BRIEFS

MORE CHRISTMAS BASKETS WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg Presbyterian Church reported that its seasonal care effort for needy local families produced 28 baskets this year, 10 more than last year. The collaborative program with the Catholic Church of Waitsburg drew more requests for the baskets but also more support, indicating more families appeared to be in need of the baskets, Rev. Brett Moser said. Donors still wishing to help local households in need can do so by donating to the Waitsburg Food Bank.

PLAYGROUND GETS BIG GRANT

DAYTON - The sponsors of the proposed Dayton Play­ground have received notice of a $20,000 grant from the Inland Northwest Foundation in Spokane.

The grant, expected to be in hand early next year, will bring the total funds raised to $25,000, including sales from the name-bearing pickets in the fence and private dona­tions.

Columbia REA has contributed $1,000 and offered an in-kind donation of labor to help with the construction. The $25,000 of a projected $60,000 budget will be enough for one or two of the playground structures expected to be erected this summer.

AUTO SHOW GIVES BACK WAITSBURG - The members of the Waitsburg Auto Show this week donated $200 to the Waitsburg Food Bank in an effort to give back to a community that has shown support for the annual auto show in the three years since it was founded.

The Waitsburg Auto Show is on again for 2011. The cruise will take place Friday, August 5, and the show at Preston Park will be Saturday, August 6. The auto show donated $200 to the local food bank last year as well.

HOSPITAL MEETS THIS WEEK

DAYTON - The Columbia County Public Hospital Dis­trict #1 Board of Commissioners will convene early for its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, Dec. 16, at 6 p.m. in the Administrative Conference Room. This meeting will be instead of the one previously scheduled for Dec. 23.

PUBLIC INVITED TO CANTATA

WAITSBURG - The community is invited to a Christ­mas program at 7 p.m. this Sunday at the First Presbyte­rian Church in Waitsburg, 504 Main Street. This cantata, performed by adults from various community churches, the middle school band and a children's Sunday school choir, is free and open to the public.

DONATE FOR YOUR DOG

WALLA WALLA - To help kick-start the 25th anni­versary of the agricultural conservation reserve program, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are conducting their most innovative fundraising campaign. This unique CRP-bolstering initiative centers on a love of dogs. The Bird Dogs for Habitat Campaign challenges hunters to make a donation on behalf of their favorite dog. All dona­tions will be used by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever to fight for improvements to the 32 million-acre habitat jug­gernaut; the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Conservation Reserve Program. All donations accepted through this campaign will be matched up to $25,000 through a challenge grant from a Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever member in Montana. To contact the Blue Mountain Pheasants Forever Chapter #258 visit www.bmpf258.org or call 509-540-9302.

HOLIDAY CONCERT ON MONDAY WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg Junior High and High School Christmas Concert will be Monday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m. in the Waitsburg High School Auditiorium. Three groups of school musicians will perform: the Waitsburg High School Guitar Class, the Preston Hall 7-8th grade Band, and the Waitsburg High School Band. The WHS Guitar Class will lead with a selection of Christmas songs, pop favorites, and the "Electric Collage," in which each electric guitarists gets 30 seconds to Tear It Up. Luisa Sorroche, an exchange student from Brazil, will lead the group in a Brazilian pop song, "Recomecar."

The Preston Hall Band will play the cadence and Christ­( mas medley from their recent appearance in the Hometown Christmas Parade, followed by a concert rendering of "Hark, the Herald," and "Christmas Air and Dance." They will conclude with the Madonna hit, "Die Another Day." The Waitsburg High School Band will perform their MASS songs for a final time: "Encanto," Beethoven's "Ada­gio Cantabile," and "Slumdog Millionaire." Their Christmas piece this year is the source of our concert's title: "In the Bleak Midwinter: A Holst Christmas." Their conclusion is the jazz/pop TV theme, "Mission Impossible." Non-perishable food donations will be accepted at the door. The entire community is invited.

MAIL THEFT ALERT WALLA WALLA - As the holidays approach with checks and gift cards being sent in the mail, incidents of mail theft have increased. The Walla Walla County Sher­iff's Office reminds residents of the following preventative measures: Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery or get a locked mailbox. Deposit outgoing mail in a post office collection box, not you own mailbox.

Shred pre-approved credit applications, credit card re­ceipts, bills and other financial information you don't want before discarding them in the trash or recycling bin. Never put your credit card or any other financial account number on a postcard or on the outside of an envelope. Be conscious of the normal receipt of routine financial statements and bills. Contact the sender as soon as possible if they are not received in the mail.

If you applied for a new credit card (or checks) and it has not arrived in a timely manner, call the bank or credit card company involved. The best option is to have them sent to a more secured mailbox or PO Box.

GET MULE MANIA DAYTON - Dayton Mule Mania organizers are looking for input on their plans for next year's first-ever Mule Mania show in Dayton. Bobbi Jo Chambers of the Coyote Mule Co. in Idaho says, "Yes you heard it strait from the mules mouth, we are putting a kick 'ass' show together next year. Dayton, Washington, has opened its arms and invited us to make camp at a wonderful fairgrounds. I can not express how this community has welcomed us long ears and are all guns a blazing to have us."

Barney and Bobbi Jo Chambers have had a Mule Mania logo drawn and have drafted a preliminary line up of classes and programs for the event, slated for July 15-17, 2011. On the program so far are western collectables venders, chuck wagons, t-shirts and more with the logo, and a whole slough of donkey competitions for young and old, donkey handling classes, and more. To reach the Chambers, visit www.northwestmules.com or call Bobbi at 208-816-8682 or Barney at 208-816-8681.

DINNER TO SUPPORT SICK BABY WALLA WALLA - Supporters invite all to a spaghetti feed and silent auction at the VFW building on the corner of Colville and Rose streets in Walla Walla on Saturday from 4-7 p.m. to raise money for a sick infant, Baby Payton.

Adult plates are $8. Children are $5. Payton was born Oct. 18, 2010, to Kara Jenkins and Jason Kaehler. She was life-flighted to Spokane on Oct. 19, where she was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, DiGeorge Syndrome. Payton is missing part of her chromo­some 22 and is in for a lifetime of medical issues. All proceeds from Saturday's dinner and auction will go to help offset the financial/medical costs for Baby Payton.