Week of January 22, 2026
Week of January 22, 2026
KENNEWICK — The American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage due to an approximate 35% drawdown of blood products in just the past month. The Red Cross urges individuals to give now so patients don’t face delays in lifesaving care. The need for platelets and blood types O, A negative, and B negative is especially dire. High flu activity this year has slowed efforts to rebuild the Red Cross’s national blood supply. Without immediate action, patients who count on transfusions, including trauma victims, mothers in childbirth, and...
COLUMBIA COUNTY - Bluewood Ski Resort offers a variety of racing programs, skiing and snowboarding, and accessible programs. Pete Korfiatis, Bluewood's general manager since 2021, has extensive experience in alpine racing and coaching. He was a nationally ranked alpine ski racer by his late teens and later held multiple positions with the U.S. Ski Team, including coaching for the men's team at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Korfiatis brings a wide range of winter sport experiences to the mountain...
DAYTON — The Columbia Port Commissioners held their regular meeting at 5 p.m. on January 14, 2026, in the Port conference room. Commissioners Mike Spring, Johnny Watts, and the new member, Scott Hudson, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were present. As the first order of business, Hudson nominated Spring as Board Chair, replacing Seth Bryan. Spring was elected unanimously. Hudson was elected secretary. The commissioners handled several administrative items, including reviewing the monthly budget report and reviewing leases. The...
DAYTON — Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council to order at 6 p.m., on January 13, 2026. The mayor and all council members were present: James Su’euga, Michael Smith, Glenn Hagfeldt, Kyle Anderson, Joann Patras, Shannon McMillen, and new member, Dave Harvey. After clearing administrative items, including the consent agenda, the regular meeting was closed for two consecutive executive sessions, the reasons stated on the agenda as personnel issues and contract negotiations. The council voted on a change to the utility tax after...
Hankins Places 3rd AT BATTLE OF THE BLUES WAITSBURG - Waitsburg High School had four wrestlers attend the Battle of the Blues Wrestling Tournament at College Place High School on Saturday, January 17. The Cardinal wrestlers faced some big schools at this tournament, which hosted 18 schools with 190 boys and 78 girls at the all-day event. Jarod Hankins won four matches by pin and lost one by pin in the third round. He ended the day with a third-place medal. Graycen Teal won one match and lost...
WALLA WALLA — Blue Mountain Grief and Loss Foundation is offering four grief and caregiver support groups for the first quarter of 2026. The sessions will be held at the Foundation’s grief center on Isaacs Ave in Walla Walla. The following programs are designed to provide compassionate, guided support to individuals and families navigating loss, trauma, and complex caregiving: Journey Forward, an adult grief support group, is a professionally facilitated, 12-session series for adults who are grieving the death of a loved one. The group...
WAITSBURG - After a kitchen fire in November, Whiskey C is open with a remodeled kitchen and new menu items. The hours are limited as staffing is built back up to pre-fire levels. Owners Corben Ketelsen and Tommy Long reopened last week, and the parking lot was full. Hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Sunday through...
DAYTON — In “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” James Cameron goes back to Pandora for a new adventure following Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), who is a U.S. Marine turned Na’vi leader, Na’vi warrior Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), and the Sully family. It is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, bloody images, some strong language, thematic elements, and suggestive material. Runtime is 195 minutes. With the audience rating the movie 90% on RottenTomatoes.com, the audience said they enjoyed the film, saying, “Fantastic. Phenomenal....
Sometimes, while researching recipes, I am overcome by unexpected cravings. This week, I was reminded of the flavorful and messy childhood lunchroom classic, the sloppy joe sandwich. Always up for a challenge, I set out looking for an alternative to the overly sweet version that comes out of a can. Here, ground beef is simmered in a tangy homemade sauce that comes to life with a zesty combination of spices. Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound ground beef (80/20) ½ yellow onion,...
Fifteen Years Ago January 20, 2011 Hosted by Schweitzer Mountain Resort, the Chad Engstrom Memorial Race is traditionally the first race of the season for the Emerald Empire Youth Ski League (EEYSL). The Bluewood Alpine Race Team (BART) is one of seven Emerald Empire Youth Ski League (EEYSL) member teams. It fielded 12 athletes at this year's event, which featured Giant Slalom races both Saturday, January 8, and Sunday, January 9. Despite being a small part of the total of 152 racers competing,...
JoAnn Kay Gagnon, longtime Dayton and Waitsburg area resident, passed away Monday, January 19, 2026, of congestive heart failure at the Dayton General Hospital. She was 73. A graveside service will be held Monday, January 26th at 11:00 am at the Waitsburg Cemetery, followed by a memorial service at 1:00 pm at the Community Bible Church in Dayton. Pastor Dewayne Ramsey will officiate. JoAnn was the second of four children born to Donald and Barbara James Lenhard. She was born August 15, 1952,...
David Leon Molesh passed away on January 10, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with ALS. He was born the first of four children on November 16, 1943, in Grand Rapids, Michigan to parents Dorothy and George Molesh. He and his sisters, Sherry and April, grew up in the nearby small town of Greenville, Michigan. He often spoke of an idyllic 40s and 50s childhood of neighborhood playmates and friends, Saturday matinees, sledding, snow forts, and snowball fights in winter, a paper route,...
Darlene Ann Norman, 86, of Esmond, North Dakota, passed away on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at The Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby, N.D. Darlene Ann Peck was born on July 22, 1939, in Bottineau, N.D., the daughter of Lyle and Louise (Lauckner) Peck. She graduated from Bottineau High School and obtained her teacher's certificate. On June 11, 1961, she was united in marriage to James Walter Norman in Bottineau, N.D. The couple resided in Walla Walla, Wash., for a year. In 1962, they moved...
Thursday, Dec. 11 Breakfast Pancake on a stick Lunch Chicken Alfredo Breadstick Fruit and Vegetable Friday, Dec. 12 Breakfast Breakfast Burrito Lunch Pepperoni or Cheese Pizza Fruit & Vegetable Monday, Dec. 15 Breakfast Breakfast Pizza Lunch Hamburger Tater Tots Fruit & Vegetable Tuesday, Dec. 16 Breakfast Biscuits & Gravy Lunch Nachos Fruit & Vegetables Wednesday, Dec. 17 Breakfast Ultimate Breakfast Round Lunch Turkey Sandwich Fruit &...
