Ellensburg Community Morning Show, Thursday, July 30th

Looking to the weekend, the Upper Kittitas County Bocce Tournament returns for its fourth year Saturday, August 1st at Fireman's Park in South Cle Elum.

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NEWS

Voters will weigh three local funding measures in Upper County in the upcoming primary election. The proposals would support library services in Roslyn, renew Snoqualmie Pass Fire & Rescue’s funding model, and provide additional funding for the Cle Elum Volunteer Fire Department. Ballots were mailed to registered voters on July 14. Voters may return ballots by mail or deposit them in an official ballot drop box.

Members of the Kittitas Secondary School chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America turned calamity into a championship at the recent 2026 FCCLA National Leadership Conference. Carson Danielle, Colt Fekkes and Kade Henry won a national championship for Kittitas in their event, Chapter in Review Display, in Level 2 competition. Their big win came after overcoming an unexpected challenge when their display board was heavily damaged during shipping to Washington, D.C

Drivers on the north end of town, mark your calendar. Just need to remind you that Cora Street closes between University Way and 10th Avenue from August 3rd through the 14th while crews build a new concrete sidewalk and ADA curb ramps at the 10th Avenue intersection. Work runs 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

To lead its football program, Ellensburg is turning to a young coach that follows in the pedigree of the Valley's longest-tenured head man. The Bulldogs have tapped Ryker Ely, the son of 34-year Granger coach Gary Ely to be its next head coach, the school announced Monday morning. Ryker Ely, a 2013 Granger grad, replaces Zeke Fife — who went 4-16 in two seasons and resigned earlier this month.

Now for events.

Bring a lawn chair to North Alder Street Park tonight. The city's Summer Concerts in the Park series runs every Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. through August 20th, at 2400 North Alder. It's free and family friendly, so bring dinner and your dancing shoes.

Toastmasters International meets tonight at 5:30 at the Hal Holmes Community Center, 209 North Ruby Street. It also runs virtually, and new folks are welcome.

Looking to the weekend, the Upper Kittitas County Bocce Tournament returns for its fourth year Saturday, August 1st at Fireman's Park in South Cle Elum. Check-in runs 9 to 9:30 in the morning, and play starts right after. Teams of two can sign up for fifty dollars, which includes lunch and one of the Sons and Daughters of Italy's homemade meatball sandwiches. Organizer Kathi Butorac says the tournament brings people together through friendly competition, good food and plenty of laughter. Spectators are welcome too, with raffle prizes, games and meatball sandwiches for sale while they last. The tournament honors the Italian families who helped build this area's coal mining towns. Registration and details are at r-r-c-h-c dot com slash bocce tournament.

And the Ellensburg Farmers Market is downtown Saturday morning starting at 9.

WEATHER                                                                                          

The forecasted high today in Ellensburg is 86 degrees with a low of 57. Mostly sunny, with a few clouds rolling through in the afternoon. The sunset is at 8:37 p.m. with winds out of the northwest at 15 to 25 miles an hour. No rain in the forecast.

WHAT'S FOR LUNCH AT THE FISH OPEN TABLE?

The FISH Open Table lunch today is a Popcorn Chicken Mashed Potato Bowl, with mixed vegetables, gravy and cheddar cheese, plus a roll and pears. The senior lunch is open to all seniors age 60-plus from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ellensburg Open Table at 204 North Main Street, and noon to 1 p.m. at the Cle Elum Seventh Day Adventist Church. The community lunch for anyone needing a hot meal is from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Ellensburg Open Table.