blue mountain news - october 2011

Blue Mountain NEWS October 2010

Table of ContentsFeature Article

News Briefs

14

8, 20, 21

On the Cover

More4-5

5 9-13

17-1922-23

This year's Dayton on Tour features long-standing events, including the Art Walk and Historic Homes and Buildings Tour. New this year are artist studio tours, the Blue Sky Fun Kite Contest and the Beer Garden.

The dedication of Keith McMasters' The Stationmaster, plus the Artists' reception begin at 4:00 p.m. in the Depot Courtyard.

Dayton On Tour AutumnFestWords by Ken Graham

Comment

Letters to the Editor

More Letters

Calendar of Events

Photos

Real Estate

One More Thing . . . : Welcome to My Fashion World by Ken Graham

Four historic homes and the Columbia County Courthouse on Historic Homes Tour. Plus Stationmaster dedication.

Design by Vanessa Saldivar Heim

NewsProfiles of candidates for Columbia County Prosecutor and Columbia County Sheriff

6-7

24-2527

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Ken GrahamEditor and Publisher(509) [email protected]

Tanya PattonAssociate Editor &Advertising Representative(509) 382-4458(509) [email protected]

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Copyright © 2010 by Back of the Moon PressNo part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.

October 2010 Blue Mountain NEWS


Comment

After extensive interviews with both candidates for Columbia County Prosecutor, as well as conversations with others in the community and in the legal profession, I feel that incumbent Rea Culwell is a better choice for the position than her

challenger, Randy O. Lewis. And I encourage voters to re-elect her.

My number one concern is that, while Lewis practiced law for 33 years in Louisiana, he has very little experience practicing law in Washington and he has no prosecution experience. If he’s elected, Lewis will be the only County Prosecutor in Washington who has not passed the Washington State Bar Exam.

Lewis is only able to practice law in Washington because of a legal loophole called reciprocity. Washington has reciprocity agreements for attorneys with several states - but not Louisiana. Louisiana has a legal system which is very different from other states. It is based on a system similar to French law, rather than English common law. Louisiana has a reciprocity agreement with only one state: North Dakota. North Dakota has reciprocity agreements with all of the other 49 states.

So after moving to Dayton, Lewis registered as a lawyer in North Dakota, even though he had no intention of living or practicing law there. Six months later, because he held a North Dakota law license, Lewis was granted a Washington State law license.

I asked Lewis why he chose not to take the Washington Bar Exam, which would have required him to spend considerable time studying Washington law. His answer was simply, “Why should I?” He told me that, as Prosecutor, he will be able to do the research necessary on Washington law and make himself fully prepared for each case.

But when I discussed the issue with members of the legal profession, including Garfield County Prosecutor Matt Newberg and Walla Walla City Attorney Tim Donaldson – both of whom have endorsed Culwell – and others, I was told that, while the general structure of laws and regulations in all of the US states is similar, specific differences are innumerable. For instance, the Washington State Constitution gives criminal defendants greater rights than the US Constitution and many other states. And case law differs significantly from state to state.

The attorneys I spoke with all agreed that Lewis’s lack of experience with Washington

When I interviewed Columbia County Prosecutor Rea Culwell during preparation of the election coverage for this issue,

she told me that part of her was disappointed that an opponent had filed to run against her in this year’s election, because it meant she had to spend a lot of time, energy and money campaigning. And then she still might lose her job. But on the other hand she understood that the race is a positive thing for the people of Columbia County, because it’s important that they have a choice. I completely agree.

But even though we must have them in a democracy, political races often bring out raw emotions that aren’t pretty. Candidates say bad things about each other, and sometimes their supporters say and do even worse things. It’s difficult to watch all of this during any political race, and in a small community like ours, long-lasting hard feelings can carry on long after the race is over.

Both the Sheriff and Prosecutor races this year have featured negative attacks that I think are unfortunate. I’ve been particularly disappointed at the numerous rumors and anonymous claims that have been made about Mark Franklin, who is challenging Walt Hessler for the County Sheriff position this year. Some of them are coming directly from Hessler’s supporters, including a claim that Franklin committed a serious felony many years ago while a deputy with the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office. The claim is totally unsubstantiated and undoubtedly untrue, but it shows the depths to which some people will sink to try and “support” their candidate.

Despite the negativity though, this year’s Sheriff and Prosecutor races are giving Columbia County

voters an excellent opportunity to think about what kind of law and justice process they want to see here in coming years.

I believe Rea Culwell is the better choice for Prosecutor (see following column) in part because she is an experienced Prosecutor who has demonstrated a long-term commitment to promoting justice for crime victims and for the people of the county. She puts that commitment ahead of her won-lost record in court.

I also believe that Mark Franklin is the better candidate for Sheriff. Sheriff Walt Hessler puts a high priority on making sure his deputies are on the road and highly visible, believing that it will prevent crime. Undoubtedly it helps, and that’s important. But I believe Franklin will strike a better balance between preventing crimes and investigating and solving the ones that occur. Crimes do happen here. Franklin has more law enforcement experience than Hessler and he has received more training in crime investigation, particularly in the area of domestic violence, which, unfortunately, is an significant problem in Columbia County.

Whether or not you agree with me on which candidates to support, I hope you will study their positions and think about what kind of law and justice system you’d like to see in our community. And then vote. The choices we have are important, and the results of this year’s election will have long-standing implications for law and justice in the future.

And then, when the election is over and you run into your neighbor on the street who supported the “wrong” candidate, give them a smile and a wave anyway and wish them a good day. q

Law and Justice at a Crossroads Culwell Deserves Re-election Based on Her Prosecution Experience in Washington

By Ken Graham

By Ken Graham


Comment (cont.) Letters

Five more pages of

letters start on Page 9.

law would put him at a disadvantage in his job as Prosecutor. Issues that require knowledge of local statute and case law simply come up too often to allow someone in that job to go open the book each time. And it’s certainly not possible during a hearing or trial.

I also feel that Lewis’s main criticism of Culwell – that she has lost too many criminal cases at trial – is unfair. Culwell has calculated that, in 80% of cases in which she filed charges, either the defendant pleaded guilty or was found guilty at trial. The state average for County Prosecutors is 79%.

Culwell says that, with most criminal cases that come to her office, either she doesn’t file charges because she can’t prove the case, or the case is very solid and the defendant agrees to a negotiated plea. The few criminal cases that go to trial are the difficult ones – ones that both sides feel they have a good chance of winning. Then it’s up to a jury to decide.

Lewis takes the position that if a defendant invokes his or her constitutional right to trial, as Prosecutor, he will drop the case unless he is very sure he’ll win. The problem is that if a Prosecutor has a reputation of dropping every case he isn’t sure of winning in court, defendants will stop negotiating. “If I drop every case that I might lose,” says Culwell, “all the defense attorneys have to do now is push me to trial.” The attorneys I spoke with all agreed that, to be effective, a Prosecutor must be willing to risk losing cases in court. And Culwell’s record is in line with her peers.

Randy Lewis is certainly a very experienced attorney, and he meets the legal requirements to serve as Columbia County Prosecutor. But I believe that he needs more experience practicing law in Washington – and to pass the Washington Bar Exam – before he steps into such a critical position as this.

Rea Culwell is relatively young, but has gained extensive experience over the past eight years representing Benton and Columbia Counties in both civil and criminal matters. Many attorneys and community members I spoke with told me they are very impressed with her intelligence and professionalism, and believe she has done an excellent job in her first term. Culwell is dedicated to the community and to her career as a prosecutor, and I believe she deserves another four years in her job. q

Learn About Candidates Before VotingDear Editor,

This November we have the opportunity to vote on several local positions that are paramount to the safety and quality of life that is essential to a thriving small community. I am really proud to be a Daytonite and I have witnessed the hard work and dedication that it has taken to make our town a wonderful place to live. It will take continued efforts to remain successful. I feel that it is critical to evaluate each candidate on their merits and not by the letter behind their name that represents a political party. I pose some questions for your consideration. What elements of a political party’s platform do you value? Does a candidate truly exemplify those qualities? It is not like they have to pass a test to claim that letter at the end of their name. If every candidate in a party truly represented a platform or value system, why are there “RINO’s” and “DINO’s”? I believe therein lies a shortcoming of voting a strict party line. I ask myself certain questions in choosing the candidate that receives my vote. What are the candidates’ qualifications and proven record of service? In a small town, rumors are known to fly; can the information be verified by fact and not just “word on the street”? What are the

motivations behind certain rumors? Even if a candidate is a long-time acquaintance or friend, can they really do the job? I take the right to vote very seriously, especially when the results will impact us daily on a local level. Please consider attending the Candidates Forum at the Liberty Theatre on Oct 6. It is a great opportunity to get to know the candidates before the ballots are mailed and you make your final selection.

Marchand HovrudDayton

Support Urged for Culwell and FranklinDear Editor,

This year Columbia County has two closely contested political races in the upcoming election. In both cases, it appears to be that of “the good ole boys” as opposed to those more in tune with current laws and the need to be aware of the intent of some of these laws.

Mr. Randy O. Lewis, by his own words and actions, has proven himself to be both a racist and a sexist. As defense counsel, he has tried to control the state-mandated use of women’s advocates during a trial. He has also been heard making racist remarks. I do hope the people of Columbia County

do not want this type of representation as our County Prosecutor. Rea Culwell has a record equal to or above the state averages of Prosecuting Attorneys. I especially encourage the women and minority voters to think about Mr. Lewis and the power he would have in the courtroom. Think about the circumstances in which you and your children could be found.

As to the Sheriff’s contest, Sheriff Hessler does not have any concrete negatives, but he does seem to not understand the need to network with the state and other area agencies to update the department and bring it into the 21st century. Mark Franklin has a progressive view of the department and the county and would be the one not to let the defense of our county lag behind. It is important that the only Law & Enforcement department we have is trained and educated in the most current techniques and understanding of the path of the future.

Karen J. SchroederDayton


Sheriff Walt Hessler says that after four years as the boss, he’s still working to get the deputies in his department to spend less time in the office and more time on the street. “We discuss it

every time we have a meeting,” he says. “The job is to be out there, be observant, be observed and to try and prevent crime before it occurs.”

Hessler is a strong advocate of keeping his deputies and himself accessible to the community. “It keeps us more visible, which I think is a large crime deterrent,” he says.

We asked him about claims that the Sheriff’s Department is sometimes lax in its enforcement and that deputies occasionally turn their heads when laws are broken. “I’ve heard some of that,” he says, “but I don’t think we have a large issue with that.”

Hessler also responded to claims that his opponent is more involved in community organizations than he is. He says that he tries to get his deputies involved in various community activities. “I feel that our presence should be there,” he says. “I don’t feel that it should be the Sheriff himself. It all fits into the deputy’s additional duties.” Hessler points out that he and most of the department’s deputies are involved in various activities relating to mental health, domestic violence and emergency management. “I do feel the Sheriff should be out there and be visible.”

