Chinook Pass workers are the real snow men - CHINOOK PASS -- When April arrives, Rick Lawson and several other state Department of Transportation workers leave their routine highway maintenance chores and head for Chinook Pass to remove snow. Using large excavators, snowplows and snowblowers, a crew...MORE...
It's curtains for longtime Yakima Ave. storefronts - The curtain has already fallen on Cascade Shade. Any day now, the same fate awaits Sullivan's Dry Cleaners and its neighbor, Instant Press. In their place a new Walgreens drugstore will soon rise, remaking a block of downtown Yakima Avenue that has alwa...MORE...
You make the call ... to Mom - Calling my mother on Sunday morning had become a ritual ever since my dad died more than a decade ago. When Mom answered the phone, her first words would always be the same: "How's the weather out there?" Familiar words spoken with a familiar voice. Today...MORE...
Child in serious condition after crash - SUNNYSIDE -- A 4-year-old Mabton boy was in serious condition Saturday evening at a Seattle hospital after a two-vehicle crash, officials said. Jose Birrueta was being treated at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after first being taken to Sunnyside C...MORE...
Yep, we're WEIRD ... but in a good way - Consider it a place where "weird" is a compliment. That's how museum hostess Leah Huntington of Goldendale took it when she learned a bit of her community's folklore is listed in a new book outlining the state's odder places and people....MORE...
No sign of missing fishermen as search continues - Authorities and volunteers searched the Columbia River with no luck Friday for three missing Yakama tribal fishermen. The Yakama Nation released the names of the three men, who have been missing since they went out Tuesday to check their salmon nets from...MORE...
Gates gives local education a lift - After listening to students in a preschool class sing two songs, Bill Gates Sr. declared, "It's going to be a good day," prior to announcing the first round of funding that will be used to boost early learning opportunities for children in east Yakima. An...MORE...
Family reeling after longtime pet found dead, missing spleen - The mystery involving Peanut hasn't been solved entirely, but investigators are pretty sure they know how the pet died. When neighbors discov-ered Debbie Zorrozua's dog on her front lawn along 85th Avenue earlier this week, the 10-year-old dachshund mix w...MORE...
Farmers market 'bigger, better' this year - Cooking demonstrations, kids' activities and musical entertainment are on tap for the 10th year of the Yakima Farmers Market starting Sunday. "It's going to be bigger and better than ever before, that's for sure," said Victor DeLong, a Yakima attorney an...MORE...
Sunnyside zoning issue to be argued in court - SUNNYSIDE -- Retired farmer Don Padelford has filed a lawsuit against the city of Sunnyside for not allowing him to develop the airport neighborhood he envisions. Padelford, 60, wants to build more than 400 homes -- some with their own hangars -- just nor...MORE...
Ample snowfall aids area water supply - The snow will begin to melt -- soon. That's what water-supply officials promised Friday. Unseasonably cold weather has kept snowpack in the Central Cascades and elsewhere in the state well above normal and, in some cases, at record levels. The Bureau of R...MORE...
College football -- Spring in their step - ELLENSBURG -- The whole point of spring football games is to not pay too much attention to them. To the points, that is. What counts is whether experienced players perform to expectations, whether newcomers show promise and whether anyone gets hurt. So ba...MORE...
Prep fastpitch -- Going the distance for split - ELLENSBURG -- Renee Cuillier's facial muscles have as much wear and tear on them as her arm this year. Because the East Valley starter smiles after every delivery home no matter what happens with the batter. She grinned right through a 1-0 loss to Ellensb...MORE...
Prep soccer -- Grizzlies win regional title - SUNNYSIDE -- It's been home sweet home for Sunnyside's boys soccer team. Playing on their home field for the third straight regional game, the Grizzlies once again rode their powerful defense to a 2-0 victory over Eastmont in the championship match Saturd...MORE...
Baseball roundup -- Forgey fans 10 as Rangers claim SCAC district - MOSES LAKE -- Lucas Forgey scattered five hits and struck out 10 as Naches Valley claimed the SCAC District baseball title with a 3-1 win over Connell on Saturday night. The win earned the Rangers, Class 1A state runners-up last year, the district's No. ...MORE...
Fastpitch roundup -- Powers helps NV claim share of SCAC West - NACHES -- Stephanie Powers collected four hits and three RBI, and pitcher Casi White struck out 15 for the day as Naches Valley swept Goldendale 7-6, 12-10 to earn a share of the SCAC West fastpitch title on Saturday. Powers finished 4-for-6 for the day...MORE...
Tennis/Golf roundup -- Davis' Chang, Ike's Bemis reach 4A semifinals - YAKIMA -- Davis' Abe Chang and Eisenhower's Eric Bemis stormed through their respective singles brackets to reach the semifinals of the CBL 4A boys district tennis tournament Saturday at Kissel Park in Yakima. After first-round byes, both players posted t...MORE...
