JOEL MARTIN
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves.
Recent Stories
Business Expo showcases an expanding community
MOSES LAKE — The signs of construction were everywhere at Tuesday’s Business Expo: fluorescent vests, orange shirts, barrier tape and even a traffic cone wandering around the show.
Madcap murder
‘Clue: On Stage’ opens Friday at MLHS
MOSES LAKE — If you’re looking for a calm, slow-paced play, “Clue: On Stage” ain’t it. The comic farce, based on the 1985 movie which in turn was based on the classic board game, careens from one surprise and plot twist to another at breakneck speed, which makes it a challenge to stage.
Van donated to Boys and Girls Clubs
MOSES LAKE — The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin received some new wheels last week, thanks to Group14 and the Moses Lake Elks Lodge. “I swear, it was like the stars aligned,” said Kim Pope, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club.
Betty Wallschlaeger looks back on a century
EPHRATA — Betty Wallschlaeger got an early start. “I was a six-month baby, and I fit in the palm of (my mother’s) hand,” she said. “They didn't know how much I weighed, because they didn't want to handle me too much. But I was in an incubator for eight weeks.”
Business community comes together at Othello Chamber auction
OTHELLO — The parish hall at Sacred Heart Catholic Church was transformed Friday night as the Greater Othello Chamber of Commerce held its annual fundraiser banquet and auction. “This is our one and only fundraiser that we have for the year,” said Chamber Manager Jackie Wilhelm. “The money that we raise goes back into the community.”
Balance class helps seniors avoid falls
OTHELLO — There are few things more frightening to seniors than the possibility of a bad fall. Besides the obvious potential for serious injury, there’s a feeling of helplessness that comes with vulnerability to falling and a very real fear of being stranded and unable to get help. A free class called A Matter of Balance starting in Othello today can help.
Home and Garden Show kicks off spring in Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE — It was only an hour into the two-day show, and already there was a pretty sizable crowd at the third annual Columbia Basin Home and Garden Show Friday. “We always have a good turnout on Friday and Saturday,” said Lisa Villegas, owner of Seed Cupboard Nursery in Royal City and the organizer of the show. “Saturday is usually about twice as busy, but Friday’s always good.”
Columbia Basin Herald intern has a passion for politics
MOSES LAKE — Elizah Lourdes Rendorio didn’t really know what to expect from the Columbia Basin. “I was a little bit scared, I'm not gonna lie,” she said. “I just knew that my audience is very different from the people that I usually write to, or the people that I surround myself with or grew up with. So. I was definitely hesitant at first. I was scared that I was going to (upset) the wrong people, but I haven't. People have been very receptive, and I don't think there was any reason for me to be scared.”
Gun show comes to fairgrounds this weekend
MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Fairgrounds will be the place to be March 8-9 for firearms enthusiasts, both serious buyers and the folks who just like to look. “I have dealers that come in and set up and (others) are just collectors,” said promoter Reon Warren, owner of Northwest Gun Shows, which puts on the show twice a year at the Grant County Fairgrounds. “They're not really dealers, per se. They like to come in and talk guns and show off what they have.”
Show of skill
CBTECH students to vie at state vocational competition
MOSES LAKE — It seems like everybody is talking about students going to state. Wrestling, basketball, swimming – all the state tournaments have been a topic of discussion. But not every state competition involves coaches and locker rooms.
ART OF BARBERS
MOSES LAKE – Owners Jose and Marina Bernal, with their daughter Sofia, cut the ribbon on their new barbershop, Art of Barbers, in Moses Lake, surrounded by staff members (from left): Marco Martinez, barber; Isaac Suarez, Santiago Suarez Collection; Giceramy Machacon; Franley Paniagua, barber; Ishrael Arriaga, hair stylist;Brianna Salazar-Martine, barber; Juan Aguilar, barber. Not pictures: Kevin Koker andAngel Diaz.
Bill would expand covenant home ownership, forgive outstanding loans
OLYMPIA — The move toward rectifying Washington’s history of racial segregation in housing could expand, under a bill filed in this year’s legislative session by Rep. Jamilla Taylor, D-Federal Way. HB 1696, sponsored by Taylor and 41 other representatives, would increase the income cap specified in the Covenant Homeownership Program.