Hessler was born and raised in Dayton. He served nearly nine years in the Marine Corps and later worked for16 years for the City of Walla Walla. In 1995, he joined the Columbia County Sheriff’s department as a Reserve Deputy, becoming a full-time deputy in 1997. It was his first job in law enforcement. Hessler was elected Sheriff in 2006 as a write-in candidate and is running for his second four-year term.

We asked Sheriff Hessler what kinds of training he and the department’s deputies take part in. He said that budget constraints limit the amount of outside training the department can offer. “We need to do more in-house training,” he says. “We need to keep up on our firearms, we need to keep up on our defensive tactics and we need to do work on our interview skills.” Hessler says the department has people certified to do in-house training in most of those areas.

We also asked Hessler about a Rural Underage Drinking prevention (RUAD) grant that the department received, and the reason for returning $78,000 of the money unspent in 2009. “That money was there to fund a full-time position, and we filled it part-time,” he said. “So the deputy was doing RUAD plus working the road.” Hessler said that having that deputy working full time would have left a big gap in the department’s road coverage. He also said that he wasn’t confident that the RUAD grant, which came to the department prior to his becoming Sheriff, would be renewed.

When we asked Sheriff Hessler why he thought he was a better choice for Sheriff than his opponent, he said, “I feel I have the trust of the public; I have the public interest at heart. I grew up here and I have a vested interest in the community.” q

Mark Franklin says that one of the most important changes he will make if he is elected Sheriff is to increase the involvement of the department in organizations in the community and in the region

that affect law enforcement. “There are so many committees and coalitions out there that need representation by the Sheriff’s office,” he says, “and if not for me, we would know nothing about them.”

In an interview, Franklin listed several groups he feels have an important role for the Sheriff’s Office, all of which he says will help improve lives in the community and reduce crime. One is the Child Abduction Response Team, which includes several groups from Columbia County, along with those from Walla Walla and Umatilla Counties. Another is the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition.

Franklin is particularly proud of his involvement in the Coalition for Youth and Family (CYF) in which he has been active for some time. Formerly called the Columbia County Substance Abuse Coalition, CYF includes other agencies such as the Prosecutor’s office, Public Health Office, The Community Network, Blue Mountain Counseling and the Dayton School District. Franklin says he was personally invited to join CYF after repeated requests were made, unsuccessfully, to the Sheriff’s office for a representative to be involved.

Franklin was born and raised in Walla Walla and joined the Navy after graduating from Wa-Hi. He worked as a dispatcher at the Walla Walla Police Department and then spent 12 years as a Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Deputy. Franklin spent 8 years as a security manager in San Diego, California, before returning to the Pacific Northwest. He became a Columbia County Sheriff’s Deputy in 1999, and later served as undersheriff for three years.

As an example of what he says is the Sheriff’s Office’s failure in community involvement, Franklin points to a grant the Sheriff’s office received called RUAD, which was intended to help reduce rural underage drinking. Franklin says the money was intended to pay a deputy full time on intervention with kids, but that $78,000 of the $115,000 grant was returned unused, because the deputy assigned to run the program didn’t work at it full time.

Franklin says that, since reducing underage drinking was the focus of the grant, he would have set up a program with one deputy working closely with the schools. “I think he should have been available to the kids,” he says. “I think the kids should have been able to recognize him as much as they recognize the guy that sits in the desk next to them.”

Franklin is very proud of his focus on crime investigation, particularly domestic violence cases. He estimates that the Sheriff’s Office investigates an average of three to four domestic violence cases per month. Franklin says he is the only deputy in the department who has received training in homicide investigations. In 2004 he attended intensive investigation training in Arkansas, which included homicide investigations along with many other types of rural crime scene investigations. Franklin says that, as Sheriff, he will “make sure that all of the deputies are trained at least with the week-long course in rural crime scene investigation.”

Franklin feels that the level of communication by the current Sheriff is lacking. “He should be communicating with the community and he should be communicating within his own department,” says Franklin, “and it doesn’t get done.” q

Sheriff Hessler Stresses Visibility and Accessability

Franklin Hopes to Improve Communication and Community Involvement

Election Profiles

Randy O. Lewis

Mark Franklin

Rea Culwell

Walt Hessler

Election Profiles Written by Ken Graham


In 2004 Rea Culwell was working as a Deputy Prosecutor for the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office and, with her husband Todd Tucker, living

on the Tucker family farm in northwestern Columbia County. When Columbia County Prosecutor Colleen Fenn decided to leave her position and not run for re-election that year, Culwell was approached by community members about running. She agreed, and ran unopposed. This year, Culwell is running for re-election and is facing challenger Randy O. Lewis.

Culwell was born and raised in Kennewick, where her father is a retired high school teacher. “My sister, stepmother and maternal grandparents are all educators,” she says. Culwell attended Columbia Basin College in Pasco on a tennis scholarship, and then completed her bachelor’s degree at Whitman College in 1994. She received her law degree from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia in 1997. “I wanted to see another part of the world,” Culwell said, when asked why she chose a law school in the opposite corner of the country. “It was the best thing to get out of here, and realize what a good place I came from.”

After working in private practice in Atlanta for three years, Culwell returned to Southeast Washington in 2000, taking a job at Whitman College in their fund-raising office, assisting donors with planned giving. She joined the Benton County Prosecutor’s office in 2002. “I wanted to be a lawyer again,” she says. She had taken and passed the Washington State Bar Exam while working at Whitman. She and Tucker met in 2000 and married in 2002.

Culwell says she has prosecuted nearly 1,000 criminal cases in her career. In her job, she also provides legal counsel on civil matters for the County Commissioners and for all County department heads. She points out that she has kept her office strictly under budget during her term, and she reduced the Prosecutor’s budget in 2010.

Outside of her job, Culwell has been active in the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (WAPA). She is the representative of the smallest counties in the state on that group’s board of directors, and she is their liaison with the Washington Bar Association. Culwell stresses that either she or WAPA pays all of her travel expenses for those activities, and they are done on her own time. Culwell is currently the chair of the Columbia County Coalition for Youth and Families, and is active in Kiwanis and the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

When asked about concerns that, as a prosecutor, she has lost too many criminal cases at trial and that she has taken some cases to trial that she shouldn’t have, Culwell pointed to statistics that show that she has an 80% favorable outcome in felony cases in Superior Court, compared to a 79% state average for County Prosecutors.

Culwell says she is very proud of the work she has done as Columbia County Prosecutor and she feels she is more committed to the long-term future of Columbia County than her opponent. She says that if the voters “want a qualified, experienced prosecutor, one that’s committed to our community for the future, for the long term, I’m the person they need to vote for.” q

When Hurricane Katrina struck the New Orleans area in late August, 2005, Randy and Debbie Lewis

were living in St. Charles Parish, just west of that city. By then, they had grown tired of repeated evacuations, and they felt it was time to find a new area of the country to live. They had been to Dayton many times to visit Debbie’s sister, Jan McQuary, so they decided this would be their new home.

Randy and Debbie moved to Dayton on the fourth of July, 2006. In late August, almost exactly a year after Katrina struck, lightning sparked a fire near Dayton, which turned into the mighty Columbia Complex Fire. “People asked me what I liked better, fire or water?” says Randy Lewis. Lewis practiced law for many years in Louisiana, and is now a candidate for Columbia County Prosecuting Attorney, challenging incumbent Rea Culwell.

Lewis is a graduate of the law school at Louisiana State University. He worked in private practice as a trial attorney in St. Charles parish from 1980 to 2006. He served as a public defender in criminal cases for 15 years and as Parish Attorney for eight years, representing St Charles Parish in civil cases. He has not worked as a criminal prosecutor.

Though he is licensed to practice law in Washington, Lewis has not taken the Washington State Bar Exam. After moving to Dayton, he obtained a law license in North Dakota, which has a reciprocity agreement with Louisiana, allowing attorneys from one of those states to be licensed in the other. Six months later, Lewis obtained his law license in Washington, which also has a reciprocity agreement with North Dakota,

though not with Louisiana. Lewis says he feels that, as Prosecutor, he will be able to do the necessary research on Washington law to do the job well.

When asked why he thinks he’s more qualified than his opponent, Lewis points to his long career in both criminal and civil law. “I feel like what makes me the best candidate is 33 years of legal experience,” he says. “I’ve been a trial attorney that whole time. I’ve tried everything from first degree murder on down.”

Lewis says he feels that his opponent’s record shows that she has lost too many cases at trial, and she has filed too many cases and taken them to the point of trial, before dismissing them.

“As prosecutor, I will try to only take those cases to trial that I believe that there’s a reasonable certainty of winning,” he says. “Those cases that can’t be won, where the evidence is lacking, should not be brought to trial.”

Lewis says that limiting cases he brings against defendants is important in order to protect County and court budgets. He says that the Prosecutor “should always be aware of how their budget affects other budgets that surround them or that they are having an effect on.”

We asked Lewis about his opponent’s claim that she is much more involved in professional and community activities than he is. “I’ll be doing the job that the people hired me to do which is be their Prosecutor first,” he says. “And then in whatever other time I have to devote to outside organizations, I will do that. But my priority will be the prosecutor’s office first and foremost.” q

Culwell is Proud of Job Done in First Term as Prosecutor

Lewis Runs on Record of Long Career in Law

Election Profiles


News BriefsDayton Council Turns Back ORV Ordinance

At its September 13th meeting, the Dayton City Council rejected a proposed ORV ordinance. The ordinance would have allowed certain off-road vehicles to travel on city streets in order to access a designated route on county roads.

The first reading of the ordinance failed on a tie vote, 3 yeah and 3 nay. Mayor Pro Tem Merle Jackson did not vote, because he was sitting in for Mayor Craig George, who was absent. Because the vote was tied, the measure died.

Council member Bill Graham, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, says he and committee members Cathy Berg and Christine Broughton voted unanimously to reject the ordinance. However, three other council members voted yes for the first reading, in order to allow further consideration of the measure.

The ORV ordinance was proposed to allow operators of four-wheelers and other designated vehicles that meet

Settlement Reached on Appeal of Wind Project CUP

Puget Sound Energy has announced that a settlement has been reached on the appeal of the Columbia County Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for the Lower Snake River Wind Energy Project. According to Rebekah Anderson, PSE’s Corporate Communications Program Manager, the final step in the process, which will be the Order of Dismissal from the court, is expected soon. The appeal was filed by Jim and Laura Peterson, of Columbia County, earlier this year.

The CUP was issued by Columbia County in early 2010. “The Lower Snake River project has benefited from our dialogue with the community and we remain willing to talk with members of the community and other interested parties about our operations and our

specific requirements to travel on city roads to a point at the city limits at Mustard Street and Eckler Mountain Road.

plans for serving this region,” says Anderson.

