News Briefs
- CCRLD Receives Job and Education Resources Grant
- Dayton Has New Skateboard Park
- Lower Snake River WInd Project Planning Moves Forward
- Nealey Win Highlights Local Election Results
- Newly Elected Local Officials
- REA's Charlotte Bouta Receives Award
- Waitsburg Times has New Owners
- West End Project First Phase is Complete
Nealey Win Highlights Local Election Results
In November’s general election, Dayton’s Terry Nealey was elected to complete the current term for the 16th District, Position 2, in the Washington State Legislature. The term runs through 2010. Nealey, a Republican, defeated Democratic incumbent Laura Grant, who was appointed earlier this year to replace her late father, Representative Bill Grant. Nealey was elected with approximately 59% of the vote district-wide.
In another important race, the special Hospital District technology levy was voted down. The levy needed over 60% yes vote to pass, but received only 58.9% yes vote district-wide.
There were a large number of positions open on local election ballots. With very few exceptions, only one person stood for each position. The box at right lists all of the candidates who were elected in November’s general election..
Newly Elected Local Officials
City of Dayton
Council Member #3 - Merle D. Jackson
Council Member #4 - Terry Herrin
Council Member #5 - Charlie Button
Council Member #6 - Micki Varney
Town of Starbuck
Mayor - Write-In: Darcy L. Linklater
Council Member #01- Anthony Hoilman
Council MemberR #2 -LaDonna R. Brabant
Council Member #2 -Write-In: Richard A. Ells
Dayton School District #2
Council Member #4 - Joe Huether
Council Member #5 - Tamara Fritze
Council Member #1 - David D. Bailey
Starbuck School District #35
Director #3 - Zonia Dedloff
Director #4 - Kelly Snyder-White
Waitsburg School District #401
School Director #04 AL - Randy C Pearson
School Director #01- Marilyn Johnson
School Director #03 - Ross Hamann
Prescott School District #402
School Director #05 AL - Sara Fletcher
School Director #01- Erik Young
School Director #03 - Karen S. Tonne
Port of Columbia
Commissioner #1- Gene R. Warren
Commissioner #3 - Dale McKinley
Columbia County Fire District #1
Commissioner #2 -Richard E. Rubenser
Commissioner #3 -Charlie Mead
Columbia County Fire District #3
Commissioner #1 -Richard H. Ingram Jr.
Columbia County Hospital District
Commissioner #1 -Ted Paterson
Commissioner #3 -Jim D. Kime
Commissioner #4 -Lisa Naylor
Prescott Parks and Recreation District
Commissioner #1 -Donald R Hollenbaugh
Commissioner #2 -Patsy Walsh Adams
Commissioner #3 -Douglas Venn
Commissioner #4 -Jerry C. Tonne
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West End Project First Phase is Complete
The entrance to the Department of Transportation property on Dayton’s West Main Street has a new look. Large basalt boulders were placed adjacent to the entrance. New trees, sidewalks and pavers were put in place from the Ameristar Driveway east to the Dayton Motel property. New irrigation and other landscaping were also installed.
The project is the first step in the long-term West End Beautification Project, which is a joint effort of the Dayton Development Task Force and the City of Dayton. The project was funded by a grant of $148,000 from Washington DOT. Barker Construction was the general contractor for this initial phase of the project..
Waitsburg Times has New Owners
In November, Imbert and Karen Matthee purchased the Waitsburg Times newspaper and the Times building on Waitsburg’s Main Street from Loyal Baker and Kathy Baker, who operated the paper for 13 years. The first edition of the newspaper under new ownership appeared on November 26th.
Imbert will assume the role of publisher of The Times, while his wife, Karen will become its editor. The couple and their 11-year-old son Niko moved to Waitsburg from Bainbridge Island in August, a year after buying a home here.
