Mike Richards
High Prairie friends and neighbors, it is with a tinge of bittersweet that I write this installment for the High Prairian. This will be my final contribution to this wonderful publication as President of the High Prairie Community Council.
It it not with a light heart that I leave this post. Many of you will understand it is the realities of life that rear their heads and compel me to make this change. There are just not enough hours in the day to do everything that needs to be done, and I feel that I am not serving the office with all the time that it deserves or needs.
And, as the father of three daughters that many of you are familiar with, they have to take precedence over everything else. They are not getting any younger, and their education and activity lists are only going to get longer.
I won’t be leaving entirely, however. I have committed to staying on as the Community Center Coordinator and adviser to the next President, if needed. I will be relying on several dedicated volunteers to help me out by opening the center for scheduled events. If you know anyone who is interested in renting the venue, have them get ahold of me directly. My contact info is on the web page at www.highprairiecommunitycouncil.wordpress.com under the label “Community Center”.
So much for the bitter part. Now let’s talk sweet!
After another hugely-successful, best-ever High Prairie Firehouse Sale, we are sitting pretty for yet another year of activities and improvements to be made on behalf of the Fire District and the Community Center. The overwhelming message from everyone involved is, “Fix the kitchen!”
I want you to know that your comments are well-taken, and we have already been discussing how to approach the problem. So far, the discussion is centered around having a local kitchen design expert come in and lay out the best plan to rearrange the entire floor. We are looking into a commercial-style dishwasher that can blast plates and cups clean in a matter of minutes and not hours. If we upgrade the dishwasher in this manner, it will almost certainly mean replacing the stainless steel counters and sinks on the west wall under the windows.
What does all of this mean for the Community Council? It means a lot of time and money spent. Several thousand dollars and more. It’s not a small job in any way. However, we can do it with your help. In the coming months, there will be several meetings during which we discuss the annual budget and projects such as the kitchen. I strongly encourage members of the community to attend these meetings, participate in them, and provide input. This is your Community Center, and it is thanks to your participation that we are even in a position to have these discussions. Please plan on attending one or more of these meetings.
We will also be making our annual contribution to Fire District 14, an event that we look forward to with anticipation and gratitude for the fire commissioners.
Speaking of the Fire District… If you have not already heard the big, big news, Legends Casino in Toppenish came through for us again this year! They donated a significant amount to FD 14 via the High Prairie Community Council’s 501(c)3 nonprofit status.
Each year, the casino accepts grant applications from nonprofit groups around the region, and puts those applications through a vetting process. They then donate a significant amount back to the communities in which they have a presence, if they benefit the native community in some way. Due to some Yakama Nation property located within the boundaries of FD 14, they have a keen interest in donating back to our community.
You may remember last year that we were awarded five thousand dollars to upgrade the pagers the firefighters use to new ones that are compatible with the county’s new radio system. This year, Legends came through with four thousand dollars to be used in purchasing Bendix programmable radios. Thanks to Tim Darland for spearheading this effort!
That about wraps up the latest goings-on at the Community Council. I would like to end on that high note and wrap up my tenure by saying the following: It has been my pleasure and privilege to serve the community the past two years. Your HPCC board members are fine people working incredibly hard for you, and they can always use your support and kind words. They are appreciated.
I leave my post with the best of feelings toward the community, the board and the numerous, dedicated volunteers that make up the organization. We have something really special going on, here in High Prairie and I sincerely hope that someone will step into the role of president who will take it as seriously as I tried to, and devote to it the time it needs to be done well.