BASIN EVENTS: Jan. 9-17, 2026
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 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. | January 9, 2026 3:00 AM
COLUMBIA BASIN — With the holidays safely in our rear-view mirror, the calendar in the Basin isn’t as crowded as it was a few months ago. Still, there are plenty of things to get out and enjoy for those who want to. Here are a few possibilities.
Jan. 9
Gallery Opening: ‘The Four Corners of the Year’
Exhibit by Moses Lake artist Pamela Petry-McKinsey representing the four seasons of the year. Exhibit runs through Feb. 20. Opening reception 4-7 p.m. at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, 401 S. Balsam St. Info: 509-764-3830 or moseslakemuseum.com.
Sourdough for Beginners
Are you ready to finally take the plunge into sourdough and all of its benefits? Come learn a skill as old as time and get your hands doughy. Laura, a WSDA-certified commercial sourdough baker and instructor, will teach you all you need to know to bake an artisan sourdough boule from start to finish. Tickets $99, available at https://bit.ly/SourdoughTix26. 5-7:30 p.m. at The Drip, 123 W. Third Ave., Moses Lake. Info: [email protected].
Jan. 10
Dancing with the Moses Lake Stars
Six local stars will partner with dance professionals for a competition judged by the audience. Proceeds support the Central Basin Community Concert Association. Great dancing and great fun in a great cause. 7 p.m. at the Big Bend Community College Wallenstien theater, 6989 College Parkway NE, Moses Lake. Tickets and info: www.CommunityConcertsML.com.
Jan. 11
Winter Handbell Concert
Performance by Heart of the Basin Ringers handbell choir, followed by light refreshments. 3 p.m. at Othello Christian Church Disciples of Christ, 915 E. Rainier St. Info: 509-488-2208.
Jan. 15
Aaron Crawford
Live performance by the pioneer of the Cascade Country sound. 6:30 p.m. at Gård Public House, 112 Evergreen Ave. NW, Royal City. Reservations and info: bit.ly/gardpublichouse or 509-414-1484.
Jan. 17
Salish Sea Salt Master Class and Salt-Making Demo
Learn how to collect, filter and evaporate seawater to make your own sea salt, plus barbecue rubs and seasoning mixes made from the salt. No charge, but donations will be accepted for Covenant Christian School’s greenhouse project. Class taught by Valerie Parrott of Pieces by Parrott. 11 a.m. at Covenant Christian School, 1001 N. Grape Drive, Moses Lake. Info: 509-431-1879.
Comedy Night: Cory Michaelis
After teaching high school for 12 years, Cory Michaelis “retired” to do comedy full-time because he wanted to try out both of the lowest-paying jobs in America. Now he’s bringing his act — which is sharp, irreverent and not suitable for the high schoolers he used to teach — to Moses Lake. Tickets $28.52 and available at https://bit.ly/CoryMichaelisML. 7:30 p.m. at Moore Brewing Company, 302 W. Broadway Ave., Moses Lake. Info: 509-707-0192.
This weekend at the movies:
Fairchild Cinemas: Anaconda (PG-13); Avatar: Fire and Ash (PG-13, 2D and 3D); David (PG): Greenland 2: Migration (PG-13); Marty Supreme (PG); Primate (R); Song Sung Blue (PG-13); Spongebob Movie: Search for Squarepants (PG); The Housemaid (R); Zootopia 2 (PG). See www.fairchildcinemas.com for show times.
The Showhouse: Anaconda (PG-13); 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (R). See showhouse3.wordpress.com for show times.
Ritz Theater: Fackham Hall (R). 7 p.m. Friday, and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. See www.facebook.com/RitzvilleRitz for updates.
Comedian Cory Michaelis will perform at Moore Brewing Company Jan. 17.
Pieces by Parrott will host a master class in making sea salt Jan. 17.ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Endless battle
Noxious Weed Control Board works to keep invasive plants under control
MOSES LAKE — Some of the nastiest plants in Grant County were the topic of a class led by Jay Johnson, a consultant with the Grant County Noxious Weed Control Board, Tuesday. The Noxious Weed Control Board, as its name would suggest, is tasked with keeping weeds under control in Grant County. That’s not a small job; the board’s website lists 129 species of noxious weeds that are found around Grant County. A noxious weed is defined as an invasive, non-native plant that threatens agricultural crops, local ecosystems or fish and wildlife habitat, according to the Noxious Weed Control Board. Washington state law requires that these weeds be identified and their spread kept to a minimum, if not completely eradicated. “We’re one of those agencies a lot of people don’t really understand,” Johnson said. “We’re a county office and … our funding is tax-based assessment. When you get your tax bill and you look down at all the expenses that you pay for, there we are.”
BASIN EVENTS: Oct. 16-24
COLUMBIA BASIN — Whether you feel like shopping, crafting, learning or seeing a show, there’s something happening for you this week in the Basin. Oct. 16 ‘My Family (Mi Familia)’ screening Spanning three generations, “My Family (Mi Familia)” is a heartfelt drama that follows the Sánchez family as they build their lives in East Los Angeles. Through love, hardship, triumph, and sacrifice, the film explores the immigrant experience, the strength of family bonds, and the traditions that connect one generation to the next. Lowrider show and taco truck before the screening. Sponsored by Columbia Basin Allied Arts, EDUBS C/S and the Moses Lake Creative District. $12 per person. Doors open at 6 p.m., film begins at 7 p.m. at the Moses Lake Civic Center Auditorium, 401 S. Balsam St. Tickets and info: www.cba-arts.org.
Moses Lake author encourages women to look beyond church culture norms
MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake author’s book, “A Christian Woman Striving to Live Her Faith in a Man-Controlled World,” takes aim at the role to which many churches relegate the female half of their congregations. “It’s to encourage women in the faith,” Linda Curran said. “A lot of churches say, ‘Teach Sunday school, do this, do that, but don’t (evangelize.)’" In her book, Curran recounts a time when she moved to a new community and joined a church there. She was surprised to learn that, as a new female member, she had been automatically assigned church cleaning duties. When she questioned it, she wrote, she was met with condescension and her objections were brushed aside. In other churches, she said, women who were capable of teaching were relegated to “women’s ministry.”