Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 2466
To the Editor, I recently retired from Walla Walla County after a 22-year career in emergency management and have my own unique perspective and insights on County operations. I watched the recent AAUW forum with great interest to learn more about Bertha Clayton. If you have not already viewed the forum, I encourage you to do so. It is available at bit.ly/3ydxO6P (starting at 27:48). I agreed with Ms. Clayton on every point. She clearly identified the key areas where improvement is needed. It was obvious that she’d done her homework and had t...
To the editor We have an excellent opportunity to strengthen our district’s representation in Olympia by electing Kari Isaacson State Senator for the 16th legislative district. Kari has had an extraordinary career and continues to carry her work ethic, integrity, knowledge, and faith to community service. I have known her since she arrived in the Walla Walla Valley to lead the Blue Mountain Community Foundation, a treasured and highly successful organization serving four counties. She assumed responsibility for multi-million-dollar investments,...
Elect Linda Gunshefski I am a Waitsburg resident and I can see what Linda Gunshefski can do. She was my MD Ophthalmologist for many years and I always looked forward to seeing her. She has been in my home with her husband Dr. Tim Caudill and I’ve been in her home too. What a great cook! People should vote for Linda Gunshefski because she will do a great job. She is smart, knows the issues, is a great listener, and cares about people. I believe Linda is the best choice to represent and work for the people of Walla Walla County in Olympia as o...
Dear Editor: I believe the two candidates vying for the position of Walla Walla County Commissioner are profoundly different, and Bertha Clayton is the best choice. I’ve had the opportunity to observe both candidates in a variety of capacities, professionally and personally. Without a doubt, Bertha represents the superior skills, experience, and qualities necessary to represent all Walla Walla County residents. I have not observed these traits in her opponent. I am impressed with Bertha’s: integrity, self-awareness, honesty, successful lea...
I am a Walla Wallan and retired veteran. It is my pleasure to lend support and vote for Kari Isaacson to be our new District 16 State Senator! Kari is a dynamic individual who will be an excellent public servant. Kari’s professional career in the corporate and non-profit arenas provides an experience base that will benefit all in our region. Her work centered on helping people and communities through identifying needs and delivering realistic solutions. I have personally served on committees with Kari. She is a leader who listens a...
To the editor, As a Republican and former county commissioner, I am supporting Bertha Clayton for Walla Walla County Commissioner, District 1, as I believe she is the best educated and most qualified candidate to hold this position. Prior to becoming a member of Bertha’s campaign committee, I met with her over a nine-month period and vetted her extensively. I am satisfied her governing philosophy will be non-political and her fiscal position conservative. The vast majority of decisions made by the Board of County Commissioners are monetary a...
Dear Editor, Bertha Clayton will bring excellent and responsible leadership to Walla Walla County Commission. Her skills are based on a strong family, impressive education, successful work experience, and devotion to our area of Washington State. Bertha grew up in Waitsburg on her family’s farm, earned a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University and a law degree from University of Idaho. Devoting her skills and knowledge to local organizations, Bertha has already enhanced our area in many ways. Before law school, Bertha was a par...
To the Editor, The new Waits Mill Dog Park had its grand opening on June 19, and we are celebrating the power of collaboration and partnership. In 2008, Councilmembers Leroy Cunningham and Ken Lenhart put forward the official recommendation of a dog park for Waitsburg. The recommendation remained a point of discussion until summer 2023 when the recently revitalized Waitsburg Parks and Recreation District’s commissioners decided to stop just talking about it and start acting on it. The dog park was a partnership from the beginning - the city p...
To the editor, I am delighted to support Bertha Clayton for County Commissioner. Over the past six years, our children attended school together and I have seen firsthand her dedication and passion for our community Bertha is an outstanding candidate who embodies integrity, dedication, and kindness. Her extensive legal training and experience make her exceptionally qualified to enhance public safety, promote economic development, and ensure fiscal responsibility. Bertha is committed to building a more inclusive and prosperous county, advocating...
Dear Editor, Waitsburg Times, I encourage you to get to know Bertha Clayton, candidate for Walla Walla County Commissioner, Position 1. She holds Walla Walla County and Waitsburg dear. Her great-grandparents were among the first homesteaders who settled near the Mormon Grade in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. “We have found heaven on earth,” they said. Bertha and her family know exactly what that means. Her parents have lived on their 163-acre family farm near Waitsburg for forty years. A quote from Bertha, “I love Walla Walla Count...
