Asotin and your

rights as an individual

please attend the

meeting on February

19th at 7:00 p.m. at

the Asotin County

Commission

Chambers at the

Courthouse Annex.

The Asotin County

Commissioners will

be sponsoring a

Town Hall Meeting

to address the issue

of a City County

Government that has

been proposed by the

Citizens for a Better

Government. The

group has met the

requirements to have

the proposal placed

on the ballot in

November. If you

are interested in how

this proposal will

impact the City of

CITY COUNTY GOVERNMENT TOWN

HALL MEETING

INFORMATION WITHOUT OPINION

Around asotin

Special points of

Interest

Brat & Brews for the

Blues March 2, 2013

Spey Casting classes

coming up check-dates

Town Hall Feb. 19th

7:00 p.m. Courthouse

Port of Asotin County

survey

FEBRUARY 2013 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 2

Meet Postmaster Travis Sparkman

Travis is delighted with his transfer to Asotin last November; "My first two weeks here I shook more hands than I had in two years". Raised in the L-C Valley, Travis graduated from Lewiston High School in 1987. Not certain of his career path, time was spent working at Potlatch, fast food

restaurants and with Asotin County and disabled adults. In 1999 he joined the Post Office as a Carrier in Clarkston. His first promotion was to Supervisor and was transferred to the Pullman office in 2007. He became Postmaster in Pullman in 2009. After five years of commuting 1 1/2

hours per day to Pullman, the short drive to Asotin affords him the opportunity to spend more time with his family. He lives in Clarkston with his wife, Julie, and children Ethan 15 and Chloe 12. If you have not met Travis, stop by the Post Office and welcome him to Asotin with a hand shake.

Meetings

City Council Meeting 2nd & 4th Monday at 5:30 p.m.

Lions Club Meeting 2nd & 4th Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

School Board 4th Mon-day of the month at 7:00 p.m.

Asotin County Museum 3rd Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m.

If you would like to receive the Newsletter electronically

please send an email to aroundasotin@tds.net

DID YOU KNOW

City of Asotin will be placing an outside drop box in the driveway between the

two buildings. This will allow for drive through, night drop.

The fire siren will no longer be used to warn the community of fire. If you

would like the siren to continue as a noon whistle..or not let the City know.

Reservations are now being taken for Chief Looking Glass Park.

Different Drug Problem

GRADE SCHOOLERS MAKE ASOTIN PROUD !!!! !!

The students at Asotin Grade School,

led by 6th graders Christin Fisbeck and

Jordyn Nielson, have formed an Anti-

Litter Club that made front-page news

in the Lewiston Tribune on

Wednesday, January 23rd. Principal

Wes Nicholas and his Staff made the

girls' request for a club to fight litter

into a reality, by organizing a monthly

clean-up schedule for the

school. Under the schedule, each class

has a different month to collect trash,

with the class collecting the most litter

to be awarded a pizza party at the end

of the year. Christin and Jordyn also

hung a large poster in the school's

hallway, inviting kids to sign onto the

anti-litter pledge composed by the

girls: "I will not litter....but I will pick it

up!!". As you can see in the photo, the

poster is covered with students'

The other day, someone at a store

in our town read that a Metham-

phetamine lab had been found in

an old farmhouse in the adjourning

county and he asked me a rhetori-

cal question, “why didn’t we have a

drug problem when you and I were

growing up?”

I replied, I had a drug problem

when I was young: I was drug to

church on Sunday morning. I was

drug to church for weddings and

funerals. I was drug to family re-

unions and community socials no

matter the weather. I was drug by

my ears when I was disrespectful to

adults. I was also drug to the wood-

shed when I disobeyed my parents,

told a lie, brought home a bad report

card, did not speak with respect,

spoke ill of the teacher or the

preacher, or if I didn’t put forth my

best effort in everything that was

asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to

have my mouth washed out with

soap if I uttered a profanity. I was

drug out to pull weeds in mom’s gar-

den and flower beds and cockleburs

out of dad’s fields. I was drug to the

homes of family, friends and

neighbors to help out some poor

soul who had no one to mow the

yard, repair the clothesline, or chop

some firewood, and, if my mother

had ever known that I took a single

dime as a tip for this kindness, she

would have drug me back to the

woodshed. Those drugs are still in

my veins and they affect my behav-

ior in everything I do, say or think.

