Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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DAYTON - Waitsburg's music teacher Elizabeth Arebalos-Jagelski walked into the Dayton Liberty Theater's annex with plans to practice lines for the upcoming play but instead found the room packed with well-wishers at a surprise retirement party on Tuesday, June 9. Party organizers, including Waitsburg teacher Brenda Henderson, managed to keep the event a secret, leaving Jagelski completely jaw-droppingly surprised. Henderson had a few secret guests hidden in the back room, so Jagelski could play...
TOUCHET VALLEY - Waitsburg, Dayton, Prescott, and Dixie softball players and coaches were grateful for the opportunity to be able to host softball games in Waitsburg and Dayton this season. In the past, all games were played in Walla Walla. With the leadership of Dave Meliah at Walla Walla Parks & Rec and Waitsburg coach Chelsie Abel, family and friends were able to enjoy watching our girls play on their local fields. The number of Touchet Valley teams in the Blue Mountain Girls Softball League...
Another school year has ended, and another Waitsburg class has left a lasting contribution. The Class of 2026 commissioned a Cardinal Country mural on the high school entrance. The Class of 2021 gifted new backboards on the outdoor basketball courts at the high school and at the elementary school. The class repainted the lines on the tennis courts and painted "Cardinals" on the tennis court net poles and basketball posts. The Class of 2014 had a water fountain/bottle filler installed in the...
WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg Lions Club held its end-of-the-year celebration on Tuesday, June 2. It was a time to thank the Lions' family members and the community volunteers who help the club successfully serve the Waitsburg community. Following the meal, Dale Roberts, the club president, delivered his speech, and Secretary Ross Hamann made club announcements. Tail Twister John Alleman entertained the guests, drawing the winning tickets to give beautiful plants to the ladies present. President...
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg High School's one hundred and thirtieth annual commencement took place on Friday, June 5, in the WHS gymnasium. The Class of 2026 chose "The only impossible journey is the one you never begin," by Tony Robbins, as their motto. Class marshals Cody Coulston and Ellie Teal opened the ceremony by presenting flags. Music Director Elizabeth Jagelski led band members Rozalynn Harvey, Ellie Teal, Andrew Gillum, Cheri Mathews, Olivia Duncan, and Yaneli Flores in the processional...
The Waitsburg School's preschool class graduated at 2 p.m. on June 5 in the Waitsburg Elementary multi-purpose room. Fifteen boys and girls are now kindergarteners, starting in the fall of 2026. The lively students sang "It's a Happy Day," "We Are Graduating," "Follow the Rainbow," and closed with "Moving up to Kindergarten." Their teacher, Eleanora Montgomery, asked the students to introduce themselves and share what they wanted to be when they grew up. It seems we may have a lot of policemen...
Twenty-two Waitsburg Middle School eighth graders were promoted to high school freshmen in a ceremony on Monday, June 8, in the high school auditorium. Class President Kaitlyn Paul led the guests in the Pledge of Allegiance. Waitsburg Principal Joe Wirtzberger welcomed the friends, family, and teachers gathered to celebrate the students' promotion. Middle School Teacher Jessica Griffith gave an inspiring speech, followed by speeches from students Laila Long, Ollivyr Dahlby, and Kaitlynn Paul....
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg Elementary's K-6 Spring Program, "A Blast From The Past," opened with the "National Anthem-Star Spangled Banner," sung by Kestrel DeFord, Kaidence Wilcox, Alyssa Cole, Olivia Long, Brooklyn Board, Azaliah Flores, and Foster Richardson, with Lencio Flores and Mitchell Hays on guitar. Music director Elizabeth Arebalos-Jagelski directed the program, held on June 3, 2026, at 1 pm in the Secondary School Gym. This event marks her last production as she begins a new chapter in...
