Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 1437 - 1461 of 5684
Belated, but not forgotten, Valentines Carl & Jody Peck, married 47 years....
OLYMPIA-A bill that would extend peer support services for staff working within the Department of Corrections was unanimously approved by the state House of Representatives on Thursday, Feb. 13. House Bill 2762 was introduced by Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla. Department of Corrections (DOC) staff face many of the same challenges that their law enforcement peers face when responding to critical incidents. Peer counseling programs provide an important avenue for processing these experiences....
Truth is, I am old enough to remember when we honored Washington and Lincoln on two different days in February, and celebrated with two school vacation days. I choose to continue that tradition. I celebrate Washington’s Birthday first, because I love cherry pie! We’re told of the fable, that when asked if he had chopped down the cherry tree, George confessed to the crime, because he could not tell a lie. Lying (or truth), can be a tricky concept. Most of us are taught that “honesty is the best...
On February 6th, The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) opened the public comment period on proposals to update regulations for a variety of game hunting opportunities, as well as the proposed 2020 hunting seasons. Among the proposals, two changes in particular have potential to influence hunting opportunity in southeast Washington. The proposed elimination of several elk areas due to the success of depredation hunts and overall population declines include what the proposal lists as area 1011 for Columbia County (present...
WAITSBURG-Lori Davis and Kimi Bruzas are two sisters with two different styles. Lori likes chalk painted furniture, gardening, art and all things 70s. Kimi likes art, antiques, and all things crystal and pink. Together they have opened a vintage furniture boutique and gift shop just inside the Town Hall on Main Street in Waitsburg. Prior to opening this business, they had a thriving business inside the Country Store in Walla Walla for 10 years. Many of their customers would drive from the Tri-Ci...
WAITSBURG-February 7 is starting to earn quite the reputation in the Walla Walla Valley, as two major floods have ripped through the area in less than 25 years. The 2020 flood, which people are just now able to start assessing the damage from, fell on the 24th anniversary of the 1996 flood. The flood is suspected to have been caused by a combination of snow, heavy rain, and unusually warm temperatures causing high water levels in local rivers. On Tuesday, Feb. 5. The National Weather Service rep...
DAYTON-The Board of Columbia County Commissioners called a special meeting last Thursday and passed an emergency resolution allowing money to be freed up to purchase materials to help mitigate a possible flood, after water in the North and South Touchet Rivers and Patit Creek began rising faster than usual, because of rapid snow melt caused by rain and warm temperatures. At that meeting Emergency Management Department Director Ashley Strickland told the commissioners the U.S. Army Corps of...
Welcome to a whole new tradition. The Times has featured couples who've been married for a long time and Valentine's greetings to loved ones across the Touchet Valley....
WAITSBURG—At a special meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, Feb. 11, the Waitsburg City Council declared a state of emergency. This action is needed by funding agencies to release emergency assistance to help the City rebuild from the effects of the recent flood. The City of Walla Walla, as well as the County of Walla Walla have also declared states of emergency. City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe said that he has been working on assessing the damage to the City since Saturday. He discussed...
WALLA WALLA—Have you been affected by recent flooding? Walla Walla County and the State of Washington are compiling damage estimates for the purpose of requesting possible help from FEMA and SBA. If there is enough damage throughout the county, it may be possible that assistance will come in the form of monetary grants to individuals and low interest loans from FEMA. There is no guarantee that this will happen, but if you have flood damage it is extremely important that you call (509) 524-2913 to report that damage. The deadline for c...
DAYTON—Alicia Walker wants to continue her family’s philosophy of providing organic, locally sourced, nourishing food to the community. Her goal is to open, ‘Locally Nourished’, a new breakfast and lunch café, in the building formerly occupied by Winter Rose Boutique, on Main Street. Until recently, Walker has been the proprietor of a slightly similar business on Main Street called ‘Noble Hunt’ and she is in the process of downsizing from that. She said she is looking forward to occupying th...
DAYTON—As area property owners begin the daunting task of clean up and repair following the recent flood event, residents are reminded to obtain local permits prior to repairing or rebuilding flood-damaged structures. These permits are required to help ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens. Local Building and Planning staff has recommended to City Councils and County Commissioners that all building permit fees associated with flood damage rehabilitation be waived and rehabilitation permits will be prioritized above all else to e...
WAITSBURG—City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe announced plans to hold a vote at the upcoming City Council meeting on February 19, 2020 to move the annual City election process to the Walla Walla County Election Board. According to the City of Waitsburg Charter, City Council members and the Mayor, all serve one- year terms. One reason given for the proposed change is to have the city’s elected official’s terms correspond with the State of Washington’s model of four-year staggered terms, starting in 2022. Another change with this model would m...
