Chimp research: Unethical and futile, or necessary evil? - The U.S. biomedical industry conducts more experiments on chimpanzees than anyone else in the world, and that has caused a heated debate in the scientific community about the research’s morality and utility....MORE...
Gas prices shortening the long arm of the law - When they drafted this year's police budget, Yakima officials believed $300,000 was enough for fuel. They were wrong. With gas prices now topping $4.25 a gallon, city leaders believe they'll be at least $100,000...MORE...
A festive, family Fourth - Her hair was soaked, and her clothes clung to her body like a second layer of skin. But Veronica Pollack didn't care. In fact, getting wet was the point. "It's like raining, but on a hot day," gushed the 11-year-...MORE...
Calling Costco - Nearly a year after Kirkland, Wash.-based HouseValues shut its Yakima facility for good, another Seattle-area company will open a new call center at the same site. Costco has hired 38 employees to work at the call cent...MORE...
Four new eyes on I-90 - Four new eyes on I-90 Four new traffic cameras have been added to Interstate 90 to help travelers making the trip over Snoqualmie Pass, the state Department of Transportation has announced. The portable trailer-mounted cameras were placed at several strat...MORE...
Columbia River is thick with sockeye salmon - WASHOUGAL, Wash. -- Sweat beads on Les Clark's forehead as he shuffles a few feet from the controls of his 32-foot boat to pull fish from the nearby gill net. It's a ...MORE...
Gilbert Cellars to open downtown tasting room - YAKIMA -- Gilbert Cellars will open its new tasting room and bistro at the historic Lund building on Front Street and Yakima Avenue on Monday. The tasting room will open from noon to 6 p.m. daily, but once Gilbert Cellars receives the necessary permits, ...MORE...
Gadfly files civil lawsuit over sign flap - A longtime critic of the city of Sunnyside wants more than $2.5 million from several current and former officials to resolve his claims that the city damaged his construction business and violated his civil rights. Prosser resident Tom Paul alleges the ci...MORE...
Candidate for judge post offers broad experience - David Elofson is the first to say he's been around the block a few times. That's a good thing, he says, when it comes to being a judge. Combined with his 23 years as a civil litigator, the Yakima lawyer says his work experience before law school -- hotel...MORE...
Bicyclists embark on cross-country pedal to fight poverty - He began by hopping on a stationary bike in November. Now Gerald Kobes is embarking on a 3,881-mile ride across the country. "Physically, I'm ready. Mentally, I'm still working on that," joked 62-year-old Kobes, a former Selah City Council member and vi...MORE...
'The Shack' finds a home in readers' hearts - In a time when, basically, everything seems bleak, when gas and food prices are soaring, the country remains at war overseas and your 4-year-old even knows the phrase "sub-prime mortgage crisis," folks are finding sol...MORE...
'Vulnerable' adult reports past abuse to diocese - A Yakima-area woman has reported to the Catholic Diocese of Yakima that she was sexually abused by a priest here about 20 years ago. The woman, who asked not to be identified, said the Rev. Frank Duffy inappropriately touched her in the late 1980s when sh...MORE...
Feds reveal more details in drug bust shooting - A suspected drug dealer's vehicle hit a police officer who was trying to arrest the driver and two passengers in the Safeway parking lot in Toppenish last week, according to federal charging documents. The officer, a veteran Yakima policeman who has bee...MORE...
Woman's body found in Sunnyside canal - SUNNYSIDE -- Detectives are seeking the identity of a woman found floating in a Sunnyside canal Friday evening. The woman, between the age of 18 and 25, appeared to have a large gunshot wound, according to a news release from the Yakima County Sheriff's O...MORE...
500-plus new citizens start their lives as Americans - Decked out in a dark-blue suit and tie, Haron Mulamba stood outside of Capitol Theatre for nearly three hours in mid-90-degree temperatures Thursday waiting for doors to open. A light sweat rimmed his forehead as he stood flanked by his son and daughter a...MORE...
July 4: What does it all mean? - Better known for family barbecues, fireworks and all-round generally good times, July 4th doesn't carry the somber reflection of Veterans or Memorial days. Still, we asked a variety of Yakima Valley residents and visitors their thoughts about what today m...MORE...
Aid-in-dying initiative appears headed for ballot - The fiery campaign over the aid-in-dying initiative began in earnest Wednesday as supporters said they turned in about 310,000 signatures -- likely enough to get the measure on the November ballot. While the Washington Secretary of State is still counting...MORE...
Teenage victim doesn't recall shooting - SUNNYSIDE -- The 17-year-old Sunnyside boy shot in the head early Wednesday has told detectives he doesn't know what happened to him, Yakima County sheriff's officials said. The boy, who is expected to survive, was transferred to Yakima Regional Medical a...MORE...
NWL -- Everett handcuffs Yakima - EVERETT -- Two early home runs proved more than enough as the Everett AquaSox beat the Yakima Bears 7-1 on Friday night at Everett Memorial Stadium. Everett's Dennis Raben hit a solo home run in the second inning, while Nate Tenbrink followed with a two-r...MORE...
Having trouble reaching the Herald-Republic by e-mail? - The Yakima Herald-Republic e-mail system hasn't been running too smoothly the last few days. So if you sent a news release, calendar item or other information to us after 9:30 a.m. Monday and haven't heard back from a reporter or editor, it's not that we'...MORE...
