Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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WALLA WALLA-The news of repeated break-ins and killings of birds at the Pioneer Park Aviary in Walla Walla has prompted an outpouring of support and funding from community members. Walla Walla Police reported that there have been multiple incidents over the past two weeks of someone cutting the netting at the Aviary and killing approximately 12 birds. The City is offering a $1,000 reward for the arrest and convictions of the person(s) responsible for the killing of the birds. The reward money...
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Library (WSL), a division of the Office of the Secretary of State, has been tasked with distributing $688,000 to public and tribal libraries, and museums for COVID-19 response efforts. The funds are part of the $50 million allocated in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to the Institute of Museum and Library Services to assist museums and libraries across the country address the digital divide during the pandemic. Three grant opportunities are available for libraries and museums. All appl...
DAYTON-New businesses opening in Dayton, despite the coronavirus slow-down, is a testament to a community that will step up and help each other. It also says a lot about the pluck and determination of three entrepreneurs who are opening or have just opened businesses in town The new owners of the Weinhard Hotel, at 229 East Main Street, are open to hotel traffic and have opened their new cafe, Jacob's Public House. "I love people, food, and hospitality," said Christina Dingman, who along with he...
DAYTON—CEO Shane McGuire told the Hospital District Board of Commissioners he is now cautiously optimistic about Columbia County Health System finances. “2020 won’t put us out of business and we are ready for fall,” he told them, at their regular board meeting in May. The CARES Act set aside one billion in aid from the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services for hospitals and health systems to weather the COVID-19 challenge, and the CCHS has been allocated around 4.4 million dollars, he said. McGuire said an initial award in the amount of $654...
We had hoped to receive some guidance from the state, Governor and State Superintendent of Schools, regarding returning to school next fall yesterday. What we received instead was a note explaining they are still working on guidance and are waiting for information from the Department of Health and other agencies. They hope to share information with all school districts by the end of the week. While this is disappointing, it is also a message illustrating the many complex pieces returning to school will bring and the desire to provide best...
Yay! Governor Inslee has approved Phase 2 status for Walla Walla County. Such fortuitous timing, in the midst of so many other "phasing" events, like high school and college graduations, now those students will phase into their new lives as college freshman, or (hopefully) employees-maybe graduate school? June is also a big month for weddings, and couples "phasing" into married life. And some of us are just phasing into rural life, (and loving it). But, like all things in life, "phasing"...
(We last left our intrepid adventurer and her mother in the plague-stricken wastes of SeaTac International Airport, where nobody could be bothered to wear a mask despite being crammed like sardines into the concourse-and-a-half that was actually open. However, given that mask policy has become a hot-button political issue, our intrepid adventurer will use her lightning-quick reflexes to avoid this topic until later in this serial, where she will be stuck in consecutive four-hour layovers and...
WAITSBURG-Walla Walla county businesses got the long awaited 'go-ahead' to move into Phase 2 of Governor Inslee's Safe Start plan and Waitsburg business owners are preparing to provide sit down dining, post-pandemic haircuts, shopping, and more. Blush Salon and Spa: Brooke Mikesell and Madison Mings have begun accepting appointments for hair, nails, lashes and more at Blush Salon located at 214 Main Street. Beginning June 1, the salon is open for clients by appointment only. All clients must...
DAYTON-Dayton High School's Class of 2020 graduated last Saturday. Like graduation ceremonies across the nation, Dayton's ceremony looked a lot different than in years past. Due to pandemic-related restrictions, only graduates and family were able to attend the ceremony. Dayton High School provided a live-streamed feed on Facebook for the community to enjoy. The stream is still available to watch on the Dayton Secondary Facebook page. Graduation celebrations started Saturday afternoon with a...
Fishing desert lakes April through June is tough to beat. Flipping around on a float tube, the warm spring sun across my back, and wild trout smacking small streamers like mini freight trains is what I have come to love about desert lakes. Well, that, and the rugged, burgundy and chocolate-colored basalt rims punctuated by milky-emerald big sagebrush, random white plumes of yarrow and brilliant canary tufts of balsamroot blooms. Having had quite enough of COVID-19 self-isolation, I decided to...
WAITSBURG-The Waitsburg High Alumni Association has honored Jack and Nancy White Otterson (WHS Alumni Classes of 1956 and 1957) with the Karen Huwe WHS Alumni Service Award on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 via a Zoom Meeting of the Alumni Board facilitated by outgoing President, Chelsey Smith. They were surprised with a visit from Wendy Richards and Beth Anne Wood who provided the technology so they could be participants. On the call as well, were Tammy Otterson Wood, her husband (Scott) from Arizona,...
WAITSBURG-Treasure comes in all shapes and forms, to one Waitsburg resident treasure looks like model cars, lots of model cars. Bert Baxter's extensive car collection includes over 1,000 models, racing memorabilia, and more. Baxter's love for all things automotive started at an early age and in 1952 he took up racing mini sprint cars for 15 years. He walked away from the racetrack after witnessing a tragic accident and went from driving to working on cars as he poured his heart and soul into his...