They are stronger than cocaine,

crack, or heroin; and, if today’s

children had this kind of drug

problem, America would be a bet-

ter place. God bless the parents

who drugged us.

Page 2 AROUND ASOTIN

Jordyn and Christin

January 14, 2013

Discussion with chairman of Asotin County Fair regarding the carnival set-up costs for water, power, damages

and fees. More information will be gathered and revisited at the next meeting.

Council Members reassignment to Council Committees discussed.

Approval of Memorandum of Understanding with Asotin-Anatone School District regarding Avista billings

for football field lighting.

Motion approved for Mayor to sign agreement with Keller Associates, Inc. for Wastewater Treatment Plant

Facility Plan.

Beginning in February utility bills will be sent on a postcard. This change will save the City $4,354.00 per year.

Corps of Engineers is conducting a public meeting concerning the dredging of the Port of Clarkston and

Lewiston on Thursday, January 24th at 5:30 p.m. at LCSC.

Motion approved the Resolution for the Asotin City Council to apply to become a member of Potlatch #1

Federal Credit Union and to open a share account with a minimum balance of $35.00.

A recommendation by the auditors that upon entering Executive Sessions, RCW 42.30.110 and that section

which applies must be listed on the minutes.

January 28, 2013

Motion to approve consultant agreement with Keltic Engineering, Inc. for engineering services. Motion

carried.

Discussion of Interlocal Agreement between the Asotin County Road Department and the City for necessary

work on City Streets. Motion carried.

Review of needed repair to twelve control valves in water system originally scheduled to be performed in 2012

by PUD. Repair at cost of $7,700 will begin immediately.

The City received a grant for $177,000 from the Department of Ecology for the Second Street Stormwater

Project.

Resolution 2013-483 Amending EMS 2011-465 to establish a separate fund number for deposits of the special

election was approved.

Motion approved for Resolution 2013-484 establishing a copy fee and costs for public records.

CITY COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

Page 3 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 2

ASOTIN LIONS BREAKFAST

UPDATE

The Asotin Lions very popular Breakfast, held at the Lions Club Hall on the first Saturday of each month from 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM, has had to raise its charge from $5.00 to $6.00 due to rising costs. The Lions regret the change but felt it was necessary in order to keep up the great morning menu of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, waffles, juice and coffee !!!!

NIFFE to Conduct Spey Casting Lessons at Asotin Beach

Annually the Kelly Creek Flycasters [a 501(C)3 organization] conduct the Northern Idaho Fly Fishing Expo (NIFFE) at the Red Lion Hotel and Convention Center. This year the Expo will occur on Friday and Saturday, the 22nd and 23rd of March. Although the Expo covers most of the aspects of fly fishing, there is a strong focus on teaching fly casting using single handed and two handed (Spey) rods. The Spey casting (with two handed rods) lessons are specifically conducted on the waters of Asotin Beach within Chief Looking Glass Park and at the beach within Hell’s Gate State Park. The class offerings are cited below and are taught by professionals. Those potentially interested in learning or improving Spey casting may contact John Claassen (509) 243-8958 for further information. Loaner equipment will be available for those not having Spey equipment. Those with deeper or broader fly fishing interest may visit http://niffe.org.

Day Time Topic Location Student Limit

Friday 9:30 AM Intermediate Casting Hell’s Gate State Park 5

Friday 1:30 PM Beginner Casting for Women Chief Looking Glass Park 5

Saturday 9:30 AM Beginner Casting Hell’s Gate State Park 5

Saturday 1:30 PM Intermediate Casting Chief Looking Glass Park 5

AROUND ASOTIN Page 4

while doing so, driving each day to

Moscow. In 2000, he moved to

Cottonwood, teaching history in the

high school until 2008 when he

became Principal of the Junior High

School in Orofino. He became

Assistant Principal at Orofino High

School in 2010, remaining there

until being hired last fall at Asotin

High School.

Jerry Uhling is the new Principal of

AHS. He first appeared on staff in

its halls in 1992, doing his practicum

under Don Dietrich as a first-year

LCSC education student. Mr.

