Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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WAITSBURG – From the Isle of Dominica in the West Indies to a farmhouse along Whetstone Springs outside of Waitsburg, Mark and Eleanora Montgomery have been gardening and beekeeping together for 30 years now. These days, they market organic honey and hardneck garlic, while raising garden crops and flowers for their own enjoyment. Mark grew up in the Seattle area and his dad raised bees as a hobby. He attended college at WSU where he earned a degree in agricultural economics. After graduation i...
WAITSBURG – With the logistics of the 2016-17 Waitsburg-Dayton football combine largely decided, it is time for the cheer squads to do the same. At the April 14 regular Waitsburg School Board Meeting, Athletic Director Stephanie Wooderchak shared the in-process 2016-17 cheer combine proposal with board members. Varsity Cheer Squad Through negotiations with Dayton, it has been agreed that Dayton will host the varsity squad of no more than 12 athletes, with Dayton providing the coach. Practices w...
WAITSBURG – A group of students and parents attended last week’s school board meeting to vocalize their support for high school girls’ basketball coach J.T. Elsey, whose performance was on the agenda for review during executive session. Sophomore athlete Chloe Pearson served as spokesperson for fellow players Taylor Hays, Devon Harshman and Tayler Jones. Pearson read the following prepared statement on behalf of the team. I have played both years in this program and J.T. has improved our team...
WAITSBURG – A multi-topic meeting of the Waitsburg Fairgrounds Committee ended with an agreement that the group’s first priority is to get a clear mandate of authority from the city. While members varied in opinion on everything from retaining the metal horse-race rail to whether or not buildings should be torn down, the committee was united in the idea that group needs to be able to function in a capacity similar to the city’s planning commission. “We want our mandate to be an advisor...
WAITSBURG – When former Waitsburg School Superintendent Robbie Johnson watched kids at Home Depot learning to make birdhouses one Saturday morning, he realized most kids from Waitsburg wouldn't be able to take part in those types of projects. He also knew just what group could make it happen locally. Men from the Waitsburg Christian Church started a "Second Saturday" group several months ago, and invited local men and boys to join them monthly for a hearty breakfast, good company, and often, a...
WAITSBURG – The Waitsburg Garden Club had a busy Saturday morning with tours of the Callahan home on Preston Avenue, and Terry and Bettie Hofer's property off Highway 12. The Callahan's shared recent improvements including a bee hive awaiting its first inhabitants, an orchard, berry bushes, and raised vegetable beds. Strawberries grow protected, above ground, in rain gutters atop a Pinterest-worthy arbor. Brian Callahan explained his method of large-scale composting and Deb demonstrated how she...
WAITSBURG – Waitsburg's favorite rodeo songstress spent a long and tiring day auditioning at the Moose Lodge in Ellensburg, Wash. last weekend, but returned home with the title of Washington Little Rodeo Queen. Ten-year-old Makenna Barron said she "had a lot of fun" as Miss Rodeo Washington Sweetheart for the Miss Rodeo Washington Pageant in 2013 and wanted to gain more royalty experience. Makenna's mom, Tracy Barron, said the Miss Rodeo Washington Pageant has dropped titles for younger contesta...
WAITSBURG – Spring is in the air and Waitsburg Celebration Days is a mere six weeks away. Tickets are already on sale for several highlight events of what looks to be a fun-filled family weekend, May 20-22. The weekend's signature event – the 35-mile Karen's Ride ATV Poker Run – has been adapted to allow participants to play an unlimited number of poker hands this year. Hands may be purchased at a discounted $10 rate through May 16, and will be $15 each after that date. And an additional ride,...
A group of Waitsburg folks (and a WSU student from India) kicked off spring break by running the 62- mile Palouse 100K Relay in Pullman on Sun, April 3. The race was originally called the Washington State University 100K Relay & Solo Race and was started by the Palouse Road Runners and WSU in 1990 as part of the WSU centennial celebration. Waitsburg resident Christy House said a group from Waitsburg, with the name BEERRUN, has participated in the race for the last five years, though the...
Jacci's Yarn Basket was Jacci Wooten's Third Career DAYTON – After several failed attempts to sell her business over the last three years, Jacci's Yarn Basket owner, Jacci Wooten, is closing her doors. The store's stock and fixtures are marked at 40% off now through April 16, when Wooten will officially retire. Wooten said the yarn shop is her "third career." She spent three years as a librarian at the University of Idaho Law Library, and then spent 16 years as a hairstylist in Moscow, Ida. Woot...
WAITSBURG – The Waitsburg Commercial Club awarded the 2016 Waitsburg Community Service Award – formerly known as the Citizen of the Year Award – to longtime resident and tireless volunteer, Mary Phillips, at their annual meeting on Tuesday, April, 5. Phillips joins the ranks of more than 50 individuals to receive the award, beginning with Ernest Kison in 1962 and continuing through Kate Hockersmith in 2015. Beginning in 2015, the Commercial Club decided to broaden their recognition base and h...
WAITSBURG – Walla Walla High School senior Madeline Erikson officially accepted her appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point by signing her letter of intent to compete on their NCAA Rifle Team on March 29. Erikson did not attend school in Waitsburg, but three previous generations of her family did. She is the daughter of Ellis and Kristin Erikson of Walla Walla and Trisha Maxwell of Walla Walla; granddaughter of Roland Erikson and Sherri Erikson, both of Waitsburg; and g...
