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Articles from the February 29, 2024 edition


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  • Waitsburg earns State's Smart Award

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|Feb 29, 2024

    Council member Charles steps down WAITSBURG - Mayor Marty Dunn called the city council meeting to order at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Council members Cindy Bishop, Kevin House, Jim Romine, Jillian Henze, and City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe were in attendance. Hinchliffe introduced representatives from the Washington State Department of Commerce to present the city with a 2023 Governor's Smart Community Award. The Smart Project Award was given to the City of Waitsburg for its...

  • TVAMP will feature local singers and song writers on new CD

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|Feb 29, 2024

    WAITSBURG - On February 11, the Touchet Valley Acoustic Music Project (TVAMP) began recording local musicians for a new album to be released on CD. This is TVAMP's fourth production, preceded by two CDs for the Blue Mountain Troublemakers and one for Switchgrass Delta. TVAMP Project Leader Kate Hockersmith said, "We have so many wonderful local musicians in and around Waitsburg, and for years I've wanted to record local singer/songwriters. In early February, Mike Easton of Bar Bacetto,...

  • Dayton School District narrows Superintendent search to three

    Lane Gwinn, The Times|Feb 29, 2024

    DAYTON – The Dayton School Board met in the high school library at 6:30 p.m. on February 21, 2024. Board members present were Chair Jeffrey McCowen, Zac Fabian, Aneesha Dieu, and Grant Griffin. Superintendent Rich Stewart was also present. The board approved the consent agenda, including hiring Danica Porter as the Middle School Head Softball Coach. Dayton FFA Trap Shooting Team members presented plans for an overnight field trip to the Wenatchee area. Six Dayton students expect to p...

  • At the Liberty:"Dune: Part Two"

    The Times|Feb 29, 2024

    The saga continues with an expanded all-star international ensemble cast. This movie, is the highly anticipated follow-up to 2021’s six-time Academy Award-winning “Dune.” This big-screen epic continues the adaptation of Frank Herbert’s acclaimed bestseller Dune with returning and new stars, including Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, and many other well-known actors. “Dune: Part Two” will explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath...

  • A thanks to The Times

    The Times|Feb 29, 2024

    Letter to the Editor We would like to express our appreciation for the wonderful spread you did for “Izzy the Camel” in your February 15th edition of the Times. You turned an extremely sad time into an awesome tribute. You must understand that we may be prejudiced, but he was our grandson. Izzy was a born poseur for pictures, which led to his being a television star in which he was cast as a member of the walking dead in an episode of “Z Nation.” When Mickey and Tawnya got married, he was the best man in their wedding along with Winnie, a minia...

  • Calls for Bryan's resignation

    The Times|Feb 29, 2024

    After viewing Seth Bryan’s behavior and his vote at the Feb 14, 2024, Columbia County Port Commissioner meeting I want to suggest that he should RESIGN as a Columbia County Port Commissioner IMMEDIATELY. He proposed, then voted on, removing the Executive Director’s Contract, which would then leave any employee in that position with no job security, except to the wishes of what he wants to allow or not allow. Mr. Bryan’s actions at that Port meeting were unprofessional and cruel. He took it upon himself to discuss personnel concerns at a publi... Full story

  • Unorthodox behavior by Port commissioner

    The Times|Feb 29, 2024

    To the editor, It was with incredulity and disgust that I watched the Port Commission meeting of February 14, 2024, as Seth Bryan put forth an unprecedented, unorthodox motion to change the executive director from a contracted position to an at-will employee. After the motion passed 2-1 with Mike Spring against and Johnny Watts following Seth Bryan’s lead in lockstep, as usual, Commissioner Bryan proceeded to make unsubstantiated accusations of insubordination against the Executive Director. Having watched many of the Port of Columbia m...

  • Response to Port Commissioner's behavior

    The Times|Feb 29, 2024

    Letter to the editor, I am writing in response to the last commission meeting I watched. Things seemed well until the last few minutes after the executive meeting took place. What I witnessed was a personal attack against the executive director and port employee Jennie Dickinson from commissioner Seth Bryan. After watching a professional and informative meeting, this felt like a personal ambush of ill intent. Down right bullying behavior that should never happen in any work place, let alone in a public forum. The tone and rude responses when... Full story

