J.T. demonstrates the art of volunteering

He is at it again, but with a twist. Justin Vieira, known to his friends as J.T., accompanied his dad Brandon Niemi to Pioneer Village Senior Apartments recently to volunteer with the distribution of food from the Moses Lake Food Bank.

Every Tuesday, Brandon, the maintenance supervisor, stops at the Moses Lake Food Bank and picks up enough food for 60 households and delivers the food to PV.

The food is placed along the length of two long tables. Each week we have volunteers, sometimes two and sometimes four, standing behind the tables to assist the residents as they pass along the food line.

J.T. first volunteered in this manner during his first day of the 2016 Christmas Vacation. He traveled to the food bank with his Dad and helped load the cartons of food from the pallet to the back of the pickup. Then he helped unload the food, from the pickup into the PV building.

Next it was time to greet the residents and J.T., with his charming smile, welcomed one resident after another. Of course, the residents were anxious to claim him as their adopted grandson or great-grandson.

So, two weeks ago, on a Tuesday with no school, J.T. again accompanied his Dad to the food bank and then to PV. He was anxious to volunteer again, but this time was different. With him was his friend, 9-year-old Selah Loomis. This volunteer twosome helped the residents with their choice of food items.

The volunteering effort produced much goodwill among all who participated, with Selah and J.T. being the stars of the day.

Setting an example for your classmates, friends and family members is important in life. You two shine bright as volunteering 9-year-olds.

E-mail from Cheryl

Facts from the past gleaned from the Moses Lake Herald, Columbia Basin Herald and The Neppel Record by Cheryl (Driggs) Elkins:

From the CBH on Jan. 28, 1982:

Metcalf elected

Karen Metcalf has been elected president of the Warden PTSA. She fills a vacancy created when Roy Riggs moved from the area.

The PTSA is asking for nominees to serve as ways and means chairman for the PTSA, a position Metcalf held. The next PTSA meeting will be 7:30 p.m., Feb. 16 in the school cafeteria.

Square dance set

The 4 X 8 Square Dance Club, of Ephrata, is hosting a North Central Council square dance Saturday from 8:30 p.m. to midnight at the Ephrata Square and Round Dance Hall at the old air base.

Clinic reopens

The Warden Medical Clinic has reopened after a two-week closure.

Drs. J. Hake and R. Matthies now are available for referral through Physicians Assistants Bob Born and Jo Ribbeck, who alternate their time at the clinic.

The clinic is an extension of Dr. K.P. Conklin’s Doctors’ Clinic at Moses Lake. The Warden Clinic closed recently due to his illness. New hours are 1 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Reunion planned

The Ephrata High School Class of 1957 has set a 25-year reunion June 26.

The Reunion Committee is asking the assistance of the community in getting current addresses for 1957 graduates. Those having information should call Marilyn Blum at 754-4072.

Judge provided

Grant County commissioners have signed a contract with Electric city to provide a judge to hear routine traffic cases.

Electric City will pay the county $100 a month for the service. The town will be allowed to keep the fines.

Ski class set

Moses Lake Community Schools is offering a ski maintenance and safety class Wednesday at Frontier Junior High.

The class begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Little Theater. It’s designed to inform skiers on maintenance of ski equipment. Safety tips also will be discussed. To pre-register or for more information call 765-1885.

Speaker slated

Dr. Richard Eby, author of “Caught up into Paradise,” will be the guest speaker at the Ephrata Foursquare Fellowship in Ephrata at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 12.

A California physician, Eby will discuss his religious experiences, which he says include glimpses of heaven and hell.