Lions updating Grange Hall restrooms

by Matthew Weaver<br>Herald Staff Writer
| August 15, 2006 9:00 PM

Fair booth offers new, deep-fried Twinkie

MOSES LAKE — When the Grant County Fair kicks off today, attendees will get to see the progress of the Moses Lake Lions Club.

The Lions have been working on the restrooms in the Grange Hall, a long-standing building on the Grant County Fairgrounds site.

"This is the Lions place, actually, and we are doing this in lieu of payment to help the fair people out, and put in some adequate restrooms," Lions member Michael Melbye said. "Anybody that's ever seen them before, they were bad, they were just narrow."

The club is working to bring the restrooms up to American Disability Association standards.

"This is a very popular meeting place, not only for the Lions, but also for other groups, weddings and stuff," Melbye said. "They drastically need the improvements."

Lions' efforts for the community include sight and hearing for low-income people and wheelchair ramps, Melbye said.

Lion member Mike Conley said the club has been meeting in the building for several years, with past projects including installation of exit signs and making contributions to the overhead door on the Ardell Pavilion. He estimated the restrooms will cost more than $10,000, with funds coming from the club's Moses Lake Lions Foundation, plus labor. The club plans to pay the foundation back by charging itself for meals, he added, noting it is his understanding that the Lions built the original Grange Hall building about 50 years ago.

"In the future, we plan on working with the fair people to help out at the fairgrounds with work projects," Melbye said. "That leaves us without having to have a rental situation, and that money goes back into the Moses Lake community."

The bathrooms were demolished, and the Lions have put sheet rock up on one wall. Melbye said it is ready for electrical work.

"The plan is to have a toilet in working condition by (Tuesday), so they'll have something in there," Conley said, estimating completion of the project by the end of September.

Melbye said the club began working as soon as it had the proper permits in place. He noted that the project is progressing, considering the fact that the members are volunteering their time in the midst of busy schedules.

"I thought, myself, being involved through the whole project, it's coming together really well," he said. "We've got great help." That help includes local contractors, construction companies and donated concrete and paint.

"This is what we need to support our club, and this is why we're Lions," Melbye said. "It's something you do for the community … Our club is sort of unique because everybody in our club is pretty tight. Not only is it a thing you do for your community, it's a social deal, and we've got wonderful people involved."

"We always say, Lions do projects to get their hands dirty," Conley added.

The Lions also painted the outside of their booth, and were working on clean-up for the fair last week and over the weekend. This year, they will add deep-fried Twinkies to their menu offerings.

"We thought it was time to add something," Conley said.