BRIEFS

COUNCIL RENEWS POWER DEALS

DAYTON - The Dayton City Council did not take action Monday night regarding an application by Columbia Rural Electric Association for a right-of-way permit in town.

During the city's public hearing, two or three of the two dozen citizens who attended the meeting spoke, each expressing concerns with the application and raising questions for council members to consider.

REA has proposed new electrical distribution lines through rival utility company Pacificorp territory in Dayton to furnish power to its own offices in town.

The council will discuss the matter again on Feb. 7 during a special meeting of the council being held in lieu of its regular meeting Feb. 14, which has been cancelled.

The council did, however, approve a 90-day moratorium on new applications for city rights-of-way pending a revamp of the city's currently policy for submitting such petitions.

"Right now the policy has too many gray areas that are open to interpretation," said city clerk Trina Cole. Some of those deficiencies were brought up by concerned citizens Monday night.

And finally, despite opposition by the public regarding duplication of services, council members voted unanimously to renew non-exclusive franchise agreements and general utility easements to both Pacificorps and Columbia REA, rights granted 10 years ago but never used by the REA.

PARTY FOR THE BUETS

DAYTON - The Liberty Theater and the Touchet Valley Arts Council announces a Farwell Celebration in honor of Sheila Zangar and Denis Buet on Wednesday, Feb. 2, at 6:30 p.m.

Sheila and Denis Buet were critical to the restoration and revitalization of the Liberty Theater. They are moving permanently to France in early February.

Refreshments will be served. Contact Timothy Dyke at the theater, 382-1380, for more information.

CANTATA REHEARSAL COMING

WAITSBURG - Sign up for the local Easter cantata choir begins Wednesday, Jan. 26, at 7:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Waitsburg. Rehearsal dates and times will be announced at that time. Pianists and instrumentalists are encouraged to call Charlotte Eaton at 337-6397.

COUNTY TRANSFERS 911 SERVICE

DAYTON - Official transfer of the Columbia County 911 Call Center to Bill Peters, director of Columbia County Emergency Management, takes place next week.

In late December, Columbia County Commissioners voted to transfer operations of the county's E911 center to Peters in an effort to trim the county budget and cut overall costs.

The center has been under the control of the county sheriff's office since August 1993. Peters will assume duties as the director of Columbia County Public Safety Communications from Sheriff Walt Hessler as part of the change. Deputy Tim Quigg will operate as Communications Center Supervisor.

"I want to assure everyone we currently serve that there will be no immediate change in services," Peters stated in the press release.

For now, the center will remain in its office on the ground floor of the county courthouse.

For more information, contact Peters at 509-382-2534.

FREE YOUTH CONCERT

WALLA WALLA - A free, come-as-you-are concert will be presented by the Youth Orchestra of Walla Walla on Sunday, Jan. 30, at 5 p.m. at the Performing Arts Auditorium at Walla Walla Community College in Walla Walla, led by Music Director and Conductor Benjamin Gish.

For more information, call the symphony office at 509- 529-8020 or look online at www.wwsymphony.org.

SADDLE UP FOR COWBOY POETRY

PRESCOTT - The Prescott branch of the Walla Walla County Rural Library District is offering an informal and informative evening for those interested in participating in Cowboy Poetry Week (April 17-24, 2011). This event will take place Thursday, Feb. 3, starting at 6:30 p.m.

The session will be led by librarian Josh Westbrook with Susan and Bruce Matley (aka Nevada Slim & Cimarron Sue).

Prescott's Feb. 3 session will be followed by one or more sessions on writing and reciting cowboy poetry. An evening of cowboy poetry and music is scheduled in Prescott on April 19 at 7 p.m. All Touchet Valley libraries and schools are invited to participate in Cowboy Poetry Week.

For more information, contact Josh Westbrook at joshw@wwruralibrary.com or Susan Matley, smatley@columbiainet.com.