JOEL MARTIN

Flapper follies

OHS production of ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ promises Jazz-Age hilarity

OTHELLO — The play opening Thursday at Othello High School promises to be the bee’s knees. Perhaps even the cat’s pajamas. “(‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’) is the memoir of a flapper,” said Othello High School Drama Club advisor Tom Christensen. “She’s manipulative and a con artist. Her goal in life is to see how many men she can get to give her expensive things.” “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” follows two young women of the Roaring ’20s on a trip to Europe, ostensibly to improve their education, but more importantly to scope out the selection of available, wealthy men. Lorelei (Adelle Walker) seems to fit the blonde stereotype: beautiful, breezy and buttonheaded.

Xi Beta Xi raises money for food bank

OTHELLO — The Othello chapter of Xi Beta Xi held a silent auction Oct. 13, according to an announcement from the club, with the proceeds going to the Othello Food Bank. “These remarkable women leaders consistently step up for our neighbors,” the Othello Food Bank posted on social media Oct. 30. “We are continually impressed by your generosity and honored by your ongoing efforts to address food insecurity.” The auction, held at the Othello Eagles Lodge, raised $3,278.04, according to the announcement. The money was presented to the food bank Oct. 20.

‘Excellent adventure’

Veterans Day show includes time travel, fun and music

QUINCY — Veterans Operation Creation’s Veterans Day show Wednesday will span the decades with silliness and music. “We’re calling it ‘Emma and Mikky’s Excellent USO Adventure,’” said director Cassi Nelson. “They don’t understand (what) a USO show (is), so they’re going back in time and kidnapping acts from previous USO shows to come give a show in Quincy.” If that plot line sounds vaguely familiar, it should. It’s a takeoff on the movie “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” with Emma Galloway and Mikky Greely as the time-traveling duo and VOC founder Daniel Chism as their irascible guide. The pair will travel through the decades gathering stars like Dolly Parton, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley to entertain the audience.

Going rogue

Moses Lake salon celebrates creativity and independence

MOSES LAKE — The new salon on East Broadway is called Rogue Collective for a reason. “We had this dream to do it all together,” said owner Dana Mendoza. “That’s where the ‘collective’ came from. It’s a pretty amazing group of women. Everyone has their own separate gifts and talents.” The “rogue” part of the name comes from the fact that the professionals all came from other salons with the same idea: to do things their own way.

Home prices up in most Basin markets

MOSES LAKE — Home prices increased in most, but not all, markets of the Columbia Basin this year, according to data from the real estate website Redfin. The median home price in Moses Lake in September was $364,821, according to Redfin’s data, up 5.4% from September 2025. Ephrata’s median price wasn’t far off, at $368,824, but that represented a 12.5% increase over the same time period. Quincy’s median price topped the list of local cities at $405,235, a 10.1% year-over-year increase. Othello, in contrast, dropped by 17.1% year-over-year, to $298,226.

BASIN EVENTS Nov. 6-14

COLUMBIA BASIN — Now that everyone has adjusted from the Daylight Saving Time changeover, it’s time to get out of the house and off to something fun. Here are a few destinations to check out. Nov. 6 Members Exhibition Gallery opening for show of artworks by museum members. Opening reception 4-7 p.m. at Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, 401 S. Balsam St. Info: www.moseslakemuseum.com.

Quincy HS opens ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ this weekend

QUINCY — A timeless ghost story will take the stage at Quincy High School this weekend. “It keeps the essence of the Washington Irving tale, but it has singing, a lot of hymns, and a lot of dancing,” said Quincy High School drama teacher and director Haliey Weber. “It's a different take, but it gives the audience a sense of what life was like back then.” “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” takes place in 1790, when upstate New York was still a frontier and the United States had been independent for less than a decade. New schoolteacher Ichabod Crane (Jarrod Miller) comes to the little village of Sleepy Hollow and creates a stir among the local single ladies, particularly the beautiful Katrina Van Tassel (Emma Yeates), who snags his heart.

