Articles written by Michele Smith
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AAUW candidates' forum held in Dayton
DAYTON—Three candidates running for a four year term as Dayton’s mayor spoke at the AAUW Candidates Forum, which was held at the Liberty Theater in Dayton last week, followed by a question and...
Two hotly contested races for Dayton City Council
DAYTON—Seth Bryan is running for Dayton City Council Position 6 against incumbent Byron Kaczmarski in the Nov. 5 General Election. “This is my first time running for public office,” Bryan said....
Passage of the $30 car tab initiative will be felt in Columbia County
DAYTON—If you think state Initiative 976, better known as the $30 Car Tab Initiative, will only affect Sound Transit, on the west side of the state, think again. If I-976 is approved by voters,...
Flood Control Zone District proposal goes before the voters on Nov. 5
DAYTON-If the Flood Control Zone District is approved by the voters on Nov. 5, County Engineer Charles Eaton will be its administrator. Eaton has released the following statement: "Since 1964, Columbi...
100 years of 4-H in Columbia County
DAYTON-Since becoming the WSU Dayton Extension Agent fifteen years ago, Paul Carter said youth enrollment in 4-H has increased from 75 to 102, this year, and remains steady. "It is very important to...
Starbuck kids to have lunch five days a week until the end of the school year
STARBUCK-With generous donations from Columbia Pulp and the Blue Mountain Community Foundation, the Starbuck School District is now able to provide 37 K-8 graders with lunches, five days a week,...
Historic Dayton on Tour takes place Oct. 5
DAYTON-The Historic Dayton on Tour will take place on Sat. Oct 5. Activities include; the works of local artists displayed at various locations, around town, the Annual Historic Home Tour, the Main...
Special meeting for the Dayton City Council
Jake Holopeter, a physical engineer with Anderson Perry & Associates, spoke at a special city council meeting, last Monday, about the terms of the one million dollar Public Works Board...
EMS levy dollars at work at CCFD 3
During the Columbia County Fire District Three open house on Sunday EMT Darvin Parvinen demonstrated Lucas, the new mechanical chest compression machine, which was purchased with EMS levy funds....
Open house for the Touchet Valley Trail held in Dayton
DAYTON-Roughly ninety people attended the Touchet Valley Trail open house, at the fairgrounds Pavilion, in Dayton, on Monday, Sept. 16. Joy Smith President of the Waitsburg Commercial Club spoke to...
Columbia County Board of Commissioners Adopts 2019 Comp Plan Update
DAYTON—During their regular session on Monday, Sept. 16, the Board of Columbia County Commissioners adopted the county’s 2019 Comprehensive Plan Update, and its three new ordinances regarding;...
Dayton City Council Update
DAYTON—There was no unfinished or new business at the Dayton City Council meeting last week. The majority of the meeting time was spent addressing a letter written by Dayton residents Chuck and Peggy James about the alleged lack of qualifications...
Dayton Discusses School Levy
DAYTON— With the budget deficit in mind the Dayton School District Board of Directors and Administration have agreed not to fill the vacant position for elementary school principal. At their monthly work session last week, Superintendent Doug...
Columbia County Fair celebrates 130 years
DAYTON-"Timeless Traditions" is the theme of the 130th Columbia County Fair, and from the time of the opening ceremonies at 9 a.m., on Fri. ,Sept. 6, until the fair close, at 5 p.m. on Sun., Sept. 9,...
Guilty verdicts reached in the case of the State of Washington vs. Benjamin Orozco
DAYTON-"It's been a long time coming," said Ed Terry last Friday, when a jury returned verdicts of "guilty" to all three charges in the Benjamin Orozco case. Orozco has been charged with second...
Misty Yost is appointed to Dayton Council
DAYTON-At last week's Dayton City Council meeting Mayor Zac Weatherford said he has received three applications for the position of Community Development Planning Director, and he has formed a...
Council says 'Go' to Affordable Housing Commission
DAYTON—At last week’s Dayton City Council meeting Planning Director Meagan Bailey talked about the perception most people have regarding what defines affordable housing, saying most people think...
Dan Aschenbrenner appointed to Port commission
DAYTON-At their regular meeting last week, Port Commissioners Earle Warren and Fred Crowe appointed Dan Aschenbrenner to fill the remainder of Gene Warren's term on the commission, which was to end...
Dayton Cut and Wrap IS under new management
DAYTON-Dayton Cut and Wrap has a new name and is under new management. Derek Katsel and his wife, Savana Cole, have received their custom meat facility and custom farm slaughter license through the...
Dayton's Dog Park is a hit with four legged friends (and their owners)
DAYTON-The Dayton Dog Park has been a godsend for Dayton's four-legged friends and their owners, since it officially opened in Sept. 2017. The early morning hours, and the hours after supper are a...
Weatherford takes mayoral primary by a landslide
DAYTON-Incumbent Dayton Mayor Zac Weatherford received a strong show of community backing in last week's primary elections for city mayor, with a 66 percent support vote. Weatherford garnered 504 of...
Orozco trial to begin Aug. 20
DAYTON-—A trial in the case of the State vs. Benjamin Orozco is going forward, with jury selection taking place on the morning of Tues., Aug. 20, in Columbia County Superior Court, according to the County Prosecuting Attorney Dale Slack. Orozco...
Out and about with Michele Smith: Camping and fishing in the Blue Mountains
I have long thought about fly fishing on the Wenaha River but hadn't had the opportunity until last week when my husband and I camped at Fields Spring State Park for a few days. Fields Spring State...
CCHS partners with Providence for tele-care services
COLUMBIA COUNTY—When they met last week, the Columbia County Health System (CCHS) District Board of Commissioners signed off on medical privileges for physicians associated with Providence St. Mary’s Hospital in Walla Walla, for the purpose of...
Tamara Demean is new clinic provider
DAYTON-Tamara Demean ARNP has been hired to provide medical care to Columbia County Health System patients in both primary care clinics in Dayton and Waitsburg and in the Emergency Department. "They...
