NEWS BRIEFS

Pacific Power to Purchase New Wind Project

Pacific Power has reached agreement to purchase what has been known up to now as the "Dayton Wind Energy Project". The name of the project has officially been changed to "Marengo II". Project developer RES Americas has begun construction at the site, which is about five miles east of Dayton.

Marengo II is adjacent to the Marengo I project, also owned by Pacific Power, which was completed in August, 2007. The Marengo II project was the subject of a lawsuit in which a group of Columbia County landowners appealed the county's issuance of a Conditional Use Permit for the project. On August 31, a Walla Walla Superior Court judge dismissed the suit.

According to Bill Clemens, Pacific Power's Regional Community Manager in Walla Walla, the project is scheduled to be completed in June, 2008. It will have 39 wind turbines, with a maximum generating capacity of about 70 megawatts. The two Marengo projects combined will give Pacific Power 117 turbines with maximum capacity of approximately 210 megawatts in Columbia County. The Hopkins Ridge wind project, owned by Puget Sound Energy and located near the Marengo projects, contains 83 turbines with maximum capacity of about 149 megawatts. All three of the Columbia County wind projects use 1.8 megawatt turbines supplied by Vestas Americas, which also has contracts to provide service and maintenance for each.

"Constructing another project near our existing Marengo facility allows us to cost-effectively provide even more of the clean, renewable energy our customers are asking for and to meet the new renewable portfolio standards established in Washington and Oregon," says Pat Reiten, president of Pacific Power. "The future of wind power in the region is very strong. We are thrilled that Dayton and the surrounding communities have been so supportive of our plans."

The two Marengo projects combined will give Pacific Power the capability to serve the energy needs of approximately 54,000 customers. With the 100 megawatt Leaning Juniper 1 wind project near Arlington, OR, which Pacific Power purchased in September, 2006, the company owns and operates more wind power generation than any other electric utility in the Pacific Northwest.

For more information about the Marengo wind projects, contact Bill Clemens at 522-7007.

U of I Students to Hold Community Meeting

On Thursday, November 8, students from the University of Idaho's Department of Conservation Social Sciences will present the findings from two work sessions held in Dayton in October, in which local residents gave their ideas and concerns about the future of Dayton and Columbia County. New business, land conservation, educational concerns and population growth will be among the topics discussed. The student group is being led by Dayton native Dana Coombs, a 2001 Dayton High School graduate.

After presenting their findings, the students will conduct a brief discussion about how the things people have identified that they value can be linked with a new type of community infrastructure that connects the various ideas and needs. Three student groups will then present suggestions for creating and developing a new business or development infrastructure that could meet the needs and demands of Dayton.

The community-wide meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Youth Building at the Columbia County Fairgrounds. For more information, contact Dana Coombs at (208) 885- 7528.

Marketing Plan in Works for Dayton and Columbia County

The Port of Columbia has initiated a marketing plan for the City of Dayton and Columbia County, with the goal of growing the area's economic base. The plan will focus on development of the "Dayton Brand". According to Port Manager Jennie Dickinson, the goal of the marketing plan will be to "create a targeted marketing strategy to promote business development in the community."

The Port has contracted with the marketing consulting firm Artmil, of Kennewick, to create the plan. After conducting market research, Artmil will identify a market niche where Dayton has a competitive advantage and recommend a strategy to compete successfully in that niche. Artmil will build on a previous community assessment completed in 2005 by the Washington Rural Development Council. Representatives of Artmil have already begun initial market research in Dayton and throughout Columbia County to better understand the community's personality. According to Artmil President Dennis Miller, "We have discovered that Dayton and Columbia County have very unique and special features. We are excited about the opportunity to develop those features into the ‘Dayton Brand' and position that brand to create high paying jobs in the area."

The marketing project is made possible by a $22,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development's Rural Opportunity Fund. The Port and the City of Dayton have each committed $2,500 in matching funds to bring the total project up to $27,000. Completion is expected in approximately six months. For further information contact Jennie Dickinson at 509-382-2577 or e-mail jennie@columbiainet.com.

Wildfire Protection Plan Public Review

The Columbia County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) has been completed in draft form and is available to the public for review and comment. The public review phase of the planning process will be open through November 9th, 2007. Copies of the plan are available for review at the following locations:

• Dayton City Hall, 111 S. First St., Dayton
• Columbia County Courthouse, 341 E. Main St., Dayton
• Dayton Memorial Library, 111 S. Third St., Dayton
• Starbuck Post Office, 301 Main St., Starbuck

The purpose of the CWPP is to reduce the wildfire risk for Columbia County residents, landowners and agencies; promote wildfire mitigation activities; improve wildfire response capabilities; and encourage sustainable natural resource management policies. The Plan is being developed by a committee of local and state fire agency representatives, park and land managers, local emergency managers, and others. Northwest Management, Inc. of Moscow, ID is working with the committee to prepare the Plan.

