flight Academy, held every year at Camp Boucher at the Port of Ephrata. Nineteen cadets from around the country, plus one from Japan, came to Ephrata to learn the basics of flying: airplane systems, pre- and post-flight procedures, navigation. In between they’re flying around the Ephrata Airport, first with instructors, then finally solo. The skies between Ephrata and Moses Lake are pretty mellow for flying, but that doesn’t mean there will be no surprises, cadets said.

Perfect blooms

Tips for entering flowers at the fair

MOSES LAKE — You’ve worked all year to make your flower garden a thing of beauty. What better way to show it off than to enter them in the fair? The Grant County Fair has divisions and classes for every kind of flower or flower arrangement under the sun. Valerie Parrott, president of the Columbia Basin Garden Club and a judge in the fair’s horticulture barn, has tips for making your flowers look the best they can. “Flowers are judged on how close they are to perfection,” Parrott said. “It doesn’t matter if they’re the smallest flower or the largest flower. It only matters how close to perfect the bloom is.” With that in mind, Parrott said, timing is crucial. Exhibits are dropped off Monday morning of fair week, which this year is Aug. 11, and judging begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday. That means the flower you’re entering needs to be perfect right then.

American Honey to close out summer concert series

MOSES LAKE — The name came out of the blue. “When we started, we used to do these band barbecues, and we hadn’t come up with a name yet,” said Audre Belt, lead singer of American Honey, which will perform Friday in Moses Lake. “We had come up with these (names) … that seemed really cheesy. And one of the guys started pointing at random things on the table, and we happened to have a bottle of Wild Turkey American Honey whiskey. He pointed at it and said, ‘American Honey’ and we all looked at each other and we just knew from that moment that that was it.” That was in 2017, and the band is still making music around eastern Washington, although Belt is the only remaining original member. American Honey’s show will be the last performance of this year’s Moses Lake Summer Concert Series.

‘Everyone Has a Why’

Campaign seeks to bring opioid addiction out of the shadows

MOSES LAKE — The reasons for addiction are many, but everybody has one. That’s the point of a campaign by the Grant County Health District to highlight opioid addiction and overdoses. It’s part of a two-phase campaign to explain some of the reasons behind addiction, and encourage people to seek help. “It can be loss, or pain, or struggle, but everyone has a reason that they may start using substances,” said Lexi Smith, communications coordinator for the Grant County Health District. “But on the flip side of that, everyone has a reason that they don’t, or that they choose to help someone who does.” The tagline for the Everybody Has a Why campaign is “Make addiction a conversation, not a secret,” and removing the shame of seeking help is a primary aim.

Free dental clinic coming again to Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — A free dental clinic next month will fill a need that often goes overlooked. “The thing that everybody (wants) is dentistry, because that’s the thing they can’t access,” said Linda Morgan, who organizes the clinic every year for the Moses Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church. “A lot of dentists will not accept Medicaid. It’s very, very hard to get in. That’s why dentistry is so needed.”

Farmers Market gets festive five months early

MOSES LAKE — It didn’t feel much like December this weekend, but the Moses Lake Farmers Market was in holiday mode Saturday. “We like to go all out for it, (both) Christmas and Christmas in July,” said Matt Sanzone, owner of Little Plotter Shop, who was at the market with his wife Laura Sanzone. The Sanzones’ booth was decorated with holly and lights in front of a Grinch-themed backdrop. Not all of the 68 vendors at the farmers market sported yuletide decorations, but enough did to counteract the high-80s temperatures and bright sunshine a little bit. The market management celebrated with a scavenger hunt and basket giveaway. Soap Lake musician Rylei Franks sang, and a good-sized crowd roamed the booths looking for fresh produce, good food and handicrafts.

Boys & Girls Clubs honored with Turnip the Beet! Award

MOSES LAKE — The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin has brought home yet another prize, having received the Turnip the Beet! For 2024. “This is one I’ve been working toward for the last three years since I started, so I was really excited,” said the club’s Operations Director Cecily Hendricks. “(We’ve been) revamping our food program and it’s taken some time but I feel like we’re finally there.”

