BRIEFS

ARMED FORCES DAY PARADE

WAITSBURG - American Legion Auxiliaries are honoring all veterans by asking them to be in the Armed Forces Day Parade on May 19 in Waitsburg. The theme is Fly Our Flag. Please meet at Main and First Streets by 9:15 a.m. for judging of the float. Letters of invitation have been sent to area Legion and V.F.W. members, but all Veterans are welcome. Some veterans are planning to ride motorcycles. Please let B. A. know before May 15, so plans can be made for any extra transportation besides the float, ikbakeve@charter.net or337-6546.

HELP AT THE LIBRARY

WAITSBURG -- Do you want to be involved with the Friends of the Library in Waitsburg as a volunteer? Volunteers can attend the meeting at the Weller Public Library Library at 5:30 p.m. on May 21. If you have any questions, contact Elizabeth Wright at 509-540-9653.

INLAND CELLULAR TOWER

WAITSBURG - Inland Cellular is hoping to build a new cell tower in the Waitsburg area. The company is in the process of applying for a conditional use permit to build the 120-foot tower within one mile of two existing cell towers on Whoopemup Hollow Road. A hearing examiner will be evaluating the permit. Public comment can be submitted before May 14 to Walla Walla Joint Community Development Agency, c/o Steve Donovan, Senior Planner, 55 E. Moore St., Walla Walla, WA, 99362.

BAND CONCERT

WAITSBURG -- The community is invited to a Spring Concert at Waitsburg High School auditorium on Monday, May 14, at 7 p.m. The concert will feature the Sixth Grade Band, Preston Hall 7-8th Grade Band, WHS Chorus, WHS Band and Nicholas and Chloe Pearson performing piano pieces.

SPRING CLEANUP

WAITSBURG -- The wastewater treatment plant will be open on Saturday, May 12, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. for residents to dump their yard debris. The city would like anyone who can take it there to please do to reduce the burden on the pick up crew.

DISTRICT COURT CLOSED

DAYTON -- Columbia County District Court, (which includes Dayton Municipal Court), will be closed for business on Friday, May 18, in order to move and set up our new office. The mailing address remains the same: PO Box 31, Dayton, WA 99328. The physical address is changing to 535 Cameron St., Dayton, WA 99328. District court dockets will continue in the main courthouse building until such time as our new courtroom is functional. Adequate notice will be provided. All payments should be sent to our mailing address, or delivered to our new physical address. Should you have any questions, contact Kerry A Much, district court administrator at 382-4812, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

BARREL DAZE

WALLA WALLA-The Valley Girls Barrel Racing Association had its 34th annual Barrel Daze event in April. Winning contestants from the Touchet Valley area are Tommie Hoyecki, Cindy Lane, Rosie Gallaher, Eliana Coburn, Cloe Frazier, Courtney Frazier, Judy Frazier, Kaitlyn Hassler, Stella Barton, Kaleigh White, Cloe Davis, Cindy Davis, Michele Lyons, Karen Gleason, Debbie Kentch, Charlotte Chicka, Kris Spears, Angels Smith, Adelle Smith, Jackie Culham, Tricia Sewell, Sue Ruzicka and many more. For more information, visit www.vgbra.org.

WENAHA GALLERY EVENT

DAYTON -- Wenaha Gallery invites community members to come in immediately after the Dayton Days parade and meet and enjoy the artwork of Dayton pastel artist Judy Robertus, College Place potter Caprice Scott, and Prescott cartoonist Don Hollenbaugh. Judy and Don will be painting during the show. Refreshments are provided. Judy Robertus creates pastels inspired by the beautiful Utah, Montana, and Washington landscapes. Don Hollenbaugh sketches true-to-life caricatures and other scenes in pen and colored pencil on note cards and full-sized paintings. Caprice Scott incorporates a variety of motifs, including the natural world and Native American rock art imagery on her hand-built pottery. The show opens May 14 and wraps up June 4. Visit us online at www.wenaha.com to preview each artist's work and purchase prior to the show. For more information please call 509-382-2124.

JOHNSON APPOINTED COMMISSIONER

WALLA WALLA -- Walla Walla County Commissioners Greg Tompkins and Perry Dozier have appointed James K. (Jim) Johnson to fill the vacancy in the office of County Commissioner District 1. The vacancy was created by the resignation of Gregg Loney, which was effective at midnight on April 30. The Republican Central Committee provided three names for consideration by the county commissioners. Tompkins and Dozier interviewed the three candidates in a special meeting held on April 18, and then after discussion during an open, public meeting of the board, named Johnson to the position. Loney was not present for and did not participate in the interview process. Johnson is a 37-year resident of Walla Walla County. As owner of Jim Johnson and Company, he has been a self-employed public accountant for 29 years. Johnson will hold appointed office until the upcoming November general election results have been certified.

FREE WHOOPING COUGH VACCINE

WALLA WALLA - On Friday, May 11, between 1 and 4 p.m., Walla Walla County Health Department will provide free Whooping Cough vaccine to uninsured or underinsured adults, 19 years of age and older, at 314 West Main Street, Walla Walla. The department is receiving 120 does of Tetanus, Diphtheria, acellular Pertussis (Tdap) vaccine from the Washington Department of Health to help combat the state-wide epidemic of whooping cough. Immunization against Pertussis is the best way to help prevent the spread of this disease. Fourteen cases of Pertussis have been confirmed in Walla Walla County so far this year, most of those in March, April, and May.

FAIR BOARD MEMBER NEEDED

WALLA WALLA -- Walla Walla County is seeking persons interested in filling an upcoming vacancy on the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days Board of Directors. Board members serve three-year terms. Members of the fair board meet once a month, or as needed. Board members serve in a volunteer capacity, performing duties as outlined in various board-related job descriptions. Application packets may be obtained from the county website (www.co.walla-walla.wa.us), Walla Walla County Commissioners' Office, Courthouse, 314 West Main/P.O. Box 1506, Walla Walla, or by calling the Commissioners' Office at (509) 524-2505. Completed application packets must be returned to the county commissioners' office by May 31.