Pictured are Meagan Pena, Clarence Hall and Kaylene Gregory

TOPPENISH - Meagan Pena is the winner of the Joe Jackson scholarship for $1,000 from the Toppenish Fraternal of Eagles #2229. Megan will be attending Washington State University with a major of psychology after she graduates from Zillah.

Clarence Hall is a State Trustee with The Fraternal Order of Eagles and is the upcoming president, and congratulates the winners.

Kaylene is the winner of the Fraternal Order of Eagles #2229 $1,000 scholarship. She will be attending University of Arizona after she graduates from Toppenish.

By Adam Smith 

TOPPENISH - “Everyone loves the sound of a train in the distance,” so wrote the poet W.H. Auden. And the chance to hear the sound of trains in the past “still lives” in Toppenish.

One of the great attractions in Toppenish “Where the West Still Lives” is the Northern Pacific Railway Museum and depot. There is not only a lot to take in visually at the station, but the learning experience is a fun one that encompasses some essential American History, the history of transportation, and some good old mechanical engineering, (pun intended).

Growers Supply of Toppenish, Solarity Credit Union of Toppenish, Valley Fruit of Wapato, Washington Beef of Toppenish, Yakama Nation Legends Casino, Keith and Peggy Corbett, and Washington State Operation Lifesaver are the sponsors of this year’s Second Grade Educational Excursions Tour.

These sponsors pay for admission and provide transportation to the Northern Pacific Railway Museum for all second grade students in the Mt. Adams, Toppenish, and Wapato School Districts, their teachers, and two parents who accompany the kids on the interactive and exciting tours.

The children attend and participate in six learning stations on the educational tour and receive curriculum materials and an activity book supplied by Washington State Operation Lifesaver with fun information and time capsule pictures of the depot.    

By Adam Smith 
TOPPENISH - Since the Washington State Centennial celebration of 1989 the City of Toppenish has held its annual Mural-In-A-Day event and celebration. This year’s painting will generate the 74th mural in the city “Where the West Still Lives.”

More than a dozen artists will convene on Saturday June 2nd in Pioneer Park at 7:00 a.m. to create the forthcoming masterpiece.

Pioneer Park is located at 504 Elm Street in Toppenish, and when the man hollers “go” the artisans will undertake the project and complete it in 24 hours, or less!
Chamber of Commerce Director Bethany Carpenter says this year’s event has generated a lot of interest from near and far, and should be one of the most exciting events yet.   

“This has become such a fun and important event for Toppenish, says the young chamber director, “and this year, like always, there will be so much activity around the park, with local artists and vendors and great food. It’s bound to be a wonderful time for everyone.”

Hundreds of people are expected to show up at Pioneer Park throughout the day, with many likely to show early in the morning as the Lion’s Club will offer a pancake breakfast beginning at 7:30 a.m. There will also be food and craft vendors showing and selling their wares, a car show put on by Lowcos Car Club Show
Shine, and music in the air.

Folks from all over the valley are certainly expected, and from as far away as the west side and Idaho.

Late in the afternoon, around 4 p.m. a steak dinner will be offered to attendees of the art fest.

This year’s joint artistic effort will be led by renowned Kennewick artist Don Brown who has participated in painting some of the other murals around Toppenish in previous years.

By Adam Smith 
TOPPENISH - The Marketplace Store in Toppenish has closed its doors for good and will not re-open despite efforts of a local investment group led by long time store manager Carla Hernandez to keep the store a viable enterprise and an alternative to grocery giant Safeway.

After 16 years working at the local grocery as a cashier then as the store manager, Hernandez has to say good-bye. “The thing I am most sad about is not continuing to work with the really great employees at Marketplace. Some of them had been there for many years. I will miss them. I will miss the store.” 

Unable to obtain adequate financing to buy the business from owner Mike Hammond, assume his lease with the Idaho family who owns the building and property, and to purchase inventory to keep the doors open, Hernandez says she couldn’t compete with other entities interested in the real estate underlying the store.

An attractive piece of real estate, and situated next to the ever expanding Farm Worker’s clinic, several potential suitors have expressed interest in either opening a grocery store or perhaps removing the old building for new construction. “I thought we had a good chance to put together enough to take over the store from Mr. Hammond,” Hernandez continued.

“Then I found out that the landlords of the building had received multiple offers from other retailers, grocers, and businesses including Zillah Food Center, Fiesta Foods, Blue Sky Market, and Guadalajara Market, to name a few, besides recently learning that the Farmworker’s Clinic would be interested in obtaining the property too.”

YAKIMA — The Rev. David Hacker will be ordained to the priesthood by the Rt. Rev. James E. Waggoner, Jr., Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane, at Campbell Farm in Wapato, June 10 at 4 p.m. The service, and reception, are open to the public.

Hacker has been involved in a variety of ministries in Central Washington for many years. He served as the director of the Campbell Farm from 2001-2007. He was the Director of Congregational Relations for Faith Action Network. He has worked for Yakima County as the Housing First and VISTA Coordinator and he continues his involvement with Noah’s Ark Shelter in Wapato. He currently serves Christ Church in Zillah as Deacon and works with a number of ecumenical partners on the Yakama Indian Reservation. He also works part time with Central WA Progress which seeks to involve the diversity of the community in civic engagement.

Central to his ministry has always been the instruction that Jesus gives, “when you throw a party invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” This sign of the inclusive feast of God in which all are invited, is what he hopes to be able to offer now as he celebrates the Eucharist as priest.

Campbell Farm is a retreat and conference center, as well as a working farm, on the Yakama Indian Reservation. It is located at 2527 Campbell Rd. in Wapato, Wa.