‘Mansion on the Hill’

Brookdale Hearthstone marks 40 years of serving seniors

MOSES LAKE — The Mansion on the Hill, as employees and residents call it, marked its 40th birthday Oct. 15. “This is a celebration not only for the families that have been served by assisted living, but also of those who have been able to keep the lights on and the kids fed because they were able to work here,” said Karisti Cox, living sales specialist at Brookdale Hearthstone. Brookdale Hearthstone celebrated with a full-blown gala, including sandwiches, a chocolate fountain and a visit from some of the people who were there at the outset: assisted living pioneer Jerry Erwin and Hearthstone’s first administrator, Sara Milbrandt.

Members Exhibition opens Friday at museum

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Museum & Art Center’s annual Members Exhibition will open Friday, according to an announcement from the museum. The exhibition will kick off with a reception from 4 to 7 p.m. at the museum, according to the announcement. There will be live music and light refreshments, and an opportunity to meet some of the artists. The reception is free and open to the public.

‘A day full of chaos’

Silly golf tournament serves a serious purpose

WARDEN — In its fourth year, the "Dude, Where’s My Cart?" golf tournament has taken off in a big way. “We opened (entries) in August for the tournament,” said organizer Karisti Cox. “We opened up on a Monday, and by Thursday we were sold out.” "Dude, Where’s My Cart?" is a blast of silliness for a serious purpose: raising money for the Alzheimer’s Association. Golfers have to play with a one-third-size club, or with glasses that throw off hand-eye coordination, or while sitting on a toilet. The challenges are meant to mirror difficulties that dementia patients face. The tournament originally had a limit of 20 teams, because that was how many carts were available, Cox said, but three more teams brought their own carts to get a chance to play.

CBAA Premier Series offers music, ballet and comedy

MOSES LAKE — Columbia Basin Allied Arts 49th Premier Series is a little shorter than past seasons, but that’s because the focus is on quality over quantity, said CBAA Executive Director Shawn Cardwell. “Allied Arts is really trying to step up the prestige level of the shows that we’re bringing,” Cardwell said. That prestige is reflected this month in the first show, by a living legend: Booker T. Jones. Jones is the founder and last living original member of Booker T. & the MG’s, the instrumental jazz/rhythm and blues band of the 1960s that paved the way for the soul and funk sounds of the 1970s. “(His show has) a lot of storytelling,” Cardwell said. “He’ll be armed with his Hammonnd B organ; its sound is really iconic.”

Family History Fair helps people explore their roots

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held a Family History Fair Saturday that allowed visitors to dig deep into their roots, with tools many hadn’t known existed. “I’m learning that there are a lot of things that I could be doing, that are easy changes in my routine, to document not just my life but those of my ancestors,” Sarah Bair of Ephrata said. Much of the information revolved around the church’s primary genealogy site, FamilySearch. That site accesses more than 16 billion records, Moses Lake East Stake FamilySearch Center co-coordinator Jeff Stevens told the Columbia Basin Herald in February.

BASIN EVENTS: November 2026

COLUMBIA BASIN — November is right around the corner, and the Basin is brimming with things to do. Here are a few ways to get out and about.

Hidden chimney damage can turn cozy fires dangerous

MOSES LAKE — The weather is getting chillier, which means lots of people are getting ready to build the first fire of the year in their fireplace. Here in the Columbia Basin where electricity is plentiful, few homes are heated with burnable fuel like wood or oil. But even chimneys attached to fireplaces that only get occasional use should be checked regularly, said Joe Ochal, CEO of Chimney Scientists. “Chimneys last about 20-30 years before the interior of them starts to degrade and they have holes where heat can transfer into the wall cavity,” Ochal said. “When we’re going into people’s homes and do a chimney cleaning, we put a camera in the chimney every time to make sure there’s no holes where there’s heat transfer. People will often say to us, ‘Well, it’s been this way for 80 years,' and (they’re) surprised that chimneys require maintenance.”

