Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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DAYTON – The Dayton School Board held its June 18, 2025, meeting at the high school library at 6:30 p.m. Superintendent Jeremy Wheatley, Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen, directors Grant Griffin and Ryan Paulson were present in the library. Aneesha Dieu joined the meeting on Zoom, and Pat Davidson did not attend. The board approved the consent agenda, which included hiring Jamie Trump as the high school assistant volleyball coach, Cody Chapman as the high school head football coach, Joe Howard as the middle school girls’ basketball head coach, and...
WAITSBURG - On July 4th, the Waitsburg Historical Society will dedicate a new flag at the Bruce Museum and invites the public to join the celebration. The free event will follow Waitsburg's Patriots Parade starting in front of Banner Bank and ending at the museum's lawn. The Patriots Parade started in 2011, when Laurette McCaw challenged her husband Jack McCaw and the late Tom Baker to carry a United States flag down Main Street on the 4th of July, wearing shorts. John and Marilyn Stellwagen...
WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg City Council met on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at City Hall. Mayor Marty Dunn, council members Jillian Henze, Jim Romine, Kevin House, Court Ruppenthal, Jennifer Bishop, and City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe were present. In public comment, the board heard from Joy Smith, who shared news that Sherwood Trust had provided $173,000 for Common Roots Housing to purchase two Waitsburg parcels. Waitsburg Parks and Recreation Commissioner Wendy Carter informed the board that...
COLLEGE PLACE - The Blue Mountain Land Trust has helped secure the future of two local, community-focused farms in the Walla Walla Valley. Hayshaker Farm offers a wide selection of organic produce, including vegetables, fruit, and herbs. As part of its commitment to values-based farming, Hayshaker utilizes draft horses for its fieldwork, including plowing, discing, harrowing, cultivating, and harvesting. The farm has rented 11.53 acres of prime farmland at the edge of College Place. The...
DAYTON — Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council to order at 6 p.m. on June 10, 2025. Trump, council members James Su’euga, Michael Smith, Glenn Hagfeldt, Laura Aukerman, and Joann Patras were present. Shannon McMillen and Kyle Anderson did not attend. Sheriff Joe Helm said May was the busiest month of the year so far, with 665 incidents, 497 of those taking place within the City of Dayton. He said fourth-grader Cameron Montoya had been selected for the “Sheriff for a Day Program.” The department will recognize the student at the Wal...
DAYTON – The Port of Columbia Commissioners met at the Lyons Ferry Marina at 5 p.m. on June 11, 2025. Commissioners Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, Mike Spring, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were present. During public comment, Chuck Ketterman asked about the urgency to sell the railroad, expressed by Watts at the last meeting. He said the commissioners should seek carefully thought-out answers to questions concerning the sale of the railroad, as it is an important issue. Watts responded, saying there was no urgency other than what e...
DAYTON—The administration at the Columbia County Hospital District (CCHD) has received notice from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid that federal dollars are available again this year for Washington State’s direct-funded Medicaid programs. Fifty-seven state-wide public hospital districts, including CCHD, rely on the Washington State Safety Net Assessment and the Distressed Hospital Grant to maintain a satisfactory level of care. During the first quarter of this year, hospital adm...
WAITSBURG – On June 16, the Waitsburg Parks and Recreation District announced it is running a levy on the November General Election ballot to fund the district and facilitate the reopening of a Waitsburg community pool. The announcement took place at the proposed site of the new pool facility. Waitsburg Parks and Rec and Friends of the Waitsburg Pool have raised over $90,000, selected a new pool site, identified a builder, and had the site confirmed for viability through a 2-D hydraulic flood s...
DAYTON - Elvis was a big hit at Dayton's All Wheels Friday night. He entertained the crowd for an hour and a half on the courthouse lawn. Professional Elvis Tribute Artist Moses Snow performed as the rock and roll icon in his prime. Snow, from Fort Worth, Texas, was named Elvis Tribute Artist Champion at the 2024 Penticton Elvis Festival in British Columbia. The young performer placed first in the 2025 Charlotte Motor Speedway Elvis Festival, which qualifies him as a semifinalist in the 2025...
WAITSBURG - The Weller Public Library is ready for summer vacation. Library Director Sarah Roberts and her staff kicked off the fun with visits from Waitsburg Elementary School students on Thursday, June 5. The students, their teachers, and aides were given a tour of the library's new "messy" space for projects and received backpacks that included a book, sunglasses, and a water bottle. The summer theme is "Level Up at Your Library!" Roberts told the students to get ready for lots of games,...
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg Lions Club members held their annual Ladies and Volunteers night at the Lions building on June 3. Lions club members prepared a delicious dinner, and the ladies won pots of flowers purchased from Nancy's Dream Garden. After dinner, President Connor Talbott spoke of highlights of the club, and then he presented the Lion of the Year Award. "I am proud to be able to give Tom House and Seamus House the Lion of the Year award. These young community leaders have gone above and...
WAITSBURG - The 129th Annual Waitsburg High School Commencement took place on Friday, June 7, in the high school gymnasium. Twenty-three students from the Class of 2025 walked to the traditional "Pomp & Circumstance" graduation march. The WHS band played the "Star-Spangled Banner," followed by an opening message from Superintendent Carol Clarke. Valedictorian Cedar Stegall and Salutatorian Lucas VanHoose delivered their speeches to their class and families. Clarke presented Madison Kaehler with...
