Hangman Creek Chamber of Commerce February Meeting at Fredneck's Saloon & Beanery,

Hangman Creek Chamber of Commerce  meeting, February 14, 2013, 11:30 am, will be at the newest Chamber member in Rockford, Fredneck's Saloon & Beanery. Members are encouraged to show support for newest member, and bring a friend, guest, and/or new member to lunch.

Hangman Creek Chamber of Commerce includes and promotes Fairfield, Latah, Mica, Rockford, Spangle, Valleyford and Waverly.

The Membership Committee reminded members,

"We are ALL advertisers now. The success of the Hangman Creek Chamber of Commerce is up to YOU! Membership drive is by 'word of mouth.'"

In January, the Chamber initiated highlighting a business each month. Starting with new members, Farmhouse Pizza and Fredneck's Saloon & Beanery, 'Business-of-the-Month' recognition went to Farmhouse Pizza, in Rockford, Wash., which sold 36 Pizzas on their opening day, December 31, 2012 - New Year's Eve.

Owner, Sheila McCormick, and her husband, Jeff, and 3 boys have lived in Rockford for six years. Sheila wanted to do something to contribute to the family income, so they stepped out of their comfort level and really come up with a great addition to Rockford and the area.

Sheila makes great pizza dough from scratch! They have all the usual toppings (except anchovies-so if you want those, buy a jar at the grocery store!!) The Pizza's  and Breadsticks are great; six Breadsticks and pizza dipping sauce for $3. They have Personal, Medium and Large sizes, baked onsite in about 8-10 minutes, or 'Take 'N Bake' and do it yourself! Stop by the Farmhouse Pizza Shop on the corner of Emma and 1st to pick up yours. Phone number is: 509-291-3269.

Chamber 2013 officers are, Linda Thomas - President, Ken Fuchs - Past President, Bev Bergstrom - Treasurer . Vivian Plank-Vice-President, Sharyle Croswhite - Director Chamber. Secretary needs a volunteer.

Members Linda Thomas, Vivian Plank, Mary-Lou Benson, Tom Sawyer, Sharyle Croswhite, Bev Bergstrom, Randy Russell, Lynn Schafer attended the January meeting. Farmhouse Pizza owner was not able to come to the meeting. She was making Pizzas.

Hangman Creek Chamber of Commerce Blood Bank Fund units are being used. The Fund has about 45 pints available. They expire in 1 year, 2-3 pints each month are lost. Contact Ken Fuchs, Fairfield, @ 283-2124 or 283-2364 first so he can OK it if anyone you know of anyone in the area who needs blood donated to them.

Bloodmobile - Donate Blood anytime Fund. Sign up on the INBC website, http://www.inbc2.org/. Come see technology work! Rules have changed and they use a tablet for questionnaire.

Erin, our new Area Coordinator for INBC,vwill schedule three Blood Drives in 2013. The first drive is scheduled March 26th: Fairfield - morning, Rockford - afternoon.

Their goal hasn't been met for the last few years. With 500 and 600 people in Rockford and Fairfield and at least that many in Member towns, more people are needed to donate blood.

Over the years, friendly competition has existed, however now in order to get the Bloodmobile to come, chamber members are urged to get serious and find those wonderful people that will donate. A brainstorming session produced ideas such as a drawing for a Dinner for Two, or what kind of donations could be gotten. And who might be willing to donate to a Basket full of goodies for the drawing winner?

Contact these chamber members if you wish to contribute: 

• Fairfield, Ken Fuchs @ 283-2124 or 283-2364
• Rockford, Vivian Plank 892-4412
• Liberty ASB, Diana Harrington 624-4415
• Freeman ASB, call the Blood Center (509) 624-0151 or (800) 423-0151.

Lynn Schafer, webmaster, reported that area advertisements are live at Hangman Creek Chamber of Commerce. 
Lynn made it easy for members to keep their website information current. To provide Schafer with updates and information in their communities for the website pages, members email the 'Contact Us' from the website . Also, send URL and email addresses for members that haven't yet listed their business.

Recognizing the importance of keeping the website updated, Lynn was congratulated for doing an excellent job.

New Comers Dessert - 3X5 cards are at Town Halls and Post Offices for new people to fill out so the chamber can call and make appointments to deliver their 'New Comers Bags and Invitations to the Dessert. Welcome Bag items are donated by area businesses who bring them to a Chamber meeting, or deliver items to Bev Bergstrom at the Fairfield Branch Library, Fairfield, or to Vivian at Banner Bank, Rockford.

The event will be scheduled for May at the Fairfield Community Center. Cheryl Loeffler said it would be great, and plans will be set at the February 14, 2013 meeting at Fredneck's Saloon and Beanery in Rockford. Members will bring food for their "Food From the Heart Food Drive". Consideration of a fundraiser is on also the agenda.

The Chamber's contestant for the South East Spokane County Fair Royalty will be chosen in January or February because the Coronation will be in March/April in 2013. The chaperone will also be determined.

Randy Russell and Laura Hamma at Freeman and Bill Motsenbocker at Liberty, plus Fair President Wayne Schull and former President Micki Harnois and Kris Pettibone were contacted for a list of candidates.

Also discussed were Chamber brochures, and high school student scholarships for Freeman School District (Committee member Randy Russell) and Liberty School District (Committee member Bill Motsenbocker.)

The Chamber participates in area parades, including Fairfield Flag Day, South East Spokane County Fair, Spangle, Valleyford, Tekoa, Rosalia and possibly Valleyfest, which focuses attention on area businesses.