Local report -- CWU's Nilsen shines in finale, despite losing pair to NNU - NAMPA, Idaho -- Central Washington lost both games of a doubleheader to Northwest Nazarene on Saturday to end its season, but CWU senior Jamie Nilsen nonetheless went out in a blaze of glory. Though the Wildcats fell 10-8 and 6-5, Nilsen's remarkable care...MORE...
Semi-pro football -- Mavericks still undefeated - SPOKANE -- The Yakima Mavericks inched closer to matching the program's best start with a patient 26-16 victory against the State Line Miners on Saturday at North Central High School. Jesse Cardenas scored rushing touchdowns of 4 and 5 yards to go with Mi...MORE...
PNGA Cup -- Washington team rallies to beat Oregon - BEND, Ore. -- Dan Whitaker and his Washington teammates staged a stunning rally Saturday to capture the PNGA Cup in a sudden-death playoff over two-time defending champion Oregon. Whitaker won his singles match Saturday, 2 and 1 over British Columbia's Cr...MORE...
5/11/08 Letter to sports - CWU women set records as well To the sports editor -- I really enjoyed Roger Underwood's column about the first 49 years of CWU's Nicholson Pavilion. Yes, the men's teams were quite dominant. I also remember a women's team that holds a record on that co...MORE...
5/11/08 Prep standings - CWAC Final W L x-Othello 17 1 x-East Valley 15 3 x-Ellensburg 15 3 x-Selah 13 5 x-Quincy 7 11 x-Ephrata 7 11 x-Grandview 7 11 x-Prosser 5 13 Toppenish 2 16 Wapato 2 16 x-qualified for district Saturday's results Ellensburg 1-0, East Valley 0-3 Grandview...MORE...
Prep track and field -- Selah's Blanshan blazes to 10.36; Wandling false starts - Two state champions took dramatic wrong turns in CWAC sub-district track and field meets on Friday, but Brett Blanshan flew straight ahead faster than ever. The Selah junior clocked an automatically timed 10.36 seconds in the 100 meters at the North meet...MORE...
Local report -- CWU baseball earns split - NAMPA, Idaho -- Kevin Walkenhauer and Nate Rylaarsdam each doubled twice and Rylaarsdam finished with three RBI as Central Washington beat Northwest Nazarene 9-4 Friday for a split of a GNAC doubleheader. The Crusaders' 9-6 first-game win eliminated Centr...MORE...
Farmers markets up and running - For the past couple of weeks, local muralist Rick Fuller has been painting the North Third Street windows of the former Liquidation World building. His latest public work features a brick facade and the different Yakima Farmers Market posters from over th...MORE...
Guilty Pleasures -- Brews at the beach - Back in the day, beer was beer was beer. That was until several years ago, when Guilty Pleasures became intimately involved with the beer business. Well, more accurately, intimately involved with someone in the beer biz. During that time, Guilty Pleasure...MORE...
College football -- Another new era begins for CWU - YAKIMA -- Unlike most spring games, where a mostly new team runs the previous season's plays, Central Washington will offer an intriguing variation today. The Wildcats, for the second straight year, will unveil a new coach and a new system when they concl...MORE...
Sayler pleads guilty to child rape, molestation - A former West Valley youth coach pleaded guilty Thursday afternoon to raping and molesting three teenage boys who played on his teams. Prosecutors are expected to recommend that Randy Sayler, now 46, face a minimum prison sentence of 23 years. A state rev...MORE...
State puts ignition interlock devices to the test - Yakima County, No. 7 in the state for population, ranks third for the number of drunken-driving deaths. Hundreds of Yakima County residents are charged each year with driving under the influence of intoxicating drugs or alcohol. Perhaps as many as three-q...MORE...
Pair of Valley diversity advocates recognized - CENTRALIA, Wash. -- Two of the Yakima Valley's own were honored Thursday at Centralia College for their work in fostering ethnic diversity. Tomás Villanueva, a longtime farm worker activist, and state Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney, D-Seattle, were ...MORE...
PDL soccer -- Reds leave Surge blue - YAKIMA -- Welcome back, Junior. Prior to Friday night, the last time Junior Garcia played on the field at Marquette Stadium was last June when he suffered a season-ending injury that proved equally devastating to the Yakima Reds offense. Friday, Garcia wa...MORE...
Advocates hear story of a life turned around - Liz Murray's parents partied too much in the '70s and got hooked on drugs. After Liz was born in 1980, their addictions continued and she was raised in a Bronx tenement where the daily trade-off was drugs or food, paid for with the monthly welfare check...MORE...
Prep baseball/fastpitch roundup -- Viks, Red Devils to meet for CWAC title - Selah and East Valley, who split two regular-season games last month, will meet tonight for the CWAC district baseball championship. The Vikings, who won the league title, earned their berth by downing Ellensburg 4-1 in a semifinal game Friday on their ho...MORE...
