The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG—The Columbia-Walla Walla Fire District 2 Commissioners met on October 13 for a regular meeting at the Waitsburg Fire Station. Interim fire chief Colter Mohney asked that a vote regarding...

WAITSBURG-Whether you want to sip, sing, appreciate art, or just enjoy a relaxing evening in Waitsburg, the Royal Block is the place for you. The historic building celebrated the opening of its... Full story

WAITSBURG—A letter signed by the Waitsburg City Council and the Mayor was published in The Times and sent out to residents of Waitsburg last week. The letter referenced the 2020 flood and the...

WAITSBURG-Efforts to repair the Touchet River levee that runs along Preston Avenue could be moot if the City of Waitsburg does not get 100% approval from homeowners, including private and state, to... Full story

DAYTON-The Columbia County Commissioners met for a regular meeting on October 4. Commissioners Rundell and Hall were present at the meeting. Commissioner Amerein was absent from the Monday morning...

DAYTON—The Economic Development Steering Committee held a regular monthly remote meeting on October 5, 2021. Martha Lanman, Columbia County Public Health Administrator, announced that there were 21...

WAITSBURG-Fifteen-year-old Makenna Barron is a busy gal. A sophomore at Waitsburg High School, she plays volleyball and basketball, is involved in speaking and livestock FFA projects and chapter...

WAITSBURG-Waitsburg has attracted another fine artist to town. Fred Betz was born in California and raised on the East Coast. He studied art at the University of California Santa Cruz and Columbia... Full story

DAYTON-Musicals, movies, and puppeteer shows are just a few of the performances coming up at the Liberty Theater, nestled on Main Street in Dayton. In June, the Touchet Valley Arts Council announced...

DAYTON—The Dayton School Board met Wednesday, September 15, for a regular school board meeting. Business items on the agenda included a review of multiple out-of-endorsement teachers, consideration...

Cameron and Angelica Hedges are new to Waitsburg and are wholeheartedly embracing small-town life. "I love it out here, so far," said Angelica Hedges about Waitsburg. "It's much slower paced than...

WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg School Board met for a regular meeting on September 16. Secondary Principal Stephanie Wooderchak shared that students and staff are doing well, and the school year is off to...

It's no secret that I have a family full of foodies. We plan entire trips around eateries with raving reviews, but since traveling hasn't been an option lately, we've had to put our trips on hold. We...

DAYTON-The Port of Columbia Commissioners met for a regular meeting on September 8 via Zoom. The Commissioners appointed Shawn Brown as chairman, filling the position left by the late Earle Marvin....

DAYTON—The Dayton City Council met for a hybrid meeting on September 8, 2021. Columbia County Sheriff Joe Helm shared that 57 traffic tickets were written over the past month, 38 were within city...

At least three dogs have fallen victim to toxic algae bloom on the Columbia River, just north of the Tri-Cities. The first report was received by the Benton Franklin Health District on Monday,...

DAYTON—Fireworks have been an issue for city and county officials as fire conditions continued to worsen in Walla Walla and Columbia Counties. Columbia County Commissioners held a public hearing on...

Fall is finally here! I've been waiting for it all summer. Unfortunately, my tomato plants didn't get the message that their expiration date was quickly approaching. The first frost date for 2021 is...

Evelyn Couch is caught in a monotonous life. The dowdy woman is stuck in an unhappy marriage, struggling with failing self-esteem, but that changes when she visits a nursing home in the 1980s. Her...

DAYTON— County Commissioners approved a mandate that requires masks at the Columbia County Fair this weekend at a meeting on Tuesday, September 7. The mandate, signed by Dr. Lewis Neace, Columbia...

In just a few days, cows, curly fries, and farm critters will take over the Columbia County Fairgrounds for a "Blue Ribbon A-Fair." For the young horsewomen from Rocking D Riders 4-H club, the fair be...

COLUMBIA, WALLA WALLA COUNTY—A letter shared online by Walla Walla County Commissioner Jenny Mayberry on Monday, August 30, expressed that local health officials are concerned about a potential...

DAYTON—The Dayton School Board called an emergency meeting on Monday, August 30, to discuss switching to remote learning for middle and high school students. Columbia County Public Health officials...

OLYMPIA—The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) warns against using Ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug commonly used for humans and animals, to treat or prevent COVID-19. Ivermectin, first...

DAYTON/WAITSBURG-Hut, hut, hike! Fall sports are officially underway from Dayton-Waitsburg Wolfpack athletes. Full rosters for both volleyball and football teams have given athletic officials high...