BRIEFS

RESOURCE COUNCIL MOVES

WAITSBURG - The Blue Mountain Resource Conservation & Development Council has moved from its office location in the Port of Columbia complex in Dayton to the Waitsburg Business Center, located at 111 Preston Avenue, Suite B., and our new phone number is 509-337-8968.

According to Council board president Bruce G. Williams of Walla Walla, resource conservation and development councils across the county lost vital support when federal funding was abruptly cut-off on April 15th of this year when Congress passed the 2011 federal budget. Said Williams, "Considering what we've been able to accomplish in cooperation with our community partners -- it's mind-boggling. Ironically, the Obama administration is now proposing a new federal "White House Rural Council" to attempt to do what local RCD Councils have been doing so successfully since 1962."

With the relocation, the RCD Council is still operating and funding projects in the area through various grants and agreements it administers in cooperation with its many community partners. However, the loss of funding has hurt. "Given the loss of funding, the overhead costs for the Port of Columbia complex office could not be sustained and we were unable to find an affordable location in Dayton. We're extremely grateful for the support of Marcie & Lyle Perkins who offered us affordable space in the Waitsburg Business Center. The facility is modern and easily accessible. It has everything we need to move forward" said the Council's administrative officer, Linda Vannoster.

A SWITCH TO WEDNESDAYS

DAYTON - When veterinarian and Columbia County Commissioner, Chuck Reeves, was offered a job to perform veterinary inspections, it became an issue between meeting dates and additional income. The duty of a veterinary inspector at Davenport Livestock Auction would take place on Mondays, the same day the commissioners meet. He approached to the board requesting a change in the weekly meeting dates.

Columbia County Commissioners voted in their weekly meeting, July 5, to change their regular Monday meeting to Wednesdays each week. When Reeves requested the change, Commissioner Jones objected the change citing commissioner candidates run for office knowing the meeting date. However Commissions Robanske stated the Commissioners had previously made changes to the meeting schedule adding an additional evening session due to public request.

The commissioners approved the change in a 2-1 vote. The change will take effect August 1.

HERMANNS TRIALS DELAYED

WALLA WALLA - The two trials of former Waitsburg resident Adams Hermanns have been delayed.

The Walla Walla County Superior Court trial scheduled for July 13 has been postponed until Aug. 10, while the trail that had been scheduled for July 18 has not yet been rescheduled.

PLANT SCHEDULE CHANGED

DAYTON - The meat processing plant scheduled to open for operation in Port of Columbia, this coming Fall has been pushed back due to a larger than expected bid on the building.

The building, to be located on Port of Columbia land was a proposed specialized meat processing facility to be operated by Jim and Connie Westergreen. The Westergreen's currently own Tucannon Meats, Inc., which was formerly called Dayton Cut and Wrap. The proposed plant would offer USDA certification presenting area livestock ranchers to process meats to be sold at a higher value within their markets.

The architect hired by the Port of Columbia received bids from a contractor in the range of $300,000. The low bid exceeded that estimate by nearly $100,000. The lowest bid for the proposed USDA meat processing building was $396,900, while the highest reached $563,000. Due to the unexpected expensive building, the plans to move forward have been put on hold. The Port of Columbia plans to strategize for a more cost effective plan, including looking into grants.

AGLINK MANAGER DIES

REARDAN - Walla Walla resident Joe Robert Bush, 60 passed away June 27, at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. Bush, a recent employee at AgLink (formerly called Columbia County Farm Bureau) also worked with Walla Walla Community College, and Baker Boyer Bank. Bush was born in Sunnyside, Wash., on Oct. 19, 1950 and grew up in Mabton, Wash.

Bush graduated from Mabton High School in 1969 and moved to receive his B.S. from Oregon Institute of Technology in 1974. He married his high school sweetheart, J. Katheryne "Kattie" (Sharpe) on June 26, 1971.

Bush and his wife spent their 40th and final anniversary in the Spokane hospital where he died the next day. The couple lived in Oregon and later in Sunnyside, Wash., until 1984, when they moved to Walla Walla. Most recently Bush was a manager at the AgLink Dayton office.

MULE MANIA KICKOFF

DAYTON - Dayton Wine Works hosts live music every weekend in July. But this weekend, July 15th, the offi cial unveiling of the new wine release will take place. The release will be to celebrate the first annual Mule Mania event. The wine is entitled "Breakfust of Champeens" and the Dayton Wine Works label features the artwork of Western artist Daryl Reed.

Dayton Wine Works is open Thursdays through Sundays beginning at noon. The weekend wine release party can be found at 507 E. Main Street. For more information call 509- 382-1200.