JOEL MARTIN

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.

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.

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.”

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.”

Basin home prices up overall

MOSES LAKE — Home prices were up across most of the Columbia Basin in August, the latest month for which information was available, compared to a year earlier, according to data from the real estate website Redfin. The median price of a home in Quincy was $406,658 in August 2026, an increase of 11.3% from August 2026. Ephrata saw an increase of 13.8% to $369,755, and Moses Lake posted a modest increase of 3.1% to $362,760. Othello’s median home price, however, was down 27.2% year-over-year, finishing at $256,200 in August 2026.

BASIN EVENTS: Oct. 2-10, 2026

COLUMBIA BASIN — It’s October, and the spooky season is just around the corner. Meanwhile, check out some of the goings-on in the Basin this week.

Ephrata man arrested near Quincy

QUINCY — An Ephrata man was booked into the Grant County Jail Wednesday on suspicion of second-degree burglary and resisting arrest after being sought for alleged burglaries and other offenses committed in the Ephrata and Coulee Dam areas. Cody Miller, 34, was also booked for attempting to elude law enforcement and two Grant County District Court warrants, said Kyle Foreman, public information officer for the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, in a media release. “They’ve been looking for him for a bit,” Foreman said in a separate interview. Miller ran from Quincy Police Department officers Wednesday morning, Foreman said.

Flannel Fest brings back the sounds of the ’90s this weekend

MOSES LAKE — The organizers of Flannel Fest are turning up the heat this year. Literally. “One of the things we noticed last year was that after about six o’clock it got pretty chilly,” said Grant County Fairgrounds Director Jim McKiernan. “So we invested in some big propane heaters. We’ll have heaters in the bar building and for the pit in front of the stage.” Flannel Fest starts Friday at the Grant County Fairgrounds, featuring tribute bands that reproduce the grunge and alt-rock sounds that defined the 1990s.

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.

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.

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.

‘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.