Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

News


Sorted by date  Results 4753 - 4777 of 5705

Page Up

  • Road Trip: Visit to Retail Pot Shop in Prosser is eye-Opening for County Leaders

    Dian Ver Valen, The Times|Feb 26, 2015

    DAYTON – In less than three weeks the Columbia County Commissioners will decide whether to extend the county moratorium on marijuana, allow marijuana operations in the county, or ban them altogether. In December, they agreed to extend the moratorium until March to allow more time to investigate the issue and make an informed decision. A public hearing regarding the county's moratorium is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. on March 16 in the commissioners' board room. The county's 15-month-long m...

  • WHS KB Team Takes First at Regionals

    Dena Wood, The Times|Feb 26, 2015

    WAITSBURG – In a war of wits, Waitsburg once again took first place in the 2B District 9 Regional Knowledge Bowl meet on Feb. 23, securing a spot at the state meet. This will be Waitsburg's fourth consecutive State meet and the last for senior and team leader Emma Philbrook. The WHS Knowledge Bowl team competed with strengths and smarts against 2B local rivals Dayton and DeSales High Schools. Led by senior Philbrook and junior Stuart Walsh, Waitsburg walked off with the win scoring 103 p...

  • It's Cookie Time!

    Dena Wood, The Times|Feb 26, 2015

    WAITSBURG – When 7-year-old Jessika Lambert wanted to follow in big brother Daltin's footsteps and go into scouting, she was forced to join a Girl Scout troop in Walla Walla since there were no local troops. However, when she sold cookies in Waitsburg, she received so much interest from moms and daughters that she decided to do something about that. Jessika used the money she made from her first cookie sale to help start a troop in Waitsburg. A year later, local young ladies are busily p...

  • City Council Elections

    The Times|Feb 26, 2015

    WAITSBURG – It’s time for anyone interested in a position on Waitsburg’s City Council to make their intent known while being aware of important deadlines. The top vote recipients – five for council and one for mayor – are elected to one-year terms. Candidates must submit a Declaration of Candidacy with the Waitsburg city clerk within the first ten working days of March, which means they must be filed between March 2 and March 13. Caucuses may only be held between 35 and 25 days prior to the election, which means they must take place by March...

  • Dayton Considers Afterschool Program

    Dena Wood, The Times|Feb 26, 2015

    DAYTON – What’s the best way to keep kids out of trouble after school? Give them safe, healthy activities to enjoy, says Dayton’s interim Secondary Principal Kate Wenzl. Members of Columbia Cares, the Coalition for Youth and Families, Columbia County Public Health and county commissioners agree. “The amount we have to pay for juvenile incarceration goes down when we have an afterschool program,” said Columbia County Commissioner Dwight Robanske. The county budgeted $70,000 for juvenile detention...

  • Dayton Considers Revising Signs, Sidewalk Codes

    Dian Ver Valen, The Times|Feb 26, 2015

    DAYTON – The Dayton Planning Department is offering a final workshop this Thursday from 6-8 p.m. in the Delaney Building at the Dayton Memorial Library regarding current city regulations for retail signs including permanent signs on buildings and temporary signs such as sandwich boards on sidewalks. Last week Planning Director Karen Scharer and her Whitman College intern Katie Stewart met with several downtown and "fringe" commercial business owners (such as the Port of Columbia) in two w...

  • Wenaha Showcases Local Artists

    The Times|Feb 26, 2015

    Several members of the Blue Mountain Artist's Guild displayed their talent . . ....

  • 'Hogs' for History

    The Times|Feb 26, 2015

    Dozens of history supporters turned out Saturday . . ....

  • The Future of Technology

    Dian Ver Valen, The Times|Feb 26, 2015

    DAYTON – Members of Dayton School District’s technology committee are meeting this week to discuss the future of technology for the district. Dayton may consider a technology levy in February 2016 to replace the current levy in support of such equipment in the schools, according to Superintendent Doug Johnson. Capital levy funds are collected each year to support technology purchases in the district, according to Johnson. “Recently we placed an order for 48 Chromebooks. These are laptop compu...

