Huether Joins Blue Mountain Counseling

Blue Mountain Counseling in Dayton has announced that Joe Huether has been named Prevention Coordinator for Columbia County. In this position, Huether will coordinate programs designed to curb the use of drugs and alcohol by youth in our community. He will provide information and education resources for youth and families and will coordinate the Summer Youth Program.

Huether has more than 25 years experience in special education, early childhood education, adult training, and technology program development. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master's degree in Education.

Currently Huether is the Chair of the Columbia County Community Network. He also volunteers with TVAC Productions, and has taken part in many of their performances. He is also active in many community activities supporting youth.

Joe Huether can be reached at 382-1164 or by coming by his office located at Blue Mountain Counseling at 221 E. Washington Ave. in Dayton.

Youth Soccer Camp in July

All kids from first through eighth grade are invited to take part in the Dayton High School soccer team’s annual youth soccer camp coming up in July. The camp is free, and will take place July 20th through 23rd at the DHS Baseball/Softball fields. The camp will run from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. each day.

All participants in the camp will receive a free T-shirt. The first 50 will be provided courtesy of the camp’s sponsor, American Energy, Inc. The DHS Soccer team will conduct fundraising to pay for additional shirts.

Amy Schlenz, an incoming senior at Dayton High School is organizing the soccer camp as her senior project. She asks that interested participants provide her with the following information:

• Name of camper
• Grade just completed
• Home/cell phone number
• Email address
• Shirt size

Please email or mail this information to Amy at:

Email: exercise_a_holic@yahoo.com

Regular Mail: 212 E Richmond Avenue
Dayton, WA 99328

Candidates File for Fall Elections

The initial filing period for open elected positions in Columbia and northeastern Walla Walla Counties closed Friday, June 5th. At the end of the filing period, six positions remained unfiled in Columbia County (see list below). With one exception – the Prescott School District “At Large” position – all of the other local contests received only one filer.

A special filing period will be held in Columbia County Wednesday June 10th through Friday June 12th for the positions that received no filers during the initial filing period. Anyone interested in filing for the open positions can do so at the Columbia County Auditor’s Office at 341 E. Main St. in Dayton on those days. If any of the positions remain unfiled, the current holders of those positions will remain in office, unless they resign.

Because none of the local races received more than two filers, all of the candidates for these races will appear only on the general election ballot in November. The primary election will be held August 18th, and the general election will be November 3rd.

List of Local Candidates for 2009 Election

Following is the list of local candidates who have filed for the open positions in Columbia and northeastern Walla Walla Counties. ("i" signifies an incumbent.) All positions are non-partisan.

Dayton City Council:

Position 1: Unfiled
Position 3: Merle D. Jackson (i)
Position 4: Unfiled
Position 5: Charlie Button
Position 6: Micki Varney (i)
Position 7: Unfiled

Starbuck Town Council:

Mayor: Ruth Shearer
Position 1: Unfiled
Position 2: LaDonna Brabant
Position 4: Unfiled

Dayton School District:

District 1: David Bailey (i)
Position 4: Joe Huether
Position 5: Tamara Fritze (i)

Starbuck School District:

Position 3: Zonia Dedloff (i)
Position 4: Kelly Snyder-White

Fire District 1 Commission:

Position 2: Richard E. Rubenser (i)
Position 3: Charlie Mead (i)

Fire District 2 Commission:

Position 2: Unfiled

Fire District 3 Commission:

Position 1: Richard H. Ingram (i)

Port of Columbia Commission:

District 1: Gene R. Warren (i)
District 3: Dale McKinley

Columbia County Hospital District:

Position 1: Ted Paterson (i)
Position 3: Jim Kime
Position 4: Lisa Naylor (i)


Prescott City Council:

Mayor: Libby McCaw
Position 2: Gene Alandi

Prescott Joint Park and Recreation District:

Position 1: Donald R. Hollenbaugh
Position 2: Patsy Walsh Adams
Position 3: Douglas Venn
Position 4: Jerry C. Tonne

Waitsburg School District:

Position 1: Marilyn Johnson
Position 3: Ross Hamann
Position 4: Randy C. Pearson

Prescott School District:

Position 1: Erik Young
Position 3: Karen Tonne
At Large Pos: Dave Brock, Sara Fletcher

Adult Aquacize Classes at Dayton City Pool

Summer aquacize classes will start at the Dayton City Pool on Monday June 15th. Classes are open to all adults and will be held Monday through Friday throughout the summer. Class sessions are noon to 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., weather permitting.

The cost for the aquacize classes is $2 per day. Participants can also purchase a season pass to the pool for $50 for an individual or $85 for a family pass. Fees are payable at the pool.

Non-swimmers are encouraged to participate in aquacize, as no swimming skills are required. Stairs, with a railing, are available for easy entry and exit from the pool.

Aquacize classes consist of walking routines, wall resistance, aerobics, and working various muscle groups in the trunk, legs and arms. Bottle weights are used during some of the exercises to increase strength training. Participants may exercise at their own speed and choose which exercises are best for their needs.

Classes are lead by volunteers, and may be self-directed when leaders are not available. For more information on aquacize classes, call Nancy Hoffman at 509-382-4530, Carol Anderson at 509-382-4335 or the Dayton City Pool at 509-382-2441.

Now you won't have to wait.

Check in frequently for local news briefs, photos and event updates that didn't make the monthly issue!