Favorable winds for wind farm dedication - About 300 people showed up Thursday to dedicate Klickitat County's second major wind farm. The White Creek Wind Project is a 205-megawatt wind farm about 12 miles south of Bickleton. Its 89 turbines on 9,500 acres of ranchland will generate enough elect...MORE...
05/09/08 Film Clips - OPENING TODAY "MARRIED LIFE" -- This chamber piece set in the late 1940s is a romantic quadrangle involving a stockbroker who'd rather kill his wife than deal with the fallout of his affair with a young war widow. Starring Chris Cooper, Patricia Clarkson...MORE...
El Mirador opening new restaurant - YAKIMA -- One of Yakima's more festive Mexican restaurants is opening a second location this summer. El Mirador, now at 418 W. Walnut St., will operate at the former Fredrick's on the Green restaurant in th...MORE...
Gathering celebrates lawsuit that changed women's sports - It took long hours, dedication and a sprint to the finish, but she won. In a way, all women did. On Thursday evening, Karen Troianello of Yakima took time to look back on history as part of a Seattle event celebrating a legal victory that changed the c...MORE...
It's all about emotion for acclaimed guitarist Feriante - There's something about the guitar, says classical guitarist Andre Feriante. It has a sound that just pulls at your heart. That's especially true with Feriante, who spent part of his childhood in Yakima. His romantic...MORE...
Controlled burns to start next week - Controlled burns in the Naches Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest will begin next week, if weather conditions are favorable. The spring burning program is scheduled to star...MORE...
Prosser winery village offers lots of choice in a small area - PROSSER -- It was less than four years ago that Wade Wolfe built the first winery in a neighborhood of new streets and empty lots that only marmots called home. Today, Vintner's Village is all but maxed out with 11 ...MORE...
Local report -- Central signs Spokane point guard - ELLENSBURG -- Central Washington, which lost starting point guard Nate Jackson to graduation, has possibly found a successor. Jon Clift, who helped lead Spokane to a runner-up finish to Yakima Valley in the NWAACC Tournament in March, has decided to conti...MORE...
Officials search Columbia for missing Yakama anglers - Authorities will continue searching the frigid waters of the Columbia River today for three fishermen believed to be Yakama tribal members whose boat capsized. The fishermen have yet to be identified, but Yakama Gen...MORE...
05/09/08 Art - ART WALKS FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK. 5-7 p.m. the first Friday of each month, Ellensburg. 15-plus galleries and nontraditional art spaces. List: www.ellensburgarts.com. OPENINGS YVCC DEPARTMENT OF VISUAL ARTS EXHIBITION. Works by students and faculty. Open...MORE...
Spring fashion goes electric - This season's "color" is not pink. It's not black, brown or blue, either. It is electric. Electric, saturated hues. ...MORE...
Molesters use trust as a weapon - Yakima -- Michael was a popular music teacher who was beloved by students and adored by parents, all the while molesting his own children, their friends and other kids. As he tells his story to...MORE...
Prep golf -- Overcoming over and over - YAKIMA -- In the opening minute of what would be one of the biggest victories in the history of West Valley's girls basketball program, Liz Tikriti was forced to do something which for her was unthinkable. She sat. Inside her right knee was so much ligame...MORE...
Sportsmanship in the spotlight - From a softball diamond in Ellensburg to "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" to a swanky resort on the Gulf Coast, three college women are enjoying a fantastic finish to their athletic careers....MORE...
Downtown shop goes eclectic - Though tables of flowers greet you as you round the corner and ceramic pots flank the entrance, it's the clothing that catches your eye when you walk through the door of Garden Dance. "Home, garden, and fashion fro...MORE...
Library trustees at odds with director - YAKIMA -- Yakima Valley Regional Library trustees are at odds over the authority granted to Executive Director Monica Weyhe and how she wields it. A minority of the board contends some o...MORE...
5/9/08 This week on track - YAKIMA SPEEDWAY What: Late Models, Super Stocks, Hobby Sportsman, Hobby Stocks, Hornets, Bump to Pass, Youth Hornets. When: Saturday. Gates open at 4 p.m., racing at 5. Note: Quiet since the Apple Cup, the Speedway hosts its first full local slate of raci...MORE...
Prep report -- Small-school vaulting flying high with TL-G - Is it track and field for the Trout Lake-Glenwood program or, more specifically, simply track and pole vault? Hard to tell since nine of the 15 boys in the two-school program have competed in the event and three of them are among the top four 1B vaulters...MORE...
Yakima Valley track and field leaders - THROUGH WEDNESDAY BOYS 100 -- FAT: Brett Blanshan (Selah) 10.79, Cade Wandling (Prosser) 10.86, Marco Martinez (Toppenish) 11.00, Dana Wells (Riverside Christian) 11.23, Cody Bruns (Prosser) 11.43, Jonathan Newport (Eisenhower) 11.43. Wind aided: Blanshan...MORE...
