BRIEFS

HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETS

WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg Historical Society will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 22, at the WP (Annex) Building behind the Bruce Mansion on Fourth Street.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their plans and ideas for this year's Pioneer Fall Festival.

NEW FAIR ENTRY DEADLINE

DAYTON - Tuesday, Sept. 6 is the new deadline for entering exhibits at the Columbia County Fair taking place at the county fairgrounds Sept. 9-11.

The new deadline allows fair volunteers an additional day to set displays in the pavilion and youth building to pave the way for opening day Friday.

The fair is hoping for additional volunteers on Wednesday to be clerks for the judges and runners for the exhibit secretary. On Thursday, volunteers are needed for projects leading up to the fair's first day. For more information about volunteer opportunities, contact Shane Laib at 509-629- 1354 or Barb Fullerton at 509-629-0320 or write to ccfairinfo@yahoo.com

RESOURCE CENTER GROWING

WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg Resource Center doubled the number of families it serves to 100 a month with 1,200 - 1,300 pounds of food.

Center officials said community members have donated more than 1,800 pounds of food and toiletry items to the facility since April. Other food comes from other area programs, such as the TEFAP commodities initiative of the Blue Mountain Action Council, which added 4,651 pounds of fresh and canned food to the center's shelves, freezer and fridge.

"Your continued support with food and monetary donations has been terrific," Pastor Bret Moser of the Waitsburg Presbyterian Church and center board said about community support during the first six months of the new facility's operation.

"We live in a very generous community," he said.

Moser said the center is particularly grateful to the Waitsburg Post Office, America West Bank, VBS Kids and the 4H Corral Wranglers.

The center could still use more help. Anyone interested in volunteering for this ministry can contact Margie Benson at 509-629-2988 (staffing); or Bethany Moser at 509-337- 6385 (donations).

Financial contributions can be made through America West Bank and to the Waitsburg Grocery store's Coupon Program, which needs a funding boost.

ECO-FRIENDLY SCHOOL BUS

DAYTON - The Dayton school district has received a new 41-passenger "ecology" diesel school bus, the second of its 12-bus fleet with lower emissions and fuel consumption.

The vehicle, which looks like a regular school bus in every other way, was purchased with a $25,000 grant from the state's Department of Ecology matched by the district.

COUNCIL OKs GARBAGE DEAL

WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg City Council approved a new garbage disposal contract with Basin Disposal Inc. of the Tri Cities at its meeting last week.

The long-term contract raises the net waste collection portion of residents' utility bill by 50 percent to $15.76 for a 96-gallon can from the current $10.55.

The rates go into effect in September. In other business, the council also approved the U.S. Corps Of Engineers' Coppei Flood Mitigation proposal on the elections ballot this fall and authorized City Clerk Randy Hinchliffe to pursue the creation of signage on the corner of Preston Avenue and Coppei promotion downtown businesses to motorists on Highway 12.

AREA SPEEDERS CAUGHT

WALLA WALLA - Between July 15 and August 7 extra law enforcement patrols were out in search of speeding drivers.

During the patrols in Walla Walla, Asotin and Garfield Counties, 118 speeding tickets were written, in addition to five aggressive driving citations, eight cell phone violations, two seat belt tickets, three child car seat infractions as well as eight uninsured motorist and two suspended/revoked license violations.

Participating in these extra patrols were the Walla Walla, Clarkston and College Place Police Departments, the Garfi eld County Sheriff's Office and the Washington State Patrol.

According to an online survey conducted during these patrols, of the eight multiple choice questions asked, the majority of respondents answered six of the questions correctly. The final question was open ended. See the results below.

The Walla Walla County Traffic Safety Task Force supported the extra patrols, funded by a grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.