Burbank Community Library

From the Tri-City Herald / June 28, 2009

NATURAL AIR FORCE GUARDS BURBANK ORCHARD
Ingrid Stegemoeller, Herald staff writer

BURBANK — The several dozen falcons keeping watch over Jim Lott’s Burbank blueberry fields are an evolving manifestation of his self-described penchant for “overdoing things.”

“Once it starts, it almost takes on a life of its own,” said the owner of Applegate Orchards. “It’s a pretty big business.”

Within the last year Lott has acquired and bred about 70 aplomado falcons that he uses in a unique bird abatement program.

And not only have Lott’s blueberries flourished — for the first time this year people are invited to the orchard to pick their own berries — but the falcon patrol has been so successful that Lott has hired nearly a dozen falconers to manage the birds and now contracts them to patrol other farmers’ fields.

See the full article here and a photo gallery here.

Later this summer, the Burbank Library will be hosting a falconer (and a falcon or two!) from Applegate Orchards. The visit has not yet been scheduled, but stay tuned!

From the Tri-City Herald / June 27, 2009

UNION PACIFIC UPGRADING TRACKS BETWEEN TRI-CITIES, WALLULA
By Pratik Joshi, Herald staff writer

… The company recently started a program to replace old, worn ties on its industrial rail line that serves local industries.

The 20-mile track — between the Tri-Cities and Wallula — is being upgraded at the cost of $2.8 million, said Zoe Richmond, company spokeswoman for the western region.

… The project continues through the end of September.

See the full article here.

From the Tri-City Herald / June 27, 2009

MID-COLUMBIA FIRE CREWS ON ALERT AS FIREWORKS SALES BEGIN
By John Trumbo, Herald staff writer

Fireworks sales begin Sunday in some areas of the Mid-Columbia, and firefighters in the region will be on alert because of high danger of wildfires and inconsistent laws in area cities and counties.

… As in years past, fireworks of any kind are not allowed in Pasco, Connell or elsewhere in unincorporated Franklin County. The same goes in Kennewick … but Richland, West Richland, Benton City and unincorporated Benton County allow limited use of fireworks.

… It can be confusing with different rules in different jurisdictions, but Ken Williams, fire marshal for Benton County, said the easiest way to be safe is to buy fireworks in the city where you plan to use them and to buy them from authorized stands.

… “Our biggest problem is with people buying fireworks in Burbank, where they sell what is allowed (in Walla Walla County), and bringing them into Benton County where they aren’t legal,” Williams said.

See the full article here.

The Burbank Library’s Summer Reading Program is in full swing! If you haven’t done so already, visit the Burbank Library to register for the program. See our complete Calendar of Events here (pdf).

Here is the line-up of events for the Week of June 29:

• MOVIES! This one at 1pm and this one at 5pm. We’ll supply the popcorn. (Monday, June 29)
• For kids: Drop-in hunt! (All day on Tuesday, June 30)
• JEOPARDY! Bring all your trivial knowledge. (Thursday, July 1, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
• Closed for Independence Day: We’re closed on Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4.
• The week of July 6 is our first “Wii Week”! Drop-in anytime to try out our new Nintendo Wii system! All ages welcome. (Monday, July 6, thru Saturday, July 11)

Don’t forget to return your reading log to receive your prize. See you at the library!

From the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin / June 24, 2009

COUNCIL COMMITTEE TARGETS EARLY LEARNING
By Maria P. Gonzalez of the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin

WALLA WALLA – Helping the region’s children start school prepared, and ensuring that they stay in school and graduate, will be the core mission of a community group over the next few years.

The resources and steps needed to meet those goals have been outlined and presented following six months of detailed study by a group of concerned residents.

In its first year, the nearly 70 members making up the region’s study committee tackled the issue of how to help children reach their educational goals by also helping them meet basic needs like stable housing and mental health care.

The committee was formed as part of the region’s Community Council, made up of area residents who seek to pave a positive future in the region. That region is described as communities from Burbank to Dayton and from the Snake River to Milton-Freewater.

The end product of 24 weeks of meetings and study is “Enhancing the Educational Attainment of Our Region’s Children,” a compilation of the group’s work that includes dozens of conclusions and recommendations.

See the full article here and a related article by the UB here.

As soon as the report is available electronically, we’ll post it here.

Also, watch for the Burbank Library (and the other libraries in the Walla Walla County Rural Library District) to play a significant role in the pursuit of this important goal.

From the Tri-City Herald / June 23, 2009

WASH. SUPREME COURT HEARS CASE ON INTERNET FILTERS
By Rachel La Corte

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The state Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on whether public libraries can refuse to disable their Internet filters for adults who want access to content that has been blocked.

……

The ACLU filed a lawsuit against the five-county North Central Regional Library District in Eastern Washington in 2006, seeking to have the district ordered to provide unblocked access to the Internet when adults request it. The ACLU is representing three library users and the pro-gun Second Amendment Foundation in the case that the U.S. District Court in Spokane has asked the state Supreme Court to review.

Chief Justice Gerry Alexander asked if a library’s decision to restrict access to a Web site is any different than its ability to decide what to put on its shelves. “What we’re restricting are not individual sites,” library district attorney Thomas Adams said. “We’re making content-based decisions about categories of sites.”

