JOEL MARTIN

Hispanic cultures blend at UMANI

MOSES LAKE — The range of cultures represented in downtown Moses Lake was broad: Mexican, Caribbean and South American performers stood side-by-side with U.S. Chicano lowriders and West Coast rap at the annual UMANI festival, a celebration of Hispanic life. “The streets are full, the vibes are good, the music’s great and the cars are stunning,” said Shawn Cardwell, executive director of Columbia Basin Allied Arts, which puts on UMANI every September.

Moses Lake DAR regent honored as Outstanding Junior

MOSES LAKE — Stephanie Massart, regent of the Moses Lake-based Karneetsa Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, was honored earlier this year with the Washington State Outstanding Junior Award by the DAR, according to a press release from the chapter. The award is given to active DAR members 18-35 years old who demonstrate service that is above and beyond, according to the DAR website. “It’s really a big deal because they recognize younger women who have a lot going on – career, families – and they want to illuminate those individuals who are giving of their time not only to the (DAR) but in their communities,” Massart said. Each chapter nominates an individual member, Massart said, and those are entered in the state competition. From there, the state nominees compete at the national level, where the field is narrowed down to eight finalists, one of whom this year was Massart. The final winner was Sasha Atherton Quillin of Maryland, according to an announcement from the DAR.

Calm under pressure

Quick-thinking CBTECH students save life in Sinkiuse Square

MOSES LAKE — Some Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center students saved a life Sept. 19. “We were there volunteering with the (Walk to End Alzheimer’s), and we were pulling up the back end,” said CBTECH Medical Assistant Instructor Rachael Buchanan. “One of our welding students tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘Nurse Rachael, I think someone needs help.’ And there was a guy lying in the grass at Sinkiuse Square, very gray, in an unnatural position.” Buchanan had a contingent of about 35 students, she said, two of whom had been in her class the year before and were now in the certified nursing assistant program.

'This is where I want to be'

New CEO excited by Boys & Girls Club mission

MOSES LAKE — The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin’s new leader has found her happy place, said Jill Smith, who took over as CEO Sept. 1 “What really sealed the deal for me was touring the clubhouse for the first time and meeting some of the team members,” said Smith. "They were amazing. People came up and introduced themselves to me; they weren’t expected to, they were just that kind. My first day of work, two people brought me flowers. How cool is that?”

BASIN EVENTS: October 2026

COLUMBIA BASIN — The days are getting shorter and the eerie time of year is creeping up on us. Here are a few things happening in October.

Insurance rates won’t go up in wake of 2026 wildfires

MOSES LAKE — Almost three-fifths of American homeowners have concerns about their insurance rates going up due to wildfires, according to a study by the insurance website LendingTree.com. But Moses Lake insurance agent Chris Arnberg said we don’t have much to worry about in the Columbia Basin. “I don't think we’ll see rates going up,” said Arnberg, who represents American Family Insurance. “If you're purchasing a home that's nowhere near any kind of potential wildfire, then your rates shouldn't go up more than inflation.”

QVHS to step back in time this weekend

QUINCY — The Quincy Valley Historical Museum will be a time warp this weekend, taking folks back to the founding of the country. “Every other year we do a harvest festival, a celebration of harvest and culture,” said Harriet Weber, executive director of the Quincy Valley Historical Society. “This year we expanded it to three days for America 250.” On Friday evening the museum will host “An Evening with George and John,” with actors portraying George Washington and John Hancock.

‘All in for Moses Lake’

School Resource Officer Cpl. Ray Lopez retires from MLPD

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Police Department waved a regretful goodbye to Cpl. Ray Lopez Wednesday. “He’s a great ambassador for this organization in the community,” said MLPD Chief David Sands. “He’s all in for Moses Lake.” “Ray is Moses Lake,” said MLPD Public Information Officer Capt. Mike Williams. “He grew up here, he knows everyone and he is absolutely passionate about the community.” Lopez retired Wednesday after a career that spanned 40 years, first in the U.S. Army and then at Connell Police Department and the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office before coming home to Moses Lake in 2001, according to an announcement from the MLPD.

Masquers’ ‘Anastasia: The Musical’ to open Oct. 16

SOAP LAKE — The Masquers Theater’s production of “Anastasia: The Musical” will open Oct. 16, according to an announcement from the theater. The play will star Emma-Jean Wydur as the title character, with Ben McLain, Jeremy Hansen, Alec Lobe, Christy McLain and Auti Kirk in supporting roles, according to a previous announcement from the Masquers. Rachel and Stacey Bresee are directing, and Clark Dalton is the music director.

Library activities for October 2026

COLUMBIA BASIN — There’s plenty happening this month for all ages at your local library. Coulee City 218 W Main St. – 509-632-8751 Oct. 2, 9, 16 and 23 (Fridays): Preschool Storytime | 11 a.m. Half an hour of stories, songs, rhymes, and fun. This program is designed for preschool-age children and their adult

Bluegrass musicians strike a chord with George students

GEORGE — George Elementary students get an earful of something new Thursday.

