Studio Basin

Joe Kunkel, project director for the ongoing construction of Samaritan Hospital and the Quincy Valley Medical Center, is the guest on the Studio Basin podcast this week.  

Kunkel said both projects are staying within the projected budget and on the projected timeline. Construction on QVMC is scheduled for completion in spring 2025 – but there’s still preparation required before the doors can open for patients, Kunkel said. Patients should start being treated at the new facility in summer 2025. 

Samaritan hospital construction should be completed by late 2025, with the goal to admit patients by spring 2026, Kunkel said. It’s been a long road for the Samaritan project, but windows are going in, the exterior is close to being finished and interior framing has begun. 

In sports, Sports Reporter Ian Bivona and Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer break down recent football, girls soccer and volleyball action involving Lind-Ritzville/Sprague, Othello, Quincy and Wahluke.

On this week's edition of the Studio Basin Podcast, we have a bit of a longer episode packed with plenty of content. Starting out, we have Ephrata School District Superintendent Ken Murray and new Ephrata High School Principal Ashlie Miller in the studio to talk about how they got to where they are and what they want to do to move the district and high school forward to support students. 

In our lifestyle segment, Moses Lake Public Library Supervising Librarian Austin Foglesong is in to talk about programs at the library, and exciting changes coming up as the facility itself is upgraded. 

To wrap up, Sports Reporter Ian Bivona breaks down the Columbia Basin Herald's Gridiron Guide and Fall Sports Preview, taking a look at local fall sports teams from around the area.

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN podcast, Managing Editor Rob Miller is joined by Regan Shannon, a sophomore at Ephrata High School and freelance writer who wrote a story on summer programs at the Ephrata Public Library. Miller also recaps the Moses Lake School Board passing its budget for the upcoming school year.
Sports Reporter Ian Bivona recounts the Moses Lake Roundup, which brought in new highs in contestants and spectators alike, as well as the Eastern Washington Race for Life Series, which raised more than $16,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society last weekend. Bivona also previews the Columbia Basin Herald's Gridiron Guide, an annual football season preview for high school football teams across Grant and Adams counties.

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN podcast, Managing Editor Rob Miller and Seniors Reporter Cheryl Schweizer discuss the various ongoings at the Grant County Fair and the change of command at the Ephrata Armory. 
In sports, Sports Reporter Ian Bivona recaps recent stories on Quincy High School moving to the WIAA's 2A classification, a Special Olympics team beginning in Quincy, the USA BMX Race for Life and Moses Lake naming a new boys basketball coach.

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN podcast, Managing Editor Rob Miller sits down with Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete to discuss a recent marijuana bust in the Ephrata area, National Night Out and safety for the upcoming Grant County Fair. Next, Sports Reporter Ian Bivona and Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer recap recent sports news in the Basin, including the Moses Lake wrestling program hosting its Chasing Gold camp, the Larson BMX Track adding lights and Moses Lake's Hunter Blackman being named an All-American at the National Junior Olympics.

MOSES LAKE – In this week’s edition of the STUDIO BASIN podcast, NCW Tech Alliance CEO Sue Kane joins Managing Editor R. Hans “Rob” Miller to talk about technology and how it is important to the economic growth of Central Washington. The discussion covers a bit of background on NCW Tech Alliance, the programs it offers and the balance that will need to be reached to make AI a tool to improve people’s lives rather than something that harms people. 

Sports reporter Ian Bivona and senior reporter Cheryl Schweizer discuss the end of the summer baseball season in the sports segment. The seasons for the Columbia Basin Sixers and the ACH Legion team from Almira Coulee Hartline ended at state tournaments this past week with generally successful records for the season.  

On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN podcast, Managing Editor R. Hans Miller takes a look at ongoing wildfires in the Columbia Basin, including the Swawilla Fire located east of Grand Coulee. Miller also recaps news out of the Grant County Community Court and upcoming events in the Basin. 
In the sports segment, Sports Reporter Ian Bivona recounts his experience at Big Sky Media Days in Spokane, talking to EWU receiver Nolan Ulm, defensive end Brock Harrison and Head Coach Aaron Best. Later in the sports segment is a breakdown of local teams in the American Legion Baseball playoffs.

MOSES LAKE – On this episode of the STUDIO BASIN podcast, Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer, Sports Reporter Ian Bivona and Senior Reporter Joel Martin discuss recent headlines in the Basin, including high temperatures, ballots being sent in the mail and the new superintendent at the Ephrata School District.

In sports, the trio recap recent baseball news including the 18U AAA Columbia Basin River Dogs winning their home tournament, the Almira/Coulee-Hartline Legion baseball team winning their division and the 14U Columbia Basin River Dogs winning the 14U Babe Ruth North Washington State Tournament.

On this week's episode of the STUDIO BASIN podcast, Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete and Managing Editor R. Hans "Rob" Miller sit down for our monthly segment with the Grant County Sheriff's Office. This week the pair discussed water and heat safety and Kriete provided an update on staffing at GCSO and touched on how the new Grant County Jail's construction is going.
In Sports, sports reporter Ian Bivona and Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer recap baseball and softball games with the Columbia Basin River Dogs, Othello Red Raiders and Washington Rage, as well as two Moses Lake Wrestling Club wrestlers competing in a national duals tournament in Indiana last month.

MOSES LAKE - On this week's episode of the STUDIO BASIN Podcast, Managing Editor R. Hans "Rob" Miller reviews leadership changes happening around the Columbia Basin. That includes changes for the Moses Lake, Soap Lake and Royal school districts as well as the city of Moses Lake.
In sports, Royal softball Head Coach Lisa Lawrence joins the show to break down the Knight’s run in the 1A State Softball Tournament this past May, resulting in Royal winning its first fastpitch softball state championship. Lawrence also discusses preparing for the season, winning 12 of their final 13 games and takeaways heading into the 2025 season.