Libraries that receive money for Internet access under two specific federal programs are required to have the ability to block minors from seeing pornography and other sites deemed harmful. Adams said that the North Central Regional Library District does receive federal money, and that its filters also block content about computer hacking, gambling and personal ads on Craigslist, among others.

……

The lawsuit contends the library’s policy of refusing to disable its Internet filters when requested for lawful purposes is unconstitutional and goes beyond what federal law requires.

See the full article here.

The Walla Walla County Rural Library District also filters Internet access as required by the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Our policy is described here.

From the Tri-City Herald / June 21, 2009

RAILEX ROLLING OUT GROWTH PLANS
By Pratik Joshi, Herald staff writer

WALLULA – At a time when the rail freight industry is under the threat of becoming derailed by a down economy, Railex is adding tracks for growth.

The company, often touted as a rolling warehouse, says it has revolutionized shipping and the distribution of goods across the East and West Coasts with its five-day delivery guarantee since it began offering service between Wallula and Rotterdam, N.Y. in 2006.

Recently, Railex’s Wallula facility was approved as a bonded wine warehouse, and Railex’s Delano, Calif., terminal which opened last year – started a second weekly train service to the company terminal in Rotterdam.

At least 45 percent of the 210,000-square-foot Wallula facility is being used as a bonded wine warehouse, said Jim Kleist, vice president Northwest region for Railex.

See the full article here.

(This is an aerial view of the Wallula facility.)

From the Tri-City Herald / June 19, 2009

PROPERTY NOTICES GOING OUT IN BURBANK, TOUCHET
By the Herald staff

WALLA WALLA – The Walla Walla County Assessor’s Office will be mailing property revaluation notices Monday to property owners in the Burbank and Touchet areas. Taxpayers in the rest of Walla Walla County will receive a notice only if there is a change in their property value.

If property owners feel that they should have received a “change-in-value” postcard and didn’t or simply want to inquire, they should call the assessor’s office.

People who are 61 or older or permanently disabled and have an income of less than $35,000 per year may be eligible for a tax exemption. For more information, call the Walla Walla County Assessor’s Office, 509-524-2560 or 866-527-3268.

A related article in the June 20 edition of the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin also states:

“Sales research has shown that most areas of Walla Walla County have declined in value during the last year approximately 5 percent to 10 percent, but some properties have actually increased slightly,” [County Assessor Bill] Vollendorff said in a release.

The fall in values does not necessarily translate to lower taxes, however, as rates are based on the overall levy to be collected.

The Burbank Library’s Summer Reading Program has officially begun! Our theme this summer is “Be Creative”.

The Summer Reading Program is (surprise!) a summer-long program that promotes reading and creativity for all ages. Everyone from newborn babies to senior citizens is invited to participate. The program includes great prizes, events, and contests, lots of opportunities to be creative, and lots of excellent books.

Visit the Burbank Library to register for the program. See our complete Calendar of Events here (pdf).

Here is the line-up of events for the Week of June 22:

• GAME DAY! Featuring board games and our Nintendo Wii. (All day on Monday, June 22)
• Drop-in craft: Build and fly paper airplanes! (All day on Tuesday, June 23)
• For teens: Cubee Crafts! Check out the Cubee website. (Wednesday, June 24, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
• CHESS TOURNAMENT: Featuring Target gift cards as prizes. (Thursday, June 25, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
• Drop-in craft: Sand art! (Friday, June 26, 12 noon to 4 p.m.) and Read to Shasta! at 3 p.m.
• WATER GAMES! Wear your swimsuit. Eat shaved ice! (Saturday, June 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

We hope to see you at the library!

From the Tri-City Herald / June 19, 2009

HUGE MARIJUANA GROW BUSTED NEAR BURBANK
By Paula Horton, Herald staff writer

About 40,000 marijuana plants seized from a tree farm near Burbank is “by far the largest single growing operation” busted in Walla Walla County in more than three decades, said Walla Walla County Sheriff Mike Humphreys.

The plants, found by detectives with the South Eastern Washington Narcotics Team, ranged in height from 1 to 4 feet and were estimated to be worth more than $50 million on the street, authorities said.

“It’s a very substantial marijuana growing operation,” Humphreys said Thursday. “And it’s probably well-funded by an organization” from out of the area.

Three suspects were arrested. Investigators are working to identify a fourth who avoided capture.

See the full article here. The Herald’s initial coverage (June 18) is here. The Associated Press picked up the story yesterday; here is an AP brief from the Seattle PI’s website. And here’s additional coverage from the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin and KNDO-KNDU (including video). The photo below is from KHQ-TV via MSNBC.

Update: A trial date has now been set, according to this article in the June 30 edition of the Union-Bulletin.

Later Update: The Union-Bulletin (July 14) has this update:

DRUG CASE MOVES TO FEDERAL COURT
By Andy Porter of the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin

WALLA WALLA — Charges against three people arrested in connection with a massive marijuana grow operation have been dismissed.

But the motion granted Friday by Walla Walla County Superior Court Commissioner Scott Wolfram doesn’t mean the trio gets out of jail free.

Francisco Sosa Cervantes, 26, no permanent address listed; Isidro Cortez Perez, 32, of Portland; and Augustina Salas Serna, 32, of Yakima, have instead been indicted on drug charges in federal court, according to court documents filed Friday.