BRIEFS

SCHOLARSHIP OFFERED

WAITSBURG - The Koinonia Club is accepting letters of interest from Waitsburg High School alumni and graduating seniors. One $500 scholarship will be awarded to the chosen applicant. The letters are due May 18. Please turn in the application to Waitsburg High School.

PLAYGROUND FUNDING STILL NEEDED

WAITSBURG - The city of Waitsburg is still looking for donations for its new piece of playground equipment. The city would gladly accept any amount (cash or check) from anyone is willing to donate to the project at any time before or after the project up to the end of the year. Depending on scheduling with the city crew, the city also may need some volunteer labor if anyone is willing to help. For more information, call

ADELINES WIN MEDALS

SPOKANE - The Blue Mountain Chorus, Sweet Adelines, participated, last weekend in the Annual Region 13 Contest in Spokane. Directed by Darlene Filla, the Chorus, 22 members on stage, earned third place medals in the Division 1 category, with 15 to 30 members. Stunning in black and bling, they sang their way to a B- rating. This award is the first medal the group has earned since the 1980s.

DOG LICENSING

WAITSBURG - The city of Waitsburg's annual dog licenses are due June 1. For information about costs and how to get your dog licensed, call 509-337-6371.

JENSEN MAKES DEAN'S LIST

LA GRANDE, ORE. -- Madeline Jensen of Dayton was among 600 students at Eastern Oregon University named to the dean's list for the 2012 winter term.

To qualify students must achieve and maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale while completing a minimum of 12 hours of graded coursework for the duration of the term. Eastern Oregon University serves students and communities throughout Oregon with a special focus on rural, regional and distance learning. Programs are delivered on campus, online and onsite in La Grande and at 16 regional centers and include liberal arts, business, education and cooperative programs in agriculture, nursing and dental hygiene. www.eou.edu.

BRIDGE CLOSURE

STARBUCK -- Columbia County Public Works Department said the Starbuck Bridge on Kellogg Hollow Road will be closed to all traffic beginning Monday, April 30. The bridge is being closed due to work required to modify the bridge to allow legal loads to use the bridge. The Starbuck Bridge crosses the Tucannon River immediately south of the town of Starbuck. The closure is scheduled to continue to June 17. Currently only restricted loads may lawfully use the bridge. Motorist should use Highway 12 and State Route 261 to access the town of Starbuck. Questions regarding the bridge closure can be directed to the Columbia County Public Works Department at (509) 382-2534.

DUMAS STATION EVENT

DAYTON -- Over Spring Release Weekend Dumas Station be dipping into its "library" of old wines and pouring our Dumas Station 2006 Estate Merlot from Walla Walla, as well as its new 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2009 Cabernet Franc. The winery will also get a sneak peak at some paintings by local Dayton artist Jill Ingram, whose work will be on display at the winery during our fall events later this year. Hours will be Friday, May 4 from 1-5 p.m. and Saturday, May 5 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Please visit www.DumasStation.com/news for more information, or contact Ali at (509) 426- 4582.

HISTORICAL WALKING TOURS

WALLA WALLA -- As part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the founding of Walla Walla from 1859-1862, historical walking tours of downtown Walla Walla will take place every Saturday from May through August, led by members of the Fort Walla Walla Museum Living History Company who were here in 1862.

The first tour will take place on Saturday, May 5, and will be led by Walla Walla's first mayor, E.B. Whitman, who was elected in April 1862. Mayor Whitman will be greeting people at the Farmers Market at 4th & Main at noon, and at 12:45 will be walking up Main Street to begin the formal tour at 1 p.m. at the plaza at First & Main, where the old Nez Perce Trail crossed Mill Creek and the military Fort Walla Walla cantonment was established in 1856.

All tour participants will receive a special coupon for $1 off the normal admission price at Fort Walla Walla Museum. The free tours are sponsored by the Walla Walla Sesquicentennial Committee established by the City of Walla Walla.