Casting time: Trout fishing opens Saturday on some local lakes
MOSES LAKE — There may still be piles of snow around the Basin, but one spring milestone is rapidly approaching: the opening of trout season. About two dozen lakes in Eastern Washington will open Saturday for trout fishing, according to an announcement from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Most other lakes open the fourth Saturday of April, which this year falls on April 26.
Peak Sneaks looks to grow in Ephrata
EPHRATA — Some people aren’t very picky when it comes to what they wear on their feet. But for those who want to walk around in the good stuff, Ephrata now has what they need.
On the air
Ham radio operators celebrate George Washington’s birthday with global event
GEORGE — The first president of the United States was wished a happy birthday around the world over the weekend. “We contacted over 500 people all over the place,” said Brian Nielson, one of the organizers of the Columbia Basin DX Club’s ham radio event at the George Community Hall. Saturday would have been Washington’s 293rd birthday, and the club has held the event in George to mark the date for 20 years. Woody Jacobson was working the microphone Friday, chatting with ham radio enthusiasts up and down the West Coast. Beside him, Mike Wren looked up the call signs of the people who responded in an online database, so Jacobson could have a name and location to attach to the voice coming out of the speaker. Every so often Jacobson would push a button and play a recorded message into the microphone.
Band formed out of loss comes home to Ephrata
EPHRATA — The boys – and girl – are back in town. The band Millergold, four of whose members graduated from Ephrata High School, will perform two shows in their hometown this weekend. The first show will be Friday evening at Ephrata High School’s Performing Arts Center, and the second will be Saturday at 12 Hawks Sports Bar & Grill. “We did Cabaret at (EHS) and really loved music,” said Nate Elliott, the band’s bass player and a 2015 EHS graduate. “We did choir, and then kind of went our separate ways for about 10 years.”
Sphinx Virtuosi to bring little-known music to Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE — Some of the best classical music talent in the country will visit Moses Lake when Sphinx Virtuosi plays the Wallenstien Theater Saturday. “We are so pleased and honored to have them come to our small town stage,” said Shawn Cardwell, executive director of Columbia Basin Allied Arts, which is presenting the concert. “These guys are touring the nation right now, showcasing the artists that are part of the group, as well as the artists who wrote the music that they play.” The Sphinx Virtuosi is made up of 18 of the nation’s top Black and Hispanic artists selected to showcase classical music by historically ignored minority composers, according to the website of the Sphinx Organization. The Sphinx Virtuosi have performed with the New York Philharmonic, with symphony orchestras from all over the United States, and are a regular highlight at Carnegie Hall.
FIRST RESPONDER FOCUS: Josh Bronn
Royal SRO brings a safe presence to school
ROYAL CITY — One thing most people can agree on is that schools shouldn’t be dangerous places, especially in a small town. But they can be, especially with undesirable elements in schools. “In typical school fights, you’d have a couple of kids fighting, and then everyone’s gathered around and they’re cheering them on,” said Royal City Police Officer Josh Bronn, who’s the school resource officer for the Royal School District. “But in these fights, the kids were wearing their gang attire. They dropped their backpacks and everyone else would leave. They scattered like ‘We don’t want to be involved in this.’”
Building business
Construction the theme of the Moses Lake Business Expo
MOSES LAKE — It’s hardly a secret that Moses Lake is growing, and that’s why this year’s Business Expo March 4 will have a construction theme.
Moses Lake student sings national anthem at Mat Classic
TACOMA — Nearly 300 schools were at the first day of the Mat Classic wrestling tournament at the Tacoma Dome Thursday, with thousands of wrestlers, parents, coaches and fans. But one voice cut through the air at the opening ceremonies, and that voice belonged to a Moses Lake Maverick.
Homegrown support
Mattawa auction exceeds all expectations, raises more than $10,000
MATTAWA — In a world where Murphy’s Law always seems to lurk around the corner, it’s nice when things go better than planned. Like the first annual Sven Legacy Foundation fundraiser auction in Mattawa Saturday. “(It went) a lot better than anticipated,” said Lars Leland, one of the organizers of the event. “I was a bit panicked, since it was our first event … I was expecting 30, 40 people (and) we had over 110 people show up.”
