Relay for Life fundraiser coming to Antelope Valley

There will be a very fun evening and a wonderful fundraiser for our local Relay for Life team, the Antelope Valley Survivors, from 7-9 p.m. Saturday. They will be holding a poker night at the Walker Community Center, which will cost $20 to buy in, with winners at each table receiving prizes. The Lions Club will hold a no-host bar, and snacks will be provided. It should be a really enjoyable evening, and for a very good cause.

The following Saturday, July 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Coleville High School, the Survivors will hold a car wash. I can vouch for the quality of the wash from last year. It's one more way to help them meet their goal, so take your dirty car down there.

If you are a cancer survivor, or know of someone who is, and you would like to participate in the relay on July 26, please call Tammy at (530) 495-2239 or Mariann at (530) 495-2819.

Death Ride bicycle event

This year's Death Ride will take place on Saturday, and signs on the highway advise that Highway 89 over Monitor Pass will be closed in the morning. I can't imagine riding a bicycle over five mountain passes, so I have the utmost respect for the physical condition of the participants. All I can say is, better them than me.

Walker River Colorguard

Our local group again did very well at the Fourth of July parade in Bridgeport. For the second time, they won the judges' award for their performance. These kids have been impressive, as has the leadership of Karla Smith from the beginning.

Transit issues

There was a meeting July 1 at the Walker Senior Center, held by Eastern Sierra Transit Authority. They were here to advise local residents and transit users of the possibilities of changes in the local service and to hear our residents' needs. Unfortunately, I didn't come away with a good feeling about cuts that may be coming for our area.

For those of you who use Dial-A-Ride or the bus into Gardnerville and Carson City, there may be some substantial changes. These could include a 50 percent reduction in Dial-A Ride service, fare increases, bus route reductions, etc. There will be a meeting of the transit's directors on Friday, July 18, in Mammoth Lakes to consider the choices and decide on what their plan of action will be. I'll let you know anything I can find out about this.

West Nile virus

It's that time of year again. I received a note from Dr. Richard Johnson, the Mono County Public Health Officer, which stated that the type of mosquito known to carry this bad virus has been found in southern Mono County. Please be very careful, especially early in the morning and at dusk. Wear long sleeves and pants, use mosquito repellent, and stay away from areas of possible mosquito breeding. We have been very fortunate in the Eastern Sierra thus far, so let's try to keep it that way.

How big is big?

Well, I got lucky on the Fourth of July. Mike and I went fishing with our friend, Bob, and I caught a beautiful 2.8 pound trout. Naturally, I had to enter it in the How Big is Big? fishing derby, so we took it down to the Walker General Store and became official. There have been, and will continue to be, great fish planted in the West Walker River, so get out there and catch a good one.

n Lynne Katusich can be reached at lynnekat@schat.net or (530) 495-2552.