BASIN EVENTS: Aug. 21-29
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 weeks, 1 day AGO
Runners are bathed in color at the Columbia Basin Health Association Color Run, returning Aug. 22 this year.
FILE PHOTO
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. | August 21, 2026 3:05 AM
COLUMBIA BASIN — Summer is winding down, so don’t miss your chance to enjoy it while it lasts. Here are a few things to round out your August.
Aug. 21-22
Grant County Fair
Carnival, livestock shows, entertainment, pro rodeo and more. Grant County Fairgrounds, 3953 Airway Dr NE, Moses Lake. Info: www.gcfair.fun.
Aug. 22
Community Shred Day and Food Drive
Protect your personal information and support the Moses Lake Food Bank at the same time. Bring up to three boxes of documents to be disposed of securely. Bring a nonperishable food donation for the food bank and shred an additional box. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. or until the truck is full, at Solarity Credit Union, 411 E. Fifth Ave., Moses Lake. Info: www.solaritycu.org.
CBHA Run for a Cause
Join Columbia Basin Health Association for a colorful 5K run through Othello. Runners will get splashed with paint along the route for a messy, light-hearted experience. Funds raised support childhood wellness. 10 a.m. at the CBHA Othello clinic, 1515 E. Columbia St. Register at bit.ly/CBHA_ColorRunRegistration. Info: www.cbharunforacause.com.
Science Saturday
Exciting, hands-on science class where kids will explore, experiment, and investigate the science all around us. Through interactive activities and simple experiments, students will discover how science connects to everyday life while building curiosity and critical thinking skills. All materials are provided. For ages 6-13. $15 per session. 10:30 a.m. at Moses Lake Museum & Arts Center, 401 S. Balsam St. Info: 509-764-3830 or moseslakemuseum.com.
Lind Community Street Dance
Dancing and fun for all ages, plus food vendors. 6-10 p.m. outside the Lind Lions Club, 108 E. First St. Info: 509-347-6696.
SOAR Festival
An evening of music, culture, and inspiration, featuring world-class performances by producer, composer and songwriter David Foster and Friends, vocalist and Broadway performer Katharine McPhee and the Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra. 6-11 p.m. at The Hilltop, 348 Silica Road NW, Quincy. Info: TheHilltop.org.
Comedy on the Columbia
Laugh it up with Northwest comedy legend Susan Rice, joined by Showtime Network’s Art Krug. 8 p.m. at Tower Pizza at Crescent Bar, 8995 Crescent Bar Road NW, Quincy. Info: 509-787-0102.
Aug. 29
Community Resource Fair
This event is open to anyone who wants to better understand how to support individuals struggling with substance use disorder—whether it’s yourself, a loved one, or a member of the community. Attendees can take part in naloxone training, explore local support resources, and honor those impacted by overdose. As part of the tribute, purple flags may be dedicated to individuals whose lives were saved with naloxone, while white flags will honor those who were lost to overdose. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at McCosh park, 410 W., Fourth Ave., Moses Lake. Info: https://bit.ly/GrantCoResourceFair.
Back to School Movie Night
Free movie hosted by the Othello Chamber of Commerce. Event starts at 4 p.m., movie begins at sunset at Kiwanis Park, 870 S. Shady Lane Place, Othello. Info: 509-488-2683.
This weekend at the movies:
Fairchild Cinemas: Brink of War (PG); End of Oak Street (PG-13); Insidious: Out of the Further (PG-13); Magic Faraway Tree (PG); Minions and Monsters (PG); Mutiny (R); The Odyssey (R); Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie (PG); Spider-Man: Brand New Day (PG-13); Toy Story 5 (PG). See www.fairchildcinemas.com for showtimes.
The Showhouse: Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie (PG); The End of Oak Street (PG-13). See othelloshowhouse.com for showtimes.
Ritz Theater: Minions and Monsters (PG). 7 p.m. Friday, and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. See www.facebook.com/RitzvilleRitz for updates.
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
BASIN EVENTS Sept. 11-19 2026
COLUMBIA BASIN — Wherever you are in the Columbia Basin, there’s probably something fun happening near you. Here are a few possibilities.
Quincy National Night Out scales down
QUINCY — Quincy’s National Night Out was more compact this year, which worked out well, said QPD Sgt. Joe Westby, who’s in charge of event planning for the Quincy Police Department. “National Night Out is a big event, and the fact that we’re able to shrink it up is like a breath of fresh air,” Westby said. “If you're always doing the same thing, it's kind of nice to switch things up and see how it works.” National Night Out took place Thursday on the block of C Street next to the police station, a shift from previous years when it was held at Lauzier Park. The smaller space meant fewer emergency vehicles for children to explore, but it also meant less walking for attendees. Grant County Fire District 5 brought a fire truck, and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office had a patrol boat. Renew, the Grant County behavioral health agency, had a booth and so did Quincy Partnership for Youth. Veterans Operation Creation sang the national anthem, and the Quincy Animal Shelter brought kittens that piled over each other making friends with passersby. As before, the QPD served grilled hot dogs.
Quincy Police retirements leave big shoes to fill
QUINCY — There are some big shoes to fill at the Quincy Police Department. “We’re losing 48 years of experience between them,” Quincy Police Chief Ryan Green said at the retirement party for Capt. Jorge Trujillo and Det. Damon Powell Thursday. Trujillo, who grew up in Sunnyside, has been with QPD for 19 years, he said, coming on as a patrol officer fresh out of the military. From there he served as a field training officer, a detective and finally captain. “I consider him my left-hand man,” Green said. “He runs the operations side of the house … He knows the agency very well, and he knows the community.” Trujillo has some projects around the house to tackle now that he’s retired, he said.