Construction of the first phase of the Lower Snake River Project has already begun in Garfield County. PSE hopes to begin construction on the portion of the project in Columbia County in the next couple of years.

Walla Walla Symphony Begins 104th Season

Internationally-known artists Nathanial Rosen, cellist, and Lindsay Deutsch, violinist, will highlight the Walla Walla Symphony’s upcoming 2010-11 season. The season opens with “Sounds of Rejoicing” on Tuesday, October 26th. Two special events include The Eugene Ballet, returning in December for The Nutcracker, and The Celtic Tenors performing in November. The Discovery series features the popular Mares ‘n Music in June.

Four Chamber Music Soirees will feature musicians from the Walla

Walla Symphony, and the Family Foodraiser concert features Mr. Smith’s Composition by Gregory Smith, and Blessings from the Children, an original composition by Gwyneth Walker, with a youth choir directed by Terry Koch.

“We’re one of the best music deals in the region,” said Michael Wenberg, CEO of the Walla Walla Symphony. “And our least expensive Symphony Series ticket is just $7.”

Season tickets and single concert tickets are on sale now, and are available by going online at www.wwsymphony.org, by calling the Symphony office at 509-529-8020, or visiting the Symphony office in the Barrett Building at 13-1/2 E. Main, Suite 201, in Walla Walla. Tickets are also available at the door.

New Members Needed for CC Fair Board

The Columbia County Fair Board is currently soliciting applications to fill three positions on the nine-member Board. “This is not a ‘life sentence’ position,” stresses Fair Manager, Shane Laib. “The term is just three years unless you want to re-up for another

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term.” The positions came open when Raymond DeRuwe, Don Howard and Roland Schirman all stated that they wouldn’t seek reappointment now that their term has expired. “We’re looking for folks who are committed to the future of the fair and the community and are willing to work hard to help the fair get better and better,” says Laib. “I can’t emphasize enough that this is a working Board, not just a strictly administrative group.”

“I’ve worked hard during my three years as president of the Board, but the experience has been very rewarding,” says Raymond DeRuwe. “This is a great group of people to work with.” Anyone interested in applying is encouraged to contact Geri Richter at (509) 382-4124, Barb Fullerton at (509) 629-0320, Terri Hessler at (509) 382-2114 or Shane Laib at (509) 629-1354.


Dear Editor,

Mark Franklin is the best candidate for sheriff. He has 25 years of law enforcement experience, and he is deeply committed to and involved in our community.

Mark has pledged to increase the professionalism and effectiveness of the sheriff’s department. He has plans to improve communication with the community and to be available to the concerns the community has. His involvement in multiple community organizations and his willingness to spend his personal time representing law enforcement at community meetings demonstrate his ability to fulfill this goal. In addition, Mark also plans to increase training for deputy sheriffs and to reinstate the K-9 program. As deputies are better trained to respond to all types of calls, the safety of Dayton citizens will increase.

Mark is also involved with the young people of Dayton and committed to helping our children mature into responsible citizens. Mark is the law enforcement official Dayton schools call upon when assistance is needed. Whether discussing drugs, bullying, or abuse, Mark is eager to educate our children and teach them how to maintain their own safety.

This past year, our sheriff’s department mismanaged a grant to reduce underage drinking among our young people. The department did not spend $78,000 and had to return this money to the state. This funding could have been used to educate children about underage drinking in any fashion, including a significant portion of the salary of a deputy assigned to this program. The loss of this funding had a direct impact on the prevention program for our kids. Mark Franklin has shown greater commitment to the young people of our community. He will not overlook any funds to educate our children.

Mark Franklin will increase the safety of our community and is committed to educating our children. I urge everyone to vote for him.

Tamara FritzeDayton

Dear Editor,

Recently the “Mark Franklin for Sheriff” sign in my yard was taken down and burned in front of my home around 10:00 at night. A deputy came to our door to see if we were aware this had happened, and also told us that "Franklin" signs had been burned in other parts of Dayton as well. I was really shaken up by this. The sign had been stolen and replaced three times before this, but this took it to a whole new level. I had trouble sleeping that night wondering what to expect next.

We are foster parents and have lived in Dayton for five years. One of the first people I met was Officer Mark Franklin. I was involved with local human service boards and committees and his face has been a regular there for years. He always speaks up for children and families and has great ideas to improve the health and safety in our community, especially for our youth. Mark is a true team player with Children’s Administration’s CPS, and serves on our local Community Plan Team (a group of professionals that meet to give input to CPS on child protection cases). He always has great ideas to help children try to stay in their own homes wherever possible.

When one of our foster children was being bullied at school, and on the way home from school, we called the police for help. Officer Mark Franklin responded. He brought all parties together, parents and children, including ourselves, and we had a group discussion about the issue of bullying and the laws regarding it. The kids came out of that meeting with a plan to get along better, we had no further issues and our foster son had a much better experience from then on.

We need more voters to get out and vote to elect Officer Mark Franklin as our next Sheriff in November. He has what it takes to create a true team spirit in our police department, and the experience and leadership skills to make our community a healthier, happier place for our children to live and grow up in.

Mary-Jeanne SmithDayton

Support Urged for Candidate Mark Franklin

Letters (continued from Page 5)

20 10

20 10

UNION-BULLETINWALLA WALLA

UNION-BULLETINWALLA WALLA

www.TumacOutdoor.com


Letters (continued)

Dear Editor,

I would like to encourage Columbia County voters to elect Mark Franklin for Columbia County Sheriff. Thank You,

Zonia DedloffStarbuck

Dear Editor,

On October 20, 2009, our home was burglarized; jewelry, several guns, liquor, my collection of watches and pocket knives, and our 42" plasma TV were stolen. We credit Deputy Mark Franklin's investigative expertise and dedication to duty for the recovery of a gun he located in Yakima on his own time; and later the TV that was in Milton-Freewater. The TV was later donated to the Sheriff's department to be used as part of their security system. Sheriff Hessler sent us a letter of thanks with no mention of the burglary. He has never contacted us in any manner about the burglary. We sincerely believe Deputy Mark Franklin is the only law enforcement officer in the Columbia County Sheriffs department with the knowledge, dedication and leadership qualities needed to keep our community safe and secure. We have faith in Mark Franklin and trust him as Sheriff to establish a training program to improve the effectiveness of all County deputies.

We support Deputy Mark Franklin and invite all concerned citizens of Columbia County to elect him our next Sheriff. Better to be safe than sorry.

Clarence and Sharon SpenardDayton

Dear Editor,

I am supporting Mark Franklin for sheriff for Columbia County because I have seen Mark’s care and concern for the youth of this community and for the safety of all its citizens. Mark is very proactive and volunteers his time for many community programs and events. Mark serves as Chairman of the Columbia County Community Network and is Vice President for the Coalition for Youth and Families. He volunteers his time to make presentations at the school and to interact with our youth. I have known several kids who have turned to Mark in a time

of personal crisis because they know he is there to listen and to help them figure out what to do next. Mark cares for this community and is willing to do the work to make it a safer place to live and work. I have talked with Mark about some of his plans to help make Columbia County a better place to live and work. Mark is a dedicated professional and figures out how to get things done.

Considering the fact that we are already experiencing gang activity and that there is a growing meth and drug problem we cannot afford to sit back and let things be. We need someone with energy and courage to tackle the tough problems. Someone who will respond when someone goes missing or a house is broken into.

I have read some of the letters in support of the current sheriff. One letter praised him for adding beds to the current jail and for buying new vehicles. I feel that if after four years that is the most you can say for someone then it might be time to make a change. The sheriff is responsible for the ongoing operation of the department and adding beds to an already outdated facility and replacing old cars does not seem to me to be much of an achievement.

Nancy ButlerDayton

Dear Editor,

A yes vote for Mark Franklin is a vote of confidence for Columbia County. Mark is a strong supporter of youth in Columbia County. He takes a no-nonsense stance when it comes to youth crime, and can always be relied upon to come to the schools to follow up on students, to ask the tough questions to get to the truth when students make mistakes.

Mark is active in the Touchet Valley Arts Council, and is often one of the lead actors in their productions. He is a strong advocate for all youth activities and he is a tireless worker for community causes. Voting Yes for Mark Franklin will help move Columbia County forward towards a modern police force ready for the twenty-first century.

Wes LeidDayton

Dear Editor,

I would like to commend Sheriff Hessler on implementing a twenty-four hour schedule for Columbia County. I just have a few questions regarding this new schedule. Why did it take him three years and eight months after taking office to figure this out? From what I have been told all Sheriff Hessler did was move the early shift back two hours and the late shift up two hours. He then said that it was because a deputy completed a grant position which made the schedule possible. Really? It appears that all he did was thin out the existing shifts. No new shift was added nor was the schedule changed drastically requiring an extra officer. So why did he say that he was waiting for a deputy to return, when this same schedule was possible from day one of his administration? It seems to me that he really just forgot or simply did not care about the promise that he made to us, the voters four years ago. Now during his campaign, this schedule is an afterthought to appease us. Was this his own idea or did his campaign committee suggest it to him. This new and improved schedule is really great for the citizens of Dayton but what about us county residents? I have had occasion to talk with several officers who have told me that Sheriff Hessler has mandated that when only one officer is on duty, his response time to Dayton is to be no more than ten minutes. Are we not important enough to get twenty-four hours of patrolling like Dayton? Currently only ten of twenty-four hours in a day have two officers on duty. This is especially true on weekends when no supervisor is scheduled. It seems that the county residents are really only getting ten hours of patrol; not the twenty-four he would suggest. The remaining fourteen hours of the day when an officer is solo also poses a safety risk to officers who now have to respond to calls alone, with no immediate backup if needed. Voters of Columbia County, is this the type of sheriff you want? A sheriff who hastily throws together new policies and plans with no regard as to how it will actually affect the citizens of Columbia County? I don't! This schedule is one of an ever growing list of reasons that I am voting for Mark Franklin.

Dick and Elizabeth Nemitz Dayton

Dear Editor,

These difficult economic times have had a significant impact on everyone. A place where this is especially apparent is Columbia County.

One service that should not be compromised is the education and safety of our children.

When I was the principal of Dayton Elementary School during the years of 2001-2004, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Department worked hand in hand with the school district to provide a school resource officer. The presence of an officer at school provides invaluable education to students as well as building relationships. Building relationships is a proactive solution in the process of preventing undesirable situations. I know Mark Franklin as a leader who cares deeply for the children and residents of Columbia County. He has the highest integrity and honesty. Our children need to see that we practice the same values we expect in them. We need a new approach to Columbia County’s Sheriff Department in order to maintain critical safety-net services and ensure a good quality of life for all residents of Columbia County.

The election of Mark Franklin for Sheriff is a much-needed step toward solving Columbia County’s service and safety woes.

