Grandview gathered for its centennial photo last Saturday. Photo Brad Smith

Grandview turned out in style for the community photo on Saturday, April 25. The weather cooperated and community members young and old gathered at the center of downtown for the community photo. The photo was taken at the same location as a historic photo taken in 1916.

Teresa Kollmar smiles as she descends from the ladder after taking the official photo. Photo Brad Smith

The official photo was taken by Theresa Kollmar at the top of Fire Department Ladder Truck 18. Kollmar was under the close eye of Craig Taylor, Grandview Firefighter of the Year.

Community members can purchase a copy of the official photo by contacting the city. The official photo was taken from the top of the ladder. The photo at the right was taken from on top of the fire engine.

A presentation on the school safety survey results will be presented. The Healthy Youth Survey is taken by students to find out their perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors regarding a wide range of health-related issues and is a collaborative effort between OSPI, the Department of Health, the Office of Community Development, and the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse.

Grandview United is currently surveying the community about some of these same issues. Surveys are available online at www.grandviewunited.org. The community is invited to participate in this survey. The data will be used to develop a data bank of people interested in providing mentoring or other skills with the youth of Grandview. The surveys focus on safety and activities that youth of Grandview would like to see in our community.

Grandview United will be hosting a community meeting on May 5th at 5:00 p.m. at Compass High School/Administration Building. The results of the Healthy Youth Survey as well as look at the current responses from the survey underway by Grandview United will be presented. Parents, students, and community members are invited to attend.

The Citizens for Safe Yakima Valley Communities will host their 3rd annual Youth Career and Job Fair from 1–5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 23 at Southeast Yakima Community Center.  Yakima valley high school students are encouraged to attend.  This collaborative community effort aims to employ 150 high school age youth in part-time summer jobs from June 15–July 10. For students to be eligible they must attend the Career and Job Fair on March 23 to participate in the program. The job fair is free to students to attend. Southeast Yakima Community Center is located at 1211 S. 7th Street.

To be successful at our goal, we need your support.  If you have, or can create, a 4-week job at 20 hours a week for a youth, please call us at 248-2021 x112.  For a $685 investment, a youth will experience their first job.  Please join us in supporting and growing self esteem, confidence, and hope for our youth.

To provide youth jobs, contact:
Ken Marble, President, Horizon Distribution, Inc. (HDI) (509) 453-3181 x221
Bill Dolsen, President, The Dolsen Companies (509) 248-2831 x123
Ester Huey, Director, Southeast Yakima Community Center (509) 575-6114

For the past 27 years, the Art Fiker Stadium has been home to what has been billed as the largest outdoor wine and food fair in Washington State. In February, the school board decided not to pass the motion for the waiver. The motion failed when no one would second the motion. Therefore, for now, the Wine and Food Fair is homeless.

Many who have attended the event in the past agree, the football field is not the ideal location. The main complaint is the lack of shade. The stadium meets the potable water requirements by the Benton County Health Department. It also has a cyclone fence, something that some committee members find more attractive than the commercial orange crowd fencing.

During the school board meeting several committee members voiced frustration. One member was so frustrated that she claimed that the event would not be held this year. Other members are looking at this as an opportunity to make changes to the event which has not changed its format in years. Others have suggested that the event take a hiatus and return when the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center opens. The opening of the facility is projected to be in 2010.

In the meantime, local communities such as Grandview have facilities with parking, fencing, and other amenities that remain under utilized. The City of Grandview went through a survey process last year to prioritize improvements at Country Park, also known as the Lower Valley Fairgrounds. The city hopes to increase rentals of the facility and a wine and food fair would be ideal. The park has a covered area with access to water, restrooms, and electricity. The facility also has something missing from the stadium, an amphitheater with lights, electric, stage, and dance floor. Trees were planted several years ago around the amphitheater and would provide the luxury of shade.

Maybe the two communities could work together this year. Prosser has the experience and history to promote a successful wine and food fair while Grandview has an ideal location. Maybe it is time that Grandview decides to focus on working with one of the growing industries in the valley, the wine industry. After a little mentoring, maybe Grandview could attract some of the 3,000 people that travel from around the state to attend the wine and food fair. These tourists spend thousands of dollars in the local stores, restaurants, bars, and motels.

Here are the links to review the draft surveys.

Click Here to take and test the Youth Master Plan – Student Survey

Click Here to take and test the Youth Master Plan – Community Leader Survey

Click Here to take and test the Youth Master Plan – Resident Survey

Click Here to take and test the Youth Master Plan – School Staff Perception Survey

Person of interest in homicide at Sunnyside AM-PM Mini Mart. Police are asking for assistance in identifying this individual.

Sunnyside, WA- The New Year has started out violently for Sunnyside with the city’s first homicide taking place just days of the holiday. At approximately 9:15 pm on January 3, a report of shots fired sent Sunnyside Police Officers to the AM/PM Mini Mart at 1850 Waneta Road at the east end of Sunnyside. The shooting took place near the gas pumps and resulted in three shooting victims when the young males in two vehicles confronted each other outside the convenience store.

Injured were a 16 year old male from Schawana, Manuel Farias, 20 of Mattawa and Grandview, and Jesus Sosa, 22 of Sunnyside. Farias fled the scene on foot and was taken into custody by police officers. He was treated for non-life threatening wounds and taken into custody for questioning. The juvenile also suffered non-life threatening gunshot wounds.

This case is under investigation and Sunnyside Police Department has released photos of a suspect vehicle and persons of interest. If you have any information on the identity of this person or his whereabouts please call the Sunnyside Police Department at 509.836.6200.

