The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

FROG HOLLOW BENEFIT CONCERT

WAITSBURG -- On Sept. 24, the Frog Hollow Band will play a benefit concert at the Ye Old Town Hall in Waitsburg to benefit Dennis Nostrant, a long-time area resident. This event is scheduled to start at 9 p.m., after the annual Waitsburg Salmon Bake. Dennis has been diagnosed with end stage liver disease as a result of a contaminated blood transfusion earlier in life. He is currently on the liver transplant list at the University of Washington. All proceeds from this event will help fund is ongoing medical treatment costs. The Frog Hollow Band is a local mainstay for the past decade, whose members all hail from the Walla Walla area. Their unique blend of country and classic rock and roll, as well as original music, has been displayed at a variety of local establishments, the Southeastern Washington Fair, and most recently the Pendleton Round-up.

DAYTON ON TOUR

DAYTON -- The annual Dayton on Tour harvest festival celebrates the special attractions of this Eastern Washington town located on the edge of Walla Walla wine country. A full day's activities will begin Saturday, October 1, at 10 a.m. with the Historic Depot Art Exposition and Art Walk. Visitors interested in specialty foods and wine may join the 10 a.m. morning tour on mini-buses to the Monteillet Fromagerie, Dumas Station Winery, Amo Art and jimgermanbar in Waitsburg. The tours depart from the Historic Depot and early reservations are recommended, by calling 509-382-2026. The afternoon will feature the very popular Historic Home Tours to four local homes, as well as the Boldman House Museum. The Artist Reception at 4:30 p.m. is a chance to meet featured local artists and to celebrate the completion of a major historic sign renovation. Most food and drink establishments will be offering special menus for lunch and/or dinner. Evening entertainment at The Liberty Theater will be the music of "The B Side" with the concert starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online or at the theater. Visit www.daytonhistoricdepot.org for a complete schedule of events, or call 509-382-2026 for tour reservations and information.

KEVIN CARSON BOOK SIGNING

DAYTON -- Kevin Carson, author of the just released book "The Long Journey of the Nez Perce", will be at the Wenaha Gallery from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday Oct.15 to discuss his work. The Wenaha Gallery is located at 219 E. Main Street, Dayton. At 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct.15, Kevin will take a break from signing books to give a presentation about his research on Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce people's heroic march "from Cottonwood to Bear Paw." Although the book is categorized as a battle history, insights into the native people's lives and the roles of Dayton area residents will be the focus of his talk. Carson grew up in Dayton and wants to launch his book in his home town. Carson's third great-grandfather, Levi Watrous of Columbia County, was among the volunteers who answered the call to engage in the Indian skirmishes of 1877.

POSSIBLE DISTRICTING CHANGES

WALLA WALLA - Walla Walla County may see district lines re-drawn. At a recent meeting in Olympia, members of the Washingtin State Redistricting Commission laid out their plans. Walla Walla County, now in the Fifth Congressional District, would not be divided under some plans. But one plan would divide the county along a school district boundary, with the eastern half of the county remaining in the Fifth district and the western half becoming the Fourth district. Under this plan, Touchet and Burbank would be in the Fourth District and Waitsburg, Dixie, Prescott, Walla Walla and College Place would be in the Fifth District. These plans have marked the beginning of a public comment period. The commission will take comments on the plans through Oct. 11. The commission hopes to release the final plans by early November.

STATE PARKS FUNDING DROPS

LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL STATE PARK -The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission held a special meeting last Friday to discuss 2011-13 budget reduction options and a 2012 supplemental budget request. At the special meeting, the Commission discussed a reduction approach that would take multiple small cuts throughout the agency, identifying reductions that would have the least impact in service to park users overall, while not jeopardizing key resources or placing impractical burdens on park staff. Virginia Painter, who handles public relations for State Parks, said local parks, including Lews and Clark Trail State Park, may see reduced park hours and a reduction in staff members. However, she dows not know when the changes will take effect or how severe cuts will be. State Parks offi cials are predicting even further revenue losses of up to $2 billion in the current biennium. The Office of Financial Management has requested all agencies to submit General Fund reduction scenarios of 5 percent ($867,000 for state parks) and 10 percent ($1.7 million for state parks).

NEW HIRE AT CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

WALLA WALLA -- Nancy Metro has been recently hired by the Walla Walla Catholic Schools in the new position of director of admissions and community relations. In addition to increasing enrollment, her role is to communicate with alumni, families, friends and the wider Walla Walla community about the achievements and activities of the Walla Walla Catholic Schools. For the past 10 years, 100 percent of our graduates have been accepted into college, Metro said. The class of 2011 earned more than 1.3 million dollars in college scholarships. In order to insure more children in Walla Walla Valley can share the benefits of a Catholic school education, a new initiative to raise funds to increase financial assistance will start this coming year.

BIRD WALK AT MISSION

WALLA WALLA -- Join noted birder Mike Denny Tuesday, Sept. 27, as they explore the Whitman Mission looking for the latest batch of fall migrants.