The Othello Independent 5-13-09

Current Resident May 13, 2009 I OTHELLO NDEPENDENT .O COMMUNITY A 3 I . BEAUTIFICATION BEGINS CRWSS SRT STD POSTAGE PAID ello, WA mit No. 46 PHOTO BY ROSEMARY DELLINGER embers of the Othello Community gathered around the fl ag pole at City Hall at noon on Thursday, May 7 to participate in National Day of Prayer. The event was led by Othello Pastor Dan Minyard and included prayers for President Obama, Congress, other national and state leaders, along with prayers for local community leaders. The group also offered prayers for local families, especially those with members serving in the Armed Forces. CEMETERY SERIES Workers completing initial census ground work CITY COUNCIL ROSEMARY DELLINGER EDITOR Local census workers are busy nducting preliminary address rifi cations for Othello and Adams unty. According to Duane Wakan, partnership specialist assigned the Columbia Basin area, eight dividuals are completing the fi rst ase of the operation that will be- come part of the 2010 census. Every 10 years, the U S govern- BUSINESS A 8 ON THEMOVE SPORTS B 1 ment completes a census in the Unit- ed States. It is based on a constitu- nal mandate created by Congress 1928 which called for a census unt of all U S citizens that began 1930. The census is a count of eryone from all 50 states along th Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, the Com- onwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa. The count encompasses all ages, races, ethnic groups and both citizens and non-citizens. Speaking at an Othello City Coun- cil meeting on April 8, Wakan em- phasized the count is important to cities and counties, since some fed- eral programs are based on popula- tion counts. “While the census is a constitu- tional mandate, it is the largest op- erational undertaking besides war,” he said. “It is important to you as a city as well as the citizens who live here.” Each year, more than $300 billion in federal funds are awarded to states and communities based on the lat- est census data. Census information is used by government offi cials to plan construction of roads, hospitals, schools and other governmental ser- vices. The information is also used to determine block grants and other grants dispersed through social ser- vice programs. While local workers are in the pro- cess of completing door-to-door ad- dress verifi cations, the actual census will be conducted by mail beginning in early 2010. Wakan said the 2010 census will include 10 easy ques- tions. Census cards will be mailed to each household with a verifi ed address. If the census card is not returned, a second follow-up card will be sent before an actual census worker will knock on doors to con- duct a face-to-face census between April and July of 2010. “What we want people to know is the 2010 census is simple, it’s impor- tant and safe,” Wakan said. “We also want them to understand the impor- tance of completing and returning the census card.” The short form card will ask for the resident’s name, relationship, gender, age, date of birth, race and whether the respondent owns or rents where they live. Under state law, the Census is re- quired to report population counts to the President in December of 2010, with additional restricted census data due by March of 2011. The initial fi eld operation for ad- dress verifi cation has gone well. “Things have gone smoothly,” Wakan said. “We are actually ahead of schedule. We have received good preliminary data and the workers are doing a great job.” evisions planned along Main Street for post offi ce congestion ROSEMARY DELLINGER EDITOR Traffi c patterns will be changing on along Main Street near the hello Post Offi ce. According to hello Municipal Services coordi- or Jay Van Ness, the change was ompted by an increased number near-miss vehicle accidents and avy traffi c congestion along Main eet and Sixth Avenue. Our goal is to eliminate the poten- CWAC CO-CHAMPION AG B 4 l for traffi c accidents in the area,” d Van Ness. City street crews have already be- n marking the roadway in prepa- ion for the traffi c changes. When completed, motorists will no lon- ger enter the post offi ce from Main Street. Instead, customers will be re- ired to enter the post offi ce park- g lot from Sixth Avenue. Parking lls on the west side of the post of- e will be reversed to accommodate s heading from the opposite direc- n. City crews will be installing a w post offi ce street entrance along xth Avenue. Street parking along xth Avenue will be remarked to al- w cars traveling north along Sixth enue who wish to park along the y street and accommodate single e traffi c in both directions. Driv- leaving Othello City Hall’s main st entrance parking lot will also no City offi cials have released a traffi c fl ow plan to reduce congestion at the Othello post offi ce on Main Street and Sixth Avenue. longer be able to turn left on Sixth Avenue. All traffi c will be required to make a right hand turn onto Sixth Avenue to prevent additional traffi c congestion. Post offi ce offi cials will be install- ing a new back fence to the south of the post offi ce which will also limit traffi c into the postal area. A fence will also be constructed at the front of the post offi ce, limiting pedestrian access across the entrance to Main Street. Do Not Enter signs will be in- stalled on Main Street, alerting driv- ers of the change. Drivers will only be allowed to make a right hand turn Please see TRAFFIC A 3 No comment at public hearings ROSEMARY DELLINGER EDITOR The Othello City Council had two public hearings during its council meeting on Monday, May 11, how- ever neither hearing brought out public comment or council debate. During the fi rst hearing, Othello Police Chief Steve Dunnagan pre- sented information on local grant funds available through the federal stimulus program. Under an Edward Bryne Memorial Justice assistance grant, the City of Othello could qual- ify for $13,587. Dunnagan told the council he would like to see the funds be used to purchase new laptop computers for offi cer patrol vehicles. “It would be a prudent use of the funds and a way to upgrade our technology without having to spend funds from our own budget,” Dun- nagan said. Once the grant is received, the City would have three years to spend the money. Dunnagan rec- ommended spending the funds “in one fell swoop,” purchasing all the computers at one time. The council approved the recommendation with little comment. Othello Municipal Service Coor- dinator Jay Van Ness also presented information on an amended Six Year Street Transportation Improvement plan. Several years ago, the City and the Department of Transportation (DOT) jointly applied for a grant to improve the Highway 26/First Av- enue intersection and the under- Please see COUNCIL A 3 Red Cross plans blood drawing in Othello The American Red Cross will have a blood drawing in Othello on Tuesday, May 19 Pilgrim Luthera Church, 640 E Elm St. All blood typ are needed at th time. Donor ident fi cation is require To schedule an 1-800-787-9621. For additional in- formation, go to www.HelpSaveAL ife.org.

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