Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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WAITSBURG - The Columbia Walla Walla County Fire District #2 holds between two and four trainings a month to learn and maintain essential skills. Last week, the district's Assistant Fire Chief, Dane Henze, ran an innovative training to familiarize the firefighters with the efficient use of their Personal Protective Equipment, including Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus. At the Waitsburg station, eleven firefighters participated in a game of dodgeball while wearing full firefighting PPE and...
WAITSBURG - The 2026 Waitsburg Celebration Days Royalty Coronation was held in Waitsburg Town Hall on Saturday, February 21. The new royalty court, Kayla Kuykendall, Alexis Jones, Keely Harshfield, and Kinsley Tinnons, greeted guests as they arrived at the hall. The members of the court began their journey at try-outs in October 2025. The girls rode their horses, gave speeches, and were interviewed by the judges who scored their performances. Alexis Jones earned the highest score and the honor...
WAITSBURG - From January 23 to 25, eight members and four leaders of Waitsburg Scout Troop 337 spent their annual winter campout weekend in below-freezing temperatures. There was no snow, as the group had hoped, only temperatures from 13 degrees to the low 20s. Scouts Ameilia Alleman, Natalia Alleman, Shylo Hedges, T. J. Hollingsworth, Kaitlynn Miller, Katherine Roberts, Victoria Roberts, and Sidian Stegall braved the cold temperatures, sleeping in tents at Lady Bug Campground. Troop leaders...
When the 8 lb. 9 oz., 21-inch boy arrived, no one guessed that a mighty Cardinal had just entered the world. Monte Pettichord was born in Walla Walla on February 18, 2005, to Danny and Phoebe. Growing up, Monte enjoyed many outdoor activities, often involving a ball of some sort, other times a fishing pole. Pettichord attended school in Waitsurg from second grade through high school. At school, Pettichord's love of sports grew, and by high school, he was an accomplished athlete. He won...
Waitsburg City Council met for the first meeting of the year on January 21, 2026. Council members Jennifer Bishop, Kevin House, and Brian Richards, Mayor Marty Dunn, and City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe met at City Hall. Jim Romine and Jillian Henze were in Olympia, Wash., for City Action Days, a conference hosted by the Association of Washington Cities. Romaine joined the meeting in progress via Zoom. After approving the minutes from the December meeting, the council heard year-end reports from the Walla Walla Sheriff’s Office, Weller Publi...
WAITSBURG -Last Saturday, January 24, the Waitsburg Alumni Association President, Deanna Tipton, presented a $1,000 donation to Ross Hamann, President, and Julie Karl, Vice President of the Waitsburg Booster Club. The Waitsburg Alumni Association's mission is not only to support graduates through scholarships and financial support but also to foster a sense of community through events and gatherings, and to facilitate networking opportunities for alums. "The board feels that it's important to...
WAITSBURG — Waitsburg School District has a two-year replacement Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy on the Feb. 10, 2026, ballot. This levy will replace Waitsburg’s current levy, approved by voters in 2024, and is now up for renewal. This is not a new tax. If taxpayers approve, the school district will use the levy to support school programs not fully funded by the state. Please feel free to contact the Waitsburg Superintendent’s Office at 509-337-6301 with questions or to learn more about the school levy. 2026 Levy Quick Facts...
WAITSBURG — Waitsburg School District has a two-year replacement Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levy on the Feb. 10, 2026, ballot. This levy will replace Waitsburg’s current levy, which was approved by voters in 2024 and is up for renewal. This is NOT a new tax. If approved, the levy funds will be used to support school programs not fully funded by the state. Please feel free to contact the Waitsburg Superintendent’s Office at 509-337-6301 with questions or to learn more about the school levy. A levy is a locally approved tax based...
SPOKANE – Walla Walla Swim Club member, Sydney Smith, took the high point award at the Winter SWAT Swim Invite on December 6 and 7 in Spokane. This is the second year the Waitsburg Elementary student has earned the high point recognition in her division at the Spokane meet. She and her teammates competed against nine other teams, from Walla Walla to Missoula, Montana. Smith swam in the eight and under division and placed first in the 100m individual medley, 100m breaststroke, 100m freestyle, a...
WAITSBURG - The 40th Annual Hometown Christmas brought holiday activities throughout town over the weekend. The fun started on Friday with a soft opening of the city's skate park. The synthetic ice rink was free for skaters of all ages, including the use of skates. The city held the official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday. At Town Hall, vendors offered a variety of gifts from local businesses and craftspeople. Dusty Britches Farms served a wide menu of tasty treats, including biscuits and...
WAITSBURG - On November 25, the Cardinal's Amazing Shake mini-gauntlet brought a creative twist by introducing a Monopoly Edition theme. Waitsburg students stepped into a life-sized version of the classic board game, navigating stations inspired by the game's properties and elements, designed to test their communication skills, professionalism, confidence, and quick thinking. Twenty-one community volunteers served as judges at 14 stations, scoring students who were challenged to adapt,...
