BRIEFS

STATE OF ECONOMY FOLLOW-UP

DAYTON -Dayton's retail sales per capita are dismal - the lowest in the region; farm profits have declined severely, eliminating disposal income that used to be spent in local communities.

So what are we doing about the economic woes that our community faces? That is a question the Port of Columbia, the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, and the SouthEast Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA) will offer an answer to at a State of the Columbia County Economy follow-up session Wednesday, April 27, at 7 p.m. in Dayton's Liberty Theater. The presentation is free and open to the public.

For more information contact Jennie Dickinson, Port Manager, at 509-382-2577; Claudia Nysoe, Executive Director of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, at 509-382-4825; or Duane Wollmuth, Executive Director of SEWEDA, at 509-780-2182.

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

WALLA WALLA - A nondenominational service, in honor of Annual National Day of Prayer, to pray for our judicial system, cities, states, nation, military, national unity and the world, will be conducted by community leaders at the First Presbyterian Church of Walla Walla with scripture reading and prayer on Thursday, May 5, from 12:15-1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Walla Walla, First and Birch Streets.

The Walla Walla University String Quartet will play two selections. For more information, call 529-5037.

SHOW YOUR MULE MANIA SPIRIT

DAYTON - Get your Mule Mania 2011 T-shirts at the Dayton Chamber of Commerce office Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Chamber has lots of different sizes, two different designs in three different sizes with your choice of long or short sleeves. Prices are $15 for short sleeve or $20 for the long sleeve.

COUNTY SETS STORMWATER MEETINGS

WALLA WALLA - Based on the large number of questions raised and concerns expressed by citizens regarding the recently mailed 2011 Walla Walla County Stormwater assessment statements, charging an annual $36 per residential household in unincorporated Walla Walla County, the Board of County Commissioners has asked staff to hold public information meetings regarding the subject.

The first meeting will be Wednesday, April 27, at 6:30 p.m. in the library at the Columbia-Burbank High School, 787 Maple Street, Burbank. The following night, Thursday, April 28, also at 6:30 p.m., there will be a meeting in the commissioners' chambers, Room 203 of the Walla Walla County Public Health and Legislative Building (second floor), 314 West Main, Walla Walla.

COLUMBIA REA MEETING SUCCESSFUL

WALLA WALLA - Columbia REA held its 73rd annual meeting at the Walla Walla County Fairgrounds on Thursday evening, April 14. The annual event was attended by approximately 370 members, families and special guests.

Voting resulted in the re-election of two incumbent board members and one new member. The re-elected board directors are Don Meiners of Waitsburg in District #4. In District #6, Vic Parks of Burbank was reelected. Newly elected board member Marc Armstrong of Burbank was elected in District #5. Directors serve three-year terms on a nine-person board.

Following the meeting, the board held a reorganization meeting to choose new officers. DJ Frame of Dayton remains as president; Bill Stonecipher of Waitsburg retains the position of vice-president and Dennis Munden of Burbank will continue to hold the position of secretary-treasurer.

Also announced were the recipients of Columbia REA's four scholarship awards. Three academic scholarships are renewable for up to four years. The three academic scholarship recipients are:

Molly Payne - $1,500 Clark A. Brewington Memorial Scholarship. A senior at Dayton High School, she will attend Washington State University to earn a degree in business and marketing. Payne is the daughter of Mitch and Susie Payne of Dayton.

Hanna Schoeppner - $1,000 Columbia REA Scholarship. A senior at DeSales Catholic High School, Schoeppner is the daughter of Harald and Kelly Schoeppner of Walla Walla. She plans to attend the University of Portland and pursue a degree in biology with a goal of becoming a doctor.

Briana Fulbright - $1,000 Columbia REA Scholarship. A senior at Dayton High School, she will attend Brigham Young University where she plans to earn a degree in psychology. Fulbright is the daughter of Kelly and Jeri Fulbright of Dayton.

The fourth scholarship, a one-year scholarship for Electric Utility Lineworker School was awarded to:

Jason Norris - $1,000 Jeff Meredith Memorial Scholarship. A senior at Dayton High School, he is the son of Don and Kathy Norris of Dayton. Norris plans to attend an electric lineworker program this fall.

Columbia REA is a member owned electric cooperative serving customers in Columbia and Walla Walla counties in Washington and Umatilla County in Oregon.

FAIR COURT APPEARS IN ASOTIN

DAYTON - The Columbia County Fair Court traveled to Asotin on Saturday, April 23, to participate in the Asotin County Fair parade. This was the first parade of the season for Hostesses Ashley Myrick and Lexus Ward and hosts Chris McHaffie and Micah Yeater. Working to the last minute to put on all of the finishing touches paid off for the team. They were awarded first place in the Non-Mounted Royalty/Float division and were also awarded the additional honor of being chosen as Judges Choice Award for the parade. Following the parade, the team participated in the Asotin Fair Queens Luncheon.

The court travels next to Waitsburg and Dayton in May. For more information and photos, visit the fair's Facebook page - Columbia County Fair.