BRIEFS

MAYOR PLEADS NOT GUILTY

DAYTON - Starbuck Mayor Darcy Linklater pleaded not guilty in Columbia County District Court last week to DUI charges filed against him after his Jan. 25 arrest on McKay-Alto Road.

Columbia County Sheriff's records indicate Linklater was stopped at 11:20 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25, as he headed toward Waitsburg after a possible DUI tip was called in to dispatch.

Linklater refused to take the breath test for blood alcohol content, according to county prosecutor Rea Culwell. He was arrested, issued a criminal citation charging him with the DUI, and booked into Columbia County jail. He was released the next day after appearing before a judge.

Linklater will appear in district court again on March 2 for a pre-trial hearing and to set a date for his jury trial.

Linklater, 62, was elected mayor of Starbuck just over a year ago as a write in.

DAYS OF REAL SPORT MEETING

WAITSBURG - Member of the Days of Real Sport board will gather for their annual public meeting on Saturday, Feb. 12, at 10 a.m. at the Waitsburg McGregor's building on Garden Street.

HEALING RETREAT ANNOUNCED

WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg Presbyterian Church will present a free Praise and Healing Retreat on Feb. 26 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Holy Bucket Retreat - "He fills it, you haul it!" - features guest speaker Rev. Dr. John Hurty, pastor at Stanfield Baptist Church, Stanfield, Ore. Guest musicians will include Beth Whitney, Rev. Mike Ferrians, Maria Hurty, Dinah Lindsey, and Janet Ihle. The Waitsburg Presbyterian Church is located on the corner of 5th and Main. Registration deadline is Feb. 20. Donations gladly accepted. Call 509-337-6385 or email firstpres@waitsburgpresbyterian.com for more information.

GRANT DEADLINE APPROACHES

DAYTON - Members of the Drug-Free Communities Coalition will meet Thursday at 8 a.m. in the Delany Room of the Dayton Memorial Library to continue work on the application for a $1.25 million grant due in March.

The focus of this meeting will be to identify and address the root causes of problems in the Dayton community. From this the volunteers will be able to develop a logic model which will be the basis for the narrative for the grant application.

ADDITION TO BARN FIRE STORY

WAITSBURG - Jennifer Mantz of Seattle contacted the Times with additional information about the Bolles Road barn that burned down Jan. 29. She and her sister, Sally Mantz, also of Seattle, co-own the 400 acres on which the barn stood. The other owners are Todd and Bethann Wood, as reported.

Jenny Mantz, who is a cousin of Patty Mantz and Lynn Mantz Powers who own the buildings on the property, said her mother, Margaret Mantz, loved the barn, which is believed to be at least 150 years old.

DENOVA OFFICERS ELECTED

WAITSBURG - The DeNova Club gathered on Feb. 3 for a regular meeting and election of officers. The new officers for 2011-2012 are: President Becky Kurth, Vice- President Jane Butler, Recording Secretary Jean Hinchliffe, Treasurer Hazel Brown and Reporter Kathie Payne.

Outgoing President Jill McConnell reported the next meeting will be February 17 with Polly Richardson and Jean Hinchliffe in charge.

OPEN MEETING ON SIGNAGE

WALLA WALLA - A presentation on the Regional Signage Project for the general public will take place at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Walla Walla on Feb. 17 at 10 a.m.

At the presentation, the consultant on Phase 1, Merje, will provide its recommendations for an effective wayfinding system for the valley and funding options for Phase 2 - sign design.

The goal of the Tourism Walla Walla project is to provide a regional signage system that possesses continuity, consistency, clarity and a "sense of place," providing visitors and locals, alike, easy access to places of interest, sections of cities, and regions.

WHS HONOR ROLL

WAITSBURG - Waitsburg High School seniors making honor role in the second term of this year included 4.0 GPA students Austin Beasley, Alyssa Hafen, John Montgomery and Megan Withers. Seniors with a GPA of 3.25 or higher were Timothy Hofer, Taylor Moon, Sarah Wilson, Rachel Reedy, Kasmira Grende, Genesis Pearson, Eric Lienhard, Dru Somers, Christy Poirier, Casey Cates and Ashley Wilson.

Juniors with 4.0 GPAs were Zachary Bartlow and Kayla Huxoll. Juniors with a GPA of 3.25 or higher were Taylor Doepker, Luisa Sorroche, Jessica Guay, Fletcher Baker, and Dustin Wooderchak.

Sophomores with 4.0 GPAs were Seth Deal, Krystal Harris and Samantha Moss. Sophomores with a GPA of 3.25 or higher were Zacharie Brown, Tyrell McGee, Samantha Henze, Madeleine Witt, Logan Dozier, Katy Hofer, Hannah Helms, Damien Johnson, Dalton Estes, Dakota Baker, Cheyenne Frohreich, Benjamin Shafer, Alexander Dill and Alex Leathers.

Freshman with 4.0 GPAs were Heidi Miller, Nicholas Pearson and Emily Wilson. Freshmen with a GPA of 3.25 or higher were Will Garcia, Rebekah Adams, Nathan Bartlow, Meara Baker, Kyle Dozier, Kendra Roberts, John Moser and Chad Pearson.