The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

To the editor: I would like to address the proposed dissolution of the Columbia County Rural Library District. It is only from a privileged place that one could say a library is unnecessary, and it is a narrow view that only sees a building with...

To the editor, A common behavior of physical or emotional abusers is they don’t take responsibility for their actions. They make comments like “He/she made me do it.” In their mind, it’s OK to attack because the victim did something they...

For the past year, I have kept my distance from the growing brouhaha over the library. However, with such a valuable community resource now in jeopardy, I can no longer sit on the sidelines. While I’m eager to address the rumors, misinformation, an...

Editor, Let’s take a step back and look at how we can enhance the lives of our families and neighbors. How do our actions benefit our community? What are our motives? Are they self-serving or good for humanity? What resources in this community...

To the Editor At the June 26th library board meeting, it became clear that most people in the audience want to keep our public library. Not everyone agreed on how it would be run, but they didn’t want to lose the library. They want our community...

To our community,  What has happened to reaching out to those with differing viewpoints in a friendly and respectful manner to discuss opposing issues? The vile name-calling which cast aspersions on the soon-to-be former director of the library is...

Shame on You For those in our community who have spread lies and misinformation about our library director should be ashamed of themselves. If there was even a thread of evidence to your lies, you had every right to report them to law enforcement. I...

Dear Editor: As I have mentioned before, don’t let “their” opinion be yours. Take time to visit the library, talk to Todd, the director, and see how much the library has to offer. In a recent conversation with a friend, they mentioned the...

As a business owner and just a person trying to make ends meet every month, I’m always looking for value. It makes me happy to feel I’ve gotten my money’s worth. How about you? Businesses that pay the Waitsburg Commercial Club annual dues expec...

Business owners of Waitsburg! My name is Judy Bennett, and I am the new President of Waitsburg Commercial Club. I want to thank you for voting for me, and to tell you a little about how I intend to serve you and your enterprise this year. Under my...

To the Editor: I was disappointed as I read the article in last week’s edition addressing the controversy over the Dayton Public Library. I had hoped that at least local journalists still held to the principle of fair & balanced reporting. That...

Thank you sincerely for your expression of sympathy & kindness. It is deeply appreciated & will be remembered alwaysby the family of Betty Ann Fletcher...

Dear Editor, A mental health crisis, just like a physical health crisis, can be devastating for individuals, families, and communities. Over the last year, it is my understanding that our county contracted with Comprehensive Healthcare to provide...

Substance abuse disorders pose a heavy societal burden, endangering individuals and families and sapping resources from healthcare and multi-disciplinary systems. It tears through communities impacting everyone. Historically most strategies for...

Dear Editor, Regarding efforts to defund the library, I question if the real reason is that “they” think the library has more reserves than needed, therefore, no more tax money should go to fund it? If that is the reason, then, in my opinion,...

To the Editor; Wow! Someone wants to defund and close the library. This is the best evidence yet of the necessity of the library in this community. Libraries are places of knowledge - and information we cannot always find within our families....

To the editor, I don’t discuss politics any more in situations where there will be nothing but an impasse and an argument. Call it avoiding the “elephant in the room” (or donkey, as the case may be), there are more important issues than complai...

To the editor, I love stories about faraway places like Tri-cities, for example. Wenatchee is a faraway exotic paradise as I understand it; further north is the untamed Okanogan River Valley with its small wild west settlements. I’m sure others...

Dear Editors: I read the letter in last week’s paper written by Regina Weldert, a valued, productive business owner in our county and a beloved friend to many. That there should be one ounce of fear in her for her own safety as well as her other tr...

As many Columbia County residents know by now, there is a petition circulating that proposes to put the dissolution of the Columbia County Rural Library District on the ballot. Dissolution of the district would result in the permanent shuttering of...

To the Editor The Dayton Memorial Library has been a hot topic of conversation for months now. These conversations are important. Expressing our concerns is a part of civic discourse as long as we do so respectfully. My concern is access to...

To the editor: I have been struggling a little these last few days. I had an attack of ego the other day that I am still trying to get right sized. I recognized it quickly and started measures to alter course. But more troubling is the constant barra...

To the editor, I serve on the Board of Trustees for the Columbia County Rural Library District. I would like to speak to the issue of books in the library that some members in the community want removed from the shelves. At our regular meeting a...

To the Editor, Dayton Library Board Meeting February 27, 2023—I was greeted by protestors carrying signs wanting to have a book banned from the library. The meeting room filled up mostly with protesters. Prior to the board’s discussion of the boo...