JOEL MARTIN
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves.
Recent Stories
A dance of murder
Ballet mystery lets the audience pick the villain
MOSES LAKE — It’s not often that the words “ballet,” “interactive” and “murder mystery” appear together. “You actually have never seen it before,” said Shawn Cardwell, executive director of Columbia Basin Allied Arts, which will present Ballet Fantastique’s “Murder at the Ballet” Friday at the Wallenstien Theater. “This is a world premiere. They have found no evidence that anyone else has ever done something like this.”
‘Mystery Masquerade’ the theme of St. Rose auction Saturday
EPHRATA — “Mystery Masquerade” will be the theme of the 41st annual St. Rose of Lima Catholic School auction Saturday. “It’ll be really fun to see what everybody comes as,” said St. Rose Principal Amy Krautscheid. Costumes aren’t required, she added.
A cycle of abuse
Domestic Violence Action Month focuses on a problem often kept under wraps
MOSES LAKE — On a single day in October, the Moses Lake Police Department received 62 calls for service, according to its records. More than one in eight of those was a domestic incident.
New builder in town
Homes ready to go at The Refuge at Mae Valley
MOSES LAKE — The neighborhood is there. Now all it needs is some neighbors. “Being a new builder and a new name to town, it does take a little bit to get name recognition up and running,” said Realtor Amy Leicht at the ribbon-cutting Tuesday for The Refuge at Mae Valley, a new housing development by Tri-Cities-based Pro Made Homes.
Localizing the park
Lower Peninsula Park garden highlights low-water, pollutant-filtering plants
MOSES LAKE — Lower Peninsula Park is moving beyond the usual grassy fields, with some help from the Columbia Basin Conservation District and the city of Moses Lake. Staff from both the city and CBCD were out Wednesday morning preparing a demonstration garden that will show how native, low-water plants thrive in the region
Hayden Homes named among best places to work
REDMOND, Ore. — Hayden Homes recently received two of the nation’s top honors for construction and mid-sized workplaces from Fortune magazine and the website Great Place To Work, according to an announcement from Hayden Homes.
Teaching America
Quincy classes help prepare for U.S. citizenship test
QUINCY — Folks who would like to prepare to become U.S. citizens can get some help through the Quincy Public Library, according to an announcement from NCW Libraries. There is no charge for the classes. The space for the classes is supplied by NCW Libraries, and Hand in Hand Immigration Services, a Wenatchee-based nonprofit, will provide the instruction, content and materials. The classes are offered in both English and Spanish.
Meeting in the middle
Developer looks to fill housing gap with duplexes
MOSES LAKE — A new housing development in progress on the south side of Moses Lake could expand the housing options in town. “You guys need entry-level housing,” said Troy Schmeil, owner of Bellevue-based Sapphire Homes Northwest, which is developing a tract of land off South Division Street. “On both sides of the state, you have … older apartment buildings and single-family (homes), and there’s nothing in between.”
‘They’re amazing’
Moses Lake Chamber honors outstanding members, welcomes new board
MOSES LAKE — Incoming Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Kim Pope had some things to say about the town’s growth Tuesday night. “Moses Lake is growing,” said Pope, the executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin. “We have more businesses coming to town than in – I don’t even want to say this – the 40-plus years that I’ve lived here.”
Making the rounds
Ephrata Wine Walk showcases local wines, costumes Saturday
EPHRATA — The Wine Walk will take over downtown Ephrata Saturday, and it’s a good idea to get tickets online.