Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 3801 - 3825 of 5642
WAITSBURG – After falling just 13 votes short of the required 60-percent supermajority approval needed to pass a $4.8 million capital projects bond measure in February, the Waitsburg School District is making one more attempt to determine which items voters will support. Mail surveys were sent to district patrons on June 24 with the hopes that the responses will allow the board to craft a bond proposal that voters can get behind. The school board will review the voter responses at their July 1...
DAYTON—June has been a busy month for the Columbia County Health System administrators and commissioners, and it will come to a close with a groundbreaking ceremony for the hospital construction project on Thursday at 9 a.m. Construction for the hospital enhancement and renovation project was a major topic of conversation at two hospital board meetings, held June 16 and 23. CEO Shane McGuire said that construction was to begin Monday. He said that initial construction would not be about ...
Arraignments -David Wayne Goddard, 46, Dayton; charged with two counts of unlawful imprisonment – domestic violence, three counts of harassment – threats to kill, and one count of 4th degree assault – domestic violence. The charges stem from an incident on June 2, involving Goddard’s girlfriend. Goddard entered a not guilty plea to all charges. -Todd William Harshman, 51, Dayton; charged with one count of possession of methamphetamine. Police documents say that, following transport from Walla Walla County Jail and during booking into Columbia C...
DAYTON – While kids rejoice as the final bell rings to end the school year each June, a new question faces those kids and their parents: "What do I do now?" In a small town like Dayton, there is not a plethora of opportunities for children to pass the time during the three-month break from school. Blue Mountain Counseling is trying to provide an answer to that question. Their "Summer Rec" program, as it is known in the community, is a six-week program that gives kids a fun and safe place to m...
DAYTON-The community electronic reader board that many Dayton residents have been hearing about for months is about to become a reality. Martha Lanman, Administrator of Columbia County Public Health Dept., has finalized a deal with Dale Maron, the owner of All Your Building Needs on Main Street in Pomeroy, to purchase the electronic reader board located at his property there. "I was driving through town and saw the sign, and that the building was for sale," Lanman said. On May 2, Lanman called...
WAITSBURG – Colorful waving flags, cheery baskets of hanging flowers, and bright signs welcome locals and passers-by to the newly opened Homestead Farms produce stand located just off Highway 12, at Waitsburg's east end. Owners Debra and Jim Callahan have big plans for the little space and invite the community to join them for their July 1 grand opening event. "This is something we've always thought about doing once we retired," Debra said. "We've been making plans for the last year and a...
WAITSBURG – The Waitsburg City Pool is an even cooler (literally!) place for parents and caregivers to hang out this summer thanks to Friends of the Waitsburg Pool. The recently formed nonprofit purchased several items to combat the number-one complaint of pool visitors – lack of shade. The group, which operates under the umbrella of Rural Youth Enrichment Services, used funds from last fall's Pie-Oneer Fall Festival Invitational Pie Baking Contest to purchase a shade sail, two large picnic tab...
Number of spectators and car entries drops as Dayton's biggest event of the year is hit with rainy days DAYTON – Dayton usually plays host to a large number of excited tourists and car owners who come to town to see some classics of the automobile industry during the town's All Wheels Weekend festivities. While many people made the trip this year, as in previous years, the turnout for the Friday evening cruise and the various events that took place all day on Saturday was noticeably smaller t...
WAITSBURG – At the June 8 Waitsburg School Board meeting, Waitsburg Athletic Director Stephanie Wooderchak received approval to pursue discussions about possible high school baseball, and middle school baseball and softball combines with Dayton beginning with the 2017 season. Both schools, which recently formed high school and middle school football combines, are now looking more closely at the proposals. Waitsburg track coach Jeff Bartlow said end-of-year spring sports sign ups returned with 1...
DAYTON—Last week the City of Dayton Historic Preservation Commission tallied the final advisory vote from property owners in the South Side and Washington Street Historic Districts. The outcome of that vote will guide the City in its quest to determine outcomes for the future of the districts and related historic preservation code amendments, according to DHPC chairman Mike Smith. The second ballot count for the Washington Street Historic District was nine to dissolve the district and four to r...
DAYTON—The Dayton City Council adopted a six-year Transportation Improvement Program for 2017 through 2022 at last week’s council meeting. Some of the projects slated for the 2017-2022 cycle include; North Front Street bridge replacement, install a pedestrian/bicycle crossing light on North Front Street, create a bicycle lane on South Fourth Street, reconstruct the Touchet River Dike/ Mustard Ditch bridge, reconstruct Commercial Street, Cameron Street, North Willow Street, and improve Syn...
DAYTON – After one teacher announced his retirement last month, the Dayton School District has lost two more of their own; one due to retirement with the other taking a job in Walla Walla. Mike McGhan decided to end his long teaching career earlier this year. All of his 39 years teaching took place at Dayton Elementary School, where he started in August 1977, after graduating from Washington State University in Pullman. McGhan began by teaching Title 1 programs at the school, before moving to t...
WAITSBURG – Waitsburg Lions Ken Miller and Brian Richards were selected as recipients of the Melvin Jones award and Lion of the Year, respectively, at the club's annual year-end ceremony on May 31. Miller was nominated for the prestigious Melvin Jones Award by fellow Lion, close friend, and former award recipient Glynn Davis. Davis shared a brief history of the award, named after the founder of Lions Club International, and the highest award one can receive in Lions. Davis explained that the M...