According to the OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration: “Although most floods do not cause serious outbreaks of infectious disease or chemical poisonings, they can cause sickness in workers and others who come in contact with contaminated floodwater. Floodwaters also may be contaminated by agricultural or industrial chemicals or by hazardous agents present at flooded hazardous waste sites. Floodwater often contains infectious organisms, including intestinal bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Shigella; Hepatitis A V...
DAYTON-Lions Club International (LCI) is the largest and most active community service organization in the world, according to Glen Mendell Vice-president of the Dayton Lions Club. Mendell said the Lions Club motto is "We serve," and they do. There are 1.4 million members in 46,000 clubs, in 210 countries, working to provide people with vision and hearing assistance, to help people dealing with pancreatic cancer, and diabetes and working to reduce hunger. He said the Lions Club International Fou...
The Columbia County-Walla Walla County Joint Fire District #2 held their monthly meeting last Wednesday. The job description for the fire chief position is still being finalized and Commissioner Deb Fortner presented a proposal that the district consider hiring a full-time paid fire chief. The commissioners discussed compensation and budget, as well as the cost of providing benefits. The board supports the hiring of a full time chief, and will consult with attorney Brian Snure to clarify details, including examining matters of state...
Last week, I was so excited. There, on the south side of my house shooting upwards to the fog shrouded sun, were sprigs of daffodils. Yay! Spring has sprung and I am ready for some sun. I started to fantasize about lighter clothing, lighter food and maybe even an outdoor tennis game. Then, boom! Rain, snow, cold and flooding. I am back to being mud-bound. I don't remember seeing this much mud in my house since the last flood in Los Angeles about 5 years ago. I keep sweeping, dusting and...
WAITSBURG-Doug Biolo didn't have plans to stay in Waitsburg after his mother, Nancy Aronson, passed. It took a little bit of convincing from his sister, Janet Lawrence and a split-second decision to quit his job in Portland, Oregon. Biolo and Lawrence decided that it was time to give life to their mother's dream: a garden store. Now, they are getting ready to move Nancy's Dream Garden Center so that they can offer more than plants. Nancy's Dream Garden Center, currently located at 503 W 2nd...
OLYMPIA-Washington State Parks announces that people can now reserve individual campsites at two Beacon Rock State Park campgrounds. Until recently, these campsites were only available on a first-come, first-served basis. Previously, the only reservable sites were the group campground and kitchen shelters. Beacon Rock State Park is a 4,458-acre, camping park located in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Beacon Rock itself is the core of an ancient volcano. The park inclu...
DAYTON—Children who are proficient and passionate readers by third grade are five times more likely to be college or career ready. The Innovia Foundation in Spokane, WA began a program in 2013 in Coeur d’Alene called Opening Books, Opening Doors to ensure young readers in that area had books to read and someone to read with, so all students are reading at grade level by third grade. Recently, Innovia contacted The Club, in Dayton, WA to see if they would like to participate in the Opening Boo...
The Gesa Power House Theatre presents country group Farewell Angelina in concert on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. Named after a haunting Bob Dylan song, Farewell Angelina features four powerful vocalists, dynamic songwriters and accomplished multi-instrumentalists. Their stellar blend of heart-stopping harmonies over blazing double violins and guitars has earned soaring praise across the board. Roughstock calls Farewell Angelina a "Superstar Act...with Killer Songs." Rolling Stone says,...
Even in the most beautiful places, it's easy to walk by and not notice our surroundings. If we're more focused on our thoughts, or our phone, we don't pay attention to what's under our feet, over our head, or all around us. Unless, of course, we're hiking with Doug Paulson. The Salem photographer, who describes himself as a "gotta know why" kind of guy, notices detail, and because he doesn't like keeping good things to himself, he mentions those details. "I will go on walks with people, and...
WALLA WALLA—Only a handful of single tickets remain for the Seattle Rock Orchestra performing Pink Floyd in concert at Gesa Power House Theatre on Saturday, March 21 at 7 p.m. This will mark the fourth consecutive year the performance group has sold out at the Power House. This year, Seattle Rock Orchestra will pay tribute to psychedelic rock pioneers, Pink Floyd, with a complete performance of their landmark album The Dark Side of the Moon. As one of their most popular and frequently p...
WALLA WALLA-Sheltered from the recent downpour of rain, I'm staring out the window taking approximate measurements to draw up plans for the garden. This may very well be the best part of gardening: the kinetic energy around the hope for the future. As flood waters recede from Walla Walla and Columbia counties, we're ready to move into the next season. A lovely reader, Carl Teller of Starbuck, has kindly challenged me to grow the biggest pumpkin. A challenge gladly accepted, then promptly...
Emergency response center The Waitsburg Christian Church on Main Street has opened an emergency response center. The church is open in 24/7 for those who need a place to stay, with plenty of bottled water, food and resources. Use the front access on Main Street. Questions about church facilities can go to Pastor Matthew Wyatt, 916-622-9932. Volunteers are needed to stay at the church during daylight hours. Resources for school-age children Waitsburg School District Superintendent Mark Pickle...