WAITSBURG - Since 2014, the Waitsburg High School Alumni Association has awarded an estimated 50 scholarships to WHS graduates for college and postsecondary education. The first recipient of the program was Nicholas Pearson, a member of the class of 2014. Following graduation, Dr. Pearson earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Whitworth University in 2018 and a Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Washington School of Dentistry in 2024. At the UW, Pearson was one of 8 of 72 de...
WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg Commercial Club is hosting a candidate forum at its monthly meeting on Thursday October 30, at noon, at Ten Ton Studios. All candidates for Waitsburg office were invited. Bart Baxter, Marty Dunn, and Brian Richards confirmed they will be in attendance. Wendy Richards and Wendy Carter will give presentations on the Parks and Recreation District levy. The public is invited to attend and learn more about the Waitsburg candidates and levy. Ten Ton Studio is at 216 Main...
WAITSBURG - Anyone with a cellular or internet connection has most likely experienced scam attempts. These attempts take many forms and keep changing as safeguards are put in place. On November 5, 2025, Karen Huwe, Pastor Heidi Lum, and the Town Hall Board are hosting a scam intervention and information meeting for seniors. The event will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the Waitsburg Town Hall. Speakers will include representatives from the Waitsburg branch of Banner Bank and the Walla Walla...
DAYTON - Three students from Waitsburg High School had the opportunity to attend the Southeast Washington Music Educators Association (SEWMEA) Mass Band event in Dayton on October 22. "When students participate in mass band concerts, they get to feel and play what the composers wanted their pieces to sound like when a large band executes the piece with all instrumentation. The sound becomes magical and expressive with meaning. I was very proud of our three girls from the high school band," said...
The successful annual fundraiser for RYES will feature four local bluegrass bands and a silent auction. WAITSBURG - BooGrass is coming back to The Plaza in Waitsburg on October 26 at 4 p.m. The annual bluegrass concert and silent auction is a fundraiser for Rural Youth Enrichment Services, a local 501 (c) (3) non-profit established in 2009. The Plaza Theater was built in 1928 and has always hosted BooGrass on the Sunday before Halloween. Projects under RYES include Touchet Valley Acoustic Music...
WAITSBURG - Safety Always Matters is a fire and life safety program developed by the City of Walla Walla Fire Department to teach elementary school students how to respond to emergencies. Presentations are in collaboration with local fire departments and school districts. On September 23, members of the College Place and Walla Walla Fire Departments, and Walla Walla Fire District #4 presented the S.A.M. program to the Waitsburg Elementary School. "Not only do the kids love interacting with the...
DAYTON - The National Safety Council recognizes outstanding advances in safety through the Green Cross for Safety Awards. The awards honor community partnerships, programs, individuals, researchers and corporations that make a significant impact on safety issues through advocacy, innovation, and excellence. On September 15, Puget Sound Energy and Principal Engineer Ryan Severe were awarded the Green Cross for Safety Innovation Award at the NSC Safety Congress and Expo held in Denver, Colorado....
The Waitsburg Historical Society hosted its annual Fall Festival on Sunday, September 21. Cooler weather may have kept some visitors home; those who came were hungry. The Lions Club sold more bison burgers than last year, selling out. Before the rain began, the Historical Society honored the Gagnon Family as Pioneers of the Year. Almost the entire audience stood after family members were invited to the front of the stage. There were plenty of places to stay out of the rain, including the...
Waitsburg - A busy weekend in Waitsburg included an all-ages block party, the Lions Club Salmon Feed, and the Waitsburg Historical Society Fall Festival. The first annual Royal Block Party was held in the alley behind the hotel, Ten Ton Studios, Plaza Theater, and Wolfling Coffee. There was food, music, alley bowling, and ring toss from 5 until after 9 p.m. Wolfling Coffee opened its back door for in-progress shop tours and a chance to meet owners Caitlyn Potts and Trevor Corbin. Next door,...
WAITSBURG - On Sunday, September 21, the Waitsburg Historical Society will host the Pioneer Fall Festival, with an afternoon of food, horse-drawn carriage rides, pioneer craft demonstrations, antique farm equipment, museum tours, and the "Vintage Style Show." The Style Show begins at 1:30 p.m. and will feature clothing from the late 1800s to the Roaring Twenties-a journey from hoop skirts that concealed a woman's shape to more modern styles that accentuated it. Generous volunteers will model...
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...
WALLA WALLA COUNTY - The Waitsburg and Prescott School Districts are starting the 2025-26 school year with changes in leadership. Monty Sabin has stepped into the roles of superintendent and elementary school principal at the Waitsburg School District. Prescott's K-12 principal, Jeff Foertsch, was selected by the school board to replace Justin Bradford as superintendent. Sabin, a Washington native, brings 26 years of administrative experience to the district, last serving as superintendent for...
WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg School Board held its regular business meeting on Wednesday, August 20, at 6 p.m. Superintendent Monty Sabin, Board Chair Christy House, and board members Charlie Barron, Julie Karl, and Abby Grende were present. After adopting the agenda, the board entered an executive session to discuss candidate interviews for the open board seat. The session ended, and the board voted unanimously to appoint Tylor Abel as School Board Director for position 3. Secondary Principal Joe...
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...
