DAYTON-Many came out for some old-fashioned fun at the Third Annual Fourth of July Patriots Picnic in the Park sponsored by the Columbia County Conservatives (CCC). The family event offered free food, games, and a silent auction. Undersheriff Robbie Patterson led the invocation and sermon. The CCC Chairman Chuck Amerein read the Declaration of Independence and introduced local candidates for various positions, including the Governor candidate, M. Semi Bird.

Hotdogs, watermelon, baked goods, and ice cream were all some of the offerings at the Fourth of July Picnic at Dayton's Pietrzycki City Park. Activities included a silent auction, bounce houses, corn hole, a dunk tank and other water games. Many participants were eager for the chance to dunk Sheriff Joe Helm. CCC member and event organizer Darcy Beleny commented that the hard work of putting it on is worth it because it reminds her of times past when it was commonplace for communities to gather for picnics while kids played freely.

Founder of the CCC Chuck Amerein opened the event and served as Master of Ceremony. He invited Undersheriff and local pastor Robbie Patterson to give an invocation. He started with a sermon about freedom and how leftism and "wokeism" are the enemies of freedom. He said it is a fight of right versus wrong and good versus evil. Churches are not exempt in the battle and some "lay prostrate at this ancient paganism masquerading as progressive Christianity." He added, "Young people are growing up with a mindset forced upon them that they need to reduce themselves down to race, gender and sexuality." He went on to say the atheistic agenda has taken hold of many agencies including the media, teachers' unions, universities, Hollywood, some churches, social media, and politics. This, he claimed creates a deep yearning for God because nothing can remove suicide, addiction, racism, hatred, guilt, shame, and perversion like the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God is calling his people to stand and make their voices heard for the future of their children and grandchildren and to be open to what he would have them do to be a blessing to the community and the nation.

He reminded listeners that the victory is already won in Christ and quoted 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind." Patterson then asked those present to join in the prayer of the Apostle Paul from 2 Thessalonians 3 that the word of the Lord may go unhindered in the culture, that it may be glorified, honored, and be given its rightful position and that all may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked people. He prayed for the Lord's mercy and deliverance.

Amerein then read through the Declaration of Independence and led the Pledge of Allegiance before introducing candidate for governor, M. Semi Bird.

Bird echoed some of Patterson's sentiments about taking a stand to preserve the constitution. He shared about his story of growing up in poverty where he had every reason to turn on his country as a victim. But his mother raised him with Scripture and commonsense and encouraged education. Though he initially was a high school drop-out, he went into the Marines and got his high school diploma, then went on to college to get a bachelor's degree Summa Cum Laude, a master's degree, and a PhD. He later volunteered to serve in the United States Special Forces Green Berets and was deployed several times and received medals for his service after which he went into the reserves in the Army National Guard and took a job with the federal government. He since retired from the military and from his federal government work. He chose to serve to defend the United States and is now seeking to work for Washington citizens as the "people's candidate" for governor to defend their rights and promised that in 2024 "with God at our side, we will give Olympia 'the Bird!'"

Candidate for City Council Joann Patras, shared her experience pursuing her undergraduate and master's degrees with honors while raising a family, as well as her professional experience as an education coordinator, business owner and a board member. She offered assurance that she will be diligent and honest as a council woman when approaching projects and issues facing the City. She spoke of the need for more affordable housing and to enforce codes for clean-up of some existing properties. She would like to support businesses on Main Street while attracting new ones. She seeks to represent Dayton residents by respectfully listening to their ideas and by working to ensure that policies represent their standards.

Port Commissioner candidate for Position No.2 Randy Schafer, said he is a native to Dayton and holds a degree in Agronomy and owns a business in Touchet.

-DC photo by Melissa Gemmell

Fun water activities of all kinds were happening around the park, such as dunk Sheriff Joe Helm.

Incumbent for Position No. 4, an at-large position for the Dayton School Board Aneesha Dieu is running unopposed. She expressed her gratitude to the community for their support of the current board as they worked through a substantial transition in administration. She specified that they have also worked to regain their identity as Bulldogs by dismantling the Dayton-Waitsburg Combine. She talked about how they have become cohesive in their approach to issues and in their commitment to their board positions. Her continued goal is for truth and transparency as a school board.