Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 651 - 675 of 800
DAYTON--Benjamin Orozco made his first court appearance in Columbia County Superior Court on December 21. He was charged with second degree murder in the shooting death of Dayton resident Lance Terry, and with first degree assault, in the wounding of Dayton resident David Eaton. Both crimes that took place, in Dayton, twenty years ago. Columbia County Prosecuting Attorney Rea Culwell said that Orozco has entered a not guilty plea to the charges. On July 7, 1996, Orozco and an acquaintance,...
The Triple Nickle chair lift was full Monday morning at Ski Bluewood, as skiers and snow boarders enjoyed the huge snowfalls that have hit the Blue Mountains this winter. Bluewood reported that 142 inches of snow have fallen at the ski area this winter so far. See story on Page 2....
DAYTON--Since taking over from Donna Hangar as the Columbia County 4-H Club program coordinator in April, Ashley Trevino has been working hard to increase membership, as well as to keep the eleven existing 4-H clubs on track. Trevino said she is happy overall, but would like to add more clubs to the list for older youth. "We have 38% of the middle school enrolled in 4-H. I couldn't be more delighted with this percentage," said Trevino. Trevino would like to see a higher rate of participation in...
DAYTON—Columbia County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Dale Slack will still have a job, in 2017. The Garfield County Prosecutor, Garfield County Commissioners, Columbia County Commissioners, and the Columbia County Prosecuting Attorney have all stepped up to help secure Slack’s position. “Rea gave us permission to talk to Garfield County. Everybody wanted to save Dale’s position,” said Columbia County Commissioner Mike Talbot. Slack will continue to work his normal 35-hour week, with the same pay...
DAYTON-Suzi Tasker has opened a new business in Dayton. Beginning last February, Tasker undertook a nine-month course through the Nutritional Therapy Association in Olympia, to become a nutrition practitioner. On May 31, she and her husband, Duane, closed Aardvark Granola Blue Mountain Station, to allow her to concentrate on her studies, she said. Tasker said that two years ago, she was struggling with some health issues that included two major surgeries to remove a benign but recurring tumor....
DAYTON— At last week’s meeting of the Port of Columbia Commissioners, the director of the regional Small Business Development Center in Walla Walla spoke about work he does with potential and established businesses. Joe Jacobs is a Certified Business Advisor and Accredited Business Planning Advisor, and he is part of a statewide network of organizations helping people to start and expand businesses. He also helps companies get ready to sell, he told the commissioners. Since 2012, Jacobs sai...
DAYTON—The Columbia County Commissioners have signed off on the City of Dayton’s proposed lawsuit settlement agreement regarding prosecution services. Commission Chairman Merle Jackson signed the agreement during a budget workshop meeting on Dec. 5. “The agreement is settled with the city and we can move on,” Jackson said. On Dec. 8, Judge Jackie Shea-Brown ruled that the county is not responsible for County Prosecutor Rea Culwell’s legal fees associated with the lawsuit, because Culwell c...
DAYTON-Columbia County Commissioner Dwight Robanske is calling it quits after 16 years of service to the county. Robanske said there have been many ups and downs during that time, but he has mainly enjoyed working with the citizens and employees of Columbia County. Robanske said his interest in promoting economic development in the county and in Dayton was the reason he ran for a seat on the board in 2000. "I served on the Dayton Economic Development Steering Committee with Jennie Dickinson in...
DAYTON—When they met on Nov. 27, the Columbia County Hospital District Board of Commissioners approved a request from CEO Shane McGuire to apply for a loan to purchase a GE ultrasound machine for regular diagnostic and cardiac testing. So far this year there have been 362 ultrasound referrals, which adds up to eight months of work for an ultrasound technologist working one day a week, McGuire told the commissioners. All the physicians have been asking for ultrasound technology, he added. M...
DAYTON--Pioneer West is the new retail agriculture supply business located at 206 West Main Street in Dayton. Business Manager Dan Torkan said Pioneer West sells Carhartt clothing, Lucas oil products, Cub Cadet tillers, mowers, and trenchers, Husqvarna UTVs, Miller sprayers, Big Tex Trailers, and Schulte mowers and equipment. Irrigation supplies can also be purchased at Pioneer West, said Torkan. "We're also doing small engine repair," he said. Torkan said there was a "soft" opening in May of...
DAYTON--The “Blue Mountain Region Trails – Ridges, Towns, and Rivers” plan has just been given a boost through an award made by the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program, for technical expertise and support. Inspired by the Community Council of Walla Walla’s 2015 study on enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities, and by citizen input, local planners met in April and May to determine interest by key stakeholders and partners, and to identify a regional...
DAYTON—City officials have made infrastructure a top priority in 2017. Reflected in the 2017 budget for the City of Dayton are water and sewer utility rate hikes to help with major capital improvements and provide for ongoing maintenance of the facilities. The rate hike in 2017 will aid in funding for Phase II of the city’s Wastewater Treatment Facilities Plan, according to City of Dayton Administrator Trina Cole. Dayton’s wastewater treatment plant was built in 1938. It is a point source facil...
DAYTON—The Dayton City Council met Monday night to pass a resolution authorizing Mayor Craig George to settle all claims in the matter of a legal dispute between the City of Dayton, Columbia County, and Prosecuting Attorney, Rea Culwell. The council also approved a resolution allowing the mayor to sign an agreement with Bell, Brown, & Rio PLLC, to provide municipal prosecution services to the city, beginning on Dec. 1, for a period of two months. The county prosecutor’s office will discontinue p...
