Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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OTHELLO-A weekend getaway to the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge and the nearby town of Othello offered solitude under big skies, vibrant sunsets, and subtle sunrises. Fields of honking geese are a reminder that the 26th Annual Othello Sandhill Crane Festival on March 22 – 24, 2024, is just around the corner. The three-day event offers lectures, photography workshops, guided tours by bus, boats, and bikes (bring your own bike), and walking and hiking through the Columbia National Wildlife R...
Council member Charles steps down WAITSBURG - Mayor Marty Dunn called the city council meeting to order at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Council members Cindy Bishop, Kevin House, Jim Romine, Jillian Henze, and City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe were in attendance. Hinchliffe introduced representatives from the Washington State Department of Commerce to present the city with a 2023 Governor's Smart Community Award. The Smart Project Award was given to the City of Waitsburg for its...
WAITSBURG - On February 11, the Touchet Valley Acoustic Music Project (TVAMP) began recording local musicians for a new album to be released on CD. This is TVAMP's fourth production, preceded by two CDs for the Blue Mountain Troublemakers and one for Switchgrass Delta. TVAMP Project Leader Kate Hockersmith said, "We have so many wonderful local musicians in and around Waitsburg, and for years I've wanted to record local singer/songwriters. In early February, Mike Easton of Bar Bacetto,...
DAYTON – The Dayton School Board met in the high school library at 6:30 p.m. on February 21, 2024. Board members present were Chair Jeffrey McCowen, Zac Fabian, Aneesha Dieu, and Grant Griffin. Superintendent Rich Stewart was also present. The board approved the consent agenda, including hiring Danica Porter as the Middle School Head Softball Coach. Dayton FFA Trap Shooting Team members presented plans for an overnight field trip to the Wenatchee area. Six Dayton students expect to p...
DAYTON — Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council workshop meeting to order at 3 p.m., February 20, 2024. Council members Teeny McMunn, James Su’euga, Michael Smith, Kyle Anderson, Joann Patras, Laura Aukerman, and Shannon McMillen met at City Hall. The workshop agenda included discussing requests to change the golf cart policy, updating the code of ethics, and the relationship between the city and the rural library district. The council discussed a request to change the golf cart policy, including the costs and liability of all...
DAYTON – At the beginning of the year, Ace Automotive began its journey offering domestic and foreign car repair at 527 Cameron Street in Dayton. Andres Lara, 34, bought Jay Ball's garage after working there for seven years. Jay's Garage offered serice for close to ten years at the Rock Hill Industrial Park. The Port of Columbia County signed a three-year lease with the new owner in December last year. "Jay and I had been talking for a while about his retiring and selling the place to me," s...
A two-to-one vote changed the Port Director position from contract to month-to-month, "at-will" DAYTON – The Port of Columbia Commissioners held its regular meeting at 5 p.m. on February 14, 2024, at the port's office. Commissioners Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, Mike Spring, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were present. The commissioners approved the last meeting's minutes. In the budget review, Dickenson said the year ended in great shape, and the port spent a little less than it took in. D...
DAYTON- Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council to order at 6 p.m., February 13, 2024. Councilmembers Teeny McMunn, James Su’euga, Michael Smith, Kyle Anderson, Joann Patras, Laura Aukerman, Shannon McMillen, and Mayor Trump were present in City Hall. In the public comment, Katie Roughton referred to her remarks at the January council meeting suggesting a voter referendum on whether the city should withdraw from the Columbia County Rural Library District (CCRLD). Roughton said she was concerned that “appointed people” (the Libra...
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg elementary students and parents went above and beyond this year, raising over $9,500 for the American Heart Association participating in the Kids Heart Challenge on February 14. Last year, Waitsburg students raised $6,329. Schools nationwide participate in the annual Kids Heart Challenge, where students participate in heart-healthy physical activities and raise money for the American Heart Association. Waitsburg's kindergarten through fifth-grade students spent Valentine's...
DAYTON — The Dayton School Board met at 6:30 p.m. on February 7, 2024. School Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen, members Zac Fabian, Aneesha Dieu, Grant Griffin, and Superintendent Rich Stewart were present. Ryan Paulson did not attend. The board approved the consent agenda, including accepting the resignation of Jim Su’euga as MS Girls Basketball Head Coach and hiring Andee Thurston for that position. The board approved Tamira Culley as the MS Girls’ Basketball Assistant coach, and Des Jones was approved as a volunteer coach for the MS Girls Baske...
PRESCOTT - One of Touchet Valley's most beloved residents passed away on January 24, 2024. Izzy the Camel brought so much love to his owners, Tawnya and Mickey Richards, and their family. They shared that joy with others, bringing him to events, parties, birthdays, and parades throughout the state. Izzy was a public figure who took his job seriously. He posed for pictures, accepted snacks, and planted many kisses on his adoring fans. Reprinted from The Times June 25, 2015 issue. Izzy's big break...
WAITSBURG -After rounds of competition beginning last September, four Waitsburg students have come out on top and will participate in the National Great Shakes Competition. Carter Barron, Chloe McCaw, Verbena McLaughlin, and Wyatt Parish will travel to the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, in March. As a bonus, since Waitsburg students did so well at regionals, Olivia Kiefel, Jaylynn Gleason, and Lilian Carpenter will also attend the national competition as wildcards. Twenty-five Waitsburg...
DAYTON – In January, Robert Bryant marked 40 years of car repair experience as he celebrated Dayton Auto Repair's fifth anniversary. He and his wife Shelli opened the shop at 218 W. Main in January 2019. According to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, less than forty percent of Washington's small businesses that opened in 2019 were still in business five years later in 2023. Bryant said he considered himself fortunate to have beaten the odds, especially opening shortly before the s...
