Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 244 - 268 of 440
WAITSBURG - Twenty-one "speeders," also known as motor cars, traveled through Waitsburg by rail on Thursday, September 14. The group was on a "Wine to Rivers" excursion hosted by the Pacific Railcar Operators (PRO). The owner/operators are club members and came from as far away as New Mexico. There were operators from Oregon, Idaho, and the Bay Area in California. I ran into Russell Homan from Grants Pass, Oregon, on Waitsburg's Main Street and asked him about the colorful train cars on the trac...
WAITSBURG-It was a beautiful sunny day for the annual Pioneer Fall Festival at the Bruce House in Waitsburg on Sunday, September 17. An occasional gust of wind blew through, but it did not deter visitors from all the festival had to offer. After the morning community church service on the front lawn of the Bruce House, the Waitsburg Historical Society recognized Barbara Danforth as the 2023 Pioneer of the Year. Danforth, a lifelong resident of the area, was accompanied by her daughter Susie as...
WAITSBURG-This year is Savannah Castillo's first as Waitsburg's middle school volleyball coach, and her team won their season's opening match on Monday, September 18, in Waitsburg. The Cardinals lost the first set to Liberty Christian 15-25 and then won the following four for the win: 25-18, 25-21, 25-6, and 25-8. Makaelyn Mikesell and Victoria Whitmore had some well-placed serves in the last two sets to help the Cardinals secure the victory. Cheri Mathews, Olivia Kiefel, Kaitlyn Paul, Lillian...
WAITSBURG - The high school volleyball team dropped its first match of the season to Sunnyside Christian on Monday, September 11, in Waitsburg by scores of 16-25, 4-25, and 18-25. "This team is young, with four girls playing their first varsity volleyball game. All the girls worked through their jitters and played well tonight," stated head coach Tracy Barron. Makenna Barron ended the evening with five kills, one block, and one ace. Peyton Struckmeier had two kills and one block, and Kylee...
WAITSBURG—Ross Hamann will continue as President of the Waitsburg Booster Club after votes were counted at the September 5 meeting. The other officers elected for 2023-2024 are Julie Karl, vice-president; Danika Hankins, secretary; and Janet Tate, treasurer. Debbie Crenshaw, Karen Huwe, Kim Hamann, and Lance Carter are board members. Gabe Kiefel and Deanna Coulston will handle social media/Zoom. Kiefel recapped the Booster Club kick-off BBQ/membership drive, saying it was successful. The community met football and volleyball players, and the c...
DAYTON-Waitsburg's head coach for middle school football, JJ Calzadillas, said his team played "really good" at the jamboree in Dayton on Monday, September 11. In fact, he thought it was the best showing of a middle school football team he had ever seen. The boys were a little nervous getting off the bus and seeing the "much bigger" players from the other teams. After the Cardinals started playing and playing well, they no longer cared who they played. They felt like the "Kings of the field."...
LEWISTON, IDAHO-During Labor Day weekend, the roar of jet boats screaming down the Snake River at Hells Gate State Park sounded like low-flying airliners over your head. The Thunder on the Snake Jet River Marathon had four classifications of jet boats competing for awards. The turbine class boats have 1500-plus horsepower jet engines with speeds between 145 and 160 miles per hour. The A class have powerful 800-900 HP motors, the CX races 525 HP boats, and the entry-level FX class boats are fast...
WAITSBURG-Waitsburg's middle school teachers, Dan Nechodom and Elizabeth Jagelski, welcome three new certified teachers, Kelsey Grimes, Charissa Hodges, and Kira Waggoner, to Preston Hall. This week, all have been busy getting their classrooms ready for students. Kelsey Grimes relocated to Waitsburg to teach sixth grade. She moved from California, where she last taught at Peralta Elementary School in Jurupa, California. This semester will begin Grimes' third year working in education. She previo...
WAITSBURG-Waitsburg High School students will meet new staff when they arrive for the first day of school on September 5. Five certified educators have joined Matt Elder, Gabe Kiefel, Nicole Abel, and Kathy Pradere to prepare for the new school year. The new faces include Joe Wirtzberger, the new Middle and High School Principal, and the Athletic Director. His wife, Dusty Wirtzberger, has been hired as a P-12 special education teacher. The couple live in the Tri-Cities and worked at the Wahluke...
WAITSBURG-The high school volleyball players are working hard leading up to the new season. A weightlifting program has been introduced to the athletes who have embraced the challenge. Volleyball coaches Tracy Barron and Stephanie Hinchliffe held a presentation of jerseys on Monday, August 28, in the high school gym, where the players' were presented their Cardinal jerseys by family members. The event was memorialized with photos and a pizza dinner ended the evening....
WAITSBURG-Vickie Hamann is in her sixteenth year coaching cheerleaders. This year, she welcomes seven girls who are working out, learning new routines, and skills before the first game on Saturday, September 2, on the Waitsburg Cardinals' field. Juniors Cedar Stegall, Chasity Paddock and sophomores Matti Carter and Bea Karl are in their second year of football cheerleading. Senior Abbi Paolino and sophomores Hope Adkins and Carissa Potts are all first-year cheerleaders. Hamann is looking...
WAITSBURG—Efforts by The Friends of the Pool and Waitsburg Parks and Recreation have been working to raise funds to build a swimming pool in Waitsburg. Both groups have written grants, still under consideration, and held fundraisers, including the “100 for $100” and the “Luck of the Duck.” There will be three new opportunities to help raise funds for the pool in August and September. First, The Friends of the Pool will hold a community meeting on Wednesday, August 23, at the Waitsburg Elementary School library to discuss its progress and conti...
