Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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To the Editor, I am voting YES to approve the Waitsburg Parks and Recreation District (WPR) levy on Nov. 4. As a parent, community member, and WPR commissioner, there are many reasons why I support a new pool in Waitsburg. Camaraderie. For 100 years, Waitsburg had a swimming pool. It was a gathering place for family and friends. Kids rode their bikes to the pool, for lessons, to meet friends, to play, and to beat the heat. They picked up snacks and drinks at the grocery store on the way. Families had BBQs and cooled off in the pool. Adult swim...
To the Editor, Having attended most City Council Meetings since 2012, I have been impressed and appreciate the governance and commitment by Councilman House and Mayor Marty Dunn. Kevin House is the Service Branch Manager for McGregor Co. in Waitsburg. He and his wife, Christy, have raised two children who have attended Waitsburg Schools. Kevin supports school and FFA events, along with many community events, through membership in the Lions Club and the Waitsburg Commercial Club. Because of his participation in Waitsburg organizations and...
Letter to the Editor On Nov. 4th, Columbia County has the opportunity to vote YES on Proposition No. 1 to support a yearly levy towards having a functioning public swimming pool in Dayton. Once the pool is built, levy funds will be used for pool maintenance, repairs, staffing, and other necessary items needed for a public pool. Our elected Pool Commissioners have worked hard to start building the framework for our future pool. They had the soil tested and the pool building evaluated to make sure it is the logical place to rebuild a pool. They...
To the Editor, I served on the Waitsburg City Council with Kevin House for five years, and have known Kevin, his wife Christy, and their sons for many, many years. I want to recommend Kevin for this upcoming City Council election. Kevin has served on the Waitsburg City Council for 15 years and has gained extensive experience in the process. He works well with the other council members, the mayor, and the Waitsburg City staff. Knowing the history behind past decisions made at the city level can be very helpful in navigating the financial...
Letter to the Editor: Good people have been working to promote the Waitsburg swimming pool. Many generous people have already contributed money and time to this cause, and they are greatly appreciated. However, this generosity isn’t enough. We need to support the pool by passing the pool levy. I grew up swimming with friends at the Waitsburg pool. Besides the fun, everyone needs to learn to swim, not to mention the exercise and health benefits for our whole community. Thus, I ask again, please support the kids and the pool levy. Ann Ahler W...
To the editor, Thank you for the images; they are a real treat, and a trip down what is now a 60-year memory lane. Working in harvest, whether green peas or later grain, never seemed like work. It was an experience that most of the area participated in, and they were glad to. The photojournalism ties well to another story, the railroad. In my opinion, the natural owner of the railroad should be the Northwest Grain Growers. Not for any partisan or political reason, but for the back to the future...
Letter to the Editor, I am deeply concerned by the recent racist comment made August 12th at the City Council meeting by Councilmember Laura Aukerman. The subject was regarding the federal holiday, Juneteenth – not just pertaining to the freedom of slaves, but an opportunity for us to celebrate freedom and equal rights in the United States. These remarks were not only offensive, but they also undermined the values of respect and equality that our community should strive to uphold. Elected officials have a responsibility to serve all of their c...
To the editor, Walla Walla County voters have the opportunity on the August 5 primary election ballot to approve Proposition No. 1. If approved, the proposition will authorize the county to collect two-tenths of one percent (0.2%) sales tax, e.g., 1 cent on a $5 purchase, 20 cents on a $100 purchase. This small additional tax would be used solely for the use of our emergency communications system and facilities. Stay with us, folks, and you will see why we believe approving this proposition is not only equitable but necessary at this time....
To The Editor: Michael Baumgartner made this promise: “I will fight to make sure that senior citizens receive every penny of the Social Security and Medicare benefits that they have been promised. It is important that we continue these vital programs and that people who have paid into them get back what was promised. This is non-negotiable: Medicare and Social Security benefits will not be reduced.” His Yes vote on the Big Bill that cuts Medicare (and Medicaid) proves his word is no good. How will this play out for Social Security ben...
We have an Ace of Diamonds, an Ace of Spades, and an Ace of Clubs. The Ace of Diamonds stands for duty, the Ace of Spades stands for adventurous personality, and the Ace of Clubs stands for strength. But we are missing one Ace: The Ace of Hearts. The Ace of Hearts has gone and has long since been replaced by the King of Clubs which stands for hate, greed, and a thirst for power and self centeredness. Once happy families have been torn apart in this thirst for power and sometimes by even trying to change who people are. So, we need a solution-...
To the editor, Executive Order and IMLS On March 14, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order targeting the Institute for Museum and Library Services and six other government institutes. This executive order called on the IMLS to 1) eliminate all non-statutory components and functions, and 2) reduce the performance of those functions and associated personnel to the minimum required in order to function. On March 31st, all IMLS staff were placed on administrative leave; soon after, a skeleton crew was called back to the office....
Letter to the Editor A grateful thank you to the Waitsburg Times for your excellent coverage of the Port of Columbia Commission Meeting on January 8, where the Columbia Port Commissioners discussed selling the owned Rail Line. Seth Bryan has an obvious agenda when considering this sale: to continue to oppose the Touchet Valley Trail construction despite the Trail construction support of most of the Valley Stakeholders. Bryan’s opposition to the trail has juxtaposed him against economic development, farmers, and shippers. The port’s own...
