Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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WAITSBURG – This year's annual American Legion/Auxiliary Memorial Day Service included the addition of two names, Mel R. OpBroek and John A. Lanning, to the memorial wall, and included a muster for graduating seniors, David Just and T.J. Morrison. Legion Commander Ron Standring and Auxiliary President Rose Engelbrite opened the ceremony which began with a flag lowering by the Swine Swaggers 4-H group. Standring led in the Pledge of Allegiance and Pastor Matthew Wyatt provided the invocation. T...
WAITSBURG – The late Tom Baker has held the honor of awarding the Waitsburg Commercial Club's Community Service Award for many years. While he wasn't present in body this year, he was very much present in spirit, at the May 16 award ceremony, where Jim Davison received the Community Service Award and Marci Perkins was awarded Business of the Year. Prior to reading their nomination letters, Joan Helm placed a pair of Tom's shoes on a table next to the podium, and commented that it would take t...
WAITSBURG – After 30 years teaching in Waitsburg, Mel McWhorter will be the third long-time staffer to retire from the Waitsburg School District this summer. Mc Whorter, a favorite among students, will join first-grade teacher Dinah Lindsey and superintendent/principal Dr. Carol Clarke, and wrap up his teaching career this school year. "Teaching in Waitsburg has been a real positive career," McWhorter said. McWhorter grew up in the Kalispell area of Montana, where he graduated high school. He e...
The Smith family has farmed in Waitsburg since 1919 WAITSBURG – Because she has never driven a truck, and has sat in the saddle only one time (and immediately wanted off!) Dona Jean Smith said she was "flabbergasted but very honored" to be chosen parade marshal for the 2017 Waitsburg Celebration Days Parade. Husband and co-marshal, Howard, a third-generation Waitsburg wheat farmer, heartily agrees with the honor of being selected. Howard's great grandparents migrated from Missouri to settle in M...
WAITSBURG – Members of the Waitsburg Historical Society received some unwelcome news while trying to be proactive about maintaining the Bruce Museum Complex properties. Inspectors discovered structural damage to the Wilson-Phillips House, which will cause the building to be closed this summer until repairs – which are estimated to cost about three times the society's annual budget - can be made. Historical Society President Richard Hinds said the group realized last year that they needed to sta...
WAITSBURG – Carol Clarke has faced and overcome many challenges in her life, but when it comes to retiring she's already chalked it up as a "fail." The school district superintendent and elementary school principal will wrap up her 13th year and officially retire from Waitsburg on June 30, but will leave for a new job in Panama City, Panama in July. As with most of the experiences in her life – many that could be described as difficult or unpleasant – Clarke is excited to pursue just one more op...
WAITSBURG – Waitsburg Celebration Days, held the third weekend each May, is just around the corner. The weekend, May 19-21, promises fun for everyone, with a parade, car show, brewfest, bonfire, ATV events, food, dancing, vendors, live music, and fun and games. Friday Celebration Days will kick off on Friday at 4:30 p.m. with the second annual Historic ATV Sunset Cruise, organized by Andy and Denise Winnett. The guided cruise takes Saturday’s poker ride route in reverse, with stops at historical...
WAITSBURG – Waitsburg resident Trevor Johnson is putting his army experience to use, operating a new tow truck business, while he furthers his education. The bright green wrecker, with "Johnson Family Towing" emblazoned on the side, is up, running, and ready to go. Johnson recently left his job at The McGregor Company in order to take advantage of the GI Bill to further his education. With over 16 years experience in the army as a recovery specialist (tow truck operator) and diesel mechanic, he...
WAITSBURG – Waitsburg's Odako Club is no more – at least not in an official capacity. The community service organization will award their final scholarship this June, but intends to maintain its tradition of encouraging students. The Waitsburg Odako Club was organized in 1949 and still has two charter members – Velma Sickles and Sheryl Conover. Over time, participation dwindled, and the club collected its last dues in 2012. However, the group has continued to meet in an unofficial capac...
WAITSBURG – Nearly two dozen people gathered at the Waitsburg Christian Church to spend last Saturday learning how faith-based organizations can help in preparing for and dealing with disasters. The FEMA course was hosted by the Waitsburg Resource Center and sponsored by the Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium. Instructor Chris Herring traveled from Durham, North Carolina to facilitate the course that he initiated and helped develop. The Mobilizing Faith-Based Community Organizations (...
WAITSBURG – Waitsburg holds the honor of being home to the very first Grange in Washington, even before Washington was a state. And while memberships have ebbed and flowed over the years, the organization is still alive and ready to become a strong community asset once again. Members of Waitsburg Grange #1 are looking to revive the family- and community-centered organization with a community potluck at 4 p.m. on May 7, to be held at the Waitsburg Grange Hall, just across from Midway Food Mart o...
WAITSBURG – For Waitsburg residents John and Dinah Lindsey, attending a local sporting event together has always required careful consideration, to find a seat in the most neutral location possible. With nearly 75 years of teaching and coaching between them - John in Dayton and Dinah in Waitsburg - the couple is looking forward to retiring together at the end of this school year, bittersweet as it may be. John and Dinah, both known for their strong relationships with their students, will be s...
-Dr. Clarke suggested that the board budget for the same number of students they budgeted for last year, which was 270. The graduating class of 30 is exiting the system and she said there are 15-17 kindergarteners registered for the coming year. She said there should be no problem maintaining the full-time teaching staff of 20. The enrollment average for 2016-17 school year was 291.65. -Approved re-application for a waiver to excuse two days from the 180-day school year for conferences. This...
