JOEL MARTIN

Stuck on science

Kids discover physics at museum program

MOSES LAKE — It was just another Saturday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, with Program Assistant Savannah Betz explaining non-Newtonian physics and the scientific method to a group of grade-school children. “We know that something is solid because we can feel that it’s solid,” Betz said. “We know that something is liquid because it looks like liquid and feels like liquid. And you know that something is a gas because, well, you can’t see it, really. Sometimes you can smell a gas, and you kind of feel it as you wave your arms around. (Oobleck) is called a non-Newtonian fluid because it doesn’t conform to those states of matter.”

Credit union shreds sensitive documents, collects for food bank

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake branch of Solarity Credit Union held a paper-shredding event Saturday. “We’re encouraging everybody to bring any of their documents that they don’t want lying around, that you don’t want anybody to get their hands on,” said Solarity Community Activation Activist Sean McEwen. People took up the offer at a fairly steady rate, McEwen said, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Anybody who wanted to, Solarity members or not, could bring up to three boxes of documents to be shredded at no charge, and if they brought a nonperishable food item for the Moses Lake Food Bank, they could bring an additional box. The documents were loaded into a secure CI Information Management truck to be carted away and destroyed.

‘I have been incredibly blessed’

BBCC Foundation Director LeAnne Parton steps down after 14 years

MOSES LAKE — When LeAnne Parton steps down as executive director of the Big Bend Community College Foundation at the end of August, she’ll do it with her head held high. “Serving as Executive Director of the BBCC Foundation has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life,” Parton wrote in an announcement from the college. “I have had the privilege of working alongside incredible faculty, staff, board members, volunteers, community partners, and generous donors who all share a common belief – that education has the power to change lives. Every scholarship awarded represents a student whose future has been forever impacted, and I am incredibly grateful to have played a small part in that journey."

Sip & Stroll to offer greater variety of sips

MOSES LAKE — Sip & Stroll, the Downtown Moses Lake’s annual celebration of wine and local business, is expanding its horizon this year. “In years past, Sip & Stroll has been mainly wine,” DMLA Executive Director Mallory Miller said. “This year we decided to include beer (plus cider and spirits). It’s like a taste of everything. We wanted it to feel like an event everybody could attend.” The idea behind Sip & Stroll is the same as in years past: patrons browse through 17 downtown businesses, each of which has at least one winery – or, this year, a brewery, cidery or distillery – offering tastes of their wares. There are also nonalcoholic drink options at each stop.

Creativity clicks into place at Grant County Fair Lego Build-Off

MOSES LAKE — Some people work all year on an artwork or craft project to enter at the fair. And some young creators make theirs on the spot. “They (the kids) bring in their own Legos,” said Arts and Crafts Building Superintendent Lanita Pomeroy. “It can be a free build, or they can bring in a kit. They build it on the day, and they bring it here, and we’ll judge it and they’ll get a ribbon for it.” The Lego Build-Off is an annual event at the Grant County Fair, Pomeroy said. It’s not a huge crowd; a typical year brings maybe 10 entries. Two had been turned in by noon, a sports car with its driver next to it, and a creature that was difficult to identify at first sight.

Masquers Gala to take a trip back to the ’80s

SOAP LAKE — Be ready to be transported to the age of Madonna, Ferris Bueller and New Coke at the Masquers Theater Gala Aug. 29. The theme is ’80s Prom Night, and big hair and bright colors will fill the theater, according to an announcement from the troupe. Costumes are encouraged but not necessary. There is no charge to enter. The event begins with a cocktail hour, followed by a program featuring live performances from the Masquers’ last season and some songs from the upcoming “Anastasia: The Musical,” according to Masquers Publicity Representative Darryl Pheasant. Food and drinks will be provided by Cloudview Kitchens.

BASIN EVENTS: Aug. 21-29

COLUMBIA BASIN — Summer is winding down, so don’t miss your chance to enjoy it while it lasts. Here are a few things to round out your August.