Without this crucial step of electing Mark Franklin as Sheriff, safety-net services that support thousands of Columbia County families will be at risk. That is not the future I want for Columbia County.

We are fortunate that there have been no catastrophic events under the present leadership in the Columbia County Sheriff. From a now outside view, I have seen services from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Department deteriorate.

I will return to Columbia County to reside in the future and want the best possible leader in the critical position of Columbia County Sheriff. Mark Franklin is that leader.

Roger SamplesYelm, WA

Support for Mark Franklin (continued)Letters Invited

Blue Mountain News welcomes letters to the editor on subjects of interest to our overall readership.

Letters should be 400 words or less and should be submitted by the 20th of the month. We reserve the right to edit or decline letters.

Please send to:[email protected] or 242 E. Main St., Dayton, WA 99328


Letters (continued)Support Urged for Candidate Randy LewisDear Editor,

As we all know, Randy Lewis is running against Rea Culwell for prosecuting attorney in Columbia County. We should thank him for his service and I will tell you why.

At the fair last weekend, Ms Culwell published a slick pamphlet negatively attacking Randy. It didn't surprise me much for she is that type of person. If she is challanged, her reaction is one of anger, not reason. Ask anyone in the criminal justice system.

One of her big attack points is that Randy didn't take the Washington Bar exam. This is such a red herring. Under the law, because of his qualifications and his membership in the Louisana Bar Association and the North Dakota Bar Association, he is not required to take any more exams. He can go to any state in the union and practice law there, no more tests. I don't know any other attorney, or judge, for that matter, so qualified. Ms Culwell is not that qualified today. She can only hope. By any objective standard, Randy is far better qualified than Ms Culwell.

By the same slick pamphlet, Ms Culwell attacks me by name. I don't know why, neither Randy nor I are attacking her friends. She talked about how much money I was making defending criminals. She got her facts wrong. The money she said I made represented four years work, 16 pretrial motions and 2 weeks trial. I was not paid for the trial time. In that same four years, Ms Culwell collected some $380,000 total from Columbia County and the state. We should thank Randy Lewis for giving us the opportunity to hire him. It won't cost a dime more and we will have the best.

Charles H. ThronsonDayton

Dear Editor,

I am writing this letter on behalf of Randy Lewis. My name is Chris Tregre, former Parish President of St. Charles, Louisiana. As Parish President, I appointed Randy, Legal Counsel. Randy served the people of St. Charles for eight years from Jan. 1992, through Jan. 2000. Randy was responsible for providing all legal services for all Parish Governmental agencies. Randy wrote and cataloged over one hundred legal opinions which are still used today. He prepared contract documents that held all contracting parties doing business with the Parish to the highest standard, protecting the Parish from frivolous litigation or fraudulent contractors. He provided legal advice and opinions on current and or pending legislation to assure their constitutionality. Randy made sure all ordinances, rules and regulations were fair and applied equally to all. He never shied away from challenges and stood fast to defend our rights and privileges. One of his greatest victories dealt with State Legislation which attempted to abridge local Government's right to regulate land use through zoning. This became a landmark decision, for it not only applied to St. Charles Parish, but it applied to all local governmental entities throughout the State of Louisiana. I have known Randy my entire life. I know him to be a good husband, father, and family man. He is one of the most honest, ethical, and dedicated individuals I have ever had the pleasure to know and work with. As a Public Official, Randy’s commitment to root out and condemn Public Corruption runs deep in his desire to protect the people he pledged to serve. His clear appreciation and dedication towards the intent of our Founding Fathers on the rights and privileges of us as citizens is in his heart and mind. It is this desire and commitment towards fair and equal application of the law that will make Randy Lewis a great

choice for Prosecuting Attorney for the people of Columbia County. I assure you, he will apply that same dedication in prosecuting those individuals who choose to violate the law, as well as in his legal representation of Local Governmental Agencies. I have no doubt Randy will perform his duties with the same Honest, Ethical, and Professional manner as he did for me and the people of St. Charles Parish. In closing, I respectfully ask for your consideration and support to elect Randy Lewis, Prosecuting Attorney for Columbia County.

Chris TregreSt. Charles, Louisiana

Dear Editor,

Randy Lewis was admitted to the Louisiana Bar in October 1977. By the State of Washington reciprocity agreement with Louisiana and other States, Washington State acknowledges and accepts the established, experienced credentials of the attorney relocating to Washington State.

In other words, Randy moved from Louisiana to Washington State after Hurricane Katrina, in 2006, and Washington State acknowledged he has taken the bar, passed it and therefore, acknowledged and accepted his credentials.

Randy Lewis, has been going from door-to-door to the residents of Columbia County, introducing himself, giving out brochures and explaining he will keep the interest of the people of Columbia County first, he will act with fiscal responsibility in all matters, he will give intensive screening to all cases, and then apply his 30 years of experience to thorough preparation.

Randy Lewis was President of the 29th Judicial District Court Bar Association

for five years. This indicates incredible respect and confidence in his abilities. He has served as Public Defender for 15 years and as attorney for the council, boards, commissions and various city departments. His experience encompasses 30 years, and he is still willing to serve.

Let's all take note he is a member of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce and a Volunteer for Dayton Days. This man will bring the best to Columbia County. Vote for Randy Lewis.

Randy O. Lewis brings 30 years of experience which translates to invaluable knowledge, which translates to power for Columbia County Residents. Vote for Randy O. Lewis, Prosecuting Attorney.

Cal and Bonnie ThomasDayton

[Editor’s Note: Washington actually does not have a reciprocity agreement for attorneys with Louisiana.]

Dear Editor,

On August 19, 2010, Rea Culwell appeared in Superior Court in Walla Walla to defend her motion for dismissal of a lawsuit filed by my wife and I against Columbia County.

SHE LOST!

Two things to note: 1. Culwell is required to defend the county, but was not required to file a motion for dismissal. Her motion was without merit and she wasted county public funds for her related time, her staff's time, and other supporting county staff time; and 2. my wife and I had to pay our attorney and related court costs to defend ourselves against this clearly unnecessary action. Please vote for Randy Lewis.

Jim PetersonDayton

Concerns About Actions of Franklin

Dear Editor,

It was a very hard decision for me to write this letter, as I have known Deputy Mark Franklin for at least 10 years.

Yes Mark is a value to the community in the private sector. But I wonder after having to deal with him as a deputy if he is the best choice for sheriff.

This man as an officer stood in my living room and said "your daughter is in serious trouble but charges are not being pressed. I just want to scare her so it doesn’t happen again." I allowed him to talk to her without an attorney present based on that statement. After he got the information that he needed and was leaving, he turned and told me “you will be receiving a summons from the prosecutor’s office." While I do not condone what my daughter did and she has paid for her indiscretion, I also have to wonder if someone who has no compulsion about making misleading statements to get information is the right person to be running our Sheriff’s office.

Jackie TaylorDayton

Letters continued next page.


Letters (continued)

Dear Editor,

I urge Columbia County citizens to educate themselves on the qualifications, experience and character of the two candidates running for Prosecuting Attorney in the upcoming election.

Earlier this summer, I had the opportunity to hear both Rea Culwell, our current prosecutor, and Randy Lewis, the challenger, speak.

Culwell’s comments reestablished her commitment to stand strong for the people of Columbia County. She said she would not dismiss cases just to keep her “win-loss record” looking pretty. She promised that she would continue to fight such things as unfunded mandates and regulations that burden small, rural communities.

Quite frankly, Lewis has me worried… When he spoke, his demeanor felt confrontational. Was this necessary? We were among friends, and if this happens in a small group setting, I wonder what will happen when victims who are scared and need an advocate might have to deal with an intimidating personality?

He also commented that it didn’t matter that he hadn’t passed the Washington State Bar Exam, that he “knows all the tricks” and can do the job. How is that possible?

Because there is no method whereby Lewis can directly transfer his law credentials from Louisiana to open a practice here in Washington, he had to take a backdoor path by way of North Dakota to obtain his license to practice in the State of Washington. Washington State has laws and regulations that are unique only to our great State. How can he possibly know, understand, comprehend and put into practice our state laws if he hasn’t studied them and passed the Bar Exam?

Rea Culwell is the right choice for Columbia County’s Prosecuting Attorney, and Rea is my choice! About a year ago, I observed a jury trial where she was the prosecutor. She was incredibly professional with all involved, including witnesses, the defendant, opposing counsel, the judge and jury. She handled herself and her case with knowledge of the details and the law. Rea is an exceptional attorney and we are very lucky to have her talent here in Columbia County.

I want a qualified, level-headed and

experienced attorney with a successfully proven track record as our Prosecutor. Someone who is professional, has integrity, compassion, a strong sense of ethics and morals and a broad sense of our community. Rea meets and exceeds my expectations. That is why I will vote again for her. Please join me and re-elect Rea Culwell.

Aileen WarrenDayton

Dear Editor,

You do not have to be a lawyer to be on the Supreme Court, but every Supreme Court Justice in history has been. It just makes sense. You do not have to pass the Washington State bar exam to be a prosecuting attorney in our state, but every prosecuting attorney in our state has. This also makes good sense. Randy Lewis has never taken or passed the Washington State bar exam. Mr. Lewis credentialed into the state from North Dakota with whom Washington State has a reciprocity agreement. Mr. Lewis has never lived or practiced in North Dakota. He has only practiced in Louisiana. The Louisiana legal system is based on the French legal system. The rest of the United States is based on British Common Law. Instead of studying and taking the bar exam when he moved here, Mr. Lewis went without working for almost a year while he moved his license around until he could credential in from another state. Mr. Lewis has only worked on a handful of cases in our state since he has been here the past four and a half years. Approximately twenty percent of the prosecuting attorney's job involves civil law. Mr. Lewis has done little, if any, civil cases in the county and would have to learn the law on a case by case basis. In the same time period, Rea Culwell has been responsible for almost a thousand criminal cases and has successfully defended the county in its civil matters. Let's re-elect Rea Culwell. It makes good sense.

Nancy NottDayton

Dear Editor,

I would like to express my support to re-elect Rea Culwell for Columbia County Prosecutor. I have had the opportunity to observe her in the courtroom and was

very impressed with her knowledge and professionalism in both a winning and a losing case. She has shown in so many ways that she is well qualified to continue as our Columbia County Prosecutor. Please join me in voting for the re-election of Rea Culwell. Thank You,

Zonia Dedloff Starbuck

Dear Editor,

I must say I was very baffled when I saw the results of the Columbia County Prosecutor primary election. To me there is only one obvious choice and that is Rea Culwell.