7/5/08 Bears Update - Next game Opponent: Everett AquaSox. When, where: 7:05 p.m. today, Everett Memorial Stadium, Everett. Radio: KUTI (1460). Probable pitchers: Yakima LHP Pat McAnaney (0-0, 0.00) vs. TBA. Box score AquaSox 7, Bears 1 YAKIMA EVERETT ab r h bi ab r h...MORE...
Local Report -- Briones leads Beetles to big Firecracker win - YAKIMA -- Gibby Briones had four hits as the Yakima Pepsi Beetles beat the Fraser Valley Chiefs 10-2 in six innings during the Firecracker Tournament Friday at Parker Field. The game was called because of an eight-run rule. Tyler Berman, Kevin Komstadius,...MORE...
NWL -- Homer in 8th lifts Yakima - EVERETT -- Collin Cowgill was at it again Thursday night. The Bears center-fielder followed his three-homer outburst of the previous evening with another round-tripper, his 11th of the season, as Yakima beat Everett 5-4 before an announced crowd of 2,901 ...MORE...
Little League -- Selah Nationals will play for championship - YAKIMA -- Max Jones' grand slam pushed Selah National's 11-year-olds past Pasco National 7-4 on Friday at East Valley. Selah will play in the championship series against Greater Richland. Braden Hussey was 2-for-4 with an RBI for Selah. Selah will need tw...MORE...
Firecracker Tournament -- Rolling along - YAKIMA -- For much of this Senior Legion season, the Yakima Pepsi Beetles have struggled to find their footing, falling four games under .500. That all changed about a week ago with a non-league doubleheader sweep, and Yakima hasn't slowed down since. In...MORE...
One World, Valley, Nation one of many July 4 celebrations across Valley - On the day to celebrate America's independence from British rule, residents throughout the Yakima Valley will have a variety of options for family fun. Among those options is the largest one-day event in the county -- the One World, One Valley, One Nation...MORE...
Little League -- Petrea's homer keeps Selah alive - YAKIMA -- On the verge of elimination, Selah stayed alive in the District 12 Little League Age 11 Tournament when Garrhett Petrea smacked a walkoff three-run homer Thursday at East Valley. Petrea's shot gave Selah a 9-7 victory over Richland National in t...MORE...
New plant from ashes? Too early to tell - GRANDVIEW -- Employees of the Wild River Foods potato processing plant learned about unemployment benefits available to them Wednesday, a day after a spectacular fire destroyed the building. The future of the plant -- and the fate of the 140 jobs -- are y...MORE...
NWL -- Cowgill not your average slugger - YAKIMA -- First of all, he's not that big. This is no Prince Fielder lookalike, the Bears center-fielder who of late has performed Ruthian feats to the delight of Yakima County Stadium's masses. But if Collin Cowgill doesn't stand especially tall at 5-foo...MORE...
County's fuse will be short with illegal fireworks - Concerned about public safety, potential fires and complaints from residents, Yakima County authorities are cracking down on illegal use of fireworks on parts of the Yakama reservation. But county authorities say they won't be enforcing any bans on tribal...MORE...
Local Report -- Hudson will take over Selah girls hoops - YAKIMA -- Paul Hudson, who over the past several years has been a boys basketball assistant coach at La Salle, Ellensburg and Eisenhower and the boys golf coach at Selah, will be the varsity girls basketball coach at Selah. Hudson, who also teaches specia...MORE...
Gas prices prompt motorists to cut short holiday travel - Larry Breer planned on taking a road trip to Kansas this summer. But because of rising gas prices, he and his wife decided to stay close to home instead. "We need to get out of the place every once in a while and not sit here in mildew," said Breer, a re...MORE...
7/4/08 This week on track - RENEGADE RACEWAY Schedule: Today and Saturday, Nitro Nights Under the Lights. Pro Mod, Pro Street, Pro Comp, Super Pro, Pro Bracket Shootout, Funny Cars. On Today gates open at 6 p.m., racing at 9 p.m. On Saturday gates open at 4 p.m., racing at 8 p.m. Tr...MORE...
Yakima nursing home cited for safety violation - YAKIMA -- Garden Village, a skilled nursing facility in Yakima, was recently cited for a safety violation when an inspector found the mattress in one bed was too far away from the bed rails, posing a risk that the patient could become trapped. Yakima Vall...MORE...
Want a meal or wine on Alaska Airlines? Hold the cash - Pack your plastic if you plan on buying a cocktail or a meal or watching a digital movie the next time you fly on Alaska Airlines. Starting Aug. 5, the Seattle-based airline will no longer accept cash -- only credit ...MORE...
Suspect in Sunnyside restaurant shooting will argue self-defense - A 28-year-old man charged with attempted murder in the shooting of two men outside a Sunnyside restaurant last year will argue that he was defending himself and his brother when he opened fire, his attorney said Wednesday. Jurors heard opening arguments W...MORE...
Bartlett pear prices expected to surge - A projected smaller crop and a strong market are resulting in higher prices for Bartlett pears destined for the canner. The Yakima-based Washington-Oregon Canning Pear Association said growers will receive $240 per ton this year and $247 per ton next year...MORE...
West Valley project wins approval - A proposed West Valley gated community for those 55 and older received environmental approval from the city of Yakima on Wednesday. Teammates LLC wants to develop Hidden Lakes, a 161-lot subdivision at 72nd and West Washington avenues. The homes in Hidden...MORE...
July 4 celebration prompts road changes - Both off-ramps of Interstate 82 to State Route 24/Nob Hill Boulevard will be closed on the Fourth of July from 9:30 to 11 p.m. In order to help control traffic flow out of State Fair Park, portions of 18th Street and Nob Hill Boulevard will be closed when...MORE...
