Monday, March 30, 2026
33.0°F

Some Ephrata streets to close during music festival

CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 years, 8 months AGO
by CHERYL SCHWEIZERStaff Writer
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | July 16, 2016 6:00 AM

EPHRATA — Some Ephrata streets will be closed Friday and Saturday to accommodate concerts and activities at the 13th annual Basin Summer Sounds music festival.

The closures will affect Basin Street and C Street around the Grant County Courthouse; the front lawn of the courthouse is the concert venue. First Avenue will be closed between Alder Street and Third Avenue.

The detour route uses Alder Street, and there is a separate detour for trucks. The maps of the street closures are available on the city’s Facebook page.

The truck detour route runs along Southwest E Street and Southwest F Street between First and Third avenues, according to a press release from the city of Ephrata. Residents in that area “should be aware of large wheat trucks possibly using those areas,” the press release said. A no-parking zone will be implemented along Third Street to facilitate truck traffic.

Ephrata residents are being encouraged to walk to festival events to reduce the traffic congestion.

The music starts at 5 p.m. Friday afternoon. Friday night’s lineup includes acoustic rock from the Nick Drummond Trio, straight-ahead rock ’n roll from Spike and the Impalers and country singer Barrett Baber.

Saturday’s lineup starts at 12:15 p.m. and opens with “acoustic pop-punk” solo artist Rylei Franks. Franks is followed by the “Gypsy jazz” band Ranger and the Re-Arrangers, country singer Breana Renea, the Seattle band Country Lips, country soloist Dylan Jakobsen, and country bands Brewer’s Grade and The Railers.

Other events are scheduled for Saturday, starting with the Car & Toy Show from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The “toys” of the title are big-boy toys – motorcycles, four-wheelers, motor homes, “pretty much anything with wheels,” said Amber Reynolds, Ephrata Chamber of Commerce.

It’s a full-on car show. “There are about 15 trophies we hand out, with all the different categories,” Reynolds said.

The regular Farmer’s Market will go on as scheduled. A 3-on-3 basketball tournament starts at 8 a.m., on C Street and around the corner on Basin Street. Games for children are scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. There’s also a beer and wine garden.

There also will be a DUI patrol, the press release said. “Special provisions are onsite for the swift evaluation and process of any disorderly and/or intoxicated guests,” it said.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].

ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER

REC Silicon reports operating loss in 2025
March 30, 2026 2:20 a.m.

REC Silicon reports operating loss in 2025

MOSES LAKE — REC Silicon operating revenue dropped substantially in 2025 when compared with 2024, according to the company’s annual report released March 25. The company reported $78.2 million in operating revenue in 2025, compared with $140.8 million in 2024.

Open house for Moses Lake comprehensive plan Monday
March 28, 2026 1:36 p.m.

Open house for Moses Lake comprehensive plan Monday

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake residents are being invited to learn more about and give their opinions on proposed updates to sections of the city’s comprehensive plan at an open house Monday at the Moses Lake Civic Center, 411 S. Balsam St.

Samaritan posts operating loss for first two months of 2026
March 27, 2026 3 a.m.

Samaritan posts operating loss for first two months of 2026

MOSES LAKE — Samaritan Healthcare posted net revenue losses in January and February, and while hospital officials anticipated some red ink, the losses were larger than the budget projections. Samaritan posted an operating loss of about $1.4 million in February and about $486,500 in January.