Rea has a huge edge in experience as a prosecutor. She has proven to be a very fiscally responsible public servant, especially important in tough economic times. Rea is a Washington native and the only candidate to have passed the Washington State Bar exam. Some people may think that passing the bar is not an important criterion, but a Washington trained attorney could easily take the legal advantage over someone with limited experience in Washington State law. This may explain why Culwell’s opponent only has a 17% success rate as a Columbia County Public Defender.

Rea Culwell’s enthusiasm, experience, community involvement and excellent record as Prosecutor should earn her everyone’s support for reelection.

Jim ButlerDayton

Dear Editor,

I was surprised to see the results of the Columbia County primary election, which showed Prosecuting Attorney Rea Culwell trailing her opponent. It appears that many voters may have voted along party lines instead of voting for the better candidate. As a rural county prosecutor I understand the demands of the job, which include a lot more than prosecuting criminal cases. While the challenger claims experience, I question whether it’s the right experience to be a successful County Prosecutor. You, the voter, should be asking the challenger: Has he passed the Washington State Bar exam? How long has he practiced law

in Washington? How is legal experience from Louisiana, which has a different legal system from all other 49 States, going to apply to practice in Washington? Has he appeared before a Washington Court of Appeals or the Washington Supreme Court? How many cases has he tried in Washington? How many cases has he prosecuted? Has he ever successfully defended a Washington county under the Land Use Petition Act, argued in forfeiture hearings, or appeared before the Growth Management Hearings Board? What experience does he have in providing legal advice to law enforcement, county commissioners, planning boards, assessors, auditors and treasurers on issues such as employment, elections, taxation, land use, open public meetings, and public records requests? Culwell knows Washington law and procedure, and is very capable in all of the areas listed above.

The challenger uses phrases like “fiscal responsibility,” but fails to recognize that Culwell runs her office under budget and has also secured grants to help save limited County funds. The most fiscally responsible candidate will be the one that provides the best legal advice which will keep the County from being sued, and that is Culwell. Additionally, because Culwell has such a breadth of knowledge and experience, she saves the County money by not having to hire outside attorneys for specialized matters. I believe Rea Culwell is the more fiscally responsible candidate.

Voters need to look past the party designation and vote for the better candidate with the more relevant experience. Rea Culwell is an asset to Columbia County, the southeast region, and the State…and this is coming from a Republican.

Matt NewbergGarfield County ProsecutorPomeroy

Dear Editor,

I want to encourage all voters to support Rea Culwell for re-election as Columbia County Prosecutor.

Rea has the credentials, having passed the Washington State Bar Exam in 2002. She has 8 years of prosecution experience, plus her success rate is equal to or better than the state average. Rea’s opponent took

Support Urged for Candidate Rea Culwell advantage of a loophole to practice law in Washington, not bothering to pass our state’s bar exam. He has no prosecution experience and has worked on only a handful of cases in Columbia County since moving to our state.

I call voters’ attention to the eighteen Washington state prosecuting attorneys and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Deputy Association which endorse Rea. These endorsements show law professionals’ respect for Rea’s qualifications, accomplishments and understanding of state and federal law.

It is on the record that Rea’s Prosecuting Attorney’s office is consistently under budget. Columbia County judges no longer appoint her opponent as public defender. (One of the reasons - he charges the county too much). Rea has collected $176,000 from convicted criminals in fees, costs and fines. She has secured thousands of dollars in restitution to victims of crimes and ensured over $84,000 in child support payments compared to nominal collection prior to her term.

Rea has been actively engaged in Columbia County support programs since coming to our community, as reflected in the many organizations she works for in her “spare” time. As President of the Columbia County Coalition for Youth and Families (CYF) Rea is passionate about its mission to eliminate tobacco, drug and alcohol abuse and to reduce violence and crime in Columbia County. CYF is constantly looking to find and combine resources to aid children and families in our community with assistance, education and prevention activities. As Prosecuting Attorney, Rea sought and received $750,000 in state and local funding for Columbia County. Currently, Rea is bringing this same knowledge, energy and leadership to the task of finding grants to help fund CYF’s programs.

Rea’s opponent’s history is as a lawyer for accused criminals, which calls for a very different outlook than that of a prosecuting attorney. Our current PA shows she is concerned with fairness, justice & compassion for victims of crime. There is no evidence Rea Culwell’s opponent can match the excellent job Rea Culwell is already doing as Prosecuting Attorney for Columbia County.

Sherrie Flaman KieferDayton


Dear Editor,

Being a prosecuting attorney is not an easy job. Ms. Culwell’s job places her in a position of not only prosecuting those accused of crimes, but also making sure that the constitutional rights of those individuals are protected.

Ms. Culwell must take the information she receives from our Sheriff department and determine if charges should be filed. There is consideration given to the evidence which was found by law enforcement, victims and witnesses who are willing to come forward and to the circumstances surrounding an alleged crime. Criminal charges are not always filed.

A prosecuting attorney is not going to make friends with people involved in a criminal incident. Victims sometimes feel the prosecutor is not being hard enough. Some victims know the accused and are upset that charges are being pursued at all. The families of the accused are upset because they are sure that their loved one would never do what they are accused of regardless of the evidence.

Each case is evaluated to determine the best settlement. An offer to settle is made on each case and the majority of cases do settle. It is up to the defendant whether or not to accept the offer. The defendant has the constitutional right to a trial. Ms. Culwell cannot infringe on that right, nor will she simply roll over and dismiss the case if the defendant refuses to settle.

The cases that go to trial are usually the difficult cases. Cases where the evidence is overwhelming against the defendant usually settle in a guilty plea. Cases where there is insufficient evidence are dismissed. The cases that go to trial are cases where a defendant refuses to settle and there is sufficient evidence to proceed. The case is then in the hands of the jury.

Rea Culwell and her office have worked hard to make Columbia County a safer community. She is intelligent, ethical and hard working.

June L. RileyColumbia County Deputy ProsecutorDayton

Dear Editor,

Four of the several reasons I am supporting Rea Culwell include: 1. She has

passed the Washington State Bar Exam, 2. She is the only candidate with experience and formal training as a coroner, 3. She has the endorsement of the Columbia County Sheriff's Guild, 4. She is running as a non-partisan candidate.

Call me old fashioned, but I believe that the person who holds the position of County Prosecutor should have experience and a legal background focused on the laws of Washington State. Rea Culwell has that. The duties of prosecutor in a small county like Columbia County also include advising the commissioners on legal matters specific to Washington Law. Many times advice is needed during meetings and hearings without opportunity for research. Having passed the Washington State Bar Exam shows that Rea will have a good chance of providing necessary accurate information quickly. It's a qualification that her opponent does not have.

Rea Culwell is the only candidate with experience and formal training as coroner, which is another extra duty of our "small county" prosecutor. Rea has several years of experience in this position, has received, and is currently adding to her formal training as coroner.

Endorsements in an election do not usually affect my support of a candidate, but the fact that the Columbia County Sheriff's Guild has endorsed Rea Culwell is important. I have recently learned of the important balance between prosecutor and law enforcement. The decision to prosecute a crime based on obtainable evidence can sometimes be difficult. I interpret the support given Rea by the Guild as an indication that she is supporting law enforcement even at times when there may be a question that a conviction can be obtained. No lawyer will win every case, but a working relationship between prosecutor and law enforcement is the best way to fight crime in our community. I feel the endorsement shows such a working relationship is in place.

Finally, Rea Culwell is running as a non-partisan candidate. Policy, philosophy and party have a place in determining the laws of our communities. But the laws that come out of the political debate of our representatives should be administered without regard to party affiliation. Should I have the misfortune of coming before a county court, I do not want to feel that the vigor with which I am prosecuted has

Letters (continued)Support for Culwell (cont.) anything to do with the political party I

may choose to support.

Bob HutchensDayton

Dear Editor,

How effective will Randy Lewis be as a prosecuting attorney? Mr. Lewis has practiced over 33 years. He is in his sixties and works on a limited basis. According to his brochure, he was extremely active in Louisiana in both the community and professional societies. Since moving to Dayton almost five years ago he hasn’t been active in our community or the legal societies. Only after he announced he was running for prosecuting attorney did he join the Dayton Chamber. Mr. Lewis was not ambitious enough to take the Washington State bar exam but instead moved his license around until he could come in through the back door. Lewis says passing the state bar is not important, that any good attorney can learn the law. Should the tax payers of our county pay for Lewis to learn the law on the job?

If elected he will be the only prosecuting attorney in the state that hasn’t passed the bar exam.

Mr. Lewis is used to working on a very limited basis. He did not work for the first year he lived here. Although he applied for the assistant prosecuting attorney’s job, he was not hired. Mr. Lewis has worked on just a handful of cases in the past four and a half years. Do you really think he’s going put in the 40 to 50 hours a week needed to get the job done? The prosecuting attorney is also responsible to defend the county in civil cases. Approximately thirty percent of the prosecutor’s job is dealing with civil law. Mr. Lewis has little or no experience in doing civil law in our state. He will be learning the law on a case by case basis which will be very time consuming and slow. Sometimes the prosecuting attorney has to deal with appeals. The only appeal case Mr. Lewis has done for our county he lost, twice. After he lost in superior court he appealed to the State Court of Appeals, and it was denied there also. It just goes back to not knowing the state law. The prosecutor is also the coroner in the county. Mr. Lewis has no experience or training in this field. Because of Randy Lewis’s lack of knowledge of Washington state law and no coroner training he would not be a very effective prosecuting attorney.

Norm PassmoreDayton


Dayton On TourA

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Inside Steve Henderson's Studio The Loren Day House"The Mystery of the Sunflower", by Nona Hengen, showing at the Wenaha Gallery

This year, for the first time, all of the homes and buildings on Dayton's Historic Homes Tour are included on the Local, State and National Historic Registries. And for the first time ever, the Tour will happen on a Saturday.

Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to tour four of the finest homes from early Dayton, along with the oldest operating courthouse in Washington.

Columbia County Courthouse• 1887

Boldman House Museum• 1883

Loren Day House• 1891

John Carr House• 1871

Doctor W.W. Day House• 1920's

Maps and tickets will be available at the Dayton Historic Depot beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Docents will be on hand at each home and building to provide information and history and answer questions.

$10

This year's Dayton On Tour AutumnFest is being put on jointly by The Dayton Historical Depot Society and the Dayton Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact the Dayton Historic Depot at (509) 382-2026 or the Dayton Chamber at (509) 382-4825. Or visit www.daytonhistoricdepot.org. For information on more Dayton On Tour activities, go to Page 16.

For the first time ever, three of the finest artists in the Pacific Northwest will open their studios and let visitors see where the magic happens.

Each of the artists will have work underway and will be ready to answer questions about their technique and their work process.

Steve Henderson•

Jill Ingram•

Monica Stobie•

Bus transportation will be provided by Columbia County Public Transportation. Tickets and maps available at the Dayton Historic Depot. Bus departures from the Depot will be at 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

All of these artists work in the beautiful countryside a few minutes outside of Dayton. Be ready to enjoy a scenic tour of Columbia County along with the studio tour.

