It's no secret that Central Washington is a great place to hike, boat, ski or enjoy any number of other activities. Turns out even the air is better here, at least as far as pilots of motorless aircraft are concerned.

WENATCHEE - The Wenatchee Wild unveiled a newly designed Web site Friday.

The people most closely associated with an event like the Ridge to River Relay sometimes have a hard time letting go.

For more information on state highways, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov or call 511.

MATTAWA — As firefighters with Grant Fire District 8 cope with responding to the first fire fatality in the district in its 52-year history, they're also intensifying efforts to make sure all residents have smoke detectors to prevent a similar tragedy.

WENATCHEE — A jailer and former reserve police officer has pleaded not guilty to charges involving a former inmate who said she had sexual contact with him in the Chelan County Regional Justice Center.

WATERVILLE — An East Wenatchee man who supplied the guns to a convicted felon later killed in a home invasion will spend four months in jail.

WENATCHEE — Oneonta Trading Corp. is adding some 8,000 square feet to its office near the south end of Walla Walla Avenue.

WENATCHEE — Local groups who rent ice time at Town Toyota Center got a reprieve Friday on a price hike from the Public Facilities District. The hourly fee will remain $160 until next year.

WENATCHEE — Dylan Morrison, Akufunksher and Oh the Humanity played at the Centennial Park Band Shell on Friday.

WENATCHEE — The Public Facilities District decided Friday that it will run the Town Toyota Center itself, with the help of a general manager.

OLYMPIA — As WASL results stagnate throughout North Central Washington and across the state, the number of schools and districts on the federal "needs improvement" list skyrocketed this year.

Schools on the list

ROCKY REACH DAM — Trey Thrift is known as the miracle child. The word "Miracle" was written in bold letters on the back of his T-shirt. More than 100 people showed up for his open "Celebration of Life" party at the Rocky Reach Dam picnic area Thursday. Others at the party had T-shirts identifying them as mom, dad, brother (two of them), auntie, grandma and so on: all part of the miracle family. Others came to meet Trey or his family for the first time.

Sitting with loyal, trusted, talented and productive employees and telling them they no longer have a job is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone.

Many today will celebrate the demise of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning with the announcement of results from last spring — the final time the exam was given.

GEORGE — The fire station in George will be expanded and remodeled with $900,000 in federal stimulus money.

OLYMPIA — Volunteers are needed in Wenatchee and across the state to count the number of people who walk or bike to their destinations.