Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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DAYTON-The community of Dayton recently lost two leaders from their community. Port of Columbia Commissioner Earle Marvin, and Kim Clark, General Manager of Ski Bluewood Resort, passed away unexpectedly over the past two weeks. The Port of Columbia announced the unexpected passing of Commissioner Earle Marvin on September 1, 2021. Marvin passed away on August 30 at a hospital in Portland after undergoing emergency surgery for a broken leg. Commissioner Marvin was in his tenth year as the...
DAYTON—The Green Ridge Fire, burning just thirty miles east of Walla Walla in the Blue Mountains, tipped over 41,000 acres of burned land during the weekend. Firefighting efforts have secured 40% containment as of Tuesday, September 7. On Monday, firefighters continued to knock down flare-ups that have popped up with assistance from helicopter water drops. Firefighters continue to patrol established fire lines and conduct mop-up operations, and will continue to monitor hotspots as the fire e...
In just a few days, cows, curly fries, and farm critters will take over the Columbia County Fairgrounds for a "Blue Ribbon A-Fair." For the young horsewomen from Rocking D Riders 4-H club, the fair began early after the Columbia County Fair Horse Show was moved to an earlier weekend to solve time and space constraints. Having the show held on a weekend before the fair allowed fans and riders to distance themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic safely. Under the guidance of 4-H leader Shelli Bryan...
MALDEN-Residents, family, friends and supporters of the town of Malden in Whitman County held a day of Remembrance and Celebration on Monday honoring a year of recovery efforts to rebuild their community. Pictured here are local youth and adults retiring the flag that survived the devastating 2020 Babb Road Fire, including members of the volunteer Pathfinders from the Upper Columbia Academy who gave hundreds of hours of work helping residents. Numerous other volunteers, donors and agencies have...
COLUMBIA, WALLA WALLA COUNTY—A letter shared online by Walla Walla County Commissioner Jenny Mayberry on Monday, August 30, expressed that local health officials are concerned about a potential employee and volunteer exodus over vaccine mandates. On August 9, Governor Jay Inslee announced a mandate that required all healthcare providers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18, 2021, or be terminated from their position. The mandate includes all professional firefighters, v...
DAYTON—The Dayton School Board called an emergency meeting on Monday, August 30, to discuss switching to remote learning for middle and high school students. Columbia County Public Health officials agreed with the decision to go remote for secondary students, Superintendent Guy Strot told meeting attendees. “This is a good opportunity to try and get cases back under control, instead of letting it grow to a much larger issue,” Strot said. Over the weekend, Superintendent Strot said that one v...
DAYTON—On Aug. 12, The Times reported on the vaccination rate for the Columbia County Health System employees, which stood at about 52 percent. Columbia County Health System (CCHS) CEO Shane McGuire said some of the 218 employees had reacted strongly to Governor Jay Inslee’s Aug.9 proclamation that health care workers be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18. A few have resigned in response to the mandate. However, he said ongoing support is being provided to help CCHS healthcare workers with their decisi...
Get out and explore with the Blue Mountain Land Trust this fall, with one of the many upcoming, outdoor-oriented classes. Explore: Stand-Up Paddleboard, September 11 Spend the afternoon paddling up the lower Palouse River on a stand-up paddleboard or kayak with Adventure-Fit, a local outfitter. Before entering the water, Greg Jacob from Adventure-Fit will provide instruction on how to stand-up paddleboard and kayak, followed by a leisurely paddle as a group. The paddle will begin at Lyons Ferry...
WALLA WALLA—The rapid increase in COVID-19 cases primarily among unvaccinated individuals hinders timely access to a broad spectrum of healthcare in Walla Walla. This is coming in the form of long wait times, delays of some non-emergency surgeries, and a higher likelihood of patients being transported to other hospitals searching for an available staffed bed. As COVID-19 rises, Providence St. Mary Medical Center and clinics also face staffing challenges from caregivers becoming ill, struggling to secure childcare, having sick family members, o...
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) warns against using Ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug commonly used for humans and animals, to treat or prevent COVID-19. Ivermectin, first discovered in 1975 and commercialized in 1980, began making COVID-19 headlines last year, after Australian researchers reported that the drug could inhibit in vitro coronavirus replication in large doses. The drug has been permitted as treatment in some of the worst-hits areas of the world, including S...
WASHINGTON — As the coronavirus pandemic eases its hold in some areas of the country, most schools will be calling students back to the classroom soon after months of virtual learning. The American Red Cross wants to make sure your student is safe as they head back to school for the upcoming year. “Parents and kids are both eager to get back to normal and return to the classroom as a new school year starts,” said Alex Dieffenbach, Red Cross Northwest Region CEO. “But let’s not forget to make safety a top priority.” The American Red Cross offer...
WALLA WALLA —Walla Walla County Board of Health (WWBOH) seeks member applications for the Community Health Advisory Board (CHAB). The CHAB’s primary responsibility is to assist the WWBOH and the Department of Community Health (DCH), including the following: • Provide input to the local board of health in the recruitment of local administrator/director and local health officer • Use a health equity framework to conduct local health needs assessment and health improvement planning efforts. • Promote public participation in these efforts ...
UMATILLA NATIONAL FOREST—The Green Ridge Fire, burning in the Umatilla National Forest thirty miles east of Walla Walla, had consumed more than 40,000 acres as of Tuesday, August 31, and was 39% contained. Gusty winds on Monday challenged the strength of containment lines, however, the lines held throughout the day. Fire officials said that the winds aided fire crews by directing the fire to burn pockets of fuel within the containment area. Crews continue to make progress on direct containment efforts in the southeast corner of the fire a...
WAITSBURG—Emotions were high as parents and caregivers voiced opinions about the recent mask mandate at the Waitsburg School Board meeting on August 23. Secondary principal Stephanie Wooderchak reported that middle and high school business offices were now open, and staff would be available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. School registration was August 23-26. Ice cream socials and open house events were also held this week for middle school students to give them a chance to meet teachers, learn...
DAYTON—The Dayton School Board met on August 18 for a regular school board meeting. Dayton School District had its first day of the 2021-22 school year on August 24. Before the business meeting, Superintendent Guy Strot spoke on recent mask mandates, which went into effect on Monday, August 23. Strot said that, aside from health-related risks, the school district had multiple reasons to comply with the mandate. According to Strot, the school’s insurance company has stated that they will not ins...
On Monday, August 23, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for people 16 and older. This is the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive full approval in the United States. The FDA ruling should help overcome vaccine-hesitancy in some unvaccinated people who have stated this as their primary concern. According to the FDA, the approved vaccine will now be marketed as Comirnaty to prevent COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and old...
UMATILLA NATIONAL FOREST-Good news in the Blues, the Green Ridge Fire has seen minimal growth over the past few days, aided by weekend rainfall and cooler weather. On Tuesday, August 24, the Green Ridge Fire had burned 39,471 acres, and was 35% contained. Officials report that fuel moisture encouraged less than 50 acres of growth on Monday. While containment did not increase, firefighters are becoming increasingly confident that additional portions of the fireline in Divisions M and K will soon...
DAYTON—A 2020“Washington Child Care Industry Assessment” sponsored by the Washington Department of Commerce characterizes Walla Walla and Columbia counties as childcare “deserts.” This means 96-percent of families in Columbia County and 18-percent of families in Walla Walla counties do not have the childcare they need. In 2020-21 three in-home providers in Columbia County closed their doors, pushing the county into a childcare crisis. The issues for parents who seek care for their children...
Help wanted signs are showing up in storefront windows across the nation, with 9.3 million job openings being reported in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Economists have been studying this most recent employee shortage and the effects the gaping holes in the workforce have had for businesses, workers and consumers. Locally, businesses have had to adjust to the shortages. Waitsburg Grocery has had to close an hour earlier for nearly a month, missing out on the...
UMATILLA NATIONAL FOREST—Southwest wind gusts are expected to continue driving the Green Ridge Fire, feeding the flames with unburned pockets of fuel. As of Tuesday, August 17, the fire has burned 37,599 acres and is less than 20% contained. In the 48 hours leading up to Tuesday’s update, the wind tested fire lines created in Division M. However, the fire lines and previous firing operations have proven effective. The fire has been kept within the division’s footprint and the lines creat...
DAYTON—The Dayton City Council met Wednesday, August 11, for a regular meeting. The council continues to meet in person, with the option to join via Zoom. During the first public comment period, council members heard from Howard Novak urging them to consider hiring more than one animal control officer. Novak said he had been attacked or threatened by a dog on more than one occasion. Mayor Zac Weatherford said the city is currently working with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office to create and...
DAYTON—The Port of Columbia Commissioners met Wednesday, August 11, for a regular board meeting. Port of Columbia Executive Director Jennie Dickinson reported a roughly $10,000 expenditure for an HVAC replacement at one of the Port’s properties. Dickinson said the Port’s property insurance went up 20% in 2020 and another 20% this year, now totaling $64,000. “That is disappointing,” Dickinson said. “I have done research into other companies, and I can’t find anything better.” Dickinson said the P...
OLYMPIA—COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are accelerating across the state of Washington, demonstrating the delta variant’s potential to unravel the state’s hard-fought progress toward recovery. Unvaccinated people have been hit hardest, and public health officials continue to urge everyone who are not fully vaccinated to do so immediately. Now is also the time to redouble efforts around the key behaviors that keep the virus from spreading. All people should: Wear a mask, watch distance, wash hands often, carry hand sanitizer, and enabl...
DAYTON—Washington state’s legislation on police reform went into effect on Sunday, July 25, and has left many police officials across the state without needed clarification. Concerns over changes to police response based on House Bill 1054 and House Bill 1310, sponsored by State Representative Jesse Johnson, were discussed at an August 2 Columbia County Commissioners meeting. The State Legislature passed the police accountability measures in response to national, state, and local calls to reform policing after the deaths of unarmed Black Americ...
DAYTON—A question on the minds of many in our community is why the Columbia County Health System (CCHS) does not require its employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Back in January, CCHS employees took an internal survey to assess their receptivity to the vaccine. According to Stephanie Carpenter, COO, one-third said yes, they would. One-third said probably, but not now, and one-third said they would not get the vaccine. Last week, Carpenter said that currently, only a little over half o...
