CITY OF TEKOA NEWSLETTER
May 2009
May 2009 Calendar of Upcoming Events…
May 1 - Chamber of Commerce - 7:00 a.m. - Feeding Station
May 4 - City Council Meeting - 7:00 p.m. - Council Chambers
May 5 - Ambulance Meeting - 6:00 p.m. - Ambulance Building
May 6 - Tekoa Fair Association - 7:30 p.m. - Prairie Grain Office
May 7 - Chamber of Commerce - Noon - Cafe Artisan
May 11 - Jaycee Club Meeting - Jaycee Club
May 12 - Park and Rec Meeting - 7:00 p.m. - Council Chambers
May 12 - Senior Pinochle - Tekoa Comm Church
May 13 - Caregiver Coffee - 10:00 a.m. - Tekoa Ret Apts, Comm Rm
May 18 - City Council Meeting - 7:00 p.m. - Council Chambers
May 25 - Ambulance Board Mtg - 7:00 p.m. - Ambulance Bldg
May 26 - Senior Pinochle - Tekoa Community Church
May 26 - School Board Meeting - 7:00 p.m. - District Bd mtg
May 28 - Dist. Commodities - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - City Hall
~A HUGE Thank you to Mark Gaines and Bob Zehm for putting
up the Slippery Gulch Banners!~
TEKOA EMPIRE THEATRE NEWS
Tekoa Empire Theatre welcomes back the big band sounds of Men
of Rhythm for a special afternoon performance on May 9 at 2 pm.
A perfect treat for Mother’s Day! Tickets are $10.00 for adults and
$5.00 for students. Playing hits like ‘In the Mood’, ‘Let’s Dance’, and
‘Chatanooga Choo Choo’, the 19 piece Big Band Men of Rhythm
brings the Swing Era to life and will leave you wanting to hear more.
The group highlights the hits from the thirties to the fifties, and takes
great pride in keeping some of America’s favorite music alive and well.
Take the car, take a bus, take the train, but don’t miss the Men of
Rhythm.
2009 Empire Theatre membership is growing! Our newest
members are: Cathy & Ron Flock, Kathy & Steve Smith, Margie
Kahat, Mickie & Clyde Gatlin, Hal Whitman, Carol & Gary Sturman,
Annette Clausen, Joyce & Bud Mills, Amie & Scott Eaton, Bernice &
Othel Carter, Wilhelm Seed Company, and McGregor Company
ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE OF THE PALOUSE
One out of every six American women has been the victim of an
attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. Alternatives to Violence
of the Palouse have provided services for victims of sexual and domestic
violence for nearly thirty years. Last fiscal year ATVP provided services
to over 400 people in Whitman and Latah counties. Included in these
services are a 24-hour hotline in which advocates respond to crises and
serve as a source of information and referral. ATVP also has an
emergency shelter in a confidential location with staff on site. ATVP
also provides one on one support for secondary victims of sexual and
domestic violence and educational talks and presentations to school
and community groups who may be interested. ATVP also facilitates
support groups for victims and survivors. All services are free,
confidential and provided without discrimination. If you have any
questions or would like more information please do not hesitate to
call or visit our website. www.atvp.org or 509-332-HELP
Are any of you spring cleaning, going through your garage,
attic, or outbuildings? If you have any usable yard or garden
furniture, I would encourage you to donate it to Goldenrod
Cemetery. I am trying to create areas that are inviting to
our patrons who come to visit their friends and family at
rest in our cemetery. If you are dividing iris, lilies, lilac
suckers, or any other ornamentals, we would love to
accept your donations of those also. Bat houses, bird houses,
and bathes would also help encourage those insect eating
creatures that make visiting our cemetery more enjoyable.
You may call 284-5002 if you have something you would
like to donate. I can arrange transportation of items.
Thank you, Teresa Sue Hoke-House, Goldenrod
Cemetery Groundskeeper. Also, thank you to the
Plants of the Wild for the donation of grass seed
needed at the cemetery.
~Messages from the Mayor~
DOGS, DOGS, DOGS!!
We have been receiving numerous complaints from our patrons
concerning dogs barking, running loose, and dogs that appear
to be dangerous!!
The City of Tekoa has two animal control officers that enforce
our city dog ordinances. If a dog becomes a public nuisance,
these officers will issue a citation of no less than $25.00. The
owner is then required to take reasonable steps to resolve the
actions of their dog. A second conviction involving the same
dog would require a fine of at least $50.00. Further convictions
require higher fines and removal of the dog from the city.
Furthermore, any dog running loose could be impounded and
the owner must pay $10.00 to reclaim their dog and if the dog
is not properly licensed, it costs $50.00 to reclaim your pet!!
So for all of us dog owners, make sure that your dog is licensed,
properly restrained, and doesn’t present a public nuisance by
continuous barking even during the day time hours. Let alone,
barking at night while your neighbors are trying to sleep!
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Our annual clean-up day was a huge success. The dumpster
was filled before 10:00 am!! The Council is considering
the possibility of two clean-up days, one in the spring and
another in the fall. I would like to thank council member’s,
Linda Zehm, Melinda Wilkins, and especially Mike
Bogenreif for organizing this event. I also appreciate the
efforts of Duane and Rob who helped load the dumpster.
For those that are interested, an anonymous patron
paid $400.00 for the dumpster which was also greatly
appreciated!
Washers, dryers, refrigerators, and freezers can be t
taken to the Whitman County landfill for free. In
mid-September, Whitman County landfill will have
fall clean up for one week, with decreased tipping fees.
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For some time, the City council has been discussing the need to
have property owners with ‘inactive accounts’ begin paying the
annual water/sewer rate increase that active accounts now pay.
The annual water/sewer rate increase is the $5 dollar/year
increase in both water and sewer rates that is designated for a
new reservoir, waste water plant, and water/sewer lines
throughout town.
‘Inactive accounts’ would include houses that are vacant,
but have water/sewer service available, homes that have
water shut off during winter months (snow birds) and
possibly lots that have water/sewer hook-ups.
The rationale for paying this surcharge is that all property
owners will eventually benefit from this new water and sewer
system and since the surcharge is put into a separate account,
not the operating account, it would only seem fair that all
property owners would pay the some monthly surcharge.
This topic will be on our May 18th council agenda and
anyone wishing to comment, will have an opportunity at
this time.
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The Chamber of Commerce is busy planning our annual
Slippery Gulch Celebration Day. New for this year, is an
off-shoot of the American Idol TV Show. Performers will
try to win the singing contest that has money prizes for the
top three contestants. There will be judges similar to the
TV show, except they will be much more supportive than
what one sees on the actual show.
I’m still looking for a picture of the west side of Crosby and
Warren Streets. We have a great picture of the Hoare
Hardware store just across the street, but not much north
of the current Hay apartments.
I would like to commend Laurie Overton for her work with
the kids fishing derby. Tekoa businesses contribute money
for prizes and as usual, participants have their picture
(with their fish) displayed at the Tekoa Hardware.
On June 5, there will be a dinner at 6:30 and dessert auction
at 7:30 at the JC Club to raise funds for the Slippery Gulch
Fireworks.
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You might have noticed the brush pile just south of the
Gymkanna grounds. We will be bringing in a chipper around
the first of June, so there is still time to bring in your tree limbs,
etc. However, the chipper doesn’t handle wood like 2x4’s and
such, so please don’t dump anything but trimmings from your
trees and bushes on the pile. No doubt, City employees will
have to sort out items that cannot be mulched by the chipper.
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