June kids’ fishing day still needs $1,500 for launch

The county extension office is still $1,500 short of the needed amount to pull off the annual kids’ fishing day at Gilchrist Pond along Union Flat Creek south of Colfax.

County officials have been searching for sponsors of the popular children’s fishing day for spring 2011. The program lost a much-needed $2,500 last fall, when county officials were notified in early October the state was cutting funds.

If the total funds can be raised, the fishing day will be June 11.

County Commissioner Greg Partch said the last-minute help of a couple of sponsors helped narrow the gap down to $1,500. He believes pulling off the day this year is “very possible.”

“It’s been 10 years now and every year it grows. I see a need for this program. I think it’s been so beneficial to the parents and to the young kids. I really want to see it continue,” Partch said.

One sponsor came through last month, said Janet Schmidt, Whitman County Extension agent.

Schmidt added she put in a grant request to Walmart the first week of April.

“It would have been nice to have made the decision by now. I know families and kids really, really look forward to it,” Schmidt said.

This year’s program will not happen if they can’t come up with the money, said Schmidt.

The state program, called the Kids’ Fish-In Program, is run in 12 locations each year around the state, Schmidt said. All the programs saw cuts at the state level for 2011.

More than 300 children participated at Gilchrist Pond last June. The parks department charges $5 for youngsters five to 14.

Youngsters get a pole, bait and a T-shirt, along with the fishing experience.

The pond last year was stocked with 1,800 trout from a hatchery outside Moses Lake. Each angler is allowed three fish.