Week of December 18, 2025
Week of December 18, 2025
WALLA WALLA — Columbia REA has chosen three local organizations to receive a 2025 Legacy Grant in the amount of $250,000 each. After careful consideration of all applications, the $750,000 Legacy Grant funds will be shared evenly between: Burbank Wrestling Club for facilities improvement/expansion in cooperation with the Columbia School District Starbuck School District for the installation of new playground equipment Walla Walla Summer Theater Group for renovation and restoration of the Fort Walla Walla Amphitheater Columbia REA has a long...
CCPT plans to purchase the port building it leases. DAYTON – The Columbia Port Commissioners held their regular meeting at 5 p.m. on December 10, 2025, in the port office conference room. All Commissioners were present in the Port conference room: Mike Spring, Johnny Watts, and Chair Seth Bryan. Also present was the Executive Director, Jennie Dickinson. There was no public comment during the first public comment period. The commissioners began by approving several routine administrative items. Dickinson briefly discussed Columbia County...
SPOKANE – Walla Walla Swim Club member, Sydney Smith, took the high point award at the Winter SWAT Swim Invite on December 6 and 7 in Spokane. This is the second year the Waitsburg Elementary student has earned the high point recognition in her division at the Spokane meet. She and her teammates competed against nine other teams, from Walla Walla to Missoula, Montana. Smith swam in the eight and under division and placed first in the 100m individual medley, 100m breaststroke, 100m freestyle,...
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg High School's boys' basketball team was up 30-9 at halftime at Prescott on Monday, December 8. "I wish the game had ended after that," said Coach Wallace. "The first half, we played hard. We ran our stuff and had some genuinely good plays. After halftime, we played ugly and got lucky to get the win," he added. In the 66-45 win, JJ Gleason and Landen Henry scored 17 points each to lead the Cardinals in scoring. Also in double figures were Paco Kenney with 12 points and...
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg Middle School boys' basketball teams beat the Touchet Redhawks on Kison Court December 10. The B-squad team won their game 25-7. Andre Navarrette led the team with seven points and six rebounds. Able Creeley scored six points and had seven rebounds. Alex Weis and Hayden Gascon scored four points each, and Ryden Huxoll and Josh Dodd contributed with two points each. Dodd also recorded eight rebounds. The A-squad won their game against the Redhawks 27-16. Arrow Groom scored...
WAITSBURG - Jarod Hankins brought home a gold medal from the Dick Griswold Invitational wrestling tournament hosted at Potlatch High School on December 6. He placed first in the 190-pound division. Graycen Teal and Dylan Guiterez both went 0-2. On December 11, in Pomeroy, Graycen won his match, and teammates Guiterez and Hankins lost theirs. Hankins won four matches, lost two, and placed fourth at Liberty High School in Spangle, Wash., on December 13. Teal won two and lost two, while Guiterez...
SPOKANE, WA — Innovia Foundation is currently accepting scholarship applications for the 2026-27 academic year. Innovia manages over 50 regional scholarships, awarding more than $400,000 to local students each year. Scholarships are available to students within Innovia’s 20-county service area who are college-bound or pursuing vocational or technical training. Single awards range between $500 and $4,000. “In partnership with generous donors, Innovia is honored to provide educational opportunities to local students each year,” says...
PRESCOTT - The Friends of Prescott Schools and the Walla Walla Columbia School Retirees Association held a successful spaghetti dinner fundraiser on December 8, 2025. The event raised funds for the Prescott School District by serving an estimated 140 dinners, hosting a silent auction, running raffles, and selling Christmas ornaments. The lucky raffle winners were Leona Rees, Jim Briggs, Pat Davison, Linda Barker, Nancy Bickelhaupt, Jim Davison, and Laura Chabre. Thanks to the generosity of all...
Week of Christmas Tuesday, December 23: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, December 24: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, December 25, Closed Friday, December 26: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, December 27: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, December 28: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Week of New Years Tuesday, December 30: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, December 31: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, January 1, Closed Friday, January 2: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, January 3: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday,...
DAYTON: “Wicked: For Good” will play for two weekends, December 12 to 16 & 19 to 23. For two holiday seasons, “Wicked,” the Tony Award-winning musical, has become a gravity-defying cinematic sensation. After challenging the Wizard’s totalitarian regime in Oz, Elphaba must grapple with her identity as the Wicked Witch of the West. At the same time, “Glinda the Good” is seen as the nation’s defender against Elphaba. The two witches must make decisions that seal their fates in this second musical installment. “Wicked: For...
Daytrips to lakes and rivers in Columbia County can offer unexpected and welcome wildlife encounters. The best way to observe river otters is to sit quietly above a known feeding area, trail, or slide. Find an angle from which you can avoid surface glare. A pair of polarized sunglasses and binoculars are useful. River otters are wary, and their hearing and sense of smell are well developed. However, they are fairly nearsighted, and they may not notice you if you stay still. Using a 200 – 600...
WAITSBURG - Members of the Waitsburg High School band and the middle school's guitar class performed at the school district's Christmas Concert held on Thursday, December 11. Eighth-grade guitar student, Davina Navarrette, was joined on stage by Kate Hockersmith, Carrie Hendrix, Dan Nechodom, and teacher Elizabeth Jagelski. The guitarists entertained the audience with six holiday tunes, including "Ode to Joy", "Angeline the Baker," "Jingle Bells," and "Feliz Navidad". Navarrette represented her...
In a season of sparkling extravagance, I have always felt that it is often the simplest gifts that can have the sweetest impact. A box of homemade cookies or candy from a neighbor or friend is always among my favorite parts of this time of year. It is always a delight when I am surprised by a new flavor, or a twist on a classic, in an assortment of holiday treats. These playful cookies have the chewy texture of the best fudgy brownie with a perfectly balanced zip of peppermint. The crushed...
Michael Allen White, 79, of Waitsburg, Washington, passed away on November 24, 2025, at his residence. Michael was born on March 25, 1946, in Ontario, Oregon, to Jasper Arthur White and Wilma (Hickey) White. He was raised in the Northwest and graduated from Waitsburg High School in 1964. Michael went on to pursue higher education, earning his Bachelor's degree in Education from Eastern Oregon University and a Master's degree from Washington State University. On January 4, 1969, Michael married...
Ruth Peterson passed away peacefully on December 11, 2025, after a short illness. She died as she lived, with a tenacious, loving, and determined spirit, surrounded by her family. Ruth Ann, as she was known in her early years, was born in Tyler, Minnesota, as the third. daughter of Albert and Edna Schaffer. She spent her formative years in Elkton, South Dakota, where her family ran the local John Deere dealership, and where Ruth Ann was often found helping her dad with the shop books. After...
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 &...
