Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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WAITSBURG - With regional wildfires producing smoke in Eastern Washington, it has been hard to ignore the health issues associated with it. The National Weather Service and local agencies have issued air quality alerts for conditions forecasted to continue through next week. The air quality index (AQI) in Waitsburg, Walla Walla, and College Place has reached moderate to unhealthy levels. On Tuesday, Waitsburg's AQI registered 159, with a forecast for Wednesday and Friday rising to 166. College...
DAYTON — The Dayton School Board met in the high school library on July 15, 2026. Superintendent Jeremy Wheatley, Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen, and Board members Ryan Paulson, Pat Davidson, and Grant Griffin participated in person in the school library. Aneesha Dieu was not present. The board passed the consent agenda, which included an announcement that Tawnya Johnson, a College Place resident, had been hired as a teacher at the elementary school. Wheatley said Johnson was one of nine applicants for the position. Wheatley said the school’s comp...
DAYTON — City of Dayton Mayor Michael Smith called the Dayton City Council to order at 6 p.m. on July 14, 2026. Council members Shannon McMillen, James Su’euga, Kyle Anderson, Joann Patras, and Dave Harvey were present; Glenn Hagfeldt was not in attendance. In public comment, a resident said he and his neighbor thought the new road striping on Main Street was great. Belinda Larsen, the Chamber of Commerce Director, said that the success of All Wheels Weekend was due to community involvement, and gave a shout-out to the Columbia County Fai...
DAYTON — “Minions & Monsters” is the rambunctious and true story of how the Minions conquered Hollywood. Set in the 1920s, the film shows how Gru’s yellow, pill-shaped henchmen became movie stars, but lost everything after the introduction of “talkies”. To get back on top, the Minions decide to unleash monsters for their own movie. However, when the monsters’ true intentions are revealed, the Minions must save the world from them. The cast includes Allison Janney, Jeff Bridges, Jesse Eisenberg, Trey Parker, Bobby Moynihan, Phil LaMarr, Zoey Deu...
To the Editor: I’m impressed that Reeves has set himself five goals when elected auditor: Re-establish trust with county commissioners and staff. Provide accurate monthly reporting of county finances. (As of July 17, no expense reporting was available for 2026.) It is impossible for commissioners to plan without timely and accurate reports. Improve customer service. Leverage Technology. Reeves is already familiar with Workday, the new data management software that will be implemented in the auditor’s office. Protect election integrity and priva...
To the Editor: I am proud to fully endorse and support Richard Schram as sheriff for the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office. As a sergeant with the Sheriff’s Office, I have the opportunity to see Richard’s dedication to Walla Walla County firsthand. He repeatedly demonstrates his priority on the community and the deputies. He leads by example with service, putting others before himself. Richard has the experience needed to be sheriff. He progressed from deputy to sergeant to chief deputy under two sheriffs. Richard is Co-SWAT Commander of ou...
To the Editor: As a former WWSO deputy and current police chief, I believe I have a good understanding of what it takes to lead a law enforcement agency. I am proud to join so many respected law enforcement and community members in endorsing Richard Schram for sheriff of Walla Walla County. I have witnessed firsthand the passion, knowledge, and good judgment he brings to the office. He truly cares about the community and the men and women of WWSO. He has dedicated himself to continued education, exemplified by his completion of the FBI...
To the Editor Much like the way it felt to go into the Walla Walla County Democratic Headquarters every day last year before Kamala Harris was the nominee, I had little excitement for the field this cycle for CD5 until David Womack entered the race. In a state with a “jungle primary”, which moves the top two vote-getters to the General election, this ballot is crucial. Some say the candidate with the most money should win. Some say the candidate with the loudest voice should win. I say the candidate with the best qualifications, character and...
Walla Walla – Walla Walla County Democratic Central Committee has endorsed local, state, and Federal candidates for the August 4, 2026 primary: Derek Sarley for Washington State Legislature, 16th LD, 2nd Position, and Tim Reeves for Walla Walla County Auditor. Among a crowded field of 12 candidates for the 5th Congressional District, voters are encouraged to vote for one of the following Democrats: • David Womack (Walla Walla), • Carmela Conroy (Spokane) and • Bajun Mavalwalla (Valley) A criti...
DAYTON - Still celebrating Spain's World Cup victory? The Padraic Slattery and Chef Val Mudry are bringing Spanish-inspired cuisine to the Bobcat Room on July 25, 2026. Chef Val is offering a four-course meal between 5 and 7:30 p.m. at the cocktail bar at Hotel Hardware. Slattery, owner of the Dayton hotel, will pair his garden-to-bar cocktails with dinner through 9 p.m. This is a dine-in-only, 21+ event, and reservations are required by texting (509) 386-2448. The menu will include Tapas...