The Chamber hopes to send items of interest for publication to Current Magazine, Valley Herald, The Pacific Northwest Inlander, Valleyford Clarion, The North Palouse Washington eNewscast, and other media venues.
 

Rockford Resident Mona Vanek Featured in The River Journal Magazine

When Trish Gannon, editor of The River Journal, asked to interview me, Mona Vanek, resident of Rockford, Wash., author and editor, it offered a golden opportunity to spread the word about upcoming third editions of Behind These Mountain, vol. 1, 2, and 3.

The River Journal May 2012 issue, with The Montana Scribbler has History at her Fingertips,  became available in Idaho and Montana May 8th. The online story, in full color, was published on the Internet the next day. The feature also relates the story behind the Montana history for which Idaho Writers League honored me with their "1992 Writer of the Year" award.

When have all three volumes ready (ie: edited, revised and written in e-format) the volumes will be published as e-books and made available on electronic devices such as Nook, Kindle and Sony. It's challenging, and keeps me young!

Nevertheless, whenever you see me here on the Palouse, don't expect me to look like the photo in Trish's article. Image is an important aspect of publicity, so when the editor asked for a photo, the .jpg I sent along for the magazine interview was a snapshot taken shortly after we moved to Rockford. A grandson's girlfriend, who worked in the makeup\perfume department in an upscale department store, "did our makeup" for us gals one day. She had us all giggling!

Since that snapshot looks like a studio portrait, I knew that it would reproduce well in print and online editions of The River Journal, because the background is uncluttered. It also makes me look the part of a professional writer, rather than the contented great-grandma I really am. [Big grin] It sure makes me look pretty and professional, but you'll see the real "me" in my website profile .

During 1986 and 1992, when published by The Statesman-Examiner, in Colville, Wash., Behind These Mountains print editions were small runs, so 1^st Editions sold out and are now rare collectible books.

More than 28,000 people, worldwide, have viewed the 2nd Edition, published in 2010 on the Internet. Weekly visits exceed 200, and continue to increase.

A big THANK YOU to Trish Gannon for providing an opportunity to announce the upcoming 3rd Edition of a unique, fully-documented, Montana history.

Pit Bull Attacks Yorkshire Silky Terrier in Rockford.

Bill Creed was working in the garage attached to his home yesterday afternoon when a Pit Bull bounded up their block-long driveway. "Lucky," the Creed's faithful Yorkshire Silky Terrier that shadows Bill everywhere, was just outside the open door when the Pit Bull charged. Lucky raced into the garage for protection.

Bill let out a blood curdling war cry just as the dogs flashed past him to the closed doorway leading into the house, but the Pit Bull had already sunk his teeth deep into Lucky's flank and was mauling the terrified terrier, with intent to kill.

"My battle instinct kicked in and saved Lucky," Bill said. His outcry reverberated in the garage and scared off the vicious attack. Fortunately, the dog did not turn on Bill. About a month ago, the dog had charged Bill, when he was shopping at the local Exxon MiniMart Station in Rockford, a few blocks from his home.

In an interview this morning, he said, "My throat's sore from the force of my yell. My battle instinct just kicked in." The pit bull retreated instead of charging Bill.

He and his wife, Kathy, raced Lucky to Pioneer Veterinarian for medical care, 15 miles away. The little dog suffered puncture wounds and deep bruises on his flank, which was shaved to reduce the danger of infection. Seth Valentine, Lucky's veterinarian, reduced his operating room fees. "Consider it a belated Christmas gift," he said. Valentine is well known for loving each animal under his care.

Rockford's Pit Bull Ordinance, No. 90.3, specifically prohibits the Pit Bull Terrier breed. It states in part, "The breeds attack without warning for the purpose of killing their victim."

Pit Bull ordinance: Section 2 A states, "It is unlawful to keep, or harbor, own, or in any way possess a Pit Bull Dog within the city of Rockford."

Section 4 states specific Penalties, including fines, imprisonment and destroying of the dog. The Ordinance has been in effect since 1990. However, so far this Section has not been invoked.

The Creeds brought the issue of this particular dog, which roams all over the town, to the Town Council several times previously. When they called the Town Hall again yesterday, Deputy Clerk, Brenda Gambrill, phoned Spokanimal, which is charged with investigating complaints of problem animals. She was told that Spokanimal would return to Rockford Wednesday (today) to investigate this Pit Bull again.

Every time Rockford requests a Spokanimal investigation the town is billed for time and travel, which is usually well in excess of $100, according to Clerk, Darlene LaShaw. Spokanimal has been called out to investigate three times already.

According to the October 11, 2011 Town Council meeting minutes, Kathy Creed "… spoke of the Pit Bull that is at the trailer behind the yellow house by the Grange Hall. Steve Kelley asked if it is licensed. Darlene explained that Spokanimal had been called out for that dog. The Spokanimal employee thought it was the nicest dog she had reviewed.  The owner claimed it was his daughter’s dog, not his dog.  It was just visiting.  Darlene noted her frustrations with Spokanimal."

Kathy said, "Mayor Mickie said at that time, 'she would talk to the dog owner.'"

Darlene explained that problem dog owners circumvent the law in various ways, such as taking the animal out of town overnight and then returning it the next day, or claiming it isn't their dog, or just plain flouting the law. Since there is an Ordinance, and when Spokanimal doesn't remove the dog as a menace, the owner can't be fined.

The Creeds have an injured pet to comfort and care for, a vet bill, and a heap of frustration and fear.

The dog remains in Rockford, despite the Ordinance banning the breed.