EVENTS: July 17-25, 2026
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 months 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. | July 17, 2026 3:00 AM
COLUMBIA BASIN — We’re near the halfway point of the summer, and there’s still no shortage of things to do this year. Here are some ways to get out and about.
July 18
Friends of the Moses Lake Library Book Sale
Peruse through gently used books and take home a new treasure for your home library. Proceeds go to help fund library programs. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Moses Lake Public Library, 418 E. Fifth Ave. Info: 509-771-7634.
Ram and Ewe Sale
Buy or sell a wide variety of breeds from some of the top producers in the Northwest. Hosted by Washington State Sheep Producers. 1:30 p.m. at Grant County Fairgrounds, 3953 Airway Dr NE, Moses Lake. Info: www.wssp.org.
Live music by Yotes
Yotes combines his rich baritone vocals with an energetic delivery, playing a mix of songs from 1950s country, 1980s neo-rockabilly, modern Americana and many genres and eras in between. Old favorites are interspersed with some of his favorite songs by friends and up-and-coming artists he’s met through the years. 6 p.m. at Moses Lake Taproom, 530 W. Valley Road. Info: 509-707-0052.
July 21
Candidate forum
Meet the people running for public office in your community this year. All contested candidates with three or more in their race have been invited to attend. Sponsored by Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce and Columbia Basin Herald. 6 p.m. at Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center, 900 E. Yonezawa Blvd., Moses Lake. Info: 509-765-4561.
July 22
Kids’ Karaoke
Calling all young singers! Here’s your chance to enjoy music, build confidence, and create superstar moments. No experience needed for kids to take the stage in the Civic Center Auditorium and sing their favorite hits, from Disney classics to today’s pop favorites. Every participant will be given a chance to sing, and we recommend coming with a few song selections already in mind. 4 p.m. at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, 401 S. Balsam St. Info: 509-764-3830.
July 23
Caring for Family Photographs
Join Museum Curator Ann Schempp to learn how to care for your photographs with proper storage and marking methods to make these memories last for generations. 6 p.m. at Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, 401 S Balsam St. Info: 509-764-3830.
July 25
Christmas in July at the Market
Who says you have to wait until December for holiday cheer? Stroll through decorated vendor booths, shop amazing local makers and growers, enjoy holiday-themed fun, festive music, sweet treats, and surprises for the whole family. Wear your favorite Christmas shirt, Santa hat, or holiday outfit. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at Moses Lake Farmers Market, McCosh Park, 401 W. Fourth Avenue. Info: www.farmersmarketml.com.
Fairgrounds Community Cleanup Day
Help prep the fairgrounds for the 2026 Grant County Fair. Painting, landscaping, cleaning, organizing and more. Projects for all skill levels. The fairgrounds will host lunch for all volunteers. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at 3953 Airway Drive NE, Moses Lake. Info: 509-765-3581.
Autism Swims
Come enjoy an evening of swimming, fun, and connection in a welcoming and supportive environment. This special event gives autism families the opportunity to enjoy the water together with less crowding and a more comfortable atmosphere. Hosted by Autism Support Group of Grant County. Bring your swimsuits, towels, and smiles. 6-8 p.m. at Splash Zone, 780 A St./ SE, Ephrata. Info: grantcountyautism.org.
Comedy on the Columbia with Sam Miller
From Olympia, Sam is 6-foot-6, and 360 pounds with two kids, one of them on purpose. He’s been married for 10 years, and has been clean and sober for 15 years. Sam likes to make jokes about what it’s like to be a sober parent and what jail is like in Yakima. 8 p.m. at Tower Pizza and Sunworks at Crescent Bar, 8995 Crescent Bar Road NW, Quincy.
This weekend at the movies:
Fairchild Cinemas: Evil Dead Burn (R); Minions and Monsters (PG); Moana (PG); Obsession (R); The Odyssey (R); Supergirl (PG-13); Toy Story 5 (PG); Young Washington (PG-13). See www.fairchildcinemas.com for show times.
The Showhouse: Hop (PG). Free movie, July 21 only. See othelloshowhouse.com for details.
Ritz Theater: Disclosure Day (PG-13) 7 p.m. Friday, and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. See www.facebook.com/RitzvilleRitz for updates.
The Moses Lake Museum & Art Center will host a class on how to preserve family photos July 23.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.”