Walla Walla clinic takes H1N1 vaccine to Burbank students

From the Tri-City Herald / November 19, 2009

WALLA WALLA CLINIC TAKES H1N1 VACCINE TO BURBANK STUDENTS
By Sara Schilling, Herald staff writer

BURBANK — Isaac Garcia scrunched up his nose and braced for the pain to hit. But the silly face he made had his classmates from Columbia Elementary School in Burbank in stitches, and soon he was laughing too. He seemed to giggle right through his H1N1 vaccination.

“It wasn’t as bad as you think,” the 11-year-old fifth-grader said, sporting a Band-Aid on his arm from the needle stick.

Isaac was among dozens of students from Columbia School District in western Walla Walla County to get vaccinated against the virus — also known as swine flu — in a special school clinic Wednesday. The clinic was put on by the district and the Walla Walla Health Department. ……

Health officials are planning to offer similar clinics in schools throughout Walla Walla County into next year, said Harvey Crowder, public health administrator for the health department. They’re starting with smaller districts like Columbia-Burbank — which has about 900 students — because there are a limited number of doses available and officials have to bring enough to each clinic to go around, he said.

Read the full article here.

The photo below accompanied the article and was captioned: “NO PAIN, NO GAIN – Isaac Garcia, 11, reacts to receiving an H1N1 swine flu shot from Vikki Davis on Wednesday at Columbia Middle School in Burbank. Isaac and dozens of other students from the Columbia School District were vaccinated against H1N1 virus, or swine flu. The district put on the clinic with the Walla Walla County Health Department.” The photo was taken by Paul T. Erickson for the Herald.

News briefs through November 21

Here’s a digest of Burbank and Wallula news items from the last few weeks:

• The Tri-City Herald and the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin recapped the November 3 elections with stories about Terry Nealey’s victory over Laura Grant here and here and stories about Rob Dunning’s victory in the Port of Walla Walla race here and here. [November 3 & 4]
• A breakdown of election results by county is here. Walla Walla County results that are relavent to the Burbank/Wallula area are excerpted below:

WALLA WALLA COUNTY RESULTS

Initiative Measure 1033  (lower property taxes)  rejected state-wide
Yes: 5,250 | No: 5,788

Referendum Measure 71  (domestic partnerships)  approved state-wide
Approved: 4,352 | Rejected: 6,763

Legislative State Representative (Dist. 16 Pos. 2)
Laura Grant: 4,992 | Terry R. Nealey: 6,235

Port Commisssioner (Dist. 3)
Clarence Anderson: 3,582 | Ronald Dunning: 5,403

• The U-B reported that “a five-woman, seven-man jury found Aaron R. Weissenberger guilty of second-degree theft” in a staged robbery of the Burbank Sun Mart in April. [November 4]
• The Tri-City Herald ran a story about a Burbank woman who pleaded innocent to allegations she tried to buy two packs of cigarettes with a $5 bill doctored to look like a $50. She faces trial Janunary 11 on one count of forgery. [November 6]
• The Herald reported that a 49-year-old Pasco man is facing drunken driving charges after colliding with a semi-truck Wednesday night near Burbank. [November 13]
• The U-B reported that “plans to develop a new business park in Burbank are well on their way. Port of Walla Walla executives met Thursday to discuss the new development, among other topics. The Burbank Business Park Conceptual Master Plan shows the potential location as a stretch of 30 small lots that run along U.S. Highway 12 just before the Snake and Columbia rivers meet. These lots will be sold to businesses to create a cluster of stores, professional offices and potentially living spaces.” [November 13]
• The Mid-Columbia Koi and Pond Club will hold a Christmas party Dec. 5 at the home of Randy and Jisica Watkins, 102 Off Place, Burbank. [November 14]
• KNDU ran a segment (video only) about a Burbank man received new heart and a “second chance at life”. [November 17]

Friends of the Burbank Library auction and meeting on Saturday

From the Tri-City Herald / November 20, 2009

FRIENDS OF BURBANK LIBRARY MEETS SATURDAY
By the Herald staff

Friends of the Burbank Community Library annual meeting and silent auction will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Burbank library, 875 Lake Road.

