A1 022014

HOME OF THE OTHELLO HUSKIES

THIS WEEKOTOwn HOSTS vOLLEybaLL TOUrnaMEnT | A6PaID PLanS FOr 2014 | A4

Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday

H 49° / L 29° H 46° / L 28° H 45° / L 30° H 43° / L 28° H 38° / L 27° H 45° / L 32°Partly Sunny Mostly Cloudy Partly Sunny Partly Sunny Partly Sunny Cloudy

PUbLISHED SIncE 1947www.OTHELLOOUTLOOK.cOM

vOL. 78 nO. 8 $1

OPInIOn | A2cOMMUnITy |A3-A4ScHOOLS | A5-A6nEIgHbOrS | A7

SPOrTS | B1-B4cOPS & cOUrTS | B5cLaSSIFIEDS | B7ag & OUTDOOrS | B8

INSI

DE

Get the free mobile app athttp:/ /gettag.mobi

get the free mobile app at

GETTAG.MOBI

Scan with your SmartPhone and go

straight to our listings!

NorthwestMultiple Listing Service

610 S. First in Othello (509) 488-5651

Eric Olsen • Broker • 989-0838

FOR MORE PROPERTIES GO TO www.sunbasinproperties.com

Gail Earl • 331-6497Pete Olsen • 488-9823Lynn Olsen • 488-9823

Meghan Olsen • 989-9721

NEW CONSTRUCTION

Another quality-built home from Olsen Homes. Popular plan features 4 beds and a bonus room upstairs; den, living and family room down. 2-10 Homebuyer’s Warranty included. MLS#508439

Come In For Your Personal

New Construction Consultation

OLSEN HOMES, LLC.OLSEN HOMES, LLC.PRICE REDUCTION!TOP OF THE WORLD VIEW

AmAzing View! 2001 blt on 5 ac. 9’ ceilings, cov. front & rear patios, 4th bdrm/den, isl. & ptry in kitch., huge master suite, 1500+ s.f. barn w/horse stall, hay loft & tack room, 700 s.f. covered R.V. parking, 539 s.f. garage, UGS in yard & pasture, fenced & cross fenced. R1350 $310,000

NEW LISTING!THREE BAY SHOP IN HATTON

2 bed, 2 bath manufactured home with huge three bay shop beside it. Shop has its own kitchenette, bath, and room as well. All on two city lots. Well maintained. Possible owner contract. R1360 $99,500

NEW LISTING!HUGE CORNER LOT

OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY FEB. 22ND FROM 9:00 A.M. TO NOON. 1405 Fern Street. Great location in Town and Country Estates. Huge 15,925 sq. ft. lot. 3 bed, 2 bath home with many renovations and updates. Very cozy and open feel. R1361 NOW $159,900

Othello OutlookOthello OutlookTheThe

LaDy HUSKIES SEnD SIx TO TacOMa

SPORTS | B1

THuRSDAy, FEBRuARy 20OTHELLOOUTLOOK.cOM OnE DOLLar

bOyS SEnD SIx TO MaT cLaSSIc

SPORTS | B1

see HASTINGS | A4 4

see MuSIC | A6 4

By Erik [email protected]

PASCO – Congressman Doc Hastings announced last Thursday he would not seek re-election and will choose to retire in 10 months following the end of his term. Hastings, a mem-ber of the U.S. House of Representatives since 1994, said the recent celebration of his 73rd birthday and his desire to spend more time with family weighed heav-ily in the decision.

Hastings made the an-nouncement in a press con-ference surrounded by fam-ily and said there was still plenty for him to accom-plish in his remaining time in the nation's capital.

"As chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, I'm still go-ing to be aggressive in that

area, also," he said.When asked who his re-

placement would be on the committee, Hastings said he'd do whatever possible to ensure it's another Re-publican. He said he's talk-ed to colleagues, such as Idaho congressman Mike Simpson, to visit him and discuss the possibility of taking over.

"He plans to make a trip out here because he under-stands the challenges Han-ford has, just like Idaho has," Hastings said.

On the same topic of par-tisanship, Hastings said di-visions and dysfunction in his own party didn't play too much into his decision.

He said it was good the debt ceiling being raised was behind them so he and his party could focus on the Natural Resources Com-

Hastings announcesretirement

Photo by erik PAgue

Congressman Doc Hastings announces he will not seek re-election during a press conference held in his hometown of Pasco Thursday, Feb. 13.


The Othello School District replacement maintenance and operations levy passed by only 61 votes with 52.6 percent of the 1,145 counted ballots ap-proving the measure; 542 peo-

ple voted against the levy and made up 47.3 percent of the vote for Adams County. Frank-lin County voters had 13 votes approving versus 26 against.

OSD superintendent George Juarez said the number of “no” votes in this election was com-parable to previous results, but

the fact the election considered a three-year levy rather than the typical two-year period may have played a role.

“The end result is we’re happy the levy passed and we can continue supporting our programs and staffing with these resources and we’re very

thankful to our community for that,” he said.

The levy replaces the two-year levy set to expire at the end of 2014 and would collect $2.7 million over 2014 to be collected in 2015. The levy is set to expand to $2.8 million in 2015 and $2.9 million the

year after. Juarez said the extra year in the new levy would go a long way in helping Othello students prosper.

“I think any time you invest in the future of your kids, it’s a good investment,” he said. “Any time your levy is not success-ful, it could have a devastating

impact on quality of education.”He said school funding

would continue to be an evolv-ing situation in the aftermath of the 2012 State Supreme Court decision in McCleary v. Washington that found the state wasn’t doing enough to provide for the education of children.

School District levy narrowly passes


The Othello Music Boosters club is set to bring back its long-running jazz night fundraiser at the Othello School District conference building Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. This year, fundraiser organizers hope ticket and auction sales will reach their goal of raising $5,000 to support mu-sic programs at the middle and high schools, as well as a few scholarships.

Tickets go for $10 for adults and $7 for students, along with opportunities to bid on items in a silent auction. Music Booster treasurer Todd Ashton said the night is 100 percent devoted to making sure Othello’s students can continue to benefit from learning music while providing more opportu-nities for participation.

“It’s a good night with some students from the high school and middle school bands to come and perform,” he said. “We also have some good auction items we’re planning on getting.”

Chance to support school musicians coming up By Erik PaguE

[email protected]

American School & University mag-azine has awarded Wahitis Elemen-tary School and designers Architects West Inc. with recognition of out-standing design in its November 2013 issue. Wahitis principal Pete Perez and project architect Ed Champagne were formally congratulated for the accomplishment during the Monday, Feb. 10, school board meeting.

Perez said Architects West is only able to submit one of their projects a year to the magazine’s panel and the fact the school he works in was the one that was chosen speaks a lot to the type of learning environment the community’s building at Wahitis.

“We’ve always been proud of the fa-cility, but for other folks to recognize

what a nice place it is that the com-munity provided for us, it supports the idea we have about our work: that it’s

important, we’re proud of it … and the people who work here,” Perez said.

Wahitis recognized for outstanding design

Photo by erik PAgue

Principal Pete Perez said design choices such as using similar support structures seen on the outside of the building on the inside also, led to the school’s recent recognition for outstanding design from American School & University magazine.

see WAHITIS | A54

Documents

A1 022014