Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 1171 - 1195 of 1805
WAITSBURG – During the months of July and August, the Touchet Valley is buzzing with activity as farmers harvest their crops, reaping the rewards of the year's labor. Even those not actively involved in the process take part as witnesses. Drivers respectfully give heed as combines crawl along highways, making their way between fields, and children pump their arms in the air, begging truck drivers to blow the horn on their way through Main Street. And while it doesn't require grain elevators or b...
Board members: Ross Hamann, Greg Zuger, Marilyn Johnson, Randy Pearson and Christy House with Zuger absent. *Superintendent Carol Clarke read a letter from OSPI congratulating the district’s transportation department for receiving “exceptional results” in the Washington State Patrol bus inspections, for the second year in a row. *Late legislative action dropped the end-of-course proficiency exam requirement in biology for the Class of 2016.The class of 2017 will be held to meeting that standard. *Thirty new computers will be ordered for the hig...
WAITSBURG – During the July 29 public budget hearing, the Waitsburg School Board unanimously approved the proposed $4.1 million budget for the 2015-16 school year. The 2015-16 budget is based on a total K-12 projected enrollment of 281.75 full-time-equivalent (FTE) students. For the 2014-15 school year, the district budgeted for 269.4 FTE and ended the year at 292.48. Total expected revenues for 2015-16, based on projected enrollment and anticipated grant funds, is $3.9 million. Total p...
When Arrah Lee Wilson and Benjamin Moser arrived to clean the Waitsburg Presbyterian Church on the morning of Thursday, July 30, they entered to find the sanctuary "covered with hundreds of tiny shards of glass," according to pastor Bret Moser. Vandals threw rocks and broke three of the antique glass panels in the sanctuary window that faces Main Street. Church members were hopeful that they had enough glass to replace the broken panels. The antique glass is filled with tiny bubbles and tinted...
Waitsburg's first-ever National Night Out, held at the school district's athletic complex, was a well-attended success....
WAITSBURG – At their July 27 meeting, Walla Walla County Commisisoners agreed to let voters decide whether or not the City of Waitsburg Fire Department will be annexed into Walla Walla County Fire Protection District No. 2 (WW Fire 2). Commissioners Jim Duncan, Jim Johnson and Perry Dozier voted unanimously to pass a resolution calling for the special election proposal that will go before voters in November. Both the City of Waitsburg and WW Fire 2 are in agreement that the annexation, as well as the annexation of the Waitsburg Ambulance Servic...
WAITSBURG – Whiskey Creek Sports Bar & Grill was thrown a curve ball when their general manager was benched due to health problems just as the restaurant opened. But the restaurant's owners think they've hit a home run with new general manager, Sara Cunnington. Cunnington lives in Walla Walla and was formerly employed at Applebee's where she says she began as a server, moved to the bar and then into management. "When I heard about this position, I went for it. I'm really excited about it," s...
PRESCOTT – Prescott school board members wrapped up their July 23 board meeting with a walk outside to inspect some of the many improvements that have been made to the school grounds and facilities over the summer, including the renovation of what will soon become the new ag building. The district is looking forward to a year of growth, with the addition of a new agriculture economics program, the school's first FFA chapter, and an ECEAP preschool program. Superintendent Brett Cox said that h...
Board members: Karen Tonne (chair), Sara Fletcher, Mark Hauck, Eva Madrigal, and Erik Young with Hauck absent. Also present: Superintendent Brett Cox, Principal Jodi Thew and Business Manager Patti Johnson. Informational: *Thirteen students completed elementary summer school and 34 completed the jr. high program. *Nine girls participated in volleyball camp. *District is working on a career and technical education competitive grant which would be used to purchase tools and equipment for the new agricultural economics program. *New sidewalk and...
WALLA WALLA – Residents of the back country in Columbia County and elsewhere in the Touchet Valley watched the spread of the Blue Creek Fire east of here with unease over the last week. It has been several years since a fire of this magnitude threatened the valley. At press time on Tuesday, the wildland fire on Blue Mountain Road and Klicker Mountain Road east of Walla Walla was 73-percent contained. At its largest, the fire was reported to have burned 6,225 acres. The blaze, which ignited on J...
WAITSBURG – In response to a delayed pool opening, followed by a quick closure and re-opening, Waitsburg's city council agreed to allow free swimming for the remainder of the summer, at their July 16 meeting. City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe said that, typically, the first month of the pool being open is busiest and that's also when family passes are sold. With the late opening, missed rentals, and pass refunds, Hinchliffe said the city has probably already missed out on well over half the t...
WAITSBURG – The proposed annexation of the City of Waitsburg Fire Department into Walla Walla County Fire Protection District No. 2 is just one step away from making it to the voters. Walla Walla County Commissioners are slated to take action on the proposal Monday morning and will determine whether or not it makes the ballot. The City of Waitsburg initiated the official annexation process when the council approved Ordinance 2015-1031, on June 17, which stated the city’s intent to annex. The ord...
