Threshers Reaps Profits For Lorangs

DAYTON - Threshers Bar and Grill staff and pa- trons demonstrated strength in community last Friday during a benefit for the Lo- rang family that generated revenue for a family reeling from its recent loss.

Owner Sandi Siess said the total donation will be $1134.49 from the benefit.

Community members flocked to the Main Street eatery last Friday because 100 percent of the profits from the entire day were donated to the Lorang fam- ily. The proceeds included all profits made during the res- taurant's 19-hour day, Siess said. She added that people from Walla Walla came to of- fer support during the benefit.

"It went really well," Siess said. "It was a positive experi- ence for the community."

On June 27, seven-year-old Hosanna Lorang, of Dayton, fell about 20 feet from a tree and was rushed to a local hos- pital. Lorang later died in at Sa- cred Heart Children's Hospital in Spokane. Lorang's parents are Tara and Jake Lorang. Lo- rang had two younger siblings, Mandy and Benjamin.

There have since been on- going efforts to raise money for the family to help cover costs during this tough time, including bake sales and lo- cals have been contributing to bank accounts set up for the Lorangs.

Pat Hewett, rhythm guitar- ist for Walla Walla band Hells Canyon, said Siess asked Hells Canyon to play during the event last Friday. Hewett said there were no special speeches or anything out of the ordinary, just people buy- ing food while listening to music for a good cause.

"It went great," Hewett said. "We had a great time. I thought it was really fun."

Hewett said Hells Can- yon practices together a lot but doesn't do many per- formances, but when Siess asked them to perform he was happy to oblige and even donated his time.

Because harvest is in full swing, attendance may not have been as high as it could have been, but many people still came together to support the cause, Hewett said.

Dayton Chamber of Commerce Director Brad Mc- Masters said he stopped by the restaurant last Friday dur- ing lunch and said the benefit appeared well-attended.

More importantly, he said he and other people he spoke with came to Threshers spe- cifically to help out the Lo- rang Family.

"I just went in for lunch purposely for that event," McMasters said. "When I went in it was quite active."

Hewett said he was ulti- mately pleased with how the event went from his perspec- tive, saying that while the traffic in the evening started slow down, it ended well.

"It was a fun deal we re- ally enjoyed it," Hewett said.