Turning 69

Clifford Elder, left, and Archie Trenner, publisher/editorof the Herald, visit about current events in 1945

by Joel Martin<br> Herald Staff Writer
| July 30, 2010 1:00 PM

MOSES LAKE — July 31, 1941, was a scorching hot Thursday in most of America, and at 92 degrees, Moses Lake took its share of the heat.

Movie theaters across the country were showing Sergeant York, starring Gary Cooper in a role that reflected America’s growing certainty that war was coming.

MOSES LAKE - July 31, 1941, was a scorching hot Thursday in most of America, and at 92 degrees, Moses Lake took its share of the heat.

Movie theaters across the country were showing Sergeant York, starring Gary Cooper in a role that reflected America's growing certainty that war was coming. Big band music swung the radio. And unknown to the rest of the world, the German government drew up the orders that would result in what's now called the Holocaust.

Here in the Columbia Basin, the concerns of the world were still a long way away. People wanted to know what was happening in their backyards. That day, they got their chance to find out, as the first edition of the Moses Lake Herald rolled off the press.

The paper was published by Glenn and Grace Arnold. The couple had published a newspaper in Grand Coulee, but found that the competition was fierce in the booming dam town and set up their press in Moses lake instead. The first edition carried a greeting from the Arnolds: "Knowing that Moses Lake has long wanted a newspaper to help to promote the interests of this section of Grant County and to act as a mouth piece extolling the many advantages found here, after a great deal of deliberation and investigation of other places; we decided to move our plant here, and here we are, bag and baggage, ready to become a part of the community and hoping to become one of you in helping to build for the future upon a foundation laid many years ago by the sturdy pioneers who came here to build homes and rear their families. It is with a feeling of pleasure and profound satisfaction that we take up our duties among you."

The Herald was a weekly paper at that time, costing two dollars for a year's subscription. The comic page featured strips called "Big Top," "LaLa Palooza," "S'Matter Pop" and "Mescal Ike." The paper introduced a weekly serial titled "Riders of Buck River."

Within a year the Arnolds had sold the paper to Archie Trenner, who moved to Moses Lake from Washougal to take over as editor and publisher. The first thing Trenner did was to change the name to the Columbia Basin Herald.

"This week marks the beginning of an expansion of service for this paper under the name of Columbia Basin Herald," read Trenner's explanation for the name change in the June 18, 1942 edition. "News from a much larger area will find space in its columns each week. It is our belief that you people who make up the population of the Columbia Basin, scattered over an immense area, still have many interests in common that a paper serving the whole region can further for the mutual benefit of all."

Bill Orthman and Edward Churchill (Ned) Thomas each bought a share of the newspaper. In his book "My Reaction" Thomas says Trenner sold them one-third shares in the newspaper for $2,150 each, while Trenner retained ownership of the printing plant, equipment and job printing business.

"Bill and I became newspaper publishers overnight. I was editor-publisher, not just editor of a paper owned by someone else," Thomas writes.

A couple of years later, Thomas bought out his partners and became sole owner of the Herald.

In 1952, Gib Kaynor joined Thomas as a full partner. The money with which he bought his share was used to buy printing equipment.

By then, advertising revenue was coming in steadily. In 1953, the Herald began publishing twice a week, and in 1955 it went to the five-day-a-week schedule it still follows today.

Ned Thomas continued running the Herald until 1967, when it was bought by the Hagadone Corporation.

Roy Wellman was the new publisher and Duane Hagadone was the president of the corporation. Al Smith, who had been the news editor of the Herald for the first 12 years the newspaper had been a daily, was promoted to managing editor.

"The future for Moses Lake and the Columbia Basin looks real bright," Wellman said after taking the helm. "It is my hope that we can all do the job of promoting Moses Lake and the Columbia Basin together. And at the same time continue the fine work and leadership provided by Ned Thomas and Gib Kaynor throughout their ownership of the Herald."

Duane Hagadone, president of the new corporation, was also upbeat about the organization.

"We believe this area has a tremendous future and we are interested in the long pull," he said. "We look at it (the Herald) as your newspaper. It belongs to the community and through the Herald we hope to participate in the growth of the community."

Hagadone's words were borne out over the decades that followed. Between the 1960s and today, the Columbia Basin has grown and thrived. Even in recession, the economy here has been spared the worst of the repercussions. And at every step, the Columbia Basin Herald has been present to record the growth. Like so many other community newspapers, the Herald is the place local residents turn to find out who had a baby, who died, who was arrested and what that new building being constructed down the street will be. People still want to know what happens in their backyards.

The community moves, and the newspaper marks its passage. For 69 years now, the Columbia Basin Herald has been proud to be a part of this community. A lot of things have changed since July 31, 1941. A lot more things will change in the next 69 years. In 2079, we expect still to be here, turning out the news in whatever form it takes, chronicling the changes in the Columbia Basin. We're looking forward to the challenge.

Thank you, Moses Lake and the Columbia Basin, for allowing us to grow along with you. It's been a great time.