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Articles written by Lane Gwinn


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  • Waitsburg passes livestock restrictions in municipal code

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|May 29, 2025

    WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg City Council met on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at City Hall. Mayor Marty Dunn, Council Members Jillian Henze, Jim Romine, Court Ruppenthal, Kevin House, Cindy Bishop, and City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe were present. During public comment, Cindy Daves told the council that the Waitsburg Gun Club was asked to host the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's National Hunting and Fishing Day event this year. She said the Lions Club and Puget Sound Energy had each...

  • Pig Roast given key to the City of Waitsburg

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|May 29, 2025

    WAITSBURG -The 2025 Touchet River Roundup kicked off on Friday, May 23, at the Waitsburg Fairgrounds. The annual Memorial Day Weekend Campout is a drug and alcohol-free event. Activities include live entertainment, chili feed, and the Woody's Pig Roast on Saturday. Waitsburg Mayor Marty Dunn & City Council Member Jennifer Bishop attended Friday's opening. Dunn gave the event's organizers and attendees a key to the city to appreciate their contribution to the town. He said Waitsburg appreciated...

  • Simply Sawdust is offering free vendor space for the City Yard Sale on June 7

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|May 29, 2025

    WAITSBURG - Gloria Wilson, owner of Simply Sawdust, is offering free 10' by 10' spaces for this year's Waitsburg City Wide Yard Sale. The spaces will be on the property called The Slab, adjacent to Simply Sawdust. It is an ideal location for the sale, offering excellent visibility, ample off-street parking, and vendor comradery. Wilson said yard sale vendors should bring tables and items to sell. Anyone needing more space can contact Wilson at (360) 852-6437 or at Simply Sawdust at 101 Main...

  • You can't keep a good rodeo down

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|May 22, 2025

    DAYTON-The Dayton Days rodeo returns to the Dayton Fairgrounds this Memorial Day Weekend. The event's future was uncertain after a dispute between Dayton Days, Inc. board members resulted in a schism in leadership. The nonprofit has hosted the rodeo since it was formed in 1966. Before the split, "Dayton Chronicle" owners, Loyal and Charlotte Baker, served as president and secretary of the nonprofit. They say they still represent the organization which elected new board members. Deanna Vandever,...

  • Patient financing program introduced at CCHS

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|May 15, 2025

    DAYTON — The Columbia County Health System is introducing PayZen, a new program to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for patients. PayZen is an innovative patient financing solution that uses AI-powered solutions to tackle healthcare affordability. The program simplifies medical bills by offering interest-free payment plans tailored to individual patients’ needs. CCHS patients can access zero-interest, no-fee payment plans with a quick and automated enrollment process without impacting their credit scores through the new program. S...

  • Student leader is honored as she retires from FFA State Officer team

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|May 15, 2025

    PULLMAN, Wash. - The retiring 2024-2025 Washington FFA State Officer team was recognized at the 95th Convention and Expo in Pullman, Wash., on May 10. State FFA Treasurer Makenna Barron has been an FFA member in Waitsburg for the last five years, competing in career and leadership development events, including the Livestock Evaluation, Vet Science, and speaking. She showed market swine in the Walla Walla and Columbia County fairs and shows. When she was 12, Barron was the 2018 Celebration Days...

  • Green Thumb Club allotments available in Dayton

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|May 15, 2025

    DAYTON - The Port of Columbia offers a redesigned commercial garden at Blue Mountain Station with two allotment sizes. The port is looking for individuals, families, and commercial entities interested in having an allotment to raise fruit, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. The Blue Mountain Station's community garden features fifteen garden spaces. Seven are large plots at 30 ft x 72 ft., and eight are smaller raised beds The allotments will be leased on a first-come, first-served basis. The...

  • Sandra Torres to sign new book on Huntsville

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|May 15, 2025

    WAITSBURG — Waitsburg author Sandra Torres will sign her new book, “Pioneer Families of Huntsville, Washington,” during Waitsburg Celebration Days. Blush Salon will host the event on Sunday, May 18, from 9 a.m. to noon. The event will be held at 214 Main Street in Waitsburg, once owned by Torres and her husband Lupé, where they ran Nothing New Antiques and Lodging before retiring and selling the building to Blush Salon. The couple fell in love with Waitsburg after they retired and moved to town in 2003. They bought and remodeled a histor...