DAYTON — A special Dayton City Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 31, was canceled on January 30. The purpose of the meeting was to convene an executive session to discuss pending litigation against the city and Council Member Laura Aukerman. A second agenda item for the meeting was for the council to consider a request from Aukerman that the city pay her legal fees in that case, US District Court Case No. 23-2-00790. The request was made Washington State RCW 4.96.041 and requires the council’s approval. The public could att...
WALLA WALLA-Waitsburg Girl Scout Troop 5381 hosted a Girl Scout Cookie Rally for Girl Scouts Service Area 492 at the Lions Building in Waitsburg on Sunday, January 28. Waitsburg Troop Leader Brandi Hollingsworth said the event is a workshop to prepare local scouts for the iconic annual cookie sale. The fundraiser supports Girl Scouts as they learn entrepreneurial skills and fund local life-changing, girl-led programs, experiences, and learning in their communities. This was the eighth year the...
DAYTON—The Dayton School Board met on Zoom at 6:35 p.m. on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. School Board members participating were Chair Jeffrey McCowen, Zac Fabian, Ryan Paulson, and Aneesha Dieu. Grant Griffin and Superintendent Rich Stewart were not present. McCowen announced an agenda change to make the approval for an FFA overnight trip an action item on the agenda. The consent agenda, after modification, included the approval of a donation of $2,000 from Kim Carter for the Yamate Student Exchange Program and approval to hire McCowen as the H...
WAITSBURG-Present for Waitsburg City Council's regular meeting on January 17 were Mayor Marty Dunn and council members Kevin House, Jim Romine, Jillian Henze, and Randy Charles. Due to an injury, new member Jennifer Bishop attended by Zoom. During public comment, Kate Hockersmith told the council that she hoped to use the fairgrounds for an annual youth bluegrass festival beginning with a one-day event this summer. She would not use the grandstands the first year but encouraged the city to prese...
WAITSBURG – Gloria Wilson, the owner of Waitsburg's new makerspace, is new to the Touchet Valley, but not to the power of making things. In fact, she's an expert. The grand opening of her business, "Simply Sawdust," on Saturday, January 27, will give locals an inside look at all the shop at 101 Main Street has to offer. "People have been so supportive in helping me to put the place together," she said. With help from her niece Becky Wilson and builder Charles Stanger, she transformed the Main S...
DAYTON — The Port of Columbia Commissioners held its regular meeting at 5 p.m. on January 10, 2024, at the port office. Commissioners present were Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, Mike Spring, and the Executive Director, Jennie Dickinson. The meeting began with Dickinson swearing in Mike Spring as Columbia County Port Commissioner # 2. In the public comment period, Jerry Kaiser asked the port commissioners not to sell the port-held railroad property until the federal government decided on the removal of the Lower Snake River dams. He said removing t...
DAYTON — Newly elected Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council to order at 6:00 p.m., January 9, 2024. Mayor Roger Trump and council members Teeny McMunn, James Su’euga, Michael Smith, Kyle Anderson, Joann Patras, Laura Aukerman, and Shannon McMillen were present in City Hall. Sheriff Joe Helm reported that his department is emphasizing monitoring Bluewood traffic on North Touchet Road and Fourth Street in response to citizens’ concerns. He said he is continuing to work with the city on how to respond to animal bite calls. After compl...
WAITSBURG – The Weller Library Board of Trustees met for its monthly meeting on January 9. Present were Chair Marie Gagnon, Rebecca Wilson, Sherri Erikson, Beka Compton, Library Supervisor Sarah Roberts, and City Council representative Jillian Henze. Vice-Chair Jim Leid was absent. Roberts reported that community members and participating businesses expressed appreciation for the StoryWalk program held in December, while the library saw increased foot traffic and book circulations during the m...
WAITSBURG & DAYTON — On December 27, Abby Grende, an advocate for Waitsburg Little League parents, met with Snake River Little League (SRLL) President Jessica Ruffcorn and Little League District Representative Brennan Moore to discuss a potential contract for 2024. The three-year contract, approved at the Waitsburg City Council meeting on December 20, allows SRLL to use the Waitsburg Fairgrounds ballfields beginning with the 2024 Little League season. Grende said the terms of the agreement w...
DAYTON — The Dayton School Board met in the high school library at 6:31 p.m. on January 3, 2024. School Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen and members Zac Fabian, Aneesha Dieu, and Grant Griffin were in attendance. Interim Superintendent Rich Stewart was also present. The board approved the consent agenda, which consisted of one item: the hiring of a full-time night custodian. Only two other topics were on the agenda for this evening’s meeting. The board was to conduct the first reading of several policy changes, and the superintendent was to giv...
DAYTON-American Legion Frank E. Bauers Post No. 42 in Dayton is looking to begin a new chapter at a time when at least one in 10 persons living in Columbia County is a United States military veteran. Post Commander Tim Hollingsworth of Waitsburg took over the role last fall. He served in the Washington Army National Guard for 20 years. His wife, Brandi, served eight years. She now serves as Treasurer of Post No. 42. "We want this to be a time for reinvigorating our post," said Hollingsworth....
WALLA WALLA — Earlier in December, the Walla Walla Valley Chamber held the 2023 Business Awards Showcase at Baker Boyer, where the recipients of the eight award categories were announced. The Walla Walla Valley Business Awards Showcase, presented by Baker Boyer, honors outstanding business achievements and contributions in the Walla Walla Valley. The award categories were created to recognize the individuals, groups, and organizations that have demonstrated resilience, community commitment, leadership, and strong business practices. Requests f...