CBA -- Potential Sun Kings owners emerge - YAKIMA -- While work progresses on a deal with local investors to buy the Sun Kings, another potential buyer has emerged -- and he's one quite familiar to fans. Otis Harlan said Thursday that he's seriously interested in reaquiring the team that he owned ...MORE...
CWU Hall of Fame -- Central marks a season of firsts - YAKIMA -- More than one member of the 1987-88 Central Washington women's basketball team admitted to memory lapses when asked about the historic team. "That was, after all, 20 years ago," one of them explained. True. But closer examination reveals that a...MORE...
5/9/08 Hot Tickets - TODAY BASEBALL: Take your pick between these two CWAC district semifinals -- Ellensburg at Selah and Ephrata at East Valley. Both start at 4 p.m. Meanwhile, Naches Valley hosts Kiona-Benton in a SCAC semifinal. SATURDAY BOYS SOCCER: Sunnyside hosts Eastm...MORE...
5/9/08 Prep standings - Fastpitch CWAC W L Othello 15 1 East Valley 14 2 Ellensburg 14 2 Selah 13 3 Grandview 5 11 Prosser 5 11 Quincy 5 11 Ephrata 5 11 Toppenish 2 14 Wapato 2 14 Today's games Othello at Selah (2), 3:30 p.m. Saturday's games Prosser at Grandview (2), 10 a.m. T...MORE...
Prep Roundup -- Mercado's goals lift Selah - YAKIMA -- Senior Israel Mercado scored early and late -- both times with the help of Michael Fadden -- and lifted Selah to a 2-1 overtime victory over East Valley in a loser-out CWAC district boys soccer match on Thursday. Mercado scored on an assist from...MORE...
Cold weather can't hurt cherry crop - PASCO -- Cold temperatures may have destroyed an estimated 20 percent of the Northwest cherry crop, but it's still expected to be the third largest on record. "There is definitel...MORE...
Latin music celebration at YVCC - The Yakima Valley Community College Latin Music celebration has evolved from a series of Internet clinics to a three-day festival that incorporates education and performances. In its second year of hosting a formal celebration, YVCC has brought in thre...MORE...
Slice: Tennis title is a long time coming for Yakima woman - The security guards at Mobile (Ala.) Regional Airport weren't sure what to make of one piece of Barbara Kinloch's carry-on luggage. Its pyramid base might conceivably be used as a weapon, and then there were all of those sharp edges -- and, on top, that c...MORE...
Still looking for missing fishermen - HOME VALLEY, Wash. -- Authorities are still searching for three Yakama tribal fishermen who went missing on the Columbia River after their boat capsized earlier this week. Today, officers with the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Yakama Natio...MORE...
Ross starts campaign for return to Olympia - State Rep. Charles Ross, R-Naches, likes being seen as a law-and-justice legislator. The Naches Repub-lican, who kicked off his re-election campaign Thursday morning outside the Yaki-ma police station, gained the reputation this year by successfully pu...MORE...
May Crowning -- Catholic grade schools mark the occasion - Bring flowers of the fairest Bring flowers of the rarest From garden and woodland And hillside and vale Our full hearts are swelling Our glad voices telling The praise of the loveliest Rose of the vale -- "Queen of the May," also known as "Bring Flowers ...MORE...
Zillah Alumni group marks anniversary - The Zillah Alumni Association will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a dinner Saturday at Zillah High School. There will be a social gathering at 5 p.m. in the high school commons, followed by a catered dinner at...MORE...
05/09/08 Around the Valley - Union Gap water system maintenance UNION GAP -- The city of Union Gap will conduct routine maintenance of its water system by flushing water through fire hydrants from Monday to May 30. To cause the least disruption for residents, this activity will be do...MORE...
If you learn your child is abused, remember the following - * Believe them and stay calm. * Don't ask the child why they did not tell you before. * Tell them you are glad they told you and that you will take care of things. * Call the appropriate law enfo...MORE...
05/09/08 Theater - "BOOKBOUND." 8 tonight-Saturday. Warehouse Theatre in the Allied ArtsCenter, 5000 W. Lincoln Ave. Tickets: $15 general admission, $12 seniors and students through the Warehouse Theatre box office, 966-0951. Box office hours: 3-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, noon...MORE...
05/09/08 Planner - AUDITIONS YAKIMA VALLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOLLIES. 6 tonight: cast meeting at Memorial Hospital auditorium, 2811 Tieton Drive. 1 p.m. Saturday: auditions at The Seasons, 101 N. Naches Ave. For May 17 performance of "Spontaneous Combustion." www.memfound....MORE...
05/09/08 Books - READING/SIGNING MARY VINE. 2 p.m. Saturday. Inklings Bookshop, 5629 Summitview Ave., Chalet Place. Former Valley resident will sign "Maya's Gold." 965-5830. T. LLOYD WINETSKY. Local author will discuss how he incorporated the May 18, 1980, ash fall from...MORE...