Walla Walla — Cirque Italia is bringing the wicked world of the Paranormal Cirque Voodoo to Walla Walla on July 24, 25, and 26. This unique event combines theatre, circus, and European-style cabaret for a mature audience. The Paranormal Cirque Voodoo is an innovative horror story that producers say blurs the divide between reality and illusion. It is definitely not the traditional circus of clowns, animal tricks, and peanuts. The show also follows a strict animal-free policy. Dare to get wicked for one night under the big black and white t...
WAITSBURG – The Waitsburg Commercial Club has moved to quarterly general membership meetings. The meetings are the second Tuesdays of July, October, and January at noon. The meeting in April will be on the third Tuesday and is the annual meeting and Community Service Awards. The first quarterly meeting was held on Tuesday, July 14, at Waitsburg’s Town Hall. The Commercial Club President Brittany Crane, 1st Vice-President Karen Huwe, 2nd Vice-President Paul Mantz-Powers, Secretary Tiffany Baxter, Treasurer Joy Smith, and a dozen members were in...
WALLA WALLA & WAITSBURG - Common Roots Housing Trust has begun work on Fern Avenue Cottage Homes, the trust's inaugural project in Walla Walla. The seven-home plan is projected to be occupied by the end of 2026 or early 2027. Looking forward, CRHT Board Member Joy Smith said that the work on the Fern Avenue project is giving the trust valuable on-the-job experience to bring to the Waitsburg endeavor. In 2025, the land trust purchased two parcels across from the corner of E. 2nd and Garden Ave. W...
OLYMPIA — In a press release dated July 17, 2026, the Washington Secretary of State Office stated: “As expected, the information presented yesterday does not change the fact that claims of widespread election fraud have been repeatedly disproven. “What we heard last night sounds like concern about election security, when in fact this administration has dismantled the critical federal cybersecurity programs that support our elections. “We have been aware of and responding to foreign nation-state attempts on our election systems since before...
WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg School's athletic field is getting some upgrades in time for the Cardinals' first home football game. With generous donations and volunteer time, the facility will have a new walkway and ticket and merchandise booth. The Booster Club received funds from the Waitsburg Alumni Association and donated concrete and finish work for the building's foundation by John Gleason, owner of Affordable Concrete. Volunteers will have the booth ready to use at the first home football...
WALLA WALLA - Rhonda and Charles Nosler of Waitsburg have been members of the Walla Walla Iris Society since 2019 and currently have over 150 iris varieties. The WWIS will hold its annual sale at the Milton-Freewater Community Building on August 1 and 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Irises will be presented by name, with variety information and a photo. For newcomers to growing irises, planting and care instructions will be available. The sale will include tall, intermediate, border, miniature tall,...
WAITSBURG — The Waitsburg School’s Facilities and Maintenance staff attended a one-day seminar hosted by the Washington Association of Maintenance and Operations Administrators. Washington State Senator Perry Dozier was the keynote speaker at the event held in Othello, Washington, on June 17. Facilities and Maintenance Supervisor Brian Segraves, Ground Maintenance Tech Larry Alexenko, and Custodial Maintenance Tech Mike Dill connected with experts at the WAMOA-partner vendor show and a dozen presenters at breakout sessions. The Waitsburg tea...
WAITSBURG - The safety of the Waitsburg community, residents, and agriculture rests in the hands of the volunteers of the Columbia Walla Walla Fire District #2 (CWWFD#2). The Waitsburg-based fire department is looking for new team members for firefighting and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Volunteers are encouraged to focus on their interests and not feel the need to do it all. The station responds to both fire and medical calls. "In 2024, we ran 188 medical and 59 fire calls," said CWWFD#2...
Fifteen Years Ago July 28, 2011 For T.J. Hersey, running her father's grocery store in Dayton is a way for him to live on. Hersey is now a third-generation grocer in the town. Her grandfather, H.W. Stephenson, came to Dayton in 1938 from Portland, Ore., and he opened up a grocery in 1944. Hersey's father, Gail Bennett, took over in 1961 and ran the neighborhood grocery on Fourth Street until he passed away last year. "He was a grocery man all his life in Dayton," Hersey said of her father....
Too often, uninspired versions of this dish are slapped on restaurant menus, overdressed with bland mass-produced dressing. Originally created in 1924, by an Italian immigrant at his namesake restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico, Caesar salads quickly became a hit with Hollywood trendsetters. Here, I have a lively and fresh homemade Caesar dressing that will change how you look at those that come in a bottle. Adding seasoned grilled chicken turns this into a satisfying warm weather entrée. Ingredients:...
