Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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WAITSBURG - Waitsburg students will be in for a special treat on October 2. Last month, Gov. Jay Inslee proclaimed October 1 as Taste Washington Day, a day where schools partner with farmers to include fresh Washington-grown foods in their cafeteria meals. That date didn't work for Waitsburg, motivating Food Services Supervisor Susan Wildey to take the program one step further and offer an even more locally focused Taste of the Valley day on October 2. Taste of Washington began in 2010 when the...
WAITSBURG - "WHAT??? I'm a what now?" responded The Times' own Emma Philbrook in response to fellow reporter Dena Wood's request for a quote regarding how it felt to be a National Merit Scholarship semif inalist. Philbrook, a WHS senior, did not receive the National Merit Scholarship Corp. semifinalist notification that was supposed to have been mailed the first part of September and assumed she hadn't qualified. She was greatly relieved, and more than a little excited to learn, through a Google...
CLARKSTON - WP's Cross Country team kicked off their season with a 2.6 mile Asotin XC Island Run at Chief Timothy park in Clarkston, Wash. on Sept. 13. "Being the first race of the season - and ever for some runners - we didn't set a lot of expectations. Still, I was pleased with the day and we all gained some information and experience on which we'll keep building," said Coach Dan Nechedom. Sophomore Emily Adams placed fifth out of 33 women runners with a finish time of 18:36.10. Adams placed...
WAITSBURG - Due to a lack of turnout, Dayton High School has opted not to offer cross-country to its athletes this year. At the beginning of the season, WP and Dayton students practiced together under former Dayton cross country coach Dan Nechodom. When only two Dayton students signed up for the season, Dayton chose to cancel their program. Waitsburg's school board approved the hire of Nechodom as Waitsburg Cross Country coach at their Sept. 10 board meeting. WP currently has six cross-country a...
WAITSBURG - After eight long years in the making, Sandra Torres' "baby" will make its debut at this year's Pioneer Fall Festival, where Torres will be signing and selling copies of her recently published book, The Waitsburg Family 1858 - 1900: The Beginning. The book focuses on the individuals -- and their connections to one another -- that made up Waitsburg (or more accurately, Waitsburgh, with an "h") in the town's earliest days. Torres moved to Waitsburg with her husband Lupe eleven years...
WAITSBURG - Jim and Geraine Hansen, Waitsburg's 2014 Pioneers of the Year, reside on a picturesque plot near the top of what their daughter Mary calls "the Hansen version of Walton Mountain." Mary lives just a half-mile up the road; daughter Karen Yager is three miles up; and son Norman lives in the original family homestead on top of Coppei Mountain. In addition to the mountain-dwellers, the immediate Hansen clan includes daughters Cheryl in Pullman, Jeanette inWalla Walla, and son John in...
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg School Superintendent Carol Clarke announced at the Sept. 10 school board meeting that the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) will recover $38,708 from the district's September apportionment due to the district's "failure to maintain effort in the special education program". Clarke said the unexpected financial ding is "a tough one." Clarke explained that the recovery comes as a result of staff reductions that took place in 2009 and...
DAYTON - A porcine virus, never before seen in the U.S., has added to the challenge of raising fair pigs. But Dayton community members have come together to help ease the burden for local 4-H and FFA members. The Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv), which affects only swine, was first diagnosed in the U.S. in March 2013. According to npr.org, the virus is responsible for killing more than seven million piglets in the past year and has been found in 30 states. Scientists are still unsure of...
WAITSBURG - For the first time in five years, representatives from Waitsburg's Rainbow Chapter have been appointed to state level Grand Offices. Current Worthy Advisor Kendra Roberts and Past Worthy Advisor Jessie Hopkins were appointed to Grand Offices earlier this summer and will represent Washington and Idaho at state assemblies. Roberts' sister Lydia, who held the positions of Grand Love, Grand Faith and Grand Camps, was the last Waitsburg Rainbow member to hold a Grand Office. Both Hopkins...
WAITSBURG – A handful of individuals in every community make their mark by fulfilling the call to civic responsibility by working with clubs and organizations and/or holding public office in order to serve the needs of society. These people deserve our gratitude, appreciation and honor. Even less common than the handful is the singleton who forgoes public and organized service in favor of making a conscious effort to touch lives and show love to all who crossed his path. Such is the case with W...
WAITSBURG - The passion artist Jeffrey Hill holds for Waitsburg's Main Street Art project was evident as he shared his vision for "The Founding Fathers" sculpture with the Waitsburg Arts Commission and interested citizens at an artist's presentation last month. That passion is apparently still alive in spite of the fact that Squire Broel's competing piece, an obelisk shaped monument, received the Arts Commission's recommendation and final City Council approval. City Administrator Randy Hinchliff...
WAITSBURG - Last week the Walla Walla County Board of Commissioners voted 2-1 to approve a ban on the production, processing and sale of marijuana in the unincorporated areas of Walla Walla County. To date, Yakima, Pierce and Clark counties have done the same. Commissioners Perry Dozier and Jim Johnson voted in favor of the ban with Commissioner Greg Tompkins voting opposed. This week, The Times sat down with District 2 Commissioner Dozier, who shared his views on the issue. Dozier says his...