COEUR D' ALENE - On May 30, a combined band from the Waitsburg and Dayton school bands participated at a regional "Music in the Park" event at Lake City High School in Coeur d' Alene on May 30. After the performance, the band directors, Jagelski and Gillick, took the students to the Silverwood Theme Park for fun and an awards ceremony. Music in the Parks is a nationwide festival program where school bands and choirs perform, and are critiqued, before visiting local amusement parks, where they...
WAITSBURG — The annual Waitsburg FFA awards banquet was held on Thursday, May 28, in the Waitsburg Elementary Multi-purpose room. Advisor Nicole Abel was joined by officers President Sarah Daves, Vice-president Makayla Mikesell, Secretary Sara Wilson, Treasurer Olivia Duncan, Reporter Emerson Underwood, and Sentinel Makaelyn Mikesell. Following introductions, the 2025/26 officers conducted the opening ceremony, which was followed by the FFA President’s speech. Then the FFA Vice President expressed appreciation to the parents, community, and...
Blake Benevides Blake Benevides is the son of Valerie and Shawn and has siblings Quinn and Claudia, both WHS alumni. Benevides came to Waitsburg School as an eighth grader and attends WHS full-time. He has been a member of FFA for four years and was on the homecoming court his freshman year. As a basketball standout in his junior and senior years, Benevides received the Most Improved Award and All-League Honorable Mention his junior year and made the All-League First Team and was voted Most...
Benevides at State Golf Waitsburg High School senior Blake Benevides shot a 110 in the first round at the WIAA 1B/2B Boys High School State Golf Championships at MeadowWood Golf Course in Liberty Lake May 20-21. Coach Caris Lynch said that Benevides missed the cut-off at 95 to proceed to the second round. Kenney to State Track Senior Teegan Kenney from Waitsburg High School will compete in all four of his track events at the WIAA 1b/2b/1A State Championships at Eisenhower High School, May 28-30. Kenny qualified for State at the 1B District 6...
Tyler Coulston Tyler Coulston's parents are Deanna and Cullen. His sister, Grace, is a Waitsurg High School alumna, and his younger brother, Cody, is a freshman. Coulston has attended Waitsburg Schools since preschool. An honor student, he is Vice-President of his senior class and was named the Walla Walla Exchange Club Student of the Month in December of his senior year. He has been an FFA member since his sophomore year and participated on the FFA Ag Mechanics team in his junior and senior...
Kenney Qualifies for State Track Waitsburg Track Team athlete, Teegan Kenney, earned a place at the 1B District 6 Championships after qualifying in all four of his events at the district qualifier on Tuesday, May 12, in Pomeroy. In Pomeroy, Kenney set personal best jumps in two of his events. Three Waitsburg girls set personal best records to also advance to the district championships, which will be held at Valley Christian School on May 20-22. Twelve teams competed, and eight advanced to compet...
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg students from the YMCA Youth and Government program participated in its annual non-partisan, civic engagement program in Olympia on April 30 through May 2. Youth Legislature students work throughout the school year to learn parliamentary procedure and write legislation to be presented during a state-wide conference. "Youth and Government in Olympia was great this week and was a great opportunity for the kids. For most of our students, this was their first year, but we did...
Logan Seal Logan Seal is the son of Maisee and Anthony. His sisters, Kailyn and Kenzie, are WHS alumni, and he has a younger sister, Hannah. Seal has attended Waitsburg Schools since kindergarten. An honor student, he has four classes at the high school this year, participated in FFA his junior year, and has been a member of the basketball teams since he was in the eighth grade. A team captain on the basketball team his junior and senior years, Seal was named MVP and was voted All league 2nd...
Waitsburg High School Track at Pirate Raid @Twilight Invite Waitsburg High School track members participated in the Pirate Raid at Twilight Invite at Pomeroy High School on Friday night, May 8th. The Cardinals competed against thirteen other schools that are gearing up for the SE 1B Sub-District Qualifier, which will take place on Tuesday, May 12 in Pomeroy. The top eight from each event will advance to the 1B District 6 Championships at Valley Christian School starting Wednesday, May 20. Waitsburg coach Dan Nechodom said that athletes always...