WAITSBURG – Art lovers from across the valley gathered in the new Ten Ton Press building on Waitsburg's Main Street to welcome Seattle Artist David Allison at an artist's reception on Saturday afternoon. The well-established Seattle-based artist is the first of several solo artists to be featured in the new Waitsburg Windows of Art program, organized by Waitsburg resident Karen Gregutt. Gregutt said City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe had approached her with the idea after he'd heard of other t...
WALLA WALLA – Nothing New Antiques may look the same from the outside, but a few things have changed on the inside. Owners Lupe and Sandra Torres have been looking to retire from operating the store for some time and have worked out a mutually beneficial agreement with Waitsburg newcomer, Melanie Wilkinson, who will continue to operate the store. Wilkinson is a fourth generation Touchet native, who spent a good part of each year working in Alaska. This year, however, she decided not to return t...
WAITSBURG – The ballots are out for Waitsburg’s annual city government elections, which take place Monday, Apr. 4. As the only city in Washington still operating under its territorial charter, Waitsburg has the honor of bringing its mayor and city council members before the voters each April. This year, all of the incumbents are running, along with several new challengers. Current council member Debra Callahan is hoping to trade her council seat for that of mayor. Delores Nettles has also put...
WAITSBURG – Waitsburg’s City Council weighed in on the replacement Main Street Bridge design, watershed hunting, and gave a brief update on the fairgrounds grandstands at a well attended March 17 council meeting. Public Comment Days of Real Sport Treasurer Terry Jacoy requested that the council reconsider the removal of the metal rail that runs along the existing horse race track. Plans had previously been made to remove the rail and grass in the track to provide an open area for a new spo...
Incumbent Mayor Walt Gobel is vying for his sixth term since taking office in 2010. "I'm concerned about the community. I think everybody has a responsibility to support the community as much as they can. Serving as mayor is my way of doing that," Gobel said. Gobel has worked as Supervisor of Transportation for Pasco School District, Loss Control/Safety Specialist for ESD #123, and served 26 years as a Washington State Patrol officer, where he retired as a detachment sergeant. "My whole career...
Three-term city council member, Debra Callahan is running for mayor and says she hopes to have the opportunity to take Waitsburg's many great resources and make them even better. The 36-year Waitsburg resident raised her children, grandchildren, and foster children here while working actively in the community. Callahan belongs to Commercial Club and the Historical Society, served on the Waitsburg School Board and the Touchet Valley Arts Council, and is a volunteer administrative assistant for...
Lifelong Waitsburg resident Delores Nettles says her history here, along with a strong concern to make sure the voices of Waitsburg citizens are heard, caused her to throw her hat into the ring for mayor. Nettles said her parents moved here when she was one and, aside from time away while attending college, she has lived here ever since. She taught school in Dayton and has run a successful hair salon in Dayton for 45 years. “I’m very concerned about the city. I’ve been on the council befor...
Incumbent council member Marty Dunn is no stranger to city politics. Dunn has served two terms as mayor and has been on the city council since the early 2000s. "I left the council for a couple of years but returned due to my desire to ensure the City of Waitsburg is able to respond to the increasing economic and organizational challenges which it faces. I will bring a fiscally conservative and responsive perspective to the operations of the city," he said. Dunn moved to Waitsburg in 1995 and...
Karen Gregutt is vying for a first-time seat on the council, eager to contribute her professional expertise and fresh ideas to promote and enhance Waitsburg. Gregutt's career includes 30 years as managing partner at Kaye-Smith Productions in Seattle, producing and directing commercials and documentaries for national companies and brands. Gregutt and her husband, Paul, purchased their first home in Waitsburg in 2005. After extensive renovations, they moved here full time in 2011. The couple has...
Longtime Waitsburg resident and current Community Service Award (formerly called Citizen of the Year) recipient Kate Hockersmith, will make her first-time bid for a council seat this year. Hockersmith moved to Waitsburg with her husband, Eric, in 1992, and the couple raised their two sons here. "I have fundraising, marketing, organizational skills, and work well with others, seeking collaboration rather than confrontation," Hockersmith said, when asked what she brings to the council table. Hocke...
If there was a "People's Choice" award it would go to incumbent Kevin House who has consistently garnered the highest community vote since he was first elected to council in 2010 under the "Truth & Trust" slate. House moved to Walla Walla and began working for The McGregor Company in Waitsburg in 1996. By 2003 he and wife, Christy House, decided that Waitsburg was where they wanted to live long term and raise their two sons. "Some of my background that has been helpful as a council member is my...
Incumbent Karl Newell was elected to the city council under the 2010 Truth & Trust slate and is running for his seventh term. Newell moved to Waitsburg from Boardman, Ore. in 2005. He began his career working as a journeyman electrician in 1962 and spent 1966-68 in the army doing “a little bit of everything.” He said his extensive work experience provides him with an understanding of zoning, covenants, layout, and building and housing requirements, which has come in helpful at council mee...
Incumbent council member KC Kuykendall moved to Waitsburg from Colorado in 2010 and quickly became active in the community. He first ran and was elected to council in 2013. "I come from a blue-collar family of loggers, truck drivers, and construction workers, while my wife's family has been farming and ranching around Pendleton and Athena for many generations. We love this land and the rural communities of Eastern Washington," Kuykendall said. "My career in engineering and business management...