Bug Out branches out

Pest control company marks first year by adding irrigation

MOSES LAKE — After a year of successfully fighting off bugs and weeds, Bug Out is expanding into helping things grow. “I'd say 75% of (our customers) asked us, ‘Are you doing irrigation?’” said Kip Burns, who partnered with Josh Gilliam last year to create Bug Out Pest and Weed Control. The request has been a measure of the trust Bug Out’s customers place in the company, Gilliam said. “You get customers that are needing other services, and they ask you, ‘Hey, who should I use for this? Or who should I use for that? Who do you use? We value your professional opinion.’ I was always getting calls (that customers needed) sprinklers adjusted. I was like, I'm here right now. Just turn them on and I'll check them real quick. And if I deem it something that's out of my range or time, I'll tell you to call X, Y and Z … So I was kind of giving away work.”

Fire weather watch in effect Saturday

MOSES LAKE — The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for much of eastern Washington, including Grant and Adams counties, for Saturday afternoon and evening.

Tapping into the sun

Quincy Solar project breaks ground

MOSES LAKE — The Quincy Solar Energy Center, Grant County’s first solar energy facility, broke ground Tuesday, with a ceremony attended by local officials, Grant PUD representatives and officials from Invenergy, the company building the site.

Hay now

Klompen Farms named Hay King and Queen at Grant County Fair

MOSES LAKE — Klompen Farms of Royal City is this year’s hay growing royalty. Owners Bob and Anne Wieldraayer were named Hay King and Queen at the Grant County Fair, winning both first and second place. The first-place ribbon was for the farm’s first cutting, which the Wieldraayers did on April 26. It was very early in the year to cut, Bob said, but he wasn’t going to be available for a while after that and wanted to get the cutting out of the way. “All that hay sold already,” Bob said. “There’s not a bale in the barn. It’s all gone.”

WA takes steps to make cosmetics safer

OLYMPIA — The products in your bathroom may not be as innocuous as they look. “One thing that's really shocking in general to people is that ingredients don't need to be approved before being used on the market,” said Shari Franjevic, who’s in charge of implementing the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act for the Washington Department of Ecology, in an interview with DOE Communications Specialist Michele Cole. “And this is the case in cosmetic ingredients. What happens then is that in reality we have ingredients in products on our shelves that can cause … cancer, effects on human development or our reproductive systems, our hormone systems, our immune systems, all of these things.”

Arts Quest brings creativity to farmers market

MOSES LAKE — Arts Quest made its first appearance at the Moses Lake Farmers Market Saturday. “There are a lot more people coming, a lot more kids especially,” said Columbia Basin Allied Arts Event and Communication Support Sarah Delacruz. “Chris (Haguewood) from the Farmers Market is really excited to be working with us.”

Sunny skies predicted for Grant County Fair

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Fair opens today, with all its rides, food, entertainment and fun. The weather should be some of the nicest we’ve had all summer. The National Weather Service is predicting sun with high temperatures around 90, just enough to make a cold treat seem appealing. And the smoky skies we’ve been dealing with since the summer started are clearing up. The Washington Department of Ecology is predicting that the air will be unhealthy for sensitive groups: older adults, children, and people with heart or lung disease. But even for those folks, it’s just a good idea not to be outdoors too much, and plenty of the things to do at the fair are inside the buildings and barns. For everyone else, the air should be just fine.

NCW Tech Alliance expo showcases AI uses

WENATCHEE — Artificial intelligence has found a place in North Central Washington classrooms, farms and more, NCW Tech Alliance demonstrated at the sixth annual AI Expo in Wenatchee Aug. 11. Wenatchee teacher Sheena Zacherle took home $4,000 from Microsoft for her educational program Sheena Town, which uses artificial intelligence to give students hands-on experience with financial decision-making, according to a release from NCW Tech Alliance Marketing Director David Mabee.

