Columbia Basin Hospital celebrating 75 years
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 months, 2 weeks AGO
Columbia Basin Hospital will celebrate 75 years of serving the community Friday, with a barbecue, tours and a teddy bear clinic.
R. HANS MILLER/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
A tour of the recently renovated emergency department will be one of the offerings at Columbia Basin Hospital’s 75th anniversary celebration Friday.
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. | July 7, 2025 2:30 PM
EPHRATA — Columbia Basin Hospital turns 75 years old this year, and the hospital is ready to celebrate.
“There’s going to be a free barbecue for everyone,” said Hospital Director of Communication and Development Susan Scheib. “(We’ll have) information on rehab services like our physical occupational speech therapy, a thank-you booth thanking everybody for supporting us through the years.”
The Together in Health event, which is Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., will include reduced-cost blood tests, updates on the hospital’s finances and a demonstration of radiology services including X-rays, CT scans, MRI and ultrasound, according to an announcement from the hospital. Attendees will also get a tour of the newly-remodeled emergency department.
One of the star attractions will be a teddy bear clinic, Scheib said. Children are invited to bring their fluffy friends for a full checkup by a doctor while learning more about what the hospital does.
“Our new doctor, who’s starting in July, will be the doctor (examining the bears),” Scheib said. “They’ve made a mini-CT scan and all sorts of things for kids.”
Adult attendees can find help getting set up on MyChart, the medical website and app that allows patients to schedule medical appointments, refill medications, and check test results online.
“A lot of people really struggle with MyChart,” Scheib said. “(They) have questions, and (they’ll) have a chance to work through any problems they’re having.”
Together in Health
Columbia Basin Hospital 75th Anniversary Celebration
Ephrata
Columbia Basin Hospital
200 Nat Washington Way
Friday, July 11
7 a.m.-1 p.m.
A tour of the recently renovated emergency department will be one of the offerings at Columbia Basin Hospital’s 75th anniversary celebration Friday.ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
‘Our favorite time of year’
Shop with a Cop brings smiles to both children and officers
MOSES LAKE — The heavy police presence outside local stores recently wasn’t because of a crime wave. It was police officers engaging in their favorite annual event. “This is one of those times throughout the year that we don't have to go and ask for volunteers to help,” said Moses Lake Police Chief David Sands. “The first day we put it out, I think we got 20-some people say ‘Yeah, we’re in.’ That's just under half the department right away.“
BASIN EVENTS: Dec. 19-27
COLUMBIA BASIN — It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and a lot of people will be spending time at home with their families or at the church of their choice. Still, there are a few things happening around the Basin. Here are some ideas:
Chimney maintenance is essential for safety
MOSES LAKE — With Christmas just around the corner, lots of folks are using their fireplaces for warmth, roasting chestnuts or just a pleasant atmosphere. But before Santa pays your chimney a visit, you should make sure it’s in good working order. Chimney fires are responsible for more than three-fourths of residential building heating fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Regular inspections and cleaning are the best way to prevent that, said Michael Harper, known as The Chimney Guy. “If they’re using (the fireplace) aesthetically – date night, Christmas, New Year’s, show-off times, something in the background here and there, (they should) have it inspected once a year for peace of mind,” Harper said. “If they’re using it two to three days a week religiously through the winter months, they need to have it cleaned once a year.”