$15 (Includes transportation)

Twenty-seven artists will show their work all day Saturday at the venues listed below. The Liberty Theater is showing a continuous loop of historic Dayton footage, as well as hosting an art display.

Dayton Historic Depot •222 East Commercial Street - 382-2026

Ms. Mc's •163 East Main Street - 382-1964Wenaha Gallery •219 East Main Street - 382-2124Gallery at the Weinhard •235 East Main Street - 382-4032Columbia County Courthouse •341 East Main StreetLiberty Theater •344 East Main Street - 382-1380Delany Building (Dayton Memorial •Library) 111 South First StreetPuget Sound Energy •307 East Main StreetJitters •232 East Main Street - 382-0444

$Free


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The Loren Day House Art that Flies

The Stationmaster, by Keith McMasters

This year, for the first time, all of the homes and buildings on Dayton's Historic Homes Tour are included on the Local, State and National Historic Registries. And for the first time ever, the Tour will happen on a Saturday.

Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to tour four of the finest homes from early Dayton, along with the oldest operating courthouse in Washington.

Columbia County Courthouse• 1887

Boldman House Museum• 1883

Loren Day House• 1891

John Carr House• 1871

Doctor W.W. Day House• 1920's

Maps and tickets will be available at the Dayton Historic Depot beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Docents will be on hand at each home and building to provide information and history and answer questions.

$10

The Blue Sky Fun Kite Contest is open to all school-age children, and is a great opportunity for a child-adult project. All styles are acceptable, but to be judged, kites must be built from scratch.

Judging for the kite contest will take place Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. on the lawn of the Columbia County Courthouse. The entered kites will be on display all day on the lawn.

Prizes for the winners are:

1st Prize - $75•

2nd Prize - $50•

3rd Prize - $25•

All winners will receive a tour of the Hopkins Ridge Wind Facility.

Kites will be judged based on artistic and creative design. Kites may be flown from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., weather permitting.

$Free

For over a year, Dayton sculptor Keith McMasters labored away in the lonely confines of his tiny studio next to the Columbia County Courthouse. After many hundreds of painstaking hours, the beautiful image of the Stationmaster began to reveal itself.

Using the uniform of a former Dayton stationmaster as a guide, Keith worked bits of clay into the beatiful image you see here. It has been cast in bronze and will grace the boardwalk at the Dayton Historic Depot for many generations to come.

While Keith molded clay, local fundraisers, including Ginny Butler, Cheryl Ray and Marcene Hendrickson went to work, securing local contributions from individuals and businesses, and a large grant from the Sherwood Trust, to make The Stationmaster a reality.

Join Keith McMasters and all of the fundraisers who worked so hard to make this public sculpture a reality, for the dedication of The Stationmaster on Saturday afternoon.

The dedication will be followed by a reception with all of the artists in this year's Art Walk and Studio Tours.

Beer and wine will be available for sale at the Beer Garden on the Depot lawn, and sausage will be sold by the Dayton Kiwanis Club. (See Page 16 for more information on the Beer Garden and Sausage sale.)

$Free

This year's Dayton On Tour AutumnFest is being put on jointly by The Dayton Historical Depot Society and the Dayton Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact the Dayton Historic Depot at (509) 382-2026 or the Dayton Chamber at (509) 382-4825. Or visit www.daytonhistoricdepot.org. For information on more Dayton On Tour activities, go to Page 16.


Nona Hengen, an artist and writer from Spangle, Washington, will be on hand at the Wenaha Gallery during Dayton on Tour, Saturday, October 2nd. Hengen will have work on display and for sale, and will be available to answer questions.

An Eastern Washington native, Hengen received a PhD in education from Indiana University and worked in an academic setting for many years. She returned to

Eastern Washington in the early 1980s to begin her art career.

Hengen’s series of 11 mini-mural paintings of the Indian Wars of 1858 in territorial Washington and another series of paintings and a bronze sculpture inspired by the Whitman Mission, 1846, have been shown in regional museums and featured in displays at the Washington State Capitol.

Visitors to Dayton on Tour on October 2nd will be able to take a break this year at the new AutumnFest Beer Garden to be held on the lawn of the Dayton Historic Depot. Local beer from Skye Book and Brew and Laht Neppur will be available for purchase, along with red and white wine. The Beer Garden will be enclosed, and limited to those over 21.

As part of AutumnFest, The Dayton Kiwanis Club will also be selling sausages during Dayton on Tour, specially made by Dayton’s McQuary’s Grocery. The sausages will be wrapped in freshly baked buns from The Country Cupboard Bakery.

The AutumnFest beer and sausages will be available Saturday afternoon from noon until 6:00 p.m.

Dayton on Tour

Nona Hengen

AutumnFest 2010: Beer Garden and Sausages

Spangle Artist to Appear at Wenaha Gallery


October1 Live @ Sapolil - Miriams Well Indians and Clowns CD Release Tour8:00 – 11:00 p.m.Sapolil Cellars15 E. Main, Walla Walla

Comprised of Mir German and Mark Bowden, both on guitar and vocals, Miriams Well of Portland embodies a unique blend of rock, soul, and a touch of country. If you dig Janis Joplin, George Harrison, Rare Earth, The Black Crowes or the Allman Brothers you'll definitely dig Miriams Well. $10 Cover.

2Dayton on TourPlease see the article on page 14 for complete information about this premier community event.

Live @ Sapolil –Karizma8:00 – 11:00 p.m.Sapolil Cellars15 E. Main, Walla Walla

Check out this hot Mexican Dance Music Group. They got their first introduction to Sapolil performing and WINNING one of The Cut events! No Cover.

3Dessert FundraiserDayton Young Life

3:00 – 5:00 p.m.Seneca Community CenterDayton, WA

Come enjoy a piece of delicious homemade pie and learn more about how Dayton Young Life programs are reaching out and making a difference in the lives of the community’s youth. Admission is free, but donations are welcome and a lively pie auction will help raise money for the 2010-2011 program year. If you haven’t received a personal invitation to this event, call Diana Frame at (509) 382-4553 to reserve your spot.

6AAUW Candidates ForumStarting at 7:00 p.m.Liberty Theater344 E. Main StreetDayton, WA

Be informed before you vote! The Dayton branch of the American Association of University Women has invited all candidates running for office in the November 2 general election to attend this local forum. All candidates attending the Forum will give statements and answer questions from the audience. Voters will also be able to visit one-to-one with candidates at the conclusion of the Forum while refreshments are served in the theater lobby.

8Live @ Sapolil - Philly KingB and The Stingers8:00 – 11:00 p.m.Sapolil Cellars15 E. Main, Walla Walla

Walla Walla's homegrown blues band doing what they do best - the blues - from Chicago to Mississippi. $5 Cover.

9Karaoke Night8:00 p.m. to midnightTuxedo Bar & GrillPrescott, WA (509) 849-2244

Live @ Sapolil –FunkTastic8:00 – 11:00 p.m.Sapolil Cellars15 E. Main, Walla Walla

Enjoy dancing to the sounds of DJ Manuel coupled with beat worthy percussion by Mike Borowski on djembe, percussion, didgeridoo. No Cover.

9Canine Clicker Training WorkshopStarts at 10:00 a.m., Youth Building Columbia County FairgroundsDaytonCost: $10 for non-4H members

Bring your dog and spend the day learning more about clicker training with well-known dog trainer Chris Hamer of Mount Vernon, WA. The workshop will begin with discussion and instruction on clicker training, then move on to some group work with the dogs. After an on-your-own lunch break, the afternoon will be spent in a question and answer session and more work with dogs and handlers.

It is recommended that your dog have on a flat collar or gentle leader and come hungry (no breakfast). All participants will also need to bring high value treats cut into very small pieces and a clicker, although there will be some clickers available to use if you don’t own one. To learn more about Chris Hamer, visit her DogSense website at www.parentingwithpets.com. For more information contact Tanya Breaux at (509) 382-2027.

Events


Events13Christian Women’s ConnectionPINK RAIN11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lions Club BuildingWaitsburg FairgroundsCost: $9.00 Catered by Dayton General Hospital

PINK RIBBON – October is breast cancer awareness month. Dawn Meicher ARNP, from the Waitsburg Clinic, will share important information about breast cancer awareness, detection and treatment that you won’t want to miss. SOOTHING RAIN TO YOUR EARS - Cleo Saenz will share her beautiful singing gift with us. LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER - From suburbia to the wilderness, this city gal traded the life she knew for a life she never wanted. Along the way Pat Smith confronted loneliness, depression, poverty, and … Big Foot?? RESERVATIONS ARE NECESSARY. Please call Judy Jackson at (509)399-2005. Please honor your reservation, “gift” it to a friend, or call to cancel if your plans change.

Babysitting is available

Our next opportunity to get together to pray for needs and to plan our future luncheons will be Wednesday, September 29th, at 1:00 p.m. at JoAnn Grendahl’s home - 219 Hwy 261. For more information or directions please

call (509) 382-2244. Sponsored by Christian Women’s Connection and Stonecroft. www.stonecraft.org.

15General Election Ballots mailed to voters

Live @ Sapolil - Gary Winston & The Real Deal8:00 – 11:00 p.m.Sapolil Cellars15 E. Main, Walla Walla

Serving up quintessential Blues with just a touch of Jazz, Gary Winston leads an exceptional group of Walla Walla musicians. For the real deal in Blues, you can’t go wrong with this group! $5 Cover.

16-17All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast8:00 – 11:00 a.m.Prescott Community Center

Enjoy a hearty home-cooked breakfast and help raise money for the Prescott community. Menu includes eggs, hashbrowns, pancakes, sausage, bacon and more! Cost is just $5.99. Contact Jeanne McIntyre at (509) 849-2425 for more information.

16 Modern Firearm Deer Season begins

Live @ Sapolil –Piled High and Deep8:00 – 11:00 p.m.Sapolil Cellars15 E. Main, Walla Walla

Piled High and Deep plays their own eclectic mix of acoustic and near-acoustic blues, folk, rock, and bluegrass with the occasional interpretive dance and/or yodeling favorites thrown in for good measure. No Cover.

22Live @ Sapolil - Orange Fight8:00 – 11:00 p.m.Sapolil Cellars15 E. Main, Walla Walla

Enjoy original Rock & Roll by this local group. No Cover.

23LIVE BAND: Amarillo8:00 p.m. to midnightTuxedo Bar & GrillPrescott, WA

Enjoy a night out with friends and a great crowd-pleasing live band.

Call (509) 849-2244 for more information.

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October 6thAAUW Candidate's ForumLiberty Theater, 7:00 p.m.Invitations have gone out to all candidates running for office in the November 2 general election.