QHS student nominated for AI award

WENATCHEE — A Quincy High School student is one of 15 finalists for the NCW Tech Alliance Innovator Awards, according to an announcement from NCW Tech Alliance. QHS junior Brooklyn Averill is one of three competitors in the K-12 Future Technology Leader of the Year finals, according to the announcement. Averill’s entry in the competition was an AI agent that books appointments for the Wenatchee cleaning service iClean. “(The owner) was having trouble making appointments for her cleaners and getting invoices done correctly, and other things as well,” Averill said. “So we decided to focus on that and make a booking agent that took the orders for her.”

CB Foundation seeks nominations for firefighter grants

EPHRATA — There’s still time to get some extra cash for your favorite firefighters. The Columbia Basin Foundation is seeking nominations for $1,000 grants for local fire agencies, according to the Foundation’s website. Nominations close Sunday. “We wanted to have a fall grant cycle that gave people an opportunity to nominate any Grant County or Adams County fire district or fire departments that have gone above and beyond the call of duty and … showcase what they do for the community,” said CBF Director Corinne Isaak. Isaak wasn’t certain how many grants the Foundation would be able to give, but usually a fall grant cycle runs to about 10, she said. There could be more if additional money becomes available, she said.

‘The ones who show up’

Montaneys honored at American Legion dinner for decades of service

EPHRATA — The Appreciation Dinner at Art Semro American Legion Post in Ephrata is usually for thanking people who have helped the Legion with its work, but it was turned around on two of its own Saturday night. “Those dirty rats,” Jane Montaney said with a chuckle. “They kept it a secret from me.” Jane and her husband Mike Montaney had no advance warning that they were to be honored as the post’s Auxiliary Member of the Year and Legionnaire of the Year, respectively, she said. The Montaneys have been involved with the Legion and Auxiliary for decades, said Auxiliary President Myra Wentworth, who presented the awards.

Ephrata Shop with a Cop fully funded

EPHRATA — It’s not even November yet, and Ephrata’s Shop with a Cop event is already fully funded. “Honestly, it doesn’t surprise me,” said Ephrata Interim Police Chief Troy Froewiss. “The businesses and citizens of Ephrata have a long history of stepping up when things are needed. I didn't expect such generous donations so quickly, but I was confident that we were going to be able to make Shop with a Cop happen. It’s just the financial part of it happened a lot quicker than I expected.”

‘Piano Men: Generations’ to rock the Wallenstien Thursday

MOSES LAKE — The Central Basin Community Concert Association’s second concert of the season will showcase two of the most iconic piano stars of the last 60 years. “Piano Men: Generations” will feature the music of Elton John and Billy Joel, performed by father-and-son duo Terry and Nick Davies, who play back-to-back pianos in what their promotional materials call a high-octane, emotionally charged musical journey. “The enthusiasm of a father and son loving music and playing together is a fascinating opportunity for the community,” CBCCA Vice President Judy Twigg said. “For those of us who love music, we’ll probably be clapping our hands and taping our toes.”

HALLOWEEN ROUNDUP: Where to find trunk or treats in your community

COLUMBIA BASIN — These days, a lot of parents are nervous about letting their little monsters – and ghosts and vampires – walk from house to house on Halloween. For those who want to keep the candy gathering close, here are some trunk or treat and fall festival events happening all over the Basin. All events are family-friendly and free to the public unless otherwise noted.

Moses Lake Chamber honors community leaders, passes the gavel at annual meeting

MOSES LAKE — Kent Karstetter was elected to Ag Hall of Fame, much to Kent's surprise, and retiring State Senator Judy Warnick received a special award in honor of her service to the community at the 85th annual Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce banquet Tuesday. Chamber Director Debbie Doran-Martinez introduced Warnick for the award. Warnick was the Chamber’s first female chair in 1990. “Sen. Warnick has always been a strong supporter of the Chamber, of our agricultural roots and our expanding industries,” Doran-Martinez said. “Tonight, we thank you for all you have done to cultivate and grow our community, our economy and our quality of life that we enjoy.”

EVENTS: Oct. 23-31

COLUMBIA BASIN — We’ll have a full list of Halloween events next week, but here are some non-spooky things to enjoy in the meantime.

