White Salmon council screens PBS segment on Frank D. Waldron; members report on events and a cougar sighting

Council Member Ben Giant introduced a short PBS Mossbacks Northwest segment on Frank D. Waldron and the Whangdoodle Orchestra during the Feb. 18 White Salmon City Council meeting in observance of Black History Month. The video traced the growth of Seattle’s jazz scene during Prohibition, highlighted venues such as the Black and Tan, and noted the influence of Waldron’s teaching and compositions on later artists.

Members thanked Giant for arranging the presentation. Ben Giant also reminded the public of a Community Development Committee meeting at 5 p.m. on Feb. 23.

Councilor Morella Mora said she is recovering and raised a neighborhood concern about a recent cougar sighting. Police Chief Mike Hepner reported that officers coordinated with Fish and Wildlife, which attempted to track the animal with hounds but was unable to locate it; the chief said the animal likely returned to the canyon.

Councilor Doug Rainbolt encouraged attendance at an open house on Phase 1R2A water transmission main improvements and said he is revising the city’s service impact fee analysis. Councilor Patty Fink previewed Tree Fest on March 21 and a planned April community cleanup at Gaddis Park. Mayor Pro Tempore David Lindley noted that City Operations Committee and City Lab meetings were postponed and that a field visit to water infrastructure was being scheduled.