The weapon has not been recovered and it is believed that there was only one shooter. Police believe this is a gang related incident. Sunnyside Police were assisted by Grandview and Mabton Police as well as the Washington State Patrol.

The suspect vehicle and driver are pictured above. Police are asking for assistance in locating what appears to be a red Dodge Durango with roof racks and its male driver.

Tonight, Charlie Ergen, CEO of the DISH Network, will be speaking live to DISH Network subscribers at 6 p.m. about the ongoing negotiations between the DISH Network and KIMA/Fisher Broadcasting. The live broadcast will be the KIMA channel – channel 29 on DISH Network.

Ergen will take questions via e-mail or phone after a brief speech. To ask a question during the broadcast, call (888) 621-2078 or e-mail questions to CharlieChat@DishNetwork.com.

So if you are frustrated over the lack of CBS broadcasting on DISH, tonight is your chance to have your say.

We emailed Fisher Broadcasting and received the following email response.

“Thanks for your kindness in asking our side of this story.

We realize this dispute is a real inconvenience for yourself and many of others who rely on KIMA for news, sports and entertainment.  We don’t take it lightly and we’re committed to completing our negotiations as quickly as possible.  Of course, we’re still broadcasting free, over the air on channel 29, and we’re available on Direct TV or your local cable.

Please know that we attempted to extend the expiration of our current agreement with DISH until December 22^nd, but DISH rejected our proposal.  We’re obviously disappointed by their decision, as it hurts both you and us.

We know that you don’t really care who’s fault this is…you just want to be able to watch KIMA’s programs and local news.  But we thought you might like to know how this works….

DISH pays each network or station they carry a small portion of what they charge you.  For instance, according to the Coalition for Retransmission Consent Reform, they paid CNN 44-cents per month per subscriber in 2006.   Even though KIMA has many-times more viewers than CNN (according to the latest Nielsen ratings), we are asking for just a fraction per Yakima area subscriber of what DISH is paying the large, national networks like CNN.  We believe DISH should be willing to pay a small portion of the fees you pay them for the program content we provide. Our request is for considerably less than the amount paid by DISH for less popular satellite program networks.

Please know that we’re continuing our negotiations with DISH Network, and doing all we can to reach a quick settlement in this stand-off.   Thank you for calling!  We hope to be back on DISH Network soon.” Signed Larry Roberts, Regional Vice President, Fisher Communications

Bursting pipes occur when frozen water causes a pressure buildup between the ice blockage and the closed faucet. Pipes in attics, crawl spaces, and outside walls are particularly vulnerable to extreme cold. To keep water in your pipes from freezing fit exposed pipes with insulation sleeves or wrapping to slow heat transfer. Even a wrapping of newspapers and plastic can increase the insulation value. Seal the cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations near water pipes with caulking.

If your pipes do freeze, it is important to know where your water shutoff valve is. Shutting it off quickly can help minimize the damage.

It is a good idea to keep sink cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around pipes. If you have small children at home, be sure to remove from reach all chemicals and other hazards. A slow trickle of water flowing through faucets connected to pipes that run through an unheated or unprotected space. This will keep the ice from totally blocking the pipes.

If you do suffer a broken pipe begin cleanup as soon as it is safe. Disconnect all electrical equipment and move to a dry area. Remove water damaged items immediately. Try to remove any standing water and begin to ventilate the area with fans and dehumidifiers.

Covering your windows with plastic and pulling your curtains shut at night can also increase the temperature inside your home. Adding a strip of weather stripping can stop the cold drafts from entering your home. Need a gift idea; think about making a draft dodger for a friend that they can lie at the base of the door to block drafts.

Unseasonably cold weather means it is also time to give special attention to your pets and livestock, both inside and out.

Cold weather creates its own set of stress for all animals, but your pet needs your undivided attention. When temperatures reach sub-zero, it is time to give the outdoor cat, dog a break, and invite them in, not necessarily in the house but a garage or shed will help. Shelter in a well-built doghouse will benefit even breeds such as Siberian huskies, Malamutes, Chows, German shepherds, golden retrievers, and others where they may not be acclimated to such extremes.

Local veterinarians recommend that when you take your inside dog out for a bathroom break that you stay out with them. Chances are if you are cold enough to go inside, it probably is too cold for the pet to stay out much longer as well. Be sure to wipe its paws and under belly and make sure there are no snow or ice balls clinging between the toes or on the sole of the foot. This can lead to frostbite in an animal left outside for a significant time in sub-zero temperatures.

Keep an eye on your pet and livestock outside water source. If the water source is not heated, remember to change it several times a day when temperatures dip far below freezing. Ice is not a substitute for clean water. A reduction in water intake and the resulting dehydration in horses can trigger colic.

If you have to go outside, remember to cover all exposed skin when temperatures reach sub-zero temperatures. Hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, and warm socks can help prevent frostbite. Tis the season to wear layers. Multiple layers add warmth by trapping air which becomes heated by your body. Avoid going outside as much as possible but if you must, dress warmly but not so much that you perspire. Damp clothing can cause the loss of body heat and lead to frostbite especially in feet.

Grandviewnews.net has now opened eReporter access to the community. The newly established community eNews publication announced Sunday public eRporter access for publishing articles of interest to the community. Click this link to the Grandview eReport submission form and become a Grandview News eReporter today!

Fire Consumes Travel Trailer and Garage - Staff Photo

At around 11 p.m. last night a Grandview police officer discovered what appeared to be a travel trailer being consumed by fire. It was located in the 900 block of West 4th Street in the alley behind one of the homes.

As Grandview police secured the area, Grandview Fire was dispatched to the scene and extinguished the blaze as it spread to a nearby garage and power pole. No one was injured in the blaze and the cause was unknown at time of publication.