Local Federal Offices Shut Down

DAYTON - At about 10 a.m. Tuesday morning, a couple of employees wear- ing jackets collected per- sonal item from the Farm Service Agency office next to Dayton's Post Office. But soon they were gone and the room was dark. A sign indicated the office would remain dark until congress acts.

The inability of congress to agree on a budget exten- sion Monday meant that non-essential government offices and sites throughout the country will remain shut indefinitely. As The Times went to press Tuesday, no resolution was in sight.

In Dayton's Federal Building, at 2nd and Clay Streets, the Post Office was open, as was the Columbia County Extension Service office, which is operated by WSU. Both are unaffected by the shutdown.

However, besides FSA, the USDA Natural Resourc- es Conservation Service of- fice was also closed.

Next door, in the Colum- bia County Conservation District Office, employee Debbie Nordheim was busy moving office equipment. "We're moving into the con- ference room," she said. "We have to be out of our office by 11."

Nordheim explained that her agency is financed by private grants and can re- main open during the shutdown. However the office they work out of is rented for them by the USDA, and so it must close. Hence the (hopefully) temporary move.

She said that the agency was working on having phone and internet lines moved, along with office equipment. "Hopefully we'll be back soon," she said.

In Walla Walla, several federal offices that may af- fect Touchet Valley Commu- nities were also closed.

At the Agriculture Ser- vice Center and Natural Re- sources Conservation Ser- vice office, a phone message "We are on furlough due to the lapse of government funding." The U.S. Forest Service Office was also closed due to the shutdown.

The U.S. Army recruiting center was open, however.

At the U.S. Army Corps of engineers, a spokesperson said the Corps is "preparing for an orderly shutdown."

The following changes in services were listed in a press release from the Corps:

-Visitor Centers, camp- grounds, boat launches and day-use facilities will be unsupported or closed at all Corps locks and dams.

-Vessel navigation will continue through WW Dis- trict's navigational locks

-Hydropower operations and flood damage reduction will continue. Security will remain in place at all Corps dams.

-Public vehicle cross- ings over Lower Granite, Little Goose and Lower Monumental dams are cur- rently being allowed. Trav- elers are encouraged to call 1-888-DAM-INFO for the most up-to-date info.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management also sent a release saying their offices are closed during the shutdown.