Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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WAITSBURG-February 7 is starting to earn quite the reputation in the Walla Walla Valley, as two major floods have ripped through the area in less than 25 years. The 2020 flood, which people are just now able to start assessing the damage from, fell on the 24th anniversary of the 1996 flood. The flood is suspected to have been caused by a combination of snow, heavy rain, and unusually warm temperatures causing high water levels in local rivers. On Tuesday, Feb. 5. The National Weather Service rep...
DAYTON-The Board of Columbia County Commissioners called a special meeting last Thursday and passed an emergency resolution allowing money to be freed up to purchase materials to help mitigate a possible flood, after water in the North and South Touchet Rivers and Patit Creek began rising faster than usual, because of rapid snow melt caused by rain and warm temperatures. At that meeting Emergency Management Department Director Ashley Strickland told the commissioners the U.S. Army Corps of...
Welcome to a whole new tradition. The Times has featured couples who've been married for a long time and Valentine's greetings to loved ones across the Touchet Valley....
Proceeds will benefit the Prescott High School Scholarship Fund. The Prescott Lions Breakfast will be held on Saturday February 15, and Sunday, February 16, from 8 - 11 a.m. The breakfast features all you can eat eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, waffles, calypso eggs, juice, coffee for $10.00. Location: corner of Hwy. 124 & D Street....
DAYTON—On Friday, February 28th at 4 p.m. at the Columbia County Courthouse, a Life Saving Award will be presented to five year old Carl Burnstad in the Court Room. Mr. Burnstad dialed 911 when his mother became unresponsive. Due to limitations of the E911 phone systems when cellular calls are placed, it would have been very difficult to locate the family in the rural location where they live. Columbia County recently started using RapidSOS which is a service that aids in locating cellular callers to a more precise location than previously p...
WALLA WALLA—Are you a descendant of a pioneer who established residence in Washington, Oregon, Idaho or Montana during or prior to the year 1885? If you are also graduating from high school this year or are currently attending college, you may be eligible for the Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington Chapter No. 12 scholarship, in the amount of $750. Applicants must meet the above qualifications and must also reside in Walla Walla County, within the city or rural routes of Dayton, WA, or w...
To the Editor, It was a busy weekend but very fulfilling. I saw a community come together in a way that was inspiring and made me so grateful to be a part of this town. As for the questions, we have had one family stay the night at the church. We are feeding close to 100 people each day. The things that stood out to me was the Girl Scouts coming and staying for close to 12 hours each day to help in any way possible. We had a person who wishes to remain anonymous give her credit card to the store with an open limit for any supplies we need....
February 13: Denise Shaffer, Lori Ann Witt, Tamra Fry, James Olson, Jonathon Baker, Justin and Travis Turner and Patty Mayberry. February 14: Susan Talbott, Edith Wold, Gina Lytle, Susan Zuger and David Smith. February 15: Ephraimia Reese, Andrew Wertz, Neta Henze McKenzie, Ansehl Hofer, Christina Hofer, Jack Otterson, Stacy Ashcroft, Wanda Witt, Andrew Wertz, and Brianna Wray. February 16: Jason Eaton, Mike R. Mayberry and Loren Eng. February 17: Loyal Baker, Jack Rodgers, Chris Blair, Mathew Kurth, Betty Sauer, Angela Webb and Larry...
WAITSBURG—At a special meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, Feb. 11, the Waitsburg City Council declared a state of emergency. This action is needed by funding agencies to release emergency assistance to help the City rebuild from the effects of the recent flood. The City of Walla Walla, as well as the County of Walla Walla have also declared states of emergency. City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe said that he has been working on assessing the damage to the City since Saturday. He discussed...
WALLA WALLA—Have you been affected by recent flooding? Walla Walla County and the State of Washington are compiling damage estimates for the purpose of requesting possible help from FEMA and SBA. If there is enough damage throughout the county, it may be possible that assistance will come in the form of monetary grants to individuals and low interest loans from FEMA. There is no guarantee that this will happen, but if you have flood damage it is extremely important that you call (509) 524-2913 to report that damage. The deadline for c...
DAYTON—Alicia Walker wants to continue her family’s philosophy of providing organic, locally sourced, nourishing food to the community. Her goal is to open, ‘Locally Nourished’, a new breakfast and lunch café, in the building formerly occupied by Winter Rose Boutique, on Main Street. Until recently, Walker has been the proprietor of a slightly similar business on Main Street called ‘Noble Hunt’ and she is in the process of downsizing from that. She said she is looking forward to occupying th...
WALLA WALLA—If your home or business was damaged during the flood, you may be eligible for a reduction of value for the 2020 tax year. Any real property or business personal property that has been placed upon the assessment roll as of January 1, 2019 in which the property was destroyed by a natural disaster in 2020, in whole or in part, is eligible for a reduction of the value for the 2020 tax year. Please contact the Walla Walla County Assessor’s Office at 524-2560 for a destroyed property form. The application must be filed within three yea...
DAYTON—Columbia County Rural Library District Director Dusty Waltner said because of some purchasing and delivery delays it was decided to push the planned library remodel to Spring break in April. The CCRLD board and library administrators had plans to close the library over Christmas break to remodel the main floor with new paint, new carpet, and a redesign for better flow, providing ADA access throughout. Improved signage, inclusive restrooms and a three-story-vertical lift allowing access from the Delany Room to the Youth Library were p...
