Ellensburg Community Morning Show, Tuesday, September 29th
NEWS
The Kittitas Valley Healthcare board has taken a first step toward a big round of hospital construction, but not without some friction. At last Thursday's board meeting, architect David Johnson laid out a long-range facility plan that would more than double the emergency department from nine spaces to twenty, add a second MRI, expand obstetrics, radiology and ultrasound, and grow the number of physician positions from 47 to 71. One concept would put a new medical office building on a separate campus. Johnson then asked the board to approve an application, due October 8th, to hire a construction manager. Board Chair Jon Ward said he felt caught off guard because the presentation and the motion weren't in the board packet, and CEO Jason Adler said that was his error. Ward also questioned why the hospital would need so much more room less than two years after opening a thirty million dollar expansion. Other board members pointed out the application doesn't commit the district to any money or any project. The board approved it four to nothing, with Ward abstaining.
Kittitas County Commissioners have two public hearings set for next Tuesday, October 6th, at 2 p.m. in the Commissioners' Auditorium at the courthouse. The first is on the county's six-year transportation plan for 2027 through 2032, along with next year's road construction program. The second is on an updated solid waste fee schedule, which would cover rising operating costs at the Ryegrass septage lagoons and add a new compost product for sale. Anyone can testify, and written comments can be sent ahead of time to the Commissioners' office at 205 West 5th Avenue in Ellensburg.
Paying property taxes gets a little easier in upper county next month. Starting this Friday, October 2nd, the County Treasurer's Office will have a staff member at the Upper District Court building, 700 East 1st Street in Cle Elum, taking tax payments on Tuesday and Friday afternoons from 1 to 4. That runs through October 30th. Cash, check, money order, credit and debit cards are all accepted.
Here's what's happening around town today.
At the Ellensburg Adult Activity Center, Tai Ji Quan starts at 9 this morning, coffee and conversation runs from 10 to noon, and beginning line dancing is at 1 this afternoon, followed by badminton and table tennis at 2.
Little ones can head to the Ellensburg Public Library for Storytime this morning, with sessions at 10:15 and 11:15. Regular and bilingual storytimes run every Tuesday and Wednesday through early December.
On the roads, if you're headed toward Yakima on US 12, the Eschbach Road intersection is closed through tomorrow while crews build new acceleration lanes. Follow the posted detour and plan for extra time. And down in Union Gap, work has started back up on the roundabout at US 97 and Lateral A.
SPORTS
Central Washington football is on a two-game winning streak after routing Sul Ross State 61 to 22 at Tomlinson Stadium on Saturday. The Wildcats are 2 and 2 overall and 2 and 0 in the Lone Star Conference. This Saturday they travel to San Angelo, Texas, to take on Angelo State.
Wildcat volleyball has won four straight, sweeping Saint Martin's three sets to none in Olympia on Sunday. CWU is 8 and 4 overall and 4 and 2 in the GNAC, and hasn't lost at home yet this season. They host Montana State Billings Thursday at 7 p.m. and Seattle Pacific Saturday at 1 p.m., both at Nicholson Arena.
Wildcat soccer picked up its first conference win of the year, beating Saint Martin's 2 to nothing at home on Saturday. CWU is 1, 5 and 3 overall. The Wildcats hit the road this week, playing at Montana State Billings Thursday at 6 p.m. and at Seattle Pacific Saturday at 1 p.m.
Cross country is off this weekend. The Wildcats' next meet is October 10th at the Lewis Crossover in Illinois.
WEATHER
The forecasted high today in Ellensburg is 67 degrees with a low tonight of 46 degrees. Expect partly sunny skies, with a 20 percent chance of showers after 2 this afternoon and into the early evening. The sunset is at 6:45 p.m., with light northwest winds around 6 miles an hour, gusting to 18 tonight. Sunshine returns tomorrow, and it warms into the low 70s by the weekend. There are no weather alerts for our area, but a reminder that the fire safety burn ban is still in effect across Kittitas County. No outdoor burning.
WHAT'S FOR LUNCH AT THE FISH OPEN TABLE?
The FISH Open Table lunch today is Lemon Garlic Chicken, served with mashed potatoes, broccoli, a roll and fruit.
The senior lunch is free and 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. In Cle Elum, the Upper County Senior Center serves seniors from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., with its own menu. 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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