Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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."...
WAITSBURG-The Waitsburg Commercial Club held its annual meeting and awards dinner at Waitsburg Town Hall on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. The guests enjoyed a Chicken Teriyaki dinner catered by Jennifer French, wine and beer, and desserts. The silent auction also included donuts, cookies, and other delectables. Commercial Club President Tiffany Baxter gave a presentation outlining the club's work over the last year. She nominated officers for this year, and the attending club members voted to...
WAITSBURG — Twenty Waitsburg High School FFA students will attend the FFA State Convention at Washington State University in Pullman May 8-10. The students qualified for State after placing at District Leadership in Asotin on March 26. The top four in each category at District advanced to State. 1st Place Agriculture Education- Marion Duncan. 2nd Place Rituals- Sophia Castillo, Kayla Kuykendall, Rowdy Cole, Gage Mynear, Liam Kiefel, Katie Allen. 4th Place Prepared Public Speaking- Cedar Stegall. 4th Place Beginning Parliamentary Procedures- K...
WAITSBURG - The City of Waitsburg's former city hall building has a new owner. Chet Childers of Burbank, Wash., has taken ownership of the historic Main Street building. This was the second bid the Tri-Cities construction company owner has made for the building. Childers withdrew from his first offer after a 90-day feasibility study. His original offer for $175,000 included his vision statement for The Vault, a space that celebrates beer making and soaking. It would offer second-floor hotel...
WAITSBURG — Waitsburg’s Weller Public Library is facing cuts in services and possibly staffing from the loss of federal funding. The Institute of Museum and Library Services was one of seven agencies functionally eliminated by an executive order to continue reducing federal bureaucracy signed by President Trump on March 14, 2025. While libraries are funded mainly by city and county taxes, federal funding helps pay for workforce training and pilot programs. It helps provide essential library services, including computer and internet access, in...
WAITSBURG - Returning from a trip to Tuscany, Tom and Judy Bennett brought their new-found love of Neapolitan pizza home to Walla Walla. In 2018, they opened Fiasco, a mobile catering business with a wood-fired pizza oven on a vintage truck. In 2022, the couple scaled up their enterprise by opening American 35 in Waitsburg's former American Legion building. They expanded the kitchen and dining room and opened the restaurant to Main Street with two large glass garage doors. But the real star of...
WAITSBURG —Waitsburg Mayor Marty Dunn called the city council meeting to order on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 7 p.m. at city hall. City council members Jillian Henze, Jennifer Bishop, Kevin House, and City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe were present. Council members Jim Romine and Court Ruppenthal were not present. In public comment, representatives from the Touchet River Roundup, known as Woody’s Pig Roast, told the council they disagreed with a memo from the city administrator to the council. Hinchliffe recommended that the council not all...
