Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 776 - 794 of 794
DAYTON – Community leaders gathered at a luncheon on Dec. 16 at the Columbia County Fire District #3 station for Columbia County’s annual Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to amend and prioritize projects on a five-year economic development project list. Before the priority discussion began, John Begley CEO of Columbia Pulp, Inc., spoke about the latest plans for that firm’s development of a straw pulp plant near Lyons Ferry (see artic...
DAYTON—At a public hearing on December 2, the Columbia County Commissioners considered, and adopted, three resolutions pertaining to road projects for 2016. The Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program covers the years 2016 to 2021. It includes an updated listing of proposed road improvement projects, along with a revenue and expenditure analysis. A bridge inspection report for that was prepared by County Engineer Andrew Woods. The annual construction program for 2016 describes ten road p...
DAYTON-Here's the scenario: At 8:00 a.m. a pickup truck pulling a 1,000-pound tank of anhydrous ammonia down South Cottonwood Street in front of Kyle's Towing is backed into by another vehicle, causing the fertilizer tank to overturn. A small leak occurs from a valve at the back of the tank, coming out of the pump. What happens next? It is likely that most of us don't know; but it is a sure bet that there are people who do. On Dec. 9, Columbia County Emergency Management Planner Mike Spring led...
DAYTON—At their meeting on Dec. 7, the Dayton City Council approved a $5,765,300 budget for 2016 that places hiring of a part-time code enforcement officer at the top of the list. The code enforcement officer would be the primary contact for land use complaints, and would actively pursue and enforce city health and safety codes and ordinances, according to city officials. City Clerk Trina Cole said that she is receiving more and more complaints from the public about people being out of complianc...
DAYTON—During their regular meeting on Dec. 2, the Dayton School Board heard from Superintendent Doug Johnson about the proposed capital projects levy and replacement M&O levy. The directors approved resolutions for both levies, to appear on the February, 2016 ballot for voter approval. Johnson said the current $ 1,300,000 M&O Levy covers such items as materials and supplies, operating costs, maintenance, salaries for teachers and administrators beyond state support, athletics and activity c...
DAYTON—For many months, a task force of committed parents and community members has been working to develop an after school program for children in the Dayton School District. The goal for creating an after school program is to provide academic support and promote social, emotional, and physical development through collaborative community development At a Strategic Planning Workshop in October, task force members gained clarity about how to proceed with developing a viable program. Some key s...
DAYTON-At a special meeting on Nov. 24, the board of commissioners for the Columbia County Hospital District offered Chief Operations Officer Shane McGuire the position of District Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer for Columbia County Health System. "I'm thrilled to have the support of the board, staff, and community, and I look forward to our continued partnership as we do great things here, starting with the electronic health records system, and the renovation and enhancement...
DAYTON-There is a wealth of material in possession of the Elizabeth Forest Day Club about that women's civic and educational organization, and much more in the Dayton Public Library about the town's founding mother, for which the club is named. In 1913, the Draper Club was formed by local women for the purpose of promoting civic and educational activities. Meetings were held in individual homes, and membership was by subscription to ten-volume sets of "Draper's Self Culture" books, which...
DAYTON—At their regular meeting on November 18, the Dayton School District board of directors continued their discussion about the M&O levy, capital projects, and the technology levy. They also talked about ways to reduce costs for some of the items on the list that was presented to the community by Superintendent Doug Johnson on Nov. 16. The directors authorized Superintendent Johnson to proceed with the wording of the M&O levy. According to Johnson, the levy would increase, closer to $1.46 m...
DAYTON—At their regular meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 11 the Port of Columbia commissioners heard from Port Manager Jennie Dickinson about the possible sale of Columbia Cut Stock to Mark Lewis, the primary owner of Columbia Pulp, Inc. and the scientist for Sustainable Fiber Technologies, for the purpose of creating a mini-mill. The mill would process wheat straw into fiber for molded pulp products. Dickinson said an offer on the buildings has been made by Lewis and accepted by Dennis Lockard, o...
DAYTON – On the morning of Wed., June 25, Dayton resident and volunteer fireman Mike Ellsworth set out on a fairly routine 24-mile bicycle ride from Dayton to just west of Waitsburg. On the return trip, Ellsworth was clipped by a vehicle, also heading east, knocked off his bike, and slammed into the borrow ditch in front of Bill and Joanne Poolman's home on Highway 12. "The last thing I remember is those two pink flamingoes on their porch," he said. In the meantime, Ellsworth's wife Kathy heard...
DAYTON – The Columbia County Public Hospital District now has a new president of the commission, and a new board member. At their regular meeting last week, Commission Vice-President Jim Kime turned the gavel over to the board’s newly selected chairwoman Lisa Naylor, who will serve until January, 2016. The commissioners then selected long-time farmer and local resident Bob Hutchens to fill the seat recently vacated by Ted Paterson, who has retired. Hutchens spoke before the commissioners about h...
DAYTON—At their regular meeting last week, Dayton School District Superintendent Doug Johnson gave the directors some preliminary background information regarding the two levies that are set to expire in February. Johnson also stressed the importance of passing a resolution to place a levy proposal on the election ballot no later than December 4, in order to be received by the County auditor on December 11, as required. Johnson said the M&O levy, which funds between 20-25% of the District’s bud...
DAYTON—At their regular meeting on Oct. 14, the Port of Columbia Commissioners heard from representatives of Walla Walla Natural Foods, Inc. about that firm’s plans to establish a co-packing facility on Port land. Fruits and vegetables in jars would be processed at the facility, they heard, and opportunities would be given to other farmers to use the facility. According to Murray Eggers, co-owner/operator of Walla Walla Natural Foods, Inc., Americans need healthy, natural foods that are har...
DAYTON-Just what does "KP" refer to in golf parlance? Many of us do not know, but it is a sure bet that the ladies in the Touchet Valley Women's Golf Club do. The TVWGC members met recently at the LC at the Green restaurant for an end-of-season brunch, and to honor long-time members Janice Davis, Ellen Burris, and Marie Sullivan. Sullivan is the oldest member of the TVWGC, at ninety, and remembers golfing with her husband, Merle, at the Dayton Country Club and Golf Course in the 1940s and '50s....
DAYTON—On Oct. 7, the Columbia County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution making October National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This was done in order to raise awareness about disability employment issues and celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities. As stated in the resolution, activities during October will reinforce the value and talent of people with disabilities in the workplace and in the community, and affirm Columbia County’s commitment to an inclusive com...
DAYTON-At their regular meeting on Oct. 7, the Dayton School District Board of Directors approved Dan Butler to fill board Position 3, recently vacated by Marchand Hovrud when she resigned at the beginning of September. During the board meeting Butler fielded a series of questions posed to him by the directors. Butler spoke about his 35 years experience in education, as well as his vision for the school district. "Education is my hobby, my life. Everything I do is around education," he told the...
DAYTON-Former Dayton School District Elementary Principal Katie Leid is running for the "at large" school board position currently held by Director Joe Huether, and one he will defend in the upcoming November election. Both Leid and Huether have considerable education and experience to bring to the Board. Recently retired from the Dayton School District Leid has been involved in education for a total of twenty-two years. She received her teaching credentials in 1991 through Washington State...
DAYTON—According to Columbia County auditor Sharon Richter, election ballots should be mailed out by Thurs., Oct.15. Those ballots contain several twists that Columbia County voters should be aware of with regard to Position 2, and Position 3, on the Dayton School District board. First, Marchand Hovrud’s name will appear on the ballot for school board Position 3, but because she has resigned from the board, Richter said that she will need to resign, again, after the election is certified. Dan...
