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
WA addresses AI in public schools
OLYMPIA — The widespread use of artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the classroom experience for students and teachers across Washington state. As educators find themselves at the forefront of this technological revolution, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction has released guidance and resources intended to adopt responsible use of AI, according to an OSPI press release..
Sleep Center sheds to be replaced with Pallet shelters
MOSES LAKE — The Open Doors Sleep Center will get an upgrade soon. The Moses Lake City Council gave final approval March 26 for the purchase of 40 Pallet Shelter structures to replace the sheds currently in use. The move has been in the works for some time, City Manager Kevin Fuhr said, but the city wanted to move quickly in order to get a good deal on the shelters. “The Pallet shelters that we're purchasing, they don't make anymore,” Fuhr said. “They've got 100 available to purchase, and we're trying to secure 40 of them. That's why we wanted to get this done ASAP ... because the new Pallet shelters that they're building are costing more money and we didn't want to pay more if we didn't have to.”
Two Basin residents sworn in as WSP troopers
OLYMPIA — Colton Conner of Ephrata and Kay Lester of Othello were among the 47 newly commissioned troopers added to the ranks of the Washington State Patrol Wednesday at the 118th Trooper Basic Training graduation ceremony held at the state Capitol Rotunda, according to an announcement from the WSP. The graduation marks the completion of more than 1,400 hours of training, including classroom and practical exercises at the WSP Academy in Shelton, according to the announcement. The training culminated with a coaching trip where the cadets worked the roads alongside field training officers. The combined efforts of the 118th TBTC class resulted in 9,065 driver contacts, 3,069 calls for service, the removal of 540 impaired drivers from the roadways, and 976 collision investigations during their two-month-long coaching trip, the WSP wrote.
City to revise parking time limits
MOSES LAKE — The parking situation in downtown Moses Lake may get a little easier, under new regulations the city is considering. Some downtown businesses have complained to the city that there’s no place for their employees to park, and others have complained that downtown employees are taking up spaces that customers could be using. “Customers were saying things to me that they got a good parking spot and they usually don't, or they had to go around the block a couple of times to pull up and find a parking spot, or they had to park (farther away),” said Magen Evans, owner of Hello Nature, which opened in November at 312A S Division St., in the space formerly occupied by Sears. “So I kind of started keeping an eye on the cars out there. But I noticed that all 10 spots (in front of the store) were full, and it seemed to be the same cars every day, and sometimes some would swap out and different ones would come in. And they were here from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. typically, and they weren’t leaving.”
Moses Lake man arrested in child porn investigation
MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man was arrested Tuesday on child pornography charges, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
PALS forever
Moses Lake High School students – with and without developmental disabilities – cut loose at prom
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake High School PALS Prom Friday night brought glamor, joy and some impressive dance moves to the school commons. “This was probably one of the best proms yet for attendance and community support,” said Jodi Truman, the PALS Club advisor.
Royal City library starting to take shape
ROYAL CITY — The new Royal City Public Library marked another milestone this month, as the concrete was poured March 14.
Easter egg hunts scheduled throughout the Basin this weekend
COLUMBIA BASIN — The Easter Bunny will be working overtime this weekend, with Easter egg hunts across the Basin Friday and Saturday.
A little kindness
Red Rock parapro doesn’t let childhood cancer get in his way
ROYAL CITY — One of the scariest words in the English language is cancer. Brain cancer is doubly frightening and having it settle in during childhood is a triple whammy. That’s what Jackson Noftle, a paraprofessional at Red Rock Elementary School, has been dealing with for 24 years.
A pot of yum
Greenpoint Technologies chili cookoff showcases the variations on a traditional dish
MOSES LAKE — “What doesn’t kill you can turn your kidneys into a cinder brick.” That’s how Gary Neu, principal engineer at Greenpoint Technologies, summed up the tasty, yet sometimes powerful, dish known as chili.
GCAO egg hunt fills Blue Heron Park
MOSES LAKE — Grant County Animal Outreach got a jump – or a hop – on the holiday by holding its Easter egg hunt last weekend. “We knew a lot of our staff and the people that were going to be helping us were going to be gone this weekend having Easter with their own families, so that's why we chose to do it the weekend before,” said Kar Vanerstrom, vice president of GCAO.