Hall Sisters to perform in Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE — The tight, soaring harmonies of the Hall Sisters will fill the Wallenstien Theater March 24. “They’re dynamic,” said Judy Twigg, vice president of the Central Basin Community Concert Association, which is sponsoring the show. “They are one in a million. They’re four sisters who have been singing since they were young girls.” The Hall Sisters – Jessica, Natalie, Lydia and Valerie – come from North Carolina and grew up in a home filled with music, according to their online information. Their music combines heart-wrenching ballads and instrumentals, fiery Irish fiddle tunes, and country classics sprinkled with some pop.
Plastic bags are a good way to sow before the spring weather comes
MOSES LAKE — Winter may be wheezing out its last gasps, but we’re still a ways off from time to put most spring plants outdoors. Seeds can be planted ahead of time in milk jugs or ice cube trays, but there’s a third medium that’s had some success: plastic resealable bags. “You can start sweet peas in bags,” said Valerie Parrott, president of the Columbia Basin Garden Club. “You can start a lot of winter sowing things putting them in the (plastic) bags. Just line them up outside.” The bags should be filled with some sort of absorbent material. Parrott uses potting soil, but moss, coffee filters or towels are also options, according to the website Gardening Tips and Tools.
Mechatronics Meltdown: BBCC event highlights technology with fun
MOSES LAKE — Fans of the future will want to be at Big Bend Community College Saturday for Mechatronics Meltdown. “A lot of people don’t know that we actually have robots here at Big Bend,” said Mechatronics Club advisor Justin Henley.
A century of service
Key Club youth service organization turns 100
MOSES LAKE — One of the most active service organizations in America is turning 100 this year, and most of its members haven’t even turned 18. “Key Club is all about service and helping the community,” said Pedro Lopez, who’s the Key Club district governor for Moses Lake High School’s chapter. There are also chapters at Vanguard Academy and Ephrata High School, he said.
Treasure troves
Appraisal fair lets folks find out what their heirlooms really are
MOSES LAKE — It’s sometimes said that one person’s trash is another’s treasure, but sometimes people have treasures stashed away that they haven’t thought about in years. The Moses Lake Creative District will give those folks a chance to find out from a professional what they really have in that attic.
Boys & Girls Clubs, Ross Stores partner for homework support
MOSES LAKE — The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin is getting an annual boost this month from a local retailer. Ross in Moses Lake is raising money for the children’s resource in a special event called “Help Local Kids Thrive.” This is the seventh year the store has supported the program in Moses Lake, according to BGCCB Resource Development Director Anastasia Carpenter “This program sponsors our Power Hour, academic support for our club members,” Carpenter said.
Home market moving, but affordability still iffy
MOSES LAKE — The housing market is moving faster than a year ago in Washington, but affordability is still up in the air, according to data released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service for January. Active listings increased 44.6% between January 2024 and January 2025 in the 26 Washington counties covered by the NWMLS data. Grant County had one of the largest rates of increase in the state at 48.8%, but Adams County, with its much smaller population, dipped very slightly.
Moore Brewing to go full funny Friday
MOSES LAKE — A good laugh can be found in the strangest of places. And like a dog sniffing out a dropped piece of steak, Michael Glatzmaier knows exactly where to look. “Right before the show, people get to write suggestions on a piece of paper,” said Glatzmaier, who will perform twice Friday at Moore Brewing Company in Moses Lake. “Then throughout the show I pull those slips of paper out of a bucket – I don’t know what’s on them – and then I have to try to create an improvised comedy song on the spot based off those suggestions.”
GALLERY: A day at the Spokane Ag Show
SPOKANE – Thursday was FFA Day at the Spokane Ag Show, and students from all over Eastern Washington came to check out the exhibits, attend a career expo and hear a presentation by podcaster and TV personality Rob Sharkey, better known as the Sharkfarmer.
