GALLERY: 2025 at the Masquers
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 weeks AGO
Colonel Mustard (Dave Stearns) left, and Professor Plum (Justin Martin) hold the dead body of the cook while talking with Wadsworth (Rebecca Grommesh) in the Masquers Theater production of the mystery-comedy “Clue! On Stage” in February.
FILE PHOTO
Rona (Cassie Nelson, right) unloads her anger at the disaster that took her child’s life on Revlon (Tanya Sheelke, left) and Sian (Kristina Allman) in a rehearsal of the Masquers play “The Revlon Girl,” opening April 25. “The Revlon Girl” looked at the lives of four women who lost children when a mountain of coal slag slid onto the mining village of Aberfan, Wales in 1966.
Cave people dance, sing and evolve in the Masquers Theater production of “Firebringer” in June. The musical broke some new ground for the Masquers, with live musicians and a younger cast.
The Masquers Theater finished off 2025 with “Christmas with Little Women,” a holiday adaptation of the classic Louisa May Alcott novel, in December.
From left: Urchins Ronnette (Kylie Youngren), Chiffon (Lydia Harris) and Crystal (Rachel Bresee) sing about life on Skid Row in the Masquers production of “Little Shop of Horrors” in October.
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. | January 2, 2026 1:20 AM
SOAP LAKE — The Masquers Theater brought laughter, drama and joy to the stage in 2025. Here’s a look back at the troupe’s productions for the year. The theater continues to be a big draw for visitors to Soap Lake and puts on a variety of productions throughout the year, including dramas, musicals and comedies.
Rona (Cassie Nelson, right) unloads her anger at the disaster that took her child’s life on Revlon (Tanya Sheelke, left) and Sian (Kristina Allman) in a rehearsal of the Masquers play “The Revlon Girl,” opening April 25. “The Revlon Girl” looked at the lives of four women who lost children when a mountain of coal slag slid onto the mining village of Aberfan, Wales in 1966.
Cave people dance, sing and evolve in the Masquers Theater production of “Firebringer” in June. The musical broke some new ground for the Masquers, with live musicians and a younger cast.
The Masquers Theater finished off 2025 with “Christmas with Little Women,” a holiday adaptation of the classic Louisa May Alcott novel, in December.
From left: Urchins Ronnette (Kylie Youngren), Chiffon (Lydia Harris) and Crystal (Rachel Bresee) sing about life on Skid Row in the Masquers production of “Little Shop of Horrors” in October.ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Fixing problems
Habitat for Humanity’s Brush with Kindness helps with needed home repairs
MOSES LAKE — Habitat for Humanity is known for building new homes, but last year the Moses Lake chapter focused instead on repairing existing ones. It was so successful they’re doing it again this year. “We’re still on the fence on whether or not we’re going to build,” said Habitat for Humanity of Greater Moses Lake Executive Director Rebecca Mabius. “We want to build, because building homes is one of our main missions. But the home repair program allows for individuals to stay in their home. We’re able to help more families than just a single family.”
BASIN EVENTS: Jan. 23-31, 2026
COLUMBIA BASIN — The weather might be chilly and gray, but there are still things to do to break up the winter doldrums. Here are a few ideas for this week.
The Magnesium Shoppe offers mineral-rich relief for pain and stress
MOSES LAKE — Most people don’t think a whole lot about magnesium, even though it’s a mineral our bodies need to function. But a new shop in downtown Moses Lake aims to remedy that. “It’s the most important mineral in our lives,” said Amy Winter, owner of The Magnesium Shoppe. Winter formerly sold magnesium products as part of her business, Seeds ‘n Stone, which closed last spring. She reopened last week in a new location focusing specifically on magnesium. The website and social media pages are still under Seeds ‘n Stone, because of difficulty changing them over, she said.