Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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DAYTON—Zac Weatherford was elected Mayor Pro-Tempore for 2019 by the Dayton City Council at their first regular meeting of the New Year. “I’m excited. Zac’s going to do a good job,” said Councilwoman Delphine Bailey who nominated him for the position. Mayor Craig George said that when he moves to Arizona in late spring, the council will have 90 days to appoint a mayor to serve until the end of the year. Affordable Housing The Port’s Economic Development Coordinator, Kathryn Witheringto...
A cowboy silhouette appears to be taking in the devastating scene of a house fire that destroyed the home of Joe and Kandis Cush at 740 S. 4th Street in Dayton in the wee hours of Monday morning. "The home is a total loss but everyone got out safely," said Columbia County Fire Marshal Clint Atteberry who said the official cause of the fire was a wood stove. Donation boxes and accounts for the family of three are in the process of being set up throughout Dayton. More information on family needs...
WAITSBURG – Local entrepreneur Dan Cole said he hadn’t intended to rid himself of more than one business, but when the right offer came along, he and wife Trina decided to accept. After 32 years in business, Cole sold Waitsburg Grocery, Inc. to Jamie Allen and Jesse Smit in September of 2018. On Jan. 1, he handed over the keys of Touchet Valley Communications, a Waitsburg Internet provider, to fellow entrepreneurs, Erik and Diana Young, of Prescott. “Erik approached me and said he heard I had sold the store and asked if I would be inter...
DAYTON-When the Hospital Board of Commissioners met in December, Columbia County Health System (CCHS) CEO Shane McGuire took the opportunity to thank them for their show of support since he has been at the helm of the organization. "You have been great visionaries and you have been very supportive with this community. It has been challenging, but it has been impressive. There are a lot of elements you have allowed me to invest in to enhance services," said McGuire. "We are growing programs, making investments, and bringing on staff." McGuire sa...
WAITSBURG – A Waitsburg woman has been formally charged with second-degree murder for the stabbing death of her boyfriend, Marcus J. Allessio, 25. Leslie Melgar Moreno, 25, of 206 Wheatland Drive in Waitsburg, is accused of fatally stabbing Allessio on Dec. 28, 2018. She was arrested and charged the following day. According to court reports, Walla Walla County Dispatch received a call from Moreno at approximately 3:35 p.m. on Fri., Dec. 28. Moreno allegedly told dispatchers that her boyfriend had a knife wound, was unconscious, and that she w...
DAYTON – Sheriff Joe Helm is pleased to announce the 2019 Columbia County Citizen’s Academy. The Citizen’s Academy will be held every Friday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for 11 weeks beginning Feb. 1, 2019 through April 19, 2019. The classes will be held in the training room of Columbia County Fire District #3 located at 111 Patit Road, Dayton WA. “This is a rare opportunity for the citizens of our community to learn more about the individuals who are protecting Columbia County and why they make the decisions they do. The intent of the Citizen...
WAITSBURG – In a 2018 budget recap, Waitsburg Mayor Marty Dunn listed completion of the Main Street Bridge as one of the most important projects completed in 2018. Looking forward, the Waitsburg City Council approved a 2019 budget of $1.98 million, slightly lower than last year’s $2.17 million budget, at its Dec. 27 meeting. While “substantially complete” in 2017, the Main Street Bridge project was finally checked off as officially complete in 2018. The roughly $1.8 million, three-year project...
Council members Mayor Marty Dunn, KC Kuykendall, Kevin House, and Kate Hockersmith were present. Terry Jacoy and Jim Romine were absent. Following a public hearing, council approved the 2019 final budget. (See story on this page.) Danielle Carpenter provided a Parks and Recreation Board update. Discussion on the possibility of changing the current City election process to fall in line with election laws of the state. Passed a resolution allowing the city administrator to submit a grant application to the Washington State Military Department...
WAITSBURG – With a new year ahead, and the paper under new ownership, The Times thought it would be fun to take a walk around Waitsburg to learn what local agencies, businesses and organizations are anticipating in the coming year. In this multi-part series, The Times will work its way up and down Main Street, check in with off-Main businesses, and talk with churches, clubs and organizations to learn their plans for 2019. The series kicks off this week with a Waitsburg School District update f...
DAYTON – In January, the Space Gatos, Columbia County's 4-H Robotics and FIRST Lego League Team, advance to the State Finals in Spokane, after winning the Community Connection Award at FIRST Lego Regionals in Pasco. Their coach, Jeanne Walter, said this is the third year the robotics team has advanced to the final competition. They are one of only six teams out of a field of 28 to do so. Teams compete in Robot Design, Project Presentation and Core Values, and Robot Mission Games. This team h...
DAYTON-If you think Victoria has a secret, wait until you meet Sylvia Charles in the Touchet Valley Art Council production of Nana's Naughty Knickers. This fast-paced romp, co-directed by Leah Stockton and Bev Startin, is a story about a twenty- something girl, named Bridget Charles, who comes to stay with her grandmother in New York City for the summer and discovers that her Nana, Sylvia Charles, is running an illegal boutique out of her apartment. Apparently, Nana is selling handmade naughty...
On December 28, Netflix Tweeted that over 45 million Netflix accounts (45,037,125 to be exact) had already tuned in to watch Bird Box, the latest Netflix original movie starring Sandra Bullock. That's more than one-third of the 130 million worldwide Netflix account holders. In 1998, the Copyright Term Extension Act (AKA The Mickey Mouse Protection Act) extended copyright protections by 20 years (from 75 years to 95 years), meaning no new works have entered the public domain for the past 20...