Basin Events for the week of Feb. 7-14, 2025
COLUMBIA BASIN — In this weather it might seem like the only thing do is to hunker down under a heap of blankets, but for those willing to bundle up and brave the wind there’s a whole world of fun out there. Here are a few suggestions:
Bill to protect seniors’ roommate options considered in Olympia
OLYMPIA — The Washington State Legislature took a step last week toward making senior housing costs more stable. House Bill 1204, which passed the House Housing Committee Jan. 30, would allow residents of senior mobile and manufactured home communities to have at least one roommate, as long as that roommate also meets the age requirements of the park. “It’s a national problem with mobile homes, especially senior mobile home communities, that the properties are being purchased, and in some instances, there has been a lack of maintenance and upgrades in the communities,” said State Rep. Carolyn Eslick, R-Sultan, who introduced the bill. “And that new person or corporation starts doing all the work, and then they start increasing the land leases.”
Plant early with milk-jug mini-greenhouses
MOSES LAKE — Some plants are meant to be left in the ground through the winter, and now that it’s February and the ground outside is as hard as week-old peanut brittle, it’s a little late to be planting. Fortunately, there are ways to use milk jugs and even ice cube trays to get planting underway. “Some seeds need to be frozen in order to split their outer shell,” said Valerie Parrott, president of the Columbia Basin Garden Club. “Things like carnations, they really need to be cold. So, you just fill your ice cube tray (with water), dump a few seeds in one, freeze them for two weeks, then you can go outside and plant them, and that will act the same as a cold stratification ... as if they had gone through a lot of hard freeze cycles.”
FIRST RESPONDER FOCUS: Married firefighters save lives together
SOAP LAKE — Lots of couples have a special activity that they share. Some garden together, some do home improvement projects, some do charity or church work. And some, like CW and Emily Forrest, save lives together. “There'll be times at night where she'll have to take off and go to the call and I'll stay with the kids,” said CW Forrest, a firefighter with Grant County Fire District 7. “Or Grandma. My … mom lives with us, so sometimes we'll both be able to go on calls.”
‘Comfort through chaos’
CB Cancer Foundation auction raises money for cancer patients
MOSES LAKE — The worst part of some people’s lives will be their fight with cancer, but the crowd at the Grant County Fairgrounds Saturday night was ready and able to help them through it. The Country Sweethearts benefit banquet and auction brought in more than $300,000 to support cancer patients and their families, according to Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation Executive Director Angel Ledesma. This is the 16th year for the event and the 25th anniversary of the CBCF’s founding, Ledesma said.
'I learned to fly before I learned to drive'
Moses Lake's Betty Warnick stays busy at 100
MOSES LAKE — Betty Warnick, who turned 100 in January, has never been one to sit still, whether it was taking off cross-country for a new job or taking a plane up in the air. “I learned to fly before I learned to drive,” she said.
Music, magic and slippers
Quincy High School prepares to present ‘Cinderella’
QUINCY — One of the most iconic stories of our culture will take the stage Feb. 28, as Quincy High School theater group presents “Cinderella.” It’s the classic tale of a girl who languishes under the cruel eye of her stepmother, bullied by her stepsisters, until her fairy godmother comes along and outfits her for the prince’s ball.
Mary Poppins to host children’s tea party
MOSES LAKE — She’s practically perfect in every way, and next month, some children will get to enjoy her magic in person.
Signing off
Moses Lake Fire Chief Brett Bastian retires after 33 years
MOSES LAKE — A 33-year era ended as Moses Lake Fire Chief Brett Bastian retired Friday. His tenure as firefighter and then chief was celebrated at a small party at the Moses Lake Civic Center. “Chief’s first day of work was April 20, 1992,” said MLFD CARES Coordinator Heather Kok. “The population of Moses Lake at that time was about 12,000 people. Today we're at 25,000, roughly. The jurisdiction for the Moses Lake Fire Department was nine square miles. Today it is 23-ish square miles … They had 14 career firefighters, which is roughly the amount of firefighters that we have on an average day today. The number of apparatus that they had at the time was one engine, one wildland truck (and) a command vehicle that was shared ... Today we have five engines, two ladders, three wildland vehicles, two tenders and a handful of special technology vehicles. And a lot of that has been done in the last five years. So congratulations, Chief. That’s a huge win for our crew.”
Moses Lake museum to showcase preschool artists
MOSES LAKE — The 200-plus artists whose work will go up this week at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center draw their inspiration from many giants in the field: Picasso, Mondrian, Kahlo. What they have in common is that they’re all 3-5 years old.