Uhling was raised in Cottonwood

and attended school there. After

graduating from LCSC, he began

teaching history in 1995 at Moscow

High School. He lived in Lewiston

Mr. Uhling likes to fish,

mentioning steelhead and Kokanee

as favorite catches, and to hunt

deer and elk. He loves living in

Asotin and is very much enjoying

the school, stating that the Asotin

High students are "probably the

most respectful kids I've been

around in education.". Asotin is

happy to welcome him!

ASOTIN-ANATONE SCHOOL NEWS

Page 5 AROUND ASOTIN

NEW ASOTIN HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Asotin High School Students Chosen for Southeast Washington Honor Jazz Band Four Asotin students have been chosen to perform with the Southeast Washington Honor Jazz Band on January 28th. Jordan Hollingshead, Andrew Simpson, Alex Black, and Dirk Whitmore were selected to be under the direc-tion of Greg Yasinitsky from Washington State University. The group will rehearse three songs, then perform at the Bill Bolick Jazz Night. The 6 p.m. event is free to the public and will take place in the Kimbrough Music Hall (W.S.U. music building) on the Washington State University. The Asotin Jazz Band and Choir will perform the same night.

The Asotin High School Cheer team did a fantastic job representing Asotin at the cheer competition at the University of Idaho on Saturday, February 9th. Members of this team are Brooke Wenstrom, Courtney Mason, Megan McCain, Beth Kel-ley, Sadie Turner, Giovanna Italia, Ace Geist, Ceira Berthoff, Macy Ham, Caitlin Paris, Rayne Parot and Sam Richardson. They placed 1st in the 1A-3A divi-sion for Show, 2nd for Sideline and 3rd for Pom. Megan McCain and Courtney Mason took 1st place in the high school duet division and Ace Geist took 3rd in the jumps di-vision.

High School Cheer Team takes Home 3 Trophies from the

University of Idaho Cheer Competition

The Asotin Cub Cheer Team competed at the U of I Cheer Competition on February 9 in Moscow where they took 1st place in the elementary division for Show, 1st place for Sideline and 1st Place for Pom routines. Cheer members consist of Ally Webb, Alex Italia, Rachel Simpson, Renee Hedding, Morgan Cloke, Faith Danner, McKenna Bur-cham, Harley Neighbors, Kolsi Anderson, Kenzi Paris, JC Shrader, & Haylee Appleford. The stunt team also took 1st place in the stunting division those members were Alex Italia, Ally Webb, Rachel Simpson, and Harley Neighbors. Haylee Apple-ford took 1st place in the Jumps competition for K-3rd grade and Renee Hedding took 3rd place in the Jumps competition for 4th – 6th grade. Amazing Job!

For the last 33 years, Mrs. Chris Reade has been dedicated to introducing her third graders to some important and interesting people. These people have a lot in common with one another, but are surprisingly unique. The third graders are uncovering these facts about none other than the United States’ Presidents. The students start by learning what qualifications and rules apply to people who would like to be president. Then each student is assigned a specific president to research. They collect

information about their Commander-in- Chief; including personal facts, feats, follies and little known or quirky trivia. The kids learn about the birthplace, family, pets and even if their president attended college or not. Each student then presents what he or she has learned on a poster. Students also partner up to create graphs that represent the newly acquired information. Mrs. Reade notes that this is a truly cross-curriculum project as students hone research, writing and math skills during the scope of the project.

The grand finale will be held on February 13th at 8:10 AM, at the annual President’s Day assembly. Each child presents a short fact or two about his or her chosen president and the kids perform patriotic songs. The last song is traditionally the “President’s Rap”! The president posters are proudly displayed in the “President’s Museum”. Mrs. Reade mentioned that parents and all community members are welcome to come and enjoy the hard work the students have put in to honor our great presidents and President’s Day!

