MLK essay contest winners announced
NANCE BESTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 9 months AGO
MOSES LAKE — During the Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. event Monday, the winners of the Martin Luther King Jr. essay writing contest for Columbia Middle School students were announced.
The event and essay contest were organized by the Moses Lake Martin Luther King Jr. Committee. The Moses Lake Creative District helped with planning the event.
The essay contest was led under the guidance of substitute teacher Micheal Nordsten. Students explored Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The students watched the speech and had thought-provoking discussions regarding equality and justice, according to a release from Moses Lake School District.
“I am incredibly proud of Adelyn, Giselle, and Thomas,” said Nordsten in a statement from the district. “These kids are another piece of good news in the district, and their achievements are something the community should celebrate. Their work with this essay stands as the highlight of my time as a substitute teacher for Mrs. Nesmith at Columbia Middle School.”
The first-place winner was seventh grader Adelyn Cruz.
"She should feel proud because her essay was the bomb,” Moses Lake Martin Luther King Jr. Committee President Miranda Bridges-Lindsey said during the event.
Second place went to Giselle Serrano. Third place went to Thomas Los.
“They should feel proud,” Bridges-Lindsey said during the event. “The parents should feel proud. They did a fabulous job with their essays. So, I'm excited. I thank you again for participating in our essay contest, and we will be doing this again next year.”
The second-place recipient for the Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest was Giselle Serrano, right. Moses Lake Martin Luther King Jr. Committee Vice President LaDonna Richie, left, and Moses Lake Martin Luther King Jr. Committee President Miranda Bridges-Lindsey, middle, presented the award to Serrano.ARTICLES BY NANCE BESTON
‘The best day of the year’
Moses Lake police seek donations for annual Shop with a Cop program
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Police Department is kicking off fundraising efforts for its annual Shop with a Cop program, an event that pairs local officers with children and families in need to help make the holidays brighter. Funded almost entirely through community donations, Shop with a Cop provides selected families with an evening that includes dinner with law enforcement officers followed by a shopping trip where children and their families can purchase necessities, Christmas gifts and other items they may not otherwise be able to afford. “We put together an event in which needy children, as well as their family, are paired up with an officer that takes them shopping, and they can pick out gifts for themselves, for their family, and take care of some needs that they may not otherwise be able to do,” said Capt. Mike Williams of the Moses Lake Police Department. Williams called the event “the best day of the year” for the department.
Thompson leads 13th District race, plans focus on costs, access
EPHRATA — Joshua Thompson led Deanna Martinez by 3,278 votes for the 13th Legislative District’s state representative Position 2 seat in preliminary Nov. 11 results. According to the Washington Secretary of State, there are around 2,000 ballots left to count in the four counties that make up Legislative District 13. Thompson had 22,400 votes, or 52.73%, to Martinez’s 19,122 votes, or 45.02%, according to the Nov. 11 ballot counts. The election will be certified Nov. 24. Thompson said his early work would focus on building relationships with fellow lawmakers, learning the legislative process and making his office accessible to constituents.
GCFD 7 EMS levy appears headed for approval
Voters back funding increase for staffing, ambulance service
SOAP LAKE — Grant County Fire District 7's replacement Emergency Medical Services levy appeared headed for approval Wednesday after preliminary election results showed voters supporting the measure by a comfortable margin. As of the Nov. 10 ballot count, Proposition No. 1 received 914 “yes” votes, or 59.47%, compared to 623 “no” votes, or 40.53%. Election results remain unofficial until certification Nov. 24. The measure would replace the district's existing EMS levy and increase the rate from 25 cents to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value for six years beginning in 2027.