High interest rates slow home sales

MOSES LAKE — Housing inventory reached a 12-year high in September in Washington, according to data from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which tracks real estate trends in 27 of Washington’s 39 counties. There were 24,955 listings in the NWMLS service area, the most for any month since September 2014, and a 24.5% increase from September 2025. In Grant County, the jump from a year ago wasn’t as sharp, only 12.18% over last year, and Adams County barely shifted, from 53 a year ago to 55 in September 2026. (For NWMLS statistical purposes, the Othello area is grouped with Grant County; Adams County figures are exclusive of Othello.)

SR 24 closed after bus-semi collision

MATTAWA — A collision between a semi and a passenger bus sent at least 11 people to the hospital and has closed state Route 24 about 13 miles east of Mattawa, according to a statement from the Washington State Patrol. The bus was transporting workers and was not a school bus, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. The collision occurred a little before 7 a.m. Thursday at the intersection of SR 24 and Road 24 Southwest, according to the WSP. The exact number of injured and the extent of their injuries was not immediately available. The injured parties were taken to different local hospitals, according to the GCSO.

‘Be the crutch’

Shared experience fuels North Central Washington Peer Connection

MOSES LAKE — In a little converted upstairs apartment in downtown Moses Lake, a few people are quietly making a huge difference. “We help people with housing, education, employment; if they want to get food stamps, we'll help them do their application for food stamps,” said North Central Washington Peer Connection Program Director Brandi Russell. “Whatever they're walking along the path to, we'll stand with them and help them with that at the moment.” Sometimes that involves helping people find a bed in a rehab center, and sometimes it means finding housing, and sometimes it means helping them resume their education, Russell said. But sometimes the goals are more immediate: food, clothes and a place to go that doesn’t cost anything.

Elks give young bowlers a shot at the pins

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Elks Lodge finished its bowling camp Friday with whoops of joy intermingling with the thrum of bowling balls and the crash of pins. “The kids got to go at the end of September and get a little instruction, and then they got measured for bowling balls, and then they got to play,” said Moses Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler Debbie Doran-Martinez. The former Elks Lodge, which folded several years ago, used to hold a golf camp for kids, but with school in session, that wasn’t very feasible, Doran-Martinez said. Instead, the Elks partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin to bring the kids from its Longview Elementary clubhouse to Lake Bowl. Besides getting to bowl a game, each child took home their own bowling ball and bag, donated by Lake Bowl. The first game was held Sept. 28; Friday was the second and final.

‘We’re present and we love them’

Youth Dynamics raises funds at auction

MOSES LAKE — Youth Dynamics raised more than $57,000 at its annual dinner and auction Saturday night, and the money raised goes to provide a friendly haven for middle and high school students in Moses Lake. “We get 100 kids a week coming to YD,” said Youth Dynamics Director Sean Sallis. “They’re getting a really good meal. They’re getting to use the Wi-Fi … and do their homework. They don’t pay anything to come. And one thing we hear from parents is ‘What’s it cost?’ and we’re like, ‘Nothing. It’s free.’ And you know why? Because we’re able to do things like this.” This year’s auction theme was “Back to the ’80s,” and attendees were encouraged to dress in the neon gaudiness of the Reagan era.

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES: November 2026

COLUMBIA BASIN — No matter where you live in Grant and Adams counties, there’s a library near you with all sorts of activities going on.

Tinnitus can’t be cured, but there are treatments

MOSES LAKE — Some people say “tin-IT-us,” some say “TIN-it-us,” but however you pronounce it, it won’t go away and it can be maddening. “One of the biggest misconceptions about tinnitus is that people often think of it as just ringing in the ears,” Hearing Instrument Specialist Alicia Lundquist, with Inland Hearing Aids in Moses Lake, wrote in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald. “In reality, it becomes a cognitive and emotional burden that follows many patients all day. The issue is not only the sound itself, but the secondary effects: fatigue, sleep disruption, reduced concentration, anxiety, irritability and mental overload. Over time, those factors absolutely can impact workplace performance and quality of life.” Anywhere from 10% to 25% of adults suffer from tinnitus, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. The sound can be a buzzing, but it can also sound like ringing, roaring, whistling, clicking or hissing. It may be constant, or it may come and go. The only certainty is that the sufferer hears it and nobody else does. A study taken earlier this year in the medical journal Brain Sciences found that 11% of people with tinnitus worked fewer hours, 7% had stopped working altogether and 1% had gone on disability.

