Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 163
DAYTON – The Port of Columbia Commissioners held their regular meeting at 5 p.m. on October 8, 2025. Commissioners Johnny Watts, Mike Spring, Executive Director Jennie Dickinson, and Economic Development Coordinator Shane Laib were present. Chair Seth Bryan attended via Zoom. During public comment, Skip Mead expressed frustration that he was speaking for the third time on the same issue and asked, “How many times do I have to say it? Don’t sell the railroad.” Commissioners handled several administrative items, including setting a public...
DAYTON – The Dayton School Board met in the High School Library at 6:30 p.m. on September 17, 2025. Superintendent Jeremy Wheatley, Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen, board members Pat Davidson, Grant Griffin, and Aneesha Dieu were present. Public Works Director Ryan Paulson joined the meeting an hour late due to a power outage affecting much of the city. As the first order of business, Wheatley swore in Jaelynn Chapman, a junior, as the student representative to the school board.The personnel report included the following hires: Elementary ASB Co-Ad...
DAYTON - The Dayton City Council met on September 9, 2025. Mayor Roger Trump, council members James Su’euga, Michael Smith, Glenn Hagfeldt, Kyle Anderson, Shannon McMillen, and Joann Patras were present. Laura Aukerman did not attend. Port of Columbia Economic Development Coordinator Shane Laib presented plans for the 150th Anniversary (Sesquicentennial) of Columbia County celebration scheduled for October 4, 2025. The council expressed interest in the commemorative mural at the Palus Museum and was told the mural will be unveiled at the c...
DAYTON — The Dayton School Board met in the high school library at 6:30 p.m. on August 20, 2025. Superintendent Jeremy Wheatley, the Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen, board members Pat Davidson, Grant Griffin, and Ryan Paulson were in attendance; Aneesha Dieu was not present. The board passed the consent agenda, which included the new student handbooks. There was discussion on the implementation of the new no-cellphone policy, which Principal Cox described as a “zero tolerance” policy. Cox said an assembly would be held at the start of school on Tu...
DAYTON – The Columbia Port Commissioners met at 5 p.m. on August 13, 2025. Commissioners Seth Bryan, Mike Spring, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were present, and Johnny Watts joined using Zoom. To accommodate all the members of the public who wanted to attend, some watched on Zoom from the port’s office. The high turnout was likely due to the sale of the railroad and right-of-way property. County Commissioner Marty Hall was the first to speak during public comment, stating that he believed the sale would be a disservice to both the co...
DAYTON – The Dayton City Council met at 6 p.m. on August 12, 2025. Mayor Roger Trump and council members James Su’euga, Michael Smith, Glenn Hagfeldt, Laura Aukerman, Kyle Anderson, Shannon McMillen, and Joann Patras were in attendance. During public comment, one resident said they were concerned about two properties they felt were fire hazards due to tall, dry, overgrown weeds. Another citizen called the city’s water bills an obscenity and asked for city assistance to find landscaping alternatives to dead grass. He said, in relationship to fi...
DAYTON — Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council meeting to order at 6 p.m. on July 8, 2025. Trump, council members James Su’euga, Michael Smith, Glenn Hagfeldt, Laura Aukerman, Kyle Anderson, Shannon McMillen, and Joann Patras were present at Dayton City Hall. Sheriff Joe Helm reminded everyone that National Night Out is August 5, 2025, at Pietrzycki City Park. The sheriff said that anyone interested in purchasing surplus vehicles from the Sheriff’s Department can contact the county. Su’euga asked Helm to provide more details in the...
DAYTON – The Port of Columbia Commissioners held their regular meeting at 5 p.m. on July 8, 2025, at the Port of Columbia office. Commissioners Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, Mike Spring, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were present. The meeting was well attended by the public, likely in anticipation that the commissioners would vote on the proposed sale of the railroad property during the meeting. They did not. Dickinson said Jasper Mountain Venture has leased space at the Cameron Street Coworking property. The company provides services i...