DAYTON-The Dayton P.E.O., Chapter BJ, is celebrating its one hundredth anniversary with a month-long exhibit at the Dayton Historical Depot Museum, and a reception for members in June at the Waitsburg Town Hall. The Philanthropic Education Organization is an international organization focused on helping women achieve educational goals by raising funds to support academic projects through grants, scholarships, and awards. P.E.O. owns Cottey College, a nationally ranked, fully accredited, liberal...
WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg City Council met on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at City Hall. Mayor Marty Dunn, Council Members Jillian Henze, Jim Romine, Court Ruppenthal, Kevin House, Cindy Bishop, and City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe were present. During public comment, Cindy Daves told the council that the Waitsburg Gun Club was asked to host the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's National Hunting and Fishing Day event this year. She said the Lions Club and Puget Sound Energy had each...
DAYTON – The Dayton School Board met at 5:30 p.m. on May 21, 2025. Superintendent Jeremy Wheatley and board members Grant Griffin and Pat Davidson were present in the school library. Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen attended remotely on Zoom. Aneesha Dieu joined about 26 minutes later on Zoom. Ryan Paulson did not attend. The board approved the consent agenda, which included approval of a $3,000 donation to the school library from Neighbors United for Progress, a trip to Silverwood for the band, and an overnight trip to the State Softball t...
WAITSBURG - Gloria Wilson, owner of Simply Sawdust, is offering free 10' by 10' spaces for this year's Waitsburg City Wide Yard Sale. The spaces will be on the property called The Slab, adjacent to Simply Sawdust. It is an ideal location for the sale, offering excellent visibility, ample off-street parking, and vendor comradery. Wilson said yard sale vendors should bring tables and items to sell. Anyone needing more space can contact Wilson at (360) 852-6437 or at Simply Sawdust at 101 Main...
This year's Waitsburg Celebration Day Parade Marshal Barbara Danforth waving to the crowd. Danforth was the 1948 Days of Real Sport Queen and Waitsburg Historical Society 's 2023 Pioneer of the Year....
DAYTON-The Dayton Days rodeo returns to the Dayton Fairgrounds this Memorial Day Weekend. The event's future was uncertain after a dispute between Dayton Days, Inc. board members resulted in a schism in leadership. The nonprofit has hosted the rodeo since it was formed in 1966. Before the split, "Dayton Chronicle" owners, Loyal and Charlotte Baker, served as president and secretary of the nonprofit. They say they still represent the organization which elected new board members. Deanna Vandever,...
DAYTON — Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council to order at 6 p.m. on May 13, 2025. Trump, council members James Su’euga, Kyle Anderson, Michael Smith, Glenn Hagfeldt, and Joann Patras were present at City Hall. Shannon McMillen did not attend. Laura Aukerman participated using Zoom. Belinda Larsen, the Chamber of Commerce Director, said the road closure permits for the Dayton Days parade and All Wheels Weekend have been submitted. She said the chamber will soon put the Dayton High School Senior banners on the Main Street light pol...
DAYTON — The Columbia County Health System is introducing PayZen, a new program to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for patients. PayZen is an innovative patient financing solution that uses AI-powered solutions to tackle healthcare affordability. The program simplifies medical bills by offering interest-free payment plans tailored to individual patients’ needs. CCHS patients can access zero-interest, no-fee payment plans with a quick and automated enrollment process without impacting their credit scores through the new program. S...
PULLMAN, Wash. - The retiring 2024-2025 Washington FFA State Officer team was recognized at the 95th Convention and Expo in Pullman, Wash., on May 10. State FFA Treasurer Makenna Barron has been an FFA member in Waitsburg for the last five years, competing in career and leadership development events, including the Livestock Evaluation, Vet Science, and speaking. She showed market swine in the Walla Walla and Columbia County fairs and shows. When she was 12, Barron was the 2018 Celebration Days...
WAITSBURG - Five Waitsburg High School students and two advisors attended the annual Youth and Government session from May 7 through May 10 at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia. Around seventeen delegations with 350 students from across the state participated in the YMCA program. The Youth and Government is a national YMCA program that allows U.S. students to learn about government policymaking firsthand. This unique program allows thousands of teens nationwide in state-organized,...
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg High School students enjoyed dress-up days the week before the 2025 Prom on May 3. The Prom Court, which their fellow students voted on, included freshmen Aubrey King and Bryer Paul, sophomores Pilar Diaz-Easton and Rollin Carpenter, juniors Matti Carter and Victor Whitmore, and seniors Mylie Jones, Cedar Stegall, Cougar Anderson, and Lucas VanHoose. Lucas VanHoose and Cedar Stegall were crowned King and Queen. This year's prom theme was Vegas Nights. The school held the...
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg Parks and Recreation District received the hydraulics flood study from Ardurra Group, Inc., confirming the viability of the proposed pool site on the north side of the Touchet River. A previous study by PBS Engineering and Environmental indicated a high probability the site could be used. The study in March by Ardurra confirmed the viability of the proposed design and construction for a new Waitsburg community pool based on an updated survey and detailed 2D modeling of the...
WAITSBURG - Lions Club President Conner Talbott estimated that over 700 adults enjoyed the 15th annual rib feed at the Don Thomas Building on Saturday, May 3. "We had a better-than-expected turnout at this year's rib feed," said Talbott. "We are grateful to the volunteers and attendees who made this event a success. The funds raised will go towards scholarships, youth sports, vision assistance, and other local projects."...
