BRIEFS

HOMEROOM ASSIGNMENTS OUT WAITSBURG - Waitsburg parents of fourth, fifth and sixth graders should be checking the mail because the district mailed out homeroom assignments last Friday. The paperwork on its way to parents includes who will be their child's homeroom teacher for the intermediate classes, the schedule for each school week and a supply list. For more information, contact the school district at 509-337-6461.

MORE EARLY RELEASE DAYS WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg School Board has agreed to an extra seven early release days for the 2012-13 school year. This is because of legislation enacted in 2011 that re- duced teacher salaries by 1.9 percent. Students at all grade levels will be released at 12:10 p.m. on Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 9, Dec. 20, Jan. 11, Feb. 15 and April 26. All of these days are Fridays. The working hours of all para educators will remain the same as in the past. Additional information regarding supervised activities on these early release days will be provided in September.

SPORTS MEETINGS COMING UP WAITSBURG - A Mandatory WP parent and athlete Fall Sports Meeting at 7 p.m., Aug. 6 in the Waitsburg High School Auditorium. There will be a mandatory WP coaches meeting, for all coaches for 2012-2013 sports, at 8 p.m., on Aug. 6 at Waitsburg High School in the third-floor staff work room.

POETRY CONTEST WAITSBURG - A $1,000 grand prize is being offered to the last poet standing in a free contest by the Celestial Arts Society. There are 50 prizes totaling $5,000. Poems of 21 lines or fewer on any subject and in any style will be judged by the Contest Director Dr. James Cameron. Entries must be received by Aug. 20. Mail to Free Poetry Contest, PO Box 3336, Central Point, OR, 97502. Or enter online at www.freecontest.com.

DINNER & A MOVIE DAYTON -- Time for a great dinner and a movie at the Liberty Theater! On Friday, July 27, join the Liberty The- ater for a special dinner featuring authentic Indian cuisine, followed by the Liberty Theater premiere of the film "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," starring Judy Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy and Tom Wilkinson. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. and tickets are $25 per person. Tickets are available online at www.libertytheater.org or you can come into the chamber office on Main Street and purchase tickets there. Tickets are limited, so get them soon.

BALLOTS MAILED SOON WALLA WALLA - Primary election ballots in Walla Walla County will be mailed on July 20. Military and over- seas ballots were mailed June 22. The county auditor's of- fice will begin processing ballots daily, beginning Monday, July 23 and continue through Monday, Aug. 20 between the hours of 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on weekdays. The Elections De- partment will begin processing ballots through the tabulator on Aug. 7, Primary Election Day, at 10 a.m. Preliminary election results will not be released until after 8 p.m. on Aug. 7. Get out and vote!

ALUMNI WEEKEND DAYTON -- The Dayton High School Alumni Weekend will take place Thursday through Saturday at businesses throughout Dayton. The schedule by class is posted in the Dayton Chamber of Commerce. There will be a parade on Saturday morning before the Mule Mania parade. Chamber Director Brad McMasters said the Alumni Association has already sent out 2,600 mailers and that he thinks the weekend will be a great opportunity for former classmates to reunite and gather to catch up.