Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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A group of elementary school boys took advantage of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday to enjoy some sledding fun just west of the Main Street Bridge on Monday morning. With warmer temps and rain in the forecast these boys may be wise to get their sledding in while they can....
WAITSBURG – Waitsburg residents will notice a slight increase in their utility bill in the near future, but the exact amount of the increase is still up in the air. Facing concerns over needed repairs to aging infrastructure, the Waitsburg City Council agreed to consider a five percent increase in water and sewer rates at their Jan. 11 council meeting. However, a suggested decrease in the monthly water allotment from 1000 cubic feet to 500 cubic feet, combined with a reduction in overage charges...
DAYTON—The capital facilities plan for 2017, budget review for 2016, a public hearing about surplus property, changes to personnel policies, and election of officers were topics of discussion at last week’s meeting of the Port of Columbia Comissioners. As part of the capital facilities plan, the commissioners agreed to the purchase of a new HVAC system for Industrial Park Building No. 3. The system will cost about $8,000 and work will be done in the spring of 2017, Port Manager Jennie Dickinson...
Indian cooking and baby food-making classes are planned for February and March DAYTON – Fifteen attendees braved icy temperatures and freezing rain to attend last weekend’s Planning Your Garden class at the Blue Mountain Station in Dayton. The class was just one in a series of low-cost classes being offered as part of the BMS Co-Op educational series related to food and sustainable practices. The gardening class was facilitated by Fred Crowe and Lydia Caudill. BMS Vice-Chair Brad McMasters said participants enjoyed what they were learning and...
DAYTON--The 4-H Columbia County Robotics team, the "noobs," is one of 15 teams advancing from the Tri-Cities Regional FIRST LEGO League Robotics tournaments to the Eastern Washington State Robotics Tournament in Spokane on Jan. 21. On Dec. 10, the "noobs" competed against twenty-nine mid-Columbia teams, comprising over two hundred and fifty students, at Richland's Chief Joseph Middle School. The theme for 2016's 11th annual robotics competition was "Animal Allies," and the project goal was to...
DAYTON--The Dayton City Crew cleared all the streets in Dayton at least once, and sanded street routes daily as needed, during last week's snowy and cold weather, according to Dave Elkins at the city public works department. "We're doing just fine. We've had a few broken water pipes, and have had to turn off some water meters," Elkins said. County Emergency Management Services Director Lisa Caldwell reported a higher volume than normal of 911 calls due to stuck vehicles, but nothing...
WAITSBURG – January is National School Board Appreciation Month, but board members weren't the only ones receiving recognition at the Jan. 11 Waitsburg School Board meeting. District Superintendent Dr. Carol Clarke announced that Stephanie Wooderchak has been selected as the 2016-17 Three Rivers Region Middle Level Principal of the Year. Wooderchak will be acknowledged on the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP) website and in AWSP publications. She is now eligible to apply as W...
WAITSBURG – Last April, a group of veterans stood outside the Waitsburg Hardware store and proudly saluted as they raised brand new United States and Waitsburg flags on the pole on the corner of Main Street and Preston Avenue. Today, the flagpole stands bare due to a defective light fixure. American Legion Post #35 Finance Officer Cindy Standring said the flags had to be removed, because the light fixture, which is located in the sidewalk is no longer working. According to the US Flag Code, A...
School Board Appreciation: School board members were recognized by NHS and the kindergarten class. See story on the Last Page. Athletic Director Report: Athletic Director Stephanie Wooderchak suggested that fans communicate closely with coaches or call the school or visit the Waitsburg High School Facebook page to keep updated on game changes due to weather. A Athletic directors are still working to find a venue to host the 1B district basketball tournament. Senior night for basketball and cheer will be Feb. 3. Spring sports will begin Feb....
WAITSBURG – The Home and School Association Father-Daughter dance Saturday was a great success, according to those who attended. HASA president Jaimee Knudson said she was a bit nervous about how the evening would turn out, because not only was it a new event, but the weather was cold and the roads were nasty. Knudson said many moms and community members pitched in to make the dance a success, raising $744, which will be used to purchase school supplies for Waitsburg students. "We had roughly 5...
WAITSBURG – As is the tradition in Waitsburg, school board members are honored at the January school board meeting each year during School Board Appreciation Month. This year, high school National Honor Society members, accompanied by advisor Liv Leid, provided cookies and refreshments, awarded board members with certificates, and thanked them for their service. Kindergarten teacher Pam Beasley told the board she had talked with her students about the role of the school board and asked them t...
DAYTON – The Liberty Theater's production of "Bingo! The Winning Musical" will bring a welcome respite from the dark and dreary days of winter. The fun and zippy comedy debuts Jan. 27 and runs through Jan. 29. The production is directed by Liberty veteran Bev Startin, who has produced eight variety shows and the last three Nunsense productions. "This is a great comedy, and working with this cast has been a blast," Startin said. The musical takes place on a dark and stormy night in a Missouri V...
WAITSBURG – It took the City of Waitsburg the better part of a decade to secure funding to replace the 90-year-old Main Street Bridge, which is designed in such a way that it creates a flood hazard. Since the state legislature awarded $1.7 million toward the bridge’s replacement in June of 2015, the city has been busy checking off the many requirements that have to be in place before the bridge can be replaced this summer. At their December meeting the city council checked off another box by...