'A nice destination'

Par 71 looks to bring another fine dining option to Soap Lake

SOAP LAKE — When it’s finished, folks won’t recognize the former clubhouse at the Lakeview Golf and Country Club. “It’s going to be a nice destination,” said Shanel Halley, who owns Par 71 with her husband Tanner. “When we get it all put together, we’ll have a nice restaurant with a nice golf course, and it’s going to be one of the places to come in Washington.”

Purple Party to kick off Alzheimer’s fundraiser Thursday

MOSES LAKE — Purple will be the color to wear Thursday. “(The Purple Party) is a really great kickoff for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Disease,” said Terri Riley-Brown, one of the organizers of the event. “We’re excited. We’ve got lots of prizes to give out. We’ve got beverages and food for everyone who attends.”

Columbia Basin Hospital celebrates 75 years

EPHRATA — Columbia Basin Hospital was important to the community 75 years ago, and it’s still a vital part of Ephrata’s health care. “The grand opening (of the hospital building) was in 1958, and they had over 2,000 people attend,” said Communication and Development Director Susan Scheib.

‘My cup runneth over’

Psalms 23 offers coffee with a dash of hope and a pinch encouragement

MOSES LAKE — The 23rd Psalm is one of the best-known passages in the Bible, filled with assurances of God’s protection and favor. That’s what Larisa Vorobey had in mind when she opened her new business. “I lost my mom, and then my baby, and then I found myself navigating life as a single mom, (all) within six months,” said Vorobey, owner of Psalms 23, a new coffee shop in Moses Lake. “There were moments I didn’t think I would make it through, but even in the darkest times, God was with me. So, Psalms 23 became a promise I held on to.”

People with disabilities should take extra steps in case of fire

MOSES LAKE — Fire danger is always high at this time of year. For people with disabilities, that can be problematic. July 26 is National Disability Independence Day, recognizing the nearly one-third of Americans who live with a disability. Unfortunately, having a disability can make the danger that comes with a fire much greater, according to a statement from the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office. Of the 72 fire deaths that occurred in Washington state last year, 11 were people with a disability. Physical disability was the second leading human factor contributing to fatalities in residential buildings between 2017 and 2019, a study by the U.S Fire Administration found, accounting for 30% of deaths.

Othello dentist delivers home-grown greatness

OTHELLO — It’s been said that some people are born to greatness, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them. And then there are those who do great things on a small scale. “For whatever reason, I always seem to gravitate into leadership,” said Dr. Chris Dorow, owner of Othello Dental Arts and president of the Washington State Dental Association. “When I graduated from dental school in 1995, I was the student body president for the dental school. I went immediately from there into volunteering for the Washington State Dental Association. My first committee was the Communications Committee, and then they moved me to Membership Services … I was there for 16 years, and I (was asked) to be on the board of directors an insane amount of times.”

Home inventory up, sales slow but still steady in the Basin

MOSES LAKE — There’s a lot of activity going on in the real estate compared to a year ago, according to data from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which tracks real estate trends in 26 Washington counties. According to the NWMLS, Grant and Adams counties had higher increases in active listings and closed sales in June 2025 over June 2024 than the rest of the state. But the activity on the ground only partly bears that out, said Brian Gentry, principal managing broker for Re/Max in Othello. “Over last year, yes,” Gentry said. “Over three years ago, no. There’s a lot more inventory right now. Where we would typically on any given day see in Othello 11 or 12 things on the market, we’re in about the 35 range right now. Some of those are new construction, so they’re presales, but there’s a lot of people putting their homes on the market.”

Moses Lake Museum exhibit, ‘Balance,’ highlights the permanent and the transitory

MOSES LAKE — Some things are temporary and some aren’t. How those intersect is the theme of an exhibit opening at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center Friday. “The world is crazy, and so many things are happening, but some things still (are) not changing,” said artist Mihail Kivachitsky. “The stars (and their) astronomical characteristics are a reflection of that … It can be actual today, it was actual 1,000 years ago, and probably is going to be in the future.”