DAYTON – The Dayton School Board held its June 18, 2025, meeting at the high school library at 6:30 p.m. Superintendent Jeremy Wheatley, Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen, directors Grant Griffin and Ryan Paulson were present in the library. Aneesha Dieu joined the meeting on Zoom, and Pat Davidson did not attend. The board approved the consent agenda, which included hiring Jamie Trump as the high school assistant volleyball coach, Cody Chapman as the high school head football coach, Joe Howard as the middle school girls’ basketball head coach, and...
DAYTON – The Port of Columbia Commissioners met at the Lyons Ferry Marina at 5 p.m. on June 11, 2025. Commissioners Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, Mike Spring, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were present. During public comment, Chuck Ketterman asked about the urgency to sell the railroad, expressed by Watts at the last meeting. He said the commissioners should seek carefully thought-out answers to questions concerning the sale of the railroad, as it is an important issue. Watts responded, saying there was no urgency other than what e...
DAYTON – The Dayton School Board met at 5:30 p.m. on May 21, 2025. Superintendent Jeremy Wheatley and board members Grant Griffin and Pat Davidson were present in the school library. Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen attended remotely on Zoom. Aneesha Dieu joined about 26 minutes later on Zoom. Ryan Paulson did not attend. The board approved the consent agenda, which included approval of a $3,000 donation to the school library from Neighbors United for Progress, a trip to Silverwood for the band, and an overnight trip to the State Softball t...
DAYTON — Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council to order at 6 p.m. on May 13, 2025. Trump, council members James Su’euga, Kyle Anderson, Michael Smith, Glenn Hagfeldt, and Joann Patras were present at City Hall. Shannon McMillen did not attend. Laura Aukerman participated using Zoom. Belinda Larsen, the Chamber of Commerce Director, said the road closure permits for the Dayton Days parade and All Wheels Weekend have been submitted. She said the chamber will soon put the Dayton High School Senior banners on the Main Street light pol...
DAYTON — The Dayton School Board met at 5:30 p.m. on April 16, 2025. Superintendent Jeremy Wheatley, the Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen, and board members Aneesha Dieu, Grant Griffin, Pat Davidson, and Ryan Paulson were present. The board approved the consent agenda, including a $1,500 grant from Skyline Adventures to buy ski clothes for the fourth and fifth-grade ski program. Three overnight FFA trips were approved in the agenda for the State Convention in Pullman, the National Convention in Indianapolis, and an FFA Officer training in Asotin. T...
DAYTON—The Port of Columbia Board of Commissioners held its regular meeting at 5 p.m. on April 9, 2025, at the port’s conference room. Commissioners Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, Mike Spring, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were present. Dickinson presented the director’s report. She said there were two new leases, a residential property and the Red Band Cellars units at the Rock Hill Industrial Park. Red Band signed a one-year lease for the three units with a one to two-year option and ended the lease for its tasting room at Blue Mountain...
DAYTON—Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council meeting to order at 6 p.m. on April 8, 2025. Trump, council members James Su’euga, Kyle Anderson, Michael Smith, Laura Aukerman, Glenn Hagfeldt, and Shannon McMillen were present at city hall. City Council member Joann Patras did not attend. In public comment, Michael Brady Patton told the council that he moved to Dayton three to four years ago after retiring from the pharmaceutical and medical device field. He spoke about his water bill, saying there was no water usage data from Dece...
DAYTON – The Dayton School Board met in the high school library at 5:30 p.m. on March 19, 2025. Superintendent Jeremy Wheatley, Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen, board members Aneesha Dieu, Grant Griffin, and Ryan Paulson were present. Pat Davidson was in attendance. The board approved the consent agenda, including a gift of $269.70 to the Class of 2025 from the Class of 2025 parents. The consent agenda included the following personnel changes: Jack McCaw was hired as HS Assistant Baseball Coach, the resignation of Ajay McNarland as MS Head V...