Leavenworth Adventure Park Leavenworth is famous for its Bavarian-style village. Strolling along Front Street, with its restaurants and shops, is a day well spent for visitors; we have been there several times. A new attraction, the Leavenworth Adventure Park, opened on June 1, 2023. Park developers Dave Moffett and John Sutherland chose Leavenworth as the site for Washington State's first alpine coaster. Alpine or mountain coasters are found in mountainous areas and at ski resorts. No motors...
Columbia CountY-Wynter McCauley, Kilee Henry, and Bailey Standring were selected to represent Dayton as Fair Royalty last October. The "job" is so much more than just waving in parades. The fair's royalty learn life-long lessons throughout the year. Starting early to prepare for the day, always ready to smile for a photo, learn about and work with livestock, and spend time as ambassadors for the Columbia County Fair. Their duties include assisting at various local events including Brix and...
Captain Jim Koch has been navigating the ripples and rapids on the snake river through Hells Canyon on his jet boat for the last 30 years. His wife Jill accompanies him as he takes passengers on an interesting, history-filled full-day tour that starts and ends in Clarkston, Washington. On its website, Beamers Hells Canyon Tours says passengers will discover numerous geological Hells Canyon facts and view diverse and abundant wildlife and plant life. All from the safety and comfort of a U.S....
WAITSBURG-Program Coordinator Kathy Schirm and her assistants have provided activities for Waitsburg's first through eighth-grade kids at the Cardinal's Nest summer program. "It has been good for the kids and the families," said Schirm. A group of 26 first, second, and third-graders enjoyed making pizza box solar ovens on Monday, June 26. They cooked smores, little smokies, and Ritz cracker pizza and enjoyed every bite. On Tuesday, they made gooey slime and tie-dyed shirts before finishing the d...
PRESCOTT-The Prescott Library had some unusual visitors last week, thanks to April Jackson, known as the Reptile Lady. She brought a variety of unique creatures to delight and educate kids and parents at the library. "I began as the Reptile Lady, following in the footsteps of my father, the Reptile Man. I am motivated by a vision of reaching all the children in Washington state in order to educate and inspire a love of and respect for reptiles," explained Jackson on her website, reptilelady.org....
DAYTON-Numerous cars dragged the "gut" Friday night as car enthusiasts walked the streets to watch the cars zoom by. Vendors were available for food and drinks, and Main Street businesses welcomed patrons throughout the evening. The band Cruz Control played on the courthouse lawn as people danced and little kids practiced their hula hoop skills. Saturday was the Show 'n Shine where vehicles of all types and years lined Main Street. Visitors and car enthusiasts were able to see everything up...
WAITSBURG-The Waitsburg Cardinals' football team left on Sunday morning to attend a football camp run by Eastern Oregon University. The camp runs from June 18 to 21. The Cardinals' new head Coach Gabe Kiefel has held practices this spring to prepare for the camp, where the team will continue learning skills and getting some 8-man game experience. Kiefel will run the offense and defense and coach the running backs and linebackers. Greg Crenshaw will assist Kiefel, who will coach the offensive...
Seniors "ham it up" a little after the tradional cap & gowns pictures were taken....
WAITSBURG-Twenty-eight eighth-graders were recognized at the traditional promotion ceremony on Monday, June 12, in the Waitsburg High School auditorium. Principal Stephanie Wooderchak led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance, and then Academic excellence winners were announced. Dan Nechodom presented awards for math and Heather Ball White for ELA and U.S. History. Nicole Abel presented certificates for Intro to Ag and Onshape CAD program certificates, and Wooderchak recognized students for...
WALLA WALLA-Blue Mountain Land Trust partnered with the Umatilla National Forest to bring BioBlitz to children in the Walla Walla Valley. This Nature Kids event was supported by Blue Mountain Audubon Society, Sustainable Living Center, Tri-State Steelheaders, WWCC Water and Environmental Center, US Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla County Conservation District, Whitman College, Walla Walla Basin Watershed Council, and Outside the Lines Art Studio. The event, held at Rooks Park in Walla Walla...
Allen and I and my sister and brother-in-law, Joanie and Scott, spent an enjoyable afternoon at the Airfield Estates Winery. Memorial weekend was our first venture to the Wine Country RV Park in Prosser, Washington. The RV Park on Wine Country Road is known for offering wine tasting and being within walking distance of numerous other wineries. There are 125 RV spaces at the park which makes for a good morning walk throughout the park. On one side of us were cows in the field. Luckily, we were up...
WAITSBURG-The Waitsburg FFA held its annual Awards Banquet on May 24 in the elementary multi-purpose room. FFA President Garret Palmer began the opening ceremonies before guests and members enjoyed dessert. A list of names, including parents, community members, and businesses, was read in appreciation for all they do for the Waitsburg FFA Chapter. FFA members of numerous career development events were honored and received certificates and pins. The guests heard the FFA Creed before members were...
DW COMBINE-The high school Wolfpack golf team held their end-of-season awards get-together at the home of Coach McGhan on Tuesday, May 23. The athletes and their families enjoyed a BBQ potluck before the Coach presented awards. All the athletes received a golf pin, and Carson Potter, Abbi Paolino, and Sarah Daves received scholar-athlete honors....