DAYTON-Following last night's final interviews with community and school staff, the Dayton School Board of Directors voted unanimously to offer Guy Strot the position of superintendent, pending contract negotiations. The district will make a formal announcement confirming the finalized contract offer at their upcoming board meeting, scheduled for February 19, 2020. One of three final candidates, Mr. Strot would join the Dayton School District following the planned retirement of current...
DAYTON—Keep track of every dollar and every hour you spend on flood mitigation. That was the take-away message from government officials at the offices of the Board of County Commissioners on Monday, when they discussed next steps after the recent flood in Columbia County. County and City officials are planning a public meeting at 6 p.m., on Thursday, at the Fairgrounds Pavilion to discuss the recent flood. The Pavilion is located at 102 Fairgrounds Lane, Dayton WA. Information about the state’s Individual Assistance Program will be pro...
DAYTON—As area property owners begin the daunting task of clean up and repair following the recent flood event, residents are reminded to obtain local permits prior to repairing or rebuilding flood-damaged structures. These permits are required to help ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens. Local Building and Planning staff has recommended to City Councils and County Commissioners that all building permit fees associated with flood damage rehabilitation be waived and rehabilitation permits will be prioritized above all else to e...
WAITSBURG—City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe announced plans to hold a vote at the upcoming City Council meeting on February 19, 2020 to move the annual City election process to the Walla Walla County Election Board. According to the City of Waitsburg Charter, City Council members and the Mayor, all serve one- year terms. One reason given for the proposed change is to have the city’s elected official’s terms correspond with the State of Washington’s model of four-year staggered terms, starting in 2022. Another change with this model would m...
According to the OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration: “Although most floods do not cause serious outbreaks of infectious disease or chemical poisonings, they can cause sickness in workers and others who come in contact with contaminated floodwater. Floodwaters also may be contaminated by agricultural or industrial chemicals or by hazardous agents present at flooded hazardous waste sites. Floodwater often contains infectious organisms, including intestinal bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Shigella; Hepatitis A V...
DAYTON-Lions Club International (LCI) is the largest and most active community service organization in the world, according to Glen Mendell Vice-president of the Dayton Lions Club. Mendell said the Lions Club motto is "We serve," and they do. There are 1.4 million members in 46,000 clubs, in 210 countries, working to provide people with vision and hearing assistance, to help people dealing with pancreatic cancer, and diabetes and working to reduce hunger. He said the Lions Club International Fou...
The Columbia County-Walla Walla County Joint Fire District #2 held their monthly meeting last Wednesday. The job description for the fire chief position is still being finalized and Commissioner Deb Fortner presented a proposal that the district consider hiring a full-time paid fire chief. The commissioners discussed compensation and budget, as well as the cost of providing benefits. The board supports the hiring of a full time chief, and will consult with attorney Brian Snure to clarify details, including examining matters of state... Full story
Last week, I was so excited. There, on the south side of my house shooting upwards to the fog shrouded sun, were sprigs of daffodils. Yay! Spring has sprung and I am ready for some sun. I started to fantasize about lighter clothing, lighter food and maybe even an outdoor tennis game. Then, boom! Rain, snow, cold and flooding. I am back to being mud-bound. I don't remember seeing this much mud in my house since the last flood in Los Angeles about 5 years ago. I keep sweeping, dusting and...
WAITSBURG-Doug Biolo didn't have plans to stay in Waitsburg after his mother, Nancy Aronson, passed. It took a little bit of convincing from his sister, Janet Lawrence and a split-second decision to quit his job in Portland, Oregon. Biolo and Lawrence decided that it was time to give life to their mother's dream: a garden store. Now, they are getting ready to move Nancy's Dream Garden Center so that they can offer more than plants. Nancy's Dream Garden Center, currently located at 503 W 2nd...
OLYMPIA-Washington State Parks announces that people can now reserve individual campsites at two Beacon Rock State Park campgrounds. Until recently, these campsites were only available on a first-come, first-served basis. Previously, the only reservable sites were the group campground and kitchen shelters. Beacon Rock State Park is a 4,458-acre, camping park located in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Beacon Rock itself is the core of an ancient volcano. The park inclu...
DAYTON—Children who are proficient and passionate readers by third grade are five times more likely to be college or career ready. The Innovia Foundation in Spokane, WA began a program in 2013 in Coeur d’Alene called Opening Books, Opening Doors to ensure young readers in that area had books to read and someone to read with, so all students are reading at grade level by third grade. Recently, Innovia contacted The Club, in Dayton, WA to see if they would like to participate in the Opening Boo...
The Gesa Power House Theatre presents country group Farewell Angelina in concert on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. Named after a haunting Bob Dylan song, Farewell Angelina features four powerful vocalists, dynamic songwriters and accomplished multi-instrumentalists. Their stellar blend of heart-stopping harmonies over blazing double violins and guitars has earned soaring praise across the board. Roughstock calls Farewell Angelina a "Superstar Act...with Killer Songs." Rolling Stone says,...