On Saturday, May 2, a community planting and ribbon-cutting event was held for the Blue Mountain Butterfly Station. The idea for the pollinator waystation grew from a discussion at a community town hall meeting in September 2025. Kathy Ellsworth spoke at the meeting on efforts to protect the Western Monarch population, which has declined by over 95% due to habitat loss and climate change. Before the ribbon-cutting, Dayton Chamber of Commerce Director Brenda Larsen introduced project lead Jeff...
Brenton Segraves Brenton Segraves is the son of Kathy Snyder and Elmer Segraves. His older sister Alyssa graduated in the WSD Class of 2024. He has a younger brother, Gabe, and sister, Alexis. Segraves has been a Waitsburg student since the fifth grade. As a senior, Segraves takes morning classes at WHS and criminal justice classes in the afternon at SEATech Skills Center in Walla Walla. A member of FFA, Segraves was on the Ag Mechanics team as a sophomore and junior. He is an honor student and...
Waitsburg Cardinals Win Double-Header Waitsburg High School's baseball team finished their season, May 1, on a sunny Friday afternoon, winning both games of the doubleheader against Tekoa-Rosalia. The Cardinals got on the scoreboard in the first inning when they scored two runs by a Kellen Coulston single,a double by Rowdy Cole and a single by Rollin Carpenter. Bryer Paul made a diving catch from his position as pitcher in the third inning. Highlights in the fifth inning include scoring five...
WAITSBURG - For the second year, Whitman College brought its Science Night to Preston Hall on Thursday, April 23rd. The outreach program was designed to bring hands-on exhibits and experiences to elementary school students and their families. It is designed to spark curiosity, foster a love of discovery, and make science fun for students and their families. Program organizers credit all the volunteers from Whitman College, local schools, and communities for making the events...
WALLA WALLA - Waitsburg Elementary School third grader Sydney Smith placed first place in nine events at the Sweet Onion Swim Meet at Whitman College. The Walla Walla Swim Club hosted the meet at Whitman's indoor pool on Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26. As a WWSC member, Smith added a second and two third place finishes to her nine first-place wins, and four personal records. She was the high-point winner in the 9- to 10-year-old girl division in the competition against teams from...
Kyle Lindsey Kyle Lindsey’s parents are Sheila and Robbie. His sister Morgan is a WHS alumnus, and his younger siblings are Lane and Landen. Lindsey has been a full-time student at WHS since his junior year. In his first year, he and four WHS band members participated in a mass-band event hosted by the Southeastern Washington Music Education Association in Clarkston, Wash. As a member of Waitsburg FFA, he volunteered at school concessions, the Lions Club's rib and salmon feeds, and the Amazing S...
Connor Goulette Connor Goulette is a full-time student at Waitsburg High School. He joined the Waitsburg School District as a freshman. The son of Jesse and Michelle Goulette, he has three older siblings: Ashley, Ana, and Tyler. He became involved in FFA during his freshman year, participating in the first-year member event and helping at school concessions. In elementary and middle school, Goulette participated in baseball. Currently, he enjoys playing in the men's softball league in Walla...
POMEROY — Waitsburg and Dayton track athletes competed in the District 6 1B meet at Pomeroy on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, against 10 other schools. Top 10 boys: •100m –4th Teegan Kenney (Waitsburg) – 12.23 SB*; 5th Garret Yost (Dayton) – 12.35 PB** •1600m – 3rd Paquette (Dayton) – 5:31.62 PB •3200m – 2nd Ian Rushing (Dayton) – 14:46.48 •300m hurdles – Liam Kiefel (Waitsburg) – 52.48 •Discus – 8th Liam Kiefel (Waitsburg) – 67’ 8” •Triple jump – 8th Liam Kiefel (Waitsburg) – 32’ 10”B •400m – 2nd Yost (Dayton) – 55.77 PB and 5th Jonah Paquette (Da...