DAYTON - There is a new quilt shop at 218 West Main Street in Dayton, called Quilts & More. Owner Joanne Marble is placing the emphasis on "more," because along with quilting material and supplies, she is offering for sale antiques, pottery, China, a line of dips from Carmie's Kitchen in Texas, "and much more," she said. Marble and her husband Richard have recently chosen Dayton to call home. They have lived mainly in eastern Montana and, more recently, in Hawaii, with several moves abroad over...
DAYTON--For Captain Robert "Gene" Lathrop, USMC, who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, the written word was his choice of therapy, according to author Jeanette Vaughn. Vaughn was in Dayton last month with Lathrop's sister, Susan Hirst, for a presentation and book signing at the Delany Room. The event was hosted by the Dayton Memorial Library in honor of Veteran's Day. Vaughn's book, "Eternally at War," chronicles Lathrop's years growing up in Dayton, his time as a fighter pilot in...
DAYTON— During a special meeting on Nov. 15, the Columbia County Hospital District Board of Commissioners approved its 2017 budget, as well as levy certifications for one regular levy and two debt service bonds. The budget that was approved reflects $14,288,748 in total net operating revenue. Total operating expenses are $15,842,969. Total non-operating income is $1,704,360. The bottom line for net income is $150,139. The 2017 budget reflects a $150,000 increase over what was budgeted for in 2...
Jan. community meeting gets green light, K-12 school counselor on target for 2017 DAYTON—Action taken by the Dayton School Board last week included a change in meeting times for December and approval of two resolutions, one of which is a levy roll back, and the other is for the transfer of funds from the General Fund to Debt Service. Johnson explained the rollback, saying that due to changes in Dayton’s levy authority by the state legislature, the $1,460,000 maintenance and operations levy whi...
DAYTON-What do a dragon, the word "sproing", Bob Hope, a red blend, a cornucopia, and Franciscan ware have in common? Not much unless you are looking at a common theme, which is the case this month when the Blue Mountain Artists Guild presents its theme for November: "Dining Room Tables". Every month members of the Blue Mountain Artists Guild produce art based on a monthly theme for display in the Delany Room, and they have been doing so since 2008. Debbie Baxter, a former guild member and...
DAYTON-On Nov. 9, Port of Columbia commissioners, Port Manager Jennie Dickinson, and Rodney Huffman with the Walla Walla District US Army Corps of Engineers met to discuss renewal of the Port's lease with the Corps on the Lyons Ferry facility. "We have reviewed the document. It is pretty standard, with some attachments: maps showing the facility, the Port's development plan for 25 years, an inventory and condition report, and an environmental assessment that was done," said Dickinson. Dickinson...
Dayton—The Dayton City Council approved several resolutions and ordinances when they met in their regular session on Nov. 14. There was much discussion about the city’s code compliance program. Speaking to the council about the nuisance codes were Dayton residents Art Hall, Dave Bailey, Ann Strode and Mike Smith. Hall told the council that he thinks the nuisance code is an important thing to have, but objected to the complaint-driven process, and he quoted a number of legal references to bac...
DAYTON-The City of Dayton bills itself as "The Town That Still Believes." For the past decade, business owners and community members have come together to bring an old-fashioned Christmas celebration to life, with Christmas Kick-off. This year Christmas Kick-off, put on by the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, will be Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25 and 26. From the time retail shops open at 10 a.m. Friday until the close of the day on Saturday, there will be many fun-filled activities for everyone,...
DAYTON—Dayton School Superintendent Doug Johnson said he is delighted to share the results of recent water samplings in the school buildings. All samples taken in September returned with scores below the unsafe threshold for lead, he said. Seven of the samples were from prior water sources, which had initially scored high. The district will conduct additional sampling in the spring of 2017, until all water sources have been shown to be safe, he said. In other business during last week’s sch...
DAYTON – The Columbia County Commissioners, County Auditor, and Department heads have been in budget discussions for the past couple of weeks. During last week's regular commissioners' meeting, County Auditor Sharon Richter and the commissioners looked at current expenses for the preliminary 2017 budget. At the beginning of their session there was a $241,127 shortfall, but by the end, the current expense shortfall was about $200,000. When asked about salary or COLA increases for county e...
DAYTON - Middle school and high school students in the Dayton School District will have an opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship, and to learn ways to apply the knowledge they gain during Global Entrepreneurship Week, Nov. 14 - 18. On Nov. 15, Bret Spooner, a managing partner of Gravis Law, PLLC, and self- described serial entrepreneur, will present all aspects of entrepreneurship to the middle and high school students. According to Port of Columbia Economic Development Manager Brad...
DAYTON—The Kiwanis Club of Dayton will hold its annual Turkey Bingo event in the Dayton Elementary School Multipurpose Room, on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 3 p.m. It’s the club’s biggest money maker of the year. “Get there early if you want a good seat. We sell out every year,” cautioned Kiwanian Kim Lyonnaise. Bingo card sales begin when the doors open, and hamburgers, chili burgers, hotdogs, dessert and refreshments, will be available at 3 p.m., as well, said Lyonnaise. Games begin at 4 p.m. “The...