  • Wolfling Coffee Pop-up at Ten Ton on Saturday

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|May 15, 2025

    WAITSBURG - Wolfling Coffee is coming to Main Street soon. Owners Caitlin Potts and Trevor Corbin have wasted no time getting to work on their building at 206 Main Street. They have uncovered a brick wall, removed the dividing wall, and designed the barista bar. The couple is taking time out from construction to introduce themselves to the community at a special pop-up at Ten Ton Studio, 216 Main, for Waitsburg Celebration Days, on Saturday, May 17, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. "We'll be serving a...

  • Hydraulics flood study confirms viability of Waitsburg pool site

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|May 8, 2025

    WAITSBURG - Waitsburg Parks and Recreation District received the hydraulics flood study from Ardurra Group, Inc., confirming the viability of the proposed pool site on the north side of the Touchet River. A previous study by PBS Engineering and Environmental indicated a high probability the site could be used. The study in March by Ardurra confirmed the viability of the proposed design and construction for a new Waitsburg community pool based on an updated survey and detailed 2D modeling of the...

  • Free "Times" map directs buyers to the June 7 Waitsburg yard sales

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|May 8, 2025

    WAITSBURG-The Waitsburg citywide yard sale is coming up on Saturday, June 7. "The Times" will publish the go-to map for the event in its June 5 issue. It includes addresses and information on participating garage and yard sales in Waitsburg and Prescott. It is free to be included on the map, and yard sale participants should send their addresses, items for sale, or any other information to "The Times" by May 30, 2025. Information must be sent to advertising@waitsburgtimes.com by 3 p.m. Friday,...

  • Washington candidate filing ends May 9

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|May 8, 2025

    OLYMPIA — The period for candidates to file began May 5 and will end on May 9, 2025, at 5 p.m. Candidates can file online, by mail, and at county election offices statewide. Applicants are encouraged to file online. Information on open offices and filing fees is available on the Office of the Secretary of State’s election website: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections#candidates. “Candidate filing is the first step in running for office, and we continue to work toward making this process as accessible and easy as possible with our online filin...

  • Dayton's Friends of the Pool , Y provide swim safety to kids

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|May 1, 2025

    DAYTON - The Friends of the Pool Committee in Dayton promotes and raises funds to ensure kids in the community get swimming lessons. Many Columbia County kids are at risk without access to swimming and water safety lessons since the Dayton Pool closed in 2018. "We have worked with the new school administration here in Dayton, resulting in Dayton school kids in grades 1 and 2 having been bussed to the Walla Walla YMCA in the last few weeks," said Chairperson Fred Crowe. "It was very successful,...

  • Eggs, eggs, eggs, at Preston Park

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|Apr 24, 2025

    WAITSBURG - The Easter Bunny was back at Preston Park to hide eggs and give stuffed bunnies and ducks. The under-twelve egg hunters lined-up to wait for the city's siren to sound and star the hunt. They were quick to snap up hidden treasures, loading their baskets, and outrunning parents....

  • Domestic air travel will require REAL ID starting May 7

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|Apr 24, 2025

    OLYMPIA — Starting May 7, 2025, Americans will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of identification to board domestic flights. This requirement also applies to accessing certain federal facilities. Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005, and states must create IDs requiring applicants to prove their identity and legal U.S. residency and have certain counterfeit-resistant features. The Washington REAL ID is the Enhanced ID or Enhanced Driver’s License. It is not mandatory to change to either; other forms of ID...

  • Waitsburg Commercial Club honors community members

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|Apr 17, 2025

    WAITSBURG-The Waitsburg Commercial Club held its annual meeting and awards dinner at Waitsburg Town Hall on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. The guests enjoyed a Chicken Teriyaki dinner catered by Jennifer French, wine and beer, and desserts. The silent auction also included donuts, cookies, and other delectables. Commercial Club President Tiffany Baxter gave a presentation outlining the club's work over the last year. She nominated officers for this year, and the attending club members voted to...

  • Business Boosters, Lyons Ferry, and RVs at Port meeting

    Justin Jaech and Lane Gwinn, The Times|Apr 17, 2025

    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...