WSU offers help removing diseased cherry trees
PULLMAN — Orcharders with infected fruit trees may qualify for help with the cost of removing them, according to an announcement from the Washington State University Extension.
Polo Ridge
Hayden Homes opens 12th development in Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE — Hayden Homes kicked off its newest development in Moses Lake, Polo Ridge, with a meet-and-greet event March 14. “We have about 60 home sites,” said Gina Donangelo Barnecut, senior marketing manager at Hayden Homes. “We've got eight different home plans ranging from 1,100 square feet to just under 3,200 square feet, single story, two-story.” The event drew a crowd of local leaders and representatives from the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce. Hayden Homes Project Manager Aziel Barraza cut the Chamber’s ceremonial ribbon, and Rob Nalle, senior project manager for Simplicity by Hayden Homes, opened a bottle of champagne and watered the ground with it. Attendees were then treated to a taco lunch catered by Tacos El Rey.
Suds in the sunshine
Record crowd turns out for Brews and Tunes
MOSES LAKE — The sun was shining and the taps were busy for Moses Lake’s annual Brews and Tunes event downtown Saturday.
It’s a jungle out there
Business Expo fills buildings with safari-themed fun
MOSES LAKE — The 2024 Business Safari Expo was, well, a roaring success, according to organizers.
‘We are on a mission’
Cellarbration! breaks its own fundraising record for BBCC scholarships
MOSES LAKE — You know it’s a successful auction when a carrot cake sells for $10,000.
Educators connect students with careers
MOSES LAKE — The North Central Educational Service District has stepped up its outreach efforts recently in Grant County, finding ways to bring businesses and schools together to build a skilled workforce in the community.
Big machines, happy children
Mothers of Preschoolers Touch a Truck set for April 27
MOSES LAKE — Little kids love big machinery. The two go together like peanut butter and jelly. And they’ll come together again on April 27 at Touch a Truck behind Moses Lake Presbyterian Church. “We will have face painting, a balloon man, a little photo prop area,” said Brittney Ketterer, one of the event’s organizers. “And tons of trucks.” Tons indeed. There will be police and fire vehicles with flashing lights and sirens, a dump truck, a backhoe and a minibus for children to climb on and explore. The National Guard will bring vehicles too, and there’ll be a Moses Lake Demo Derby car and Tow Mater from the movie “Cars.” “Usually the sirens are on and the horns are going,” Ketterer said. “The kids can climb in and out of some of the trucks to explore them, check them out, honk horns.”
Pivotal moments
Royal students showcase history’s defining events
ROYAL CITY — There’s an old adage that says “For want of a nail, the kingdom was lost,” meaning that big changes in history often hinge on single events. Royal School District students identified some of those pivotal moments at the Central Washington Regional History Day competition Saturday at Davis High School in Yakima.
Young but talented Mavs hit the course
MOSES LAKE — It’s a young group of Mavericks on the links this year. “We have one senior is all,” said Terry Melbye, the Moses Lake High School boys golf coach. “We have one senior; all the rest of them are freshmen, juniors and a couple of sophomores.”
Royal golf team has challenges, opportunities
ROYAL CITY — The Royal High School golf team has an uphill climb ahead of it this year, said Coach Pete Christensen. “We had high hopes until a couple of our boys went back to playing soccer,” Christensen said. “They played soccer their freshman year and came to golf last year and they did really well in golf and they went back to soccer this year. We thought we'd have a run at the league and district title but now it's going to be really tough.”
Fuel tanks raise financial issues for Royal City
ROYAL CITY — A pair of underground tanks are causing some financial headaches for the city of Royal City, the council heard at its March 5 meeting. “When the city purchased the Grant County property that’s adjacent to (City Hall), it came with underground storage tanks for gas and diesel, and they’re large,” said Public Works Director John Lasen. “They used those tanks not just for the people that operated out of that barn, but for all of southern Grant County services. They’re 4,000 gallons apiece. They’re far bigger than we would ever use.”
Royal City Council votes to support GCHD
ROYAL CITY — Royal City will kick in to fund the Grant County Health District this year, the Royal City City Council affirmed March 5. “Every fall I send a letter out to all the cities with an agreement asking for $3 per resident for public health services in your community,” Theresa Adkinson, GCHD administrator, told the council. “As of today … we’re already at $139,000. So our cities have really stepped up.”
