The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

I was one of those who attended the community meeting last Tuesday, August 2nd. I found it really ugly. It is really sad to see the Waitsburg community torn apart like this.

But a few things I noticed – one woman stated she did not want a water bottling plant in the Walla Walla Valley. Until one is planned for the Walla Walla Valley, I am not sure if she personally has anything to protest. Waitsburg is in the Touchet River Valley.

I heard one woman say she wants to keep Waitsburg the way it is and does not want it to change. It is too late – Waitsburg has already changed. The only constant in life, is change.

When my father moved his family to Waitsburg in 1973, there were businesses in every store front. These included a full drug store, three taverns, two or three family restaurants, two grocery stores, two service (not gas) stations, a jewelry store, an appliance store, liquor store, a gift shop, Greyhound Bus station, a lumber store, a hardware store and more. There was also a cannery that used millions of gallons of water that provided seasonal work from mid-June to the end of September to approximately 200 people with approximately 20 year-round permanent employees. (I was one of those seasonal workers like almost everyone else in town.) Heck!

Waitsburg even had its own sheriff!

I have concerns and questions about a Nestle water bottling plant in Waitsburg. Everyone should. But the issue cannot be looked at through a keyhole and a decision made. The door needs to be opened to see the entire room and everything in it first.

I returned to Waitsburg last summer after living in Walla Walla for 30 years; perhaps that gives me a different perspective. But don’t tell me that change has not occurred and will continue to occur. Waitsburg is slowly dying, to become a bedroom community of Walla Walla. The question is whether the Waitsburg community will be proactive and start planning for its comeback and its future or not. And this includes businesses!

If Waitsburg is to have a prosperous and healthy future, it needs to be welcoming to outsiders (even those not everybody agrees with). It is very painful to see this town torn apart and the ugliness that is being demonstrated.

I also believe those from outside of Waitsburg need to stay out of it and stop stirring the pot when they do not live here.

Bottom line, folks – The only constant in life, IS change. How are the citizens of Waitsburg going to direct and deal with it?