  • City hall's new owner, new future

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|Apr 10, 2025

    WAITSBURG - The City of Waitsburg's former city hall building has a new owner. Chet Childers of Burbank, Wash., has taken ownership of the historic Main Street building. This was the second bid the Tri-Cities construction company owner has made for the building. Childers withdrew from his first offer after a 90-day feasibility study. His original offer for $175,000 included his vision statement for The Vault, a space that celebrates beer making and soaking. It would offer second-floor hotel...

  • Rural libraries feel federal cuts

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|Apr 10, 2025

    WAITSBURG — Waitsburg’s Weller Public Library is facing cuts in services and possibly staffing from the loss of federal funding. The Institute of Museum and Library Services was one of seven agencies functionally eliminated by an executive order to continue reducing federal bureaucracy signed by President Trump on March 14, 2025. While libraries are funded mainly by city and county taxes, federal funding helps pay for workforce training and pilot programs. It helps provide essential library services, including computer and internet access, in...

  • New Mexican food, tours, wine, cocktails at Hotel Hardware Grand Opening

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|Apr 10, 2025

    DAYTON - Hotel Hardware invites the public to its official Grand Opening on Friday, April 11 and 12. The celebration will take place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on both days. It includes New Mexican cuisine by Dave Hernandez of Cocina Barelas, wine from Tim Doyle of Marginalia Winery, and innovative cocktails at The Bobcat Room. Guests can check out the renovated hotel, The Bobcat Room, and meet Daniel Lopez, the Spokane–based artist behind the "Stand By Me" mural at Hotel Hardware. Hotel hardware i...

  • Barbara Danforth named Waitsburg Celebration Days Parade Marshal

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|Apr 3, 2025

    WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg Celebration Days committee is pleased to announce Barbara Danforth as this year's parade marshal. She shares the honor with her late husband, Bob Danforth. Parade marshals are chosen for their commitment to making Waitsburg a great place to live, learn, work, and play.Barbara was the 1948 Days of Real Sport Queen and the Waitsburg Historical Society's 2023 Pioneer of the Year. She supports Waitsburg's FFA, a member of the De Nova Club, and was recognized for 70 years...

  • One door closes, another opens

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|Mar 27, 2025

    WAITSBURG - Returning from a trip to Tuscany, Tom and Judy Bennett brought their new-found love of Neapolitan pizza home to Walla Walla. In 2018, they opened Fiasco, a mobile catering business with a wood-fired pizza oven on a vintage truck. In 2022, the couple scaled up their enterprise by opening American 35 in Waitsburg's former American Legion building. They expanded the kitchen and dining room and opened the restaurant to Main Street with two large glass garage doors. But the real star of...

  • Bid accepted for city hall, 2nd offer approved as backup

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|Mar 27, 2025

    WAITSBURG —Waitsburg Mayor Marty Dunn called the city council meeting to order on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 7 p.m. at city hall. City council members Jillian Henze, Jennifer Bishop, Kevin House, and City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe were present. Council members Jim Romine and Court Ruppenthal were not present. In public comment, representatives from the Touchet River Roundup, known as Woody’s Pig Roast, told the council they disagreed with a memo from the city administrator to the council. Hinchliffe recommended that the council not all...

  • 4H clubs bring in 795 lbs of donations to Waitsburg Resource Center

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|Mar 27, 2025

    WAITSBURG - The Corral Wranglers 4H Club and the Pen Pals 4H Club held a successful food drive on Monday, March 24. There was a lot of energy, laughter, and activity as the kids, their parents, and advisors took in donations for the Waitsburg Resource Center at the Banner Bank parking lot. Over the afternoon and early evening, they collected 795 pounds of food and hygiene items for the community....

  • Decades old dump sours city hall sale

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|Mar 20, 2025

    WAITSBURG — The former city hall was back on the market after the last sales agreement accepted at the special council meeting on March 6 fell through on March 12. The offer accepted at the special council meeting was from Walla Walla residents Delbert and Cindy Steinhorst. The couple's bid was $150,000 for the city hall building and a second city-owned property off E. Sixth St. The offer had a relatively quick time frame, with a feasibility contingency date of March 15 and closing on April 1, 2...

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