Ellensburg Community Morning Show, Thursday, September 24th
NEWS
Kittitas County got a clean report from the Washington State Auditor's Office. The audit covered the county's books for 2025 and found no problems at all. It's the second audit in a row with no findings. County Auditor Bryan Elliott thanked his finance team and every county department that worked on it, and said the county will keep working to manage taxpayer dollars in a way that's compliant and open to the public.
Kittitas County wants to know how you'd like to hear from it. The county has put out a short survey asking residents, businesses and community groups what information they need most, how they want to get county updates, and whether the county's current channels are useful. Commissioner Brett Wachsmith said clear and timely communication is essential to good local government. The survey is open through this Monday, September 28th, and there's a link on the county's website at co.kittitas.wa.us. And one more county item: commissioners will hold a public hearing Tuesday, October 6th at 2 p.m. in the commissioners' auditorium on a new solid waste fee schedule. It covers the cost of running the Ryegrass septage lagoons and adds a new compost product for sale. Written comments can be sent ahead of time to the county at 205 West 5th Avenue, Suite 108.
Central Washington University President Jim Wohlpart got a positive annual review from the university's Board of Trustees this summer, according to the Daily Record. The review came in July, months after a faculty vote of no confidence in Wohlpart earlier this year. Faculty who backed that vote raised concerns about shared governance, meaning how much say faculty have in how the university is run.
A Kittitas teacher has been named the best in the state in her field. Cheryl Uceny, who teaches Family and Consumer Sciences at Kittitas Secondary School, is the Washington Association for Career and Technical Education's Teacher of the Year. It's the second big honor in a row for Uceny, who was named national FCCLA Adviser of the Year in 2025. FCCLA is the student organization for family and consumer sciences.
Work on the new WinCo distribution center in west Ellensburg hit a visible milestone yesterday. Crews used several cranes to set a new pedestrian bridge over Wilson Creek on Umptanum Road. The bridge is part of the road and sidewalk improvements the project has to build along its frontage. Umptanum Road was down to one lane while the bridge went in, so drivers in that area may still see some work zone traffic.
Also at Hal Holmes tonight at 5:30, Ellensburg's Toastmasters club meets. If you've ever wanted to get more comfortable speaking in front of people, drop in. You can also join online.
And looking ahead to Saturday, the Ellensburg Farmers Market is downtown starting at 9 in the morning. Saturday is also National Public Lands Day, which makes it a Discover Pass free day. You won't need a pass to park on state parks, Department of Natural Resources or Fish and Wildlife lands.
On the roads, plan around a Pearl Street closure this weekend. Pearl will be closed between 3rd and 4th Avenue starting at 8 a.m. Sunday so crews can replace the crosswalk just north of 3rd. It should reopen by 10 a.m. Monday. Questions go to Public Works at 5-0-9, 9-6-2, 7-2-3-0.
SPORTS
Wildcat women's soccer is home this afternoon. At 0 wins, 4 losses and 3 draws, the Wildcats host Western Oregon at 5 p.m. at Tomlinson Stadium, then stay home Saturday at 11 a.m. against Saint Martin's. Volleyball, 6 and 4 overall and 2 and 2 in conference, is on the road tonight at Western Oregon at 7, then plays at Saint Martin's in Olympia Sunday at 4. Cross country runs the Bill Roe Classic in Ferndale Saturday at 10 a.m. And Wildcat football, 1 and 2 overall and 1 and 0 in conference play, is back at Tomlinson Stadium Saturday night at 6 against Sul Ross State, fresh off last week's 45 to 36 win over tenth-ranked Western Oregon.
WEATHER
The forecasted high today in Ellensburg is 71 degrees with a low tonight of 49 degrees. It'll be mostly cloudy today. The sunset is at 6:55 p.m. with calm winds. Rain moves in tonight, mostly after 2 in the morning, with an 80 percent chance of showers, though they should be light, less than a tenth of an inch. Tomorrow turns cooler, with showers likely and a high near 61. There are no active weather alerts for the Kittitas Valley.
WHAT'S FOR LUNCH AT THE FISH OPEN TABLE?
The FISH Open Table lunch today is an Italian Sub Sandwich, with salami, pepperoni and provolone, plus greens, onions and peppers dressed in Italian vinaigrette, and fruit. 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 from 11:30 to 1 at the Upper County Senior Center in Cle Elum, where the menu is different. The community lunch for anyone needing a hot meal is from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Ellensburg Open Table.
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