Moses Lake’s new elementary school expected to serve 550-600 students

MOSES LAKE — The 12th elementary school in Moses Lake will actually be a combination of two existing schools, North and Larson Heights elementary, Executive Director of Safety & Well-Being Scott West told the Moses Lake School Board at its meeting Thursday.

Moses Lake author encourages women to look beyond church culture norms

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake author’s book, “A Christian Woman Striving to Live Her Faith in a Man-Controlled World,” takes aim at the role to which many churches relegate the female half of their congregations. “It’s to encourage women in the faith,” Linda Curran said. “A lot of churches say, ‘Teach Sunday school, do this, do that, but don’t (evangelize.)’" In her book, Curran recounts a time when she moved to a new community and joined a church there. She was surprised to learn that, as a new female member, she had been automatically assigned church cleaning duties. When she questioned it, she wrote, she was met with condescension and her objections were brushed aside. In other churches, she said, women who were capable of teaching were relegated to “women’s ministry.”

Endless battle

Noxious Weed Control Board works to keep invasive plants under control

MOSES LAKE — Some of the nastiest plants in Grant County were the topic of a class led by Jay Johnson, a consultant with the Grant County Noxious Weed Control Board, Tuesday. The Noxious Weed Control Board, as its name would suggest, is tasked with keeping weeds under control in Grant County. That’s not a small job; the board’s website lists 129 species of noxious weeds that are found around Grant County. A noxious weed is defined as an invasive, non-native plant that threatens agricultural crops, local ecosystems or fish and wildlife habitat, according to the Noxious Weed Control Board. Washington state law requires that these weeds be identified and their spread kept to a minimum, if not completely eradicated. “We’re one of those agencies a lot of people don’t really understand,” Johnson said. “We’re a county office and … our funding is tax-based assessment. When you get your tax bill and you look down at all the expenses that you pay for, there we are.”

Confluence awards grants to local nonprofits

WENATCHEE — Confluence Health and Wenatchee Valley Medical Group have awarded grants to two organizations serving the Basin through the 2026 Confluence Health and Wenatchee Valley Medical Group Community Health Partnership Fund, Confluence announced Monday. “Every year, these grants highlight the incredible work being done across North Central Washington to improve the health and well-being of our community,” Confluence CEO Dr. Andrew Jones wrote in the announcement. “We are proud to support organizations that are creating meaningful change, strengthening local resources, and making a lasting difference for the people they serve.”

BASIN EVENTS: Oct. 16-24

COLUMBIA BASIN — Whether you feel like shopping, crafting, learning or seeing a show, there’s something happening for you this week in the Basin. Oct. 16 ‘My Family (Mi Familia)’ screening Spanning three generations, “My Family (Mi Familia)” is a heartfelt drama that follows the Sánchez family as they build their lives in East Los Angeles. Through love, hardship, triumph, and sacrifice, the film explores the immigrant experience, the strength of family bonds, and the traditions that connect one generation to the next. Lowrider show and taco truck before the screening. Sponsored by Columbia Basin Allied Arts, EDUBS C/S and the Moses Lake Creative District. $12 per person. Doors open at 6 p.m., film begins at 7 p.m. at the Moses Lake Civic Center Auditorium, 401 S. Balsam St. Tickets and info: www.cba-arts.org.

Pumpkin patch sprouts at Clickit RV lot in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — There’s a new pumpkin patch, sort of, out near I-90 east of Moses Lake. “We’ve got five bins of pumpkins, about 300 of them,” said ClickIt RV Finance Manager Jen Lonas. “If we give them all away, we’ll get more. We’ve got some bagged candy to give the kids as well.” Clickit RV had a corner of its lot covered in pumpkins, about 5,000 pounds of them, Tuesday morning, and workers were setting up hay bales, decorations and games for the kids in preparation for the patch opening on Friday.

