Week of December 5, 2024
DAYTON - The health system in Columbia County is tackling a growing challenge with a blend of innovation and compassion. With 28.6% of the county's residents aged 65 or older-a figure expected to rise to 32% by 2030-the Columbia County Health System prioritizes the needs of the county's aging population. To address healthcare challenges and improve patient outcomes, the critical access hospital district launched the multi-disciplinary Population Health Team. "Our community's aging presents...
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg fourth through eighth-grade students competed in an Amazing Shake gauntlet on Monday, November 25, at Preston Hall. The students were challenged at six different stations. Each student had one minute per station to impress the judges. They were judged on appearance, Je Ne Sais Quoi (i.e., an appeasing quality), handshake, confidence, verbal poise, nonverbal behavior, adaptability, and task completion. The five stations were: Current Events – Participants introduced...
WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg High School winter sports programs have been underway since November 18, and the Cardinals are looking forward to a successful season. Lash LaRue started his second season coaching Waitsburg High School wrestling. His goal for his team is to make it to State. LaRue told his boys, "If you are not going for gold, what are you here for? This sport is all in or not in at all." LaRue believes his athletes have the character, discipline, and attitude to pull it off. This...
WAITSBURG - Eleven volunteer coaches had their hands full with almost 60 "littles" from Waitsburg, Dayton, and Prescott who joined the Little Dribblers of the Touchet Valley to practice their basketball skills. With so many kiddos showing up at the first practice, organizer Chelsie Abel knew she needed to conduct two sessions due to the impressive attendance. Practices are on Thursdays at Preston Hall through the end of January 30. Coaches will work with preschoolers, ages four to kindergarten,...
WAITSBURG - There is still time to get your tickets for the Community Fundraising Concert this Friday, December 6. Wendy Carter from Waitsburg Parks and Recreation will be at Ten Ton Coffee this Thursday, December 5, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. She will have tickets and Xmas swag available. The event starts at 6 p.m. at the Plaza Theater with The Frog Hollow Band. General admission for $5 and VIP tickets for $20 are still available but going fast. Don't miss out. At 7 p.m., the fun moves to the Royal...
WAITSBURG — Waitsburg will enjoy Hometown Christmas celebrations, including the 39th Annual Waitsburg Hometown Christmas Parade, on Sunday, December 8. Tom Elstrom, Chair of the Waitsburg Hometown Christmas Parade, said the holiday procession would briefly impact local traffic and that monitored barricades would be in place for the parade’s duration to help direct traffic. Eastbound traffic on Highway 124 will be diverted south onto Cardinal Road, then east on W. Seventh St. to Coppei Ave. Westbound traffic destined for Highway 124 will...
DAYTON - "The Town That Still Believes" sparkled with light from Dayton's Christmas Kickoff Parade on Friday, November 29. Fire Trucks, buses, big rigs, a marching band, floats, tractors, and Santa appeared in the parade, followed by the lighting of the giant Christmas tree at the corner of Elk Drug. Santa greeted kids around the tree while the community sang Christmas carols. The city enjoyed a fireworks show presented by Alpha Pyrotechnics at the end...
DAYTON — “Fiddler on the Roof” continues through December 7. There are just a few single tickets left. Check online or at the box office Tuesday and Friday 2-5 p.m. The production has had a great run with a tremendous turnout and much appreciated praise. The Liberty Theater greatly values and thanks the Dayton community and surrounding towns for their continued support. Stop by the theater for “Guys Night” on December 17 and pick up some movie passes for date night. Our gift certificates make great Christmas gifts as well. It’s...
The stainless carafe made a metallic thud as it slammed onto the pine booth tabletop. The urethane coating had worn away over the years, as has the luster of this and other small Montana towns whose economy has waned and the youth have fled. Her nametag read "Betty," so I assumed that was accurate. Built like Mimi from the Drew Carey Show, she was robust with heavy makeup, voluptuous brunette hair with silver streaks, and an attitude that could make dried paint run. I hoped there was hot coffee...
Ten Years Ago December 4, 2014 Artist Squire Broel's monument, to be placed in downtown Waitsburg in May, honors the three founding fathers of the Waitsburg community: William Bruce, William Preston, and Sylvester Wait. It is Broel's desire that the piece will also recognize the efforts of countless other individuals who quietly labored to make Waitsburg the town it is today. "Each individual makes an impact on their community," said Broel. To honor those efforts, the artist is inviting...
Cranberries on holiday tables don't have to be in the form of canned jellied sauce. They can be a tasty year-round ingredient. The bright red fruit, with its distinctive tart flavor, can add the perfect sparkle to both sweet and savory dishes. The American cranberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon, delicious as fresh plump berries or sweet dried fruit is native to North America. After Wisconsin and Massachusetts, Washington State is one of largest American producers of cranberries, much of it grown up...