Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 5691
WAITSBURG - This year, the Waitsburg Historical Society has selected the Gagnon Family as the Pioneers of the Year. Members of the family will be honored at Fall Festival on September 21 at the Bruce House Museum. The Gagnon family's deep roots in the Walla Walla Valley farming community date back to the arrival of Marcel Gagnon in 1855. He immigrated from Quebec to the United States and became a citizen at the age of 18 in 1849. Along with other retired Hudson Bay fur trappers, he settled in...
WAITSBURG - September is the American Library Association's Library Card Sign-up Month. The theme "One Card, Endless Possibilities" is a reminder that signing up for a library card can be the first step toward academic achievement and lifelong learning. Weller Public Library Director Sarah Roberts visited Waitsburg Elementary classes on Monday, September 8, to show students how library cards can give them access to books, ebooks, audiobooks, games, and other resources. Roberts also helped new...
WALLA WALLA - This year, the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days lived up to its theme "Hotter than Ever" with high temps and blazing excitement at the Walla Walla Fairgrounds from August 27 to 31. Despite the heat, crowds came to enjoy the show animals, carnival rides, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities. "The Sea Lion Splash!" and the "All-Alaskan Pig Races" were big hits. The farm center's hands-on activities for kids, were updated with the addition of a combine harvester...
WAITSBURG - After surveying Waitsburg residents in 2022 and 2023, the Waitsburg Parks and Recreation District identified a city pool as a top priority. The district was joined by Rural Youth Enrichment Services, Waitsburg Commercial Club, City of Waitsburg, and the Walla Walla YMCA to develop the five-year plan to relocate the city pool. After the district and city agreed to locate the new pool on city property on the north side of the Touchet River, the district selected WMS Aquatics to...
DAYTON-Local winemaker Dave Harvey is running for Dayton City Council, Position 1, against the incumbent Laura Aukerman, who has served on the council since 2022. When asked to talk about the most pressing issues facing the city, Harvey responded, saying the city is facing "skyrocketing" costs for services provided by the county for law enforcement, municipal court, and emergency dispatch. The city's share is around $700,000 this year. The contract between the city and the county for those servi...
DAYTON – The Columbia Port Commissioners met at 5 p.m. on August 13, 2025. Commissioners Seth Bryan, Mike Spring, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were present, and Johnny Watts joined using Zoom. To accommodate all the members of the public who wanted to attend, some watched on Zoom from the port’s office. The high turnout was likely due to the sale of the railroad and right-of-way property. County Commissioner Marty Hall was the first to speak during public comment, stating that he believed the sale would be a disservice to both the co...
DAYTON – The Dayton City Council met at 6 p.m. on August 12, 2025. Mayor Roger Trump and council members James Su’euga, Michael Smith, Glenn Hagfeldt, Laura Aukerman, Kyle Anderson, Shannon McMillen, and Joann Patras were in attendance. During public comment, one resident said they were concerned about two properties they felt were fire hazards due to tall, dry, overgrown weeds. Another citizen called the city’s water bills an obscenity and asked for city assistance to find landscaping alternatives to dead grass. He said, in relationship to fi...
WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg City Council met on Tuesday, August 12, at City Hall. Jillian Henze, Jim Romine, Kevin House, Cindy Bishop, Mayor Marty Dunn, and City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe were in attendance. Court Ruppenthal was absent. The council unanimously approved the Capital Facilities Plan update for 2025. Resolution 2025-794 was passed authorizing Hinchliffe to sign documents for the transfer of property from the Washington State Department of Transportation. The property at the end...
LYONS FERRY, WA - The 12th Annual Swim the Snake was held on Saturday, August 9, at Lyons Ferry Marina. The event raises funds for a regional non-profit, youth educational programs, and a summer swim team. Almost 50 participants swam and paddled the 0.7-mile course between Lyons Ferry State Park and Lyons Ferry Marina, and some made it round-trip. Hannah Holman swam three legs for 2.10 miles. The Blue Mountain Resource Conservation and Development Council organizes the event with local...
WAITSBURG — Since 2021, Columbia Walla Walla Fire District #2 has been looking for a full-time fire chief. The commissioners, volunteers, and community members have worked on a job description that would best serve the community. In February, the board hired Assistant Fire Chief Matt Spring to take over as chief. Spring is a Waitsburg resident with deep roots in the community and firefighting. “I grew up in a household watching my father work as a firefighter, then a fire chief, my entire childhood,” said Spring. Spring began volunteering in Wa...
DAYTON - On August 2, The Scotsman, a new wedding and community events center in Dayton, officially opened. Emma Schutt, Kelli Schutt, and Gerrit DeVos did the honors at Saturday's ribbon-cutting ceremony sponsored by the Port of Columbia in celebration of their achievement. Guests were invited to tour the remodeled space and meet local vendors, including Hotel Hardware, Tipsy Boards, and Fifth & Willow, that are available for events at the new venue. DeVos, owner of DeVos Builders, said it...
WAITSBURG - The week of July 28 was busy for many Waitsburg youth. A play in Dayton, a band concert in Walla Walla, Vacation Bible School in Waitsburg, and a basketball skills camp in the Tri-Cities. The Red Truck Tour, from the Missoula Children's Theatre, brought "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" to the Liberty Theater in Dayton. Two MCT directors worked with over 40 kids, including eight from Waitsburg, to learn lines, choreography, and build stage skills. In only one week, the students...
