Serving Franklin County, WA
Serving Franklin County, WA
PASCO — Franklin County Commissioner Brad Peck admonished rural residents Wednesday for moving forward with plans for a rodeo, parade, dance and fireworks July 3 and 4 despite the coronavirus scare.
“I think it’s the wrong thing,” Peck said during a radio interview, chastising residents of Basin City and the surrounding area who are continuing their rodeo efforts. “I think those communities will pay for the price for it.”
Peck’s comments came a day after he attended a forum with Gov. Jay Inslee at Columbia Basin College.
Although Peck was not invited, Peck sat in on that forum after Franklin County Chairman Bob Koch decided not to attend.
Peck said he came away from that session believing facemasks are the answer to slowing the pandemic and reopening Franklin Count businesses.
“It’s pretty clear how these things spread,” he said.
Peck has since been invited to participate in a press conference with Gov. Inslee at 3 p.m. today. The press conference will be aired on TVW.org.
Not all elected officials from Franklin County were invited to the governor’s forum.
Franklin County Commissioner Clint Didier was not invited. Didier represents the Basin City area.
He has also been vocal in his call for area businesses to reopen regardless of the governor’s proclamations.
Didier is among the rural residents helping with the rodeo that gets under way at 8 a.m. Friday with slack competition.
The first rodeo performance is at 6 p.m. Friday, which will be followed by a 9 p.m. street dance.
The Independence Day celebration continues Saturday, July 4, with a parade at 10 a.m., the second rodeo performance at 6 p.m. and fireworks at 9 p.m.
Camping is available for those traveling to the event, organizers said, noting that admission and camping are free of charge.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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