  • Public Meeting for Preliminary Plat

    Dena Wood, The Times|Feb 19, 2015

    WAITSBURG – At their meeting on Thursday, Waitsburg city council members appeared ready to send the Waitsburg planning commission’s recommendation to disapprove the Whoopemup Meadows preliminary plat proposal back to the commission for further review. However, code requirements prevented them from doing so without first holding a public meeting. That meeting will take place Thursday at 6 p.m. Waitsburg’s planning commission – in order to meet a requirement to make a recommendation within 14 days...

  • Principal Selection Begins Next Week

    Dian Ver Valen, The Times|Feb 19, 2015

    DAYTON – Dayton School District is moving forward with plans to hire a permanent principal for the junior/senior high school by the end of March, and the public is invited to join in the process. The selection committee, which includes members of the school board, teachers, staff, and parents, will meet with the six candidates for an initial interview on Feb. 23 and 24. The district will be looking to advance two to three of these candidates to the second stage of the hiring process, S...

  • 2B or Not 2B? That is the Question

    Dena Wood, The Times|Feb 19, 2015

    WAITSBURG – The pending dissolution of the Waitsburg-Prescott Sports Combine brings with it a slew of questions to be resolved before the next school year: Which sports will each school offer? Where will practices be held? Who owns the equipment and uniforms? Will the schools combine or co-op for individual sports? These are just a few examples of the issues Waitsburg and Prescott school districts will address over the next few months. But with WIAA fall sports schedules already decided, no i...

  • Presidents Day at Preston Park

    Feb 19, 2015

    Two-year-old Waitsburg resident Alexander Gascon enjoys a warm and sunny day . . ....

  • Convicted Arsonist Headed to Prison

    The Times|Feb 19, 2015

    DAYTON – Dayton man Brandon John, 31, was arrested in Clarkston Saturday on a felony warrant out of Columbia County after he walked away from court-mandated treatment following his December conviction of second-degree arson. John, who was arrested by Columbia County deputies in August on suspicion of lighting several wildfires in Columbia County, took a plea agreement and was sentenced to a year and a day with credit for time already served in jail awaiting trial. Now he will serve the remainder of his sentence in state prison, according to t...

  • Preston Hall Honor Roll

    The Times|Feb 19, 2015

    8th Grade 4.0 Leena Baker Devon Harshman 3.25 & above Kelsey Alleman Carson Allessio Lexus Benson Mackenzie Forney Harmony Furrow Austin James Scott Leamy Brayden Miller Riley Witt 7th Grade 4.0 Kailyn VanPlake 3.25 & above Wyatt Bohlman Grace Coulson Braden Kitselman Annelise Miller Kirsten Miller Kevin Murphy Cason Nichols Bradley Sandau Brandan Weaver 6th Grade 3.25 & above Shawn Evans Koby Harris Riley Hubbard Teagen Larsen Annaka Moreland...

  • Community Loses Lifelong Advocate

    Dian Ver Valen, The Times|Feb 19, 2015

    DAYTON – Elizabeth Thorn spent her life supporting the preservation of history and educating the new generations in Dayton and surrounding communities. "What she did in the community, lovingly restoring our historic buildings, was how she treated the people as well," said friend and colleague Valerie Kerr of Dayton. "She brought out the best in us. She truly validated you as a person and cared so deeply for everyone. You don't find too many people who you can say that about." Thorn passed a...

  • Students Plan Prevention-Awareness Conference

    Dian Ver Valen, The Times|Feb 19, 2015

    DAYTON – Taking action and not just being a bystander to substance abuse in our communities has been a driving force among members of the Dayton Students Helping Each Other (SHEO) club. These local teens set action goals each year, and attend conferences and trainings to learn how to advance prevention in Dayton – supported by the local Coalition for Youth and Families, prevention specialists with Blue Mountain Counseling, numerous grants and the help of members of the community, according to...