Dairy family: Hear us out - WHITE SWAN -- After being bombarded with opposition from residents, a Sunnyside family wanting to erect a dairy on the Yakama reservation plans to hold a public meeting to explain their project. The Sytsma family's announcement came during a Tuesday night...MORE...
Burning banned throughout county - The Yakima Regional Clean Air Authority has announced a Stage 1 burn ban due to declining air quality throughout Yakima County. The burn ban applies to the entire county and prohibits outdoor burning of all kinds, including agricultural, as well the use o...MORE...
07/03/08 Lower Valley briefs - Dinner, auction for kidney transplant GRANDVIEW -- Friends and family members of Laynee Schneider, a 9-year-old girl awaiting a kidney transplant, will hold a fundraiser dinner and auction. The event, which features silent and live auctions and catered di...MORE...
Two arraigned in wake of Toppenish shooting - YAKIMA -- Two suspects arrested after a drug bust and shooting at the Toppenish Safeway last week were arraigned Tuesday on drug charges. The 27-year-old Sunnyside driver of the Lincoln Escalade, who authorities say drove toward officers during his attemp...MORE...
Council raises curtain for Capitol Theatre - The expansion of the Capitol Theatre is officially under way. The Yakima City Council on Tuesday approved a contract with the Traho architecture firm that for all intents and purposes marks the official startup of the theater's ambitious expansion plan. W...MORE...
Fourth of July -- One World, One Valley, One Nation - The fourth annual One World, One Valley, One Nation celebration of diversity and independence runs from noon to midnight today at State Fair Park, 1301 S. Fair Ave. Admission and parking are free. The event, sponsored by the Yakima Herald-Republic, includ...MORE...
Oregon man named CEO of state migrant council - SUNNYSIDE -- The Washington State Migrant Council looked to its cousin to the south for a new chief executive officer in Tadeo Saenz-Thompson. He will take the helm more than six months after the firing of Carlos Diaz, the longtime and controversial head ...MORE...
Other processors can accommodate growers - A representative for potato growers in the state said Tuesday that other process-ors should be able to pick up the volume of potatoes that would have been handled by the Grandview plant destroyed by fire. But Dale Lathim, exec-utive director of Othello-...MORE...
Goldendale celebrates over holiday weekend with Community Days - GOLDENDALE -- The Jaycees 34th annual Demolition Derby at the Klickitat County Fairgrounds today kicks off a weekend of activities to celebrate Goldendale Community Days. Most of the activities for the three-day celebration take place Saturday. Activitie...MORE...
Music teacher's long career honored by national association - The Music Teachers National Association recently honored Mary Annis Walters of Yakima as a 50-year member at the group's 2008 national conference in Denver. Walters has been teaching piano and voice in schools and independently for 59 years. She has serve...MORE...
07/04/08 Death Notices - Neil Durrett Sr. Neil Durrett Sr., 69, of Yakima died Thursday at Parkside Nursing Care Center in Union Gap. Mr. Durrett was born in Yakima. He was the owner of Durrett Moving and Storage Co. Survivors include three sons, Thomas Durrett Jr. and Joe Durret...MORE...
Bloom to open Summer Sunset Concert Series - Seattle singer-songwriter Camille Bloom is no stranger to Yakima's Franklin Park. She's played her alluring acoustic-rock-with-an-attitude there plenty of times as part of the Yakima Folklife Festival. And next Thursday, Bloom will serve as the unofficial...MORE...
Guilty Pleasures -- The Fourth of July - Happy Fourth of July, everyone! It's always a special treat when a national holiday falls next to a weekend so you get three days to goof off. And Guilty Pleasures will be doing plenty of that. Here's the Independence Day agenda: * Celebrate America's gre...MORE...
Fourth of July roundup - Today * The second annual Naches Valley Independence Day Festival moves into day two starting at 10 a.m. in Cleman's View Sports Park off U.S. Highway 12. There will be vendors and fun for the kids (including a hot dog eating contest), and at 9 p.m. famil...MORE...
Best of Broadway's 2008-09 season announced - Tickets are now on sale for the Capitol Theatre's 2008-09 Best of Broadway series. On the bill are: * Oct. 3-4 -- The rock opera stylings of the East Village Opera Company. * Oct. 31-Nov. 1 -- Six quirky adolescents compete in "The 25th Annual Putnam Coun...MORE...
07/04/08 Night life - NIGHT LIFE Blues/Jazz/Swing * JACK-SONS SPORTS BAR. 6-11 p.m. Thursdays. Open blues/jazz jam. 432 S. 48th Ave. 966-4340. * JOHNNY'S ON THE AVE. 8 p.m. Fridays. Wayman Chapman. Red Lion Yakima Center Hotel, 607 E. Yakima Ave. 248-5900. (R&B.) PLAZA ...MORE...
07/04/08 Books - DISCUSSION "THE SHACK." 1-3 p.m. Sunday. Borders, 1700 E. Washington Ave., Union Gap. Open discussion of the Christian novel "The Shack" by William P. Young. 248-4018. BORDERS. 1700 E. Washington Ave., Union Gap. 248-4018. * Multi-Faith Book Discussion:...MORE...
07/04/08 Theater - "SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN." 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday. CWU Music Education Building, off Alder Street, Ellensburg. Tickets: $12 reserved seats, $10 general admission. Info: Hal Ott, 952-8221, or www.valleymusicaltheatre.org. Presented by Valley Musical Thea...MORE...
