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OLYMPIA—Governor Inslee announced Tuesday the “Healthy Washington- Roadmap to Recovery,” a new COVID-19 two-phased recovery plan. Starting January 11, 2021, Washington will follow a regional recovery approach with each region beginning in Phase 1. The state has been divided into eight regions. Walla Walla and Columbia Counties, along with Benton, Franklin, Kittitas, and Yakima Counties, are in the ‘Southcentral Region.’ For the region to move from Phase 1 to Phase 2, the following metrics must be met: • Decreasing trend in two-week rate of COV...
WALLA WALLA—The Jonathan M. Wainwright Medical Center in Walla Walla received a shipment of COVID-19 vaccines just before Christmas, on December 22, and is currently in the process of vaccinating all Walla Walla VA essential health care staff. “The Walla Walla VA is pleased to be offering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to its health care personnel,” said Chris Bjornberg, Medical Center Director. “Receiving the vaccine is like having hope delivered. As vaccine supplies increase, our ultimate goal is to offer COVID-19 vaccination to all Veteran...
DAYTON—The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in Columbia County. The Columbia County Health System (CCHS) has received 300 doses. At this time, CCHS has started giving immunizations to healthcare workers and first-responders, and will advance to Phase 1B when given guidance to do so by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). Columbia County Public Health will be organizing a list of interested individuals who would like the vaccination and fit into Phase 1B, which is currently d...
OLYMPIA—Washington State remains in a highly precarious situation, even as COVID-19 transmission begins to flatten. A report released on December 24, 2020, showed that there has been a substantial decrease in transmission, however, it is not enough to reverse the skyrocketed rates that followed the Thanksgiving holiday. The report indicates, based on the timing of this trend, the case count plateau may be due, in part, to the current restrictions on gatherings and certain businesses. The report finds include: • COVID-19 transmission is pla...
DAYTON—The Columbia County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) met on Dec. 21 to adopt various budgets, sign the ILA with the City of Dayton for Law and Justice, Dispatch, and Court services, and hire an attorney for the Indigent Defense contract. During the meeting, the BOCC adopted a 24 million budget for 2021, including a 2-percent cost of living adjustment for county employees. The BOCC also signed the five-year contract agreement with the City of Dayton for Law and Justice, Dispatch, and Court s...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Prosecuting Attorney's Office has announced that Cindy L. Horowitz will be joining the office as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney on January 1, 2021. Horowitz has served as an Assistant District Prosecuting Attorney from the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office in New York. Since 2017, she has served in the Domestic Violence and Appeals divisions of that office. Before working as an ADA in Brooklyn, Horowitz was a securities regulations attorney and an attorney for the...
WAITSBURG-Keeping with the 'chaos' theme of the year, 2020 offered some extreme weather events. On Tuesday, February 4, the National Weather Service reported 3.8" of snowfall in the area. On February 5, the snow was washed away by .69" of rainfall, setting a short-lived record. On Friday, February 6, the rainfall record was surpassed once again, with the area receiving .91" in less than 24 hours. The frozen ground, paired with heavy precipitation and sudden, warm weather, created the perfect...
WAITSBURG - "Two weeks to flatten the curve." In March, Washington State enacted a "Stay Home, Stay Safe" mandate as the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the globe. Now, as 2021 knocks loudly, we are still staying home, and Waitsburg has done what Waitsburg always does in a challenging situation: Rolled with the punches It became apparent early that two weeks might have kept the local hospitals from being overwhelmed and kept cases low in our little town, but it wasn't going to stop this virus. Our...
4 isn't necessarily a year we want to look back at too closely just yet. There was no shortage of bleak headlines, it's true, but this year also proved how well the Touchet Valley bands together in adversity. Most viewed stories on Waitsburgtimes.com by month ❏ January 1884 Local racer signs deal with racing company ❏ February 4266 Waitsburg homes and farms underwater ❏ March 3486 Inslee announces statewide social gathering restrictions ❏ April 1477 Walla Walla County COVID-19 cases doubled i...
DAYTON-2020 has been a year like no other in Dayton's collective memory. In February, the county experienced severe flooding on the North and South Touchet rivers and Patit Creek. The flood, which caused $7.2 million in damage to county infrastructure, was followed close on its heels by the COVID-19 pandemic which sent health and safety personnel scrambling to prepare the county. People were told to wear masks and limit social contact with others. Some did, and some did not. Government offices w...
After more than four years with The Times, Teeny McMunn is retiring. Since joining the team, Teeny has handled a long checklist of essential newspaper needs. She has handled advertising, legals, bookkeeping, payroll, taxes, and subscriptions. If you needed a subscription or renewal, Teeny was the gal who made sure the paper was in the mail. Needed to place an ad? Talk to Teeny. Birthdays, obituaries, birth announcements, and the inevitable correction, Teeny was the driving force! Her job didn't...
DAYTON—Dr. Kyle Terry, Medical Chief of Staff at Dayton General Hospital, touched briefly on vaccine distribution and safety protocols for patients and staff when he spoke to the hospital board of commissioners on Dec. 17. Terry said COVID-19 vaccines would be distributed according to population numbers. With 2-percent of the national population, the state of Washington State will receive 2-percent of the vaccine. He thought Walla Walla County would receive the first distribution of the Pfizer v...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg City Council met on December 16 for a regular meeting. The board discussed an inter-fund loan and reviewed budget amendments. The Council also held the final public hearing for the 2021 City Budget. At the November 2020 meeting, the City Council discussed a potential second round of business grants to use the remaining amount of the CARES Act funding the city received. Due to time constraints, it was decided to use the money for infrastructure purposes, focusing on w...