Rodeo kicks off with barbecue, fundraisers and fun

MOSES LAKE — There was a whole lot going on at the Grant County Fairgrounds rodeo gate Tuesday, when the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Business After Hours combined with the kickoff of the Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo. “It brings out some people who only go to one or two (chamber events) a year,” said Chamber Director Debbie Doran-Martinez. “The rodeo extends an invitation to all its major sponsors.” Doran-Martinez estimated that about 250 people came out to enjoy the warm sun, cold drinks and good food. Dinner was catered by Top Gun Concessions, and consisted of barbecued ribs with beans, salads and sides.

BASIN EVENTS Aug. 14-22

COLUMBIA BASIN — The third week in August is coming up, and we all know what that means: the Grant County Fair, Miner Services Demo Derby and Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo. But that’s not all that‘s happening this week. Check out these options as well.

Masquers announce ‘Anastasia’ cast

SOAP LAKE — The Masquers Theater has announced its cast for “Anastasia: The Musical,” which will open in October. Emma-Jean Wydur will play Anya, a young woman with amnesia who may or may not be the youngest daughter of the Russian Tsar Nicholas Romanov II, who was executed with his family in the Russian Revolution of 1917. Ben McLain will appear as the con artist Dmitry, and Jeremy Hansen will play Vlad, an exiled Russian aristocrat. Alec Lobe will be the Bolshevik general Gleb. Christie McLain will be the Dowager Empress, the grandmother of the real Anastasia, and Auti Kirk will be her lady-in-waiting, the Countess Lily. Other members of the Romanov family round out the ensemble.

Grant County Fair coming next week

MOSES LAKE — Smoke or no smoke, the fair will go on. “We won’t cancel the fair,” said Grant County Fairgrounds Manager Jim McKiernan. “Ultimately, the decision comes from the county commissioners … The (Grant County) Health District is loaning us some air purifiers for the Commercial, 4-H and Ag buildings as well as the Huck Fuller (Building).” There will also be N95 masks available at the gate, McKiernan said, if anyone needs one. There are a few improvements that fairgoers might spot, including the return of mutton-bustin’, a petting zoo and a new permanent food booth offering smashburgers, McKiernan said. There are also some updates to the livestock barn to reduce temperatures, including porta-pools for the critters.

Coulee City man arrested after police chase, crashes into canal

A Coulee City man is in jail after a police chase around the back roads near Quincy, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

From east to west, new MLCA head answers a calling

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Christian Academy’s new administrator traveled a long way to answer the call. “I wanted to be a leader in a Christian school,” Laura Fulton said. “I never thought God would open the door all the way over here, but it was wide open and it was just the sign I needed.” Fulton, who arrived in Moses Lake the last week in July, had never heard of Moses Lake Christian Academy, or even of Moses Lake until a few months ago. In fact, until she flew out to her first interview this summer, she’d never been farther west than Missouri, she said. Fulton grew up first in Pennsylvania and then in Maryland, she said. Her last job was in New Castle, Delaware, which is within 15 miles of three other states. After that, eastern Washington looked very different.

Two dead in DUI crash near George

GEORGE — A suspected wrong-way impaired driving crash on Interstate 90 west of George left two passengers dead and injured three others Saturday afternoon, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Documentary will tell the story of Marlin music festival that never was

MOSES LAKE — Fifty-five years ago, Grant County almost had a rock music festival. “(The promoters) leased this land just outside of Marlin, started billing bands and everything,” said filmmaker Jacob Hoxie. “And then a few weeks before it all happened, the county took them to court and said, ‘You can’t do this.’” Hoxie is creating a documentary about Sunrise 71, the rock festival that almost put Marlin on the map. Many of the people who were involved have passed on, he said, but he’s still collecting memories from those who are still with us and would like to hear from local residents who remember it.

Mattawa man drowns in irrigation canal

MATTAWA — An 18-year-old Mattawa man died early Sunday after falling into an irrigation canal while trying to free a vehicle that had become stuck in a canal chute in rural Grant County, authorities said.

Brookdale Hearthstone’s Janet Gonzales retires after 39 years

MOSES LAKE — Janet Gonzales will leave a big hole when she retires at the end of the month at Brookdale Hearthstone after 39 years. “She knows everything about this building,” said Melinda De Santo, Brookdale Hearthstone’s business manager. “She knows it all. I don’t know how we’re going to manage without her, to be honest.” Emeritus at Hearthstone, as it was called then, was only a year old when Gonzales came to work there, she said. There was a total of five residents, and the building was split between a retirement home and an assisted living facility. The facility became all assisted living when Brookdale acquired the place in 2014.