‘Dignity, compassion and grace’

New Crossroads director announces expansion plans at banquet

MOSES LAKE — Crossroads Resource Center introduced its new leader at the fundraising banquet Saturday night. “As much as I love this ministry and I love all the people involved in this ministry, I'm just not the person to move it forward,” said outgoing Executive Director Carol Knopp. “The board of directors has hired Cristie Bingham to be the new executive director. I fully support that, and I believe she will do an excellent job.” The event was Crossroads’ annual fundraiser banquet, held at the Grant County Fairgrounds. Chuck Yarbro Jr. served as the MC, and Top Gun catered a prime rib and chicken cordon bleu dinner. This year’s guest speaker was bioethicist and author Scott Klusendorf, who discussed arguments for and against abortion. The amount of money raised Saturday wasn’t available Monday, Bingham said.

Home Center celebrates new owners with ribbon-cutting, grand reopening

MOSES LAKE — The owners of the Home Center made their takeover of the business official Friday with a ribbon-cutting and a grand reopening Friday.

Halloween events around the Basin

COLUMBIA BASIN — Halloween is creeping up on us, and our local communities have safe, fun ways for little ghosties and ghoulies to show off their costumes and collect candy. More events are always being added, so we’ll update this list online as the date gets closer. All events are family-friendly and free to the public unless otherwise noted.

Fall is time to clean out the garden and get ready for next year

MOSES LAKE — 2026 is at that awkward stage; the days are still almost summer-warm, but the nights are beginning to get chilly. That means there’s a lot to accomplish before winter comes howling to our door. “It’s time to start cleaning up your garden,” said Columbia Basin Garden Club President Valerie Parrott. “Spent annuals, most vegetable plants, tomato plants, it’s time to pull them up … It’s time to start harvesting your carrots, too, and dig your potatoes. You don’t want your potatoes to freeze.”

One for the books

Literary-themed auction raises funds for Boys & Girls Club

MOSES LAKE — The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin’s 31st annual dinner and auction was a literary mishmash Saturday, where Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter mingled with the Cat in the Hat, the Dread Pirate Roberts and Buttercup and denizens of Middle-Earth. “We’re bringing books to life,” said Resource Development Director Nicole Jackson, who did the lion’s share of planning the event. “Our vision from the get-go was to look out in the banquet hall and see books come to life around every table.” One of the items traditionally auctioned off at the event is the right to select the next year’s theme, and last year Chuck Yarbro Auctioneers won that right. The theme they chose was “The Enchanted Library.”

BASIN EVENTS: Oct. 9-17

COLUMBIA BASIN — The days are warm, the nights are getting chilly and there are plenty of chances to get out and about. Here are a few.

Columbia Basin Foundation marks 30 years of charitable work

MOSES LAKE — The Columbia Basin Foundation celebrated its 30th birthday Sunday with a party at ENZO in Moses Lake. “Each of you comes to CBF for a different purpose,” Executive Director Corinne Isaak told the assembly. “Sometimes it’s sad, sometimes it’s a happy time. But we all come together for a common purpose: to be charitable (and) to make an impact.” The Columbia Basin Foundation is a nonprofit organization that serves as a vehicle of charitable giving, Isaak said in an informational video shown at the celebration that described the foundation’s history and work.

Kiwanis raise money for foster children

The Moses Lake Kiwanis Club recently presented a $14,400 donation to the Community Family Services Foundation, representing proceeds from the club’s 2026 annual golf tournament held in June, according to a Kiwanis announcement. Funds raised through the tournament will support the Foundation’s work serving individuals and families navigating foster care throughout Grant County, the club wrote.

Wilson Creek harvests some community fun

WILSON CREEK — Whatever Wilson Creek’s Harvest Festival may have lacked in fancy, large-scale attractions, it more than made up for in good community fun. “It’s just kind of a ‘Relax, have fun, visit with your neighbor’ (way) to bring the community together,” said Shirley Billings, leader of the committee that organizes the festival. The committee consisted of about 12 people, Billings said, and they could be easily spotted around town by their bright orange shirts. The fun was all home-grown and mostly free, including a fun run that also included plenty of people walking and ambling, and a parade that ran down the length of Railroad Street, Wilson Creek’s main drag.

