Articles written by Dena Martin
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 366
Volunteer opportunity: Waitsburg Historical Society
While nearly all communities depend on volunteerism in some form or another, I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that small towns like Dayton and Waitsburg would fail to function without...
Waitsburg Pioneer Fall Festival is Sunday
WAITSBURG-Community members and visitors can take a step back in time on Sun., Sept. 15 when they join the Waitsburg Historical Society for the City's 47th Annual Pioneer Fall Festival on the Bruce House Museum Complex lawn. The annual event, held...
Columbia Pulp anticipates next week startup
LYONS FERRY—Columbia Pulp stands on the threshold of its facility startup with a “go live” date the week of Sept. 15, According to Columbia Bio-Polymers Product Manager K.C. Kuykendall. Kuykendall said the Lyons Ferry facility has transitioned...
The year thus far
When I returned to The Times in January of this year, it was with the goal and intent of helping new publisher Lane Gwinn and The Times staff achieve a shared vision of what The Times should and...
New Prescott and Waitsburg teachers say 'hello'
WAITSBURG/PRESCOTT-Both Waitsburg and Prescott school districts brought new teachers on staff this year. Several were kind enough to take time from their busy beginning-of-the-year schedules to...
Caboose Park exceeds expectations
DAYTON-"The start of a playground kicked off one idea, which led to another, which led to a beautiful town center for all to use," said Dayton Development Task Force (DDTF) Chair Bette Lou Crothers....
Area comp. plan updates are finalized
COLUMBIA COUNTY—Comprehensive plan updates for Columbia County, the City of Dayton, and the Town of Starbuck are wrapping up with final public hearings planned for September and October, according...
New combine Athletic Director looks forward to the season
DAYTON/WAITSBURG-Rather than having separate athletic directors for both Dayton and Waitsburg, the athletic combine advisory committee recommended hiring one director to oversee the combine. Both...
City of Dayton to appoint new planning director
DAYTON—Barring a majority of ‘nay’ votes, Columbia County Planning Director Meagan Bailey will become the new City of Dayton Planning Director next month. Mayor Zac Weatherford called an Aug. 27 special meeting with two actions items; the...
Steve Henderson image to appear on LA billboard
DAYTON—Dayton artist Steve Henderson’s art has gone big – literally! As a winner in a Fine Art America contest, his image, Ocean Breeze, will grace a Los Angeles billboard this fall. Ocean...
CCHS hosts College of Medicine students
DAYTON/WAITSBURG-Medical students Taylar-Rhea McGuire and Alexandra Drury spent three days working in Dayton and Waitsburg last week to experience rural healthcare firsthand. The WSU Elson S. Floyd...
Waitsburg adds two to planning commission
WAITSBURG-Using a bit of creativity, the Waitsburg City Council was able to fill one empty seat on the City's planning commission with two new members, while remaining within the bounds of the City's...
Former Dayton Mayor Craig George passes away
DAYTON-Craig George, who served as Dayton's mayor from 2008, until his resignation on April 30 of this year. He passed away at his new home in Tucson, Arizona on Aug. 15. George and his wife, Kathy, w...
Juvenile cougar killed on Middle Waitsburg Road
WAITSBURG-Times reader Wayde Morris struck and killed a juvenile cougar at approximately 9:15 p.m. on the evening of Sun., Aug. 18. "I was traveling south on Middle Waitsburg Road towards Walla Walla...
Go, Fight, Cheer! DW cheer squad hits the mats
DAYTON/WAITSBURG-The DW cheer squad kicked off its season with a two-day Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) camp in the Preston Hall gymnasium on Monday and Tuesday. Official practices started o...
Waitsburg City Council Update
Council members present: K.C. Kuykendall, Kevin House, Terry Jacoy, Jim Romine, Kate Hockersmith, Mayor Marty Dunn. Public comment Don and Olga Clarke approached the council regarding a sound nuisance from trucks parking across the street from her...
City seeks community input on possible City Hall move
WAITSBURG—After receiving news that the asking price for the former Jehovah’s Witness church building has dropped significantly, and is now below assessed value, City Administrator Randy...
Wheat fire threatens Smith homestead
WAITSBURG-On the afternoon of Aug. 8, Jake Adams got the phone call no one wants to receive. The Papé territory manager was working near Minnick Hill when his wife called to say there was a wheat...
Dayton Chamber director resigns
DAYTON-The Dayton Chamber of Commerce announced the resignation of Executive Director Melissa Bryan in an Aug. 12 in a Chamber press release. Bryan, who served as assistant director prior to stepping...
Missoula Children's Theater visit boosts self-esteem
DAYTON-Fifty-three Touchet Valley kids enjoyed performing live on stage in the Missoula Children's Theater (MCT) adaptation of Pinocchio last week. Of those, about a dozen were new to the stage...
Weatherford takes mayoral primary by a landslide
DAYTON-Incumbent Dayton Mayor Zac Weatherford received a strong show of community backing in last week's primary elections for city mayor, with a 66 percent support vote. Weatherford garnered 504 of...
Law enforcement sees busy Saturday
WAITSBURG—The Touchet Valley was buzzing with police activity on Saturday as a a manhunt in Waitsburg Saturday morning was followed by a multi-county high-speed chase and officer-involved shooting Saturday afternoon. Multiple law enforcement...
Volunteer opportunity: planning commissions
While nearly all communities depend on volunteerism in some form or another, I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that small towns like Dayton and Waitsburg would fail to function without the concern and dedication of the many volunteers...
Ava Atwood and Skylar McCann complete successful space mission
HUNTSVILLE, Ala.-Ten-year-olds, Ava Atwood and Skylar McCann heartily agree that their weeklong Space Camp experience at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. was out of this world in...
David Ocampo is named public transit general manager
DAYTON-Following a successful stint as interim Columbia County Public Transportation (CCPT) General Manager, David Ocampo was officially named to the position at the July 22 CCPT board meeting....