Owner, alleged thief both arrested in vehicle theft incident

MOSES LAKE — An alleged car thief and the vehicle’s owner were both arrested Thursday morning, according to a statement from the Moses Lake Police Department. Sara Danielle Gallagher, 40, of Moses Lake and Daniel Daryl Littlejohn, 28, of Ephrata, were booked into Grant County Jail on separate charges, according to the Grant County Jail roster.

2 dead in DUI crash near George

GEORGE — A DUI collision Saturday afternoon near George claimed two lives, according to a statement from the Washington State Patrol.

Cowboy Breakfast to kick off fair week in new location

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Cowboy Breakfast is moving this year. The event, which has been held at Sinkiuse Square for more than 25 years, will be at the Elks Lodge, formerly the Porterhouse restaurant. The new location means the volunteers can cook in a commercial kitchen rather than on outdoor griddles, said Debbie Doran-Martinez, director of the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the event. “Last year we struggled keeping the food coming out from the restaurant that we ordered it from in a timely manner,” Doran-Martinez said. “We were without eggs for 45 minutes. We’re trying to avoid that.”

BASIN EVENTS: Aug. 7-15

COLUMBIA BASIN — We’ve made it to August, and there are things going on all over the Basin. Here are some chances to get out and about.

More homes on the market in the Basin

MOSES LAKE — People hoping to buy a home in July had a better selection available to them than a year ago, according to data released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which tracks real estate trends in 27 of Washington’s 39 counties.

Grant County Sheriff’s race close in unofficial primary results Tuesday

EPHRATA — The Grant County Sheriff’s race was neck-and-neck with a 0.2 percent gap when voting closed yesterday, according to the Grant County Auditor’s Office.

Crime rates down in Basin, FBI report suggests

EPHRATA — The Columbia Basin saw significant decreases in certain types of crimes over the last year, according to data from the FBI National Incident Based Reporting System released Tuesday.

Holy Cross Parish opens in Mattawa

MATTAWA — The Catholic population of Mattawa pulled off a remarkable feat, Yakima Bishop Joseph Tyson said. “For the first time in the history of the Diocese of Yakima, we have a church construction project that has come from predominantly Spanish-speaking parishioners,” Tyson said at the parish dedication Friday. “And most of the money has come from immigrant communities. This has never happened before.” Tyson officially dedicated the newly-named Holy Cross Parish in a ceremony attended by 20-25 priests, half a dozen deacons and enough parishioners to fill the 450-seat church building to overflowing. The previous building held only 150, said Fr. Lalo Barragan, pastor of the parish.

SENIOR EVENTS: August 2026

COLUMBIA BASIN — August is the month of the Grant County Fair, but there’s also plenty more happening in the Basin. Here are some ways to get out and about.

Purple Party smaller but successful

MOSES LAKE — There were about 50 fewer people at the Purple Party July 16 than came last year, but those people accomplished a lot. “I don’t feel as though there was quite the participation we had last year,” said Karisti Cox, living sales specialist at Brookdale Hearthstone, which hosted the event. “However, the people who were there, were there with the intention to build their teams and do the fundraising. So while there weren’t as many people, we actually did better.” The Purple Party is sort of a pre-party for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. The primary purpose is to prepare for the Walk, which raises money for dementia research, by organizing teams and making plans, but the event also raises funds in its own right. The Purple Party July 16 raised $770 in just two hours, Cox said.

Man arrested near burglary scene with firearm

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Police arrested a suspected burglar who was carrying a loaded firearm Friday night, according to a statement from the MLPD. Jeremiah Warner, 47, was arrested on charges of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, according to the MLPD statement.