Knights looks toward another great tennis season
ROYAL CITY — You wouldn’t necessarily expect Royal High School, in a town of fewer than 2,000 people, to be a tennis powerhouse. And if you didn’t, you’d be wrong.
Knights softball sees big turnout after 2023 state performance
ROYAL CITY — The Royal High School softball team is fielding its biggest roster in a long time this year.
MLCA/CCS Lions baseball still finding its paws
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School Lions are still getting their paws under them, but they’re making progress on the diamond.
Cellarbration! inbound!
BBCC Foundation to hold annual fundraiser March 16
MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Foundation will cellarbrate a little earlier this year. The Cellarbration! benefit dinner and auction, usually held in May, will take place March 16.
Moses Lake considers food truck, court requirements
MOSES LAKE — Food trucks and food courts were the topic of a special study session prior to the Feb. 27 Moses Lake City Council meeting.
Museum to show free movies for Women’s History Month
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Museum & Art Center will offer a series of free movie screenings this month, in honor of Women’s History Month, according to an announcement from Museum Communications Coordinator Tamara Valdez.
Miner Services ready to serve
MOSES LAKE -- The Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce welcomed a new member Monday as Seth Miner, owner of Miner Services, cut the ceremonial ribbon in front of his service vehicles outside the chamber office, surrounded by family, employees and chamber members.
Local communities to get urban forestry grants
OLYMPIA — Three Basin communities will benefit from state and federal grants to revitalize their greenery, as part of the Washington State Department of Forestry’s Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program. Othello, Ritzville and Coulee Dam were among the 45 recipients of the grant, according to an announcement from Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz.
Basin home market more stable than statewide, despite home sales decline
COLUMBIA BASIN — Home sales in Washington in 2023 were down from the previous couple of years, but the change in Grant and Adams counties was much less severe, according to data released recently by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.
Moses Lake hopes to reduce overwatering with rate adjustments
MOSES LAKE — Some residents in Moses Lake will see a change in their water bills this month. Beginning March 9, irrigation and residential customers who use more than 10,000 cubic feet of water per month will be billed at a new Tier 4 rate.
Edge Physical Therapy cuts ribbon
MOSES LAKE - Erica Crafts, DPT, founder of Edge Physical Therapy in downtown Moses Lake, cuts the ribbon at the clinic’s new digs at 213 Beech St. Surrounding Crafts, from left, are Sarah Villasenor, communications administrator; Ashley Roessler, PTA, CPT; Chad Crafts, DPT, MS, CSCS; and Chrystal Flerchinger, administrative assistant.
Moses Lake Council hears downtown parking frustrations
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake City Council got an earful at its regular meeting Tuesday night, as owners and employees of downtown businesses expressed their feelings about the two-hour parking limit in the city’s center.
MLFD firefighter sworn in at council meeting
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Fire Department welcomed its newest firefighter, Gary Lebacken, Tuesday with a swearing-in at the Moses Lake City Council meeting. The ceremony, which was originally scheduled for the end of the meeting, but the time was taken up with an unusually long period of citizen comments.
Newhouse visits Moses Lake egg facility, discusses fed budget
MOSES LAKE — Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., was in town Tuesday for a ribbon-cutting at Willamette Egg Farms’ expanding Moses Lake facility and to chat with community members about what’s happening in Congress. “I so hate to put a pall on a happy day, but I’ve got to be in Washington, D.C. tomorrow morning,” Newhouse said.
Officials stress importance of independent green energy during Moses Lake visit
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake has what it takes to be the hub of the Northwest’s clean energy technology, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, said at a press conference Thursday. “I think there's going to be a corridor, from Moses Lake all the way over to Coeur d’Alene,” Cantwell said. “That's what I think is gonna happen. And this corridor is also going to connect from Moses Lake to the Tri-Cities. What you're seeing is, in this whole area, guess what we have? We have ... a manufacturing workforce, we have a lot of land, we have cheap hydro and we have people who really understand energy technology.” Cantwell was speaking at Group14’s BAM-2 facility in Moses Lake, which is under construction and expected to be the largest advanced silicon battery material factory in the world when it opens later this year, according to company-supplied materials. Group14 manufactures silicon battery materials that can increase the storage capacity of lithium-ion batteries like those found in both electric vehicles and smartphones, replacing less-efficient graphite, which must be imported from China.
