BASIN EVENTS: May 15-23
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 months AGO
Bring your resume to WorkSource’s Spring Hiring Fair today in Moses Lake.
FILE PHOTO
The Moses Lake High School Jazz Choir will hold its annual Dessert Social and Auction Tuesday.
Kids can climb, explore and even swing on big machines at the Ephrata Fire Department’s Touch a Truck tomorrow.
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. | May 15, 2026 3:00 AM
COLUMBIA BASIN — There’s plenty happening in the Basin as we sneak up on Memorial Day weekend. Check out some of these goings-on.
May 15
Spring Hiring Event
Bring your resume and take the opportunity to talk to local employers looking to fill their available positions. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at WorkSource, 309 E. Fifth Ave., Moses Lake. Info: 509-766-2559.
Live music with Owen Barnhart
Country solo artist Owen Barnhart’s sets include soulful banjo, fingerpicking guitar and a crystal clear voice - covering everything from classic country and Americana to classic rock and folk tunes. 5 p.m. at Monkey N’ Around Pizza, 716 13th Ave. SW, Quincy. Info: www.owenbarnhart.com.
May 16
HOSA Color Run
Lace up for a color-filled 5k run. Race kit includes bib, sunglasses, optional T-shirt and take-home color packet. 8 a.m. check-in, 9 a.m. shotgun start at the Grant Elementary/Ephrata High School parking lot. Info: [email protected].
Community Bike Repair Event
Bring your bike, get repairs and learn maintenance skills. Basic repairs done free. For ages 5-16. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Othello Christian Church, 915 E. Rainier St. Info: 509-488-2208.
Touch a Truck
Free family event with emergency vehicles and construction equipment for children to explore, plus food, music and fun activities. Hosted by Ephrata Fire Department. The first hour will be sensory-friendly with minimal noise and lights. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at 780 A St SE, Ephrata. Info: 509-754-4666.
High Tea at the Garden
Step into an elegant, Regency-inspired afternoon at our High Tea. Enjoy fine teas, sparkling beverages, classic tea-time treats, and a charming mini-bloom bar where you can craft your own petite bouquet to take home along with a keepsake teacup and other sweet treasures. Proceeds support Habitat for Humanity of Greater Moses Lake. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at The Garden Event Center, 605 E Nelson Road, Moses Lake. Info: 509-765-4030.
Powersport PAW-looza
Join Grant County Animal Outreach and Adams County Pet Rescue for an afternoon packed with adoptable dogs, a free barbecue and exciting raffle baskets. Whether you’re looking for your new best friend or just want to enjoy the fun, there’s something for everyone. Donations will be collected for both shelters, and Wolfpack Powersports will match donations up to $500 for each facility. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Wolfpack Powersports, 1715 W. Broadway Ave., Moses Lake. Info: 509-766-1020.
Community Shred Event
Bring old bills and sensitive documents to be destroyed safely. Sponsored by Windermere Moses Lake. Four-box maximum. No charge. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Surf ‘n Slide Water Park parking lot, 410 W. Fourth Ave., Moses Lake.
5 Mile Drive
Live bluegrass concert. Adults $5, kids 12 and younger free. There will be a hat-pass for the musicians. Refreshments served by the Georgettes. 3 p.m. at the George Community Hall, 403 W. Montmorency Blvd. Info: www.georgecommunityhall.com.
The Wicked Pickles
Moses Lake cover band featuring a mix of ’80s and classic rock, with a little country, pop, and alternative sprinkled in. 7-11 p.m. at Columbia Basin Eagles Lodge No. 2622, 1517 W. Broadway Ave., Moses Lake. Info: 509-765-3312.
Music and Wine Straight From the Vine
Live music by Moses Lake saxophonist Doug Coutts, as well as award-winning wine, craft brews, Cornfusion Gourmet Popcorn and local meats. 7 p.m. at Camas Cove Cellars, 911 Camas Place, Moses Lake. Info: 509-750-4193.
May 19
Jazz Dessert Social and Auction
Silent auction with a selection of desserts and live performances by Moses Lake High School choir students. Proceeds support choir activities. 6:30 p.m. at Moses Lake Presbyterian Church, 1122 W. Ivy Ave. Info and tickets: mlhs.ticketspice.com/jazzsocial2026.
May 20
Cyber Safety for Kids and Families
This interactive presentation brings kids and grown-ups together to learn practical strategies for staying safe, building healthy digital habits, and creating open conversations about online life. Explore real-world risks while also learning positive “green flag” habits that support tech-life balance. Designed for both kids and caregivers, this session emphasizes curiosity, trust, and shared responsibility in building safer digital spaces. 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Moses Lake Public Library, 418 E 5th Ave. Info: 509-765-3489.
College and Community Resource Fair
Connect with colleges and organizations offering support for you and your family. Dinner, free childcare, raffles and lots of information, plus a visit from the Red Rock robotics team. 5:15-7 p.m. at Red Rock Elementary School, 230 Wildflower St. NE, Royal City. Info: 509-346-2432.
May 21
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. 2-6 p.m. at the Moses Lake Public Library, 418 E. Fifth Ave. Info: 509-771-7634.
Adult Craft Night: Beaded Wind Chimes
Create your own wind chimes using assorted beads and string anchored onto a wood base. The finished wind chime will make a beautiful addition to your space and produce a twinkly sound on a windy day. Chimes and wood rounds are provided by NCW Libraries and beads by the Soap Lake Friends of the Library. 5-7 p.m. at Soap Lake Public Library, 32 Main Ave. E. Info: 509-246-1313.
May 21-24
Spring Fest
Moses Lake’s biggest blowout of the year. Carnival, parades, car show, 3-on-3 basketball tournament and more. Info: www.springfestinmoseslake.com.
May 22-24
Last Stand Rodeo
PRCA rodeo plus Cow Pie Jog, mutton bustin’, Cowboy Breakfast and parade. Coulee City Rodeo Grounds, 505 E. Walnut St., Coulee City. Info: laststandrodeo.com.
May 23
Downtown Ritzville Pop-Up Market
Local vendors, small businesses, and a day centered around shopping and supporting the community. Sponsored by the Ritzville Chamber of Commerce. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in downtown Ritzville. Info: ritzvillechamber.com.
This weekend at the movies:
Fairchild Cinemas: Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft (PG-13); The Devil Wears Prada 2 (PG-13); In the Grey (R); Michael (PG-13); Mortal Kombat II (R); Obsession (R); Project Hail Mary (PG-13); The Sheep Detectives (PG); Super Mario Galaxy Movie (PG). See www.fairchildcinemas.com for show times.
The Showhouse: Mortal Kombat II (R); The Sheep Detectives (PG); The Mandalorian and Grogu (PG-13). See othelloshowhouse.com for show times.
Ritz Theater: The Sheep Detectives (PG) 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. See www.facebook.com/RitzvilleRitz for updates.
The Moses Lake High School Jazz Choir will hold its annual Dessert Social and Auction Tuesday.
Kids can climb, explore and even swing on big machines at the Ephrata Fire Department’s Touch a Truck tomorrow.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.”