Thursday, February 12, 2026
28.0°F

Eagles soar into the future as grads are celebrated in Soap Lake

R. HANS MILLER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 8 months AGO
by R. HANS MILLER
Managing Editor Rob Miller is a 4-year U.S. Army veteran who grew up in Western Montana in a community about the size of Soap Lake. An honors graduate of Texas State University, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Brandee, and their three dogs, Draco, Pepper and Cinnamon. He has one son, William. During his free time, he enjoys photography, video games, reading and working on the house he and his wife bought in Ephrata. He is passionate about the First Amendment and educating communities. | June 8, 2024 5:43 PM

SOAP LAKE — The gymnasium at Soap Lake Middle and High School was full of students, community members, family and friends of grads, and the graduates themselves on a sunny June 1 afternoon. 

Members of the Eagles Class of 2024 had a lot to celebrate with some graduates having already earned associate degrees from Big Bend Community College or trade certifications. A beloved faculty member spoke inspiring a few tears, some laughs and hope for a bright future for the grads. 

Full coverage of the graduation ceremony will be published in this Wednesday’s edition of the Columbia Basin Herald.

    Soap Lake grads line up to the side of the gym prior to walking across the stage to be presented with their diplomas.
 
 


ARTICLES BY R. HANS MILLER

Feb. 10 initial election results
February 10, 2026 8:36 p.m.

Feb. 10 initial election results

EPHRATA — Voters were asked to approve or reject educational programs and operations levy requests from a number of Grant and Adams county school districts in Tuesday’s special election. Voters in the Ephrata School District and East Adams Rural Healthcare decided the fate of specific proposals. Unofficial results released Tuesday night are listed below with additional votes coming in via mail over the next few days. Mailed-in ballots must have been postmarked by Feb. 10, 2026 to be counted.

COLUMN: It’s amazing what you can learn ...
February 6, 2026 12:15 a.m.

COLUMN: It’s amazing what you can learn ...

Four years ago, almost to the day, my wife and I closed on the first home either of us have owned, a stunningly Pepto-pink house in Ephrata with what we thought of at the time as “character.” It turns out, that character is really, in many ways, a lot of work. Work I hadn’t done much of since helping my dad out when I was a kid a few decades ago. Still though, all of the work I had to relearn or learn – thank goodness for the folks at Ace, Lowe’s and experts on YouTube – has been incredibly rewarding.

Take a wander, see a wonder
February 2, 2026 2:48 p.m.

Take a wander, see a wonder

MOSES LAKE — Living in Central Washington has a lot of perks, and one of those is the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife.