Pictured: Left to right. Janet Moran, a Senior at Toppenish High School participated in University of Washington’s School of Medicine U-DOC program. The program aims to help disadvantaged and/or minority youth gain professional experience in the fields of medicine or dentistry while they are still in high school. She is posing with her friends Stephanie Villarruel and Nila Jimenez, also seniors. Photo by William Lewis

Pictured: Despite rain and chilly temperatures, visitors continued to arrive throughout the day at the Zillah Lakes grand opening event on Saturday in Zillah. Here a family is seen entering one of the many model homes available. Staff photo

The Toppenish Chamber of Commerce and Toppenish Mural Society will be moving into all new digs Sept. 28-30, in the Toppenish Visitor Center, which will celebrate its grand opening Oct. 7.

Chamber Executive Director Susan Treneer said last week that the old office location will be closed on Sept. 29 and 30, for the relocation into the new space.

The new visitor center is in Pioneer Park, at 504 S. Elm. The Chamber office can be reached at 865-3632.

Toppenish Parks and Recreation Director James Cole has provided an update on the new playground equipment from the Seattle Seahawks, which will be installed at Pioneer Park.

Picture: Wapato Mayor Jesse Farias makes a point about the preliminary 2009 budget to City Council members at the Sept. 15 budget study session. Staff photo

The Yakama Nation cigarette tax stamp is valid again, at least until the end of January next year, despite the termination of the tribe’s tax compact agreement with the state, after a ruling by a federal judge Sept. 12.

Pictured: The newly selected Miss Wapato and court wave to the crowd during the Harvest Festival parade this past Labor Day in Wapato. Staff photo

TOPPENISH — The Toppenish Chamber of Commerce announced last week that the annual Fiestas Patrias celebration scheduled for this coming Sept. 13 and 14 has been cancelled.

Chamber executive director Susan Treneer said that the cancellation was caused by a miscommunication about the requirements for the use of the Toppenish Rodeo Grounds, where the event was to have been held this year.

She said those requirements have changed only recently.

The situation was further complicated by the fact that Treneer had only recently taken over the executive director position, she said.

The Toppenish Fiestas Patrias celebration will resume next year, Treneer said.

The Yakama Nation and the Washington State department of revenue have been asked to work together on an interim agreement related to the failed cigarette tax agreement between the two, while the presiding judge studies the key legal issues involved in the case.

Pictured: Kara Lowe, Hope of the Nations congregation member, shows the T-shirt design she created. Shirts will be available at cost to those wishing to purchase them. Staff photo