Small town, big fun

Wilson Creek prepares for Harvest Festival Oct. 3

WILSON CREEK — It’s a big festival for one of the smallest towns in Grant County. “The town was full,” said Shirley Billings, a member of the informal committee that puts the Wilson Creek Harvest Festival together. “There was no parking anywhere.” The 2025 festival brought 200-300 people out to downtown Wilson Creek, Billings said. Wilson Creek’s population is about 200, according to the U.S. Census. This year’s festival, which happens Oct. 3, is an all-day affair, according to the schedule put out by the committee. The day will begin with a biscuits-and-gravy breakfast at 7 a.m., followed by a fun run at 8 a.m. that starts and ends at Town Hall. The term “fun run” isn’t exactly accurate, Billings said.

Rotarians step up to clean highway

MOSES LAKE — The Rotary Club of Moses Lake spent some time Wednesday making the roadside look better. “We’re just trying to make the community look better, more attractive,” said club President Sean Jenks. “The city was asking for volunteers to come help around town, and we thought it would be a great opportunity to jump in and take part in that.” About 25 volunteers and a few workers from the city of Moses Lake were on the south side of SR 17 at the Stratford Road interchange Wednesday morning, picking up trash in the tall grass. The group planned to spend about two hours on the project, Jenks said.

Cool weather, warm spirit at Moses Lake’s National Night Out

MOSES LAKE — The weather is a little cooler than a month ago, but that didn’t stop a good-sized crowd from coming downtown for National Night Out Tuesday. “(The people who came out) got to see the weather just like we did, and I’m sure they were like, really?” said Moses Lake Police Chief David Sands. “But they came out, so we’re very appreciative.” National Night Out is held nationwide on or around the first Tuesday of August, but this year the smoke from wildfires across eastern Washington made it less than fun to be outside, so the Moses Lake, Quincy and Ephrata police departments all postponed their events. The turnout was a little thinner than in previous years, Sands said; in addition to the fall weather, school had started, and many families had after-school activities.

BASIN EVENTS: Sept. 18-26

COLUMBIA BASIN — It’s officially fall, with cooler temperatures and shorter days. Here are a few things to occupy your week.

Listings up, sales down in the Basin

MOSES LAKE — Washington home buyers had more to choose from this year, according to data released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which tracks real estate trends in 27 of Washington’s 39 counties. Active listings in Washington increased 22% between August 2025 and August 2026, according to the NWMLS data. The growth during that time was much less in the Basin; Grant County active listings rose 10.98% and only 7.1% in Adams County. Compared to July 2026, August active listings held fairly steady in Grant County, rising 2.44%. Adams County active listings rose from 49 in July to 58 in August.

Horizon employees give back to community

MOSES LAKE — The team at Horizon Credit Union took some time away from the office Tuesday to tackle a different line of work. “We’ve been doing this for about 10 years,” said Branch Manager Anthony Morris. “We close our branch down at noon and then we spend about four or five hours donating our time to the community.” The effort was part of Horizon’s “Go. Give. Grow.” event, in which all branches closed for half a day so employees could volunteer at a local nonprofit. Eight Moses Lake branch employees spent their afternoon at the Moses Lake Food Bank, sorting and packaging fresh produce. “We just got done bagging plums, cherries, peaches, tomatoes,” said Pieper Hansen, who was sealing bananas in plastic with coworkers Mary Garza and Rachel Buckle.

‘Lost and Found’

Husband and wife open two-artist show at MAC

MOSES LAKE — An exhibit opening Friday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center is a team effort. “'Lost and Found’ brings together the work of Robin and Scott Mayberry in an exploration of loss, renewal, and rediscovery,” the museum wrote in an announcement of the exhibit. “Through layered abstract and representational works, many of which are created in encaustic, the artists consider what is obscured, what is revealed, and what remains as we find our way back to ourselves.” The husband-and-wife artist duo have noticeably different styles to their painting, but the pieces in “Lost and Found” fit together, Scott Mayberry said.

UMANI brings music, dance and more Sept. 26

MOSES LAKE — There are some great performances coming up at the UMANI festival next week, Columbia Basin Allied Arts Director Shawn Cardwell said. “We have CeAtl Tonalli coming back for our opening ceremony,” Cardwell said. “We’re closing the night with Bishop Snow. He’s a performer out of the San Diego area who’s really well-known in the lowrider community. He’s sort of our headliner.” Snow is a rapper of Black and Mexican ancestry, according to a social media post from CBAA, blending old-school West Coast influences with modern hip-hop. CeAtl Tonalli, which has performed at UMANI in the past, is a Seattle-based troupe that demonstrates authentic Aztec dance and traditions. Another regular guest at UMANI, Mariachi Huenachi, carries with it the Mexican mariachi tradition.

BASIN EVENTS Sept. 11-19 2026

COLUMBIA BASIN — Wherever you are in the Columbia Basin, there’s probably something fun happening near you. Here are a few possibilities.