07/04/08 Just announced - NOW ON SALE CENTRAL WASHINGTON STATE FAIR HEADLINERS. Sept. 27-Oct. 5. On the Budweiser Stage, State Fair Park, 1301 N. Fair Ave. * 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27: Foreigner. * 6 p.m. Sept. 28: Manhatten Transfer. * 7 p.m. Sept. 30: Blackhawk. * 7 p.m. Oct. 1: Fami...MORE...
07/04/08 Planner - AUDITIONS BEL CANTO OF YAKIMA. 7-9 p.m. Mondays. Yakima Evangelical Church, 7901 W. Nob Hill Blvd. Women's choir. 965-2868. YAKIMA CHAPTER OF THE BARBERSHOP HARMONY SOCIETY. 7 p.m. Mondays. St. Timothy Episcopal Church, 4105 Richey Road. Info: Art Ries,...MORE...
07/04/08 Art - BENEFITS G'DAY GOLDENDALE: AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL ART AUCTION AND DINNER. Saturday. The Golden Art Gallery, 103 E. Main St., Goldendale. Advance dinner tickets: $10 adults, $5 ages 13 and under. 773-5100, www.thegoldenartgallery.com. ART WALKS FIRST FRI...MORE...
07/04/08 Film Clips - HELD OVER "THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN" -- The Pevensie siblings are back, this time to help Prince Caspian assume his rightful place on the throne as king of Narnia. Starring William Moseley, Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes and Anna Popplewe...MORE...
07/04/08 10 Days Out - Saturday, July 5 * Bikers and car lovers can get a true family portrait taken -- meaning with their Hog or hot rod -- during a daylong benefit for Camp Prime Time in downtown Naches. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be a show and shine, street fair, po...MORE...
Black Rock alternatives get closer look - The state Department of Ecology announced Monday that it will begin a fast-track review of alternatives to the proposed Black Rock reservoir, another indication the huge project is in political trouble and could furt...MORE...
Column -- Holiday weekend a time to be even more cautious - A guy I know was out hiking with friends last weekend off Highway 410, near trails used by dirt bikes and ATV riders, and was surprised to come upon a bunch of people firing guns. Certainly this couldn't be legal, my friend thought, and later asked me th...MORE...
Northwest Sportsman -- High cost opens a new can of worms - I was heading out to do some walleye fishing a while back and stopped into the local convenience store to pick up a couple dozen worms. I was slightly shocked when my worm bill came up to almost six bucks, including what I assume was a worm tax. Doing som...MORE...
Hunting -- Bang for the buck - YAKIMA -- Two years ago he paid nearly $2 million for four slices of cake and three cups of coffee. He finds what he calls "the finest meat I've ever eaten" halfway around the world, a trip taking upwards of 24 hours each way. But Jim Pearson isn't some...MORE...
7/3/08 What's Happening - Public meeting set on wildlife area grazing Livestock grazing on state wildlife land in Kittitas County will be the focus of a July 15 public scoping meeting in Ellensburg. The 6-9 p.m. meeting at the Kittitas Valley Event Center (Building 13, Manastash...MORE...
NWL -- Homers, heroics lift Bears - YAKIMA -- One good hero deserves another, it seems. At least it worked out that way Wednesday night at Yakima County Stadium where the Bears, carried early by Collin Cowgill's three homers, scored three runs in the bottom of the 11th inning to beat Spokan...MORE...
7/3/08 Bears update - Next game Opponent: Everett AquaSox. When, where: 7:05 p.m. today, Everett Memorial Stadium, Everett. Radio: KUTI (1460). Probable pitchers: Yakima RHP Houston Summers (2-0, 1.83) vs. TBA. Notes THE DAY AFTER: Numbers, as they say, don't come much more...MORE...
College fastpitch -- CWU duo's 'moment' up for ESPY - BRISTOL, Conn. -- Next stop for Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace? The ESPYs. The Central Washington fastpitch duo which last spring earned national acclaim by helping an injured opponent round the bases has been nominated for a "best moment" ESPY, the netw...MORE...
Local report -- Pak wins its Firecracker opener - YAKIMA -- The Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak had a dramatic debut, while the Yakima Pepsi Beetles never got started as the Beetles' annual Firecracker Tournament opened Wednesday. Overcoming an early deficit, the Pak scored in each of its last three at-bats, cap...MORE...
Sonics Oklahoma-bound after lawsuit settled - SEATTLE -- The Sonics' 41-year run in Seattle ended Wednesday with a legal settlement that will let owner Clay Bennett take the team immediately to Oklahoma City in exchange for a $45 million payment -- and Seattle gets no promise of a replacement team. T...MORE...
Sonics move -- Current, former players upset by the team's exit - SEATTLE -- In NBA parlance, two words sum up the Sonics' move to Oklahoma City: Bad trade. "I would say so, but then I'm a little emotional right now," said Damien Wilkins, who has played his entire four-year NBA career with the Sonics. "I'm really, reall...MORE...
Sonics move -- Don't expect a resurrection - SEATTLE -- Basketball died in Seattle on Wednesday afternoon. It died because too many people who should have cared didn't. It died of neglect. It died because all of the powers-that-be stopped paying attention. It's no secret the sport has been sick in t...MORE...
Golf -- Whitaker struggles at Sahalee - SAMMAMISH -- Dan Whitaker improved on his opening-round score, but he was still well back in the pack after two rounds of the 15th Sahalee Players Championship. The third round, also scheduled for Wednesday, was suspended because of thunderstorms. Whitake...MORE...
