JOEL MARTIN

Members Exhibition opens Friday at Moses Lake Museum

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Museum & Art Center’s Members Exhibition is in its fourth year, and it’s breaking records, said Gallery Coordinator Veronica Talbot. “It’s over 160 pieces, with over 50 artists,” Talbot said. “We have quite the array (of media). We have acrylics, we have oils, we have wool wreaths. We’ve got a skull.”

Grant Co. Democrats collect for food bank

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Democrats took to the streets again Tuesday, this time to collect food for the Moses Lake Food Bank. “People have a right to eat,” said Dave Hammond, who was standing on the corner holding signs that said “Feeding the hungry is patriotic” and “Donate here.” “The thing I like about this is it’s going to go to the food bank, and anybody who needs it can get it.”

CliftonLarsonAllen consolidates in new Moses Lake office

MOSES LAKE — CliftonLarsonAllen has a new home in the Columbia Basin. The accounting firm, which has had offices in Moses Lake, Quincy and Othello, is consolidating those offices into a single location on Yonezawa Boulevard in Moses Lake. The company cut the ribbon on its new building Wednesday in a ceremony with the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Grant County eatery looks to raise funds for food donations

OTHELLO — With SNAP benefits up in the air, a lot of people are stressing about how they’re going to fill their fridges, and many others are looking for ways to help. Potholes Bar & Grill is taking some steps to bring the two together.

Fairy tale: Othello HS to stage ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

OTHELLO — It’s your typical teenage drama. Boy loves girl. Girl’s father wants her to marry someone else. Girl runs away and both boys look for her. A mischievous fairy sprinkles a potion on everybody that makes them all fall in love with the wrong people. Wait, what?

BASIN EVENTS: Nov. 7-15

COLUMBIA BASIN — This week celebrates veterans, and there are several events honoring those who served. There are also holiday markets, live performances and much, much more. Here are a few possibilities:

Covenant Homeownership Project showing results

MOSES LAKE — Washington’s Covenant Homeownership Project is beginning to do what it’s designed to. “As of the beginning of last week, 886 people had closed on their homes using this program,” writes Margret Graham, communications director for the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald. Another 92 buyers are waiting to close, she wrote.

Ephrata info portal gives residents planning insights

EPHRATA — The Ephrata City Council got a look at some long-term plans and the grants to fund them at its meeting Wednesday evening. The information was on a new interactive website, and City Engineer Dave Bren walked the council through them.

Moses Lake collecting food, necessities this month

MOSES LAKE — The City of Moses Lake will collect food and other necessities for the Moses Lake Food bank this month, according to Moses Lake Museum & Art Center Director Dollie Boyd.

Light Up Columbia Basin

Do you have what it takes to be the Champion of Lights?

MOSES LAKE — Basin residents can turn loose their inner Clark Griswold and help students at the same time.

Considering dementia's warning signs

MOSES LAKE — About 42% of adults over 55 will develop dementia eventually, according to the National Institutes of Health. Yet for such a common phenomenon, it’s very little understood.

Ephrata Senior Center Thrift Store gets new wheels

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Senior Center Thrift Store has a new truck, thanks to a grant from the Paul Lauzier Foundation. “We asked the board for $10,000 budget to get a new one,” said Store Manager Tandra Harrington. “We found some different options, and about that time the Paul Lauzier grant opened up. So instead of using the $10,000 that (the board) granted us, we went ahead and wrote for the grant and the Paul Lauzier Foundation granted $40,000.” it wasn’t a quick process, Harrington said. The previous truck’s engine had blown up six or eight months earlier, she said. The new truck is a 2021 Ford Econoline, Harrington said. It will be used primarily for pickup and delivery. “We do two pickups per week,” Harrington said. “And then its used for any materials or supplies needed for the store, and for dump runs.”

Car club raises $4,000 for first responders

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Classic Car Club will donate the proceeds from its Cars, Cops, Coffee and First Responders car show at a ceremony today. The event, which was held Oct. 18, raised $4,000 for local emergency services, according to club member Dave Robins. The money was raised through entry fees into the car show, Robins said, and also through donations from local residents and businesses.

Moravida honors departed loved ones, celebrates Hispanic culture

MOSES LAKE — After all the Halloween candy is gone, the costumes are put away and the decorations are brought inside, it’s time to get down to the solemn part.