WAITSBURG – Dayton-Waitsburg Head Football Coach Troy Larsen is enthusiastic about the 53 student athletes signed up for the newly formed DW football team. Larsen said the largest number dressed down on the field during spring football was 46 and 32 DW players attended spring camp in the Tri-Cities where the larger turnout allowed DW to schedule camp games for both a JV and varsity squad. "During the three weeks of spring football, coaches were able to coach a team that quickly came t...
Board members KC Kuykendall, Marty Dunn, Kevin House, Karl Newell, Kate Hockersmith and Mayor Walt Gobel were all present. -Community Input: Citizen Delores Nettles complained about the number of wrecked cars parked on Bruce Street. Citizen Carl Peck expressed frustration that a property owner, who keeps his property spotless, was asked to move a trailer from city property and yet boats and broken down cars are parked all along Kinnear Street. Following discussion, council agreed to review city ordinances, giving consideration to abandoned...
Board members Ross Hamann, Russ Knopp, Christy House, Marilyn Johnson, and Randy Pearson were all present. -Unanimously adopted Journeys (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017) as the new elementary school English Language Arts curriculum. -Approved a 2016-17 athletic budget of $21,900 to include all sports except baseball and softball, which will be determined at a later date. The board rejected a request of $14,000 for new wrestling mats and asked the team to continue using the Mat Birds’ mats. -Approved a Collective Bargaining Agreement with t...
Area candidates met in Waitsburg for a Candidates Forum sponsored by the Waitsburg Commercial Club on June 9....
Dayton Memorial Library 111 S. 3rd Street, Dayton Hours: Mon., Wed., Fri., 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Tues. & Thurs., 12-8 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Storytime: Tues., 10 a.m. “The True Tails of Baker and Taylor,” by Jan Louch (Adult Non-Fiction) – Jan Louch and her coworker decide that their library needs two cats. They soon find a couple of Scottish Folds that they think are perfect for the role. The library’s patrons soon fall for the cats and their wild antics much like Jan quickly had. After being featured on a poster, they become cat celebrities...
DAYTON – Dayton High School sent off twenty-three young adults onto the next step in their lives on Saturday. The Class of 2016 graduated in front of countless loved ones as they officially completed their careers as Dayton Bulldogs. The Class of 2016 is made up of decorated students, electrifying athletes, and now high school graduates. They have completed the curriculum required of all high school students in Washington, and now have the diplomas, caps, and gowns to show for it. S...
PRESCOTT – Sixteen members of the Prescott graduating Class of 2016 proudly made their way down the aisle during Prescott High School's commencement ceremony on the evening of Fri., June 10. "When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you'll be successful," a quote by Eric Thomas, was selected as the class motto. Once the class was seated, the crowd stood as PHS student Angel Prado sang a stirring rendition of the national anthem. Class Valedictorian Jaqueline Velazco w...
WAITSBURG – Close to a dozen community members were in attendance to offer input during the public hearing portion of the June 8 planning commission meeting at the Waitsburg Fairgrounds. The hearing was in reference to a rezone application received by the City of Waitsburg, from Marvin Aronson, who requested that his property at 503 W 2nd be rezoned from residential to commercial. Aronson currently uses the property, located just off of Highway 124, to do hobby automobile and equipment r...
DAYTON—At their meeting last week at the Lyon’s Ferry Marina, Port of Columbia County commissioners Fred Crowe and Earle Marvin signed a three-year lease agreement with rail operator Frontier Rail LLC, to maintain and operate the rails for the newly named Columbia/Walla Walla shortline, between Dayton and Walla Walla. Port Manager Jennie Dickinson said that all the wording issues in the lease had been resolved. “I feel very good. I think I understand the lease very well,” Dickinson told the com...
RICHLAND – The Waitsburg Resource Center, Dayton Chronicle, and Dixie Store were all recipients of the 2016 (Southeast Washington Association of School Administrators) SEWASA Community Leadership Award at an honorary awards banquet held at Meadow Springs Country Club in Richland on June 9. The banquet is SEWASA's opportunity to recognize community individuals and groups throughout EDS 123 for their outstanding contributions toward education. Superintendents of 13 districts acknowledge their c...
PRESCOTT - Prescott High School Class of 2016 Valedictorian Jaqueline Velazco and Salutatorian Salomon Martinez earned their titles by being the top scholars in their class. But their gratitude, humility, and desire to give back to the community speaks volumes about their character as well. Valedictorian Jaqueline Velazco, daughter of Jaqueline and Jaime Velazco, ends her high school career with a GPA of 3.85. During high school she was a National Honor Society member, class secretary all four...
DAYTON-What is sleek, shiny, compact and quiet? No, it is not a new car. It is the new E9-1-1 phone system and audio logger from Zetron that was recently purchased by the county to replace the old Intrado Lifeline 100 phone system in the emergency dispatch center at the courthouse. The new system comprises three work stations, two with radios for the dispatchers, one for County Emergency Manager Lisa Caldwell to use when back-up is needed, and an audio logger which records all calls and radio tr...
