BRIEFS

BEWARE OF SCAMS

DAYTON - The Columbia County Sheriff's Office is warning residents of mail scams. Deputies have received several recent reports from local citizens regarding attempted scams through the mail.

One of the scams involved the receipt of a check in the mail reportedly to help the recipient pay for the taxes on their prize winnings. Another involved winning a lottery or contest involving a large sum of money. To collect the award, the recipient was requested to mail in a check as a "processing fee."

The old adage holds true that "if it sounds too good to be true, chances are it probably is," according to the sheriff's office press release. The telltale signs that these are scams are obvious.

If you have won a lottery or contest that you have never heard of before, or have not actively participated in, it's a scam.

If you receive notification of any cash award that requires you to mail in a "processing fee," it's a scam.

Both of these reports deal with long-standing scams that circulate periodically, the sheriff's office stated. If you receive something similar, the best thing to do is ignore it and shred it.

For more information regarding scams, contact the Washington State Attorney General's Office or research via links on the Columbia County Sheriff's Office website at www.columbiacosheriff.com.

RIDING AGAINST CHILD ABUSE

WALLA WALLA - Two hundred contestants from 13 Northwest colleges will compete in the 42nd Annual Walla Walla Community College Rodeo: "Riding Against Child Abuse" on March 11-13 at the Walla Walla Fairgrounds Indoor Arena.

JJ Harrison, voted the Northwest Region's top professional rodeo clown, will be featured at all performances.

Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday afternoon performances start at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday.

Advance rodeo tickets are $7 per adult and $4 for children/ seniors, $18 one performance family tickets. By tickets in Walla Walla at Sterling Savings Bank, L&G Ranch Supply, New York Store, Super One, Walla Walla Harvest Foods, Destination Walla Walla and WWCC Bookstore.

FLY OVER ROMANS

DAYTON - Pastor Greg Bye, of Dayton's Redeemer Lutheran Church, is offering a "fly over" of the book of Romans in the Bible.

Pastor Bye says, "Even if you don't go to church or have never attended a Bible study, I encourage you to commit to just five meetings to get an overview of what Christianity is all about." He has developed lots of dramatic illustrations to help attendees understand and retain the main themes of this book of the Bible. He says, "When you are finished, you will have a good summary of the basics of Christianity and have a solid basis for going deeper with God." The sessions are open to anyone who would like to attend.

Pastor Bye is offering "Fly Over Romans" on the following dates and times in order to make it as convenient as possible: Five Wednesday evenings (March 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30) 7 p.m.-8 p.m .; Five Thursday evenings (March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31) 7 p.m.-8 p.m .; Sunday mornings (March and April) 10 a.m. - 10:45a.m .; One Saturday morning abbreviated session (March 19) 10 a.m. - Noon; One Saturday for Teens (March 12) 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

To sign up to attend or ask any questions, call Redeemer Lutheran Church at 382-4662. The church is located at 601 S. 3rd Street, Dayton.

RAISE MONEY FOR KIDS

DAYTON - The Dayton Eagles will present their annual Jimmy Durante fundraising event starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26, to raise money for Spokane's Sacred Heart Hospital Neo-Natal Unit.

The event includes a $5 soup and salad bar, live and silent auctions, a cake walk and more. All are invited, children welcome.

Durante was a famous New York comedian, actor and singer from the 1920s until the 1970s. He began a fundraising campaign for children through the Fraternal Order of Eagles in the 1960s.

MAIN STREET PLANTERS PLANNED

DAYTON - Citizens have requested that the Dayton Public Art Committee find a source for planters that could be purchased by downtown merchants, providing the opportunity for a coordinated look on Main Street.

The committee found some ceramic planters at Costco that might serve the purpose well, as they are attractive, substantial and only $40. There is also a planter dolly that rolls, so the planters could be quite easily rolled when necessary, available at $22.

If people like these planters and want to participate, the committee would need to know by March 1.

Those interested in participating should have a look at the planters in the window of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce and give feedback to Chamber staff.

The committee can then decide whether to move forward with the planter plan.

FREE LITERACY NIGHT

TOUCHET - The Touchet Teachers Education Association and the Washington Education Association will host a "Literacy Night" on Thursday, Feb. 17, from 6-7:30 p.m. Featured will be reading, games, friends and fun, story time with special guest readers, reading and math literacy activities, free food, and free books.

The annual Touchet Schools Scholastic BOGO (Buy One Get One Free) Book fair will be held Monday, Feb. 28, through Wed., March 2. The book fair will be open before school, at lunch and after school.