DAYTON—In December, the Columbia County Health System commissioners adopted a five-year strategic business plan, representing a 12-month effort for CEO Shane McGuire. “A $1.5 billion Medicaid Waiver received by the State of Washington to reform the healthcare delivery system, and change payment models creates new opportunities, and with strategic planning, these can be leveraged to position the district for better reimbursement rates, and also to deliver better integrated and higher quality car...
Arraignments -Dante Brown (Martinez), 21, Dayton; violation of conditions of community custody. Charged with delivery/manufacture/possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and resisting arrest. Police reports allege that on Dec. 27 officers stopped a car with a missing license plate and center brake light, and that Brown, the passenger, jumped out and fled the scene on foot. Brown was apprehended hiding in a backyard. Reports allege that, days later, a caller reported finding a black bag containing a notebook, drugs, and paraphernalia...
Special to The Times by Carolyn Henderson It takes a special kind of person to volunteer at the Dayton Community Food Bank. But not so uncommonly unreal that everyday humans need not apply. Indeed, regular, compassionate, intelligent human beings are what keep the food bank, which has been in operation for more than 30 years, successfully reaching out to some 550 Columbia county residents -- 160 households -- every Tuesday. "What are the requirements to be a volunteer?" muses food bank...
DAYTON—Wed., Jan. 4, was Norm Passmore’s first day of service on the Board of Columbia County Commissioners. And it was a busy day for the commissioners, who are working with a leaner budget in 2017. The commissioners are facing a budget for 2017 that is $2.5 million less than last year. Last year’s board, including Dwight Robanske, who just retired, spent most of November and December working with the county auditor and various department heads to craft the 2017 budget. Early in December the c...
DAYTON—Jan. 25 will be a busy day for the Dayton School District, beginning with drug impairment training for staff, in Pomeroy, and ending with the district’s community visioning meeting in the evening. At their regular meeting on Jan. 4, the Dayton School Board heard from high school principal Paul Shaber about the drug impairment training, which he has set up, in conjunction with the Coalition for Youth and Families and local law enforcement personnel. “Mr. Shaber has been working on this...
DAYTON--A beginning sign language class is starting up on Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. in the Delany Room at the Dayton Memorial Library, according to Vicki Zoller at the library. Zoller said the class is for anyone who would like to learn an alternative method of communication with small children, or with family members who have lost the ability to communicate because of medical issues, such as stroke. Lois Farnsworth Whysong will teach the basic skills class. Additional monthly classes are being...
DIXIE – Bob Brock is on a mission of healing, though he's going about it in an unconventional means. On May 15, he will depart Walla Walla and travel to Washington, D.C., in his Your Patriots Jeep, thanking and honoring veterans and law enforcement all along the way. Once in Washington, he will drive before the White House in the National Memorial Day parade. Brock lives with his wife, Jacque, on a small farm on Biscuit Ridge outside Dixie. He is a member of the Waitsburg American Legion and s...
WAITSBURG – The Waitsburg Christian Church hopes to be a light in the darkness by offering a new Celebrate Recovery group, beginning Wed., Jan. 14. The group, facilitated by Pastor Matt Wyatt, will meet at the Waitsburg Christian Church (604 Main) from 7-8 p.m. each Wednesday night, and is focused on helping people deal with “any hurt, habit, or hang up” in their lives, including addictions, compulsive, and dysfunctional behaviors. “As an individual that let drugs and alcohol control my life for...
WAITSBURG – Waitsburg elementary students will have their artwork displayed with that of other area students at the Carnegie Picture Show exhibit at the Walla Walla Library from Jan. 10-21. Waitsburg artist Lane Hill will offer a portraiture demonstration as part of the closing celebration at 11 a.m. on Jan. 21. Waitsburg was added to the Carnegie Picture Lab area of service last fall, allowing students to experience art history and art creation lessons. Waitsburg artist Suze Wood is the W...
WAITSBURG – Parents of Waitsburg Elementary School students have not had to buy school supplies for their kids for the last two years, and high school parents were freed from the burden last year as well. Thanks goes to the Waitsburg Home and School Association, which has made it a goal to provide everything but a backpack for Waitsburg students. HASA has raised funds through their annual carnival, a silent auction, and movie nights, but this year they’re trying something new. On Jan. 14, HAS...
Budding entrepreneurs and civil servants Jay Dimak and Brayden Mohney spent their winter break and the snowy weekends since traveling throughout Waitsburg clearing paths with their snowblower and shovels. The efforts of these hardworking middle schoolers have been greatly appreciated, as are those of the many city and county workers and other volunteers who have worked tirelessly to keep our roadways, streets, and sidewalks safe....
WAITSBURG – The Waitsburg School District is seeking community input as it begins the search process for a new district superintendent to replace Dr. Carol Clarke who will retire at the end of June. Clarke has served as superintendent since 2004. The school board has hired Dr. Bill Jordan of Northwest Leadership Associates to assist with the superintendent search, which they hope to have completed by March. Community members are asked to provide input by completing a survey at the following l...
