The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

BACK WITH A SPLASH

PRESCOTT - The Prescott swimming pool is hosting a free swim with free food in conjunction with National Pool Safety Day on Tuesday, June 28.

The "Back With A Splash" session will be from 6-9 p.m. and feature barbeque foods.

CHAMBER NEEDS HELP

DAYTON - The Dayton Chamber of Commerce is still looking for volunteers to perform parking direction duties during the upcoming performances of the Carson & Barnes Circus on Thursday, June 30.

The Chamber is also promoting the opportunity to local businesses to advertise during the shows. It has room for six banners of up to 4x6 feet inside the big tent. The banners placement is $50 per advertiser. For more information, call 509-382-4825.

SALT & LIGHT CONCERT

WAITSBURG - After traveling to various parts of the state, the Salt & Light youth choir is back for one final performance on Wednesday, June 23, at 7:30 p.m.

The concert will be at the First Christian Church in Waitsburg under direction by Rev. Mike and Melissa Ferrians.

BUNKHOUSE SALVAGE BID

WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg City Council last week decided to put out a notice for bids to demolish and salvage the old apple packing warehouse (also known as the bunk house).

Council members wanted to make sure only qualified general contractors apply for the work, that they be bonded and insured, and able to provide proof of coverage.

Bids to demolish and salvage the 12,000-square-foot structure the city considers a safety hazard have to be submitted by July 13 at City Hall.

STRAWBERRY REGALE

WALLA WALLA - Tickets are available for an afternoon of fruit and fashion at Kirkman House Museum on June 26.

Plump strawberries and vintage clothing will share the spotlight at the Kirkman House Museum's "Strawberry Regale" Sunday, June 26.

The program, a summer afternoon of fresh fruit and a Victorian Fashion Show (featuring clothing from 1880 to 1920), will begin at 2 p.m. at the museum. Tickets, $10, can be obtained online at www.kirkmanhousemuseum.org or by calling 509-529-4373.

LOWER GRANITE CLOSED

POMEROY - Lower Granite Dam's navigation lock suspended service to recreational vessels this afternoon after a routine inspection of the upstream gate revealed the gate cables were damaged and needed to be replaced, according to operations officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District.

Lock service for commercial vessels will be suspended from 6:30 p.m. today until 6:30 p.m. tomorrow. Commercial vessels will be allowed to lock past Lower Granite Dam daily between the hours of 6:30 pm. and 6:30 a.m. starting on June 21 until the repairs are completed. Lockages will be conducted using a floating bulkhead to block the upstream side of the lock during operations.

Operations staff anticipates the lock will return to full service for both commercial and recreational vessels by 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 23.

Because of high spring flows throughout the Snake River Basin, an unusually large amount of floating wood - ranging in size from small twigs to telephone pole-sized logs - has been swept from the shoreline into the rivers and streams. This floating debris has caused damage to the Kevlar material gate cables, requiring immediate replacement, according to maintenance staff at the dam.

Vehicle crossings at the dam have not been impacted by the navigation lock repair.

RELAY FOR CANCER CENTER

WALLA WALLA - Earlier this month, 44 teams took to the track at Borleske Track in Walla Walla to raise money for the American Cancer Society and its efforts to continue funding cancer research, its legislative advocacy, and its many educational and patient service programs.

While some of the funding from the Relay will be used by the American Cancer Society for cancer research and legislative advocacy both in Washington State and nationally, one of its most successful programs is its Cancer Resource Center, located in Providence St. Mary Medical Center. The Cancer Resource Center is a partnership between the American Cancer Society and Providence St. Mary Medical Center.

American Cancer Society Cancer Resource Center volunteers offer information regarding the patient's cancer diagnoses, types of treatment - including chemotherapy and radiation, and early detection and risk reduction. They also have access to information regarding community programs and services, ongoing cancer research, and dates and times for local American Cancer Society programs.

Because of the success of the Providence St. Mary Cancer Center Cancer Resource Center, seven volunteers are now being sought to help staff the facility. Cancer Resource Center volunteers are asked to work a set schedule, usually 4-hour shifts at least once per week.