Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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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 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...
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...
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 Dayton School Board met at 5:30 p.m. on April 16, 2025. Superintendent Jeremy Wheatley, the Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen, and board members Aneesha Dieu, Grant Griffin, Pat Davidson, and Ryan Paulson were present. The board approved the consent agenda, including a $1,500 grant from Skyline Adventures to buy ski clothes for the fourth and fifth-grade ski program. Three overnight FFA trips were approved in the agenda for the State Convention in Pullman, the National Convention in Indianapolis, and an FFA Officer training in Asotin. T...
DAYTON—Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council meeting to order at 6 p.m. on April 8, 2025. Trump, council members James Su’euga, Kyle Anderson, Michael Smith, Laura Aukerman, Glenn Hagfeldt, and Shannon McMillen were present at city hall. City Council member Joann Patras did not attend. In public comment, Michael Brady Patton told the council that he moved to Dayton three to four years ago after retiring from the pharmaceutical and medical device field. He spoke about his water bill, saying there was no water usage data from Dece...
DAYTON – The Dayton School Board met in the high school library at 5:30 p.m. on March 19, 2025. Superintendent Jeremy Wheatley, Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen, board members Aneesha Dieu, Grant Griffin, and Ryan Paulson were present. Pat Davidson was in attendance. The board approved the consent agenda, including a gift of $269.70 to the Class of 2025 from the Class of 2025 parents. The consent agenda included the following personnel changes: Jack McCaw was hired as HS Assistant Baseball Coach, the resignation of Ajay McNarland as MS Head V...
DAYTON- Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council to order at 6 p.m. on March 11, 2025. Trump, Council Members James Su’euga, Joann Patras, Michael Smith, Laura Aukerman, Glenn Hagfeldt, and Shannon McMillen met at city hall. Kyle Anderson was not present. During public comment, Columbia County Treasurer Carla Rowe said the 15-day grace period for city utility payments was too short since bills sometimes arrive too late for residents to respond. She also mildly admonished the mayor and council for making jabs at the County Administration...
DAYTON - A helicopter spraying weeds along the South Touchet River south of Dayton flew into transmission lines and crashed Wednesday afternoon. The pilot of the Bell 206B helicopter, who has not been named, was the only occupant and was killed in the crash. The crash occurred shortly before 12:30 p.m. about six miles south of Dayton across the river from the South Touchet Road. Numerous emergency vehicles from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office and Columbia County Fire District 3 were at the...
DAYTON — The Port of Columbia County Executive Director Jennie Dickinson received a Government Service Agency email on February 25, terminating the building lease between the port and the Columbia County Farm Service Agency, effective August 31. The FSA houses the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The NRCS offers programs that support conservation work in agriculture, timber, and pasture lands. For example, Dickinson said her family utilized an NRCS cost-share program for pre...
DAYTON — Columbia County Park and Recreation Pool District board met for their regular monthly meeting at 5 p.m. on February 27 at the Dayton Fire Station. Board members Diane McKinley, Lisa Naylor, Terri Hessler, and Katie Leid were present. Friends of the Pool Chairperson Fred Crow and Cole Massey, the district’s website designer, were also in attendance.In February, the board applied for a Washington State legislative grant for $250,000 and expect to hear if it is awarded in May. The money will come from Washington State Capital Budget fun...
DAYTON - During the 2024 fall migration season, the National Audubon Society was concerned that the avian flu's virulent H5N1, or HPAI strain, could spread to and by wild songbirds at backyard feeding stations. During last year's migration, wild and domestic birds' infection and death rates soared. The virus spreads along bird migration routes, or flyways, to the detriment of many birds, mainly waterfowl, during the fall migration. There is good news for songbirds, though. According to an...
DAYTON — Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council to order at 6 p.m. on February 11, 2025. Trump, council members James Su’euga, Joann Patras, Michael Smith, Laura Aukerman, Kyle Anderson, and Shannon McMillen were present. During the public comment period, Dayton resident Theresa Eier spoke about the recall petition she intends to file against Columbia County Sheriff Helm. Eier also discussed her litigation against Columbia County for “withholding records and a lack of transparency.” Eier said there were 600 documents withheld for 600...