WAITSBURG – It has taken nearly a year's worth of effort, but a rezone of a property owned by Marvin Aronson just off Highway 124, which was recommended by the Waitsburg Planning Commission, was finally approved by the city council at their April 19 regular meeting. The rezone, from R1-residential to a Flexible C-R Zone wasn't what the applicant initially requested, but was what the commission and council felt was the best compromise for all involved. The rezone has been a lengthy process, a...
PRESCOTT – Last year, Prescott Park saw the replacement of much-needed toddler playground equipment. Just last week, equipment for 6-12 year-olds was installed at a cost of roughly $65,000. As with the $20,000 toddler equipment purchase, the new playground equipment was purchased with grant funds and private donations rather than taxpayer dollars, according to Prescott Joint Parks and Recreation District co-manager Yvonne Jackson. The PJPRD must collect levy funds each year to continue o...
WAITSBURG – It will probably be years in the making, but Waitsburg's city council took the first step toward straightening Taggart Road, making it a straight shot from Millrace Road to Highway 12. At their April 19 meeting, the council approved an easement with John Lieberman and Mary Phillips to allow for the future placement of a road and waterline. The proposal, which would eliminate two 90-degree turns from Millrace Road to Hwy. 12 via Taggart Road, has been a recurring topic at council m...
WAITSBURG – After 14 years in the business, massage therapist Christine Richards still loves what she does. And with her recent move here, she's brought her business, Essential Theraputic Massage, along with her. "I truly love what I do. I love helping people heal," Richards said. Richards opened her new shop, located at 208 Main Street, just inside the Plaza Theater foyer, in Waitsburg last week. The new location is an extension of the business she has operated in Richland, Wash. since 2013. R...
DAYTON – On a dark and stormy night, Purity Dean, a working girl with a secret, seeks shelter form the storm in a Vermont Inn. So begins the very first melodrama to grace the Liberty Theater stage. Pure as the Driven Snow: A Working Girl's Secret, debuts Fri., May 12 and will run through Sun., May 14. Co-directors Bret and Bethany Moser are convinced the audience will roar with laughter as they not only watch – but participate in – the lively, over-the-top production. The Mosers are Liber...
WAITSBURG – Preliminary election results for Waitsburg's mayor and city council members were tallied Monday night, with a few upsets resulting. Incumbent Mayor Marty Dunn received 239 votes, easily holding his position against challenger Debra Callahan, who received 66 votes. But there will be some new faces on the city council, with Terry Jacoy and Jim Romine taking seats on the board. Longtime council frontrunner Kevin House easily retained his title as top vote-getter, receiving 253 votes. S...
DAYTON – Columbia County planning commissioners have received plenty of feedback – mostly negative – in response to the conditional use permit recently filed by Kathy Sali, to open a marijuana store just outside Dayton. A public hearing is planned, though date is yet to be set, to help determine the conditions that will be imposed on the shop. It is to be located at 36711 U.S. Highway 12, just west of the city limits. While many residents would like to see the store banned, Planning Director Kim Lyonnais said that’s not an option. In Septemb...
WAITSBURG – How to deal with a reported increase in water meter tampering became a topic of discussion at the March 15 city council meeting. The council is hopeful that the problem can be mitigated when the meters are replaced in the future. In his monthly update, City Manager Randy Hinchliffe, said that the city was working on the water meter replacement project and has met with a vendor who provided a cost estimate for replacement and installation of the city’s water meters in excess of $300,000. Last October, Hinchliffe told the council tha...
WAITSBURG – At their March meeting the Waitsburg School Board approved a lighting upgrade purchase in Preston Hall that will save the district thousands of dollars each year. An energy incentive kick-back from Pacific Power will allow the district to recoup the investment in its first year, alone. In January, District Facilities, Transportation, and Maintenance Supervisor Colter Mohney, approached the board about checking into options for replacing the deteriorating lighting in Preston Hall. M...
WAITSBURG – Local youth bluegrass band Switchgrass Delta will join with other local talent in a fundraising concert at the Plaza Theater in Waitsburg on Sun., April 23 at 4 p.m. Funds from the concert will help pay for the band's upcoming trip to Sasayama Japan in October. Switchgrass Delta is part of the Touchet Valley Acoustic Music Project (TVAMP). Band members include: Emma Philbrook on mandolin, Chris Philbrook on banjo, Robert Walsh on standup bass, and Kaleb Kuykendall on fiddle. The band...
WAITSBURG – Approximately two dozen citizens showed up to hear from candidates at the April 10 Waitsburg City Elections Candidate's Forum, hosted by the Waitsburg Commercial Club, and held at Town Hall. The mayoral candidates, incumbent Marty Dunn and Deb Callahan, were on hand, along with incumbent council candidates Karen Gregutt, Kate Hockersmith, Kevin House, and KC Kuykendall, and first-time council candidates Lane Hill, Terry Jacoy, Dave Paxton, and Jim Romine. First-time filers Lisa M...
WAITSBURG – Walla Walla County is right on track with their timeline for selecting a new Fairgrounds Manager. Interim Fairgrounds Manager Perry Dozier will hand over the reins to newly selected manager William "Bill" Ogg, of Greeley, Colo., on April 17. Commissioner Todd Kimball, who took the lead to fill the vacancy. said he is impressed with Ogg's experience. "Bill's references read like a "Who's Who" of the fair world, and after his interviews, we felt he lived up to every one of the g...
