Articles written by Michele Smith
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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...
Personal tragedy leads to life of healing
DAYTON-When Levi Sowerby was given the news that he wouldn't walk again he got to work exploring alternative methods of healing, and within one year of receiving that diagnosis, it no longer applied....
No one ever said farming is easy
DAYTON-John Laib is a third-generation Columbia County farmer. He and his wife Carolyn farm the 2,500 original acres on his grandfather, Albert Laib's, home place, and they lease and farm an additiona...
Citizens sound off over fireworks enforcement
DAYTON— At last week’s Dayton City Council meeting Christine Broughton was selected by the council to fill the remainder of Zac Weatherford’s city council term, which was created when he became Dayton’s Interim Mayor. The council interviewed...
43rd Annual Dayton High School Alumni Weekend is July 20
DAYTON—“Once a Bulldog, Always a Bulldog” is the slogan for the 43rd Annual Dayton High School Alumni Weekend which takes place on Sat., July 20. Alumni will gather from near and far for Saturday’s 10 a.m. parade, for the 11 a.m. annual...
Touchet Valley Golf Club board sets a vision
DAYTON—The Touchet Valley Golf Club board has developed an aggressive five-year strategy, and is now working on implementation of one of its first priorities, which is to raise money for an...
Community health benefits from grants
DAYTON—Columbia, Asotin and Garfield counties will share an award in the amount of $110,000 from Greater Columbia Accountable Communities of Health to be spent on social determinants of need, said...
Starbuck Welcomes new store
Starbuck has given a warm welcome to Spinners Tackle, Grocery & Deli owners Mike and Jackie Lattimer, in Starbuck. The store fills a large void, serving locals, travelers and pulp and straw mill...
Columbia County Newbies Eaton and Strickland assess and prioritize
DAYTON-Since Charles Eaton and Ashley Strickland have stepped into their respective roles as the county's Public Works Director and Emergency Management/E-911 Director, they have been busy assessing...
DGH Auxiliary donates $1,500 to Health Fund
Last Thursday, Dayton Hospital Auxiliary Treasurer Dorothy Croft and President Laura Thorn presented Bob Hutchens with a check in the amount of $1,500 for the Dayton Waitsburg Community Health...
Former Frontier Too building remodel is underway
DAYTON-Since it was built in 1882, the building at 211 East Main Street has been a mercantile, drug store, bank, survived a fire, and has been an International dealership, a Pontiac car dealership,...
Dayton City Council Update
DAYTON— On May 28, City Administrator Trina Cole attended a meeting with representatives from the state Dept. of Ecology, the Washington Water Trust, the Confed. Tribes of the Umatilla Indian...
Dayton terminates county planning and compliance contracts
DAYTON—The Dayton City Council voted last week to terminate interlocal agreements with the county for Planning Department and Code Compliance Services. City Administrator Trina Cole said the reason behind last week’s decision is so the city can...
Ranger districts provide updates
DAYTON-Personnel from the Pomeroy and Walla Walla Ranger Districts of the Umatilla National Forest hosted a public meeting in Dayton last week to share information about the Districts and discuss...
Dayton High School held its 138th graduation ceremony on Saturday
DAYTON-Family and friends crowded the Dayton High School gymnasium on Saturday to hear Class of 2019 Valedictorian Neylan Bryan and Salutatorian Tatumn Laughery deliver their speeches, and to cheer as...
Neylan Bryan is DHS Valedictorian and Tatumn Laughery is Salutatorian
DAYTON-Dayton High School 2019 graduates will receive their diplo- mas in a commencement ceremony on Sat., June 8 at 1 p.m. in the Dayton High School gymnasium. Neylan Bryan The Dayton High School...
DHS hosts Mentor Round Table
DAYTON-For high school students, having the opportunity to meet with people from many walks of working life is important as they begin their journey into life after high school and the arena of the...
Relocating and delisting wolves is under consideration
DAYTON—Region 1 Director of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (DWFW) Steve Pozzanghera, came before the Board of County Commissioners last week to present a Periodic Status Review for gray...
Dayton welcomes possible alternative to retain current wastewater treatment facility
DAYTON—At last week’s regular city council meeting, City Administrator Trina Cole spoke about a meeting that recently took place between city officials and representatives from Washington Water...
New nursing legislation poses negative impact on hospital budget and care quality
DAYTON-In his report to the Hospital Board of Commissioners on April 23, CEO Shane McGuire talked about how a recent legislative ruling limiting nurses to eight hour shifts in a twenty-four-hour day,...
