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Franklin County commissioner chastises rural residents for moving ahead with rodeo

Basin City activities get underway at 8 a.m. Friday

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.

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.

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Roger Harnack, Publisher

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Roger Harnack is owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. An award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher who grew up in Eastern Washington, he's one of only two Washington state journalists ever to receive the international Golden Quill for editorial/commentary writing. Roger is committed to preserving local media, and along with it, a local voice for Eastern Washington.

 

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