JOEL MARTIN

BASIN EVENTS: February 2026

COLUMBIA BASIN — We’re swinging into February with lots to do in the Basin. Here’s a little of what’s happening this month.

WA-OR Potato conference draws record crowd

KENNEWICK — Potatoes took center stage last week in the Tri-Cities “I want to welcome you to the largest potato conference in North America,” Washington Potato Commission Executive Director Chris Voigt told attendees at the Washington-Oregon Potato Conference Wednesday. “Last year we had over 3,000 attendees. This morning, I checked and we have about 260 more to break our record.”

Multi-family properties sell a little differently from single-family homes

MOSES LAKE — Buying and selling one home is complicated enough. But when the property comprises five or 10 or 20 homes, that’s a little different “It takes the right buyer and the right timing,” said Blake Rollins, owner of Nest Realty, who had several multi-family properties listed at Realtor.com on Wednesday.

Robo champions

Royal Middle School team takes championship, advance to world competition

ROYAL CITY — Students from Royal School District brought home some honors from the First Lego League state robotics competition Saturday in Spokane. Royal Intermediate School’s Mayan Memers earned a trophy for designing an archaeological research station, and the Tomb Raiders, Royal Middle School’s team, excelled in both robotics and innovation, garnering the championship for eastern Washington. The theme for this year is archaeology, and 25 teams from across the brown side of the state competed.

Mayan Memers earn honors

ROYAL CITY — The Mayan Memers, made up of fourth- through sixth graders, won second place for core values – sportsmanship, teamwork and things like that – at the regional competition, then won at state for their innovation project. The students designed a self-sufficient modular research station equipped with LIDAR drones so local indigenous people in the Mexican and Guatemalan jungle can lead the research into their own history

Moses Lake students stage walkout to protest ICE

MOSES LAKE — About 80 students walked out of Moses Lake High School and Vanguard Academy Tuesday afternoon to protest actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The students took up signs and demonstrated at the intersection of East Nelson Road and South Pioneer Way.

Ephrata CAP instructor honored for more than half a century of safety

EPHRATA — Roger Patry has logged more than 23,000 hours of flight time since 1970. That’s more than two and a half years of his life spent in the sky. “Look at … all the things he got to see and experience, from implementation of the Jet Age, space travel, navigation technology advances from radio navigation to satellite,” Federal Aviation Agency safety program manager Robert Tickner said.

Sponsoring dreams

Columbia Basin Foundation scholarships help locals support students

EPHRATA — June seems like a long time away now, but before we know it, students will be graduating and heading off to further their education. For those who will need a little extra financial boost, now is the time to start filling out those scholarship applications.

Moses Lake man jailed after long high-speed pursuit

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man is in custody after a high-speed chase Friday morning, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Church volunteers keep Warden Food Bank going

WARDEN — Keeping the Warden Food Bank running is a group effort. Three groups, in fact. The food bank is the joint project of three local churches: Warden Community Church, Queen of All Saints Catholic Church and Life 3:16, formerly the Warden Assembly of God. The congregations rotate each month, supplying volunteers.