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Third Thursday events return to downtown Moses Lake this summer
MOSES LAKE — The Downtown Moses Lake Association will join the Moses Lake Farmers Market to sponsor a series of downtown markets every third Thursday from June to September. The first Third Thursday is scheduled for June 16. The DMLA will sponsor “open mic nights” during Third Thursday. The market will be open from 4 to 8 p.m., with the open mic performances from 6 to 7 p.m. The remaining Third Thursdays are scheduled for July 21, Aug. 18 and Sept. 15...
ML airshow seeks volunteers
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Airshow is looking for a few good volunteers to help get this year’s air show off the ground.
Othello earns top seed in state softball tournament
SELAH — The Othello Huskies softball team will open state tournament play against West Valley of Spokane at noon Friday at Carlon Park in Selah. Othello enters the tournament as the top seed.
Biting dog sought by authorities
WENATCHEE - The public’s help is asked in identifying a dog that bit someone on Thursday in Wenatchee, according to a press release from Wenatchee Valley Animal Care & Control.
USDA forecasts Higher Washington Wheat Harvest in 2022
PORTLAND — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is forecasting a major increase in wheat production in Washington in 2022, according to a report published by the department’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
AG settles poultry gouging lawsuit
OLYMPIA — Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced on Thursday that chicken producer Mar-Jac Poultry will pay the state $750,000 as the company seeks to settle its portion of a major state lawsuit against 19 poultry producers alleging improper business practices.
CWU officially installs new president
ELLENSBURG - Jim Wohlpart was officially installed as Central Washington University’s 15th president on Thursday during a ceremony on the Ellensburg campus, according to a release by the university. Wohlpart assumed office in June 2021, but installation ceremonies were postponed...
Ephrata SD selects new Parkway principal
EPHRATA - The Ephrata School District announced via a press release that current Grant Elementary School Dean of Students Jeremy Vasquez has been selected to fill the role of principal at Parkway Intermediate School. “I am very honored and excited to assume the position of Parkway Intermediate School Principal. As a lifelong teacher, coach, community member and parent, I have a vested interest in the success of the Ephrata School District and the Ephrata community at large,” Vasquez said in the release...
Potato exports rise with mixed distribution
DENVER — U.S. potato exports rose in the nine months from July 2021 through the end of March 2022, according to data released Wednesday from producer group USAPotatoes.
District competitions continue
As district competitions move to the final stages, here are some of the most recent results of those competitions. May 16 results: Almira/Coulee-Hartline fastpitch lost to Inchelium High School 21-23. They take on Wilbur-Creston on May 20 at 1 p.m. at Franklin Park in the consolation bracket. May 17 results: Wahluke fastpitch beat Toppenish High School 14-1 during a play-in for the district tournament. They take on College Place on May 19 at 4 p.m. at College Place High School in the first round of districts. Othello fastpitch beat Selah High School 4-1 to take the District 5/6 Championship and move on to the state tournament. Ephrata fastpitch lost to Ellensburg High School 9-14 in the district tournament and is out of the competition. They finished the season with a 13-11 record. Warden fastpitch beat Granger High School 17-0. They will play River View at Kiwanis Field on May 20 at 4 p.m. in the district semifinals. Othello soccer moved on to state after beating Grandview High School 3-0 in the consolation bracket. They placed second in the District 5/6 competition. They beat Clover Park 2-0 on May 17, in the first round of state. They will take on Columbia River, time and place are yet to be announced.
Soap Lake Suds N Sun planning underway
SOAP LAKE - The annual Soap Lake Suds N Sun Celebration is set for July 2-3 and planning is underway. The two-day event will include a soapbox derby, parade, beer garden, vendors, live music, kids activities, fireworks and the Seattle Cossacks, a motorcycle stunt and drill team.
Inslee appoints Doyle to building code council
OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee announced on Tuesday he has appointed longtime building industry professional Daimon Doyle to the Washington State Building Code Council. Doyle is a builder, Life Director for the National Association of Home Builders and a former president of the Building Industry Association of Washington, with 30 years of experience in residential construction and a specialty in environmentally efficient, green building, according to a press release from Inslee’s office.
Job Corps recruiting new students
MOSES LAKE — Administrators of the federal Job Corps program have announced a recruitment drive, soliciting young people to fill open positions at Job Corps locations in Washington, including Moses Lake...
Rotary Club of Quincy receives award
WENATCHEE — The Rotary Club of Quincy was recognized for its support of Quincy School District students with a Friend of Children Award from the North Central Education Service District. The award was presented by the NCESD board of directors during its annual awards program on May 12.
State immunization rates decline
OLYMPIA — Immunization rates - for vaccines other than COVID-19 - for children and teens in Washington declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data from the Washington Department of Health. Immunization rates dropped 13% in 2021 when compared with rates prior to the pandemic, said a DOH press release...
Basin sports weekend roundup for March 13-15
A roundup of the Columbia Basin's high school sporting events from this past weekend.
Climbers rescued from Mount Rainier
MOUNT RAINIER - Two climbers were rescued from the Kautz Climbing Route on Mount Rainier on Friday after inclement weather forced them to halt their climb....
State officials urge poultry growers to take steps to mitigate avian flu
OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Agriculture is asking owners of chickens, ducks and other domestic birds to be vigilant following an outbreak of avian influenza in six non-commercial flocks statewide...
USDA Issues health alert for possibly tainted meat
WAHSINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service on Wednesday issued a health warning for ground beef produced by JBS Foods subsidiary Empire Packing and sold in Washington and Oregon in December 2021 after some of the meat tested positive for E. coli O26.