The friends will hold a short meeting at 2 p.m. with the celebration beginning at 3 p.m. The afternoon will include a potluck, entertainment, door prizes, a silent auction and raffles. They also will announce officers for 2010 and the Volunteer of the Year. Auction items include holiday items, baked goods, tickets for the Tri-City Americans hockey games and more.

Proceeds will support library programs including an upcoming kindergarten visit where each Columbia Elementary kindergarten student will receive a free book. For more information contact the Burbank Library at 545-6549 or visit wwrurallibrary.com/burbank.

Driver in crash that killed 2 Burbank brothers cited

From the Tri-City Herald / October 30, 2009

DRIVER IN CRASH THAT KILLED 2 BROTHERS CITED, BUT QUESTIONS REMAIN
By Paula Horton, Herald staff writer

BURBANK — A year has passed since two brothers were killed in a horrific Halloween night crash in Burbank, but a court case against one of the drivers is just beginning.

It took several months of investigation by the Washington State Patrol’s major accident investigation team to determine what happened and who was at fault for the wreck that killed Jorge Daniel Mendez, 17, and his older brother Jesus Jaime “JJ” Mendez, 19. They were passengers in a 2004 Suzuki Aerio driven by their friend and former classmate, Daniel Varela. The three teens were westbound on Highway 12 turning left onto Humorist Road when they were hit by a semitruck hauling apples and pears that was traveling east on the highway, officials said.

Conflicting witness statements led investigators to conclude it was “extremely likely” Varela had a red light when he turned left and “highly likely” that the semi driver, James Kooch, 61, of Hermiston, entered the intersection on a yellow light, according to WSP reports.

Just two weeks ago, Varela was cited in Walla Walla District Court for second-degree negligent driving. The 19-year-old has until today to respond to the infraction, either by paying the fine or contesting it and requesting a hearing. Second-degree negligent driving is a traffic infraction and subject to a $250 fine, according to state law.

No citations were issued against Kooch because it is legal to enter a controlled intersection on a yellow light, investigators said.

See the full article here.

Update: From the Tri-City Herald / November 10, 2009

HEARING SET FOR BURBANK TEEN IN FATAL CAR CRASH
By Paula Horton, Herald staff writer

A hearing has been set for a Burbank teen charged in connection with a crash last year that killed two Burbank brothers. Daniel Varela, 19, has contested the second-degree negligent driving infraction that he recently received and a hearing was set for Dec. 15 in Walla Walla District Court.

See the full article here.

Property tax deadline approaches

From the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin / October 20, 2009

PROPERTY TAX DEADLINE APPROACHES
By the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin

County Treasurer Gordon Heimbigner is asking landowners to remember the deadline for property tax payments is fast approaching.

Payments are due by Nov. 2, Heimbigner said. Options include mailing to the Treasurer’s Office, 315 W. Main St., or drop-off in boxes in the alley between the courthouse and jail or at Baker Boyer Bank, 7 W. Main St., Walla Walla, and 630 S. College Ave., College Place.

People also may make payments at the treasurer’s office, but because of the flu pandemic, officials are encouraging payments to be mailed or placed in the drop boxes, Heimbigner said. Payments may also be made through the county Web site, but a fee is charged.

News briefs through October 27

I haven’t updated this blog for three weeks because I was away on vacation and then back at the library catching up on what I’d missed. So I’m going to combine several different Burbank and Wallula news items (some new, some older) into one post. Here goes:

• A Burbank woman is being sought on a counterfeiting charge for “trying to pass a fake $50 bill at a Kennewick store.” [October 13]
• KIMATV out of Yakima did a story (including video) about the record-breaking marijuana busts in Burbank this year. [October 14]
• A new carbon sequestration study at Boise Inc. in Wallula got coverage in the Tri-City Herald (here on October 14) and the Union-Bulletin (here on October 13 and here on October 14).
• Here’s some coverage of the upcoming Port of Walla Walla election from the Tri-City Herald (here from October 15) and the Union-Bulletin (here from October 19).
• The Herald ran a story entitled LAURA GRANT DEFENDS TRANSPORTATION PROJECT VOTES that discusses the candidate’s votes related to the Highway 12 project. [October 23]
• For those who missed it, the McNary Wildlife Refuge Environmental Education Center had its grand opening on October 7. Coverage (including video) by KNDU.
• Burbank resident Kurt Clemmens shares his views on education in general and the Kennewick School District (where he has taught high school English for 26 years) in particular in this Letter to the Herald. [October 25]
• Four people were injured in a crash at Wallula Junction on Sunday, October 25. The Herald’s coverage is here and the UB’s is here.
• The Herald ran a story (including a photo gallery) entitled RICHLAND SISTERS TELL THE DEAD’S TALES which describes the work of two Richland women who’ve “spent the past five years searching out remote cemeteries to document and photograph the grave markers.” The article includes the following: “But then there are those quirky grave markers that make the sisters smile. Such as for the man buried in Wallula whose marker declares: ‘I told you I was sick.’” [October 25]

Sorry for the long hiatus. Regular posting will resume this week.