05/09/08 Just announced - JAMES AND ERNIE. 6:30 p.m. May 17. Toppenish Community Center, 101 Meyers Road, Toppenish. $12. Info: Roy Dick, 314-9241, Odena Howard, 865-5121, ext. 4450. (Native American comedy duo.) SMOKEY ROBINSON. 8 p.m. Aug. 2. Yakama Nation Legends Casino outdoo...MORE...
Report cites Voter Act violations - Another Whitman College report; another finding that local election systems violate the federal Voting Rights Act by keeping Latinos out of office. Along with research on Latino voter m...MORE...
Signs your child might be molested - * A change in behavior regarding modesty, ranging from being overly concerned about their body to inappropriate sexual behavior. * Physical symptoms can include genital pain, itching, discharge and bleeding. Children c...MORE...
YVCC Salsa Band's 'Clavecide!' CD highlights Latin music fest - At the beginning of the school year in September, Yakima Valley Community College jazz instructor David Blink promised his Latin jazz students the opportunity to record a CD if they came up with an entire set of original tunes. They did, and this week "Cl...MORE...
Child abuse prevention tips - * Don't expect your children to protect themselves. * Communicate with your children and believe what they tell you. Children rarely lie about child abuse. * Watch for any child abuse symptoms, from physical pain in their gen...MORE...
YVCC student and faculty exhibit opens Monday - Artworks created between the 2007 spring quarter and the 2008 winter quarter at Yakima Valley Community College will go on display next week in the annual YVCC Department of Visual Arts Student & Faculty Exhibit, a fixture at the Larson Gallery for mo...MORE...
05/09/08 10 Days Out - Friday, May 9 * Critically acclaimed jazz vocalist Kendra Shank, who started as a folk singer-guitar strummer, performs tonight at The Seasons, 101 N. Naches Ave. With a voice described by noted music critic Terry Teachout as "warm-toned, fine-grained, q...MORE...
05/09/08 Night life - NIGHT LIFE Blues/Jazz/Swing THE DEPOT RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday. LaLoni Lee Brown. 32 N. Front St. 469-4400. (Smooth pop standards.) JACK-SONS SPORTS BAR. 6-11 p.m. Thursdays. Open blues/jazz jam. 432 S. 48th Ave. 966-4340. JOHNNY'...MORE...
South Seattle wineries showcase wares, facilities - Saturday afternoon, the South Seattle Artisan Wineries (Cadence, Fall Line, :Nota Bene and OoS) will "Celebrate Spring" with a four-winery open house from 1 to 5 p.m. They are all relatively small boutiqu...MORE...
Co-op will benefit when old buildings are razed - An old feed store and grain elevator thought to date back at least to the 1920s are slated to make room for improved parking at the Yakima Co-op farm store. The buildings comprise a compound of sorts at the co-op's location at 501 S. Front St., alongside...MORE...
Growers back county property tax to fight pests - YAKIMA -- Several commercial fruit growers backed a proposal today to assess all property in Yakima County to control pests that threaten the county's largest industry. Growers said assessing homeowners and business owners to fight pests is fair since so...MORE...
05/08/08 Around the Lower Valley - Bands hit stage at Princess Theatre PROSSER -- The Princess Theatre will be loud Saturday. That's when four bands will play live music beginning at 6:30 p.m. The lineup consists of metal bands Rise My Beloved, Fourth & Forever and Deminished, as well ...MORE...
Wapato loses another member of its City Council - WAPATO -- Lloyd Benscoter resigned from the City Council on Monday night, the second council member to quit in as many months. Benscoter didn't attend Monday night's meeting, but instead submitted a resignation letter citing a need to spend more time with...MORE...
05/08/08 Around the Valley - Kittitas County OKs wind farm ELLENSBURG -- Kittitas County commissioners have approved a 69-turbine wind farm. Commissioners gave the go-ahead for the $250 million project Tuesday. It's the first project approved in the county's 500-...MORE...
Northwest river rafting guide - Here are the state's primary rafting rivers, placed -- subjectively, admittedly -- in descending order, from best to worst. Their order is based on each river's attractiveness as a rafting destination for people from this part of the state, taking into ...MORE...
5/8/08 Valley Sports Weekly bulletin board - BASEBALL: Yakima National Little League will be hosting an all-you-can-eat spaghetti feed at 6 p.m. Saturday at the V.F.W. Post 379 located at Fifth and Walnut avenues. Tickets are $20. There will be door prizes, a silent auction, and music by Wise Blood....MORE...
Northwest Sportsman -- Boaters prove to be quite crafty - YAKIMA -- If you ever wanted to get a flavor for the different types of boats available to people who like to fish, you might want to spend a day or two at Drano Lake or the Wind River in the next couple of weeks. A predicted large number of spring chinoo...MORE...