  • Wrestlers Weigh In on Program's Worth

    Dena Wood, The Times|Feb 19, 2015

    WAITSBURG – Coaches, parents and participants associated with the WP wrestling program and the Waitsburg Mat Birds filled the small Preston Hall board room as they waited their turn to speak at the Feb. 11 school board meeting. The representatives were there to express concern that the high school wrestling program might not remain intact in light of next year's dissolution of the Waitsburg-Prescott Sports Combine. WP wrestling team captain and two-time state competitor Tristan Newman opened t...

  • Bluegrass Packs the House

    Dena Wood, The Times|Feb 19, 2015

    WAITSBURG – Touchet Valley Acoustic Music Project's (TVAMP) Feb. 13 "Bluegrass at the Plaza" fundraiser was a huge success, according to Director Kate Hockersmith. Bluegrass fans packed the historic Plaza Theater, and TVAMP raised $1,713 between ticket sales and the silent auction. Only a few seats remained empty in the theater, and Hockersmith said she was left wondering how many years it has been since The Plaza was that full. "If it hadn't been so foggy in Walla Walla, I'm thinking it may h...

  • A Winter Warmer Win

    Dena Wood, The Times|Feb 19, 2015

    PALOUSE – Laht Neppur's Waitsburg Winter Warmer won the People's Choice "Best Cure for Cabin Fever" award at the Feb. 7 Palouse Cabin Fever Brew Fest. This makes the second event-win in a row for Laht Neppur Brewery, whose Spiced Peaches 'N' Cream Ale won the title in 2014. Six breweries, featuring a total of 22 custom brews, competed at the event. In addition to Laht Neppur Brewing Company, the 2015 lineup included: Zythum Brewing Company, Budge Brothers Brewery, 12 String Brewing Company, R...

  • Musical Montage

    Feb 19, 2015

    Drivers entering Waitsburg from the east may have questioned the wall of instruments adorning a red "barn" . . ....

  • Tax Measure Passes Easily

    Ken Graham, The Times|Feb 12, 2015

    Preliminary Results: Yes 497 (71%) No 203 (29%) DAYTON – Voters in the city of Dayton overwhelmingly approved a measure Tuesday that will increase the sales tax rate in the city from 8.1% to 8.3%. More than 70 percent of voters said yes to the measure. Turnout was just under 45 percent. In December, the Dayton City Council approved putting the measure before voters. With its passage, the City expects to collect approximately $69,000 per year in additional revenues due to the increase. Dayton w...

  • County Plans Another Pot Hearing

    Dian Ver Valen, The Times|Feb 12, 2015

    DAYTON – Columbia County Commissioners have scheduled a public hearing regarding the county’s moratorium on marijuana businesses for 1:15 p.m. on March 16 in the commissioners’ board room on the third floor of the courthouse. The county’s 15-month-long moratorium on marijuana businesses expires the following day, on March 17. A representative from the Washington State Liquor Control Board will meet with commissioners prior to the hearing, at 10 a.m. The Commissioners extended a year-lo...

  • Members Hope to Revive Waitsburg Grange

    Dena Wood, The Times|Feb 12, 2015

    WAITSBURG – The Grange has played "a huge role" in the lives of Rick and Terry Ferguson and their family. Rick's great-grandparents, grandparents and parents were all members of the Starbuck Grange. "I grew up in that Starbuck Grange Hall – roller skating, eating pie, and going to dances," he said. Rick's family later moved to Huntsville and he met and married his wife Terry. The couple has been actively involved in the Waitsburg Grange, Washington State Grange and National Grange thr...

  • Overtime!

    Feb 12, 2015

    Waitsburg High School student Landon Callas gives a big cheer Saturday night during Waitsburg-Prescott boys' basketball game . . ....

Page Down