Burbank Community Library

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

• The Tri-City Herald reported that “a teenage girl suffered minor injuries when a school bus hit a deer on Highway 124 near Burbank … Five students were on the private bus, which is owned by Broetje Orchards and is used to take them to school in Burbank.” [January 6]
• Here is the Herald’s obituary for Herbert Charles Hulse, who lived in Burbank for many years. [January 6]
• The Union-Bulletin told the story [subscription required] about Walla Walla Life Scout Adam Gallinat’s research into the life of Bennie Shinbo, a 12-year-old Walla Walla Boy Scout who drowned in the Columbia River while attempting to save his scoutmaster, Fred Small. “Unfortunately, the current was too strong at Thrasher’s eddy, 3 miles from Wallula, and they died there on Aug. 27, 1933.” [January 9]
• The Herald reported that levy equalization for school districts, which is “state money [that's] meant to create balance between ‘property poor’ and often rural districts and those that are more affluent,” could be on the chopping block this legislative session. Schools throughout the region, including Columbia-Burbank schools, “would lose a substantial amount.” [January 9]
• Burbank resident Bob Lawrence wrote this letter to the Herald about horse racing. [January 10]
• The Union-Bulletin ran an article [subscription required] entitled U.S. 12 GROUP AIMS FOR FURTHER FUNDS that states: “The U.S. Highway 12 Coalition will steer its efforts in 2010 toward securing $5 million for the latest phase of the mega road project. With the latest leg of the multiphase realignment slated to open mid-year and the call for bids on the Burbank interchange construction billed for late February, members of the coalition are hoping to ride the momentum of the project and secure additional funds despite the dour economy.” [January 13]
• Here is the Herald’s death notice for John H. Mitchell, who “lived in Burbank for seven years before moving to Kennewick seven months ago.” [January 19]
• The Herald reported that “Boise Paper in Wallula is one of four pulp and paper mills in Washington measuring its social and environmental ‘footprint’ to find out how to do less harm to the environment and communities while remaining a positive economic force.” The Union-Bulletin ran a similar story [subscription only]. The Boise Inc. plant at Wallula is pictured above. [January 19]
• The Union-Bulletin reported [subscription required] that “work behind-the-scenes this year is expected to pave the way for future development of the Burbank Business Park. Port of Walla Walla officials say 2010 will be a big year for the Port-owned acreage along U.S. Highway 12 … though their efforts may not be all that visible to those driving past the property.” [January 21]
  

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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.

From the Tri-City Herald / May 21, 2009

Letter to the editor, by Vicki Cleghorn, Burbank

I moved here from Illinois more than 13 years ago and there is something I’ve never understood, and no one I know has the answer.

The state of Washington is hurting for money, correct? Why, then, can’t or don’t the powers that be start charging Oregon (or any of the other non-tax states such as Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire) residents sales tax when they shop here? Isn’t there a lot of income lost for the state because of that caveat?

From the Tri-City Herald / May 14, 2009

Letter to the editor, by Chris Fleischer, Burbank

On April 28, I was asked to participate in state Sen. Mike Hewitt‘s town hall meeting. After 25 minutes, my question was: “What have you and your fellow Republicans done in the past and plan to do in the future to counter the governor’s continued efforts to promote Washington as a sanctuary state?”

Sen. Hewitt chose to respond with the most off-putting, glib and disingenuous answer. His response was: “That is above my pay grade. … It is an issue for the INS. … Farmers in my district need their labor.”

I was greatly disappointed with his shallow, ill-conceived and thoughtless answer. We expect some leadership and vision, or at least a modicum of honesty, from our elected representatives. And we do not expect our elected officials to “pass the buck,” ignore the pressing issues confronting the state or to embrace and foster breaking the laws of this state and nation. These are serious times. We face serious policy and economic issues and Sen. Hewitt’s constituents deserve serious, considered and thoughtful answers to their expressed concerns.

Update: Chris Fleischer’s letter also appeared in the Sunday edition (May 17) of the Union-Bulletin.