Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 1037 - 1061 of 5665
DAYTON—Dayton School District Superintendent Guy Strot presented updates on the opening of schools to the board of directors at their workshop last week. “The beginning of the school year has been relatively normal. Teachers are teaching, students are learning, and there have been no real discipline issues since the start of school on Aug. 25.,” he said. Eighteen students at the elementary level, 17 at the middle school level, and 18 in the high school are currently in distance learning mode. El...
DAYTON—Who is caring for the kiddos when mom and dad go back to work, now that there are only two licensed daycare providers in Dayton, Susan’s Home Daycare and Demaris Daycare? Demaris Daycare is currently operating with only two students, a situation Sylvia Demaris hopes will change in the next month depending on her husband’s health. Port of Columbia Executive Director Jennie Dickinson talk about the lack of daycare options at a community round table conversation, on Aug. 13. She said enrol...
WALLA WALLA—Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) has been diligently changing policies to safeguard employees and incarcerated individuals against the COVID-19 virus. In Walla Walla, The Washington State Penitentiary has had 134 incarcerated individuals test positive for the coronavirus with zero deaths. Twelve staff members have tested positive. The outbreak was contained in one housing unit, and the facility continues to test all staff coming into the penitentiary, as well as r...
Recently the Liberty Theater in Dayton received a message from a woman in Walla Walla: "My friend told me she was getting rid of some old puppets that belonged to her parents. She said she was going to give them to Goodwill. I thought, no, they need to go to a theater!" These are Indonesian rod puppets, in the native language Wayang Golek which were procured by the previous owner's parents sometime during the 20th century during a visit to that country. The age of the puppets is not known;...
There are less than four weeks to respond to the 2020 Census, and the counts for the area are less than satisfactory for many area residents. With just over three weeks left, Eastern Washington was about 35 percent away from being fully enumerated: Far below the national average and a likely representation of primarily rural communities, like Waitsburg and Walla Walla, across the nation. Of 39 Washington Counties, Walla Walla ranks 13th with a response rate of 67.9 percent. In 2010, Walla Walla...
WALLA WALLA—The Providence St. Mary Gran Fondo fundraiser for local cancer patients this year has been transformed into a month-long event that includes a free virtual town hall Sep. 16 sharing the latest advancements in cancer care. “We can all do our part to help finish cancer together.” That’s the motto for this year’s #FINISHCANCER fundraiser hosted by Providence St. Mary Foundation. Annually in September, Walla Walla Valley residents traditionally unite to walk, run or cycle and join hundreds of others at the Gran Fondo to raise funds for...
DAYTON-Whiskey and brandy distiller "Rusty" Figgins has sold XO Alambic to a large distillery, in the Salem, Ore. area, and he is moving with his family to the Isle of Man, U.K., where he will be the master distiller and manager at Fynoderee Distillery. Not only will Figgins continue the Fynoderee Distillery tradition of gin production, but he will be leading the way into Manx single malt whiskey production, from locally grown barley. Figgins said the COVID-19 shutdown played a part in this...
WALLA WALLA—I first learned of “Gross Out” in Seattle. My roommate Jeff, a produce guy to elite Seattle restaurant owners, had sous vide another delectable cut of meat. He was always in the kitchen, cooking up some chef-level deliciousness. I wondered aloud how he was getting these amazing meat deals in a city so expensive, and he described to me a magical place where perishable and nonperishable foods alike, alongside plants and some truly random housewares, were all for sale at reaso...
DAYTON—The Port of Columbia held a public information meeting last week to share the results of a broadband feasibility study with the public and to answer questions. Fifty-seven people attended the meeting, along with the Port Commissioners, Port of Columbia Executive Director Jennie Dickinsons, and Lydia Caudill, who has been tasked by the Port to work on the broadband project. Dickinson said, “I think it went very well.” Internet service providers were well represented, along with a good...
The school year is right around the corner, and September 8th is the first day for Waitsburg students. As schools kick off a virtual learning experience, many parents are worried about childcare and ensuring their kids stay up to speed. Waitsburg Schools, partnered with the Valley’s largest non-profit, licensed childcare provider, may have a solution. Walla Walla YMCA CEO Karen Hedine said that the childcare conversation is long overdue in Waitsburg. Still, she couldn’t think of a better tim...
DAYTON—The Dayton City Council is seeking mediation with the County over the Interlocal Agreement (ILA) for Law Enforcement, Dispatch, and Court services after talks have stalled. The decision was made at a Special City Council meeting on Monday after the City Council heard from Dain Nysoe on the Public Safety Committee, Mayor Zac Weatherford, and City Attorney Quinn Plant. “We are at an impasse right now,” Mayor Weatherford said about the negotiations. Weatherford said the City has an oblig...
DAYTON-The Texaco truck stop at 533 W. Main St. is now open for business as the Shop 'n Go 2. The new owners are Gurmit Ghuman, Victor Virk, and Paul Soh, and they held a grand opening for their fifth business on Friday of last week. The family owns four other fuel marts, in Walla Walla, Pasco, Prosser, and Granger. Ghuman said the business located at the corner of Hwy. 12 and Cameron St. is a convenient location for truckers, people passing through Dayton, and for local customers. Look for...
