BRIEFS

FIRST THURSDAY CONCERT IN MAY

WALLA WALLA - The May 5th First Thursday concert will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 323 Catherine Street, Walla Walla, beginning at 12:15 p.m. The Steel Drum Band from Walla Walla University will be playing a selection of Calypso, Soca, Samba, Cha-Cha, Classical and Rock music. Pack a lunch, bring a friend and enjoy the music.

Donations will be given to the charity of the performers' choice. Contact information: 529-1083

DAM TRAFFIC STOPPED FOR NOW

KAHLOTUS - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District officials announced this week that vehicle crossings on Lower Monumental Lock and Dam are closed until further notice due to operational limitations. Travelers should plan alternate routes across the river for the next several weeks.

The district can close access to traffic for extended periods of time due to operations, maintenance or constructionrelated activities at a dam. The public will be notified about closures in advance, if possible, but public crossings are still subject to closing at any time.

Travelers can call 1-888-DAM-INFO (1-888-326-4636) for the most current dam-crossing information at Lower Granite, Little Goose and Lower Monumental dams on the lower Snake River.

LAHT NEPPUR, REA SIGN WITH SWEETS

WALLA WALLA - Laht Neppur Brewing Co. in Waitsburg has signed on as a major sponsor of the Walla Walla Sweets professional baseball club. Laht Neppur's relationship with the Sweets began in 2010 when their India Pale Ale (IPA), Peach Hefeweizen, Katie's Kolsch and Sweets Pale Ale were served in Borleske Stadium. The new sponsorship will continue Laht Neppur's beverage sales at Sweets games in 2011 and includes naming rights to the new alcohol service station, which will be located beyond the right-field fence and the Pepsi Pavilion in the Am Fam Zone.

"We are very excited about our second season with the Sweets and look forward to offering thirsty fans high quality handcrafted ales," said Court Ruppenthal, Laht Neppur's owner and brew master. "It is an honor to work with everyone from the Sweets organization and we very happy to be such a big part of the new alcohol service station in right field."

Construction of the new beer garden at Borleske Stadium is set to begin in the coming days and will be completed well before Opening Night presented by Northwestern Mutual on June 3 when the Sweets host the Corvallis Knights at 7:05 P.M .

Columbia Rural Electric Association has also signed on to sponsor the Sweets' Field of Dreams program. The memberowned company, with offices in Walla Walla and Dayton, has ensured the realization of community children's dreams for a second season at Sweets games.

During the 2011 season, individual children will be able to run out onto the Borleske Stadium field with the Walla Walla Sweets. Groups are welcome to sign up as well, but every child must be registered individually. To sign up, parents should visit the Columbia REA Walla Walla office, located across Rt. 12 from Borleske Stadium at 115 E. Rees Ave. or at the Dayton office located at 115 E. Main St., in Dayton.

The first Field of Dreams presented by Columbia REA will be on June 4, when the Sweets again host Corvallis.

POKER RUN FOR CHARITY

DAYTON - Tour the beautiful hills, rivers, and two-lane paved highways of Dayton, Lyons Ferry, Prescott, Waitsburg and the Bluewood Mountains. Ride the ski lift to the top of Bluewood. Enjoy a free concert at Dayton Wine Works at the end of the run.

Grand Prize is an eagle chainsaw carving by Butch Elrod. Lots of other prizes and fun as you stop at Dayton Wine Works, Lyon's Ferry Marina in Starbuck, Tuxedo Grill in Prescott, Laht Neppur Brewing in Waitsburg and Bluewood Ski Resort.

Poker Run organizers plan to donate money raised toward a Dayton Task Force project to build a children's playground in downtown Dayton.

Bikes leave for the Poker Run ride at 11:30 a.m., but participants should complete registration and get first card prior to that time, starting as early as 9:30 a.m.

For directions to the winery starting point or answers to any questions, call 509-551-0088 during daytime hours on the Thursday or Friday of the event. Complete rules and regulations are already posted at Poker Run stops.

These include Bluewood Ski Resort, Lyon's Ferry Marina, Tuxedo Grill, Laht Neppur and Dayton Wine Works.