Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 954 - 978 of 5670
PENDLETON, Ore.—Umatilla National Forest officials ask forest visitors to use caution, plan ahead and know the weather and forest conditions before heading out into the woods. The Forest has already received snow in higher elevations this fall. Snowstorms can often bring wind, snow, and rain that can substantially impact road and trail conditions, causing hazards and obstructions in roadways. Fall weather can be unpredictable and is a busy time of year on the Umatilla National Forest. Hunting is a primary activity during this time, inc...
DAYTON-Mandi Wendt has announced the closure of the Weinhard Café and Bakery. Wendt said in a Facebook post, there is more to running a small restaurant than just serving people. The time spent planning the menu, cleaning, maintaining the building and equipment, and doing the book work is enough to make a person question why anyone on earth would want to. "I can tell you why a person wants to do it, though. It is because they love doing it," she said. "After seven years of ownership, my love...
SPOKANE—Last weekend, my mom and I had to head to Spokane while a family member was in surgery. Sacred Heart's COVID-19 restrictions only allow for one visitor every 24 hours, so we were unable to go into the hospital and decided to check out a few plant nurseries while we waited for surgery updates. My mom and I are both houseplant collectors. Plants have become my 'quiet-place,' and I've spent several hours just wandering around local nurseries as a way to destress. We spent a couple of h...
The combination of a Sunday morning, the 5:30 a.m. flight, and a prediction of snow hardly made for the perfect travel day, but we made it to the airport on time, before the snow without hitting a deer, checked our bag, and zipped through security. A smooth start to our trip to Los Angeles for our doctor and dentist appointments. I love to fly. I still get an adrenaline rush when the plane takes off, and admittedly I breathe a quiet sigh of relief when the plane safely lands. I also love the...
WALLA WALLA-Blue Mountain Television proudly presents Secret Life of the Forest: The Northern Blue Mountains to stream for free. The 13-part series explores the natural history of the northern Blue Mountains. Bask in the beauty and splendor of this massive mountain range and the plants and animals that inhabit this little-known landscape without leaving the comfort of home. Author and conservationist Mike Denny provides context throughout the journey connecting wildlife to our local landscape's...
OLYMPIA—Washington State Parks will offer free, live-streamed weekly virtual programs from Goldendale Observatory State Park Heritage Site. Troy Carpenter, State Parks interpretive specialist, will present the one-hour Goldendale Observations programs at 7 p.m. on Sunday evenings, starting Nov. 15, via Washington State Parks' YouTube channel. The upcoming schedule of programs: Sunday, November 15 Surrounded by Robots: More than 60 years of satellites State Parks' first YouTube live show will b...
DAYTON-Coldwell Banker Walla Walla has donated $800 to The Club for operating costs. A check was presented by local realtors Benedicte and Loic Carbonnier. "On behalf of The Club, I wish to extend our sincerest thanks to Coldwell Banker Walla Walla for their generous financial support. Community partners like Coldwell Banker are critical to our ability to provide important programs to the youth of the Touchet Valley." said Jim Pearson, The Club's Director....
WAITSBURG-Not everyone is as excited to wake up in Hawaii and go to bed in Washington as Lark, the dog. On October 28, a Hercules C-130 flew more than 600 dogs and cats from the Kauai Humane Society to Seattle's SeaTac Airport, in what is being called the 'largest animal rescue flight in history' by Hawaii's Emergency Management. The Kauai Humane Society is an open-admissions shelter that takes in more than 3,000 animals each year; however, there are limited adoptive homes since it is an island...
WALLA WALLA—Walla Walla County has signed a contract with Providence St. Mary Medical Center to provide COVID-19 quarantine housing at the Providence Southgate Medical Park’s main building (the former Walla Walla General Hospital) in the 400 unit. The unit would provide voluntary housing for COVID-19 positive individuals who cannot successfully quarantine in their current living situation and are not ill enough to require professional care or hospitalization. The unit will serve as a small motel. Walla Walla County previously provided qua...
DAYTON—There are six new cases of COVID-19 since Tuesday, October 29, as reported by Public Health Administrator Martha Lanman to the County Board of Health on Monday. She said the six cases in Columbia County are from two different sources and are unrelated. There were 13 tests performed over the weekend. Lanman said she and Dayton School District Superintendent Guy Strot have agreed to allow in-person instruction at school to proceed. “We feel like the kids are safer in school,” she said....
Statewide measures Referendum Measure No. 90 Approved 59.65% Advisory vote No. 32 Repealed 59.6% Advisory vote No. 33 Repealed 57.55% Advisory vote No. 34 Repealed 60.19% Advisory vote No. 35 Repealed 52.74% Senate Joint Resolution No. 8212 Rejected 52.61% Federal Candidates Congressional District 5 Cathy McMorris Rodgers 59.38% Dave Wilson 40.44% Statewide Candidates Governor Jay Inslee 59.37% Loren Culp 40.33% Lt Governor Denny Heck 47.21% Marko Liias 33.73% Secretary of State Kim Wyman 51.75% Gael Tarleton 48.14% State Treasurer Mike...
