Tekoa Washington

                         *Notices*

~The Tekoa Park Board has two openings. The election will be in November 2011. If you
are interested, go to Whitman County and sign-up by mail Monday, May 20, through Friday,
June 10, 2011. Or in person, Monday, June 6, through Friday, June 10, 2011.

~If you have any dog complaints, or see dogs running loose, please call Mike Bogenreif
at 284-2099. Mike is our Code Enforcement Officer and is available to take your complaints.

               
                            ~Tekoa Library News~ 

Annual Penny Drive from March 28-April 16. Come and put your
coins in our cute little red pig. The money collected in Tekoa adds special materials to the
Tekoa Summer Reading. Thank you to the supporters of our wonderful library.

Whitman County Library visited the Tekoa School twice in the last month. Youth Services
Assistant, Nichole Kopp read a Dr. Seuss story and shared Cat in the Hat challenges with
the kids at the elementary school for the Read Across America program. The Reading Bear
was also on hand to celebrate the event. In addition, the library sponsored a “Living Voices”
presentation at the high school. Actor Brit Boyd’s presentation was “Through the Eyes of a
Friend: Young People during the Holocaust.” Tekoa Superintendent Wayne Massie has been
a great supporter of the library’s sponsored programs.

Friends of Whitman County Library are selling $1 raffle tickets to raise money to renovate the
Endicott Library. Prizes are a McGregor outdoor fireplace, and two $100 Rosauers grocery
certificates. Contact any branch library for rules and to secure your tickets today.

As summer nears we are also gearing up for our annual Summer Reading program, along with
other programs, that will bring a smile to your face. Kids of all ages are encouraged to join the
fun. The theme this year is One World, Many Stories.

The Tekoa Library is open Tuesday and Wednesday, 1:30 to 6 p.m.; and Thursday, 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Preschool story time is at 11:15. Call the library at 284-3121 for information about
our programs and services.                             

                                      Patti Gatherer     
                                      Tekoa Branch Manager


~More library news:

Tekoa residents have a rare opportunity to learn about meteorites and
bring any rocks they suspect are meteorites for official identification to the Tekoa Library on
Wednesday, April 13, at 7:00 p.m.

Dick Pugh, a field scientist from Portland State University, is touring our region thanks to
funding from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As part of his
demonstration, Dick will talk about meteorites and share actual samples valued at over
$15,000 that people can pick up and touch.

A total of six meteors have been officially certified in Washington State. Of those, two were
found in Whitman County, one near Albion and the other near Colton, so the likelihood
another will be found here is pretty strong. A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer
space that survives impact with the earth’s surface. When it enters the atmosphere, impact
pressure causes the object to heat up and emit light, thus forming a fireball, also known as a
meteor or shooting star. Meteorites can be big or small and often prove to be quite valuable.

For more information, contact the library at 284-3121 or 877-733-3375.


                                                   *Notices*

~Seniors 65 and older--- If you are in need of assistance with your city utility bill, you can
drop off a simple request for help at City Hall. Grants are limited to one, one month’s bill per
household per year.

~Senior lunch is every Thursday, at 12:30 p.m. at the Tekoa High School.




             ~Tekoa Empire Theatre presents three events for April:

                                                   Fourth Annual Oakesdale ArtsFest

Thursday, April 14, at 7:00 p.m. the Oakesdale 6th through 12th grade students will culminate
a ‘Celebrate the Arts Week’ with performances and a gallery exhibit. As a ‘grand finale’ to
Arts Week and under the direction of Oakesdale teachers Patty Mills, Hal Whitman, and
Carol Wichmann, students will present their work in a Fine Arts gallery and in performances
of dance, theater, music, and poetry reading including original compositions, arrangements,
and choreography. As part of the ArtsFest experience, students organize their performance
groups or art submissions and participate in an authentic audition or adjudication process
several weeks before the performance. ArtsFest is an evening of celebration and fun.
Refreshments will be provided and donations are welcome.

The big sound of the Masterclass Jazz Orchestra will rock the rafters of the Empire Theatre
on Saturday, April 23, at 7:00 p.m. The group will bring more than a dozen professional
instrumentalists as well as outstanding student musicians, including Oakesdale High School
saxophonist Michael Conklin. Back by popular demand, they will present hits from the heyday
of the jazz era to the present.
Admission prices: Adults $12.00, students $5.00 and 12-and-under by donation.
For more information please call 509-284-2000.

