Staff Writer
JOEL MARTIN
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.
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Royal Middle schooler honored for saving classmate
ROYAL CITY — A quick-thinking student saved a choking classmate’s life at Royal Middle School Jan. 9. Seventh-grader Alangel Baeza was honored at a school assembly Friday morning with a plaque and congratulations from his teachers, fellow students and Royal City police and firefighters.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 0 MINUTES AGO
Lavender donation honors late food bank director
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Food Bank received a different kind of donation Thursday. Joe Downs, owner of Lavender Ranch near Quincy, donated 70 bundles of lavender to Community Services of Moses Lake in memory of Peny Archer, the food bank’s director who passed away earlier this month. Each …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 0 MINUTES AGO
All things agriculture
SPOKANE — All things agricultural will be on display the first week of February at the 48th annual Spokane Ag Show at the Spokane Convention Center. The Spokane Ag Show is one of the largest ag expos in the region, said Show Director Melisa Paul.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 0 MINUTES AGO
Trade school scholarship auction coming Feb. 15 in Mattawa
MATTAWA — The Sven Legacy Foundation will hold a fundraiser silent auction Feb. 15 near Mattawa, complete with food, drinks, music and lots to bid on. The foundation was formed in November in memory of its namesake, Sven Leland, a Mattawa farmer who passed away last year. The purpose is …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 20 HOURS, 38 MINUTES AGO
Home solar can trim bills, but research before installing
EPHRATA — With the cost of everything going up, some homeowners want to embrace self-sufficiency in energy by mounting solar panels on their roofs to generate power. And considering the Basin’s abundant sunshine, that seems like a great solution for this area. “We do encourage customers to go into their …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 21 HOURS, 48 MINUTES AGO
Columbia Gardens: Port of Kennewick turns industrial zone into wine and food destination
KENNEWICK — On a given day you can see folks on the Kennewick waterfront sipping wine, noshing on tacos or barbecue or just soaking up the sunshine and the view at Columbia Gardens, and they can thank the Port of Kennewick for that. “Our community is growing, and people are …
BASINBUSINESSJOURNAL | UPDATED 23 HOURS, 8 MINUTES AGO
All things ag
SPOKANE — All things agricultural will be on display the first week of February at the 48th annual Spokane Ag Show at the Spokane Convention Center. The Spokane Ag Show is one of the largest ag expos in the region, said Show Director Melisa Paul. “A typical year brings in …
BASINBUSINESSJOURNAL | UPDATED 1 DAY, 7 HOURS AGO
Queen Kaylee
EPHRATA — There’s a new queen in Moses Lake, and she’s got Ephrata roots. Kaylee Stump, 20, of Ephrata was named the 2025 Miss Moses Lake Roundup in November. Stump, the daughter of Mike and Miranda Stump, is a 2022 graduate of Ephrata High School. Her coronation will be March …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 DAY, 21 HOURS AGO
Showing the moves
MOSES LAKE — The Wallenstien Theater was almost full Saturday night for the second annual Dancing with the Moses Lake Stars. “It was exciting to see (so many) young people,” said Judy Twigg, vice president of the Central Basin Community Concert Association, which hosted the event. “It shows that if …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 2 DAYS, 21 HOURS AGO
New Elks Lodge hosts youth hoop shoot
MOSES LAKE — Four Moses Lake youths will advance in the Elks Hoop Shoot thanks to their free throw skills. Fabian Vargas, Preston Groth, Linden Wiltbank and Brinly Wiltbank emerged the champions in their divisions in the competition held Saturday at Frontier Middle School, according to an email from Debbie …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 2 DAYS, 21 HOURS AGO
‘Hello, Dolly!’
QUINCY — Audiences can put on their Sunday clothes and cast themselves back to the Gay Nineties this month as Quincy Valley Allied Arts brings “Hello, Dolly!” to the stage.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 3 DAYS, 20 HOURS AGO
Country Sweethearts to benefit cancer patients, families
MOSES LAKE — The 16th annual Country Sweethearts benefit auction is coming up Feb. 1 and it’s going to be a doozy, according to Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation Executive Director Angel Ledesma.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 4 DAYS, 20 HOURS AGO
A career of grace
MOSES LAKE — Pastor Walter Klockers has a guiding principle: “This is Christ's Church, and I know my place.” It’s a part of the creed he maintains for his ministry, he said; he regularly reminds himself that he is an imperfect person who is called to proclaim a perfect Gospel …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 WEEK AGO
ENZO opens event room, expands kitchen
MOSES LAKE — ENZO owners and staff cut the ribbon on the restaurant’s newest facility, called the Riviera Room, Wednesday. ENZO already had a smaller banquet facility, called the Amalfi Room, owner Rhonda Cacchiotti explained, but it’s also used for everyday dining and even when it’s booked for private functions …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 WEEK AGO