Rec notes -- Rebels teams win tourney titles - YAKIMA -- Two Yakima Rebels teams posted top-two finishes in their inaugural Rebel Yell youth baseball tournament last weekend at Elks Park. The U-10 Rebels won the championship, defeating the Moses Lake GTLs 12-2 on Sunday afternoon. The U-12 Rebels were...MORE...
Ex-seminarian due to be out on bond - YAKIMA -- A former Catholic Diocese of Yakima seminarian will be released from federal custody pending payment of a $25,000 bond, an immigration judge ruled Tuesday. Juan Jose Gonzál...MORE...
05/08/08 What's Happening - Shrub-steppe event Saturday in canyon The ninth annual Get Intimate with the Shrub-Steppe, a day of field trips, exhibits and hands-on activities for outdoor lovers and kids, returns to the Umtanum recreation site in the Yakima River Canyon. The various f...MORE...
Growers back fee for pests - Comments come in favor of proposed assessment on every county parcel YAKIMA -- Saying a major piece of the Valley's economy could be at risk without action, fruit growers Tuesday favored a proposa...MORE...
Trail blazer -- Klickitat Trail no longer a walk on the wild side for hikers - YAKIMA -- Passing from a painful period of controversy and confrontations, the Klickitat Trail near Goldendale now seems on a smoother path to acceptance and enjoyment. Although armed opponents once challenged the right of public access to the 31-mile rai...MORE...
Retired sergeant to help veterans - YAKIMA -- Yakima County has hired retired Army First Sgt. David Brown as its first full-time veterans coordinator to work with poor, homeless and incarcerated veterans. "It's our continued...MORE...
Southeast is center of debate - Words get heated over plan to put Ready by 5 program into Southeast Community Center YAKIMA -- The fight for the Southeast Yakima Community Center has begun. In a sign of things to come, vocal...MORE...
State puts brakes on Yakima driving instructor - YAKIMA -- A Yakima driving school owner arrested on a training drive with a student had his state operating license temporarily suspended on Tuesday. The state Department of Licens...MORE...
Yakima council asks for state audit - YAKIMA -- The Yakima City Council on Tuesday formally invited the Washington State Auditor's Office to conduct a first-in-the-state performance audit of the city's operations. According to the language of the invitation, the cou...MORE...
Coach's molesting plea hearing delayed - YAKIMA -- A plea hearing for a West Valley youth coach charged with molesting some of his players has been rescheduled. Randy Sayler, 46, was to enter a plea agreement on Tuesday in Yakima County Super...MORE...
Prosser raises water rates 11 percent - PROSSER -- Water rates are going up in this city. Prosser City Council members Tuesday night voted to raise water rates by 11 percent for average residential users. Also Tuesday, cou...MORE...
Sarg Hubbard will be kids' fishing central - YAKIMA -- Some 800 kids between the ages of 5 and 14 will be hitting the shores of the Greenway's Sarg Hubbard Pond in waves this Saturday for the eighth annual Fishing Kids event. Kids who have already registered -- and the deadline has passed -- will g...MORE...
Local report -- Wilkins' double helps lift Yaks to split - YAKIMA -- Ezzard Wilkins' two-run double highlighted a four-run eighth inning and lifted Yakima Valley to a 10-7 win over Blue Mountain and a split of its Eastern Region doubleheader Wednesday at Parker Field. The Timberwolves won the opener 9-3. Wilkins'...MORE...
Big Nine realignment separates Ike, Davis - YAKIMA -- Ike and Davis. Davis and Ike. For decades, games between the two Yakima city rivals have been a mark-your-calendars event. More than just contests between the athletes on the court or field, they have been a cult...MORE...
What to expect when hiring a guide service - Wannabe rafters looking for a good guide service in Washington have plenty to choose from. Some offer plenty of amenities, like lavish post-trip feasts, while others are more bare-boned. Make safety a top priority, and remember: No outfitter runs every ri...MORE...
Prep roundup -- Sunnyside soccer nabs state berth - SUNNYSIDE -- Who needs 80 minutes to win a soccer match when you only need three? Sunnyside's boys punched in a goal just that quick on Wednesday and it stood up for a 1-0 victory over Kamiakin in the Class 3A regional tournament. With their eighth consec...MORE...
Ross aims to keep his job - YAKIMA -- State Rep. Charles Ross, R-Naches, will formally announce his re-election bid Thursday morning. Ross, a 35-year-old funeral director and former Naches mayor, focused on public safety issues during his firs...MORE...
Rafters figure to be riding high this season - YAKIMA -- As the office manager and a lead guide for the state's largest whitewater rafting service, Brad Coleman has a simple routine when it comes to helping customers plan their adventure. "I tend to try to find out when people are going on vacation,"...MORE...
