Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 1201 - 1225 of 1905
DAYTON - In November, the Coalition for Youth and Families hosted the movie Paper Tigers at the Liberty Theater. Many community members have since responded, asking what is next. Coalition members say they hope to use the information and momentum from that event to help redefine their work. And they’re asking for the community’s help. Community members will soon be invited to a partial-day or day-long Strategic/Action Planning session that would take a look at the needs and resources of the community through the eyes of different groups, inc...
DAYTON – The news in Dayton and Columbia County in 2015 was highlighted by fires and marijuana legalization and updates from the Columbia County Health System and Columbia Pulp. Here's a brief review: January Keep Kate: A group of Dayton area residents formed a group whose purpose was to encourage the Dayton School Board to retain interim middle and high school principal Kate Wenzel permanently in that position. Wenzel was hired for the 2014-15 school year only, to replace outgoing principal A...
DAYTON – When you're browsing in Snapdragon Floral and Gifts shortly before Christmas, you might think you've traveled to the North Pole. Santa's workshop must look something like this. "We love Christmas," says Cara Watts, who, with her mother, Vicky Beckmeyer, operates the recently renamed Snapdragon. It shows. Their store on Dayton's Main Street sells Christmas decorations year-round. But as the holiday season approaches, the Christmas spirit takes over, with beautiful decorations and w...
DAYTON – On Wednesday, Columbia Pulp CEO John Begley presented an updated timeline for groundbreaking for the firm’s straw processing plant, which it plans to build near Lyons Ferry in northwest Columbia County. He also talked about moving the company’s laboratory from Seneca Foods, Corp., to the former Columbia Cut Stock buildings. The discussions took place during the annual Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) meeting, held at the Columbia County Fire District #3 station. (See...
DAYTON – Community leaders gathered at a luncheon on Dec. 16 at the Columbia County Fire District #3 station for Columbia County’s annual Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to amend and prioritize projects on a five-year economic development project list. Before the priority discussion began, John Begley CEO of Columbia Pulp, Inc., spoke about the latest plans for that firm’s development of a straw pulp plant near Lyons Ferry (see artic...
DAYTON—At a public hearing on December 2, the Columbia County Commissioners considered, and adopted, three resolutions pertaining to road projects for 2016. The Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program covers the years 2016 to 2021. It includes an updated listing of proposed road improvement projects, along with a revenue and expenditure analysis. A bridge inspection report for that was prepared by County Engineer Andrew Woods. The annual construction program for 2016 describes ten road p...
DAYTON – The southeast Washington ski season begins Friday, as Ski Bluewood opens its mountain to skiers and snowboarders. According to a press release, the Skyline Express and Platter Pull lifts will operate beginning Friday, with the Triple Nickle lift to be determined. The ski area will open at 9 a.m., with rentals, food service and snow sports available. Ski Bluewood will operate daily from its opening Friday through January 3, except for Christmas day. Hours are 9 a.m. through 4 p.m. d...
DAYTON-Here's the scenario: At 8:00 a.m. a pickup truck pulling a 1,000-pound tank of anhydrous ammonia down South Cottonwood Street in front of Kyle's Towing is backed into by another vehicle, causing the fertilizer tank to overturn. A small leak occurs from a valve at the back of the tank, coming out of the pump. What happens next? It is likely that most of us don't know; but it is a sure bet that there are people who do. On Dec. 9, Columbia County Emergency Management Planner Mike Spring led...
DAYTON—At their meeting on Dec. 7, the Dayton City Council approved a $5,765,300 budget for 2016 that places hiring of a part-time code enforcement officer at the top of the list. The code enforcement officer would be the primary contact for land use complaints, and would actively pursue and enforce city health and safety codes and ordinances, according to city officials. City Clerk Trina Cole said that she is receiving more and more complaints from the public about people being out of complianc...
DAYTON – The Dayton High School knowledge bowl team is proving to be tough competition this year. After taking first place at the November east schools meet in Waitsburg, Dayton tied for fourth place at the all ESD schools meet in Walla Walla on Dec. 9. At the Dec. 9, One Team All Schools meet Dayton tied for fourth place with DeSales, out of 14 schools, and ahead of much larger schools such as Prosser, Burbank, and Southridge. Top scores at the All Schools meet were Richland (105), Kennewick (...
DAYTON – Anyone looking for an energizing, non-traditional, dose of holiday spirit is in luck! The Tri-Cities Steel Drum Band Association (TCSBA) band, Bram Bratá, will perform a free Christmas concert at Faith Chapel (653 Wagon Rd., Dayton), formerly Harvest Christian Center, on Saturday from 2-3:30 p.m. The Tri-Cities drum bands Bahuru, Baduku, Bram Bratá, and OK2Botay are known throughout the Columbia region for their fun, musically rich performances. The steel drum band performed a sum...
