Selah marking new sidewalk

SELAH -- A ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of a new sidewalk from Goodlander to Harrison Road takes place today in Selah.

The event will run from 1-2 p.m. in front of the Busy Bear Daycare at 951 N. Wenas Road. Speakers will talk about the significance of the project, which gives pedestrians a safer route to walk between Carlon Park, Selah High School and the residential area along State Route 823. The project also improves the right turn from East Goodlander to northbound SR 823.

Kayaker to make run for office

State Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, will have a fringe sports celebrity as an opponent in his campaign for a fourth term representing the state's 15th District.

Tao Berman, a 29-year-old extreme kayaker from White Salmon who has twice been profiled by Men's Journal and once been featured in Sports Illustrated, said Thursday he plans to run as a Democrat.

Berman, whom many consider the world record holder for largest waterfall descent in a kayak, has never held elected office. Newhouse, whose father, Irv
Newhouse, is a legend in state politics, has held the seat since 2002.

No Democrat has been elected to a 15th District state House position since 1992.

Worm composting class is Saturday

YAKIMA -- It's squirm time again.

The Yakima Area Arboretum is offering its worm composting class Saturday.

The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the arboretum.

Designed for beginners and intermediates, the class will cover everything from getting started, to seasonal care, worm types, selecting a worm bin and helping to troubleshoot problems with existing systems.

Last fall, the class filled. Call the arboretum at 248-7337 to register.

North Cascades Highway closed

WENATCHEE, WASH. -- The Transportation Department has closed the North Cascades Highway through the weekend because of avalanche danger from melting snow in high temperatures.

The department says one slide already hit the highway at Liberty Bell Mountain.

The section of Highway 20 had reopened May 1 after being closed by winter snow since Dec. 4.