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Dr. Sarah Bolender, a St. Luke’s oncologist, plans to attend the 2024 Surviving Hearts fundraiser. Her husband, Kevin Carlson, above, checks out some of the items that were up for bid during last year’s event, which benefits cancer patients. Photo courtesy of Surviving Hearts

Winners of the annual Weiser Signal American Easter coloring contest are, from front left, Kelsey Mordhorst and, right, Kenneth Langdon. In back are siblings Julie Enders and Dave Coleman. Coleman is the owner of Pioneer Express, located at 698 Pioneer Road in Weiser. He has been donating bikes for the newspaper’s coloring contest winners for about 12 years. ‘I like seeing kids getting exercise rather than playing video games,’ he said. ‘Hopefully, they will utilize them. Plus, if they live close enough, they can ride down here during summertime.’ Kelsey, 10, and Kenneth, 7, were both shy and not overly talkative, but nonetheless expressed a great deal of excitement about winning the bikes. Photo by Philip A. Janquart

Weiser farmer Ray Laan bought his property off Indianhead Road about 15 years ago. For as many years, he and wife Karma have wanted to refurbish the barn that came with it. In September 2023, he finally decided it was time to pull the trigger. With the aid of contractors and various friends, he was able to lift the entire barn about four feet off the ground in order to pour a concrete foundation, which will ensure the once tipping structure won’t move. Above, Laan works on placing brand new cupolas, which he built by hand. Once finished, the new roofing shingles will be put in place. Photo by Philip A. Janquart

Ray Laan inspects the work already done on the barn he is rebuilding, noting that his resident barn owl keeps returning despite the activity and noise taking place over the last seven or so months. Photo by Philip A. Janquart

Marg Chipman, left, poses for a photo with the 2024 Beta Sigma Phi First Lady. The sorority hosted its 46th annual celebration at the Bee Tree Folk School in Weiser on Sunday, April 7. Photo by Nancy Grindstaff

A few years have passed since this young fiddler posed for the official 2009 National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest and Festival poster and CD cover. Jami Wilson now performs with her husband in a duo Better Than Jam, and they are on this summer’s City Park Festival lineup.

A crew for the City of Weiser spent a part of Friday pouring and finishing a new concrete walkway located at the covered picnic area at Memorial Park in northeast Weiser. Completion of the project means that persons with disabilities can now access the picnic area. Some people using wheelchairs and walkers previously had a hard time getting from the street, through the grass, to the area.