Columbia Basin sports schedule April 6-13
High school sports schedule for the week of April 6-13
I-90 repaving to close lanes, exits this week
MOSES LAKE — Travelers westbound on Interstate 90 will experience some delays next week as paving begins on a section of freeway near Moses Lake. . .
WCOG settles suit with redistricting commission
OLYMPIA — The Washington Coalition for Open Government and the Washington State Redistricting Commission agreed Thursday to settle a lawsuit brought by WCOG over alleged violations of the Open Public Meetings Act, according to a press release from WCOG. The parties reached an agreement on a consent decree to present to Thurston County Superior Court for approval.
Moses Lake woman dies from injuries in suspected medical emergency-caused collision
A Moses Lake woman died Thursday morning from injuries in a collision Wednesday night on Road 4 Northeast, according to a Grant County Sheriff’s Office social media post.
Special election preliminary results show few school levies failing
Preliminary results were in Tuesday night for a special election, which saw a handful of communities across the region casting ballots on school levies and tax increases.
Othello man dies in collision south of Warden
An Othello man died Saturday morning in a collision on Road U Southeast, near Road 10 Southeast, south of Warden, according to a Grant County Sheriff’s Office social media post.
Sens. Warnick and King criticize response to Kittitas County offer to help clear snow on state highways
Sens. Warnick and King say they are shocked and very disappointed that the state Department of Transportation refused Kittitas County’s offer to help clear snow off key highways because county employees are not required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Two teens injured in possible DUI rollover
Two teenage boys were injured Sunday morning in an alleged DUI-caused rollover collision on state Route 17, southeast of Othello, according to the Washington State Patrol.
NWS issues storm warning
The National Weather Service on Wednesday afternoon issued a winter storm warning for the Basin, including Grand Coulee, Coulee City, Quincy, Wilbur, Ephrata, Ritzville, Harrington, Othello, Odessa, Moses Lake, and Creston.
Three injured in head-on collision south of Quincy
Three men were injured Tuesday morning in a collision on state Route 281, just south of Quincy, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Commission seeks fair board volunteer
The Grant County Commission announced Thursday it was looking for a volunteer to serve as a regular member on the Fair Advisory Committee to help prepare for and oversee the annual Grant County Fair.
Washtucna teen injured in Adams County collision
A Washtucna teenager was injured Wednesday afternoon in a collision about nine miles south of Ritzville in Adams County, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Two injured, another jailed in possible DUI collision
Two men were injured and another was jailed due to a possible DUI collision Friday morning on state Route 24, east of Mattawa, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Othello bicyclist struck by ambulance, flown to hospital
An Othello bicyclist was injured Wednesday evening on state Route 26, near Othello, when he was struck by an ambulance, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Five-car pileup causes injuries, road closure
A five-car collision Thursday afternoon caused multiple injuries and closed Stratford Road across the Alder Street Fill in Moses Lake for several hours.
Negotiations yield agreement between Confluence Health, Premera Blue Cross
The new contract allows Premera members to retain in-network access at Confluence Health.
Northrup Canyon Fire burns hundreds of acres, draws state mobilization
The fire was estimated at 300 acres and threatens structures and wheat. Level 2 and 3 evacuations were in effect.
Quincy teen injured in Whitman County
A Quincy teen was injured Saturday evening in a collision, about nine miles west of Colfax, when his motorcycle veered off the road, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Grant County Jail inmate escapes
A Grant County Jail inmate escaped Sunday evening, according to an alert from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
Nine residents die from COVID-19 in Grant County
The Grant County Health District on Tuesday announced nine more people died from COVID-19, bringing the county’s COVID-19 death toll to 134.
State resources tapped to help fight wildfire in Adams County
Firefighters on the Lind Fire near Lind, in Adams County, will have help from state resources, as the Washington State Fire Service Resource Mobilization Plan was authorized Sunday.
Grant County Health District issues heat advisory
The Grant County Health District on Tuesday issued a heat advisory due to the high temperatures in the region.
Vehicle collision causes small brush fire
A collision Monday started a small brush fire about eight miles west of Moses Lake, near the Hiawatha Road exit, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Vaccination clinic to be held in Moses Lake
The city of Moses Lake plans its second public clinic for coronavirus vaccinations.
State accepting COVID recovery grant applications from veterans organizations
The state Department of Commerce and the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs are accepting applications for a total of $1.75 million in COVID-19 recovery grants for local non-profit veterans service organizations.
Three men, ‘armed and dangerous,’ sought in connection to two drive-bys Thursday
The Grant County Sheriff’s Office is looking for three men in connection to two drive-by shootings in Mattawa Thursday morning. All three are armed and considered dangerous.
8-year-old shooting victim identified
Jacob Munoz, of Moses Lake, was the 8-year-old boy fatally shot in the chest Tuesday by a 13-year-old boy with a pellet gun, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday on social media.
8-year-old fatally shot with pellet gun in Moses Lake
An 8-year-old boy was fatally shot in the chest by a 13-year-old boy with a pellet gun at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday on Scott Road near the lake in Moses Lake, according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
Five more COVID-19 deaths in Grant County
Five more Grant County residents died from COVID-19, bringing the total deaths to 125, the Grant County Health District announced Tuesday.
Six injured in two-vehicle collision
Six people were injured Sunday afternoon in a two-vehicle collision at state Route 243 and Road 22.5, northwest of Mattawa.
Four injured in four-vehicle collision Sunday afternoon
Four people were injured Sunday afternoon in a four-vehicle collision on state Route 17 at milepost 24, south of Othello in Adams County.