Among those invited to the Forum –

United States Senator: Patty Murray & Dino Rossi

Congressional Representative, District 5:Cathy McMorris Rodgers & Daryl Romeyn

State Representative, District 16, Pos. 1:Maureen Walsh & Brenda High

State Representative, District 16, Pos. 2:Terry R. Nealey

Columbia County Prosecuting Attorney:Rea Culwell & Randy Lewis

Columbia County Sheriff:Walt Hessler & Mark Franklin

Columbia County Commissioner, District 3:Charles Reeves & Charles Amerein

Columbia County Assessor: Chris Miller

Columbia County Auditor: Sharon Richter

Columbia County Clerk: Lynne Leseman

Columbia County Treasurer: Audrey McLean

All candidates attending the Forum will give statements and answer questions from the audience.

Voters will be able to visit one-to-one with candidates at the conclusion of the Forum at the same time refreshments are served in the theater lobby.

OCT. 2010


American Legion Legion Hall, 211 E. Clay, Dayton 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

Blue Mountain Chorus of Sweet AdelinesUnity Church of Peace, Walla Walla Airport. To carpool, call Barb Knopp at (509) 386-8901.Mondays at 6:30 p.m.

Blue Mountain Heritage SocietyDelany Room at Dayton Memorial Library, 111 S. 3rd Contact Elizabeth Thorn at (509) 382-48202nd Tuesday at 1:00 p.m.

Columbia County CommissionersCommissioners’ Chambers 3rd Floor, County Courthouse, Dayton. Call (509) 382-45421st and 3rd Monday at 10:00 a.m. and 4th Monday at 7:00 p.m.

Columbia County Fair Board Youth Building at the Columbia County Fairgrounds, Dayton3rd Monday at 7:30 p.m.

Columbia County Fire District #3 CommissionersFire District #3 Station 206 W. Main St, Dayton Call (509) 382-42812nd and 4th Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Columbia County Levee RoundtableDayton City Hall 111 S. 1st St, DaytonLast Friday at 10:00 a.m.

Columbia County Livestock AssociationColumbia County Fairgrounds Youth Building Randy James (509) 382-27601st Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

Columbia County Motorcycle ClubDayton D.O.T Building Contact Bret Harting for more information. (509) 382-46022nd Wednesday at 7:00 p.m

Columbia County Planning Commission County Planning Office 2nd and 4th Monday at 7:00 p.m.

Columbia County Rural Library District BoardDayton Memorial Library 111 S 3rd St, Dayton Call (509) 382-41312nd and 4th Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

Dayton City CouncilDayton City Hall 111 S. 1st St, Dayton Call (509) 382-23612nd and 4th Monday at 7:00 p.m.

Dayton City Planning CommissionDayton City Hall 111 S 1st St, Dayton 3rd Monday at 5:15 p.m.

Dayton Historic Preservation CommissionDayton City Hall 111 S 1st St, Dayton 2nd Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.

Dayton KiwanisDelany Room at Dayton Memorial Library 111 S Third St, Dayton 1st & 3rd Thurs. at Noon

Dayton Lions ClubDelany Room at Dayton Memorial Library,111 S. 3rd Contact Terry Hoon for more information. (509) 386-88891st and 3rd Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.

Dayton School BoardAdministration Building 609 S. 2nd St, Dayton Call (509) 382-25431st and 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Dayton Young Life227 N. Cherry2nd & 4th Mondays at 7:17 p.m.

Dayton WyldlifeDayton Elementary School Multi-Purpose Room 302 E. Park St, Dayton3rd Friday at 7:00 p.m.

Friends of the Dayton Memorial LibraryDayton Memorial Library 111 S 3rd St, Dayton 3rd Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

Port of Columbia CommissionersPort Office 1 Port Way, Dayton 2nd Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Prescott City CouncilPrescott City Hall 101 S D Street, Prescott Call (509) 849-22622nd Monday at 7:30 p.m.

Prescott Community ClubPrescott Lions Hall (509) 849-2892 or (509) 849- 2425 New members always welcome.Second Thursday at 2:00 p.m.

Prescott Fire CommissionersCall Tim Mayberry for info:(509) 849-2262

Prescott Lions ClubCall Chris Scudder for info: (509) 849-2478

Prescott Parks and Recreation District Board Community Center of the Lion’s Hall, corner of D St. & Hwy 124, Prescott. For more information contact Joan Tatum at (509) 849-2690.2nd Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

Prescott School BoardLast Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

Starbuck City CouncilStarbuck City Hall 200 Main St, Starbuck Call (509) 399-21002nd Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

Starbuck School Board Library of the Starbuck School 717 Tucannon, Starbuck3rd Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) DaytonDayton United Methodist Church 110 S. 3rd St, DaytonEvery Tuesday at 8:45 a.m.

Waitsburg City CouncilLion’s Club Building at Waitsburg Fairgrounds Call (509) 337-63711st and 3rd Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.

Waitsburg Commercial ClubYe Towne Hall 121 Main Street, Waitsburg (509) 337-65331st and 3rd Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

Waitsburg Economic Development CommitteeNothing New AntiquesFirst Monday at 10:00 a.m.

Waitsburg Historical Society Call Anita Baker for more information: (509) 337-6157

Waitsburg Legion and AuxiliaryFor location information call Ike and B.A Keve at (509) 337-6546First Monday at 7:00 p.m.

Waitsburg Lions ClubLions Memorial Building Waitsburg Fairgrounds Scott Branson, President(509) 337-88952nd & 4th Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.

Waitsburg School BoardPreston Hall, Main St2nd and 4th Wednesday at 8:00 p.m.

VFW Post 5549 Legion Hall 211 E Clay, Dayton Contact Jerry Berg at (509) 382-4525 for more info. Refreshments served. Every 3rd Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Events MeetingsLive @ Sapolil - Mark Hummel and the Blues Survivors8:00 – 11:00 p.m.Sapolil Cellars15 E. Main, Walla Walla

Mark Hummel is a road warrior - a true Blues Survivor and a 2008, 2009 and 2010 Blue Award Nominee. Along the way, he has crafted his own trademark harmonica sound - a subtle combination of tone, phrasing and attack combined with a strong sense of swing. $10 Cover.

29Live @ Sapolil -The Cut. Can You Make It?8:00 – 11:00 p.m.Sapolil Cellars15 E. Main, Walla Walla

Local musicians compete for $100 or more in this local showcase. Each drink purchase allows guests to vote for the best! If you’re a local musician, and you think you can make ‘The Cut’, contact Rick Phillips to get on the docket – (509) 386-5614. No Cover.

30Modern Firearm Elk Season begins

Halloween PartyLIVE MUSIC9:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.Woody’s Bar & Grill 214 E. Main, Dayton(509) 382-2364

Live @ Sapolil -Feedback Halloween Party8:00 – midnightSapolil Cellars15 E. Main, Walla Walla

Celebrate Halloween with Walla Walla’s premiere party band, Feedback, serving up pure rockin’ fun. Don’t forget the costume - there will be prizes for the best... of course presented on stage and voted for by the crowd! No Cover. Costumes Highly Recommended!

31Living History Party2:00 p.m.Fort Walla Walla MuseumMyra Road

Enjoy the Living History Company’s final 2010 performance with a “19th century party” at 2:00 p.m. in Fort Walla Walla Museum’s pioneer settlement (indoors in the Grand Hall in the event of inclement weather). Enjoy 19th century popular music with the Oregon Trail Band at 1:30 p.m. Park Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through October. Admission: $7 adults; $6 seniors 62 and up and students; $3 children 6-12; free for under 6. For more information call (509) 525-7703 or visit www.fortwallawallamuseum.org or look on Facebook: Fortwalla Wallamuseum.

November4Dayton Chamber Annual Awards BanquetSocial Hour - 6:00 p.m.Dinner - 6:30 p.m.Awards Presentation - 7:00 p.m.Seneca Activity CenterDayton


Young Life Dessert Fundraiser

“All Hands on Deck” is the theme of the Dayton Young Life Dessert Fundraiser planned for Sunday October 3rd from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Seneca Activity Center. Young Life leaders are inviting folks to “join the crew and help us reach kids.”

Admission to this annual event is free but donations will be accepted. A lively pie auction, including a Pie-a-Month offering by former Area Director Jan Nealey, will raise money to help fund the 2010-2011 program year.

Young Life and its counterpart, Wyld Life, reach out to youth in grades 6-12 with opportunities for positive peer and adult interaction and mentoring wrapped in lots of fun. Local teens will serve homemade pie, act out skits and give testimonies about how participation in Young Life has impacted their lives.

If you haven’t received a personal invitation yet and would like to attend, contact Area Director Diana Frame at (509) 382-4553 to make a reservation.

TOPS Regional Rally in Dayton

The Dayton chapter of TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is hosting the region’s Fall Rally October 9th at the Harvest Christian Center just west of Dayton. Nearly 250 TOPS members from as far away as Wenatchee are expected to attend. The purpose of the Fall Rally is to provide motivation for continued weight loss success and recognize the region’s contest winners and other special award winners.

Anyone can join TOPS. The Dayton chapter meets every Tuesday morning at the Dayton United Methodist Church, 110 S. 3rd Street. The meeting begins at 8:45 a.m. For more information, contact Chapter President Ruby Stokes at (509) 337-8863 or visit www.tops.com.

Steve Carlson likes to whistle while he works. His cheery warbling has greeted folks at the Columbia County Farm Bureau, now Ag Link, for 37 years. “His whistling always makes me smile,” says Diane Patton.

“I always know when Steve is in the store.”

On October 19th, Steve will retire from Ag Link and take his whistling with him. He’s one of just a handful of employees who have retired from the Columbia County Farm Bureau (CCFB) since its inception in 1926. He’s seen at least 200 employees come and go and worked under five different managers beginning with Wally Robins. “I’ve worn lots of different hats over the years,” says Steve. “I’ve changed oil, fixed tires, delivered fuel and managed the store.”

Steve was born near Hooper, WA and came to Dayton in 1970 looking for work after serving in the US Air Force in Vietnam. Before being hired by CCFB, he worked in a service station owned by Bob Eckhart and spent a brief 6 month stint as a correctional officer at the Walla Walla Penitentiary. He left the employ of CCFB briefly twice, but came back both times and was grateful to be hired back to his old position. He also spent 12 years as a volunteer Columbia County Deputy Sheriff and was involved with the Columbia County Rural 3 Fire District for over 29 years.

“In some ways, I’m reluctant to retire,” says Steve. “But I know Ag Link will continue on without me. The town of Dayton and this community has been great to and for me and I will continue to be a fixture in here.”

Ag Link will host an all day, informal reception for Steve on October 19th. Stop by for cake and punch and wish Steve well in his retirement. q

News BriefsSteve Carlson to Retire from Ag Link

Steve Carlson

Schirman Receives Fair's President's Award

The Columbia County Fair Association held their annual post-fair Pickin’& Grinnin’ meeting on Monday,

September 20th to celebrate and evaluate the 2010 Columbia County Fair. Official attendance numbers and a final financial report will not be completed until mid-October; however, the thirty people in attendance, including Board Members and many key fair volunteers, had plenty to talk about.

