BRIEFS

PORT PREPARES TO BREAK GROUND

DAYTON - The Port of Columbia's long-planned venture Blue Mountain Station will finally break ground on its 28 acres west of town along Highway 12 this spring, Port Manager Jennie Dickinson announced last week.

Phase one creating infrastructure for the future Blue Mountain Station, called "the world's only food-tourism destination of its kind" in a brochure handed out at last Thursday's public meeting at the Liberty Theater, is scheduled to go out for public bids in late January or early February .

Construction should begin in early spring and last no more than six to eight weeks, Dickinson said.

The port hopes that "people from around the world will visit Dayton to learn about organic agriculture and natural and organic food processing, tour artisan food companies, sample and purchase delicious healthy food at the on-site market, and share with family and friends back home their wonderful experience."

Construction this spring will include a new access point at Wagon Road; a water connection to the city with a loop line and stubs for future building sites; sewer pipes with stubs for future sites; internal roads and parking lots (some paved and some gravel for future expansion); accommodations for power, telephone and fiber-optic lines; and an "ecofriendly," on-site storm water management system (swale).

Dickinson indicated that support for the project remains strong and the hope is that with completion of this initial infrastructure project, business tenants will begin signing on.

CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS

WALLA WALLA - Inland Cellular and an organization called "Cell Phones For Soldiers" are calling on residents of the Walla Walla area to help support the 150,000 troops serving overseas by donating their used cell phones.

"Over the past few years, we have been amazed by the generosity of others," Cell Phones For Soldiers co-founder Brittany Bergquist said. "But we've also seen the need to support our troops continue. It's easy for Americans to make a small sacrifice of support by donating their unused cell phones and providing families with a much-needed connection to their loved ones overseas."

Local residents can support the collection drive by donating dropping off their donated phones at the Inland Cellular wireless studio in College Place (1605 SE Meadowbrook Blvd. Ste. 7) as well as other Inland Cellular Studios in the region.