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Handy: A chiropractor in the family

Dr. Sheila Simmons and her father, Rudy Dabalos, are both certified in the use of the applied kinesiology (AK) diagnostic and treatment technique. Sheila’s husband, Rob Simmons, the other half of the Simmons Family Chiropractic ownership, is also AP certified. By Ted Escobar OTHELLO — Dr. Rudolph Dabalos, D.C., did not have a life-long dream to become a chiropractor. He became one because chiropractic is what led to the healing of his own back injury more than 50 years ago. Dabalos, a Yakima Valley native originally from Wapato, has practiced for more than 40 years. At 76, he’s still going strong in his profession and plans to help heal people until he is no longer physically able. Dabalos studies a lot, especially on days off from the clinic. He has countless books, booklets, flyers and the like filled with information about the human body and how it’s supposed to work. Dabalos and I have known each nearly all our lives. His brother is married to my sister. I’m writi...
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Darrell Winters still competing on horseback at 70

Life-long cowboy Darrell Winters By Ted Escobar Photos courtesy Darrell Winters WHITE SWAN — The first Yakima Valley Team Penning Club competition of the 2019 season is set for March 23-24 at Specks Arena in Sunnyside, and you can expect 70-year-old Darrell Winters to be there. Expect Winters to compete at the highest level. He’s been aging well, taking 3 rd in open class individual point standings in 2018. He finished 2nd in 2016. “Years and injuries do affect performance, but when it's time to win, lets get it done,” Winters said recently. Winters is still in cowboy shape. With a rigid back, the linebacker-sized Winters sits tall in the saddle and commands his horse as if the two had been born a matched pair. “Darrell has consistently done well in the Club because he has a competitive personality and a drive to win,” Club President Mark Crowley said. “He rides quality horses year after year.” Team penning is a ranching skill turned into a sport. It is not...

Snowfall Of ‘96 Catalyst For Friends Of Harrah

Friends of Harrah meet every morning for breakfast. There are usually 20-30 members. By Ted Escobar HARRAH — Junior and Sally Ford invited me to the Harrah Cafe several times, and I kept wondering why that was important to them. I finally committed to going last Friday, but I had to be there no later than 7 a.m. Junior wanted me to meet some of the breakfast regulars, all connected to agriculture in some way. It was the third morning in a row that Junior and Sally were cooking. I walked in, and there were about 24 guys at a long table made up of shorter tables end-to-end. They were busy rolling dice to see who would pay for coffee. I walked over to the kitchen counter. Junior and Sally said “hi,” then Junior introduced me to the Friends of Harrah. They were an extremely friendly bunch “How do you join?” I asked, walking right into the trap. A couple of the fellows told me to pull up a chair and toss my five dollars into the game. “And you’re in,” one of them sa...

Sukiyaki Dinner Next Up For Busy Community Leader

It takes hundreds of volunteers to decorate the Wapato Buddhist Hall and prepare the meal for the annual Sukiyaki Dinner. Within three and a half hours, more than 1,500 people will visit the hall. (Courtesy Lon Inaba). WAPATO — It’s been said many times: If you want to get something done, call on a person who’s busy. Around here, one of those people is Lon Inaba who, with brothers and other family members, operates a family farm of 1,200 acres. Its primary product is vegetables. The family has grown their father’s original 200 acres to the current 1,200. Operations Manager Inaba is busy with the farm, but that hasn’t kept him from taking a place in his community. He is secretary of the Central Washington State Fair’s board of directors. He is president of the Friends of Harrah organization. He sits on other boards. Next up on Inaba’s schedule is the 58 th annual Sukiyaki dinner at the Wapato Buddhist Temple, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 3. At 63, Inaba...