Martha Gallagher is Janis Joplin - Joan Baez - Jean Redpath all rolled into one! “She’s a
treasure; her music lifts up the spirit and reminds us why we are here.”
Martha is a singer, harper, composer/songwriter, arranger and recording artist. Her extensive
solo tours have taken her around the US and Canada and we are privileged to be able to
get her at the Tekoa Empire Theatre on Thursday, April 28, at 7:00 p.m. She will be offering
workshops for individuals the afternoon of the 28th.
Admission prices: Adults $12.00, students $5.00 and 12-and-under by donation.
For more information call our new Tekoa Empire telephone at 509-284-2000.


~There have been some concerns about garbage collection, and what are the acceptable
procedures in our contract with Empire Disposal. Here are some of the items that have been
in question:

             -- Can service shall not exceed 32 gallons, or 65 pounds (including its contents). Have water
             tight lids, two handles, and have a tapered bottom. You will be charged an extra $3.55 for
             overweight cans.

              -- 90 gallon cart service shall not exceed 125 pounds (including its contents). Customers are 
              held liable for damage or misuse of the cart. Do not place tires, hot ashes, dirt, bricks, dead
              animals, building material, grain, or hazardous or corrosive chemicals in the cart. You will be
             charged an extra of $3.55 for over weight carts.

           -- All collection begins at 5:00 a.m. every Wednesday. It is advisable to have trash out the
              evening before collection day.

           -- Holidays observed: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,
              Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Service will be ONE day late following holidays. 

           -- Collection missed due to weather or road conditions will be picked up the following week.
              No added charge or credit allowed.

           -- Animals need to be confined on collection day. Empire has the right to refuse any customer 
               service if an animal considered or feared to be vicious, is loose.

           -- The garbage container will need to be placed where it is most easily accessed by the driver.
               If a container is blocked on collection day, we will not be able to get it until the following week.
              Absolutely NO exceptions will be allowed.
 
           -- Rural customers on some county roads will bring their cans to the nearest paved road.

           -- Your understanding is asked when we do not drive onto private property when it is our
               judgment that driveways or roads are improperly maintained or without proper turnaround or
              have any other unsafe conditions.

           -- No credits if a customer does not have garbage out for collection every week.


~Friends of Lone Pine Cemetery meeting notice~ April 8, 10:00 a.m. at C&D’s Bar and Grill.
Agenda: Secretary Report, Treasurer Report, cemetery sign update, plot plan update, burning of
brush piles, and Washington state historical site update. April 9 Work day: Removal of lilac—brush,
identify head stones needing repair, cleaning, expand lilac removal in paths and around head stones.

~PTO—Parent Teacher Organization Meeting:  April 11, at 6:00 p.m. at the Tekoa Grade
School.  President, Nick Lawson.




                     ~Messages from the Mayor~



It’s baseball/softball season! How do I know? It’s raining!! It’s cold!! Who want’s to be
outdoors but those playing ball and running track! I remember the days, sitting in the stands
shivering, wondering why -------------!

On with city business. First, an update on city projects. The new well should be drilled by the
time you read this so our town will not be hurting for the amount of water available. Still, we
are required by the State Department of Health to do our part to conserve water and because
of the Water Efficiency Rule and show proof that we are doing so!!

Work on the water reservoir will begin in June. As many of you know, we will be
reconstructing the perimeter wall and replacing the roof. Also in June, expect work to begin
on our water system to include the north side of town and the southwest portion of Tekoa.
The remaining part of town will be completed in 2012 along with paving Henkle Street!

We are continuing to accumulate funds for our Project Share. Making choices between buying
food and Medicare, and paying the city for utilities is not an option we want our senior citizens
to face, especially those on a fixed income. If you can help a little, please do so.

Now, a little on our Slippery Gulch Celebration Day. Hillary Lawson has agreed to be our
communities contact person for class reunions. There appears to be questions as to the
availability of the Jaycee Club building since the Jaycee organization may be dissolved. More
about this particular topic in my next newsletter.

Finally, some information on our annual community clean-up day, which will be April 16. We
have ordered a large dumpster for this day, but have guidelines that need to be in place so we
don’t have a repeat from last time. For those who didn’t know, the dumpster was filled within
two hours after we started loading garbage into it. Rather than debris collected around one’s
yard, garage and alley, which would help clean up our town, we were getting stuff from
people cleaning out basements, garages, and the like. Also, citizens who brought items to
dispose of after the 2-hour rush had to return home with all of it intact!! So if you have ‘stuff’
collected around your yard, by your garage, or in your alley that would clean up your property,
call City Hall at 284-3861, and you will be given a number and a time to deposit your ‘stuff’
in the dumpster. When you call City Hall, you will be reminded of the intent of the clean-up day
and the type of ‘stuff’ we want to go into the dumpster.

Is this about as clear as mud? Talk to someone at City Hall for clarification. They will do a
better job than I just did explaining the purpose of bringing the huge dumpster to town on
this day!


~Please check out our website, www.tekoawa.com. There is great info about our city!