On behalf of the City, I would like to thank the Prosser School District for sending two Prosser Police officers to Ellensburg for specialized training in combating the growing gang problem in our region.  Ray Tolcacher and his staff at the school district have made an unparalleled effort at our schools to address this problem and is extending that effort by assisting the City in its efforts to successfully deal with gang related crime.  It is partnerships like these that make Prosser the great place that it is.

The Prosser Community Gang Task Force, PCGTF, has scheduled a meeting Thursday, Nov. 13^th, 6:30pm at the Fire Station.  I encourage all who have concerns or want to learn what they can do to make our community a safer place to attend.  The three areas of action that the task force has identified are Graffiti Abatement, Neighborhood or Block watch organization and the hardest element; Outreach.  The goal of an Outreach program for Prosser is to give at risk youth a reason and way to connect to our community instead of to a criminal enterprise.  One thing our town is lacking is a place for teens to gather and hang out with each other.  Charlie Bush, the City Administrator and I would like to see the community start discussing a youth center. Whether it is a Boys and Girls Club, or a homegrown variation of that.  What is important is that we put our heads together and work towards making it a reality.  This is just one piece of Outreach but it would be the centerpiece.  Let’s start talking!

Kudos to the Friends of the Playground group for their 2nd successful workday on Saturday, Oct. 11^th.  Headed up by TJ and Desiree Mains, Friends of the Playground, with the help of many community volunteers including Emily McKee, advertising, Heather McClure, picket sales, Michele & Chad Smith, donations, Sheila Stutzman, childcare, TJ & Desiree Mains, volunteer coordinators, Michael Gaul, supplies/tools, and our Public Works Department have spent many man-hours cleaning, staining and repairing the play structure at City Park that so that many of our youngest citizens can  enjoy the park just as they have since the original group of volunteers built it in 2000.  If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, you can contact the Friends of the Playground by sending an e-mail to prosserplayground@yahoo.com

~ Mayor, Paul Warden