Piper Barn Show opens Wednesday

MOSES LAKE — There’s a lot going on at the Piper Barn Show this week, but one thing not to miss is the cinnamon rolls. “They are amazing,” said Julie Piper Phipps, who organizes the four-day market every year. “People line up and wait for them. They make about 400 a day and they sell out by noon.” Phipps’ daughters and daughters-in-law – whom she calls “her girls” – make the rolls, she said, much like she did when the show debuted in 1988. Phipps’ mom, Sheila Piper, started the show on the family farm with a friend in 1988. Circumstances forced them to close it up in 2001, but when Phipps and her husband moved back to Moses Lake in 2012, she decided to start the ball rolling again.

Audience participation

Crestview Christian School third-grader Delanie Palmen exchanges a high-ten with Sandy Eslick Friday at Monroe House in Moses Lake. Crestview students sang songs, recited Bible verses and showed off their cursive handwriting prowess for residents.

Moses Lake dentist buying back candy

MOSES LAKE — Children who got a little more Halloween candy than they wanted – or who just want to make a little cash – can sell it to the dentist. Smile Surfers Kids Dentistry in Moses Lake is holding a candy buyback this week, according to Front Office Lead Erica Cardenas. “We do $2 a pound,” Cardenas said. “It's not necessary to book an appointment; we are just doing walk ins.”

Senior events calendar for November 2025

COLUMBIA BASIN — Holiday shopping, music, crafts and fun await this month in the Basin. Here are a few things to put on the calendar.

P.E.A.C.E. from the Lord’s Kitchen

Local ministry serves meals without fanfare or judgment

MOSES LAKE — The Bible says that man does not live by bread alone, but that doesn’t mean that food isn’t pretty important.

NCW Libraries conversation to examine divisions in America

WENATCHEE — What we all have in common – and what we don’t – will be the subject of a virtual program at North Central Washington Libraries this month. “Can We Get Along? Examining Our Personal Experiences of Connection and Community” will be streamed on Zoom Nov. 13. “(It’s) an hour-and-a-half conversation about how do we come together to connect, especially when we're coming with different experiences in life (and) different opinions,” said Alicia O’Dell, director of adult programs for NCW Libraries. “How do we find ways to build community during divided times?”

Hayden opens model home at Sand Hill Place

MOSES LAKE — Sand Hill Place is coming along well, Hayden Homes Marketing manager Gina Donangelo Barnecut said Tuesday.

‘Puffs’

QHS play celebrates magical background characters

QUINCY — Some people are born to save the world. And some are born to, well, sit next to those heroes in class. “It’s really about the underdogs,” said director Haliey Weber. “They don’t want fortune or fame. They don’t care to be super smart or brave or cunning. They just are really loyal and they care about the people they care about.” The world of “Puffs” will look familiar, but don’t be fooled. Sure, there’s a boarding school with four houses – the Braves, the Smarts, the Snakes and the Puffs – and a dark lord, and messages delivered by owl and lots of wizardy classes, but “Puffs” is not to be confused with the more famous story. Rather, it tells the story of Wayne (Sawyer Golay), Megan (Jasmine Vasquez-Navarro) and Oliver (Jerrod Miller), who happen to be in the background while all that is going on. Wayne is a math-loving nerd who wasn’t born to wizardry but is trying to catch up, Megan is a would-be goth girl who resents being a Puff, and Oliver is an orphan raised by his uncle. Together, the three navigate the pitfalls of learning magic, as well as competing in a tournament, battling a giant snake and resisting the Death Buddies, one of whom is Megan’s mom. All while living in the shadow of the great young wizards of the other story.

Edge Physical Therapy

Local wellness center works to improve quality of life for patients

MOSES LAKE — When it comes to health, sometimes you have to start in the middle.

Twisting, shouting and giving

Youth Dynamics auction breaks fundraising records

MOSES LAKE — Youth Dynamics’ auction Oct. 18 was a record-breaker. “We had 245 people in attendance,” said Moses Youth Dynamics Director Sean Sallis. “We took in $70,000. The highest I’ve (seen) is $50,000, so that’s very encouraging.” The theme for the night was “Twist and Shout,” and attendees came in their best poodle skirts, penny loafers and bobby socks. The Moses Lake Classic Car Club brought some vintage vehicles to add to the atmosphere, and Firehouse BBQ grilled hamburgers served by Youth Dynamics students in red-and-white aprons. Auctioneer Chuck Yarbro Jr. conducted the live auction in a University of Idaho letterman’s jacket. Some of the money raised goes to maintain the Youth Dynamics building on Third Avenue, Sallis said, and some goes to provide meals for the youth who hang out there. Some also go to help students, who otherwise couldn’t afford it, go on outdoor adventures with Youth Dynamics. None of the money goes to pay the Youth Dynamics staff, Sallis added; all of them raise their own support from community donors.

