Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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Although winter is starting to melt away, remnant drifts remind us of our recent big snow and decorate the hills with elegant accents. Driving back from "town" via Spring Creek on Monday was a feast for the photographer's eyes. This scene was shot from Ferris Road near its intersection with Middle Waitsburg Road - which someday may actually reopen for through traffic!...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg Business Commercial Club met Thursday, January 27, for a regular meeting. Led by former president Joy Smith, the meeting focused on financials, bylaws, and moving forward. Smith provided a brief banking update for the club. The club is currently waiting for the final decision for at least one grant, and a small donation to the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Foundation was outgoing, as was voted on at the last meeting. Smith said that nearly $2,500 in dues had been col...
DAYTON - The Dayton School Board held a special meeting at 6 p.m., January 26, 2022, to complete business from last week’s regular meeting. Due to increased community COVID-19 cases, the regular meeting had been limited to consideration of bills and vouchers requiring council approval. As a part of board organization, the first order of business was to appoint board members to sundry additional duties. The board elected Aneesha Dieu to the Legislative Representative position without opposition. The Board Chair made the following appointments f...
Sing 2 - The new chapter in this animated franchise returns with big dreams and spectacular hit songs as koala Buster Moon and his all-star cast of animal performers prepare to launch their most dazzling stage extravaganza yet. There’s just one hitch: They first must persuade the world’s most reclusive rock star (played by legendary music icon Bono) to join them. Buster (played by Matthew McConaughey) and his cast have turned the New Moon Theater into a local hit. Still, Buster has his eyes on a bigger prize: Debuting a new show at the Cry... Full story
DAYTON—The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has recently experienced an increase in reported bike thefts, with their weekly log for January 24 showing at least one new theft per day. The Sheriff’s Office encourages cyclists and bike owners to properly secure their bikes while parked. They recently offered these tips to lessen the chances of getting your bike stolen: 1. Use your locks or lock chains 2. Make your bike unique (for example stickers, baskets, attached lights, etc.) 3. Secure your bike inside a garage, house, or fenced area. 4. Wr... Full story
Character assassination? Let’s examine what character assassination looks like. During the last campaign, followers of your conservative group used images of me in the Sheriff’s Office to depict me as rummaging through the desks of deputies and stealing. This was deliberate and calculated. It was so egregious that our Sheriff and our Prosecuting Attorney had to issue a community wide statement correcting the attack on me. It was done to show me in a less than honest light, to attack my reputation and character. So please, spare me the whi... Full story
Letter to Editor When recruiting new businesses or new community members, it is important to have several critical tools in your economic development toolbox; for Waitsburg Commercial Club, one of the tools that make Waitsburg a great place to work and live is our award-winning school district. On February 8, a Replacement Levy is on the ballot to maintain school programs and services that are not covered by state funding. This is not a new tax; it will replace the existing tax of approximately $3.50 per thousand dollar property assessed... Full story
WALLA WALLA—Blue Mountain Community Foundation is accepting scholarship applications for the 2022-2023 academic year. The application is available online at www.bluemountainfoundation.org. The deadline for applications is March 7th at 11:59 p.m. While individual scholarship criteria vary, all applicants must be either a current senior or graduate of a high school in Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, or Umatilla counties or have been a resident of one of the above counties for at least three years. Scholarships are available for undergraduate a... Full story
WALLA WALLA—The William & Delora Harpe Scholarship is currently accepting applications. Current high school seniors or previous graduates of Waitsburg High School, Touchet High School, Columbia-Burbank High School, and Prescott High School are encouraged to apply. Preference is given to students pursuing a career in teaching. The application is available online at www.bluemountainfoundation.org. The deadline for applications is March 7 at 11:59 p.m. The scholarship can be used at any accredited college, community college, or trade school in t... Full story
'If you see a need, plant a seed' has become the driving force behind Dayton's Bulldog Brigade. Organizer Peggy Eakin was the speaker at the January 27 Dayton Kiwanis Club, and she is on a mission to gather volunteers for just about everything in Dayton. Eakin started her presentation emphasizing community support, expressing her excitement to speak to club members who had once made it possible for her granddaughter to visit Washington D.C, take her first flight, and see the world outside of...