Events in Burbank this weekend and next

From the Walla Walla County Fire District #5 – Report of Activities (September 2009, Vol 3, Issue 2):

On October 3rd, 2009, Walla Walla County Fire District 5 will host the annual Fire Prevention Parade and Open House. Bring the family and join us for a great time! Watch the parade and meet the fire fighters at Fire Station #51 [460 W. Humorist Road] for food and live fire demonstations. We will also have the inflatables for the kids.

• Parade line-up in front of the High School at 10:30am.
• Parade start at 11:00am.
• Station #51 activities will start after the parade at 11:45am.
• Live fire demonstrations start at 12:30pm.

From a flyer posted at the Burbank Library by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Friends of Mid-Columbia River Wildlife Refuges. They invite you to join them for the …

GRAND OPENING of the Headquarters for the Mid-Columbia River National Wildlife Refuges and the McNary Environmental Education Center

Saturday, October 10th, 2009
8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
311 Lake Rd, Burbank, WA 99323

Activities for all ages! Tours, hikes, bird watching, discovery center, children’s activities, taxidermy collection, native plant restoration garden.

Questions? Contact McNary NWR: 509-546-8300

Burbank High participates in KNDU Coats for Kids Challenge

From KNDO-KNDU / September 29, 2009

KNDU COATS FOR KIDS SCHOOL CHALLENGE

Kadlec Regional Medical Center is proud to bring you the 7th annual KNDU Coats for Kids School Challenge. Kadlec Regional Medical Center will donate $200 to every group who gathers 100 or more coats between now and December 7th, with Kadlec contributing $500 to the school getting the most coats and a trophy sponsored by KNDU-TV. ……

You can bring your new and gently used coats to the following locations to help your school become the winner! ……

Burbank High School
787 Maple St.
Burbank, WA 99323

Time to clean out those closets, Burbank!

Candidate for State Rep to stop in Burbank on Thursday

From the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin / September 28, 2009

CANDIDATE TO APPEAR WITH EX-GOVERNOR HOPEFUL IN AREA

The Committee to Elect Terry Nealey has scheduled a “whistle stop” tour on Thursday with guest Dino Rossi. The tour will stop at 10:45 a.m. at Country Cupboard in Dayton; at noon with Rotary, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. with downtown business owners and at 3 p.m. at campaign headquarters, 10 E. Main St. in Walla Walla; and at 4:30 p.m. at Applegate Orchards, 1024 Lake road in Burbank.

For more information, call Shane Laib at 509-629-1354 or go to www.terrynealey.com.

Kennewick high school students tour Burbank farm

From the Tri-City Herald / September 25, 2009

STUDENTS TOUR CBC RESEARCH AREA, BURBANK FARM
By Drew Foster, Herald staff writer

…… Students from Kennewick and Kamiakin high schools touring CBC’s farms, agriculture mechanics building and campus halls. After visiting CBC, the students boarded the buses and headed to Burbank, where they checked out Gauntt Farm.

Chep Gauntt spoke to the students about farming, finishing school, opportunities in agriculture, the role technology plays in farming and how the industry isn’t all “back-breaking, get-out-the-shovel-type of work.”

“Agriculture is something most American people take for granted,” he said. “It’s something in the background. I think in a lot of ways it’s not very glamorous. This gives them a concept of the technology and the equipment.”

See the full article here.

The photo below accompanied the article and was captioned: “Tim Woodward, dean of Agriculture Education Research and Development at Columbia Basin College, leads a group of Kennewick High School students Thursday on a tour of CBC’s agriculture plots. About 85 students from Kennewick and Kamiakin high schools toured CBC and Gauntt Farms to learn about ag classes and related jobs.”