7/3/08 Yakima Valley scorecard - Central Washington PGA JUNE 23 AT THREE LAKES Pros Gross: 1, (tie) Ed Paine (Golfers Edge) 67, Von Smith (Bear Mountain Ranch) 67. Net: 1, Gary Momberg (Canyon Lakes) 68, 2, Frank Crimp (Ellensburg) 69. Amateurs First Division--Gross: Vince Jimenez (Walla...MORE...
7/3/08 Valley Sports Weekly results - Basketball Yakima Valley AAU 2008 SUMMER LEAgirls U-E Results, June 23-26 2nd/3rd grade boys: Granger 20, East Valley 4; Prosser 24, Zillah 19; Zillah 15, East Valley 0; Granger 26, Prosser 17. 3rd/4th grade girls: Wapato 18, East Valley 10; Harrah 25, E...MORE...
7/3/08 Valley Sports Weekly Bulletin Board - BASEBALL: Yakima National Little League is taking registration at Elks Memorial Park on Monday and Tuesday and the cost is $40. The season is from July 21 through Aug. 21 with all games Monday through Thursday. The league is for boys and girls ages 8 to 1...MORE...
Crash near Tieton kills Yakima man - YAKIMA -- A Yakima man has died following a crash last Friday outside of Tieton. Abel Ochoa, 48, died Sunday night at Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center, according to a news release issued Monday by the Washington State Patrol. He was thrown from ...MORE...
Yakima gunshots lead to one arrest - YAKIMA -- One suspect was arrested after a report of gunshots drew police officers Tuesday afternoon to the area of North Third and East J streets. Police initially thought the shots had been confused for fireworks, Sgt. Tony Bennett said. Remnants of fir...MORE...
Century-old lumber company to move - A longtime family lumber and hardware company will move to a West Yakima facility later this month after more than a century downtown. Helliesen Lumber and Supply Co. will close its doors from July 25 to 27 while it c...MORE...
Swimmers saved on Naches River - NACHES -- Yakima County sheriff's officials rescued two swimmers who became stranded Tuesday afternoon on the Naches River shore. The pair had been swimming for most of the day with two other men when they became too tired to cross the river back to their...MORE...
Great Western Building will undergo overhaul - An historic downtown Yakima building will soon have a new look and a new name. The nearly century-old Great Western Building will get a new paint job, facade and roof repairs and uplighting as part of a complete exterior update, according to a news releas...MORE...
Hastings hopping mad about rising gas prices - U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings is going nuclear on the subject of gas prices. So is rival George Fearing. Hastings, R-Pasco, made several campaign-like stops Monday in sweltering Yakima, and every time he accused congressio...MORE...
Ruling keeps attorney billing records sealed - Ruling on a lawsuit filed by the Yakima Herald-Republic, a judge refused to unseal attorney billing records from a possible death penalty case that has cost Yakima County taxpayers just over $2 million....MORE...
Valley residents seek relief from record heat - Maricela Chavez survived without an air conditioner last summer. But this summer, the Yakima resident can't live without it. "So long as I stay in the air conditioning, I feel fine," 30-year-old Chavez said thro...MORE...
Not every driver hangs up first - The new law that went into effect Tuesday barring motorists from holding their cell phones to their ear while they drive didn't stop all motorists from doing just that. At the intersection of 16th and Summitview avenues during the Tuesday morning commute,...MORE...
July Fourth -- whatever the weather -- calls for zin - Should we be expecting warm, sunny weather for July Fourth? Maybe, but I can't help but recall a Fourth of July some years ago when it was so bitterly cold in Seattle that we huddled in winter coats on my deck watching a fireworks show that mostly took pl...MORE...
Sunnyside teen jailed for assault - A Sunnyside man who badly beat an asparagus farmer with a shotgun was sentenced Monday to nine months in jail after pleading guilty to second-degree assault. Joey Elerding, 18, was originally charged with first-degree...MORE...
Grandview potato plant fire in mop-up phase - A skeletal crew of volunteer Grandview firefighters remains at the Wild River Foods potato processing plant this morning in the mop-up phase of Tuesday's electrical fire that destroyed the building. "The fire is substantially extinguished, but for a fire...MORE...
Sunnyside teen wounded in shooting - SUNNYSIDE -- Yakima County sheriff's detectives are investigating a shooting early this morning that left a 17-year-old Sunnyside boy with a head wound. The boy is expected to survive, Lt. Max James said. Sunnyside police officers first responded about 3:...MORE...
State medical assocation speaks out against assisted suicide - The state medical society this afternoon came out against Initiative 1000, the measure to legalize physician-assisted suicide. "We believe physician-assisted suicide is fundamentally incompatible with the role of physicians as healers," said Dr. Brian...MORE...
Burn ban in effect throughout county - The Yakima Regional Clean Air Authority has announced a Stage 1 burn ban due to declining air quality throughout the Yakima County area. The burn ban applies to the entire county and prohibits outdoor burning of all kinds, including agricultural, as well...MORE...
07/03/08 Corrections - * The title of Scott Staples was incorrect in a front-page story Wednesday on the Grandview fire. Staples is Grandview city administrator. *** * A Tuesday Home Front story contained the names of two candidates who have dropped out of the 4th District co...MORE...
07/03/08 Death Notices - Eva Krebs Eva Krebs, 79, of Yakima died Tuesday at Good Samaritan Health Care Center. Mrs. Krebs was born in Phillipsburg, Kan. She was a homemaker. Survivors include her son, Louis Krebs of Yakima; three daughters, Helen Krebs of Grand Rapids, Mich., Te...MORE...
