GALLERY: 2025 at the Masquers
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 months, 2 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
Man arrested in Thursday morning hit-and-run
MOSES LAKE — A suspect was taken into custody Thursday afternoon in the hit-and-run of a county road worker early Thursday morning, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman. Trino Mendez, 36, was booked into Grant County Jail on suspicion of hit-and-run attended complicity and vehicular assault, according to the Grant County Jail roster. No bail had been set as of Friday morning. The incident happened around 5:10 a.m. on North Frontage Road about a mile east of Dodson Road, according to the GCSO. Road crews were preparing the road for chip sealing when the worker was struck.
Alleged assault on officer, paramedic lands man in jail
MOSES LAKE — A man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly assaulted a paramedic and a Moses Lake Police Officer, according to a statement from the MLPD. Jared Blake Hunter, 34, was booked into Grant County Jail on charges of third-degree assault – law enforcement officer, according to Grant County Jail records.
Home sales up as summer moving season begins
MOSES LAKE — More homes hit the market in June as summer home sales gained momentum, according to data released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which tracks real estate trends in 27 of Washington’s 39 counties. Active listings increased 16.4 percent statewide in June 2026 compared to June 2025, according to the NWMLS data and 8 percent compared to May 2026. Grant County listings followed a similar pattern, increasing 14.56 percent year-over-year and 9.18 percent over May 2026. Active listings were down 15.87 percent in Adams County from June 2025, but up 3.92 percent from a month earlier.