Grant County Treasurer retires after 4 decades

EPHRATA — For Darryl Pheasant, it’s always been about the details. “He knew how everything worked,” said Grant Commissioner Rob Jones. “He knew all the accounts; he knew if the accounting was off, and he knew what the county accounts’ balances were all the time.” Pheasant retired at the end of June after almost 40 years as Grant County Treasurer, possibly the longest tenure of a county treasurer in Washington state history. Through his efforts, in 1995, Grant County became the first cash-basis county in Washington to open a county investment pool. The pool takes the money that the county collects from junior taxing districts like school or hospital districts and invests it so that rather than sitting in the county’s coffers, it generates interest, explained Grant County Commissioner Cindy Carter.

Moses Lake SGL plant waiting for buyer

MOSES LAKE — The SGL plant in Moses Lake is for sale, and proposals to buy it are due this week. Basin Ag Sales is handling the sale of the property in conjunction with Kidder Mathews, a real estate firm that specializes in industrial properties. SGL Carbon Fibers, based in Wiesbaden, Germany, built its plant in Moses Lake in 2010, to manufacture large-tow carbon fiber for BMW vehicle bodies. By 2015, it employed about 200 people and had doubled the plant’s production, according to the company’s website. But by 2020, SGL had begun laying off personnel, citing decreased demand for its product, according to Columbia Basin Herald archives, and operations ceased at the Moses Lake plant in the summer of 2025, according to SGL’s website.

Civil Air Patrol cadets spread their wings at Desert Eagle Flight Academy

EPHRATA — Getting that first driver’s license is kind of a rite of passage for a teenager. But some aren’t content to drive around on the ground. “You'd be surprised at how safe the airplanes are,” said Cadet Lt. Col. Sophia Taylor. “When you drive, you just turn on the engine. But with the airplane, there is this huge checklist just to make sure that you really don't miss anything, and we always follow that checklist in everything that we do. If you're following all components of the checklist and you're abiding by all regulations, then it's really safe.”

BASIN EVENTS: July 31-Aug. 31

COLUMBIA BASIN — Those lazy days of summer don’t have to be so lazy you can’t get out and enjoy some fun around the Basin. Here are a few ideas for August.

Field study

Japanese Agricultural Training Program celebrates 60 years at BBCC

MOSES LAKE — Six decades of agricultural collaboration between the Columbia Basin and Japan were celebrated Monday evening at Big Bend Community College. “Over the years, hundreds of participants have come to our region to learn, to work, and share their talents,” Big Bend Community College President Sara Thompson Tweedy said at the commemoration Monday. “And in doing so, you have enriched our college, strengthened our agricultural community, and created lifelong relationships that continue to span the Pacific Ocean.”

Holy Trinity celebrates 80 years of faith

EPHRATA — Even in challenging times, there's a lot going on at Holy Trinity Church in Ephrata. “(It’s) a far cry from the heyday in the history of this congregation where they had hundreds of people worshiping on a Sunday,” said Council President Gary Bracht. “But within this small body, we're doing a lot more outreach and impacting more people in the community. We're looking at it as, where do we see God calling us? And that's the direction that we've taken.”

'Man up'

Rodeo campaign raises funds, awareness for domestic violence services

MOSES LAKE — When the rodeo riders wear purple, that means it’s time to man up. “Man Up" is for awareness of domestic violence, said Kim Pope, executive director of New Hope. “Any time we make someone aware of the services that are provided in our (area), that’s important.” The Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo teams up every year with New Hope for the Man Up Crusade, an awareness program to raise both money and awareness of domestic violence. Rodeo competitors and spectators will wear purple bandannas, shirts and more at the rodeo Saturday to signal their support for the folks who care and advocate for domestic violence victims.

Old Hotel to host summer art event Saturday

OTHELLO — The Old Hotel Art Gallery will host “Paint, Pour and Explore” Saturday, according to an announcement from the museum. “We are collaborating with several other businesses in an effort to give the community a fun evening, draw people into The Old Hotel, and support local businesses,” Director Samantha Copas wrote in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald. The event will include wine tasting with Ginkgo Forest Winery, and group painting led by artist Nellie Hoot of It’s Arty Time. There will also be cake tasting with Artisan Bakery and charcuterie boxes from Bites of Rye, according to the announcement.