For more information on the CWPP, please contact Lisa Naylor, Blue Mountain RC&D, at (509) 382-8968 or Tera King with Northwest Management, Inc. at 208-883-4488.

Agriculture Museum Opens Near Pomeroy

After years of planning, fund raising and untold volunteer hours, the Eastern Washington Agriculture Museum (EWAM) has finally opened the doors of its large, newly-built building to the public. The event took place during the Garfield County Fair September 14-16, 2007. The red, barnshaped structure is located east of Pomeroy on the county fairgrounds.

In collaboration with museums in Spokane and Walla Walla, the EWAM group borrowed items to add to its own collection to create an impressive wide-range display of early-day farm equipment.

"It's a work in progress," says David Ruark, a member of the EWAM organization. "Our goal is to preserve the story of Eastern Washington agriculture with a collection of period farm equipment and educational displays, but it will also be a working museum."

Since 2005, each spring the group that is now EWAM has held a plowing bee on 13 acres of the fairgrounds. During the two-day event, the ground is worked and seeded using vintage farm implements pulled by teams of horses, mules, and an occasional earlyday farm tractor.

Participants come from across the Inland Northwest for this unique opportunity to put their horses, mules, and equipment to work. A portion of the income from the crop raised is used to help fund the agriculture museum.

"Public attendance at our Spring Farm Days event and plowing bee has really grown," says Ruark. "Folks enjoy seeing how farming was done years ago. We've added a quilt show and that's attracted a great deal of interest too."

Spring Farm Days for this coming year will be April 5 & 6, 2008, at the Garfield County Fairground east of Pomeroy. For more information, contact David Ruark at 509-843-3506.

Walla Walla Symphony Upcoming Performances

A harpist and a cello duo from the Walla Walla Symphony will be featured on Saturday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the season premier of the Symphony's Saturday Soirée at the Marc Chamber Music Series at the Marcus Whitman Hotel and Conference Center. Harpist Bethany Man from North Bend, Washington will perform harp solo music, and William and Linda Wharton from Moscow, Idaho will entertain with cello duets. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres, coffee and tea will be served, with a no host bar also available. Tickets are $15 for individuals and $25 for couples; tickets include one complimentary glass of wine per person. Seating is limited.

On Tuesday, October 30, the Walla Walla Symphony will open its 101st season with "Halloween Chills and Trills". The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. at Cordiner Hall, Park and Boyer in Walla Walla. Award winning pianist Stephen Beus returns to perform Liszt's Totentanz (Death Dance) with the Symphony and Maestro Yaacov Bergman. The Symphony will also perform Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain and Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. The concert is sponsored by Banner Bank. Wine sponsor for the concert is Walla Walla Vintners.

The Walla Walla Symphony is the oldest continuously operating symphony west of the Mississippi. It has been under the artistic leadership of Music Director and Conductor Yaacov Bergman since 1987, and has performed in Cordiner Hall on the Whitman College campus since 1967.

To purchase tickets for the above performances, or for more information about the Walla Walla Symphony, visit the Symphony's website at www. wwsymphony.org or call the symphony office at 509-529-8020.

Chamber of Commerce Banquet November 1

This year's Dayton Chamber of Commerce Banquet will be held November 1 at the Masonic Temple on South Sixth Street. Members and friends of the Chamber are invited to attend. The social gathering begins at 6:00 p.m., with dinner served at 6:30.

This year's Banquet Theme is "Generations of Change." Guest speakers will be the James Family, including Randy James, his mother, B.A. Keve, and his daughter Miranda Bowen. During the Banquet, the annual Chamber of Commerce awards for "Business of the Year", "Employee of the Year" and "Citizen of the Year" will be given. Awards for historic preservation of residential and commercial buildings will also be made by the Dayton Historic Preservation Commission.

The Chamber of Commerce Banquet is sponsored this year by Tumac Outdoor. For more information on this year's banquet, contact the Chamber of Commerce office at 382-4825.

Booker Trick or Treat!

The residents of Booker Rest Home will be celebrating Halloween this year. Dayton families are encouraged to bring their kids for trick-or-treating – in costume. During the day, a group of residents will go downtown to buy treats. And, with the help of caregivers, friends and family, they will decorate their doors and rooms.

Residents accepting trick-or-treaters will have pumpkins on their doors, and kids are invited to knock between 6:00 and 7:30 p.m. on October 31. Booker Rest Home is located at 1012 S. Third St., next to Dayton General Hospital. For more information, contact Gloria Hanson, Booker Rest Home Activities Coordinator, at 382- 2531. Trick or Treat!

