Crowd Packs Bluewood Job Fair

DAYTON - In a sign that the Touchet Valley economy is still in reces­sion, Ski Bluewood drew its largest crowd ever for it annual job fair this weekend. More than 140 job seekers came for the two-hour event at the Seneca Activity Building on Sun­day afternoon, with many sounding eager to find work, even if it's just for the ski season.

"We had a great turn­out," said Travis Stephen­son, Ski Bluewood's new general manager, who interviewed and took ap­plications for up to 60 po­sitions, or half the work­force, on the mountain. "Many said they were looking for work in a fun atmosphere, but the number one thing I heard was, 'I just need a job, any job.'" An overwhelming number of the appli­cants were young men and women, noted Betty Standfill, an administra­tive

assistant for the resort who has worked these job fairs for the last 10 years. "We always get quite a few kids," she said. "But I don't remember see­ing

this many in the past. There are a lot of young people looking for work."

Stephenson said he es­timated about four out of every five attendees were from Walla Walla and Co­lumbia counties, while the remainder were from the Tri-Cities and elsewhere in the inland Northwest. About half the attend­ees were from Columbia County alone. BJ Garcia is a laborer from Dayton who cur­rently works for Gorton Construction out of Post Falls, Idaho. Garcia stood in line Sunday with doz­ens of other hopefuls vy­ing for positions in the ski shop. He said he worked in the rental shop about eight years ago. "I'm just looking for something closer to home." In response to the tough competition for positions on the mountain this year, Garcia wasn't worried. "I'm not surprised at the lines. It's always packed." The resort is recruiting support staff positions largely in mountain op­erations and food services, including lift operators, kitchen workers, ticket sellers, pub staff, rental sales clerks and ski in­structors.