Ali and I had been looking forward to our winter vacation since we booked the flights in October. Heading south for a week of good food and scenic beaches ranks high among the options for properly ringing in the new year. But Mother Nature had bigger plans, as she often does. Airlines were strained by the volume of holiday travelers and our beloved COVID "Omicron" variant sweeping through flight crews. Hence, it was no surprise that our flights were canceled with no opportunity to rebook as...
WAITSBURG—Biologist, award-winning author, and The Times columnist Bradly Trumbo shares his love of grand Eastern Washington terrain and the flush of upland birds over pointing dogs running big on the prairie. Wingshooting the Palouse is a heartfelt collection of essays on upland bird hunting with Llewellin setters running the grasslands of Eastern Washington and beyond. From covey birds on the sage-steppe to forest grouse, the author presents grand vistas, high-tailed points, and the e...
WAITSBURG-Grab a glass of wine at the Royal Block and join local author Charles Potts for a benefit book reading on February 17, 2022. The Walla Walla based, award-winning author will share his newest book, The Fifth Convulsion: The Structure of American History and his 1993 book, How the South Finally Won the Civil War. He has been writing and publishing since he was a teenager. Potts said that during his youth, he was reading and writing all of the time, and at one point, was living in his...
DAYTON—A mobile food distribution event will be happening at HomeStreet Bank on February 10, the first of many times that 2nd Harvest will bring free groceries to residents of Dayton throughout the spring. No identification is required. This drive-through event will be limited to 250 families, and current CDC COVID-19 guidelines will be followed. Mobile Market will provide the groceries with the help from 2nd Harvest and plenty of volunteers from Dayton to hand out items. Thank you to the Community Food Bank of Dayton members, the Dayton K... Full story
Ten Years Ago February 2, 2012 To say the City of Waitsburg is stumped by the future of the collapsed bunk house east of the McGregor plant is putting it mildly. No one came forward to put in a salvage bid for its materials. The fire district doesn't want to burn it as part of a training exercise because it contains hazardous materials. And now it appears the city is in violation of its own code by just letting it sit there. "It's been a worrisome issue," said Mayor Walt Gobel. "We may need to b...
As we trudge through the gloomy cold days of late winter, my kitchen has been keeping us warm with a steady rotation of favorite soup recipes. With these simmering pots of comfort, I am always looking for the perfect thing to serve on the side for dipping, dunking, and sopping. Homemade fluffy focaccia, crusty bread, cornbread, and biscuits have all been tried. Naan, a flatbread from India, is a leavened option that is relatively quick to produce and cooks beautifully on the stovetop. Finished w...
This year’s Super Bowl will be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on February 13 at 3:30 p.m. on NBC. The Rams are favored to win by four points since they are playing in their home stadium. This is only the second time a team has played the Super Bowl on their home field. The first time happened last year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Cincinnati has only been in the Super Bowl twice, both times in the eighties. In Super Bowl XVI, the Bengals lost to the 49ers 26-21, and the MVP went to Joe Montana. In Super Bowl XXIII, the Benga...
WAITSBURG—As the number of COVID-19 cases associated with local schools dropped this week, the Dayton and Waitsburg School District superintendents made the calls to bring back in-person learning starting February 1. The Dayton School District announced the switch to remote learning for all secondary students on January 25 after the rapid rise of student cases in grades 6-12, paired with many of the staff and teachers out sick, forced the decision. The district continues to monitor COVID-19 cases in the school and community. As of Monday, J... Full story
DAYTON—As of February 1, 2022, the new behavioral health crisis line for Columbia County is (509) 876-0626, as Comprehensive Healthcare begins providing behavioral health crisis services to Columbia County. “Comprehensive Healthcare has been delivering services for 50 years, and in that time, we have been able to build a strong network of providers and community partnerships,” said Jodi Daly, Ph.D., President and CEO. “By expanding that dynamic, high-quality care to Columbia County, we are able to support individuals experiencing a behavio...