Orange E Carnival returns for 54th year
NANCE BESTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 1 month AGO
The Orange E carnival is returning for its 54th year, providing an old-fashioned carnival experience to attendees while raising funds for the orange fund, which helps pay for athletic related expenses.
COURTESY PHOTO/EPHRATA SCHOOL DISTRICT
EPHRATA – The Ephrata School District is hosting its 54th annual Orange E Carnival from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Ephrata High School performing arts center gym.
“It is a kind of an old-fashioned carnival that's put on by the High School,” Ephrata School District’s Director of Communications, Sarah Morford said. “We've done it for 54 years. So there's a tradition about it in Ephrata. It's put on by letter-winning athletes at Ephrata High School for our community.”
The event is free for the community to enter; however, the activities will cost one to two tickets which can be bought for $0.25 a ticket. Attendees can also purchase concession items with the tickets. Both cash and credit cards will be accepted for ticket purchases. There will be carnival games like baseball bottles, cork guns, ring toss, bean bag toss, goldfish toss and more.
“Oh my gosh, it's such a fun event,” Morford said. “It's great for kids and families. You come into the door in the performing arts center gymnasium, and it is filled with kids and laughter. They do everything from cake walks, to ring tosses, ring tosses to win goldfish, which was always what my children wanted.”
The funds from the event go back to the Orange Fund, which helps pay for athletic-related expenses. This includes weight room equipment, signage for the performing arts center gym and other equipment students need.
“It's a great fundraiser for our school,” Morford said. “I would encourage all people to come and support Ephrata schools.”
ARTICLES BY NANCE BESTON
Mayor Peter Sharp takes oath of office
SOAP LAKE – Grant County Commissioner Kevin Burgess adminstered the oath of office to Mayor Peter Sharp Wednesday. Sharp was previously appointed to this role at the Sept. 18, 2024, council meeting after his predecessor Allen DuPay quit during the Aug. 7, 2024, meeting.
Newhouse, colleagues introduce infrastructure bill
WASHINGTON D.C. — On November 21, 2025, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers introduced the Urban Canal Modernization Act, HR 6279, aimed at addressing the deteriorating condition of urban canal infrastructure across the country. This legislation, sponsored by Representatives Dan Newhouse, R-WA; Mike Simpson, R-ID; Adam Gray, D-CA; and Russ Fulcher, R-ID focuses on providing federal support for the extraordinary operation and maintenance of urban canals deemed to be at significant risk of failure. “As communities in Grant County and elsewhere face serious risks from aging canal systems, it is imperative that we act now to ensure vital water infrastructure is maintained and upgraded,” Newhouse wrote in a statement. “The Bureau of Reclamation’s canals are in dire need of repairs, and the surrounding communities who rely on them would be at risk if they were to fail. This legislation provides local authorities with additional resources to manage these critical pieces of infrastructure while protecting the people and property around canals of concern.”
Ephrata water tower waiting for final tests
EPHRATA — The City of Ephrata is still waiting for the final testing to come back to the water tower. The city had originally hoped the tower would be connected to the water system by Thanksgiving; however, the intensive water testing is taking longer than anticipated.