DAYTON—The Dayton Chamber of Commerce has announced the annual award banquet’s cancellation because of COVID-19 restrictions. However, the Chamber is accepting nominations for the Dayton Chamber of Commerce 2020 Community Choice Awards. “It is especially important that we still pay tribute to the exceptional businesses, organizations, and citizens in our community who have gone above and beyond in 2020.” To make a nomination, fill out the electronic form found on the Dayton Chamber website...
DAYTON-This year has been challenging for us all, especially many of the kids served by The Club. To help spread some joy, The Club's Board of Directors and staff hatched a plan to provide holiday gift bags to our members. What happened next is a shining example of the giving nature of our community. Kiwanis Club of Dayton, due in part to a shared board/club member, came up with an idea to provide a little something to The Club's kids while simultaneously supporting local business. The idea:...
PRESCOTT—The Prescott School Board met on December 17 for a regular meeting. A brief update from the Associated Student Body (ASB) Co-Advisor Bob Young, thanking the administration for their continued support of the ASB and the students. Superintendent Justin Bradford said that more than 60 students attended a virtual hot cocoa party. Bradford said the kids were happy to see their teachers and thanked staff for making the event happen. He said they have been having some student engagement p...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg School Board met on December 17, 2020, for a regularly scheduled meeting. Chairman Ross Hamann announced that he would not be running for another term after 18 years of serving on the board. He stated that he is looking forward to spending time with his family, especially his grandkids, and that being on the board for nearly 20 years has been a great joy. The board elected Pam Chapman as the new Board Chair. Secondary school Principal Stephanie Wooderchak reported a...
DAYTON—The Port of Columbia held the annual Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 16. The forum gives community stakeholders a chance to discuss projects they are involved in and provide input into the five and ten-year CEDS project list. Each year, at the end of the meeting, stakeholders are asked to prioritize economic development projects for the community. Fifty-seven stakeholders attended last week’s CEDS meeting and voted for the proje...
DAYTON—At the Dayton City Council meeting on Dec. 16, 2020, Planning and Community Development Director Meagan Hayes discussed progress by the Affordable Housing Commission. The Commission is reviewing multi-family tax exemptions, which could stimulate the construction of new or existing multi-family housing. The commission is also in the process of developing a marketing campaign. The Dayton Planning Commission is working on docketing items and will be opening the Subdivision Code. Hayes s...
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is pleased to welcome Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH, as our new secretary of health. Secretary Shah comes to Washington from Harris County Public Health (HCPH) in Texas, where he served as the executive director and local health authority. Harris County is the third-largest county in the nation, with nearly five million people. His appointment to the position was announced last month by Governor Jay Inslee, and his tenure begins today, Dec. 21. “I want to begin by thanking Governor Inslee, Sec...
WAITSBURG – As reported on Helping Hands of Waitsburg Facebook page, George Downing, a local 84-year-old has been missing since 3:50 p.m., Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. Downing has dementia and his friends and family are asking for help in locating him. He was on foot and was wearing a black and white plaid jacket, brown pants, brown boots, and gloves. He may be carrying a pink coffee mug. If seen, please call (206) 290-6507 or the Walla Walla Sheriff Department or 911. He may have been spotted at around 5:15 p.m. Friday, near main and 9th, walking s...
DAYTON-The Washington State Department of Health expects to receive and distribute 62,000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to 17 sites across 13 counties, beginning this week. According to DOH, the state should receive another 222,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and 183,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine, by the end of Dec., with regular shipments beginning in Jan. About 190 organizations across the state are enrolled as COVID-19 vaccine providers. The majority of enrolled facilities are hosp...
DAYTON—A former long-time Master Gardener for the Boldman House Museum has won the museum committee’s raffle quilt. Instead of keeping the quilt for herself, and without hesitation, Susie Rogers made a gift of it to Susan Richter. Rogers said Susan Richter spent countless hours working on the quilt, along with Diane McKinley, Katie Wamble, Mary Luce, Sylvia Beuhler, and Eulalie Schrek. “Her heart was sewn into that quilt.,” Rogers said. “She loved that quilt so much.” When raffle tickets wen...
WAITSBURG—A little sadness hung over the Touchet River this weekend. Reports of a beaver making its residence near Preston Park were short-lived, and on Saturday, the young mammal was found dead and left in the river. Residents who discovered the beaver reported it midweek last week, and on Saturday, it was reported that the beaver was dead from an apparent gunshot wound. The beaver was relatively small, and observers guessed it to be on the younger side. It was suspected to be building a dam o...
Emergency repairs only, in 2021 DAYTON—The Board of County Commissioners approved and adopted several resolutions presented by the Public Works Director Chuck Eaton at their December 11 meeting. Resolutions include the County Arterial Preservation Program, the Annual Construction Program, The Capital Facility Plan, and the 2021-26 Six-year Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). Eaton said 31 projects, a higher number than usual, are listed on the TIP. The increased number of projects is due to d...