All day, every day, we use things. While this sounds ridiculously simple, think about it: when you make a tuna fish sandwich, you grab the can opener, scoop tuna into a bowl with a spoon, stir in mayonnaise, spread the filling on with a knife, and cut the final product in half on a cutting board. When any of the elements you use – spoon, knife, bowl, cutting board – is beyond boring and ordinary, it adds a jolt of beauty to the experience. "There is a satisfaction that comes with a com...
One of the perks of having your older kids home for the holidays, at least around my place, is the ongoing discussion of which movies are worth seeing. Preferred genres and styles run the gamut among myself and my offspring so it’s fun to find a flick that makes everyone’s “like” list. My nineteen-year-old recently recommended Hunt for the Wilderpeople that I felt deserving of review. A bit of research reveals that it premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and was shown throughout New Zea...
WAITSBURG-Times owner and publisher Ken Graham has sold the newspaper to Waitsburg resident Lane Gwinn. The sale was effective Jan. 1. Gwinn is also owner of the 10 Ton Press art studio on Waitsburg's Main Street, as well as the building that houses the studio and 10 Ton Coffee. "I know Lane is committed to maintaining strong news coverage in Waitsburg and throughout the Touchet Valley," Graham said. "I'm confident The Times will be in good hands for years to come." Gwinn becomes the ninth...
DAYTON-Tony Waldo, Operation Manager for Columbia Pulp, spoke about the Lyons Ferry Straw Pulp Mill at the annual Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Update meeting, on Dec. 19. Waldo said that construction of the facility has been a little behind schedule, but it will be operational late in the first quarter of 2019. "All the buildings and equipment have been set," said Waldo. "Right now they're working on piping and wiring, and instrumentation." Waldo said 60-100 skilled people will...
DAYTON—At the annual Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy update meeting on Dec. 19, community leaders discussed some of the projects in the Dayton area in the works, and progress that is expected in the next year. Dayton Development Task Force and Dayton Chamber of Commerce Dayton Chamber of Commerce Director Melissa Bryan said the Main Street Approach framework used by the Dayton Development Task Force is working, as people can see in improvements to the building facades, the r...
DAYTON—Craig George, President of the Columbia County Public Transportation Board of Commissioners announced that General Manager Dwight Robanske resigned at last week’s Board meeting. George said Robanske, who has been on paid administrative leave since October, tendered his resignation, effective Friday, December 14. Robanske had been placed on leave while various claims made within the transit agency were being investigated. George said Robanske received his regular paycheck on Dec. 18. In addition to that he will receive pay covering the ti...
WAITSBURG--How to move forward with the Waitsburg Fairgrounds, and particularly the grandstands facility, continued to be a major challenge for the Waitsburg City Council this year. A fairgrounds task force, which was formed in 2017, asked the told the council in February that they would like to receive more community input regarding options for the grandstands. The council agreed to add an advisory item on the April city election ballot, asking voters to select their preferred option for the...
DAYTON-Voters in Columbia County were busy this year, with the passage of two levies, along with an election that will result in changes to key positions, in Columbia County. In February, the Dayton School District passed another two-year capital-projects levy. This year the levies paid for new asphalt on the elementary playground and at the bus loading zone, a new heating system, the upgraded communication system, and repairs to the flat portion of the HS roof. The entrance to the elementary...
DAYTON—The Dayton City Council decided to table a request from PocketiNet, of College Place, for a franchise agreement with the city to install fiberoptic line north of Main St, between Front St. and 2nd St, and the ability to expand in the future. During the public hearing Mayor Craig George read letters of support for local businessman David Klingenstein, owner of Touchet Valley TV, whose family has been in business in Dayton since 1953 and who is providing local cable and internet service. Klingenstein told the council he plans to build o...
Drivers passing through downtown Dayton this Christmas season have been greeted by Santa Claus, showing off the town's new antique tractor, which is on display in front of Flour Mill Park. The tractor was donated to Dayton's All Wheels Weekend event by Bill and Michele Konz, of Dayton (shown in this photo with Santa). It's a 1939 Farmall Model M, made by International Harvester, and it runs like a top. All Wheels Weekend Committee Chair Bette Lou Crothers says the event committee is planning to...
DAYTON-The Friends of the Fairgrounds-Columbia County have an abiding interest in maintaining the rural and historic nature of the county fairgrounds, said the group's president, Julia Mead. Since forming in Oct. 2017, the group has accomplished much, under the umbrella of the Columbia County Community Network. "They have been invaluable to our progress with guidance for prioritizing projects, setting a budget and seeking grants," said Mead. Eventually the FFCC will spin off as an independent...
Skiers enjoyed sunny weather and good snow on the first weekend of skiing this winter at Bluewood Ski Area....
DAYTON—Talk to someone about how you feel. That was the take-away message about suicide when the Columbia County Coalition met last week. Matthew Wyatt, Pastor of the Waitsburg Christian Church, said the topic of suicide is something most people want to avoid. “That’s not working”, he said. “Let’s get the message out.” Wyatt said the best policy is to encourage adults and youth to talk about suicidal feelings with people they can trust. “As a leader I am doing my very best,” said Rick Walters, Prevention Counselor at the Dayton School Dis...
