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
‘This is where I want to be'
MOSES LAKE — The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin’s new leader has found her happy place, said Jill Smith, who took over as CEO Sept. 1 “What really sealed the deal for me was touring the clubhouse for the first time and meeting some of the team …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 0 MINUTES AGO
BASIN EVENTS: October 2026
COLUMBIA BASIN — The days are getting shorter and the eerie time of year is creeping up on us. Here are a few things happening in October.
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Insurance rates won’t go up in wake of 2026 wildfires
MOSES LAKE — Almost three-fifths of American homeowners have concerns about their insurance rates going up due to wildfires, according to a study by the insurance website LendingTree.com. But Moses Lake insurance agent Chris Arnberg said we don’t have much to worry about in the Columbia Basin. “I don't think …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 0 MINUTES AGO
QVHS to step back in time this weekend
QUINCY — The Quincy Valley Historical Museum will be a time warp this weekend, taking folks back to the founding of the country. “Every other year we do a harvest festival, a celebration of harvest and culture,” said Harriet Weber, executive director of the Quincy Valley Historical Society. “This year …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 15 HOURS, 5 MINUTES AGO
‘All in for Moses Lake’
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Police Department waved a regretful goodbye to Cpl. Ray Lopez Wednesday. “He’s a great ambassador for this organization in the community,” said MLPD Chief David Sands. “He’s all in for Moses Lake.” “Ray is Moses Lake,” said MLPD Public Information Officer Capt. Mike Williams. …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 15 HOURS, 25 MINUTES AGO
Masquers’ ‘Anastasia: The Musical’ to open Oct. 16
SOAP LAKE — The Masquers Theater’s production of “Anastasia: The Musical” will open Oct. 16, according to an announcement from the theater. The play will star Emma-Jean Wydur as the title character, with Ben McLain, Jeremy Hansen, Alec Lobe, Christy McLain and Auti Kirk in supporting roles, according to a …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 DAY, 15 HOURS AGO
Library activities for October 2026
COLUMBIA BASIN — There’s plenty happening this month for all ages at your local library. Coulee City 218 W Main St. – 509-632-8751 Oct. 2, 9, 16 and 23 (Fridays): Preschool Storytime | 11 a.m. Half an hour of stories, songs, rhymes, and fun. This program is designed for preschool-age …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 1 DAY, 15 HOURS AGO
Bluegrass musicians strike a chord with George students
GEORGE — George Elementary students get an earful of something new Thursday.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 2 DAYS, 15 HOURS AGO
Small town, big fun
WILSON CREEK — It’s a big festival for one of the smallest towns in Grant County. “The town was full,” said Shirley Billings, a member of the informal committee that puts the Wilson Creek Harvest Festival together. “There was no parking anywhere.” The 2025 festival brought 200-300 people out to …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 3 DAYS, 15 HOURS AGO
Rotarians step up to clean highway
MOSES LAKE — The Rotary Club of Moses Lake spent some time Wednesday making the roadside look better. “We’re just trying to make the community look better, more attractive,” said club President Sean Jenks. “The city was asking for volunteers to come help around town, and we thought it would …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 3 DAYS, 15 HOURS AGO
Cool weather, warm spirit at Moses Lake’s National Night Out
MOSES LAKE — The weather is a little cooler than a month ago, but that didn’t stop a good-sized crowd from coming downtown for National Night Out Tuesday. “(The people who came out) got to see the weather just like we did, and I’m sure they were like, really?” said …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 DAYS, 15 HOURS AGO
BASIN EVENTS: Sept. 18-26
COLUMBIA BASIN — It’s officially fall, with cooler temperatures and shorter days. Here are a few things to occupy your week.
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 DAYS, 15 HOURS AGO
Listings up, sales down in the Basin
MOSES LAKE — Washington home buyers had more to choose from this year, according to data released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which tracks real estate trends in 27 of Washington’s 39 counties. Active listings in Washington increased 22% between August 2025 and August 2026, according to the NWMLS …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 DAYS, 15 HOURS AGO
Horizon employees give back to community
MOSES LAKE — The team at Horizon Credit Union took some time away from the office Tuesday to tackle a different line of work. “We’ve been doing this for about 10 years,” said Branch Manager Anthony Morris. “We close our branch down at noon and then we spend about four …
COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD | UPDATED 6 DAYS, 15 HOURS AGO