DAYTON—During their regular meeting on Dec. 2, the Dayton School Board heard from Superintendent Doug Johnson about the proposed capital projects levy and replacement M&O levy. The directors approved resolutions for both levies, to appear on the February, 2016 ballot for voter approval. Johnson said the current $ 1,300,000 M&O Levy covers such items as materials and supplies, operating costs, maintenance, salaries for teachers and administrators beyond state support, athletics and activity c...
DAYTON – Charges have been dismissed against the last of three archeologists charged with theft and destruction of prehistoric artifacts from the Umatilla National Forest and Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness in 2013. Charges were dismissed against Richard Lee Lyman in a plea agreement filed in Columbia County Superior Court on Dec. 2. Lyman, 64, is a professor and chair of the department of anthropology at the University of Missouri. On July 22 he was charged with second-degree theft and s...
DAYTON – The Dayton Historic Depot is planning an exhibit next year of quilts made by people living in Dayton and Columbia County. This will be the third consecutive quilt show hosted at the Depot. In 2014, quilts in the collections of the Depot and the Boldman House were on display. In 2015 historic quilts owned by people living in Dayton and Columbia County were on display. The new exhibit will begin in January and will run through December. Quilts will be on loan to the Depot for the exhibit. Quilts can be of any age and any style. They c...
Columbia County Superior Court Dec. 2, 2015 Arraignments/Pleas: Gary Marshall, 60, Burbank, WA; Pleaded not guilty to attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, a Class C felony. On Nov. 28, Marshall was allegedly clocked by radar at a speed of 88 mph. at mp 363 Hwy 12. Marshall allegedly outran the pursuing police vehicle into Waitsburg and pulled into a driveway on E. 3rd St. Marshall allegedly repeatedly refused police orders to stop and show his hands. After being tazed and dry stunned, he was tripped to the ground, restrained, and...
DAYTON—For many months, a task force of committed parents and community members has been working to develop an after school program for children in the Dayton School District. The goal for creating an after school program is to provide academic support and promote social, emotional, and physical development through collaborative community development At a Strategic Planning Workshop in October, task force members gained clarity about how to proceed with developing a viable program. Some key s...
DAYTON-At a special meeting on Nov. 24, the board of commissioners for the Columbia County Hospital District offered Chief Operations Officer Shane McGuire the position of District Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer for Columbia County Health System. "I'm thrilled to have the support of the board, staff, and community, and I look forward to our continued partnership as we do great things here, starting with the electronic health records system, and the renovation and enhancement...
Santa Claus, a.k.a. Columbia County Commissioner Merle Jackson, had a visit from his twin grandsons, Austin and Alex Jackson, during Dayton's Christmas Kickoff Saturday. The twins are sons of Merle and Joelle Jackson's son Dave and his wife Kim, who live in Moscow, Ida....
Pacific Power lineman Doug Hinds (left) is confronted with a lineup of Dayton Elementary School students wishing to have their ornaments hung on the highest possible branch. Hinds helped set up the Dayton Community Christmas Tree in front of Elk Drug last week. Lights have been strung and ornaments are in place....
DAYTON-There is a wealth of material in possession of the Elizabeth Forest Day Club about that women's civic and educational organization, and much more in the Dayton Public Library about the town's founding mother, for which the club is named. In 1913, the Draper Club was formed by local women for the purpose of promoting civic and educational activities. Meetings were held in individual homes, and membership was by subscription to ten-volume sets of "Draper's Self Culture" books, which...
Students at the Dayton schools spent much of last week building gingerbread houses for the Dayton Christmas kickoff competition. Entries will be on display this weekend in the former Grainhouse Grill building on Main Street. The public is invited to vote for their favorite houses. Winners will get a free ice cream party thrown by the Dayton Chamber of Commerce....
WAITSBURG – The heavily utilized restrooms at Preston Park are out of commission after being vandalized earlier this month. The restrooms, located just off of Highway 12, are a popular stop for tourists and the city hopes to have them re-opened in time for the holiday weekend. At the Dec. 16 city council meeting City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe said that vandals “took every piece of metal they could get their hands on,” stripping the restrooms down to the bolt on the deadbolt plate. The vandals even jerked the heaters from the walls, leavi...
DAYTON—At their regular meeting on November 18, the Dayton School District board of directors continued their discussion about the M&O levy, capital projects, and the technology levy. They also talked about ways to reduce costs for some of the items on the list that was presented to the community by Superintendent Doug Johnson on Nov. 16. The directors authorized Superintendent Johnson to proceed with the wording of the M&O levy. According to Johnson, the levy would increase, closer to $1.46 m...
Columbia County Superior Court November 18, 2015 First Appearance/Arraignment: Fred James Martin, 42, Pasco; entered a plea of not guilty to one count of burglary in the second degree, and one count of assault in the third degree,. The charges stemmed from an altercation at the Rawhide Bar N’ Grill in Starbuck on Oct. 4. Hector Vela, 53, Dayton; pleaded not guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance to a person under 18 years of age, one count of violation of uniform controlled substance act – delivery/man...