The new owners have had long careers in journalism. Imbert Matthee worked for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer as a business writer, Pacific Rim correspondent and columnist until 1998 when he joined a nonprofit cause assisting landmine accident survivors in Asia. Karen Matthee worked for the Everett Herald and the Dallas Times-Herald before becoming editor for a string of magazines, including Seakayaker, Seattle’s Child and the alumni magazine for Seattle University. In 2004, she co-founded Seattle Woman Magazine of which she remains part owner and editor at large.
The ownership change ends nearly half a century of stewardship by the Baker family, going back to Tom and Anita Baker’s purchase of the paper in 1964. The Matthees become the seventh owner of the publication in its 131-year history..
CCRLD Receives Job and Education Resources Grant
People in Columbia County seeking help finding a job or educational opportunities will soon have a new source of information. The Columbia County Rural Library District (CCRLD) has received a grant of nearly $11,000 to create a collection of books, videos and other resources on topics such as education, colleges, employment, careers, job skills, scholarships, grants, resumes, and more.
The purpose of the collection is to help residents find and use job and career resources and locate job and educational opportunities. Job skills to be addressed will include improving interviewing skills, preparing resumes and cover letters, completing job applications and starting or growing small businesses.
The “Renew Washington Grant” combines a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant with federal Library Services and Technology Act funds to assist public libraries throughout Washington. The purpose of these grants is to help Washington public libraries enhance services to their residents during the economic downturn..
REA’s Charlotte Bouta Receives Award
Columbia REA member services coordinator Charlotte Bouta has been named 2009 Ruralite Communicator of the Year. Ruralite Magazine is received monthly by all of Columbia REA’s members.
Charlotte’s job includes creating the co-op’s member and employee communication materials and providing editorial content for REA’s web site and publications, including their edition of Ruralite magazine. “Charlotte is a fantastic communicator,” says Scott Peters, REA’s manager of marketing and member services. “She really cares about the message and making sure that it is actually received and understood.”
Ruralite Services is a not-for-profit cooperative formed more than 50 years ago. It serves 61 consumer-owned electric utilities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington..
Lower Snake River Wind Project Planning Moves Forward
In early November, a Hearings Examiner took public comment on Puget Sound Energy’s application for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) in Garfield County for the proposed Lower Snake River Wind Energy Project. The permit will cover the portion of the project which lies within Garfield County. The examiner is expected to issue a decision on approval of the CUP no later than December 1st.
Portions of the Lower Snake River project will also lie within Columbia County. PSE expects to submit a CUP application in Columbia County before the end of December.
A comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the entire project was completed this fall. The results of this study are part of the CUP application process for both counties.
The current plan for the new wind project calls for approximately 444 wind turbines in Garfield County, with generating capacity of around 800 megawatts. Another 351 turbines with a capacity of 632 MW would be located in Columbia County. Again, these are approximate numbers.
PSE’s Hopkins Ridge project, currently operating in Columbia County, includes 87 turbines with approximately 150 MW capacity. The two Marengo wind projects in the county, owned and operated by Pacificorp energy, include 117 turbines with approximately 210 MW capacity.
Upon approval of the Garfield County CUP, PSE will prepare to begin construction of support infrastructure there – tentatively in 2010. RES Americas will be the general contractor. Construction on the project is planned to continue in the two counties for at least five years..
Dayton Has New Skateboard Park
The old tennis court at the Dayton City Park is now home to Dayton’s newest recreation site, the Dayton Skate Park. The $37,000 facility was installed in mid-November. Funding came from the City of Dayton and other grants and fund raising efforts by local youth.
The Dayton Curb Stompers 4H skateboard club helped design the park. According to advisor Leslie Sweetwood, club members worked with representatives of American Ramp Company to come up with the final design.
Sweetwood says that the local skate club currently has about 15 members, but has been growing steadily.
The Dayton Curb Stompers Club is also asking for donations of used skateboards for their rehabilitation projects. Even broken skateboards with usable parts will be appreciated. They can be dropped off at Dingle’s, at First and Main Streets in Dayton.