Tekoa Washington

May 2017 Newsletter       

Calendar of Events...

***NOTICE***

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HEALTHY Tekoa News! Time to focus on your medicine cabinet. Did you know prescription medication can be misused by kids? Tekoa teens say it is easy to access and use prescription medication. Sixty-four percent of kids ages 12 to 17 who abused pain relievers say they got them from friends, home or relatives, typically without their knowledge. The safest, easiest way to get rid of unused and expired medication is at your local Rx drop box. The Tekoa Pharmacy prescription drop box is open 5 days a week to recycle your expired or unused medications (except controlled substances).  All controlled substances can be dropped in the drop box at the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office in Colfax.

Mark your calendars for our second annual Brown Bag Medicine Review and Lock Box giveaway on June 9 from 10 a.m. to noon. Healthy Tekoa has 100 boxes to give away, and the pharmacist will review all your medication interaction issues. The lock boxes are great for storing controlled substances like Oxycodone, OxyContin, and Percocet. The box can also be a safe storage for marijuana, cough medicine, liquid e-juice, vape-juice, and anything that you might worry about concerning your child’s access. No purchase is necessary to get a box.

TEKOA LIBRARY NEWS: Tekoa library will once again run its Crazy 8’s Math Club on Wednesdays from 3-4 p.m. until school is out. Kids in grades 4-6 have fun and learn math skills. Snacks are provided. Please contact Diane to enroll. Tekoa Trail and Trestle, along with the Tekoa library, present EWU researcher Logan Camporeale. He will speak about the most notorious female fraudster, Maud Johnson, of her time, 1907-1909. This presentation is on May 9 at 6:30 p.m. Kids Club early-release activity on May 17 is a slimy, messy science day. Need help with home energy bills? Anita Peterson from Community Action Center is coming to the Tekoa library on Tuesday, May 23, between 1:30-3:00 p.m. The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) offers a one-time payment to help qualified Whitman County residents make their energy bills more affordable. This funding pays a portion of energy costs, but the payment is not intended to cover the yearly cost of a residence. Call 1-800-482-3991 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Teen Watercolors Workshop is at the Tekoa library on Thursday, June 1, at 3:15 p.m. Teens can enjoy doing water color art with guest librarian Nichole Kopp.

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 ~~~~The Tekoa Ambulance would like to remind the area residents to renew their Life Flight Membership. Life Flight charges $65/year per family. To sign up and for more information-lifeflight.org/membership.

~~~~THANK YOU! Co-Ag would like to express its gratitude for your continued support throughout the years and in this new venture. As an organization owned by and operated for the benefit of those using our services we are excited to continue to have the neighbor next door relationship and provide a high quality of service with the only change being the name on the door, PNW!

Messages from the Mayor—

     We spent a considerable amount of time at our April meeting discussing more sewer work next summer and properties that are in violation of our unfit and/or dangerous building ordinance.

     At our next council meeting we will be approving paperwork from Century West Engineering firm to apply for a grant to do three separate sewer projects in Tekoa: one in the north Crosby Street area, another between the grade school and baseball field, and one on the eastern part of Main Street. The project will not affect sewer rates!

     Several properties were discussed. The building belonging to Keith Andersson on Crosby Street will have a fence placed by the city on the south side of the building. The council also approved hiring a structural engineer to assess the damage this building could pose to the community.

     We have permission from one of the owners of the bowling alley to secure the building’s doors and pick up the debris that has accumulated on the west side of the building.

     Our code enforcement officer, Mike Bogenreif, is looking at properties on Jackson Street and Water Street. He is also working with the owner of the trailer park on the north side of town.

     Last month I wrote in my newsletter that the council and I had a concern with a circulated petition dealing with the Empire Theatre and Community Center. I need to apologize for including all the council in that statement. Let me restate that some council members and I had a concern with the opening statement on the petition saying that the city was to cut a hole in the exterior wall of the theatre. We have a grant to put a doorway between the theatre and the community center. The doorway would be between two interior walls, however!!

     I received a note from one of our citizens to encourage dog owners to clean up their dog’s wastes as they walk their pet around town. This would include park areas, sidewalks, and your neighbor’s lawn!! Please do not let your dogs run free; they must be on a leash at all times.

     The council approved a separate water and sewer fee for buildings using water four or fewer times per month that do not irrigate. If you own a building that you believe fits this description, please call city hall.

     The council also applied for an emergency grant to repair the road, by Tekoa Care Center, that was damaged because of the excess water this spring.

     That’s all for now. I hope you have a Happy Mother’s Day and enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend.