Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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This week the telephone lines at The Times offices were hacked. When dialing the old number, callers are connected to suspicious calling centers NOT affiliated with The Times. Please DO NOT call the old number (509) 337-6631 or give out personal information to these scam artists. Our new number is (509) 337-3042. Please, update your contact information. When called, we always answer the phone with a friendly “Hello, Waitsburg Times!” Thank you, and we look forward to hearing from you aga...
DAYTON—The Dayton School Board convened a regular work session at 6 p.m. on February 2, 2022. Although both in-person and Zoom participation by the public was available, the meeting was sparsely attended by the public. There were two topics on the agenda this evening for discussion. The first topic for discussion was the sexual health curriculum. This topic consists of sex education for grades five through twelve and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) for kindergarten through third grade. Senate Bill 5395, passed by the Legislature and W...
WAITSBURG-Mature exercisers (those 60 years and older) will have fun improving strength and balance at EnhanceFitness classes offered at Waitsburg Town Hall. The one-hour classes are led by EnhanceFitness instructor Melissa Lambert, MS( Masters of Science in Kinesiology) on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9:00 a.m. or 10:15 a.m. There is no cost to attend the evidence-based group exercise and fall prevention program. The program empowers adults at all fitness levels to sustain independent...
DAYTON—The Columbia County Commissioners met Monday, February 7, for a regular meeting. Equipment use and acquisition, and real estate acquisition were a few of the topics covered. The commissioners were presented with a real estate acquisition firm recommendation, signed by the County Engineer and the acting Public Works Director, for needs related to three projects; Bowman Grade, Barnes Smith Bridge, and Starbuck Bridge projects; for the necessary right of way acquisition. Hiring a real e...
DAYTON-Hail, fire, and drought are all words that make farmers shudder. Thankfully, farmers in the Touchet Valley can have a little more peace of mind, thanks to Obenland and Low. Pomeroy residents Tara and Adam Hodges are the owners of Obenland and Low Agency, offering small and large farm insurance, equine insurance, and home and auto insurance. The original company was founded in 1921 by C.E Obenland and became Obenland and Low in 1981. The couple purchased the agency in 2013 and has...
DAYTON-Old phones, computers, and tablets are getting a second chance, thanks to an unofficial project created and run by Dayton's Gordon Gerlitz. Gerlitz, who recently came out of retirement after owning and operating a computer business for nearly twenty years, has been collecting phones and other pieces of technology that were sitting around, unused. He spends a few hours of his day wiping hard drives and removing any trace of the previous owners. Next, he installs software updates as needed....
WALLA WALLA-Blue Mountain Humane Society announces today the appointment of Amanda Wernert as Chief Executive Officer. "I'm very honored to be joining the Blue Mountain Humane Society and working with BMHS' incredible staff and volunteers to further the organization's mission of bringing pets and people together," said Amanda Wernert. "We are excited about having Amanda lead us into the future of Blue Mountain Humane Society. She brings to the position a wealth of experience at impressive...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg Business Commercial Club met Thursday, January 27, for a regular meeting. Led by former president Joy Smith, the meeting focused on financials, bylaws, and moving forward. Smith provided a brief banking update for the club. The club is currently waiting for the final decision for at least one grant, and a small donation to the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Foundation was outgoing, as was voted on at the last meeting. Smith said that nearly $2,500 in dues had been col...
DAYTON - The Dayton School Board held a special meeting at 6 p.m., January 26, 2022, to complete business from last week’s regular meeting. Due to increased community COVID-19 cases, the regular meeting had been limited to consideration of bills and vouchers requiring council approval. As a part of board organization, the first order of business was to appoint board members to sundry additional duties. The board elected Aneesha Dieu to the Legislative Representative position without opposition. The Board Chair made the following appointments f...
'If you see a need, plant a seed' has become the driving force behind Dayton's Bulldog Brigade. Organizer Peggy Eakin was the speaker at the January 27 Dayton Kiwanis Club, and she is on a mission to gather volunteers for just about everything in Dayton. Eakin started her presentation emphasizing community support, expressing her excitement to speak to club members who had once made it possible for her granddaughter to visit Washington D.C, take her first flight, and see the world outside of...
WAITSBURG—As the number of COVID-19 cases associated with local schools dropped this week, the Dayton and Waitsburg School District superintendents made the calls to bring back in-person learning starting February 1. The Dayton School District announced the switch to remote learning for all secondary students on January 25 after the rapid rise of student cases in grades 6-12, paired with many of the staff and teachers out sick, forced the decision. The district continues to monitor COVID-19 cases in the school and community. As of Monday, J...
DAYTON—As of February 1, 2022, the new behavioral health crisis line for Columbia County is (509) 876-0626, as Comprehensive Healthcare begins providing behavioral health crisis services to Columbia County. “Comprehensive Healthcare has been delivering services for 50 years, and in that time, we have been able to build a strong network of providers and community partnerships,” said Jodi Daly, Ph.D., President and CEO. “By expanding that dynamic, high-quality care to Columbia County, we are able to support individuals experiencing a behavio...
WAITSBURG-The Waitsburg School Board met Thursday, January 20, at 6 p.m. The meeting was held in person and via Zoom. At the beginning of the meeting, school board members received gift bags, flowers, and treats from various classes and organizations within the district. The Waitsburg High School, Honor Society members, served up fresh-baked cookies and punch, and each board member was given a hand-drawn card from Waitsburg's fourth-graders. "We just want to recognize the hard work these are...
COLUMBIA COUNTY—The Columbia County Commissioners met for a regular workshop meeting on Tuesday, January 25. The commissioners started the meeting with a ten-minute executive session, during which direction was taken, but no action was taken. Public Works Director Charles Eaton took the floor, speaking about appointing an acting director, effective February 1, following his resignation. After discussing the position with Eaton, the commissioners appointed Amber Phinney as the acting director. Phinney, who is currently the department’s business...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg City Council met Wednesday, January 19, for a regular meeting. Waitsburg resident Terry Jacoy spoke during public comment, asking the council to reconsider the $10 utility tax implemented last year to help fund flood repair projects. Mayor Marty Dunn started the meeting with Resolution 2022-743, a note of appreciation to Dr. Roger Hevel, who was not able to attend. The mayor spoke of the many contributions Dr. Hevel and his late wife Laura Jean have made to the community. The two have donated to the Weller Public L...
On February 11, Waitsburg City Council will consider bids for two properties, including 147 Main Street, which until recently housed City Hall. The building is one of two properties the City has decided to surplus. The bidding process is described in the legal notice by the city. The council will consider the bid amount and the proposed use for the property. Most of the wooden structures on Main Street were destroyed in a fire in September 1880. Using locally sourced brick, new buildings...
Disaster can strike at any moment. Pastor Cameron Hedges shared this reference guide from www.ready.gov to help you be prepared in the event of an emergency. After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for days or even a week. Being prepared means having food, water, and other supplies to last for five days to two weeks. A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency. Make sure your emergency kit is stocked with the items on the checklist below. Download a printable...
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Board of Health (SBOH) received more than 7,500 public requests to speak at the January 12 meeting. Many comments were in reaction to misinformation that spread like wildfire on social media platforms leading up to the meeting. Executive Director Michelle Davis made Board announcements. She reminded board members that many comments are objections to COVID-19 vaccine mandates, mask mandates, and the Technical Advisory Group (TAG). In October 2021, the SBOH convened a...
DAYTON- The Port of Columbia Commissioners held their monthly meeting Wednesday, January 12, 2022. The meeting was held virtually on Zoom. Two commissioners, Seth Bryan and Johnny Watts logged onto Zoom from the Port conference room. The third commissioner, Genie Crowe, attended remotely. The Zoom meeting was attended by over 40 community members. Executive Director Jenny Dickinson said she had sworn in new commissioners, Seth Bryan and Johnny Watts, before the meeting. Dickinson explained that rules mandate a board secretary be appointed....
DAYTON—The Dayton City Council convened its monthly meeting at 6 PM on January 12, 2022. Four new city council members, Laura Aukerman, Teeny McMunn, Marchand Hovrud, and Tyler Dieu, were sworn in at the January 12 meeting. Misty Yost and Dain Nysoe remain in their seats through 2023, and position six is vacant. Mayor Zac Weatherford announced the passing of City Council Member Byron Kaczmarski, leaving position six vacant. He also reported that Hovrud plans to serve on the council until her move from the area. The council elected Dain Nysoe to...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg Community Health and Protection Committee met Tuesday, January 18, with discussions centering around flood preparedness and response. Chairman Jillian Henze gave a brief report on the current COVID-19 situation in the area. As of Monday, January 17, there were 1,216 active cases in Walla Walla. Of those cases, 1,208 were in-home isolation, while eight were hospitalized. As of Tuesday, St. Mary Medical Center had only one ICU bed open and had implemented visitor r...
WAITSBURG-As area residents start to monitor the river every morning on the way to work, Pastor Cameron Hedges has been busy preparing for his first flood season in Washington. Hedges has been going through various FEMA training. He is learning how to prepare for and navigate a natural disaster, document volunteer efforts, and communicate with other response divisions. The pastor of the Waitsburg Christian Church, Hedges, said that there was no hesitation to say "yes" when the City of Waitsburg...
DAYTON-In 2019, Touchet Valley Golf and Recreation (TVGR), formerly known as the Dayton Country Club, created an aggressive five-year strategic plan for the golf course. The plan includes partnering with multiple organizations to fund and construct an underground irrigation system and potentially expand the existing golf course. The Underground Sprinkler System Installation project consists of planning and fundraising, irrigation reservoir construction, and underground sprinkler system...
WALLA WALLA, COLUMBIA COUNTIES—According to COVID-19 data collected by the New York Times, at least one in six Walla Walla County residents has been infected with COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. The New York Times COVID tracking uses data from state, local and regional health agencies, and the U.S Department of Health and Human Services. On Monday, January 10, Walla Walla County reported 253 new cases over the weekend, marking a total of 790 active cases in the area. The county experienced an 85% increase in daily cases c...
DAYTON—The Dayton School Board held its work session meeting at 6 PM on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. The work session meeting was held in person and on Zoom. All the directors were in attendance, opted to meet in person except for Grant Griffin, who chose the remote option. In November, the superintendent administered the Oath of Office to Aneesha Dieu, Jeffrey McCowen, Grant Griffen, and Korinda Wallace. The newly elected directors swore to support the Constitution of the United States and the State of Washington and faithfully discharge the d...