NEW: New traffic cameras installed along I-90 - Four new traffic cameras have been added to Interstate 90 to help travelers making the trip over Snoqualmie Pass, the state Department of Transportation has announced. The portable trailer-mounted cameras were placed at several strategic locations to help...MORE...
NWL -- Living the dream - YAKIMA -- As Dustin Brader munched on a pregame sandwich and confirmed an interview with a reporter Tuesday, a Spokane Indians teammate said, "You're a legend, dude." And he is. Among the thousands of youth baseball players who aspire to play professional...MORE...
NWL -- Early deficit too much for Bears - YAKIMA -- He had allowed his first professional baserunners and surrendered his first professional runs, though they were unearned, but afterward Dustin Brader's smile remained intact. "We got the win," the former Selah High School standout said after fin...MORE...
7/2/08 Bears update - Next game Opponent: Spokane Indians. When, where: 7:05 p.m. today, Yakima County Stadium. Radio: KUTI (1460). Probable pitchers: Yakima RHP Ricardo Tavares (0-1, 9.82) vs. Spokane RHP Neil Ramirez (1-0, 1.93). Notes I REMEMBER YOU: Yakima manager Bob...MORE...
Local Report -- Beetles shut out Triple Play - YAKIMA -- Jordan Cameron and Jose Meza combined on a two-hitter, and Kevin Komstadius hit a three-run homer as the Yakima Pepsi Beetles beat Triple Play of Tacoma 3-0 in a non-league Senior Legion game Tuesday at Parker Field. Komstadius' first-inning hom...MORE...
Track and Field -- Blaine finishes eighth - EUGENE, Ore. -- Lindsey Blaine's 2008 Olympic dreams didn't end Sunday, but the Lyle High School graduate was unable to grab one of the top three spots in Monday's javelin finals at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials at Hayward Field. It was erroneou...MORE...
Police say woman's baby cut from womb - KENNEWICK (AP) -- Kennewick police reported that a pregnant woman was fatally stabbed multiple times in the chest and her nearly full-term baby was cut from her womb. Police have arrested a 23-year-old woman....MORE...
Cell phone law in effect, but compliance spotty - The new law that went into effect today barring motorists from holding their cell phones to their ear while they drive didn't stop all motorists from doing just that. At the intersection of 16th and Summitview avenues during the Tuesday morning commute,...MORE...
Migrant council gets a new chief executive officer - SUNNYSIDE -- The board of the Washington State Migrant Council has named Tadeo Saenz-Thompson as the new chief executive officer. Saenz-Thompson most recently was the director for resource development at the Oregon Child Development Coalition in Wilsonvil...MORE...
Drinking and driving on the Fourth? Watch out for state troopers - YAKIMA -- State troopers will spend the Independence Day weekend looking for intoxicated drivers across Central Washington. They're warning motorists to enjoy the holiday without driving drunk. Chief John Batiste and other top commanders of the Washingt...MORE...
07/02/08 Around the Valley - Patrol looks for too much revelry YAKIMA -- State troopers will spend the Independence Day weekend looking for intoxicated drivers across Central Washington. They're warning motorists to enjoy the holiday without driving drunk. Chief John Batiste and oth...MORE...
Latest FDA advice: Know your tomatoes - John Denver may have been on to something when he sang about "Homegrown Tomatoes." The rest of the summer's harvest has been suspect, after some 810 reported cases of salmonella nationwide -- including three in Yakima County -- have...MORE...
Two local schools receive funding for reading program - YAKIMA -- Two Yakima elementary schools are among 15 in the state to receive first time federal funding to run the Reading First program. In all, the 15 Washington schools will receive $3.3 million to...MORE...
Events planned to honor soldiers - A Yakima church is sponsoring a 48-hour rocking chair challenge to raise money for the children of two Yakima Valley men who were killed in the Iraq war. Proceeds from the July 10-12 event, dubbed a rockathon, will go...MORE...
A fine day for fishing - Nathaniel Hagler took his grandchildren Kyriaki, Spiridon, Nektarios, Efemia and Maximos fishing at the pond at Sarg Hubbard Park to try their luck at fishing on Thursday, June 26, 2008. h# A fine day for fishing c# Yakima Herald-Republic...MORE...
Fire caused by faulty wiring - YAKIMA -- Yakima firefighters put out an attic blaze in a house in the 1900 block of Willow Street on Sunday evening that they said was caused by overheated wiring. They reminded homeowners that increased demand on air conditi...MORE...
Man sentenced to 10 years for first-degree assault - YAKIMA -- A Toppenish man who nearly cut off another man's foot with a splitting maul during a fight was sentenced Monday in Yakima County Superior Court to 10 years in prison. Skyler Metsker, 21, would h...MORE...
07/02/08 Death Notices - Juan Acosta Juan Acosta, 52, of Grandview died Sunday. Mr. Acosta was born in Hanford, Calif., and received his education in Sunnyside. He was a semitruck driver for 35 years and also a hyster driver at various warehouses in the Valley. He was also a mech...MORE...
Police searching for hit-and-run suspect - Police said they are seeking a sport utility vehicle that struck a 19-year-old Yakima man on Saturday afternoon after he flashed gang signs as the rig passed him. The victim remained in serious condition at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital on Sunday evenin...MORE...
Guns involved in shooting spree seized - SUNNYSIDE -- Sunnyside police seized two handguns, including one reported stolen, Sunday night as they investigated a threatening call and a shooting spree that damaged five cars and two houses on Saturday. The series of events started about 10:30 p.m. a...MORE...