Alzheimer’s Walk raises money for dementia research

MOSES LAKE — A record number of people turned out at McCosh Park Sept. 19 to do their part in fighting dementia through the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. “We had a wonderful number of participants,” said Julie Reathaford, walk manager for the Alzheimer’s Association, who is based in Tri-Cities and organizes the Moses Lake walk. “We had more people than we’ve ever had.” The number of participants on the Walk to End Alzheimer’s website is 236, but a lot of people registered the day of the event, Reathaford said. Those registrations had to be sent to Seattle to be processed, and the final numbers aren’t back yet. The same applies to the funds raised at the walk. The website showed $32,480 raised, or 72% of a $45,000 goal, as of Monday but donations are still coming in, Reathaford said, and will continue to until the end of the year.

SENIOR EVENTS: October 2026

COLUMBIA BASIN — There’s plenty happening for seniors in the Basin this month: live music, crafts and lots of spooky fun to share with the grand-ghouls.

Garcia, Dent share views on representation and rural challenges

EPHRATA — Voters in Washington's 13th Legislative District will choose between an experienced incumbent and a first-time challenger as they decide who will represent them in the state House of Representatives. Republican Tom Dent, who has represented the district since 2015, is seeking another term against Democrat Juan "Jerry" Garcia. The 13th Legislative District spans all or portions of Grant, Adams, Kittitas, Yakima and Lincoln counties, covering a large section of rural Central Washington. As voters prepare to cast their ballots in the Nov. 3 general election, the Columbia Basin Herald asked both candidates a series of questions about the issues facing the district and the state Legislature. Their responses will be published as part of a two-part Q&A series leading up to Election Day.

Hiring event connects job seekers with jobs

MOSES LAKE — At least one person came away very happy from the Fall Hiring Event and Resource Fair at WorkSource Central Basin Friday. “It was reported to me about 15 minutes ago that someone got hired today,” said Crysie Kluth, business services and employment specialist for the Washington State Employment Security Department. Hirings on the spot aren’t the norm, she added, but it does happen. The hiring event is a twice-a-year combined effort of WorkSource, OIC of Washington, SkillSource, Big Bend Community College and other entities. More than 20 employers set up tables inside the WorkSource building to accept resumes and talk with job seekers, and space was set aside for job seekers to touch up and print their resumes, with help from workforce professionals. Outside the building entities like the Department of Social and Health Services offered help with other community resources, breaking down some of the barriers people often face when they’re job hunting.

Youth Dynamics auction to have ’80s theme

MOSES LAKE — It’s time to acid-wash the jeans, dig out the leg warmers and go wild with the hairspray at Youth Dynamics’ banquet and auction Oct. 17. The theme is “Back to the ’80s,” and attendees are encouraged to dress as their favorite movie characters from that era, according to Moses Lake Youth Dynamics Director Sean Sallis. Tickets are available until Oct. 10, Sallis said. There are still plenty available, but so far this year’s event is more popular than ever, he said. “As of (Thursday), we’ve sold 23 tables, and we’ve never sold that many tables by Oct. 1,” Sallis said. “(At last year’s auction), there were a lot of new people who had never been to our auction before, who had been invited to a table, and some of those people are now buying their own table with their friends.” Dinner will be prime rib catered by Firehouse Barbecue, followed by a dessert dash with a sweet treat for each table, Sallis said. There will be a photo booth and mocktails by Eleventh Hour. The event is alcohol-free, he said.

Summit to explore cybersecurity at local level Wednesday

MOSES LAKE — The digital world is sometimes described as being like the Wild West, and like the American frontier of bygone days, it’s filled both with opportunities for a better life and dangers lurking in the dark corners. Avoiding those dangers will be the focus of a free summit at Big Bend Community College Wednesday. “Everybody’s affected by cybersecurity,” said David Mabee, marketing director for NCW Tech Alliance, which supports technology adoption and education in north central Washington. “It’s not just an IT issue; it’s an everyday issue, with all the different ways people are trying to get your information.”