Page 6 AROUND ASOTIN

Third Graders Learn about Presidents

PANTHERS ROCK

Asotin Elementary Cub Cheer Team takes top honors at U of I Competition

According to Mr. Glen Landrus, one of the best aspects of teaching at a small school is the diversity of sub-jects you are able to teach your stu-dents. In addition to teaching sub-ject matter from agriculture to weld-ing and advising a very successful FFA club since 1996, Mr. Landrus is exploring yet another topic this fall. With the help of a large grant from FIRST Robotics and the State of Washington, the students in Mr. Landrus’s class are on a mission. A mission to build a functional robot that can throw a Frisbee! At a kick-off event on January 5

th,

the team was given the kit to com-plete the robot and the timeline of a mere six weeks to complete the task! About two-thirds of the grant funding is used to pay for the kit and registration fees; the balance can

be used for necessary supplies. At the six week mark, robots are “bagged” and sealed to ensure the same time was given to each team to complete the project. One hundred ten teams from Wash-ington State join approximately 2,600 teams worldwide that will participate in this challenge. The Asotin team will reconvene over spring break at a contest to measure their success at Eastern Washington University. The theme of the competition is “gracious professionalism” meaning that the spirit of cooperation and teamwork are primary between teams through-out the contest. The students have been divided into a marketing team, drive train team, fabrication team, programming team and an electronics team.

Each group is working on an aspect of making the robot a reality. The next step will be to work coopera-tively to ensure the robot can accu-rately hurl the Frisbee according to their original design. Mr. Landrus noted, “This is a unique learning ex-perience because I do have the “answer” to the problems the stu-dents will encounter”. The team will have to communicate effectively with each other and work cooperatively to complete the challenge. All the skills utilized by the team members are directly transferrable in their future endeavors. More information and detail are avail-able at the following link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa5MGEZNrf0

The Asotin fifth grade Knowledge Bowl team placed first at the Regional competition on Febru-

ary 4th. Knowledge Bowl is a competition where teams answer questions about social studies, gen-

eral knowledge, math and maps. The “Mathletes”, a team comprised of Aaron Boyea, Zane Isley,

Mason Hurlbert and Alex Italia, were coached by Dawn Boyea. Congratulations!

AG Class Compete In Building a Functional Robot Competition

Page 7 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 2

Mark your calendars for the annual Spelling Bee to be held on February 21st at 8:15 in the Wilcox Gym for the elementary and 9:45 for the junior high. Good luck to all the students.

Annual Spelling Bee

The Rodeo Weekend events and the Asotin County Fair weekend will be separated by two weeks this year,

with the Rodeo Weekend coming first, on Friday, April 12. The scheduled events for the Rodeo Weekend and

the week following are:

FRIDAY APRIL 12

6:00 p.m. Local youth rodeo events @ Rodeo Arena

SATURDAY APRIL 13

6:30-9:00 a.m. Asotin Lions' Breakfast in Bennett Building @ Fairgrounds

10:00 a.m. Asotin County Parade in downtown Asotin

6:00 p.m. ProWest Rodeo in Rodeo Arena

9:00 p.m. Rodeo Dance in Bennett Building

SUNDAY APRIL 14

1:00 p.m. ProWest Rodeo and local rodeo events in Rodeo Arena

The Asotin County Fair Weekend will begin Friday April 26th with weekend events scheduled as follows:

TUESDAY APRIL 18 7:00 p.m. 4-H Style Revue in Boyd Hall

FRI - SUN APRIL 19, 20, & 21 4-H & FFA Horse Show in Rodeo Arena

FRIDAY APRIL 26

9:00 a.m. -9:00 p.m. Fair is OPEN on the Fairgrounds

4:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Fair Barbeque at Fairgrounds, Upper Level

SATURDAY APRIL 27

8:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Fair is OPEN on the Fairgrounds

6:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Asotin County Fair Breakfast in Bennett Building

SUNDAY APRIL 28

9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Fair is OPEN on the Fairgrounds

9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Cowboy Church in Bennett Building

Exhibit and livestock entry times and judging schedules will begin on Monday, April 22 detailed schedules and

information are in the Fair Handbook, available at Asotin City Hall and local valley businesses.

Cheers to the staff at City Hall! Tiffney, Bob, and Mackenzie; also Anthony and Vikki and volunteer Nick spent endless personal hours on renovation. They scrubbed, primed, painted and new carpeting was installed. The project is not complete; additional improvements will be finalized in the weeks to come.

FAIR AND RODEO DATES SEPARATE !!!

Kudos Kolumn

Page 8 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 2