extra! (A5,6 - Aug. 20, 2009)

Fed wire surplus bought at auction for McD lights

Colfax McDonald Park lighting project has advanced with the purchase of wire which will be used to link up the new light standards for baseball and softball fields at the park. City Treasurer Mark Clinton, who reports on park board sessions for the city, said Supt. Michael Morgan purchased rolls of wire for the project at a federal auction.

Clinton gave the update report at Monday night’s city council session.

Clinton said Morgan attended a federal surplus action at Ft. Lewis and purchased the rolls of wire for $35 each. The specifications on the wire was checked out by Greg Harazin before Morgan made the trip to the surplus auction.

Clinton said the wire listed was on an auction bill that included all types of federal surplus property, some of it at one time intended to be used in Iraq.

Councilman Earl Leland, a member of the joint school-city McDonald committee, noted the wiring for the lights will be in conduit.

The McDonald lights project was moved to a front burner in August after the baseball action ceased at the park. The bases for light standards were put into place last year, and the McDonald committee hopes to complete the wiring for the project while the water table is down at the park this fall.

Work on the project cranked up again after the McDonald committee’s previously approved $34,249 grant from the state’s Recreation and Conservation Office made the funding cut into the new fiscal year.

Nine light standards are expected to go up on the light bases and be ready when baseball and softball season advances.

Chinook run opens seasons for river anglers

Washington anglers who want to answer the call for the Idaho Chinook salmon season can purchase a three-day permit for the river. The Chinook season was approved by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission Monday with a starting date set for Sept. 1.

Counts for upstream runs of Chinook have been strong at dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers and that led the Idaho commission to approve a longer Chinook season over more water this year.

The Idaho fishing was approved from the Washington/Idaho state line upstream to Hells Canyon dam. That means the Clearwater River will be closed to Chinook season.

The Idaho Chinook season has been slated to close Oct. 31, but the state could close it earlier if too many fish are boated in the extended season.

The Sept. 1 start of this year’s Chinook season in Idaho coincides with the start of Steelhead season. Last year, Idaho’s Chinook season began Oct. 1.

Washington is also expected to declare a Chinook season, possibly by the end of this week, according to Madonna Luers, Washington Fish and Game information officer. The season on the lower Snake River could have the same Sept. 1 opening date for Steelhead and Chinook.

Three-day non-resident licenses for Steelhead and salmon in Idaho are available for $37.50. Anglers are required to designate three consecutive days. They will be allowed to keep one fall Chinook a day in Idaho.

Steelhead and salmon tags for anglers who have already purchased an Idaho non-resident fishing license are available for $25.75.

Soccer signups start

Colfax Youth League registration packets for soccer season can be obtained during the registration days at Jennings Elementary School or at Colfax City Hall. Deadline to turn in registration is Sept. 4. Practices begin the week of Sept. 14. Games will be Sept. 26 to Oct. 31.

Women’s Golf Results from Aug. 12 play

Colfax Women’s Golf Association: Teri Heilsberg carded low gross and Sharon Baum low net in the A division. Velma Ulrich had low gross in the B division, and Rose Mary Cochran and Dixie Brannon tied for low net.