DAYTON—Last week, the Hospital District board of commissioners was invited by Commissioner Bob Hutchens to share their thoughts about whether some of the remaining Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funding received by the District should be used for hospital projects and services. Hutchens serves on the District’s Finance committee. CCHS CEO Shane McGuire explained that any project or service must meet COVID-19 criteria. Many hospital districts have received CARES Ac...
WALLA WALLA—Did you think this year’s Pond & Garden Tour was canceled? In light of the pandemic and social distancing mandates, Walla Walla Community Hospice considered forgoing the 19th annual event. However, there were still some beautiful gardens to spotlight in the Walla Walla Valley Traditionally the event features ten properties and consists of a self-guided tour, vendors, working artists, live music, Master Gardener presentations, and multiple raffles. It attracts three to four hundred attendees. This year, the event will be, like mos...
WALLA WALLA—One thing that unites us as a nation is land: Americans strongly support saving the open spaces they love. Since 1999, the Blue Mountain Land Trust has been doing just that for the people of Southeastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon. Today the Blue Mountain Land Trust announced it had renewed its land trust accreditation – proving again that, as part of a network of accredited land trusts across the nation, it is committed to professional excellence and to maintaining the public’s trust in its conservation work. “There...
DAYTON-The separation from family and friends and decreased socialization with each other have been difficult for Booker Rest Home residents since the facility was locked down in March to protect its vulnerable population. There is now a little light at the end of the tunnel since Governor Jay Inslee announced his Safe Start for Long Term Care Facility Reopening Recommendations and Requirements on Aug. 12. The good news is the Booker Rest Home is now in Phase 2 of the governor's four-phase...
DAYTON-What began as a way to sell some extra lasagna has become an ongoing labor of love for Weinhard Café owner Mandi Wendt, and a blessing to the recipients of her generosity. Every Friday, for the past several years, Wendt has been preparing take-and-bake meals for sale. This idea was created in 2017 when Wendt made too much lasagna for a fundraiser in memory of an employee who had recently passed away. "Not knowing how many people to expect, I made about 20 too many lasagnas. I didn't...
WALLA WALLA—The Washington State Penitentiary is experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak in one of the housing units. In response to the outbreak, officials have developed a plan to keep inmates and staff safe. As of Tuesday, the prison had 121 confirmed COVID cases, with 53 of those cases currently active. The facility houses a total of 2,284 incarcerated individuals. Ten Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) employees have tested positive. The coronavirus outbreak began in late July when an inmate b...
PRESCOTT—Prescott School District is finishing plans for the upcoming online school year. The district will begin distributing Chromebook laptops to students in the first week of September. Superintendent Justin Bradford said details are still being finalized, and he anticipates K-6 grades will have appointments with teachers to receive any needed materials and information about the online courses. 7-12 grade students will also be scheduling appointments to meet with teachers and gather m...
DAYTON—The Port of Columbia will hold a Zoom meeting on Monday, August 31, from 6 – 7:30 p.m. to share information about their proposed broadband project in the City of Dayton and some adjacent outlying areas. Attendees will hear a presentation on the project, be able to ask questions, and will also be asked to fill out a short survey regarding their current service. The Port contracted with PocketiNet, a Walla Walla-based company, to conduct a broadband feasibility study that was completed in February of this year. “Port Commissioners hoped...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg School Board met Thursday, Aug. 20, via Zoom call. Representative Skyler Rude attended the meeting. Principal Stephanie Wooderchak shared documents on class schedules in grades six and up. She also shared an online staff schedule that laid out the periods, virtual office hours, and more. Wooderchak reported that the teachers have written letters for the parents that explain their virtual classrooms, attendance plans, assignment days, and more. The school has begun s...
DAYTON—The Dayton School Board met Wednesday, August 19, for a regularly scheduled meeting. As the district prepares to welcome students back to in-person classes, they are adjusting their protocols and procedures to stay aligned with the Department of Health recommendations. Principal Kristina Brown began her report by thanking the school board for being patient with staff and administration as they prepare for the school’s opening. The district is anticipating a ‘Red and Gold’ schedul...
WAITSBURG—Walla Walla County Sheriff Mark Crider, Undersheriff Joe Klundt, and fifteen Waitsburg community members met in a virtual meeting on Tuesday, August 25, to discuss recent suspected criminal activity in the city. Matthew Wyatt, who lives in the neighborhood where Skylar I. Glasby was arrested earlier this month on unlawful imprisonment and domestic violence charges, said now, more than ever, he fears for the safety of his family, and his community. Glasby was released earlier this w...
David Ocampo, General Manager at Columbia County Public Transportation (CCPT), is proud of what the agency has done over the years, but even prouder of the way it has found its niche during COVID-19. And now, to add to its unique role in the community, CCPT has added two new "XL Hybrid" vehicles to its fleet. XL stands for "extra large." "Before COVID, on a really busy day, we were putting as much as 5,000 miles a month on a transit bus," Ocampo said. "We were running twelve round trips a day. N...
OLYMPIA—Gov. Jay Inslee today announced and updated guidance as part of Washington’s Safe Start phased reopening plan. “We have worked with stakeholders for weeks and sometimes months to arrive at these guidelines. We continue to balance the need for activities that contribute to physical, mental, and emotional well-being with the steps needed to control the virus. Our ability to reopen depends on every Washingtonian doing their part to ensure fewer, shorter, and safer interactions,” said Inslee. These guidelines allow museums in Phase 2 count...
