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
Care Moses Lake unveils new van
MOSES LAKE — Care Moses Lake will hit the road this year in a new van, with help from the Rotary Club of Moses Lake and the Kiwanis Club of Moses Lake. “Kiwanis came up with the idea after a conversation with Care Moses Lake,” said Rotarian Dave Campbell at the van’s unveiling Monday. “It was a project for consideration of our golf tournament … and that ended up materializing into what we have today.”
Housing market dips, but less than last year
MOSES LAKE — ’Tis the season for a sluggish housing market, according to data released last week by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which tracks real estate trends in 26 of Washington’s 39 counties.
Ready to shop
Moses Lake Shop with a Cop raises funds for gifts for families in need
MOSES LAKE — The Shop with a Cop program got a boost Wednesday and another Thursday. Wednesday evening the Columbia Basin Eagles Auxiliary presented the Grant County Sheriff’s Office with a check for $500.
Home at last
Habitat for Humanity’s latest house was a long time coming
MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake family will move into its first home in the coming weeks, thanks to Habitat for Humanity. “This family is a family of four,” said Rebecca Mabius, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Moses Lake. “They were able to select the flooring. They're able to select the color of their house, all the cabinets. They came in and they did the tile work themselves which, God bless them, that's a feat in itself.”
Ancient Lakes students collect hats, gloves
QUINCY — Three students at Ancient Lakes Elementary School in Quincy have made winter a little warmer for some folks. “(They collected) 97 pairs of gloves, 93 hats and eight scarves,” said teacher Kayla Hoffer.
Vocab VIPs
MLCA students give impressive showing in international vocabulary competition
MOSES LAKE — Next time you advise a Moses Lake Christian Academy student to use their words, be careful. They might use some you don’t know. MLCA emerged from the fall Vocabulary Bowl with some impressive honors: first place in Washington, second place in the U.S. and Canada in the under-500-students division and fourth place in North America overall.
Columbia Basin Foundation raffles trees for foster children
EPHRATA — The Grant County Guardian Ad Litem program, which advocates for children in foster care, will be the beneficiary of this year’s Columbia Basin Foundation Festival of Trees, according to CBF Executive Director Corinne Isaak.
Hometown shopping
Small Business Saturday brings rush of holiday sales to local shops
MOSES LAKE — Black Friday is big business, drawing huge crowds to huge stores with heavily advertised specials. But the next day, Small Business Saturday, hits a little closer to home.
Home repair help available for qualifying seniors
MOSES LAKE — Seniors whose homes need a little upkeep may be eligible for some help. The government offers grants and low-interest loans for home repairs, and some nonprofits are available to help out as well.
FIRST RESPONDER FOCUS: ‘Be the calm’
Quincy PD sergeant builds ties with the community
QUINCY — For Quincy Police Sergeant Joe Westby, it’s all about the people. “It's just been really cool adapting to the community,” he said. “I hold value in the community like they hold in me. I try and make sure when the need arises, I do the best work I possibly can.”