WAITSBURG-The future is sunny and bright for the Prescott School District. The school board plans to make a final decision on a solar array project that can save the district thousands of dollars in energy costs. Apollo Solutions Group (ASG) approached former Prescott School District Superintendent Brett Cox before Justin Bradford took over the position this year. An Energy-Savings Company (ESCO), ASG works with clients, including school districts, universities, colleges, and city and county...
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) continues progress on COVID-19 vaccine distribution planning efforts. DOH is encouraging healthcare providers to prepare to enroll as approved COVID-19 vaccine providers, sending an official letter with enrollment information. Provider enrollment is the first step in setting up approved COVID-19 vaccine provider locations. Long-term care facilities can also enroll in a program that will provide a COVID-19 vaccine for their residents and staff. On October 16, the White House announced a f...
Olympia—Washington State’s Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program opens Sunday, November 1, for a new enrollment period, providing families a fresh opportunity to start saving for future college costs while their children are young. The 2020-2021 enrollment period runs through May 31, 2021, with a unit purchase price of $133. As a 529 prepaid tuition program, the State of Washington guarantees that a family’s GET savings will keep pace with in-state college tuition and state-mandated fees. While Washington tuition rates are the basis for G...
WALLA WALLA—Walla Walla County has seen a drastic uptick in COVID-19 cases, with more than 300 cases being reported over the past two weeks. On Sunday, November 1, sixty positive cases were reported, which has been the largest daily case count for the county since the beginning of the pandemic. Health officials say they are seeing evidence of increased transmission at social and religious gatherings, long term care facilities, and institutions. Smaller outbreaks are occurring at some businesses, with the larger outbreaks at institutions and l...
Free public presentations on history, politics, music, philosophy, and more WALLA WALLA-Through the Walla Walla Public Library, the Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau talks are free and available to the public. The program compiles a roster of presenters who are professors, artists, activists, historians, performers, journalists, and others-all chosen not only for their expertise but their ability to inspire discussion with people of all ages and backgrounds. Most recently, Washington State...
DAYTON-Columbia County Emergency Management Director Ashley Strickland usually devotes ninety percent of his working time to the E911 Dispatch Center and the remaining ten percent to emergency management. That went out the window during the first six months of the year. He found himself spending only ten percent of his time with the Dispatch center, and the other ninety percent in emergency management, all because of the February flood and the COVID-19 pandemic. "The county has a responsibility...
The Green Giant outside of Dayton, Washington gets a needed refresh with paint and weed maintenance....
OLYMPIA — With seven days to go until the Nov. 3 General Election, the Office of the Secretary of State is reminding voters to return their ballots as soon as possible. Voters are encouraged to return their ballots by placing them in any of the nearly 500 ballot drop boxes statewide. Drop-box locations can be found by logging in to VoteWA.gov, as well as on the Secretary of State’s Office website. Ballots may also be returned by U.S. mail—no postage required—but must be postmarked by Nov. 3...
DAYTON—Only the top seven applicants out of a field of thirty have been chosen to receive funding from the Washington State Public Works Board for their broadband projects. The Port of Columbia was not among them, having ranked in the middle of the field at number twelve by the board last Friday. “What this shows is there is a huge need for better broadband service and not enough funding to go around,” The Port’s Executive Director Jennie Dickinson said Dickinson said the Port’s applicati...
As many people know, Mike Ferrians recently resigned as manager of the theater. The Touchet Valley Arts Council (TVAC) thanks him for all he has done for the theater and hopes he will participate in future live productions. The TVAC and staff have been working for several months in efforts to reopen the Liberty Theater. Many changes have been implemented at the theater to meet state-mandated guidance to keep guests, staff, and volunteers as safe as possible and allow us to legally reopen and remain open as a business. Unfortunately, the process...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg City Council met Wednesday, October 21, for a regularly scheduled meeting. Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the council is meeting via phone conference. Call-in information is available on the City’s website, www.cityofwaitsburg.com. City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe reviewed the second payment application for the Taggart Road Waterline/Extension project. The second payment included paving services on the new Hazelbaker Road and water line repair/replacement. Con...
PRESCOTT—The Prescott School Board met Thursday, October 22, via Zoom call for their regularly scheduled meeting. Prescott School Board members are Chairman Preston Brock, Vice-Chair Kevin Chabre, Director Eva Madrigal, Director Erik Young, and Director Jacob Stueckle. John Graham, Apollo Solutions Group representative, was accompanied by Mike Fuentes, Division Manager and mechanical engineer, to help answer technical questions for a solar array project that the school district has been e...
DAYTON—Dayton School District Superintendent Guy Strot talked about the effect the COVID-19 challenge was having on staff and students when he addressed the school board at last week’s meeting. He said he is very proud of the staff and students in the elementary school and in the middle and high schools for following the rules and following the District’s Reopening Plan. The teachers are doing an amazing job of “soldiering on” during this stressful time. There is a good working partnersh...
WAITSBURG—Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Gala are all names we recognize. How about Fall Jeneting, McAfee, and Nero? Thanks to the work of Dave Benscoter and the Lost Apple Project, you may become familiar with a couple of recently-rediscovered lost apple varieties. The Lost Apple Project came to be after Dave Benscoter was asked to help pick apples for a friend outside of Spokane. Benscoter grew up around apple trees and quickly determined that none of the fruit was usable, but he couldn’t quite kic...