Quincy National Night Out scales down

QUINCY — Quincy’s National Night Out was more compact this year, which worked out well, said QPD Sgt. Joe Westby, who’s in charge of event planning for the Quincy Police Department. “National Night Out is a big event, and the fact that we’re able to shrink it up is like a breath of fresh air,” Westby said. “If you're always doing the same thing, it's kind of nice to switch things up and see how it works.” National Night Out took place Thursday on the block of C Street next to the police station, a shift from previous years when it was held at Lauzier Park. The smaller space meant fewer emergency vehicles for children to explore, but it also meant less walking for attendees. Grant County Fire District 5 brought a fire truck, and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office had a patrol boat. Renew, the Grant County behavioral health agency, had a booth and so did Quincy Partnership for Youth. Veterans Operation Creation sang the national anthem, and the Quincy Animal Shelter brought kittens that piled over each other making friends with passersby. As before, the QPD served grilled hot dogs.

Quincy Police retirements leave big shoes to fill

QUINCY — There are some big shoes to fill at the Quincy Police Department. “We’re losing 48 years of experience between them,” Quincy Police Chief Ryan Green said at the retirement party for Capt. Jorge Trujillo and Det. Damon Powell Thursday. Trujillo, who grew up in Sunnyside, has been with QPD for 19 years, he said, coming on as a patrol officer fresh out of the military. From there he served as a field training officer, a detective and finally captain. “I consider him my left-hand man,” Green said. “He runs the operations side of the house … He knows the agency very well, and he knows the community.” Trujillo has some projects around the house to tackle now that he’s retired, he said.

Big fun on a small scale

Wheat Land Communities’ Fair opens Thursday

RITZVILLE — The Wheat Land Communities’ Fair isn’t as big or as flashy as some of the county fairs around central Washington, but the folks who keep it going like it just the way it is. “It’s somewhere you can go and get an old-time traditional feeling, and you’re comfortable letting your kids roam the grounds and experience all that it has to offer,” said Board Member Lori Williams. “It’s more of a feeling than (one) specific thing,” The fair starts Thursday in Ritzville and runs through Sunday. Starting Friday, the 56th Ritzville Rodeo will take place alongside the fair at the rodeo grounds. This year the entertainment budget was expanded, Williams said, to be able to offer more fun that’s covered by the cost of admission. For the kids, there’s face painting, balloon art, Lego crafts, races, contests and games. Children can also ride on a little train towed around the fairgrounds behind a tractor.

Choosing plants for a drought-resistant garden

MOSES LAKE — Heritage gardens, with native, drought-resistant plants, aren’t just nice to look at, they’re economical, and they make a difference when the water bill rolls around, said Columbia Basin Conservation District Conservation Director Dinah Rouleau at a class hosted jointly by the CBCD and Habitat for Humanity Aug. 11.

BASIN EVENTS September 2026

COLUMBIA BASIN — The summer is over, and it’s time to start the fall festivities. Here’s a taste of what awaits you in September.

Back-to-school event includes free eye exams and glasses

MOSES LAKE — When the new school year starts, some Moses Lake children will be able to see the front of the classroom a little more clearly, after a free event Monday. “Anyone in the community can get vision screening; if they need it, they can get prescription eyeglasses mailed to them at home,” said Coordinated Care CEO Beth Johnson.

School supply giveaway helps Scout earn Eagle status

MOSES LAKE — A lot of work went into the bags of school supplies that were being given away at the Boys & Girls Club in Moses Lake Monday. “I went around town with some of the other Boy Scouts in Troop 75 asking for donations at EDUBS C/S and B’s Barbershop and other places downtown,” said Francisco Guerra Campos, 17, of Moses Lake. “And a few days later The Home Depot lent us some boxes that we could set up at (businesses) to get donations from their customers … Some other people donated money, and we went to Walmart and bought the stuff with the donations.” The giveaway is Guerra Campos’ Eagle Scout project, one of the steps toward achieving Scouting’s highest honor. Besides the project, to be an Eagle Scout, a scout must earn at least 21 merit badges – 13 in required areas and eight additional elective badges – as well as holding leadership positions in the troop, according to the Scouting America website. And all that has to be completed before his 18th birthday, which in Guerra Campos’ case is next spring.

Tent revival coming to Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Blue Heron Park in Moses Lake will be abuzz with faith next week, when Glory Cloud Crusade holds its annual tent revival. “It’s like having church, but under a tent,” said Nini English, one of the organizers of the event. “We’re uniting the Moses Lake community to worship God and bring hope to the community.” Glory Cloud Crusade partners with about a dozen local churches and ministries to put on the five-day event, which involves services every evening Sept. 2-4, and two on Sept. 5 and 6. The event’s name is taken from a passage in the Book of Exodus, in which God showed his presence by covering the Israelites’ tabernacle, or sacred tent, with a cloud.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.