In Other News
VETERANS DAY PARADE PLANNED
EPHRATA – An annual Veterans Day parade in downtown Ephrata is planned Tuesday, Nov. 11, beginning at 10:45 a.m. at the Grant County Courthouse.
The event is being organized by members of American Legion Post 28 and Auxiliary Unit 28, who encourage citizens to attend and pay tribute to current and past military men and women.
From the courthouse, parade participants will proceed south on C Street, turn at Second Avenue S.W. onto Basin Street, then northward to arrive at the memorial outside the Ephrata Recreation Center, where an honor guard will fire a gun salute at 11 a.m. The parade will continue north on Basin Street, turn onto First Avenue N.W., then return to the courthouse before concluding with a second gun salute.
Anyone wishing to participate in the parade, but needing transportation, is asked to contact Mike Montaney (509-989-4417) or Jane Montaney (509-760-1433). Afterward, a soup luncheon will be hosted at the Ephrata American Legion Hall, 276 Eighth Ave. N.W.
The 11 a.m. gun salute is in recognition of the armistice agreement ending World War I, signed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. The annual public holiday was amended in 1954 to include all military veterans.
ST. ROSE SCHOOL ANNUAL AUCTION ON SATURDAY
EPHRATA – St. Rose of Lima Catholic School will host its 42nd annual fundraising auction, themed “A Time for Peace,” on Saturday, Nov. 8, at the school, 520 Nat Washington Way.
Guests are invited to join for a groovy good time, with a silent auction beginning at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., and live auction at 7 p.m. More information, including tickets and tables, is available at www.saintroseschool.org.
Organizers say the event will include a dessert dash, raffles, class projects, fun gift baskets, and an opportunity to bid on a wide array of auction items ranging from sports tickets to luxurious vacations. Proceeds go directly to the school to support its academic programs, tuition assistance, and student scholarships.
St. Rose officials say community support is especially important as the school prepares to add a seventh-grade program next year and eighth grade in the 2027-28 school year.
VANTAGE BRIDGE REPAIRS ON HOLD FOR WINTER
VANTAGE – Repair work on the Interstate 90/Vantage Bridge crossing over the Columbia River has been paused as winter approaches and won’t resume until early next year when more-favorable weather returns, the Washington State Department of Transportation announced.
“Since springtime, travelers crossing the Vantage Bridge on Interstate 90 have frequently experienced delays while contractor crews worked to replace the bridge deck. With winter approaching, those efforts are on pause,” the department said in a press statement last week.
Crews reopened all lanes across the bridge and removed the 9-foot width restrictions. The speed limit remains reduced to 55 miles per hour, and travelers should be cautious of rough transitions between the old and new sections of the bridge deck.
The Vantage Bridge was built in 1962 and last received a major overhaul in 1982.
Current bridge repairs began in spring 2024. WSDOT says crews are almost halfway done with the $79 million project, which is expected to be completed in 2028.