Fallen Basin lawmen honored at Olympia memorial

OLYMPIA — Every day, thousands of law enforcement officers put on their uniforms and head out to protect Washington state. Most of the time, they come back. But sometimes they don’t.

Dent, Sackmanns named to Ag Hall of Fame

MOSES LAKE — Some leading lights in the Moses Lake area agricultural community were inducted Oct. 21 into the Moses Lake Ag Hall of Fame.

Peace and tie-dye at St. Rose auction Nov. 8

EPHRATA — The 42nd annual St. Rose of Lima Catholic School auction Nov. 8 will have a 1960s-70s theme, “A Time for Peace,” which has two meanings, said St. Rose PTO President Jennifer Hickok. The first is taken from the third chapter of Ecclesiastes in the Bible: “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens … A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

Chamber banquet celebrates accomplishments, opportunities

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce had a good year, outgoing Chair Kim Pope said Tuesday evening at the Chamber’s annual meeting and banquet.

Two-tone cabinets, quartz counters in style for kitchen remodels

MOSES LAKE — The kitchen is the heart of your home, so naturally you want it set up to suit you. Matt Adame, owner of RD Construction, a Moses Lake-based contractor specializing in kitchens, said the current trend in cabinets is two-tone. “In (a house) we just built, they went with white Shaker uppers and black Shaker on the bottom,” Adame said. “And then in another house, they did white panel uppers and dark gray flat acrylic on the bases as well.” The dual-style trend popped up about a year and a half ago, Adame said. Wood cabinets are cycling back into vogue as well, he said.

Civics 101 workshops coming to Grant County libraries

WENATCHEE — NCW Libraries will host “Civics 101,” a series of workshops to learn more about state, federal and local government, according to an announcement from NCW Libraries. The workshops are offered through the Washington Secretary of State’s Civics Engagement Program, according to Alicia O’Dell, adult programs coordinator for NCW Libraries.

WISe treatment

Intensive program cares for children with complicated needs

MOSES LAKE — Sometimes, a child or teen with problems needs to take a different approach. “This is designed to be completely different than the traditional ‘Come to therapy for 50 minutes, sit on my couch, we'll talk about it, and off you go. We'll see you in a month,’” said Andrea Peyton, a WISE program director in Kennewick. “This is a much more intensive service.”

No injuries in Moses Lake house fire

MOSES LAKE — Nobody was injured in a fire in the Larson community Monday afternoon, according to Grant County Fire District 5 Chief Dan Smith.

Hundreds rally in Moses Lake to protest Trump admin.

MOSES LAKE — Almost 300 people turned out Saturday for the “No Kings 2.0” rally in Moses Lake, according to Grant County Democrats Vice Chair Jill Springer Forrest, considerably more than the rally held in June.

Keep Halloween safe for little monsters

QUINCY — Next Friday, hordes of little ghosties, ghoulies and things that go bump in the night will be on the streets with one thing on their minds: massive amounts of sugar. And when they’re that focused, they don’t always watch out for themselves.

Summit to bring together regional community advocates

WENATCHEE — The Thriving Together Toward Tomorrow summit will bring together people from across North Central Washington Wednesday with a single goal – to make the communities they live in better, according to Thriving Together NCVW Director of Network Development Veronica Farias.

Power line sparks small fire near Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — A downed power line sparked a small fire in the McConihe Flats area northwest of Moses Lake Friday afternoon.

New complex in Moses Lake ready to rent

MOSES LAKE — The Modern Heights apartments, located smack in the middle of Moses Lake, are almost finished. “We have about half of them ready to go,” said Doug Robins, development coordinator for the project and the designer of the complex. “We have people moving in right now.”

AI learners win prizes, gain skills in NCW Tech Alliance contest

MOSES LAKE — The North Central Washington Tech Alliance Skill-a-Thon has ended, and four Grant County residents are among the winners. “The winners walked away … with some knowledge of cybersecurity and different kinds of AI technology,” said David Estrada, NCW Tech Alliance STEM Program manager for Moses Lake.

Basin housing market stabilizing

MOSES LAKE — Just a few years ago, homes for sale in the Basin were few and far between. Today, things seem to have moved more or less back to normal.