DAYTON- Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council to order at 6 p.m. on March 11, 2025. Trump, Council Members James Su’euga, Joann Patras, Michael Smith, Laura Aukerman, Glenn Hagfeldt, and Shannon McMillen met at city hall. Kyle Anderson was not present. During public comment, Columbia County Treasurer Carla Rowe said the 15-day grace period for city utility payments was too short since bills sometimes arrive too late for residents to respond. She also mildly admonished the mayor and council for making jabs at the County Administration...
DAYTON – The Port of Columbia Commissioners held their regular meeting at 5 p.m. on March 12, 2025, at the port’s conference room. Commissioners Seth Bryan, Mike Spring, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were present. Commissioner Johnny Watts was absent due to a scheduling conflict. The commissioners approved the last meeting’s minutes, monthly budget, vouchers, and leases. Dickinson said CHS had an automatic lease renewal with a 3% rent increase. The commissioners approved the port taking electronic payments. Dickinson addressed the t...
DAYTON — Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council to order at 6 p.m. on February 11, 2025. Trump, council members James Su’euga, Joann Patras, Michael Smith, Laura Aukerman, Kyle Anderson, and Shannon McMillen were present. During the public comment period, Dayton resident Theresa Eier spoke about the recall petition she intends to file against Columbia County Sheriff Helm. Eier also discussed her litigation against Columbia County for “withholding records and a lack of transparency.” Eier said there were 600 documents withheld for 600...
DAYTON — The Port of Columbia Commissioners held their regular meeting at 5 p.m. on February 12, 2025, at the port’s conference room. Commissioners Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, Mike Spring, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were present. The commissioners handled a few administrative items, including approving minutes from past meetings and reviewing the monthly budget report. There were no new or amended leases to review. The commissioners reviewed and approved a sewer agreement with the City of Dayton, which allowed wastewater pipes to...
DAYTON – The Port of Columbia Commissioners held a workshop to discuss the potential sale of its railroad assets on February 5, 2025. Commissioners Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, Mike Spring, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were present. The meeting was a workshop for the edification of the commissioners, and public comment was not available. Stakeholders were invited to participate, including the rail operator, customers, and the city. Ryan Paulson represented the City of Dayton, which holds utility rights-of-way along and across the r...
DAYTON – The Dayton School Board met in the high school library at 5:30 p.m. on February 6, 2025. Dayton School District Superintendent Jeremy Wheatley, Business Manager Jana Eaton, Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen, and board members Aneesha Dieu, Grant Griffin, and Ryan Paulson were present. The sole purpose of this meeting was to select a new board member from candidates who applied for the position. Candidates were Melissa Gemmell, Brenda Henderson, Katie Lied, and Pat Davidson. Board members separately interviewed each candidate for about 30 m...
DAYTON — The Dayton School Board met in the high school library at 6:30 p.m. on January 22, 2025. Superintendent Jeremy Wheatley, Business Manager Jana Eaton, and Student Representative Lila Hutchens were present. Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen and board members Aneesha Dieu, Grant Griffin, and Ryan Paulson were present. A board position remains vacant, and persons interested in volunteering should contact the district office for more information. The board re-elected McCowen as board chair and Griffin vice chair. In the consent agenda, the b...
DAYTON — Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council meeting to order at 6 p.m. on January 14, 2025. Trump and council members James Su’euga, Joann Patras, Michael Smith, and Shannon McMillen attended the meeting at Dayton City Hall. Kyle Anderson was not present, and Laura Aukerman joined the meeting later. Sheriff Helm reported 565 incidents in December, consisting of 134 traffic stops, 23 other traffic calls, one DUI investigation, and 16 traffic accidents. Helm reminded everyone to drive appropriately, considering the winter weather. H...
DAYTON – The Columbia Port Commissioners held their regular meeting at 5 p.m. on January 8, 2025, at the port’s conference room. Commissioners Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, Mike Spring, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were present. The meeting began with public comment. Some concerns regarding the potential sale of the port’s railroad included the loss of the railroad and the effects on grain transport if the Snake River dams were to be removed. Seth Murdock spoke first, saying that with continued government ownership, he was concerned that...
