BASIN EVENTS: Aug. 21-29
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 months, 1 week AGO
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
QHS student nominated for AI award
WENATCHEE — A Quincy High School student is one of 15 finalists for the NCW Tech Alliance Innovator Awards, according to an announcement from NCW Tech Alliance. QHS junior Brooklyn Averill is one of three competitors in the K-12 Future Technology Leader of the Year finals, according to the announcement. Averill’s entry in the competition was an AI agent that books appointments for the Wenatchee cleaning service iClean. “(The owner) was having trouble making appointments for her cleaners and getting invoices done correctly, and other things as well,” Averill said. “So we decided to focus on that and make a booking agent that took the orders for her.”
CB Foundation seeks nominations for firefighter grants
EPHRATA — There’s still time to get some extra cash for your favorite firefighters. The Columbia Basin Foundation is seeking nominations for $1,000 grants for local fire agencies, according to the Foundation’s website. Nominations close Sunday. “We wanted to have a fall grant cycle that gave people an opportunity to nominate any Grant County or Adams County fire district or fire departments that have gone above and beyond the call of duty and … showcase what they do for the community,” said CBF Director Corinne Isaak. Isaak wasn’t certain how many grants the Foundation would be able to give, but usually a fall grant cycle runs to about 10, she said. There could be more if additional money becomes available, she said.
Ephrata Shop with a Cop fully funded
EPHRATA — It’s not even November yet, and Ephrata’s Shop with a Cop event is already fully funded. “Honestly, it doesn’t surprise me,” said Ephrata Interim Police Chief Troy Froewiss. “The businesses and citizens of Ephrata have a long history of stepping up when things are needed. I didn't expect such generous donations so quickly, but I was confident that we were going to be able to make Shop with a Cop happen. It’s just the financial part of it happened a lot quicker than I expected.”