To The Editor: Did you vote for Michael Baumgartner for the U.S. House? Please take note of this from his campaign website. “This is non-negotiable: Medicare and Social Security benefits will not be reduced. It is important that we continue these vital programs and that people who have paid into them get back what was promised.” Yes, it’s a campaign promise, probably as durable as any. However you voted, keep this in mind, and if he starts to waffle, he will need to feel the heat. Randal Son, Walla Walla, Wash....
To the editor, Walla Walla’s current County Commisioner Jenny Mayberry’s “Rob Peter to Pay Paul” budget mentality cannibalizes the County’s current expense account. Mayberry’s approval of hefty pay raises for the County Sheriff’s Office without voting to raise commensurate revenue is creating the forbidden “Unfunded Mandate.” Other county employees and programs that provide the infrastructure to put the deputies on the road, JOBS and PROJECTS are being put in jeopardy. Bertha Clayton’s proven credentials will provide a balanced approach t...
Dear Editor: There are a multitude of reasons for supporting Bertha Clayton for County Commissioner—far too many to list but noteworthy was her response to the question (Oct. 12 Union Bulletin Q&A) about county budget responsibilities and how to approach budget decisions. Her response was “With full understanding and accountability of the potential impacts of each decision, I will directly engage with every county office and department to obtain essential knowledge and understanding of the statutory requirements of service and where the ser...
To the editor, Senator Perry Dozier has been a strong voice for our natural resources, especially water. He has been not only a dryland farmer but also an irrigated farmer. As Walla Walla County Commissioner he served 8 years on both the Snake River Salmon Recovery Board and the Walla Walla Watershed Partnership Board. This past September, when water was diverted from the Yellowhawk Creek which caused fish to die, Sen. Dozier was able to act quickly. Having a relationship with Department of Ecology, he contacted them to find out why the water...
To the Editor: I am an elected Board Commissioner of the newly formed Columbia County Park & Recreation Pool District (District), approved by voters on November 7, 2023. The creation of our District was accomplished as an unfunded entity with the power to levy a tax only as the Board and local voters recommend. This formative year, we have been diligent in creating a foundation to move forward and replace our pool, closed after the 2017season due to maintenance and operational issues. For almost a decade now; local kids, adults and visitors...
To the editor, Are we missing something as we consider votes for the Washington State Legislature? Can the person we elect actually advance our rural Eastern Washington concerns? Often the answer is no. It is not the fault of our representatives; it is caused by the split between Republican and Democratic caucuses. For years this system has worked against us. We have been represented in the Republican caucus, not at all in the Democratic caucus. Since the Washington State Democratic caucus is in the majority, we and our concerns are either not...
Letter to the editor: For 4 years, Senator Perry Dozier has advocated for the issues that we care about in Olympia. He has made sure that dollars have come back to our area to support child care, after-school care, and mental health facilities. He has worked across the aisle to keep our communities safe and support our public schools. Re-elect Senator Perry Dozier because he is a life-long resident of our community and has been an elected official in different capacities so he understands how to best represent us. Senator Dozier understands...
To the editor, As a concerned resident of Walla Walla County, I wholeheartedly support Bertha Clayton for County Commissioner. Bertha understands that the role of the County Commission is not only defined by state law but also by the needs of our community. With an approved 2024 budget of $145.9 million, it’s crucial that we have a leader who prioritizes transparency, accountability, and responsible growth. In the 10+ years I’ve known Bertha, I have always been impressed by her drive, hard work, and, most importantly, her kindness. Ber...
To the Editor, For several years, the two major political parties, both nationally and locally, have become more polarized than ever before. Common sense dictates residents of Walla Walla County would be best served when decisions are reached for the good of the whole. Bertha Clayton is the solution. Throughout her campaign, she has reached out to elected officials, department heads, county employees, governmental entities, large and small businesses and individuals to educate herself, and has garnered a wealth of information to be prepared to...
Dear Editor, As a long-time early childhood educator, I was responsible for the safety of many 3, 4, and 5-year-olds. I believe in the sacred duty to love, nurture, and protect the vulnerable young. One of the most troubling teacher trainings I ever experienced addressed the need to have a plan for the scenario when no parent was available to receive the child at the end of the school day. Why, you rightly may ask, would a child be sent off with a hug to school in the morning and have nobody to care for them a few hours later? The answer:...
To the Editor, The semiquincentennial (250-year) celebration of the creation of the United States will last several months (from March 5, 2024, commemorating the Boston Massacre, through July 4, 2026, commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence). Those brave founders, standing up to Britain, which had the most powerful navy in the world and a huge army besides, set forth ideas that have inspired the possibility of a democracy which allows diversity. Democracies are always works in progress, requiring a maintenance that...
To the editor, Please join me in voting for Linda Gunshefski for the District 16 Representative Position 1 Seat. Linda, a well-respected eye physician and surgeon, has owned and operated her own practice in Walla Walla for over 25 years. She is a refreshing choice! Linda’s self-described “formidable nature” will be critical in clearly voicing the needs of Southeastern Washingtonians in the legislature. Her equally “respectful nature” makes her a team builder and dedicated listener. She will deeply connect with other decision-makers, regardles...
Letter to the editor I would like to express my unequivocal support for Bertha Clayton in her candidacy for county commissioner. Running as a no-party preference candidate, Bertha is distinguished by her ability to engage with constituents from both sides of the political spectrum. I have personally witnessed her dedication to listening thoughtfully and communicating with the utmost integrity and honesty. Her strong work ethic is evident in her interactions, and it is clear that she is committed to serving our community. Coming from an...