DAYTON - The Harting Grade Fire was first reported around 4 p.m. on Friday, July 25, less than three miles from Dayton. After burning 336 acres, the fire was contained on Sunday, July 27. Acting Columbia County Fire District 3 Fire Chief Michael Field requested that the Washington State Fire Marshal implement the Fire Service Resource Mobilization Plan to provide resources to assist local firefighters, including air support. The Columbia County Sheriff's Office contacted residents on S....
DAYTON - "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" has come to The Liberty Theater with creatures, forest animals, a queen, and diminutive miners. The familiar red truck from the Missoula Children's Theatre arrived in town on July 27. This year, the talented duo who will produce the show are friends who met at Central Michigan University. They graduated in 2024, where Ashley Chalela, 23, earned a BFA in acting/directing, and Willem Jewell, 23, a BAA in theatre and interpretation with a minor in...
WAITSBURG - The increased activity in Preston Park has been noticeable this year, with lots of action at the splash pad and pickleball courts. In addition, weekly camps have been organized by Waitsburg's Parks and Recreation, held in the park and at Simply Sawdust's "Slab." Adding to the Cheer Camp the P&R held last year, are pickleball, skateboarding, fly fishing, and soccer. Across from Preston Park, Palouse Valley Community Center is offering weekly summer camps with activities including...
DAYTON & WALLA WALLA - Local kids are in for a week of theater and music, including live performances to share what they've learned with the community. The Missoula Children's Theatre and Walla Walla Symphony and Music Organization's Rock Camp are offering free summer programs the week of July 28. The Missoula Children's Theatre is returning to Dayton's Liberty Theater with a production of "Snow White". The program is open to kids entering first grade through 12th grade. Pre-registration is...
SNOHOMISH, WA - Scouts from Scouting America Troop 337 just returned from Camp Pigott, a camp organized by the Chief Seattle Council. The eight scouts participated in classes including archery, canoeing, kayaking, leatherworking, and swimming. Each scout who attended camp earned between two and four merit badges during the week. Sidian Stegall, Katherine Roberts, Natalia Alleman, and Caedmon Gagnon all received awards for Archery Marksmanship. Troop 337 is part of Scouting America's combined...
DAYTON — The Friends of the Pool Committee in Columbia County, Washington, was awarded several grants for its program to provide basic swimming lessons for area youth, and advanced training for older kids wanting to be certified as lifeguards and swimming instructors. Dayton and Columbia County have not had an operational public swimming pool since the end of 2017. Since then, many local kids have not had the opportunity to learn how to swim and are at risk of drowning. The Innovia Foundation awarded the committee $13,000. The committee r...
DAYTON — Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council meeting to order at 6 p.m. on July 8, 2025. Trump, council members James Su’euga, Michael Smith, Glenn Hagfeldt, Laura Aukerman, Kyle Anderson, Shannon McMillen, and Joann Patras were present at Dayton City Hall. Sheriff Joe Helm reminded everyone that National Night Out is August 5, 2025, at Pietrzycki City Park. The sheriff said that anyone interested in purchasing surplus vehicles from the Sheriff’s Department can contact the county. Su’euga asked Helm to provide more details in the...
DAYTON – The Port of Columbia Commissioners held their regular meeting at 5 p.m. on July 8, 2025, at the Port of Columbia office. Commissioners Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, Mike Spring, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were present. The meeting was well attended by the public, likely in anticipation that the commissioners would vote on the proposed sale of the railroad property during the meeting. They did not. Dickinson said Jasper Mountain Venture has leased space at the Cameron Street Coworking property. The company provides services i...
DAYTON -The American Heart Association recognized the Columbia County Health System with five Get With The Guidelines awards. The awards are given to participating hospitals and health systems that demonstrate a commitment to follow the AHA program's research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke. The CCHA participates in the Get With the Guidelines and Mission: Lifeline programs, which provide hospitals nationwide with up-to-date expertise from the American Heart...
WALLA WALLA - On Sunday, July 13, Fort Walla Walla Museum will become the hiding spot for a seasoned criminal, Orvy Whipstitch Horvathan, an escapee from the Washington Territorial Prison. He is a member of the Turkey Creek Gang, known for their horse-thieving, cow tipping, and audacious robberies. Fort Walla Walla welcomes visitors to hunt down clues detailing this dastardly escapee's run from justice. Bring your wits and gumption to follow Orvy's trail and help the territorial sheriff find...
WALLA WALLA — Throughout the growing season, volunteer Master Gardeners share their extensive knowledge in various gardening practices with their local community. Master Gardeners are university-trained volunteers who provide research-based information about gardening, environmental stewardship, and horticulture topics. They receive in-depth training, often offered by universities or their extension services. The Walla Walla WSU Expansion Office in Walla Walla is accepting applications for its 2025/26 Master Gardener Program, which begins in Oc...
WAITSBURG - After the success of last year's cheer camp, Waitsburg Parks & Recreation added six new summer activities. The first was Skateboard Camp, held at The Slab next to Simply Sawdust. For three days, eight beginner skaters worked with coaches John Langford, Austin Casey, and Grant Godard to learn the basics and have a great time. Kids love to jump on a board, but they don't always have the skills or skater's etiquette to ride safely. With a focus on safety, coaches began each day with a...
PRESCOTT- The Prescott High School All-Class Reunion was held on Saturday, June 28, 2025. Along with 1975 and 2000 class members, Jack McCaw was recognized from the class of 1945. Accompanied by his daughter Laurie Withers, McCaw was honored with a slideshow including pictures of his grade school basketball team, his high school and Navy photos, his late wife Lauretta's senior photo, and a video of him singing in a quartet at a Liberty Theater play. McCaw enlisted in the U.S. Navy just before...