CBCCA unveils 2026-27 concert season

MOSES LAKE — The Central Basin Community Concert Association has released its concert schedule for 2026-27. The season will begin with a CBCCA favorite, the Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra, on Oct. 11. “The Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra has a long tradition as one of the finest student/community orchestras in the region and its repertoire contains some of the most demanding pieces in orchestral music,” the CBCCA wrote on its website. The orchestra is conducted by Ke

Confluence Health names new Chief Medical Officer

WENATCHEE — Confluence Health has selected a new chief medical officer, according to an announcement from Confluence July 23 July 23. Dr. Katie Peterson replaces former CMO Dr. James Murray, who was appointed to Confluence Health’s new chief physician executive position in March, according to an April 29 announcement from Confluence. “Dr. Katie Peterson brings a thoughtful, steady leadership style along with a strong understanding of both clinical care and the broader work required to improve health across a system,” Confluence CEO Dr. Andrew Jones wrote in the announcement. “She has earned the respect of colleagues across our organization and has shown a clear commitment to collaboration, quality, and doing what is right for patients. I’m confident she will serve our physicians, care teams, and community exceptionally well as CMO and will help us continue moving forward together as an organization.”

Podium cuts ribbon on new, expanded physical therapy and training clinic

MOSES LAKE — In physical therapy, it’s good to have plenty of room to work in. Now, Podium Physical Therapy and Performance Training has that space. Owner Dr. Ryan Carpenter cut the ribbon on his new, larger practice Thursday afternoon. “My idea with therapy and training was always to have a space for people to advance what they want to work on,” Carpenter said. “Our space seemed to shrink with equipment and people coming in.” The new space is a huge increase: 6,800 square feet compared to the1,800 square feet in which he opened Podium four years ago. Carpenter moved into the building next door, which was formerly Beck ‘N Call Pet Care, and for many years before that, the Calico Cat thrift store. The process took about six months, he said.

Looking good

Institute of Beauty Professionals trains barbers, nail techs and more

MOSES LAKE — It takes a lot of training to make people look their best. “(A license to do) nails is 600 hours (of instruction),” said Institute of Beauty Professionals owner and instructor Nicholas Harle. “Cosmetology is 1,640 hours, barbering is 1,000, hair design is 1,440 and aesthetics is 750.” IBP takes its own private students and also serves the Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center’s cosmetology program, Harle said. Those students spend 2 1/2 hours a day at IBP and earn credits in lab science, technical science, first aid and fine arts, he said. There were 61 CBTECH students at IBP last year, he said, and there are about 25 full-time students.

BASIN EVENTS: July 24-Aug. 1

COLUMBIA BASIN — It’s hot and smoky outside? This is the Columbia Basin. We’re used to this. Here are some chances to get out and have some fun no matter what the sky looks like. July 25 Christmas in July at the Market Who says you have to wait until December for holiday cheer? Stroll through decorated vendor booths, shop amazing local makers and growers, enjoy holiday-themed fun, festive music, sweet treats, and surprises for the whole family. Wear your favorite Christmas shirt, Santa hat, or holiday outfit. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at Moses Lake Farmers Market, McCosh Park, 401 W. Fourth Avenue. Info: www.farmersmarketml.com.

Growing fast

Gray Girl Farms nursery springs up near Royal City

ROYAL CITY — It’s one thing to grow and sell flowers. Owning a complete nursery is something else altogether, especially when you have only months to build it. “The learning curve has been really steep,” said Kylie Gray-Eilers. “I just always tell myself that every day is a new day.” Gray-Eilers isn’t a stranger to raising plants; her Gray Girl Farms has sold dahlias for almost eight years, and she holds a Dahlia Days festival every year in October. The dahlia operation was beginning to reach the point where she needed either to scale it back or grow, she said. So when she learned that Robin Prchal, owner of Emerald Desert Nursery in Quincy, was fixing to retire, Gray-Eilers decided it was time to expand.