New service will specialize in providing care to clients in Waitsburg and Dayton WAITSBURG – Elizabeth Gonzalez hopes to put her 21 years experience as a Certified Nurse's Assistant (CNA) to work by pairing reliable home health care providers with patients in the Touchet Valley. Her new agency, Ameri, will provide in-home care services not only in Walla Walla, but also in Waitsburg and Dayton, where it can be more difficult to find reliable care. Business owners Elizabeth and Fred Gonzalez moved...
WAITSBURG – Waitsburg’s school board continues to seek clarification and possible alternatives to the Conceptual Opinion of Probable Cost – which includes a $1.5 million line item just to provide air conditioning for the elementary school – submitted by Design West Architects in June. The board will use the analysis to determine what amount to bring before voters in an upcoming capital bonds request. Building bonds, used for the modernization of the elementary, middle and high school, will re...
WAITSBURG – Waitsburg resident, Tysen R. Beckner, now faces additional charges for possession of child pornography, according to Walla Walla County Sheriff John Turner, who spoke at Waitsburg’s July 16 city council meeting. Beckner previously faced charges for severely beating his girlfriend’s child, who was left in his care on the night of June 17. According to a Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office report, medics were called to Beckner’s apartment on the morning of June 18, after a family membe...
WAITSBURG – Walla Walla County Sheriff John Turner presented his quarterly report at the July 16 Waitsburg City Council Meeting, reporting that crime stats were “on par” to date as compared to last year, and that the WWCSO had worked 306.80 hours above the contracted hours in Waitsburg. Turner said that crime stats can be deceptive in that they don’t reflect things like the increase in illicit and prescription drug use and gang activity. Turner said crime stats were up in the cities of both Wa...
The Waitsburg City Pool was the hot spot in town on its re-opening Monday afternoon . . ....
Beckner Pleads Innocent in Child Beating Case WAITSBURG – Waitsburg resident Tysen R. Beckner, 25, was arraigned in Walla Walla County Superior Court on July 6 where he pleaded innocent to severely beating a four-year-old boy. Beckner was allegedly involved in a fight outside the Whiskey Creek Bar and Grill in Waitsburg on the night of June 17, after which his girlfriend, Waitsburg resident Shaylynn M. Johnson, was arrested on a warrant, according to court documents. Relatives said that Beckner was left in charge of two young children o...
WAITSBURG – For years now, elementary-age kids who wanted to play tackle football had to join a Walla Walla or Milton-Freewater team to compete in the Walla Walla Youth Football League (WWYFL). But Bryce Scott, who has fond memories of playing with the Waitsburg Giants when he was in 3rd and 4th grades, has decided to coach a Waitsburg-based team that will bring youth football back to the area. Scott, who currently lives with his grandparents, Jerry and Karla Scott, in Waitsburg, lived in D...
WAITSBURG – Seven members of the Waitsburg Chapter of Rainbow Girls Assembly #68 spent last week at the International Order of Rainbow for Girls Grand Assembly, held at Yakima’s Sun Dome on July 7-12. Anna and Stephenie Nerf, Katelynn Martin, Kendra Smith, Kendra Roberts, Jessie Hopkins and Emma Philbrook represented Waitsburg at the annual jurisdictional (Washington and Idaho) convention. The girls attended formal sessions as well as fun events like talent shows and contests. Jessie Hop...
WAITSBURG – The Waitsburg Resource Center (WRC) is hosting a visit from the Northwest Medical Teams International Mobile Dental Clinic on Wednesday, July 29. The program provides free, urgent dental care to low-income children and adults who lack insurance or a realistic way to pay for treatment. The van is staffed by local dentists, assistants and van drivers who volunteer their time. Appointments will be scheduled between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., and must be made by July 29. Call Pam Conover at (...
Council members: Chuck Kimsey, Matt Tunell, Paul Forney, Douglas Venn, Val Jacobson, and Mayor Steve Heimbigner, with Forney absent. *Walla Walla County Sheriff John Turner presented updated crime statistics and call records for the City of Prescott. Turner reported law enforcement had provided 63.25 hours above those contracted, year-to-date and that crime statistics were down. “Crime in the cities of Walla Walla and College Place is up but in the areas we’re responsible for, it’s down,” Turner said. *Turner said deputies will keep an eye on...
Jeff and Lori Bartlow headed off with a bus full of kids . . ....
WAITSBURG - Now that the pool is up and running, swim lessons have been re-scheduled and will run for two weeks from Aug. 4-14. Lessons will run Tues. - Thurs. and classes will be scheduled between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.. Swim instructors are Devin Newman, Caitlyn Jones and Cameron Terry. Lessons are free to Waitsburg residents. Parents may sign children up for lessons at City Hall or may register by phone by calling Kelly at 337-6371. Pool swim times: Open Swim: Mon. - Sat. 1-5 p.m; 6-8 p.m....
Local veterans led the way in Waitsburg's Fourth of July Veteran's March on Saturday morning. . ....