Kick Off Christmas with Christmas Kickoff

Once again this year, Dayton will celebrate Christmas Kickoff on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving – November 23 and 24. The festivities will center around the Main Street shopping district. Again this year, the highlight will be Friday night fireworks. Here are some of the other activities to be enjoyed:

• Mule Drawn Hayrides
• Live Music
• Holiday Barrel Tasting
• Late Night Shopping
• Artists and Gallery Displays
• Pictures with Santa
• Christmas Market at the Depot
• Boldman House Tours
• Main Street Retailers' special events
• Art Show at the Depot, Featuring Columbia County Artists
• Downtown Destination Shopping Spree

And, of course, there will be live performances of Beauty and the Beast on Saturday and Sunday, the 24th and 25th.

Residents and visitors are invited to spend the weekend downtown, shopping and enjoying all of the fun activities. For more information, call the Dayton Chamber of Commerce at 382-4825.

Boy Scouts Go Kayaking

On Saturday September 15, seven members of Boy Scout Troop 332 from Dayton headed to Bonnie lake for an overnight Kayak and Canoe adventure. Three adult leaders joined the group in their weekend of paddling, outdoor food and play.

To reach the lake, which is west of Rosalia, the group paddled a mile on a stream through a cow pasture. Upon reaching the lake they paddled to a small island composed entirely of metamorphic rock, where they camped out and spent plenty of time hiking and fishing. Adult leader Lisa Naylor says that the return paddle on Sunday proved very strenuous, as the group faced a strong headwind.

Dayton's Boy Scout Troop 332 includes eight boys ranging in age from 11 to 17. They have a strong group of adult leaders, and they meet on Monday evenings at the Youth Building at the Fairgrounds at 7:00 p.m.

Naylor reports that members of the Troop plan to attend Camp Parsons on Hood Canal in July 2008. Camp Parsons is one of the oldest Boy Scout camps in the country, having provided wilderness adventure to Boy Scouts since 1919. For more information on Dayton's Boy Scout Troop, contact Lisa Naylor at 382-8955.

Blue Mountain Chorus Offers Voice Lessons

The Blue Mountain Chorus of Sweet Adelines International is offering Free Group Vocal Lessons. It's an opportunity for you to "find your voice" and experience singing as part of Sweet Adelines - one of the largest women's singing organizations in the world.

The Blue Mountain Chorus is now singing under the direction of Andreanna, "Andi", Flores. Flores is a member of the Rolling Hills Chorus in the Tri-cities and was an assistant director of that chorus. She is a Certified Director in the Sweet Adelines International organization. Flores has a Bachelors degree in vocal and instrumental music and is currently teaching at McLoughlin Middle School in Pasco.

The Blue Mountain Chorus, chartered in Walla Walla in 1974, is known in the community for many performances in Cordiner Hall as well as throughout the area. Quartets provide entertainment at private and charitable events as well.

The local chorus rehearses at 6:30 pm each Monday in the 2nd floor board room at Wheatland Village. Women interested in learning more about the Sweet Adelines are invited to any rehearsal. Call 526-0499, or visit the chorus website www.sairegion13.org/bluemountainchorus.

Sweet Onion Film Festival Comes to Walla Walla

The 1st Annual International Sweet Onion Film Festival will debut in Walla Walla the last weekend of October, with films from around the world. Films will be shown over a three day period beginning October 26 and ending with an awards ceremony on October 28. Films will be shown at several venues throughout the Walla Walla area.

The Festival encourages you to explore the world of independent filmmaking and join an audience excited about viewing "the alternative." Audience members will select the best film in each category, awarding the Independent filmmaker with the Audience Choice Award. For more information about films and locations, visit the festival website, www. sweetonionfilmfestival.org. Tickets are available online or by phone at (509) 301-2632. Tickets for each event are $8, and $6 for students. Package deals are also available. Films are not recommended for children.

Flu Vaccinations are Here

The Columbia County Health System (CCHS) is offering flu vaccines at the Columbia Family Clinic in Dayton and at the Waitsburg Clinic. Vaccinations are available by appointment at either location.

According to CCHS's Karlene Kyle, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get a vaccination. People who are at high risk for complications from the flu are highly encouraged to get vaccinated. These may include:

• Senior Citizens
• People who live in nursing homes or long-term care facilities.
• Adults and children (6 months and older) with chronic heart and lung conditions, including asthma.
• Anyone with a medical condition that may compromise their respiratory function or immune system.
• People who are in close contact with members of the above groups.

People who should not be vaccinated include children under six months and those who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs, or who have had a serious reaction to flu vaccines in the past.

For more information about flu vaccines, or to set up an appointment, call the Columbia Family Clinic at 382-3200 or the Waitsburg Clinic at 337-6311.

Fund Raiser for Ranee Phillips

We received the following note from Dayton resident Dawn Moriarty, which we want to pass on to all of our readers:

My friend Ranee Phillips has breast cancer and is going through treatments right now. She is the mother of 6 and worked 2 jobs before she became ill. We are doing a fund raiser to benefit her & her family.

Dawn

Of course we would, Dawn.

Copyright (c) 2007, Blue Mountain News

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