Costco cherries - SEOUL -- South Koreans may dislike U.S. beef, but when it comes to Bing, Chelan and Sweetheart cherries in bulk quantities, that's a different story. Costco has seen great success since opening in South Korea in 1994. T...MORE...
LOCAL REPORT -- Kline propels Yakima sweep - YAKIMA -- Seth Kline hit a game-winning, two-run double in the second game as the Yakima Pepsi Beetles secured a Central Washington League doubleheader sweep of Hanford on Monday at Parker Field. Kline,...MORE...
Roslyn women battle to become Ms. Northwest Passage - The Ms. Northwest Passage pageant, held in Roslyn on Saturday, was a romp through pioneer challenges. From sewing buttons to whipping cream to tossing horseshoes and chugging rootbeer, ten contestants spent the afternoon competing in a variety of challen...MORE...
Teens turn to Taizé - The lights are off. Only the dim, flickering glow of candles illuminates three icons, each depicting a significant person in the history of the Roman Catholic Church....MORE...
NWL -- League-leading Indians roll right on past Yakima - YAKIMA -- Through the first 14 games of the Northwest League season, it does not appear that a team will approach the dominance that Salem-Keizer achieved the two previous seasons when the Volcanoes won 112 games and played .718 ball en route to successiv...MORE...
Salesmen learn cultural nuances of seling in Korea - Succeeding in business in South Korea often hinges on learning important cultural lessons. When Peter Verbrugge and Brian Birdsall are working to sell fruit domestically for Sage Fruit Co., they are usually direct and...MORE...
Expensive fireworks sign goes missing - Somebody stole their sign, but that won't stop Yakima County's fireworks task force from telling folks to follow the rules. The sign, which outlined a series of local fireworks restrictions, was discovered missing Friday from its spot on South 16th Avenue...MORE...
Summer events scheduled for aspiring Girl Scouts - Summer events scheduled for aspiring Girl Scouts Girls ages 5 to 17 interested in learning more about Girl Scouts should plan to attend one of the four scheduled "get to know us" events scheduled this summer in Yakima. Each of these events will be held f...MORE...
Cattle, wheat and (maybe) natural gas - BICKLETON -- Rick Gray grew up here, helping his parents raise cattle and dryland wheat. That's what he's doing on his own 6,000 acres now. But Gray is cultivating something his folks never did -- natural resources....MORE...
Rough work for roughnecks - BICKLETON -- The work is exhausting and the free time is dull. That's life on one of the 2,100 oil and gas land derricks in the United States. Delta Petroleum's site south of here is no different. After driller Brya...MORE...
Finding natural gas bit by bit - BICKLETON -- If you think the land is tough, try drilling below it. A good 45 minutes away from so much as a gas station, this windswept landscape of dusty sagebrush and coiled rattlesnakes is hard. But it's nothing compared to the rock below. Down there,...MORE...
Sales of hands-free cell phone devices pick up - Haven't picked up a headset or other hands-free cell phone device yet? Join the crowd. Several retailers have seen a surge in customers looking for accessories that would put them in compliance with the new law, which goes into effect Tuesday. The law mak...MORE...
'Beat Alzheimer's' golf tournament set for Aug. 1 - YAKIMA -- The second annual Highgate Senior Living "Let's Beat Alzheimer's" Charity Golf Tournament will be Aug. 1 at Apple Tree Golf Course. The one-of-a-kind event is designed to raise awareness of the growing incidence of Alzheimer's, which has more...MORE...
Hot electrical wires spark house fire - YAKIMA -- Yakima firefighters put out an attic blaze in a house on the 1900 block of Willow Street Monday evening that they said was caused by over-heated wiring. They reminded homeowners that increased demand on air conditioning during hot weather can ov...MORE...
Sizzling days bring fire danger - Yakima's temperature could top a record today as firefighters across Washington and Oregon brace for the chance of lightning-sparked fires. Today's high is forecast at 101 degrees, a tick above the 1987 record. The mercury on Sunday settled at 101 degrees...MORE...
Teenager tempted to cool off drowns in Myron Lake - As summer heated up to a near-record temperature Saturday, a 15-year-old boy went for an ill-advised swim and drowned at Myron Lake. Zachary Rilea, 15, was fishing by himself at the lake before deciding to take a sw...MORE...
South Korean Market bears fruit - SEOUL -- A young Korean woman, sporting a hot-pink apron over a black sweater, white blouse and a blue jean skirt, attempts to catch the ear of other women shopping for groceries at the Shinsegae Department Store. She makes eye contact with them while sa...MORE...
KDNA founder plans an active retirement - GRANGER -- Ricardo Garcia was a young soldier far from his Texas home when he realized he wanted to spend his life fighting for social change. On a weekend excursion from the Army's Yakima Firing Center, he walked i...MORE...
07/01/08 Letters to the Editor - To the editor -- This fall when we elect a new president, it would be smart to remember the candidates' wives. Cindy McCain and Michelle Obama are not running for office, but it would be foolish to ignore the influence each woman poss...MORE...
From poetry assignment to national finalist - Sitting in the computer lab last winter, 16-year-old BreAnna Jones, a sophomore at West Valley High School, indifferently searched through hundreds of poems -- from William Wordsworth's "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" to Edna...MORE...
Studentpainters.net: It's a job to dye for - Andrew Hoge and Jessica Miller are two students who have added a whole new tint to the term "summer job." They are painting houses this summer -- but not with their own hands. Instead, they are hiring other college...MORE...
