Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 3762 - 3786 of 5665
WAITSBURG – A suspicious fire originating just off Nordheim Road cast an orange glow over Waitsburg during the wee hours of a windy Sunday morning as fire crews and farmers rushed to stop the growing blaze. According to Columbia County Fire Marshal Kim Lyonnais, there is very strong suspicion that the fire, which came close to destroying several dwellings, was the result of arson. Investigation is continuing. Columbia-Walla Walla Fire District No. 2 Assistant Chief Brian Callahan said the standi...
WAITSBURG – Four outbuildings were devoured by flames on Timpey Road, behind Lewis & Clark Trail State Park on Saturday afternoon. Homeowner Tim Baker said the sound of explosions and his wife's yells woke him from a peaceful nap at exactly 1:55 p.m. About 30 minutes prior, Baker had been doing some grinding outside. As he worked on his first project, a spark flew and started a grass fire. Baker said he stomped it out and made a point to be extra diligent as he completed his second project. H...
WAITSBURG – No one from the community spoke at the school district’s sparsely attended July 27 budget hearing, leaving it to the board to approve and adopt a $4.2 million budget for the 2016-17 school year. At the same meeting the board authorized the district to run a revised capital improvements bond levy of $3.8 million on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. Next year’s budget was based on a projected enrollment of 270 students in grades K-12. This is down from the 2015-16 projected enrol...
Weller Public Library 212 Main Street, Waitsburg Hours: Mon. and Thurs. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Storytime: Mon., 10:30 a. m. “The Wolf Road,” by Beth Lewis (Mystery/Thriller/Suspense) – Elka was just seven, lost and hungry in the wilderness, when Trapper, the solitary hunter, took her in. In the years since, he’s taught her how to survive in this desolate civilization. But the man she thought she knew has been harboring a terrible secret. He’s a killer. And now that Elka knows the truth, she may be his next victim. Armed with nothing but her knife a...
WAITSBURG – Youth football in the Dayton-Waitsburg area used to consist of separate teams for each town. That changed last year, when the two towns decided to combine. This year, both of the teams from Dayton/Waitsburg will be known as the “Dayburg Seahawks,” according to General Manager Steve Martin. “The team is full contact and open to both girls and boys,” said Martin. The team plays in the Walla Walla Youth Football League. The Seahawks will be one of six “varsity” (5th and 6th grade) teams, and one of five “junior varsity” (3rd a...
Wheat truck driver Janean Struckmeir watches as (l to r) Earl Struckmeir, Hal White, and Tom Wagar check out a troublesome combine before heading out to the field early on the morning of July 15. Struckmeir drives for John Grant and Son Farms and welcomed Times reporter Dena Wood on a ride-along for our Harvest Issue. See story on Page 9....
WAITSBURG – "I understand that when an announcement is made that Nestle' is evaluating business opportunities in a community, it raises a lot of emotions. Water is an emotional topic," said Nestle' Waters Natural Resource Manager Bruce Lauerman as he opened his presentation at the city's July 20 city council meeting. In the case of Waitsburg, that may be an understatement. Even harvesting farmers left their fields early to join the nearly 100 people who filled the chairs, lined the walls, and f...
DAYTON—At a special meeting on Monday the Columbia County Commissioners moved to award P.O.W. Contracting, Inc., from Pasco, the contract to build a new county transfer facility. The new station will replace the temporary facility after a fire destroyed most of the necessary operational equipment, and seriously damaged the integrity of the transfer station main building, in July, 2015. P.O.W. submitted the low bid of $633,633.30, and County Engineer Andrew Woods met with the commissioners at t...
TOUCHET VALLEY – The cities of Dayton, Waitsburg, and Walla Walla are all taking part in this year’s National Night Out (NNO) campaign on the evening of Tuesday, August 2. Last year’s NNO campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities from all 50 states. In all, over 37 million people participated in NNO in 2015. National Night Out is designed to heighten crime awareness, generate support for local anticrime efforts, strengthen neigh...
There was something for all when more than 60 volunteers from the New Old Time Chautauqua came to Columbia County last week. From the community potluck at the Lewis and Clark Trail State Park on Monday night, to the parade and the workshops in the Dayton city park on Tuesday, and to the vaudeville-style program in the Dayton High School auditorium on Tuesday night, the community was engaged in a way it has not been since the last Chautauqua came to Dayton in 1929. On Tuesday, during the day, I...
DAYTON-Ten-year-old Kaylee Coleman, of Dayton, is one of nine children, from around the Walla Walla Valley, taking part in the Walla Walla Area Crime Watch Chief for a Day program. All of the children have been matched up with actual police chiefs, sheriffs, fire chiefs and Washington State Patrol chiefs, and will participate in the Walla Walla National Night Out activities on Aug. 2. Kaylee has been matched with Superintendent Don Holbrook from the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla....
WAITSBURG – You won't find to-go cups at Dynamite Art + Coffee, and that's not simply out of concern for the environment, though it is a factor. Proprietor Claire Johnston opened the coffee shop, located at 119 Main St. in Waitsburg, with the intent of creating an environment where customers can escape the hustle and bustle of modern society and take a few minutes to just relax and enjoy. "We have this beautiful space and I want people to come in, relax, enjoy the lovely environment, drink f...
