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...
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...
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 - 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 - In May, Waitsburg's City Council updated the municipal code to allow "only licensed monument companies familiar with the City's requirements" - as opposed to family members or contractors -- to set headstones in City cemeteries. At the July 16 City Council meeting, Waitsburg resident Cindy Hofer appealed to the board to take another look at that decision. At May's Council meeting, City Clerk Randy Hinchliffe relayed that the city had received occasional requests for family members or...
WAITSBURG - "It was honestly scary. I don't even know what I'd do," said Walla Walla FFA Chapter Sentinel Reed Curcio as he described the scene that he and Waitsburg Chapter President and District Sentinel Mikala DeRuwe drove through while delivering thousands of pounds of goods to those affected by the Carlton Complex Fire near Pateros on Thursday. An email from State FFA officers asking if District 6 could do something to help sent Waitburg and Walla Walla FFA members scrambling to provide...
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...
DAYTON - It may not seem like wood carving and gardening have a lot in common, but for 19-year-old Jordan Henderson they each provide a creative outlet and are steps on the path to entrepreneurship. Henderson has spent this spring and summer gardening and selling his organic produce from Deer Pond Gardens while the wood carvings he crafted over the winter are on display at the Wenaha Gallery. Both are businesses he's envisioned for some time. Following his senior year in high school, Henderson...
WAITSBURG - A fire on the south end of town was quickly contained early Saturday evening, but not before raising the heart rates of nearby neighbors. Perry Dozier's harvest crew took a break from their work, just south of town, to keep an eye on the black plume of smoke rising over the recently harvested hill of pea stubble to their northwest. Residents on the south ends of Orchard and Main Street, watched from their yards as leaping flames licked the hillside on the far side of Coppei Creek...
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...
PRESCOTT - Two lifeguards and a young mother turn circles in the pool and gently tap their hands on the water while singing "The Wheels on the Bus" in an attempt to coax a reluctant preschooler into the water. Soon, a young Jess Winona hops in the pool to provide another dose of encouragement. Across the pool, another guard instructs a group of advanced swimmers in the intricacies of the breaststroke kick. So begins the second session of swim lessons at the Prescott pool. The Prescott pool...
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg's school board agreed last month that the District's 2001 Montana passenger van is due for replacement. Transportation supervisor Colter Mohney has since learned that finding the right rig for the job is more of a challenge than anticipated and is still on the hunt. The eight-passenger Montana is used regularly by District staff traveling to professional development workshops as well as by smaller groups such as FFA and Cross- Country. Mohney said the van has outlived its...
PULLMAN - College is typically a time for growth and new experiences. But for former Dayton High School valedictorian and athlete Malia Frame, tougher academics and new friendships weren't enough. The Business Administration and Agriculture Technology and Production Management double-major decided to experience a whole new world as an athlete as well - collegiate rowing. Frame said she heard about WSU's rowing team long before she considered trying out. She knew of several Dayton alumni who...
WAITSBURG - "Can I see you put some fruit or a vegetable on your plate? How about an orange?" encouraged a smiling Susan Wildey. The Summer Food Services Program Supervisor laughed as she turned her attention to the trio of boys anxiously awaiting seconds. "You beasts! Five more minutes and you're first in line." Waitsburg's first Summer Food Program has been a hit with many local kids, but Wildey says numbers will need to double in order to ensure the program continues next year. State...