CWU Hall of Fame -- An early call - YAKIMA -- A lengthy look at the grand scheme of Central Washington basketball, plus a cursory glance at the Wildcats' record book, makes clear that since Ryan Pepper's departure in 1995, his induction into the school's hall of fame would be less a matter...MORE...
Gregoire lends ear to Latinos - YAKIMA -- In a quick, almost unnoticed visit, Gov. Chris Gregoire met with Yakima Valley Latino leaders Tuesday during a campaign tour for re-election. During an almost two-hour morning meetin...MORE...
5/8/08 Valley Sports Weekly results - Golf Apple Tree MEN'S DIVISION May 4 First Flight -- Gross: 1, Van Johnson 76; 2, Mike Sutton 81. Net: 1, Butch Lenberg 68; 2, Jack Shaw 76. Second Flight -- Gross: 1, Kirk Galloway 85; 2, Joe Lenberg 93. Net: 1, (tie) Jack Shaw 73, Stan Hinson 73. WOMEN...MORE...
A new version of King announces re-election bid - YAKIMA -- The King is dead; long live the King. The Curtis King who disdained PAC contributions and criticized his 14th District state Senate opponent, incumbent Jim Clements, for w...MORE...
05/08/08 Death Notices - Paula Bemrose Paula Bemrose, 97, of Yakima died Tuesday at Arbor House. Mrs. Bemrose was born in Sacramento, Calif. She was a teacher. Survivors include two sons, Clifford Bemrose of Vancouver, Wash., and Gordon Bemrose of Port Orchard, Wash.; a daughter,...MORE...
Logging accident kills Chewelah man - ELLENSBURG -- A 55-year-old Chewelah, Wash., man was killed Monday morning in a logging accident north of Ellensburg, Kittitas County sheriff's deputies said. The name of the victim or the company he was working for were not immediately available Monday. ...MORE...
Historic Celilo Village starting anew - CELILO VILLAGE, Ore. -- Ray Colfax recalls getting soaked from the heavy mist that once covered Celilo Falls when the waters crashed over the jagged basalt. That was before The Dalles Dam was built roughly eight miles to the west in 1957. Dam doors were c...MORE...
Yakima's crime rate plummets to lowest in decades - Yakima's crime rate continues to dip to levels not seen in decades, thanks to a dramatic 19 percent drop in property crime last year. Statistics for 2007 show that...MORE...
How to help Myanmar cyclone victims - Anyone interested in helping victims of the Myanmar cyclone may donate to local chapters of the American Red Cross. Checks or letters should indicate that the donor wants the money to go to the Myanmar relief effort. *...MORE...
City close to taking over ownership of West Valley park - Environmental concerns added about a year to the process, but Yakima County is now set to transfer ownership of a West Valley park to the city of Yakima. The bulk of West Valley Community Park, which is just within the western city limits, will become cit...MORE...
Benton County courthouse to undergo renovation - PROSSER -- The Benton County Commissioners agreed Monday to renovate and expand the courthouse here, as well as build a three-story administration building in Kennewick. The construction will cost an estimated $16.5 million, and might not start for anothe...MORE...
Tribe considers ban of new dairy feedlots - Worried about possible health risks from feedlot and dairy operations, Yakama tribal members want to limit such operations on the reservation. Tribal members not only complain of the smell and dust they believe might be causing illnesses, but are also con...MORE...
05/07/08 Around the Valley - Latino political clout to be topic of meeting TOPPENISH -- Latinos remain politically underrepresented in rural communities of Central Washington, according to a study a group of Whitman College students will present tonight in Toppenish. The study, the t...MORE...
I-82 work may cause delays near Selah Creek Bridges - YAKIMA -- Travelers on Interstate 82 west of Yakima should be prepared for delays this week due to a construction project, the state Department of Transportation announced Monday. The work will take place today through Friday during the day. Shoulders wil...MORE...
Horses need West Nile vaccinations - OLYMPIA -- Horse owners should vaccinate their animals against the potentially deadly West Nile virus as soon as possible, according to a reminder from the state Department of Agriculture. All eight infected horses reported in Washington last year came fr...MORE...
Sun shines on thousands who attend Cinco de Mayo festival - Maybe it was the dancing horses, or the great weather, or the mix of mariachis and lederhosen. Whatever it was that drew people to Yakima's Seventh Annual Cinco De Mayo celebration Sunday, it worked. Thousands of people hit South Third Street for the musi...MORE...
Prep baseball -- Forgey leads Ranger blowout - NACHES -- Finding the difference between this year's Naches Valley baseball team and last year's state-runner-up version wasn't easy against River View. There's still plenty of patience at the plate and starter Lucas Forgey's whiff-inducing pitching hide ...MORE...
5/7/08 Fastpitch standings - Fastpitch CWAC W L Othello 15 1 East Valley 14 2 Ellensburg 14 2 Selah 13 3 Grandview 5 11 Quincy 5 11 Ephrata 4 10 Prosser 4 10 Toppenish 2 14 Wapato 2 14 Tuesday's results Othello 6-5, East Valley 2-1 Ellensburg 13-16, Toppenish 0-1 SCAC West W L Zi...MORE...