WAITSBURG – Waitsburg’s city council approved an action plan endorsed by the Waitsburg Fairgrounds Committee, that will allow Terry Hofer to manage RV parking and camping at the Waitsburg Fairgrounds. The plan was approved at the July 20 meeting pending the approval of a more detailed lease agreement. In his introduction, Hofer said he has lived in the area his entire life, owned the Palm Club Tavern for several years, managed the American Legion for several years, was actively involved in the...
WAITSBURG – Having grown up in the wheat country of Condon, Ore. and after living in Waitsburg for over 20 years, you would think I would have taken advantage of the opportunity to spend a day in the harvest fields. Sadly, I hadn't, until this year. It took the enthusiasm of Janean Struckmeir, who eagerly invited me ride shotgun while she drove harvest truck, to get me curious enough to see what she was so excited about. Janean typically spends her days working as a dietary assistant manager at...
Outlook is good for elevators operating for the first time under NWGG banner DAYTON – Every year in the Touchet Valley and surrounding areas, the second half of summer is known as harvest season, which many refer to simply as "harvest." The season sees many teens and college students on summer break come back to work for local farmers during this labor-intensive season. On top of those who work cutting the fields themselves, are those who work for the elevators that store the product until it i...
WAITSBURG – Nestlé Natural Resources Manager Bruce Lauerman will discuss the company’s exploration of Waitsburg as a potential new site for a water bottling facility at Wednesday’s city council meeting. In a statement released Tuesday, Nestle said the facility, which would support the Arrowhead Spring Water and Nestlé Pure Life brands, would provide an estimated 50 jobs at full build-out. Nestlé estimates their projected water use at 150 million gallons annually, which they say “is a small fract...
Trucks from John Grant And Son farm were among the first to deliver to the Lyons Ferry elevator near Starbuck when The Times joined them for a ride-along last week. The pace has since picked up and harvest is well underway across the Touchet Valley this week....
School board responds to survey results by dropping capital improvements bond by $1 million WAITSBURG - A $4.8 million Waitsburg School District capital improvements bond fell a mere 13 votes shy of reaching the required 60-percent supermajority vote needed for passage in February. The Waitsburg School Board returned to the drawing board, sought additional community input, and will drop two projects – at a reduction of $1 million – and re-run the bond in November. At June’s regular meeti...
DAYTON – With Rep. Maureen Walsh seeking the State Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Mike Hewitt, five candidates have filed to fill her 16th District Position 1 house seat. In addition, two challengers have filed to face Rep. Terry Nealey, who is seeking reelection to the District 2 seat. This week, The Times presents profiles of all of the 16th District State House of Representative candidates on Page 5. The 16th District includes all of Walla Walla and Columbia Counties, as well as portions of Benton and Franklin Counties. See P...
POSITION 1 Mary Ruth Edwards, Republican Mary Ruth Edwards, 55, teaches first grade in the Prosser School District. She also serves on the Prosser City Council. She has a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s in education. Edwards says she grew up an “army brat,” and later lived in the Marysville/Everett area before moving to Prosser in 2005. Edwards’ campaign motto is, “Lower taxes, less government, more freedom!” “If we don’t raise taxes, or impose new ones, the good people of the 16t...
DAYTON – Many alumni from various Dayton High School graduating classes made their way back to Dayton for Alumni Weekend. The annual celebration gives old classmates a chance to meet up and reminisce with high school friends. The weekend started with the alumni parade, which featured floats made by classes celebrating milestone reunions, such as 10th, 20th, or 25th. The parade saw a wide range of classes entered, ranging from classes of the 1950s all the way up to the Class of 2006. The p...
DAYTON – When Justin Wendt was a junior at Dayton High School, he spent a few months working an hour a day at Skyline Parts, on Dayton's Main Street, as part of the school's junior internship program. A little more than a decade later, he owns the store. "This is a real testament to Rob Moore and Steve McClean and the internship program they started," said departing store owner Dave Schreck, referring to the two former DHS teachers. Schreck said he was hesitant at first to get involved in the i...
WAITSBURG – Lane Hill debuted her newly remodeled 10 Ton Press studio, located on Waitsburg's Main Street, to a full house while hosting an ArtWalla Creative Network event on July 13. Artists from across the Touchet Valley showed up to see firsthand what is happening in the new space and to learn more about the burgeoning art scene in Waitsburg. In his introduction, ArtWalla board member Ted Cox referred to Waitsburg as "Artsburg" because of the number of artists living and working in the c...
Board members: Ross Hamann, Christy House, Russ Knopp, and Randy Pearson were present with Marilyn Johnson absent. Elementary Principal’s Report: *A small group of students have been visiting the library on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings to check out books and listen to stories with Eleanora Montgomery. Montgomery is supervising several students using an online reading program called Read Naturally, that was purchased with grant funds. Secondary Principal’s Report: *The district has started interviewing for the 6th grade teaching position, vac...
When I decided to take my boys to Walla Walla's virtual reality theater, Maskerade, I had no intention of writing a column about it. It just sounded like a cool experience that we would all enjoy. But after spending a few minutes talking with the theater's creator, Riley Clubb, I was pretty sure it was something that our readers would enjoy learning about, if not taking the time to visit themselves. Maskerade touts itself as "the world's first virtual reality theater." Clubb said most people...