‘Center of the universe’
Officials laud Grant County, Moses Lake EV innovation
MOSES LAKE — Grant County is the tip of the spear when it comes to clean energy, US. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said at a Moses Lake round table Thursday. “Moses Lake, you guys are like the center of the universe,” Granholm said. “What is happening here? It is amazing.”
Shadow dancing in the Basin
The Silhouettes to present ‘Love Happens’ in Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE — Shadows will come to life next week at the Wallenstien Theater, as The Silhouettes bring their unique dance show March 1.
Youth Outdoors Unlimited to hold auction, award trophies
MOSES LAKE — Youth Outdoors Unlimited will hold its annual banquet and auction March 2 at the Best Western Plus Lake Front Hotel, 3000 W. Marina Drive in Moses Lake. Besides the dinner and live auction, attendees will have an opportunity to hear from the hunters and anglers who benefited from YOU last year. Youth Outdoors Unlimited, started in 2011 by Joe and Cindy Carpenter of Moses Lake, enables youth with disabilities or life-threatening illnesses to have the hunting or fishing trip of their dreams. All of the equipment is donated by community members, as are meat processing and taxidermy services. The young outdoorspersons are accompanied by volunteer guides.
Royal City considers dog park sign, water project
ROYAL CITY — Public works projects were the primary topic of discussion at the Royal City City Council meeting Tuesday. Public Works Director John Lasen first raised the question of putting up a sign at the Royal City Dog Park, setting out rules for the park’s use.
Rent cap passes state House
OLYMPIA — The Washington State House of Representatives passed a rent increase cap bill by a vote of 54 to 43 Tuesday. A companion bill, SB 5961, failed to pass out of committee in January. House Bill 2114, sponsored by Rep. Emily Alvarado, D-Seattle, prohibits landlords from raising rent more than once in a 12-month period, and limits increases to 7% within a 12-month period. It also caps move-in fees and security deposits to the cost of one month’s rent, requires 180 days’ notice before raising rent more than 3 % and caps late fees at 1.5% of a tenant’s total monthly rent. “I hear from families who keep paying more and more rent and they can't save money to buy a home,” Alvarado said in a public hearing on the bill in January. “Hard-working people., people who work in child care and health care and grocery stores who pay their rent on time each month and then see their rent go up faster than their wages and they can't keep up and they have to move farther and farther from their jobs.”
Moses Lake, Wahluke props failing, most others passing
MOSES LAKE — All but two school levies that were on the ballot for Tuesday’s special election are passing, according to the Grant and Adams county auditor’s offices. In unofficial results, Wahluke’s capital projects levy is being voted down 245-136, while Moses Lake’s is failing 3,420-3,142.
Moses Lake finances better than projected
MOSES LAKE — The city of Moses Lake finished up 2023 in pretty good financial shape, according to a report submitted by City Manager Kevin Fuhr to the Moses Lake City Council at Tuesday’s meeting.
Lovely market: Valentine’s Market brings people out as winter fades
MOSES LAKE — Love was in the air, and so were the aroma of food and the sound of shopping, at the Moses Lake Farmers Market’s annual Valentine’s Market Saturday. The market, which was held in the Commercial and 4-H buildings at the Grant County Fairgrounds, attracted a sizable crowd.
Student advisor bill passes WA House
OLYMPIA — A bill aimed at increasing the number of students earning postsecondary credentials passed the Washington State House this week, according to an announcement from the bill’s primary sponsor, Rep. Julia Reed, D-Seattle.
Antique appraisals, flea market coming to Moses Lake Saturday
MOSES LAKE — Local residents will have a chance to learn the truth about their family heirlooms and mantel dust-catchers, and maybe pick up a few treasures, Saturday at the Frosty Finds Flea Market and Appraisal Fair.
Farming on display
Spokane Ag Show brings in ag businesses of all kinds
SPOKANE — The agricultural community pulled out all the stops last week at the Spokane Ag Show, held at the Spokane Convention Center Tuesday through Thursday.
Flying in
Kamryn Schroeder, 4, from Wilbur, Washington attempts to land a crop duster in a video game style simulator at the Spokane AgShow Wednesday. Full coverage of the agriculture conference will be out in an upcoming edition of the Columbia Basin Herald.