Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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Editor’s Note: In light of recent interest in Waitsburg’s water situation, we thought our readers would appreciate this column written by Vance Orchard in Touchet Valley Ramblings, which first appeared on Feb. 15, 1990. We are reprinting the portion of that pertains to the city’s springwater system. Getting water to residents of Waitsburg is the chief concern of Elmer Hays as the City Engineer. Water supply for Waitsburg has also captured the attention of Hays, who has researched the system supplying the city possibly more than anyone else....
The Waitsburg Clinic staff was formally presented with a plaque for being the 2016 Waitsburg Commercial Club Business of the Year on Tuesday....
DAYTON – Starting in August, Dayton’s Wenaha Gallery will be playing host to the works from the husband and wife duo of Joyce & Randy Klassen. The artistic couple will display a contrast of styles, as Joyce uses torches and waxes to create encaustic pieces while husband Randy uses tidy watercolors for his easel-mounted paintings. The couple from Walla Walla, whose art reflects the opposite of their normal personalities, are being welcomed by the people at Wenaha. Randy is the son of Jacob Kla...
Roy Ramirez, of General Parts and Paint in Walla Walla, presents a $1,000 gift certificate to Dayton's Kari Dingman, who was the winner of the Sponsor's Choice award at this year's All Wheels Weekend in Dayton. The award has been given each year for several years by General Parts and Paint and PPG Auto Refinishing to the owner of a car or truck that is in the process of restoration. Dingman's truck is a 1953 Chevy 3100 pickup. "I need to do some body work to it and repair some rust spots before...
WAITSBURG – Walt Gobel officially tendered his letter of resignation as mayor of Waitsburg on Tuesday afternoon. Gobel, who was easily re-elected to his sixth term in April, said he was stepping down because he felt his reputation has been irreparably damaged over his role in negations with Nestlé Waters North America. "When our voters and taxpayers put me in office it was an indication that they respected and trusted me to make decisions for the good of the community. I honestly feel that my re...
Walla Walla County Commissioner, District 2 Randal Son 575 Todd Kimball 473 Michael Bates 451 Melissa J Hansen 382 Jacob Radke 239 Don Gibbard 197 District 16 State Representative, Pos. 1 Rebecca Francik 3,858 William ‘Bill’ Jenkin 2,975 Skyler Rude 2,407 Mary Ruth Edwards 2,318 Allen Pomraning 1,670 District 16 State Representative, Pos. 2 Terry R. Nealey 8,242 Gary Downing 3,919 Ricardo Espinoza 1,072 Top 2 finishers in each race move on to general election. Results are preliminary. See County Auditors’ websites for full election resul...
DAYTON – A wildfire that started Saturday afternoon about seven miles south of Dayton on North Touchet Road was mostly contained by Monday morning. The fire burned about two miles along the hillside west of the road, from the Wolf Fork Road turnoff to milepost eight, near Running T Ranch. It was reported that the fire started when a mower hit a rock near milepost seven and started a small grass fire. The fire got away from residents attempting to put it out, due to high winds. According to P...
While students are enjoying time away from their classrooms and desks, Waitsburg Elementary instructional staff are assuming the role of students. In order to implement Journeys, the newly adopted English Language Arts program, teachers and paraeducators received an introduction to the new materials in a full day of training on June 30th. "It is anticipated that this program will make a real impact on student achievement so making sure they are aware of and using all parts of the program is...
DAYTON- The summer reading program at Dayton Memorial Library is coming to an end on Aug. 10, as preparations begin for the new school year, according to Vicki Zoller at the library. Zoller said a summer reading program ice cream social is planned for 1 pm. on Aug. 10, and winners of the reading challenge will be announced at that time. Two adults and one child each from several age groups will receive gift certificates. There will also be fun with water balloons, she said. On Mondays this...
DAYTON-The next time you are in the mood to elevate your being, visit Rey's Roast Coffee on Main Street in Dayton for conversation, and for coffee. On Friday, Regina Weldert, the proprieter of Rey's Roast Coffee, sat down with me for a little tutorial about the growing requirements for coffee beans, and to talk about her career path, from performing fieldwork in fish biology, to offering grateful customers the very best cup of coffee. Weldert said her interest in the science and chemistry of...
DAYTON—At their regular meeting on July 28 Columbia County Health System commissioners approved a resolution to create a link to Banner Bank on the CCHS website. This will allow a more convenient payment process for patients, and help make collection faster. CCHS Controller Tom Meyers also reported on June’s financial picture to the commissioners. Meyers told the board that June’s gross patient revenue was $93,000 higher than in May. He also said that outpatient revenue was strong and excee...
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...