50 years of art

Old Hotel Gallery celebrates golden anniversary at auction Saturday

OTHELLO — The Old Hotel Art Gallery will celebrate its 50th anniversary at its benefit auction Saturday.

Cold Diggers opens stand in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — The name of the new ice cream and waffle stand at Nelson Road and Pioneer Way came out of the blue. “We already had a different name picked out,” said Laura Farias, who owns the new business with her husband Martin Farias. “But ‘Cold Diggers’ came to me randomly, and it was super catchy. I bounced the idea off my 9-year-old son and he loved it, so we went with it.” The Fariases have been offering homemade ice cream at the Moses Lake Farmers Market since the market opened for the year in May, she said. In July they added waffles to their menu, and now they’ll continue to offer both from a trailer next to FAA Coffee House.

Hazardous waste events coming to Mattawa, Moses Lake

EPHRATA — Grant County residents who have chemicals and other things that can’t go in the trash will have a chance to get rid of them this month at two hazardous waste collection events.

A walk for health

Coulee Medical Center to hold fundraiser walk for mammograms

GRAND COULEE — Coulee Medical Center will hold its Walking Together for Mammograms health fair and walk Thursday, to help put a new mammography machine to use.

Masquers to stage ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

SOAP LAKE— Horror and horticulture are in bloom at the Masquers Theater, with the production of the darkly comedic musical “Little Shop of Horrors.” The play, which opens Oct. 16, is directed by Clifford and Stacy Bresee, who have directed most of the troupe’s musicals over the last decade. “It’s one I’ve wanted to do for quite a few years,” Stacy Bresee said. “So the opportunity came and we took it.” The musical, based on the campy 1960 horror-comedy of the same name by Roger Corman, was written by Howard Ashman and Alan Mencken, who a few years later would fuel the Disney Renaissance with films like “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast.” It premiered on Broadway in 1982 and was adapted for the screen in 1986.

Home prices dip slightly statewide, but up in the Basin

MOSES LAKE — Inventory is climbing and home prices slipped in the housing market in September, according to data released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which tracks real estate trends in 27 Washington counties. “People are starting to come out from under the rocks, the buyers that were on the fence a little bit, because we're getting a little bit of a break here and there on interest rates,” said Johnny Reyes, a broker with Windermere Real Estate in Ephrata. “People are starting to feel a little more comfortable about coming out and buying.” Active listings increased by 27.3% statewide between September 2024 and September 2025, according to the NWMLS. The increase was greater in Grant County, at 30.77% year-over-year, while Adams County increased only 6%.

Getting the bugs out

Pest and weed control service opens in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — With the weather getting colder, some creepy crawly critters are likely to decide that your home should also be their home. A new business in town aims to help evict them. “Spiders, ants, just generally insects,” said Josh Gilliam, owner of Bug Out Pest and Spray. “We’re a very hot and arid environment, but we also have access to a lot of water, so that brings out the bugs.” Bug Out opened for business Aug. 1 and held its official ribbon-cutting Tuesday in Moses Lake. Gilliam has been in the extermination business for about 25 years, he said, first in Spokane and then in Moses Lake. He decided to go out on his own after meeting with his partner Kip Burns, who also owns Blinds for Any Budget and B and B Doors.

Fatality collision east of Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE – One person is dead after a collision east of Moses Lake Thursday afternoon. Thursday afternoon. The collision occurred at a little after 2 p.m. on South Frontage Road East at the westbound off-ramp from I-90 to Road O Southeast, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman. A passenger vehicle collided with a 10-wheel truck hauling a trailer of dry fertilizer, Foreman said.

Fire closes highway in Grand Coulee

GRAND COULEE — A wildfire on the edge of town disrupted traffic on state Route 174 Thursday morning, according to a statement from the Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department.

Living comic book 'Frankenstein' coming to Wallenstien Theater

MOSES LAKE — A classic story of love, pride and horror will take the stage as a living comic book at the Wallenstien Theater Oct. 18. Columbia Basin Allied Arts will present “Frankenstein: A Living Comic Book,” an adaptation of the 1818 novel “Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus” by Mary Shelley.

Heartache to hope

Baseball tournament supports students in memory of a life cut short

QUINCY — Some Quincy students are getting a boost with their educations because of a young man who never got to finish his own. “My son got leukemia when he was 18 years old, a senior in high school,” said Linda Guzman, president of the Mario J. Guzman Foundation. “For five years he went back and forth. He relapsed a couple of times, (had) a bone marrow transplant, but it didn't take and he lost his life Sept. 6, 2012.”