Stories in this compilation are excerpted from weekly newspapers from around the region.

Beaver problem returns to Farmington

FARMINGTON - In December, after a report of a beaver dam causing water levels to rise near private property on the south fork of Pine Creek, Mayor James Woomack called for help.

Bill Foreyt, a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife certified wildlife operator, came out and set traps, soon catching a 42-pound male beaver.

He also broke some limbs in the center of the dam, allowing water to flow freely and minimize the flooding hazard.

The traps remained in place for three weeks.

"At this point, it was just the one beaver," Woomack said. "I'm keeping an eye on the creek though."

The cost to Farmington for Foreyt's services was $75 per beaver. If none was caught, there would be no charge.

In August 2013, Foreyt trapped five beavers in Farmington that built six dams along the half-mile section of Pine Creek that runs through the city limits.

- Whitman County Gazette (Colfax), Thursday

Whiskey Creek hires general manager

WAITSBURG - Construction of the Whiskey Creek Sports Bar and Grill on Waitsburg's east side is on track, and owners expect to open the doors in late March or early April. The recent hire of the grill's first employee, General Manager Gary Bales, will help to speed that process along.

Whiskey Creek is located on the former site of the White Stallion Restaurant at 701 Preston Ave. Investors hope the restaurant will fill the void for casual family dining in the community.

From the beginning, investors intended to be largely hands-off, turning the restaurant operations over to a general manager. Bales was hired to fill that position effective with the new year.

Bales, originally from Crescent City, Calif., lives with his wife, three sons and a daughter in Clarkston. And while he calls Clarkston home, the bulk of his time recently has been spent in Alaska where he worked four weeks on, two weeks off, for a catering company that did remote site work for the oil industry. Bales left that job in October. He hopes to be able to move to Waitsburg with his family this summer.

- Dena Wood, The Times (Waitsburg), Thursday

Parks board plans for 2015

COLFAX - The Whitman County Parks Board is looking ahead to 2015 with several projects in the working stages.

Items to be completed include an update to the comprehensive plan and to finish and install 16 Palouse Scenic Byway interpretive signs, which will be placed in communities along the route.

In addition, two beams and the roof on the shelter are set to be replaced at Wawawai Park, which is also slated for installation of solar power.

"Wawawai has lots of sun," said Whitman County Parks Director Tim Myers. "It's really a perfect environment for that type of system."

In 2013, the board hired Roger Daisley of RGR Solar in Pullman to do a study to determine the practicality of powering the park - both the water pumping mechanism for irrigation and the ranger's residence.

Funding for the system is yet to be determined. Myers indicated there were rebates available through state programs. If the project is put in place, he anticipates a time frame of less than 10 years until it pays for itself.

- Garth Meyer, Whitman County Gazette (Colfax), Thursday

Dayton puts sales tax increase before voters

DAYTON - The city of Dayton will ask for voter approval of a sales and use tax increase this February to help maintain city streets. The increase would raise sales tax by two-tenths of 1 percent or 20 cents for every $100 spent on taxable items in Dayton.

The special election ballots will go out to voters Jan. 23, and voting will be completed Feb. 10. A simple majority, or at least 50 percent voter approval is required for the measure to pass.

What does this mean for shoppers? Sales tax would be 8.3 percent rather than the current 8.1 percent. The change would take effect mid-summer, according to City Clerk Trina Cole.

- Dian Ver Valen, The Times (Waitsburg), Thursday

New bids to be sought in spring for Cascade swimming pool

CASCADE - The Southern Valley County Recreation District will seek new bids in the spring for the proposed Cascade Aquatic and Fitness Center with an eye to cutting costs.

The district board also met Tuesday with attorney Ken Arment to discuss alternative ways to finance the center, which would be built on 4 acres near Kelly's Whitewater Park.

The low bid in September by Kreizenbeck Constructors of Boise was $2.7 million, about $817,000 more than the $2 million the recreation district has in cash and pledges.

A fully built complex would cost $3.3 million, while the $2.7 million bid by Kreizenbeck would have built a temporary dome over the pool and delay the fitness center wing.

The district has since learned of ways to save money, recreation board President Bob Zach said.

- Dan Gallagher, the Star-News (McCall), Thursday