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
Ferguson, Legislature at odds over housing
OLYMPIA — It’s no secret that housing prices are rising in Washington. How to address that – and who should address that – is the subject of some disagreement in Olympia.
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GALLERY: 2025 at the Masquers
SOAP LAKE — The Masquers Theater brought laughter, drama and joy to the stage in 2025. Here’s a look back at the troupe’s productions for the year. The theater continues to be a big draw for visitors to Soap Lake and puts on a variety of productions throughout the year, …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 0 MINUTES AGO
COLUMBIA BASIN EVENTS: January 2026
COLUMBIA BASIN — With the holidays behind us, things are slowing down a little in the Basin, but there’s still plenty to do coming up in January. Here are a few possibilities:
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 0 MINUTES AGO
Alumni Association scholarship applications open
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Alumni Association will begin accepting applications for 2026 in January, Association Secretary Susan Blackwell wrote in an announcement to the Columbia Basin Herald.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 3 HOURS, 26 MINUTES AGO
Crash near Hatton claims two lives
HATTON — Two Othello men died in a single-vehicle collision Tuesday morning in Adams County, according to a statement from the Washington State Patrol.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 12 HOURS, 52 MINUTES AGO
Library advocate honored with Kevin Fuhr award
MOSES LAKE — Sarah Delacruz is the honoree of the third annual Kevin Fuhr Community Member of the Year award. “She was so outspoken and the public face of trying to keep the library open and share the facts about it that it made sense for her to be our …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 DAY, 2 HOURS AGO
New homes, new lives
MOSES LAKE — 2025 turned out to be a good year for some pets, and some humans as well. Here are a few of the critters that found forever homes at local shelters this year.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 DAYS, 5 HOURS AGO
Home team
MOSES LAKE — Hayden Homes, and its partner company Simplicity by Hayden Homes, went a step beyond their mission of affordable housing this month, with donations to organizations across the Northwest fighting food insecurity. Especially at this time of the year, it becomes more in the spotlight to think about …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 5 DAYS, 5 HOURS AGO
Nazarene Church toy swap brings needed Christmas joy
WARDEN — The Moses Lake Nazarene Church’s toy swap was scheduled for two hours Sunday afternoon, but it didn’t last nearly that long. “People were lined up from one o’clock on,” said Kaleigh Sullivan, who organized the event.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 DAYS, 3 HOURS AGO
NCW Tech Alliance to offer investment series
WENATCHEE — There’s a world of great ideas out there, just waiting for a little bit of extra money to make them feasible. At the same time, there are people with a little bit of money who would like to se that money grow along with a great idea. The …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 1 DAY AGO
A year of successes
MOSES LAKE — Downtown Moses Lake has had a pretty good year. “I think people are starting to recognize that there is stuff downtown,” said Downtown Moses Lake Association Executive Director Mallory Miller.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 2 DAYS AGO
Quincy Shop with a Cop pairs families with officers
QUINCY — Ten Quincy families will have a brighter Christmas through the Quincy Police Department’s Shop with a Cop event Dec. 6. “Seeing how excited the kids get and how thankful the families are, it’s awesome,” said QPD Ofc. Danya Mercado, who organized the event with Ofc. Jessica Diaz.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 2 DAYS AGO
‘Our favorite time of year’
MOSES LAKE — The heavy police presence outside local stores recently wasn’t because of a crime wave. It was police officers engaging in their favorite annual event. “This is one of those times throughout the year that we don't have to go and ask for volunteers to help,” said Moses …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 5 DAYS AGO
BASIN EVENTS: Dec. 19-27
COLUMBIA BASIN — It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and a lot of people will be spending time at home with their families or at the church of their choice. Still, there are a few things happening around the Basin. Here are some ideas:
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 5 DAYS AGO
