Week of July 17, 2025

  • Watt, Bryan push for RR sale decision at Port meeting

    Justin Jaech, The Times

    DAYTON – The Port of Columbia Commissioners held their regular meeting at 5 p.m. on July 8, 2025, at the Port of Columbia office. Commissioners Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, Mike Spring, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were present. The meeting was well attended by the public, likely in anticipation that the commissioners would vote on the proposed sale of the railroad property during the meeting. They did not. Dickinson said Jasper Mountain Venture has leased space at the Cameron Street Coworking property. The company provides services...

  • Dayton commissioners discuss vandalism, road work

    Justin Jaech, The Times

    DAYTON — Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council meeting to order at 6 p.m. on July 8, 2025. Trump, council members James Su’euga, Michael Smith, Glenn Hagfeldt, Laura Aukerman, Kyle Anderson, Shannon McMillen, and Joann Patras were present at Dayton City Hall. Sheriff Joe Helm reminded everyone that National Night Out is August 5, 2025, at Pietrzycki City Park. The sheriff said that anyone interested in purchasing surplus vehicles from the Sheriff’s Department can contact the county. Su’euga asked Helm to provide more...

  • CCHS nationally recognized for commitment to high-quality cardiovascular care

    Lane Gwinn, The Times

    DAYTON -The American Heart Association recognized the Columbia County Health System with five Get With The Guidelines awards. The awards are given to participating hospitals and health systems that demonstrate a commitment to follow the AHA program's research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke. The CCHA participates in the Get With the Guidelines and Mission: Lifeline programs, which provide hospitals nationwide with up-to-date expertise from the American Heart...

  • Friends of the Pool receive grants for student swim lessons

    Lane Gwinn, The Times

    DAYTON — The Friends of the Pool Committee in Columbia County, Washington, was awarded several grants for its program to provide basic swimming lessons for area youth, and advanced training for older kids wanting to be certified as lifeguards and swimming instructors. Dayton and Columbia County have not had an operational public swimming pool since the end of 2017. Since then, many local kids have not had the opportunity to learn how to swim and are at risk of drowning. The Innovia Foundation awarded the committee $13,000. The committee...

  • in support of Walla Walla County Prop 1 & Emergency Services

    The Times

    To the editor, Walla Walla County voters have the opportunity on the August 5 primary election ballot to approve Proposition No. 1. If approved, the proposition will authorize the county to collect two-tenths of one percent (0.2%) sales tax, e.g., 1 cent on a $5 purchase, 20 cents on a $100 purchase. This small additional tax would be used solely for the use of our emergency communications system and facilities. Stay with us, folks, and you will see why we believe approving this proposition is not only equitable but necessary at this time....

  • August Washington State Primary Election News

    The Times

    WALLA WALLA — Walla Walla County ballot items to be decided in the August primary election: Walla Walla County: Proposition No. 1 Emergency Communication Systems and Facilities Sales and Use Tax City of Waitsburg: Mayor, 4 year term Marty Dunn, incumbent Brad Sandau Jim Strawn Ballots will be mailed by Friday, July 18, 2025. Military & Overseas ballots were mailed on Friday, June 20, 2025. Contact the Elections Office to request a replacement ballot by phone, email, or in-person. Or online at...

  • Brasserie Four Presents: A Moveable Feast – Works by Jim German

    The Times

    Brasserie Four is pleased to present "A Moveable Feast," an eclectic exhibition of objets d'art by local artist Jim German, on view from June 2 through August 9, 2025. The brasserie is hosting an artist reception for German on Monday, July 21, between 4 and 6 p.m. In the French spirit of joie de vivre, Champagne and Etruscan snacks will be served with a historical discourse on the mysterious voyage of a seasoned Greek maritime...

  • FORT Walla Walla: escapees and the Oregon Trail GAME

    Karen Huwe, The Times

    WALLA WALLA - On June 22, the museum saw hundreds of families enjoying the interactive Oregon Trail game. The families loaded their wagons and traveled from fort to fort trying to reach Fort Walla Walla to claim their land deed. On July 13, visitors played a clue-based hide-and-seek game to catch a criminal. Participants followed clues to find criminal Orvy Whipstitch Horvath who had escaped from Walla Walla's territorial...

  • At the Liberty:"Jurassic World: Rebirth"

    The Times

    “Jurassic World: Rebirth” DAYTON — Five years after the events in “Jurassic World Dominion,” Earth’s climate has proven inhospitable to dinosaurs. Those that have survived, live in isolated areas along the equator, where the tropical biosphere resembles the prehistoric climate where they thrived. The three largest of the surviving creatures hold the key to developing a drug that could bring miraculous life-saving benefits to humankind. The cast includes Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali, Rupert Friend, Ed Skrein,...

  • Waitsburg Parks & Rec Volleyball summer camp in Preston Pard

    The Times

    (left to right) Parks and Recreation volunteer Sara Daves, campers Olivia Long, Emma Langford, Adalin Acevedo, and volunteer coach Natasha Langford. Long is learning how to hit an overhead serve at the Parks and Rec Volleyball camp in Preston...

  • Elstrom completes STP

    The Times

    Waitsburg resident Tom Elstrom finished the 2025 STP bicycle race from Seattle to Portland. The STP route is 207 miles long, traversing both urban and rural settings in July. Elstrom said, "I managed to finish the 200+ mile STP sporting my Swedish flag jersey. Here's hoping any consular officials were not embarrassed by my velocity (or lack thereof) along the way. I'd hate to have my Nordic heritage...

  • Around the Valley with Karen Huwe

    Karen Huwe, The Times

    Jubilee Campground in Elgin, Oregon is a short scenic drive from Waitsburg. Travel to Walla Walla, to Milton-Freewater, and then 11.5 miles from the unincorporated town of Tollgate. The campground with 48 RV and tent sites includes a beautiful lake that is popular for fishing, swimming, non-motorized boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, and wildlife viewing. Trees surround the lake, and there is a pleasant 2.8-mile hiking trail around the lake. There is a rope swing for visitors to cool off on a...

  • PIONEER PORTRAITS

    The Times

    Fifteen Years Ago July 15, 2010 [Photo caption] Renowned horse whisperer Buck Brannaman and his daughter, Reata, stand outside their mobile tack room at the Columbia County Fairgrounds on Monday. Brannaman has been conducting annual horsemanship clinics, drawing horse owners and trainers to the weekend-long classes in Dayton for almost 20 years. Twenty-Five Years Ago July 13, 2000 When members of the Washington State Parks Commission meet July 21 in Anacortes, they will be considering a budget...