WAITSBURG - Fourth-year WP volleyball coach Angie Potts is encouraged by the enthusiasm and energy exhibited by the 29 girls - nearly double the amount of last year's players -- who turned out for the 2014 season. "There's a lot of good potential and the desire is there. We just need to see if they're willing to push themselves to do what it takes," said Potts. Potts, who has coached a total of 23 years between Prescott, Wa Hi and WP, is joined by Assistant Coach Tammy Brown (Potts' former WWCC...
WAITSBURG - This weekend will mark the end of the well-received "Tying the Knot: 120 Years of Walla Walla Weddings" exhibit at Walla Walla's Kirkman House Museum. The exhibit features 12 decades of bridal gowns, artifacts and the stories of Walla Walla Valley residents - including several items from Waitsburg resident Joan Helm, a distant relative of Isabella and William Kirkman. Helm (whose maiden name is Potts, which is where the Kirkman connection comes in) grew up on her family's farm near L...
WAITSBURG - Gayle Broom's Growing Giant Pumpkins group blew the competition out of the water at this year's Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days. Weighing in at a whopping 211 pounds, the creamy white gourd was more than double the weight of its nearest competition, which was only 91 pounds. Broom grew her first giant pumpkin last year, in hopes that local children would join her in the endeavor. "I wanted to teach kids to garden and grow their own organic produce. I thought pumpkins would be a...
WAITSBURG - Eight-year-old Makenna Barron says she can only recall one of the two times she attended the Pendleton Round-Up. She will attend for her third time next week and this visit she won't forget. The pint-sized cowgirl will kick off the week of rodeos by singing the national anthem in the Happy Canyon arena at Monday's opening night PBR Classic rodeo. Makenna, who reigned as Miss Rodeo Washington Sweetheart last year, has rodeo in her blood. Her mom, Tracy Barron, belonged to the Pro...
WAITSBURG - With Councilman K.C. Kuykendall in lone opposition, Waitsburg's City Council agreed to retain the City's current billing arrangement for multi-dwelling utility rates. The decision was in response to previous appeals by Keith Parkins who has converted the Preston Avenue inn into individual apartments and requested a rate break for multiple units sharing one meter. Currently, individual consumers, including occupants of apartments, duplexes and trailers, pay a separate base rate for...
DAYTON - "I don't coach Bulldogs or Cardinals - I coach kids," said Dan Nechedom. In a way, it's back to the beginning for Nechodom, who co-opped with Waitsburg in 2004 when he first got his feet wet coaching Cross Country. Halfway through that 2004 season, Dayton split off and has had its own team since. This year, due to an increased work schedule for former WP coach Joanna Lanning, Dayton and WP will once again co-op for practices, this time with Nechedom as head coach. A co-op is different...
WALLA WALLA - Local students and parents got a sneak peek at the brand new Southeast Area Technical Skills Center (SEATECH) located on the Walla Walla Community College Campus Monday night. The Skills Center will be open to the public for tours during a dedication ceremony on September 18, but students who will begin classes in the facility on Tuesday were able to tour the $11.5 million facility and talk with teachers at an Open House on Monday night. The Center is a branch campus of the...
WAITSBURG - It was an unusually full house at last week's City Council meeting, at least through the first item on the agenda: discussion and action on the new public art selection finalists. Members of the Waitsburg Art Commission, community members and artists alike were on hand to offer input on the final Council approval of the two bronze sculptures -- to reside on Main Street -- selected by the Commission earlier this month. On August 13 artists Jeffrey Hill and Squire Broel presented...
WAITSBURG - Most parents want to teach their children compassion and generosity, but it's often difficult to involve young children in service ministries. That's what led Jamie Gleason and Angela Jones to organize The Kids' Big Give last Thanksgiving. Both mothers wanted to serve alongside their children, teaching them the joy of giving in a practical way. That project, which was initially intended to provide a Thanksgiving dinner for two families, took a life of its own. Dozens of local...
WAITSBURG - In April, Waitsburg FFA members taught local students about the importance of soil (not dirt!) as part of a Helping Communities Grow competition sponsored by the Nutrients for Life Foundation. In May, Waitsburg won $5,000 at the State FFA Convention for placing first among 23 projects in the state. Last week, Waitsburg School District received a letter notifying them that the national Nutrients for Life Foundation office has chosen Waitsburg's project as the best all-around project...
WAITSBURG - Keith Parkins, owner of the apartments located at 731 Preston Avenue, approached the City Council at the July meeting regarding their prior decision not to renegotiate utility rates for his building. "I can't afford to pay over 25% of my gross for water/sewer/ garbage," he said. "Especially when I'm not using it." Parkins sold and then repossessed the property that he described as a "real dump" prior to taking back what was previously the Waitsburg Inn. He made extensive...
WAITSBURG - Wouldn't it be fun to relax with library namesake Fanny Weller over a game of checkers or to stand alongside Waitsburg founding fathers, William Preston, Sylvester Wait and William Bruce as they peruse the town? Soon, you will be able to do just that. Waitsburg's Main Street Art Project, which will commemorate these historical figures, is finally underway. The city first approached Sherwood Trust for public art funds last year, but withdrew the application when they realized they...
WAITSBURG - "I'm so great at swim lessons!" announced Alyssa Araya as she exited the dressing room following her Level 3 swim class at the Waitsburg City Pool on Tuesday morning. That statement - along with the fact that 60 children participated in lessons this year -- is a testament to the success of Waitsburg's swim program. This year Waitsburg offered one two-week session of swim lessons, from beginners at Level 1, to the more advanced Level 4 swimmers. Lessons are taught by guards Zac...