DAYTON — Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council meeting to order at 6 p.m. on January 14, 2025. Trump and council members James Su’euga, Joann Patras, Michael Smith, and Shannon McMillen attended the meeting at Dayton City Hall. Kyle Anderson was not present, and Laura Aukerman joined the meeting later. Sheriff Helm reported 565 incidents in December, consisting of 134 traffic stops, 23 other traffic calls, one DUI investigation, and 16 traffic accidents. Helm reminded everyone to drive appropriately, considering the winter weather. H...
DAYTON – The Port of Columbia Board of Commissioners held its December meeting on December 18, 2024, at 5 p.m. Commissioners Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, Mike Spring, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were at the port's conference room. The meeting began with a public comment period where county residents, including local farmers, questioned selling the port's railroad and right-of-way. Concerns included the possible adverse effects on grain transport should the Snake River dams be r...
DAYTON – The Dayton School Board met in the high school library at 6:30 p.m. on December 18, 2024. Superintendent Jeremy Wheatley, Business Manager Jana Eaton, and Student Representative Lila Hutchens were present. Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen and board members Aneesha Dieu, Grant Griffin, and Ryan Paulson were present; Paulson attended using Zoom. Zac Fabian was not present. The board passed the consent agenda, which included surplus items and approval of a $1,000 grant from NW Grain Growers for a new baseball/softball scoreboard. An ASB r...
DAYTON — Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council to order at 6:00 p.m., November 19, 2024. Mayor Roger Trump and council members Tseeny McMunn, Michael Smith, James Su’euga, Laura Aukerman, and Shannon McMillen were at Dayton City Hall. Joann Patras and Kyle Anderson were not present. Duane Goff rose to speak as the only member of the public to speak during the first public comment period concerning the Fourth Street sidewalk project. He spoke on the same topic at a recent city council meeting. He began by asking, “Who is the city?” He...
DAYTON – The Dayton School Board met in the high school library at 6:30 p.m. on November 20, 2024. The board passed the consent agenda, including approval to hire Jonathan Sanchez as an assistant coach for Middle School Boys Basketball, to accept Michael Field as a volunteer HS Boys Basketball coach, and accept the resignation of Carly Benavides from the position of Title I Paraprofessional. Also within the consent agenda was approval to hold practice for winter sports on Sundays when necessary. The Associated Student Body (ASB) report, i...
DAYTON - The Dayton Historic Depot Museum announced the return of the Holiday Market at the Depot during the town-wide Christmas Kick-Off event on Friday, November 29, and Saturday, November 30. This annual market will showcase handcrafted goods from local artisans and vendors, offering unique holiday gifts and treats for visitors of all ages. The Market at the Depot will feature local vendors offering handcrafted gifts, many priced under $40, making it the perfect opportunity for holiday...
DAYTON - The Liberty Theater and TVAC Productions will present "Fiddler on the Roof" premiering on November 14 and running through December 7, 2024. The musical is based on "Tevye and his Daughters" and other stories by Sholem Aleichem. Tevye, a poor dairyman in the village of Anatevka, tries to maintain his Jewish religious and cultural traditions as outside influences encroach upon his family's lives. With the help of a colorful and tight-knit Jewish community, Tevye tries to protect his five...
DAYTON – The Dayton School Board met in the high school library at 6:30 p.m. on October 16, 2024. School Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen, board members Zac Fabian, Ryan Paulson, Superintendent Jeremy Wheatley, and Business Manager Jana Eaton were present. School board member Aneesha Dieu attended online, and Grant Griffin was absent. The board passed the consent agenda, which, among other things, approved hiring a Middle School Head Boys Basketball coach, accepting a donation of $450 for football helmets from Char and Michael Campbell, and r...
DAYTON — The Port of Columbia Commissioners held their regular meeting at 5 p.m. on October 9, 2024. Port Commissioners Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, Mike Spring, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were present. During public comment, Blue Mountain Action Council’s CEO, Danielle Garbe Reser, said she had hoped to be closing on the Knoblock Apartments property the next day; however, the deal fell through. The property’s owners had refused a two-month extension the Washington State Housing Finance Commission required to complete the fundi...
