Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 4701 - 4725 of 5694
DAYTON – John Garrett Waltermire, 24, pleaded not guilty last week to all charges associated with the March 2 break-in at Inland Cellular in downtown Dayton. He was arrested March 7 after a short foot pursuit by Columbia County Sheriff's deputies and Washington State Patrol troopers. The Dayton man was arraigned last Wednesday in Columbia County Superior Court on the charges of second-degree burglary, a Class B felony; second-degree theft, a Class C felony; malicious mischief, a gross m...
First Appearance: Desiree D. Klein, 36; entered not guilty plea on charges of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and three counts of endangerment with a controlled substance. Klein was living with Monty N. Dunn at 721 S. 3rd Street in February where deputies served a search warrant and allegedly recovered drugs. Klein’s three children were also living in the home. Sentencing: Michael A. Cameron, 30; sentenced to 90 days following guilty plea on charge of possession of a controlled substance (meth). Trials Set: William H. R...
DAYTON – Rachel Cortez may be new to Columbia County and her profession in public defense, but she's determined, she loves her new home, and she's known for nearly 20 years that she wants to dedicate her life to just such a job. Effective April 1, former public defender Dale Slack will join the Columbia County Prosecutor's office as deputy prosecutor. And although Cortez, who is 29, just arrived in Dayton as Slack's associate in January of last year – she will take Slack's place as the cou...
DAYTON – The March-December museum season is underway for Dayton's Smith Hollow School and the Palus Museum, but both are suffering the loss of local advocate Elizabeth Thorn, who passed away in February. Thorn helped make both local museums possible. "Elizabeth is missed, but we carry on," said friend and fellow history lover Diane Longanecker. However, with Thorn gone the museums now lack a cadre of docents to fill all the shifts. Longanecker said the Blue Mountain Heritage Society is h...
DAYTON – Dayton School District and the Columbia County Health District each received $77,000 this month from the William W. and Jessie B. Day Charitable Trust. Representatives from the U.S. Trust Bank of America presented the checks, along with an update on the status of the Day Estate farming operation and the trust’s investment portfolio, to school and hospital directors at an annual luncheon on March 10. “It’s a little higher than we budgeted for,” Dayton Superintendent Doug Johnson s...
WAITSBURG – Waitsburg's Home and School Association (HASA) has increased its efforts to support Waitsburg's schools and build community this school year. Last week's annual school carnival is just one example of how HASA is working to ease parents' burdens. Proceeds from the event will be used to purchase school supplies for students for the 2015-16 school year. HASA secretary and second-grade teacher Deanna Coulston is pleased with the changes HASA has made this year. She said the group has a...
WAITSBURG – Former Waitsburg resident Matthew Wyatt shared his heartfelt testimony before a full house of friends and family at the Christian Church in Waitsburg on March 22. Wyatt, joined by wife Krystal and daughter Mikaila, traveled from Lincoln, Calif. where he now pastors part-time at The Ridge Church, specifically to share his story of struggle and redemption. Wyatt, a '98 Waitsburg High School graduate, grew up in a devoted Mormon family and said his childhood was "the best anyone c...
WAITSBURG – A half-dozen community members showed up to ask questions and hear updates from Walla Walla County Sheriff John Turner and Deputy Gerrod Martin at the March 19 Sheriff’s Round Table, in the Waitsburg Elementary School library. Turner presented updates on contract hours and crime rates and touched on the topics of drugs, gangs, burglary tips and traffic safety. Turner said the city of Waitsburg has contracted with the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Department for a minimum of 4.2 hours...
Columbia County Commissioner Dwight Robanske (l) presents longtime Dayton resident Ron Groom with a plaque on March 18 commemorating 25 years . . ....
WAITSBURG – "Even though I knew it wasn't real, my heart sank to my stomach when I heard the knock at my door," said Susan Wildey as she addressed an auditorium full of Waitsburg High School students and parents. The knock Wildey described was that of the Walla Walla County coroner arriving to let her know that her daughter, WHS senior Analise Salazar, had been "killed" in a drunk driving accident. The mock death notification was part of "Every 15 Minutes," an emotional and moving two-day a...
WAITSBURG – Waitsburg is mourning the loss of Karen (Huwe) Mohney, who died Sunday night, March 15, at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Mohney was transported to Harborview after experiencing a massive stroke in Heppner, Ore. the evening prior. Mohney, appropriately referred to as an "unsung hero" by fellow community members, had a true servant's heart and worked tirelessly for the community she so deeply cared for. "Karen's passing is a great loss, not just to those of us that loved her b...