WAITSBURG-"It never fails, the hottest day of the year is always graduation day," spectators echoed jokingly last Friday at the Waitsburg Football Field. Instead of gathering in the Waitsburg High School Gym, as is tradition, friends and family of the Class of 2020 stood outside the field's fences and watched a socially distanced high school graduation. If you've ever attended a WHS graduation ceremony, you know that they fall on what seems like the hottest day in spring, with the infamously...
DAYTON-Rancher Marty Hall will face incumbent Commissioner Mike Talbott, for Position 2 on the Board of County Commissioners in the November general election. "I want to do what I can to keep Columbia County a good place to live, to do business in, and to attract more families with good living wage jobs," Hall said. Hall said the most important issue facing the county is the budget shortfall because of damages to county from the recent flood, and from the consequences of the COVID-19 challenge,...
WALLA WALLA-The announcement for the protest was seen on a Facebook post, listing the 1 p.m. time, the Land Title Plaza as the place, with the words 'Peaceful Protest' as the title. The post also featured an image of George Floyd's face and the words "I Can't Breathe." George Floyd's death on Memorial Day in Minneapolis, under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, sparked other protests across the country, in Europe, and beyond. The idea for the event came to social media specialist Lindsey...
Gov. Jay Inslee ordered a statewide activation of the Washington National Guard on Sunday, May 31 in response to the spread of destructive protests and looting in Washington state. The activation will allow unarmed troops to be deployed in response to requests from local governments. The governor already authorized at least 600 troops earlier this weekend to help in Seattle and Bellevue. The state received a request from Spokane County on May 31 for National Guard assistance after what was described as a rogue group began looting and damaging...
Valedictorian Kylee Laughlin Salutatorian Kira Boggs 2020 Graduates: Marissa Barzo McKenzie Dobbs Jurnee Griffen Emma Houdak Alex Jenkins David Lewis Kiya McCaw Carlos Norris Lillian Patterson Quinton Rapoza Sergio Rivera Tayven Seney Elise Steinhoff Josiah White...
Shortly before graduation the idea to line Main Street with custom banners honoring the graduating seniors quickly gained traction. Senior Advisor Matt Wyatt contacted DiJulio Displays in Brier, Wash., to help him create and print the banners. This is the same company who worked with Scott Kirk on Dayton’s senior banners. Rita Pruczinksi, of DiJulio Displays took on the task of printing the red banners and developed an unexpected relationship with Dayton and Waitsburg’s Classes of 2020. A sma...
You know what sounds great right now? Some nice escapist literature. You know what I'm not in the mood to do right now? Think up a nice escapist plot. This, then, is the story of an intrepid adventurer (and also her mother) on a quest through the plague-stricken wastes of Middle America to retrieve the long-lost Treasure of Apartment 1-B in time to avoid the Curse of the Lost Security Deposit. Our quest begins at an obscenely early hour as our two heroes race down the darkened highways of...
WAITSBURG-High school graduations are looking a little different this year, and Waitsburg High School's ceremony is no exception. A gallery drive through town followed by a drive through 'ceremony' is scheduled for May 29, starting at 6 p.m. The Class of 2020 Gallery Drive will begin at Preston Park, with the students as passengers, lined up in alphabetical order, following a pilot car. Each vehicle will have one student in cap and gown. Twenty-two cars will make their way down Main Street,...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg City Council met Wednesday, May 20 at 7 p.m. via conference call. All board members were present except councilman Karl Newell. The council discussed the Complete Sidewalk Project Award, a capital library grant, and the status of the city pool. City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe gave an update on the Complete Sidewalk Project Award that the City received earlier this year. He said that he has been in contact with property owners who will be impacted by the project, a...
DAYTON-At the May 13 Port Commission meeting, Executive Director Dickinson expressed a desire for people to follow all the social distancing guidelines set forth by in the Governor's Phased Approach to Reopening Business and Modifying Social Distancing Guidelines, so the county can move from Phase II into Phase III more quickly. "For the most part it is going fine, she said. "I'm proud of our businesses and our community." Dickinson said the Lyons Ferry Marina Concessionaires are making great...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg School Board met Thursday, May 21 at 6 p.m. All school board members were present. During the meeting, the board discussed graduation plans, a continuous learning plan, and other items. Secondary principal Stephanie Wooderchak reported to the board that the middle school had been invited to the Milton Freewater Drive-In Theater for the 8th grade promotion. After some discussion, the board decided it was best to come up with another plan in the event that Walla Walla C...
DAYTON— The Dayton School Board met Wednesday, May 20 at 6:00 pm via Zoom virtual meeting. All board members were present. During the meeting, the board discussed budget information, the high school graduation ceremony, and the upcoming school year among other items. Elementary principal Doug Johnson reported that Dayton Elementary staff and teachers are continuing to improve their online learning models. Mr. Johnson said that a scheduling committee has been formed for the sole purpose of p...
I am convinced that about half the stuff on the Internet these days is lists of things to do in quarantine. Fifteen recipes to try, twenty home-repair projects you can do in a day, the one hundred and thirty plants you absolutely need to squeeze into your yard while you have the free time to plant them. I'm sure you've read at least a couple. As a journalist, I will let you in on a secret about these lists: they are found at the very bottom of the idea barrel. Sure, there are some...
