The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

STAND PIPE COST INCREASE

WAITSBURG - Waitsburg's stand pipe water rates were increased at the city council meeting last Wednesday. Those who would like to purchase bulk water from the city will be charged a flat rate of $29.70 and $5 per 1,000 gallons.

NOMINATIONS WANTED

WAITSBURG - Nominations are needed to decide who will be selected as the parade marshal of the annual Waitsburg Parade on May 19. Please nominate a Waitsburg resident deserving of the honor. Submit your nominations to Walt and Gwen Gobel at PO Box 127 or email waltandgwen@charter.net.

NEALEY SEEKS RE-ELECTION

DAYTON - Rep. Terry Nealey has announced he will seek re-election to his second full term in the Washington State House of Representatives for the 16th district. Nealey, a Republican, was first elected in 2009. No one has filed to run against Nealey for the position. The deadline to file is May 18.

DAYTON COUNCIL SELECTS FIRM

DAYTON - The City of Dayton will contract with the engineering firm of Anderson Perry & Associates to create a plan for the construction of a new sewer treatment plant. The plan is due in 2014. The city's council voted unanimously to approve the $95,000 planning contract with the firm, which will study its waste water treatment system and design a new one to meet the state's Department of Ecology's pollution control standards by the end of the decade.

By then, the city will be required to remove effluent from its facility into the Touchet River and a plan is needed to address the new requirements.

AVIARY FUNDRAISER

WALLA WALLA -- The Friends of Pioneer Park Aviary's spring fundraiser, a yard sale on May 11, 12 and 13, is being held to help support a new family of NeNe goslings as well as the other 200 exotic waterfowl and ornamental pheasants that reside at the aviary. The yard sale will take place on the aviary building's lawn at 925 Whitman Street, Walla Walla. Sale hours will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 11 and 12, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 13.

Quality donations are still being accepted at the aviary. Please call (509) 527-4403 if you have items to contribute. Pick up can be arranged for large donations. Currently the Friends have raised $100,000 of the $110,000 needed for operational funds through the end of 2012.

X-FACTOR TRYOUTS

PENDLETON, ORE. - Wildhorse Resort is offering local contestants a chance to shine on the big stage. X-Factor, a FOX TV reality singing show, is coming to Wildhorse, April 28 at 9 a.m. as a stop on their audition pass tour. Simon Cowell created the X-Factor in 2004 in the United Kingdom, it is now held in various countries across the globe, pitting contestants against each other in a pop singing competition for the grand prize of a $5 million recording contract. Acts, either solo singers or groups, are allowed to line up no earlier than 6 a.m. at Cayuse Hall in Wildhorse Resort. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. The first 100 acts in line will get to audition beginning at 9 a.m. Each act will have one minute to sing acapella for the judges. The group of talent will be narrowed down, based on judge's scores, to the top 10. The top 10 will be allowed to perform for two minutes with instrumental accompaniment in CD or acoustic guitar format. One winning act will be selected.

SWEET HOME WALLA WALLA

WALLA WALLA -- The Kirkman House Museum is now selling tickets for the fourth annual Sweet Home Walla Walla Historic Home Tour on Sunday, April 29 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sweet Home Walla Walla is a rare opportunity to visit six of Walla Walla's historic homes that showcase a variety of approaches to preservation, restoration and adaptive reuse. Advance tickets are $25 per person and $20 for Kirkman House Museum members. Tickets are available at the Kirkman House Museum, 214 N. Colville St., Walla Walla, or the museum's website: kirkmanhousemuseum.org. Space is limited.