  • Support for Port Director

    The Times|Feb 29, 2024

    Letter to the Editor I watched the Port meeting online, 5:00 p.m., the 14th of February. After coming out of executive session where concerns about staff should be addressed, Commissioner Seth Bryan verbally assaulted Executive Director Jennie Dickinson in an open public meeting format. Which to me, is a violation of RCW 42.23.070. I attend Port meetings on a regular basis. Jennie Dickinson has always conducted herself in a professional manner, always showing respect for the Commissioners and to the public. It is now time for Commissioner Seth... Full story

  • Donna Knotts

    The Times|Feb 29, 2024

    Donna left us peacefully in her sleep on Friday, February 23, at home in Walla Walla, surrounded by her loving family. Donna was born on April 3, 1932, in Waitsburg, Washington, to Charles "Todd" and Emma Laughery. She was the youngest of four children. She attended school in Waitsburg and graduated from Waitsburg High School in 1950. Shortly after graduation, she began working at the phone company as an operator, where she met the love of her life, Howard Knotts. They were married on October 4,... Full story

  • Library District still a topic for Dayton City Council

    Justin Jaech, The Times|Feb 29, 2024

    DAYTON — Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council workshop meeting to order at 3 p.m., February 20, 2024. Council members Teeny McMunn, James Su’euga, Michael Smith, Kyle Anderson, Joann Patras, Laura Aukerman, and Shannon McMillen met at City Hall. The workshop agenda included discussing requests to change the golf cart policy, updating the code of ethics, and the relationship between the city and the rural library district. The council discussed a request to change the golf cart policy, including the costs and liability of all...

  • WWCC launches Community Apiary (Beehive) Project

    The Times|Feb 29, 2024

    WALLA WALLA - Walla Walla Community College is dedicating space on its Walla Walla campus to create a Community Apiary (Beehive) Project. The new project, launching this spring, will provide space and connection for local beekeepers and multiple opportunities for education about the role of pollinators in agriculture and horticulture, food production, and healthy ecosystems. "The goal is to form a community apiary akin to a community garden," said Dave Stockdale, Director of the William A. Grant...

  • Wrist Casts as Bookends?

    Vicki Sternfeld-Rossi, The Times|Feb 29, 2024

    Wednesday, day three of retirement, while playing tennis, I dove for a ball at the net, returned the drop shot, scored the point, and promptly fell with a big thud. Off to the ER to find out I had multiple broken bones and an impacted fracture in my left wrist. The following day, day four of retirement, I met with the Orthopedist, and I’m scheduled for surgery February 16, to have a plate and some screws put in. My first official hardware, and hopefully, the last. I recently read an article i...

  • National FFA Week at Waitsburg High School

    Karen Huwe, The Times|Feb 29, 2024

    WAITSBURG - On Tuesday, February 20, National FFA week kicked off with students wearing their favorite pajamas to school and voting for the Harvest Ball Court. Freshmen Kayla Mikesell and Landen Henry, sophomores Kaya Mings and Brenton Segraves, juniors Alyssa Hollingsworth and William Daves, and seniors Makenna Barron and Quinn Benavides will represent the FFA at the dance on Friday, February 23. On Wise Owl Wednesday, students are challenged to find creative ways to recognize their...

  • Help send Waitsburg Amazing Shake student competitors to Nationals

    Karen Huwe, The Times|Feb 29, 2024

    WAITSBURG - Families and community members have geared up to raise funds for seven Waitsburg students to attend the National Amazing Shake event in Atlanta, Georgia. At the regional competition in February, the students earned their places to represent the Waitsburg School District for the first time at the national event. Two fundraisers are planned before the students leave for the March 20-24 event. Proceeds from the sale of Cardinal gear will also go towards the trip expenses and can be...

  • PIONEER PORTRAITS

    The Times|Feb 29, 2024

    1 Years Ago March 6, 2014 It seems there's no shortage of talent – or civic mindedness, for that matter – in the family of Doris Huffman (Ruff), of Waitsburg. Huffman recently used her artistic talents to create a painting for Waitsburg's Town Hall. Daughter Deanna Tipton – an accomplished singer and actress who was recently an extra on the remake of Dallas – performed at the Plaza Theater in 2012. Her stand-up comedy/music routine raised $1600 for Town Hall maintenance. And most recentl... Full story

  • Zippy Tofu Chili

    Luke Chavez, The Times|Feb 29, 2024

    While I am certainly known for my love of cooking savory meat dishes, throughout the week much of my diet is centered around vibrant plant-based options. Incorporating more vegetarian meals in your routine is good both for your heart health, and perhaps more importantly, the health of the planet. Over the years I have gathered a diverse collection of meatless recipes that always satisfy without ever feeling like something is missing. This delightful chili, full of bright and spicy flavors, is ba...