Union Gap looks at alternatives to Yakima Transit - Union Gap -- Wanting more bang for their buck, Union Gap is advertising for a new busing company to take over its public transportation system. "If we go with a private syst...MORE...
Prep soccer -- Grandview gets defensive in win over East Valley - GRANDVIEW -- Nice time to bring out your best defensive performance of the season. With a trip to the Class 2A state playoffs on the line, Grandview's boys soccer team rode the eight-save effort of junior goalkeeper Teclo Perez to a 1-0 victory over East ...MORE...
Local report -- Walkenhauer named to GNAC All-Academic team - ELLENSBURG -- West Valley graduate Kevin Walkenhauer was among six Central Washington baseball players named to the GNAC Academic All-Conference team, the conference announced Tuesday. Walkenhauer, a sophomore chemistry major, has compiled a 3.86 grade-po...MORE...
Prep baseball -- Edwards leads WV in regional win - YAKIMA -- Cody Edwards struck out 10 in six innings and clubbed a three-run homer to lead West Valley to a 7-3 victory over East Valley of Spokane in a 3A regional loser-out game on Tuesday. The Rams (11-10) advance to play at Mount Spokane (9-12) on Frid...MORE...
Prep golf/tennis roundup -- Crockett, McElrath defend GCB titles - SELAH -- Riverside Christian's Matt Crockett and La Salle's Ariana McElrath both successfully defended their district championships, leading their respective teams to district titles in the Greater Columbia B District golf tournament Tuesday at the Yakima...MORE...
05/07/08 Death Notices - Frederick F. Forcier Frederick F. Forcier III, 41, died Sunday at his home. Mr. Forcier was born in Snoqualmie, Wash. He was a logger and worked in the timber industry most of his life. Survivors include his father, Frederick Forcier Jr. of Wapato; his mo...MORE...
King to announce re-election bid today - State Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, plans to formally announce his re-election campaign today. King was elected last year, ousting Alex Deccio's midterm replacement, Jim Clements, R-Selah, after a high-profile, high-expense campaign. He ran on a promise to...MORE...
Salvation Army luncheon set for May 13 - The Yakima Salvation Army is holding its Civic Luncheon on May 13. The event raises funds for the Salvation Army's summer day camp in Milroy Park and honors longtime volunteer Pauline Hunter. It's held in conjunction with National Salvation Army Week, May...MORE...
LOCAL REPORT -- CWU's Holtman named GNAC's best player - ELLENSBURG -- Central Washington senior first baseman Mallory Holtman got plenty of kudos for her sportsmanship this past week, and Monday the Great Northwest Athletic Conference honored her play. Holtman was named the conference's fastpitch player of the...MORE...
News of new grandson not difficult to get used to - We got an interesting e-mail from our son Shawn in Berkeley, Calif., last week. "We had the ultrasound this morning," it began, "and learned the sex of our baby. It's a ..." followed by several blank lines, then "a ........" and more blank lines, and ano...MORE...
AWAY AT SCHOOL -- Locals drive Pirate tennis - KATIE STAUDINGER (Eisenhower), a freshman on the Whitworth women's tennis team, finished 21-1 overall in singles play this year and 20-2 in doubles. JUSTINE HAYS (La Salle), a junior on the team, finished the season with a record of 18-3 in singles play...MORE...
'Expelled' examines knowledge war - A war is raging. It's a fierce battle that encompasses religion, cultural diversity, education and morality. And Ben Stein's documentary, "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," faces it with heavy artillery, some of the world's greatest thinkers from both s...MORE...
Buena teen believes the work is paying off - TOPPENISH -- Deisy Magaña works weekends -- up to 12 hours a day both Saturday and Sunday -- at a ranch in Buena. Like most teens, she uses some of her paycheck to buy clothes. Unlike most teens, she also pays rent and other household bills. And, w...MORE...
Bickleton sophomores get T.A.T.U.'d - BICKLETON -- This spring, the sophomores of Bickleton High School -- a total of 10 students -- got on a bus and traveled to Yakima to attend a Teens Against Tobacco Use program at the Education Service District 105 office. The training was part of their ...MORE...
The desire for a better life eclipses all else - Everyone knows the United States of America as the land of the free. It's a country full of promise and opportunity, a place where people can be whatever they want to be. It's also a second chance at getting life right. It says so on the Statue of Liberty...MORE...
LOCAL REPORT -- DeGrood, Baldwin break through at SunTides - YAKIMA -- It might have been the matching flowered trousers. It might have been the first truly spring-like day of the year. But it also might have been Corey DeGrood's seven birdies that carried he and Jeff Baldwin to their first Central Washington Two-M...MORE...
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