MOSES LAKE — Caleb Perez, whose byline you may have seen floating around in the Columbia Basin Herald’s pages, likes to try a little bit of everything, whether that’s sports, journalism or making a podcast with friends.

“I did not do anything in high school other than what was required of me,” Perez said. “I did kind of have a philosophy that, if I don’t commit to anything in high school, then I can kind of try a lot more things, which I was able to do because I’d spend after school either playing games or learning to shoot hoops or even trying Frisbee golf. … Basically, anything that came up, I could try.”

Perez recently graduated with an associate degree in general studies, though he said he did focus primarily on courses related to communications. In an ideal world, he said, he’d be able to take what he learned at Big Bend Community College and get a job doing something creative. He said he’s enjoyed being able to write for the Columbia Basin Herald, but he also enjoys a variety of creative outlets. He writes comic books and short stories and would love to have a chance to work making short films.

Right now, Perez is employed part-time with Samaritan Healthcare as a custodian. While he enjoys the work, he’s hoping that his recent graduation will lead him to a full-time opportunity.

Work and creativity aren’t everything, though. Perez said he also enjoys being outdoors as much as possible, fishing, playing tennis and disc golf and spending time with his girlfriend, Val Melgoza, whom he’s even been able to coerce into disc golfing with him at Blue Heron Park.

“She’s sweet,” Perez said. “She’s always sticking by me no matter how ridiculous I am.”

A graduate of Moses Lake High School, Perez lives in Moses Lake with his parents Cliff and Carmen Perez. He said he really appreciates the support his parents, girlfriend and family have consistently thrown his way.

Perez has a few favorites around town. McCosh Park is his tennis venue of choice and spending time with his dog, Aura, is a favored pastime as well. If he’s eating out, he prefers to stop in at Woody’s Drive-In on West Broadway Avenue, he said.

“I think Woody’s is always a good spot to go to; it’s just classic to me,” Perez said. “You really don’t have to worry about fancy food, because most of the places around here are fancy, but if you just want something that’s, like, quick, easy – like classic style. You just go to Woody’s and get yourself a cheeseburger. You’ll be satisfied.”

Perez also enjoys trips down to the Tri-Cities area for shopping and entertainment and has been enjoying exploring the Basin as a freelance reporter. He said he’s been impressed with Ephrata, which he hadn’t had much chance to explore before starting to write for the Columbia Basin Herald.

“It’s such a nice, little town,” Perez said. “It’s so clean there too, and that’s one thing I always notice when I’m walking through there. It’s just a clean little town. Plus, they have my favorite pizza there, Time Out Pizza.”

Want to know a bit more about Caleb Perez? Check out his podcast at bit.ly/TTLYOBLVS.