BASIN EVENTS: Jan. 9-17, 2026
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 months, 4 weeks 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
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.
Big fun on a small scale
Wheat Land Communities’ Fair opens Thursday
RITZVILLE — The Wheat Land Communities’ Fair isn’t as big or as flashy as some of the county fairs around central Washington, but the folks who keep it going like it just the way it is. “It’s somewhere you can go and get an old-time traditional feeling, and you’re comfortable letting your kids roam the grounds and experience all that it has to offer,” said Board Member Lori Williams. “It’s more of a feeling than (one) specific thing,” The fair starts Thursday in Ritzville and runs through Sunday. Starting Friday, the 56th Ritzville Rodeo will take place alongside the fair at the rodeo grounds. This year the entertainment budget was expanded, Williams said, to be able to offer more fun that’s covered by the cost of admission. For the kids, there’s face painting, balloon art, Lego crafts, races, contests and games. Children can also ride on a little train towed around the fairgrounds behind a tractor.