Fair Manager, Shane Laib, thanked everyone for all their hard work and dedication to the 2010 Fair. “This is the hardest working Board I’ve ever worked with and our volunteers are just outstanding,” said Laib. “Not everything went like we planned, but this was our building year and next year will be even better.”

Overall, the feedback was very positive. The attractiveness and cleanliness of the fairgrounds was mentioned numerous times. Better signage, improvements to the horse facilities, Pavilion and 4H Building displays and quality entertainment were all highlighted. The new KidZone, spearheaded by Miranda

Bowen, received special recognition from the State Fair Commission as the best feature of the 2010 Fair. The community feedback was also very positive for the Family Fun Games which took the place of the motocross on Sunday afternoon.

Long time fair volunteer and Board member Roland Schirman was given the President’s Award by Board President Raymond DeRuwe in recognition of his tireless work before, during and after this year’s fair.

The BBQ committee reported serving 188 people, an increase of 15 over 2009. Over 500 people attended Saturday night’s Bull Bash, but attendance for Friday evening’s Tribute to the Legends concert was less than expected. Significant work will be done to the PA system before next year and several other minor adjustments will be addressed.

Planning for next year’s fair will begin at the next Fair Board Meeting, October 18th. Contact Fair Manager, Shane Laib at (509) 629-1354 for more information about how you can help. q Roland Schirman


NewsSOOOLLLLD!!!

Mac and Steve McLean at the 2010 Columbia County Fair Livestock Sale.

Mac McLean knows how to work a crowded sale barn. The 80-year-old

auctioneer used his trademark humor and personal quips to sell 62 sheep, goats, pigs and steers at the 2010 Columbia County Livestock Sale during the County Fair. The sale generated a little over $86,000 in gross sales. “The sale committee takes a small commission to pay for office supplies, tags and the auctioneer,” says committee member Rhonda Barker. “The rest all goes to the kids.”

The sale committee credits McLean for much of the auction’s success, especially in a tough economic year. “He knows just about everybody,” says Don Howard, a long-time sale committee member. “He keeps the sale going smoothly and makes the whole experience enjoyable for the buyers and sellers.”

“He’s so great with the kids,” says Carolyn Laib. Her four children have all sold animals in the Columbia County sale. “He jokes with them, asks questions and always has something positive to say.”

McLean’s son, Dayton High School Ag-Shop teacher Steve McLean, remembers being just a youngster when his father went to auctioneer school. At that time, Mac was working at the Spokane Stockyards penning cattle. Eventually he moved up to selling animals, first sheep and goats, and after a while, pigs.

He was personally recruited by the President of Washington Water Power to be the ag-sector representative for the company. “He started doing fair sales as PR for the company,” remembers Steve. “Then he started helping kids get in the program by purchasing animals for 4H and FFA members who couldn’t afford a project animal.”

What started as a few project lambs grew to include rotation ewes and gilts (female pigs), and ultimately developed into the largest single-company owned youth livestock program in the nation. The program reached its pinnacle in the 1970s and 80s. McLean retired in 1995 from WWP, but continues to sell animals at a handful of county fairs. Remarkably, he’s missed only two Columbia County sales since the first sale in 1979.

After 31 years on the auctioneers’ platform, McLean isn’t quitting. But he says he’s willing to help a new local auctioneer-in-training learn the ropes, so he (or she) could eventually take over the sale. Carolyn Laib, for one, can’t imagine a Columbia County sale without Mac Mclean at the helm. “Columbia County buyers are usually very supportive of the kids in the sale ring,” she says. “But Mac’s wit and personal touch makes the entire sale a special event for everyone.” q

By Tanya Patton

Vote for Dayton Chamber Awards

If you received your October issue of Blue Mountain News in the mail, you should find inside it a piece of paper containing a ballot. The Dayton Chamber

of Commerce is seeking nominees for this year's awards for Business of the Year, Employee of the Year and Citizen of the Year.

Please take a moment to think about who most deserves these important awards. Then fill out your

ballot and return it to the Dayton Chamber office at 166 E. Main St.

The awards will be presented at the Chamber's Annual Awards Banquet, to be held November 4th, at the Seneca Activity Center beginning at 6:00 p.m.

For more information, call the Dayton Chamber office at (509) 382-4825. q


Photos

Above and Right:

On September 18th, the Blue Mountain Rocketeers hosted a regional fly-in with kids and model rockets coming from all over the Pacific Northwest.

The fly-in was held in a Broughton Land Co. owned alfalfa field off Whetstone Road, west of Highway 12.

Below:

Also on September 18th, Dayton resident and cancer survivor Dell Groom spoke during the opening ceremonies of Dayton's 3rd annual Relay for LIfe.

More than 20 teams and 250 participants took part in the 24 hour event at the Dayton High School Athletic Complex. (Photos by Ken Graham)

Blue Mountain Rocketeers Hold Fly-in

Relay for Life a Big Success


Photos

The world of the 1880s came alive at the Waitsburg City Park, during the Cycle Oregon Tour's stop in Waitsburg on September 15th.

Here, riders in period dress show off a high-wheel bike, which was known in its day as a "penny-farthing". (Photo by Ken Graham)

A "Penny-Farthing" in Waitsburg


Real EstateComing Soon for Columbia County Property Owners: Annual Revaluation

Beginning in 2012, property owners in Columbia County will see an important change in their property tax statements. According to Columbia

County Assessor Chris Miller, her office will implement a new process in which every real property in the county will be revalued for tax purposes every year. “Annual revaluation is a state requirement starting in 2014,” she says. “Many counties have already implemented it.”

Currently in Columbia County, property revaluation occurs every four years and it includes a physical inspection of the property. Miller also points out that each year, under the current system, all properties on which there has been new construction are revalued, with inspection. This won’t change under the new system.

Under the new system, properties will be inspected every six years. The revaluation process each year will involve a statistical analysis of property sales in Columbia County during the previous five years. More recent sales will be given heavier weight, Miller says. Escalation factors will be established for different types and locations of property,

and those will be assigned to each property. Then each assessed value will be adjusted by that amount.

In order to put annual revaluation into place, Miller’s office has undertaken a major upgrade of its property database. Property records have been converted to a new database system from an outside vendor. All of the county plat maps have also been added to this system. “It will soon be possible to see each property’s location on the plat map when you pull up a property,” Miller says. She says that she expects the final step of connecting the property database to the map database to be completed in early 2011.

Property owners who visit the Assessor’s office can now view the extensive property and tax information available in the system, including property photos. Miller says that online access to the data will be available on Columbia County’s website in the next few weeks. Miller points out that all of the information that will be available on line has always been available to the public. Some information, such as personal property values and income information,

By Ken Graham


For more information about advertising in the Real Estate

Section of Blue Mountain News, Contact Tanya Patton at

(509) 382-4458

Real Estateis not available to the public, and won’t be included in the online system.

Miller says she hopes that having extensive property and tax information available online will reduce the amount of time she and her staff spend responding to requests for property information and reduce costs for her department.

Miller also says that many hours of her and her staff’s time has been taken converting to the new database system. “The vendor did a lot of the work,” she says, “but all of us have spent many hours inputting data into the new system.” Miller says that the database conversion was paid for by a grant from the state.

Continued improvements and expansions of the property database are planned for the coming years, Miller says. She says that information about buildings and structures that is currently available on paper in files in her office will be added to the database in coming months. Miller says she hopes to eventually include ownership history as well.

“We’re trying to get the word out early,” says Miller about the annual revaluation process. “It’s a big change, but we don’t want it to be a big surprise.” q

A view of the Assessor's page on Columbia County's new web site. Go to www.columbiaco.com and then click on "Departments" and then "Assessor".

Soon property owners will be able to go to this page and find a wide range of property information, with photos and, in the future, maps.


One More Thing . . .

I ran across an article this summer about a 31-year-old Wisconsin woman named Stella Brennan who participated in something called “The Great American Apparel Diet”. It went like this: “Your closet contains only six

items, and you are restricted to wearing only those six items for an entire month.”

As you can imagine, it was a horrible experience for the poor woman. Deprived of access to her huge closet and extensive wardrobe, her worst nightmare was realized. That’s right, no one noticed. Not even her husband. And what did Ms. Brennan have to say at the end of the 31 days? “Obviously, I didn’t need all of these clothes.”

The challenge was called “six items or less”. The idea was to go an entire month wearing only six items already found in your closet (not counting shoes, underwear or accessories). Here’s how the article described its subject:

Ms. Brennan did sound ripe for some kind of fashion intervention. In a recent interview, she spoke of a rack of clothes in the back of her closet that still had the tags on them, and clothes that she has not worn in 15 years but that she cannot stand to part with, and her 72 pairs of “active” shoes (meaning those that she actively wears, not the ones still in the boxes), and a closet full of clothes for her 3-year-old daughter, and, lest she forget, a wardrobe of clothes for her dog.

We’ll ignore the question of why a 31-year-old woman would still have clothes in her closet that she hasn’t worn since her sophomore year in high school. Like quasars and black holes, women’s wardrobes are simply beyond my comprehension.

But since I’ve always liked to pretend that I’m someone who loves difficult challenges, I thought it might be fun to try the same thing Ms. Brennan did.

While I didn’t actually do the challenge, I did pick out my six choices. Of course, for me, it turned out to be easy. And since it was summer, it was even easier.

The three pairs of cargo shorts took about half a minute, but I had to think a little longer about which three T-shirts to include. I probably own as many T-shirts as Ms. Brennan owns shoes. Of course, not all of them are “active”. And some get used for things besides being worn by me – like cleaning my bicycle and drying the cat when he comes in from the rain.

And then there was the question of how I was going to accessorize my newly selected outfits. A Mariners baseball cap, perhaps? A campaign button? How about a bow tie? I discovered that it’s not that easy to bling up a T-shirt and shorts.

There’s one important reason that I could never actually take on The Great American Apparel Diet. That’s because it would require me to do laundry too often. I’m obsessed with clean clothes. Even if I wear a shirt for only two minutes, it goes in the laundry. And I hate running a load of laundry that’s not totally full. I probably own so many shirts because I wear them out so quickly by constantly washing them.

Many years ago, when I worked for a large bank, there were rumors going around that the CEO was so well paid that every day he put on brand new underwear and socks that got thrown out at the end of the day. Everyone else laughed and thought it was absurd, but I thought it was brilliant. If I can just sell a few more ads for this newspaper, that’s my plan. q

Welcome to My Fashion WorldBy Ken Graham

Thank you for reading

Blue Mountain

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blue mountain news - october 2011

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