DAYTON – Columbia County Commissioners met on Monday with the Washington State Liquor Control Board and two dozen citizens to discuss the issue of allowing recreational marijuana businesses in the county. After many hours of discussion, the three county leaders voted unanimously to extend the moratorium for another six months. “The easy thing would be to ban it,” Commissioner Mike Talbott stated before the vote on Monday. “But I’m not sure I’m ready to say ‘ban it,’ because I think the peopl...
Both Waitsburg and Dayton high schools inducted sophomores into National Honor Society last week. . ....
Both Waitsburg and Dayton high schools inducted sophomores into National Honor Society last week. . ....
The Waitsburg High School Knowledge Bowl team took 5th place, for the third time, at the 2B State Meet in Arlington, Wash. on March 14. This trip was the fourth and final trip to state competition for senior Emma Philbrook. WHS placed 9th at the state knowledge bowl competition in 2014 and 3rd in 2012, 2013 and this year. "The team is already looking to next year's competitions with junior Stuart Walsh heading up the team," said Coach Brad Green....
The event center at the Running T Ranch just outside of Dayton was filled with philanthropists Friday night during the Dayton Chamber's annual Blue Mountain Brix & Brew Benefit Auction. . ....
DAYTON – Dayton FFA students in the robotics program are gearing up for their second competition later this week. They ranked 19th out of 29 teams earlier this month in Spokane. "They had a great time, and they've really been committed to giving as much time to the project as they need to," said teacher Kristina Knebel (formerly Peterschick), who teaches ag classes at Dayton High School. The students, 18 total in the class, came up with the design and helped work on the robot. But nine s...
DAYTON – They say that only a planner understands what goes on in the planning office. Columbia County Planning Director Kim Lyonnais has managed planning and building departments most of his life. But this month he’s really learning the ins and outs of daily management of his department. He’s had to – he’s been running the office on his own. “I’ve really been enjoying it actually,” he said in an interview with The Times last week. “I like getting in and doing the work, being hands on. I’m rea...
DAYTON – It's hard to find the right person to ask about the juvenile fish pond at the Dayton City Park. Technically the city owns the pond and the water right that allows it to exist. The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife operates the pond because it's stocked by the state with trout annually. And Steven Martin, with the Snake River Salmon Recovery Board, has sometimes had a hand in managing it because his agency seeks to ensure we always have fish in our waterways. When citizens...
WAITBURG – Having overcome the many obstacles that arise from a lifetime of addiction – both his mother's and his own – Nathanial Murphy has finally hit a sweet spot in his life, literally and figuratively. Murphy publicly debuted his Mary's Candies caramels at last year's Hometown Christmas in Waitsburg, and the business, named in honor of his grandmother, has grown steadily since. Murphy, assisted by his wife Erin, sells his gourmet confections at the Blue Mountain Station on Tuesdays and S...
Dayton senior Bonnie Laib goes in for another of her many layups during Saturday's donkey basketball match in the Dayton . . ....
Waitsburg Elementary School first grade teacher Dinah Lindsey (l) and Title 1 paraprofessional Carrie Graham (r) took a load off during Dr. Seuss Day/Wacky Wednesday last week. . ....
DAYTON – On Monday, March 16, Columbia County Commissioners will meet with the public to decide on the future of recreational marijuana businesses in the county. The board has scheduled a public hearing for 1:15 p.m. in the commissioners’ board room. A representative from the Washington State Liquor Control Board will meet with commissioners prior to the hearing, at 10 a.m., in a meeting also open to the public. The county’s 15-month-long moratorium on recreational marijuana businesses expir...
DAYTON – John Garrett Waltermire, 24, was arrested Saturday after a short foot pursuit near East Jackson Street in Dayton. Waltermire was a suspect in the burglary of the Inland Cellular store on East Main Street here last week. Early on the morning of Monday, March 2, a burglar broke into the cellphone company’s retail store at 151 E. Main St. A witness reported hearing what sounded like a loud crash at approximately 4:30 a.m. Shortly thereafter the witness saw a male with a backpack run...
WAITSBURG – This year, Waitsburg will celebrate its sesquicentennial – 150 years of existence – as part of the annual Waitsburg Celebration Days weekend. According to City Hall staff, the exact date is unknown, but Waitsburg was chartered sometime in the spring of 1865. Waitsburg is known as a "One of a Kind" city and operates off the territorial charter created in that year. Waitsburg is the only charter city in Washington and one of only six in the nation. The fun-filled Celebration Days...
