E-mail from Cheryl

Facts from the past gleaned from the Moses Lake Herald, Columbia Basin Herald and The Neppel Record by Cheryl (Driggs) Elkins:

From the CBH on July 28, 1981:

Soap Lake chief switches posts

Soap Lake Police Chief Mike Nevers will soon take on new status in the police community as a Grant County Sheriff’s deputy.

Nevers said to day that he will resign as the small resort town’s police chief, effective Saturday.

Nevers and his wife, Sherri, came to Soap Lake in September 1980 when he took a position as a Soap Lake patrolman. He became police chief when Ken Murray resigned the position this winter.

Nevers said he is looking forward to working for the county. He will use his eight years of police experience to patrol the rural Moses Lake area.

“I enjoyed Soap Lake, but I’ll really enjoy the county,” he said. He intends to move to the Moses Lake area in about two months. Nevers said patrolman Dave Marrs will likely take over as acting police chief. The position is under the mayor’s jurisdiction who, with the consensus of the city council, will fill the vacancy.

Test postponed

The Russell D Smith Power Plant wasn’t fired up Monday for a test as planned because of some leaks in the hydraulic system.

The $7.1 million plant saw some maintenance work, and officials say the generator may be turned on today if the leaks have been repaired. The official opening of the plant is scheduled for Aug. 15.

From the CBH on Dec. 2, 1981:

Chamber needs more farmers for ‘brunch’

Wanted: Moses Lake farm families to receive thanks.

The Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce still has tickets available for Saturday’s Farm Family Brunch at the Elks Lodge.

“Not as many farmers are responding this year,” Chamber manager Karen Gordon said today. “If they’ve misplaced their invitations, they should give us a call.”

Gordon said farmers must call the Chamber office to make a reservation for the brunch. Tickets will be held from 9 to 11:30 a.m. It’s an annual event scheduled to give thanks to farm families for their contributions to the community.

Open house set

An open house to honor retiring directors Melvin Stepson and Edward Ker will be held at the Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District Office Dec. 10 at 2 p.m.

The public is invited to attend the open house to honor two men who’ve collectively served 48 years on the district’s board of directors. Activities will continue with a no-host social hour at 4:30 at the Quincy Moose Lodge.

Tickets available

Tickets are available for Friday’s opening performance of “Night Watch” by the Masquers of Grant County.

The performance is a benefit for the Soap Lake Chamber of Commerce fireworks fund. Tickets can be bought at Soap Lake Hardware or from any Chamber director. Performances are at 8 P.m. Friday, Saturday and Dec. 11 and 12. Sunday’s performance will be at 2 p.m.

Changes OKed

Modifications to the Ephrata PUD headquarters’ personnel office were approved Monday by PUD commissioners.

The office will be remodeled for better use of space. Some of the changes include portable walls, carpets, lighting and duct-work modification. The project has a price tag of $6,200.

City budget eyed

Soap Lake Mayor Marina Romary wants city citizens to help solve the budgetary question of “which city services receive what amount of money” in 1982.

Mayor Romary wants as many citizens who can to attend tonight’s public hearing on the proposed 1982 budget at 7 p.m. in the council chambers.

The proposed budget has been set at $466,964. Romary is worried about cutting city services, especially the North Central Regional Library service fee, which nearly will double in 1982.

Labels sought

The Columbia Ridge and Grant schools will be participating again this year in the “Labels for Education Program” sponsored by the Campbell Soup Company.

Children I grades kindergarten through fourth will be collecting labels from Campbell products in an effort to redeem aids or audio-visual equipment.

Basin boys lose

Basin class B boys’ basketball teams had a tough time pulling their act together against bigger and more experienced teams Tuesday.

Warden lost its opening contest with Class A River View, 46-23, and the Soap Lake Eagles were smothered , 76-31 by the Waterville Shockers.

Warden falls

The Cougars “just couldn’t get any offense running” against river View, coach Bob Trammell said. The taller River View boys hogged the boards and the Cougars got very few rebounds all night.

“Our top rebounders were Brad Taylor and Ralph Gonzales with six each and Gonzales is only 5-5,” Trammell said. Gonzales paced Cougar scorers with nine points while Mike Johnson led River View with 13.

Eagles thumped

The young and inexperienced Soap Lake Eagles were given a rude introduction to varsity basketball Tuesday in a 76-31 shellacking. The Shockers blew open a 29-4 first quarter lead and never looked back.

“We were just inexperienced,” Coach Joe Whipple said of the Eagles’ first game. “We played with a freshman and three sophomores. One junior and one of the seniors had never played a high school basketball game before.”

Robert Nacke and Roger Larson paced the Eagles with 11 and 12 points, respectively. Wade Jess led the Shockers with 24.