Dear Editor, I'd like to give a shout-out to Melissa Gemmell for her article on the "Stand By Me" mural. It was timely, in my opinion, to have Padraic Slattery explain what his thoughts were. He is thinking outside the box, but going in the direction of bringing more people to Dayton. There has been some talk about the mural being painted over of Historic Dayton. Painting over the mural did NOT suddenly erase Dayton's history, like a pencil eraser. The history will always be here. This will...
Dear Editor It appears that some CCC members and elected officials continue to display disregard for all community members’ First Amendment rights. Port of Columbia Commissioner Seth Bryan is the administrator for the Dayton Uncensored Facebook page, which allows harassment, defamation, doxxing, and cyber-harassment of community members engaging in constitutionally protected activity. The First Amendment right to criticize public officials, access the courts, and comment on issues of public interest are well-established and supported by case l...
To the Editor, “I’ve looked at life from both sides now…” by Joni Mitchell A story told in our community is about an older female who went to CC Public Library and was confronted by a large display featuring a book opened to a page with sexual images. She was upset, especially for the children. She had previously enjoyed going to the library. I understand her shock at seeing books with sexual content displayed. It didn’t happen when we were young. Instead, we lived in ignorance. Others in our generation may have been curious and looked for info...
To the editor, Throughout Washington State high schools during Black History Month, there has only been a small lump sum of instances where they’ve mentioned Alice Coachman. More high schoolers should know more than just Jesse Owens, Bessie Coleman, and Mae Jemison. They should be able to proudly notify others that Alice Coachman was the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal. She was able to accomplish the Olympic high jump title and American record of 5’ 6⅛”, even when there were times where she was shunned and neglected when it came...
To Port Of Columbia Commissioners Seth Bryan, Mike Spring, and Johnny Watts, Because all three of the Port of Columbia commissioners are new to the business of the port, we think they should look into the past accomplishments made before their service began: Improvements to and maintenance of the Lyons Ferry Recreational Area. Fiber-Optic broadband internet to the City of Dayton and to parts of the county. The planning and development of Blue Mountain Station, an incubator for new small businesses. The port also plays the vital role of...
To the Editor, When I was a child, the Dayton Memorial Library was a place my friends and I were always welcome. My father, an avid reader and well-respected schoolteacher, often requested books from that library to read, for pleasure or as resources for his lessons. Like my friends, my father, and me, members of the whole community drew on that splendid resource to enrich our lives. If we couldn’t find something we needed, the librarian, Ms. Weatherford, would help us, thereby expanding the library’s usefulness. The same was true for my wif...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
To our community, We are troubled by the potential divisiveness of this upcoming election year. With all the wars, genocide, disinformation, the potential of Artificial Intelligence, any of which, could disrupt our democratic process. While we are thinking globally here, let’s think about how we can act locally. As a community shouldn’t we try living in harmony. If harmony is not the right word, should we consider, civility, respectfulness, kindness or courtesy at the very least. In our small community shouldn’t we strive for unity as every...
To the Editor, I won’t hesitate to vote yes on the Waitsburg School District’s Educational Programs and Operations Levy on Feb. 13. This replacement levy funds our preschool, extracurricular activities (including athletics), transportation and technology. I brag on Waitsburg School District often, singing the praises of having half-day preschool for children ages 3 to 5, at no extra cost to in-district parents. Waitsburg preschoolers are ready for kindergarten, equipped with the skills they need for classroom success. Unfortunately, Wai...
To the Editor, On behalf of Waitsburg Commercial Club, I express our wholehearted support for the upcoming Waitsburg School levy. It should be noted that this is not a new tax or levy; it is a replacement levy for the previously passed measure that is about to expire. Our schools play an integral role in shaping our community. In a recent hospital visit, I ran across a Waitsburg High School grad who earned their diploma and an AA degree last year. They were employed in the medical field with a good job and benefits due to the educational opport...
To the Editor I am writing to clarify my questioning of the statements made in a social media post regarding the levy’s funding of FFA. While FFA does receive some support from the levy, it is minimal compared to the funding received from grants and FFA itself. They used the greenhouse as an example when in reality I’m told the greenhouse was built with grant money. Correct me if I’m wrong. I viewed this example of programs that would be cut as not entirely accurate since the overwhelming majority of FFA funding is not from the levy; howev...
