Ellensburg Community Morning Show, Tuesday, June 23rd

The city is asking neighbors to let their lawns "go blonde" this summer. With the Yakima Basin in its fourth straight year of drought and mountain snowpack at just 36% of normal, Water Resources Manager Rebecca Springer told the council the city wants to cut peak summer water use by 10%. The voluntary "Go Blonde" campaign asks folks to keep lawns dormant but not dead — watering no more than three days a week, before 9 a.m. or after 7 p.m., and fixing leaks within two days. Sign the pledge this month and you'll get a yard sign, with a prize drawing for those who hit the goal. The lawn at City Hall will lead by example.

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NEWS

The Ellensburg City Council has picked a contractor to bring power to the new WinCo food distribution warehouse going up on the edge of town. The council approved a roughly $1 million contract with Magnum Power of Toledo, Washington, for new overhead and underground lines, excavation and vault work. The city took seven bids and threw out three for missing paperwork. Magnum came in lowest at just over $1 million — about 56% under the city engineer's estimate of $1.6 million. WinCo is paying the full cost.

The city is also asking neighbors to let their lawns "go blonde" this summer. With the Yakima Basin in its fourth straight year of drought and mountain snowpack at just 36% of normal, Water Resources Manager Rebecca Springer told the council the city wants to cut peak summer water use by 10%. The voluntary "Go Blonde" campaign asks folks to keep lawns dormant but not dead — watering no more than three days a week, before 9 a.m. or after 7 p.m., and fixing leaks within two days. Sign the pledge this month and you'll get a yard sign, with a prize drawing for those who hit the goal. The lawn at City Hall will lead by example.

Up the valley, the Cle Elum City Council read its first-ever Pride Month proclamation at its June 9th meeting, alongside a new Family Strength and Stability Month proclamation. Both drew strong public comment. Some residents urged the city to stay out of the issue, while others said the gesture matters. Councilmember Beth Williams, who co-sponsored the Pride proclamation, spoke about growing up in Cle Elum and not feeling she could be herself here until she moved away. Both proclamations are posted on the city's website under Agendas and Minutes.

An Ellensburg swimmer is headed to the national stage. Alex Brons, 25, will represent Washington at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis, running through June 26th. Brons qualified in the 25-meter freestyle and backstroke and will swim on a 50-meter relay with three teammates. His coach, Amy Mohler, threw him a send-off celebration at Rotary Park. It's his first time flying, and his fourth year with Team Washington.

And a community board has an opening. Deja Blanchard has stepped down from one of the four community seats on the Ellensburg Transportation Advisory Committee. The City Council accepted her resignation at its June 15th meeting. Her term would have run through the end of the year.

For local events today: the Master Gardener Plant Diagnostic Clinic runs at 11:30 a.m. at The Armory in Ellensburg — bring your plant problems and get answers. It's a busy night for local government, with city council meetings in Kittitas, Cle Elum and Roslyn. Kittitas and Cle Elum both meet at 6 p.m. at their city halls, and Roslyn meets at 5 p.m. And if you'd rather unwind, Trivia Tuesday is at Rock and Reef Brewing in Ellensburg at 6 p.m., with another round at the Roslyn Eagles at 7.

WEATHER                                                                                          

The forecasted high today in Ellensburg is 90 degrees with a low tonight of 59 degrees. Look for increasing clouds through the day, with calm winds turning to the southeast around 5 miles per hour. The sunset is at 8:55 p.m. No rain in the forecast, though there's a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms by Wednesday afternoon.

WHAT'S FOR LUNCH AT THE FISH OPEN TABLE?

The FISH Open Table lunch is Spaghetti and Meatballs, Green Beans and Mixed 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 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Upper County Senior Center in Cle Elum. The community lunch for anyone needing a hot meal is from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Ellensburg Open Table.