Home and Garden Show a great place to gear up for spring projects
MOSES LAKE — It’s getting close to the time when people start to come out of their winter hibernation and get serious about the projects they’ve been waiting to tackle. The Columbia Basin Home and Garden Show, coming to Moses Lake Feb. 28 and March 1, could be an excellent place to start.
Cupid’s Market coming Feb. 8
MOSES LAKE — Love, as well as a whole lot of crafts and food, will be in the air Feb. 8 at the Moses Lake Farmers Market’s Cupid’s Market. “I have 68 stalls and they’re full, with two vendors outside,” said Market Manager Chris Haguewood.
Under the sea
Royal Middle School robotics team clinches championship with plastic-eating worms
ROYAL CITY — The Royal Middle School Oceanic Outlaws robotics team is headed to Nationals. The eight seventh- and eighth-grade students took home the Champion Finalist award at the FIRST LEGO League state competition in Spokane Jan. 18, according to their coach, RMS science teacher Theresa Piper. “We started robotics back in September, and they've been working really hard on investigating a problem and then developing an innovative solution based on this year's theme for research,” Piper said. “The theme was ocean exploration, and they've been talking to experts all over the world and developing different solutions, testing out and deciding which was the best.”
Taking to the streets
Expanded Brews & Tunes coming to Moses Lake on March 15
MOSES LAKE — It may feel like spring is a long, long way off, but Moses Lake is gearing up to welcome it back March 15. “Brews & Tunes is St. Paddy’s Day weekend,” said Downtown Moses Lake Association Director Mallory Miller. “It’s the first event that happens after wintertime and people are ready to get out of the house. Last year it was 75 degrees somehow, so cross your fingers for that this year.”
Moses Lake meets new city manager
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake’s incoming city manager paid a visit to the Civic Center Tuesday evening to meet city employees and community members. Robert Karlinsey, who accepted the position Jan. 21, is currently the city manager in Kenmore, Washington, a city of about 24,000 at the north end of Lake Washington in King County. He takes the reins in Moses Lake March 24, but he’ll be coming over to Moses Lake occasionally in the meantime to prepare, he said.
Playing with the future...
STEM event gets children excited about science and technology
MOSES LAKE — The Apple STEM event at Garden Heights Elementary School Thursday was a little more popular than expected. “We haven’t officially counted yet, but we got over 600 parents and students,” said David Estrada, STEM programs manager for the North Central Washington Tech Alliance, which put on the event. The organizers only anticipated about 300, he added.
Dancing with the Moses Lake Stars brings in more than $14,000
MOSES LAKE — The Central Basin Community Concert Association’s second annual Dancing with the Moses Lake Stars event raised more than $14,000, according to an announcement from the CBCCA.
BBCC Cellarbration! coming March 15
Annual event looks to support local students in their academic pursuits
MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Foundation will give a lot of students a hand up through the 24th annual Cellarbration! March 15. Tickets are still available, said Executive Director Leanne Parton. “It’s going to be a fabulous event,” Parton said. “Our numbers, as far as students, were ahead of pre-pandemic (enrollment). So, the need is even more because we’ve got more students.”
FIRST RESPONDER FOCUS: Lanny Abundiz
GCSO crisis responder brings mental health help into the field
EPHRATA — The phrase “first responder” often conjures up a mental image of a heavily-armed person with a badge and a Taser, or a firefighter emerging from the flames covered in soot and carrying a rescued child. An unflappably calm woman with a gentle, serene voice doesn’t necessarily spring to mind. But that’s what the Grant County Sheriff’s Office has in Lanny Abundiz.
Home prices up, interest rates all over in 2024
KIRKLAND — Home prices and sales rose steadily in Washington in 2024 even as mortgage interest rates bounced up and down, according to data released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service Jan. 17. The NWMLS tracks real estate trends in 26 of Washington’s 39 counties. The average 30-year home mortgage began the year at 6.62%, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, commonly called Freddie Mac. The rate went to 7.44% in early May, dropped to 6.08% in September and finished the year at 6.85%. As of Jan. 18, 2025, the rate was 7.04%. Those rates are comparatively recent, according to Freddie Mac’s data, stemming from a drastic jump in 2022 when the rate went from 3.45% in January to 7.08% in September. Interest rates have hovered in the 6-8% range since, frustrating buyers, sellers and real estate agents.