By Stacy Swenson
Driving along the dirt roads crisscrossing the Yakama Nation reservation one thing becomes apparent, small groups of feral horses are everywhere. They cross the road in front of our vehicle, hard hooves pounding the bare dirt, kicking up tufts of dust as the ground underneath them vibrates in applause. On the ridges above us they stand at alert, ready to flee, driven by their distinctive prey animal instinct to take flight when a scan of the horizon alerts them to possible danger.

An estimated 12,000 plus feral horses roam on Yakama Nation land which is ill-equipped to support their growing numbers. A quick scan of the terrain paints a picture of land decimated by overgrazing. The overpopulation has grown to epic proportions and is one that needs attention now before it’s too late for the horses, the land, the fish and the other wildlife that share a fragile eco-system.

By Stacy Swenson
When Michael Rocha was growing up in Toppenish someone he knew opened his eyes to life outside the geographic confines of the lower valley. His parents were farm workers and Rocha wanted to find a career that would bring meaning to his life. The Toppenish High School graduate moved from this area and worked as a motivational speaker. His message was enhanced by illusions he performed during his presentations.

The Toppenish area was always on his mind so four years ago Rocha returned to the valley. He saw the continuing need to help kids and adults succeed and began working to pay-forward the support he had received as a young man.

One corner of a room filled with toys waiting to be bagged and delivered by DCFS workers to area foster children. Many of the items were donated by Toppenish residents.

By Stacy Swenson
Tables filled with toys ready to be distributed to area foster kids was the culmination of weeks of hard work and the generosity of the Toppenish community. The Review Independent sincerely thanks all of you that brought in a gift or gave money to buy toys for the kids.

The Toppenish and surrounding communities have once again come through in a big way to lend assistance for those less fortunate.

The party held for the kids last week was a wondrous sight as kids of all ages played games, collected prizes, visited with Santa and enjoyed a great meal. It’s hard to be away from family during the holidays but the foster parents work hard to assure their kids have a Merry Christmas.

Hats off to the DCFS workers who spent many hours shopping for gifts and gathering donations.

Above, Lisa Parker, front, leads the way as YVOPRC sings carols Saturday in Zillah. Above right Sandi Revine and bottom right Roseanne Brackney and Linda Spurlock wait to hit the trail. Stacy Swenson photos

By Stacy Swenson
The Yakima Valley Old People's Riding Club (YVOPRC) went caroling on horseback Saturday in Zillah.

The group is a chapter of a national organization known as OPRC (old people's riding club).

“Our hearty group set out down the lane and had a wonderful two hour ride despite the 24 degree temperature. We sang as we travelled down the orchard rows between houses. Our last house provided hot chocolate and cookies,” said Lisa Parker, group president.

The national organization has a website and a facebook page for the club as well.  The riders on Saturday were: Lisa Parker, Rosanne Brackney, Melissa Parker, Marin  Brown, Linda Spurlock and Sandi Revine.

The local club is celebrating it's 10th anniversary this year and have been doing this Christmas Carol Trailride for all of those 10 years.

The group meets the second Tuesday of each month in member homes and welcomes new riders.

By Stacy Swenson
“Three strikes and your out” is a policy at the local animal shelter where “Chevy” had just one day left to win over the heart of a potential adopter. He had been in the shelter three separate times, not a good statistic for any wayward animal.

Chevy, a mixed breed dog, met Toppenish Police Officer Derrick Perez that final day in November 2005 and six years later he would be honored with a service award for his 320 deployments, 149 finds and over $200,000 worth of drugs seized as a police dog.

Perez was searching for a dog to train as a K9 officer and although Chevy was five or six years old, well past the optimum age to begin training, he saw something in the dog and took a chance on him. The chance paid off when Perez and Chevy graduated with seven other teams from the Washington State K9 Academy in 2005. Before joining the Toppenish PD, Perez and Chevy worked as detectives on the Law Enforcement Against Drugs (LEAD) task force.

“We had worked with officer Perez and Chevy a few times during their time with LEAD. When Perez came on board in Toppenish it provided us a great new tool,” Captain Ruggles explained.

By Stacy Swenson
The Toppenish Review Independent and Yakima Valley Newspapers are proud to partner with the Toppenish Division of Children and Family Services to insure local foster kids have a memorable holiday season.

It recently came to our attention that organizations who normally contribute gifts for the foster kids won’t be participating this year. The Review staff wanted to help so we offered to get the word out and we also offered to be a drop-off site for those wanting to donate a gift. Carrie Story from Ideal lumber brought in some gifts she is donating to get the project underway. Our address is 412 Washington Avenue, across from the Toppenish library. We are open Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gifts can also be taken to the DCFS office at 4 East 3rd Avenue in Toppenish. The social workers will be delivering the gifts to foster homes the first and second week in December.

By Stacy Swenson
With snow on the ground a large group of people, close to a full house, were at the Toppenish Eagles Club Saturday night raising money to help support the Toppenish Rodeo and Livestock Association.

There were over eighty items to bid on in the silent auction which started before the dinner. Almost 30 items were in the live auction. Emcees Paul Newman, auctioneer, Toppenish’s man of the year and Mike Gordy of We’ve Got Your Bag bantered back and forth with bidders while items hit the auction block. The money raised will go towards the Toppenish Rodeo and Pow Wow slated for July 6 & 7, 2012. The Rodeo association has designated the first Friday and Saturday in July as the rodeo weekend at the Toppenish rodeo grounds.

BY STACY SWENSON
The Love Thy Neighbor and Community Safety Network of Toppenish had a large turn-out for their Graffiti Paint Out, clean up and lunch Oct. 29.

72 students from the high school and Valley View elementary participated along side 57 adults to paint 95 percent of the telephone poles marked with graffiti. They collected 80 bags of trash in their effort to beautify Toppenish.

Community service forms were signed for 59 students, totaling 516 volunteer hours for the day.

The Yakama Nation Tribal Council provided the hamburgers, hot dogs and chips for the lunch served to all the volunteers.

A spring community cleanup is being planned and all are welcome to participate in this worthwhile event.