(IID awards water safety summer activities grants)...The awards were presented at this weeks IID Board meeting.

The idea behind the grants is to help keep young people busy, cool and safe this summer. The Imperial Irrigation District provides the grants to cities and communities in Imperial Valley in support of keeping pools open and/or providing other safe water activities.Grants ranfing from $500 to $5,000 were awarded this week to the cities of Brawley, Calexico, Calipatria, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial and Westmorland. Grants were also provided to the Niland Chamber of Commerce, Heber Public Utility District, County of Imperial for Seeley, and the Imperial Valley Desert Museum. The funding, collectively up to $41,500, comes through the district's Water Safety Program, which, since 1959, has reinforced the life-saving message to stay away from canals. The program's popular mascot, Dippy Duck, has led the charge for the past 57 years, sharing the three main rules; Never swim in canals, Never play near canals, Never jump into canals. Follow Dippy Duck for more information on his Facebook page.