LOCAL REPORT -- Hargraves collects racing bounty on Longton - YAKIMA -- Yakima's Erick Hargraves collected a bounty of tires for beating Mike Longton in the Late Model race Saturday at Yakima Speedway. The facility's owner put up the reward since Longton has been on a tear of late. He battled with Hargraves and Owen...MORE...
NWL -- Ninth inning ruins Bears once again - BOISE, Idaho -- The Yakima Bears battled back against the Boise Hawks before watching the game and the three-game series disappear in the bottom of the ninth inning. Boise plated two runs in the final frame after Yakima finally mustered a lead, stealing a...MORE...
06/30/08 county agenda - Tuesday, 10 a.m. Commissioners' Hearing Room PUBLIC SERVICES Resolution 300-2008 -- In the matter of establishment of the Naches rail branch capital project fund 307 and appointment of auditing officers and investment officers. Resolution 301-2008 --In t...MORE...
Celebrating five decades of worship. - The congregation of Englewood Christian Church celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of their church on Sunday with a potluck lunch and the dedication of a quilt honoring the church's history. h# Celebrating five decades of worship. c# Yakima H...MORE...
Reporter's Notebook - Reporters are often told to show, not tell. It's a great principle, but I'll admit that sometimes I get lazy and just have someone tell me the facts. That wasn't an option in South Korea, where I spent a month in a cu...MORE...
Washington wine making inroads - South Koreans like our wine, too, and marketing has barely begun By MAI HOANG YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC Koreans love their alcohol. Bottles of beer and soju, a potent domestic liquor, are common at dinner t...MORE...
Letting go doesn't mean abandoning - If I've learned one thing in motherhood, it's this: Bringing kids into the world is a whole lot easier than letting them go. Several months of mild discomfort, some hours of physical pain (including a few minutes when your body shrieks, "You crazy idiot ....MORE...
06/30/08 In Basket - Advertising The Yakima Ad Club recently announced officers and board members for 2008-2009. Officers are Ryan Messer, local sales manager, KIMA-TV, president; Trina Nixon, art director, Smith, Phillips & DiPietro, secretary; Frank Orlando, production ...MORE...
Yakima Herald-Republic news quiz answers - News quiz answers Here are the questions and correct answers to Sunday's Yakima Herald-Republic news quiz: 1. Why have state, local and federal officials developed a $36 million plan to alter the course of the Nach...MORE...
Arm-wrestling -- Over the top - YAKIMA -- Anthony Dall'Antonia's day got longer when the announcer opened his mouth. "We're going to the strap," John Stanton said, "and there's not many people better than Anthony Dall'Antonia in the strap." This brought a rare rise out of the 6-foot-1,...MORE...
Northwest League -- Bears break loose in rout - BOISE, Idaho -- One night after having their ninth-inning rally spoiled, the Yakima Bears made sure there was no late-inning disappointment Saturday against the Boise Hawks. Breaking loose for 10 runs in the first three innings, including a grand slam tha...MORE...
6/29/08 Bears Update - Next game Opponent: Boise Hawks. When, where: 6:15 p.m. today, Memorial Stadium, Boise, Idaho. Radio: KUTI (1460). Probable pitchers: TBA Box score Bears 14, Hawks 0 YAKIMA BOISE ab r h bi ab r h bi DRdriguez rf 4 1 0 0 Harrison lf 2 0 0 0 Cowgil...MORE...
Track and Field -- Blaine ninth at trials - EUGENE, Ore. -- With her Olympic dreams for 2008 on the line, Lindsey Blaine stepped up on her final attempt in the women's javelin qualifying Saturday and unleashed her best throw of the day. Unfortunately, she needed nine more inches to move into Monday...MORE...
Mixed Martial Arts -- Chicagoan stays unbeaten, wins ground war with Guerin - TOPPENISH -- Rich Guerin didn't want to get into a slugging match with Jordan Smith in their mixed martial arts main event Saturday night at Legends Casino. Instead, the Yakima fighter wanted to try and get Smith on the mat, and use his wide range of skil...MORE...
PDL Soccer -- Garcia helps Reds shut out Abbotsford - ABBOTSFORD, British Columbia -- Junior Garcia assisted on both Yakima goals, and Robert McCurdy made five saves to earn the shutout as the Reds stopped Abbotsford 2-0 Saturday night. "That was a big win," Yakima coach Hector Vega said of the victory that ...MORE...
Local report -- Komstadius hits, pitches Beetles past Bombers - YAKIMA -- Kevin Komstadius did a little bit of everything as the Yakima Pepsi Beetles swept a Saturday non-league doubleheader with the Seattle Bombers at Parker Field. Komstadius gave himself plenty of run support with a three-run homer in the opener, a...MORE...
06/29/08 News quiz - Yakima Herald-Republic weekly news quiz (covering June 23-29 editions) 1. Why have state, local and federal officials developed a $36 million plan to alter the course of the Naches River through urban Yakima? A) to limit erosive action along U.S. Highwa...MORE...
Feed compost pile with kitchen scraps - Q. I have been told that I can compost my kitchen scraps in a garbage can. Is this possible? A. Yes, a garbage can can be made into a compost bin. Punch holes in the bottom and the sides, as well as the lid. Place about four inches of fertile soil in t...MORE...
White Swan treaty days: Rodeo remembrances - Walk through the gates at the White Swan Treaty Days Rodeo and you'll be greeted with the scent of frybread and the fine grit of dust in the teeth. Families spread out on blankets in the sun, while behind them the weathered white wood of the bleachers bak...MORE...
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