Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 934 - 958 of 1805
WAITSBURG – Spring is in the air and Waitsburg Celebration Days is a mere six weeks away. Tickets are already on sale for several highlight events of what looks to be a fun-filled family weekend, May 20-22. The weekend's signature event – the 35-mile Karen's Ride ATV Poker Run – has been adapted to allow participants to play an unlimited number of poker hands this year. Hands may be purchased at a discounted $10 rate through May 16, and will be $15 each after that date. And an additional ride,...
(l to r): Drew Farley, Austin James, Riley Witt, and Scott Leamy (back row with tuba) blew some tunes at the SEWMEA High School Large Group Band Festival at Clarkston High School last month. See story on Page 2....
WAITSBURG – On Thurs., March 17, the Preston Hall 7th-8th grade band traveled to Colfax to compete in the Middle School Large Group Band Festival. They performed their concert pieces, "Forge of Vulcan" and "Jump Street Boogie" and received a superior rating, with top scores from both judges, according to Band Director Brad Green. On March 22, the WHS band took their turn, competing in the SEWMEA High School Large Group Festival at Clarkston High School. The band played their concert pieces: "...
A group of Waitsburg folks (and a WSU student from India) kicked off spring break by running the 62- mile Palouse 100K Relay in Pullman on Sun, April 3. The race was originally called the Washington State University 100K Relay & Solo Race and was started by the Palouse Road Runners and WSU in 1990 as part of the WSU centennial celebration. Waitsburg resident Christy House said a group from Waitsburg, with the name BEERRUN, has participated in the race for the last five years, though the...
WAITSBURG – The Waitsburg Commercial Club awarded the 2016 Waitsburg Community Service Award – formerly known as the Citizen of the Year Award – to longtime resident and tireless volunteer, Mary Phillips, at their annual meeting on Tuesday, April, 5. Phillips joins the ranks of more than 50 individuals to receive the award, beginning with Ernest Kison in 1962 and continuing through Kate Hockersmith in 2015. Beginning in 2015, the Commercial Club decided to broaden their recognition base and h...
WAITSBURG – Walla Walla High School senior Madeline Erikson officially accepted her appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point by signing her letter of intent to compete on their NCAA Rifle Team on March 29. Erikson did not attend school in Waitsburg, but three previous generations of her family did. She is the daughter of Ellis and Kristin Erikson of Walla Walla and Trisha Maxwell of Walla Walla; granddaughter of Roland Erikson and Sherri Erikson, both of Waitsburg; and g...
WAITSBURG – Former Waitsburg teacher, principal, and superintendent Ed Larsen and wife Lynna were pleased to learn that former Waitsburg teacher Art Jarvis was selected as Renton, Wash. School District interim superintendent through 2017. Jarvis and Larsen began their education careers together in Waitsburg in 1965 where Jarvis taught high school classes, was assistant football coach and girls' basketball coach. Larsen taught middle school social studies before becoming high school principal a...
Three-year-old Joshua Magana gives his egg-gathering strategy some serious thought during last Saturday's Easter Egg Hunt at Waitsburg's City Park....
WAITSBURG – Due to conflicts with sports and a lack of applicants, Waitsburg Celebration Days does not have a royalty court at this time. Instead, the Celebration Days Committee has planned something extra-special for the Celebration Days Parade on May 21, 2016. The committee is inviting all former Days of Real Sport and Waitsburg Celebration Days court royalty to represent Waitsburg in the parade. This will be a fun way to remember and recognize the many past queens and princesses who are still an active part of the Waitsburg community. C...
WAITSBURG – Art lovers from across the valley gathered in the new Ten Ton Press building on Waitsburg's Main Street to welcome Seattle Artist David Allison at an artist's reception on Saturday afternoon. The well-established Seattle-based artist is the first of several solo artists to be featured in the new Waitsburg Windows of Art program, organized by Waitsburg resident Karen Gregutt. Gregutt said City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe had approached her with the idea after he'd heard of other t...
Weller Public Library 212 Main Street, Waitsburg Hours: Mon. and Thurs. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Storytime: Mon., 10:30 a. m. “As Close to Us as Breathing,” by Elizabeth Poliner (Adult Fiction): In 1948, a small stretch of the Woodmont, Connecticut shoreline, affectionately named “Bagel Beach,” has long been a summer destination for Jewish families. Here sisters Ada, Vivie, and Bec assemble at their beloved family cottage, with children in tow and weekend-only husbands who arrive each Friday in time for the Sabbath meal. During the weekdays, freedom r...
WAITSBURG – The ballots are out for Waitsburg’s annual city government elections, which take place Monday, Apr. 4. As the only city in Washington still operating under its territorial charter, Waitsburg has the honor of bringing its mayor and city council members before the voters each April. This year, all of the incumbents are running, along with several new challengers. Current council member Debra Callahan is hoping to trade her council seat for that of mayor. Delores Nettles has also put...
The first of four brand-new Little League fields was finished just in time for the Majors' first practice of the season on Monday afternoon. The other fields are nearing completion as well. The new complex will allow for all Little League games to be held in one spot, and can accommodate multiple games at one time. The city hopes the new sports complex will be used to host Little League tournaments in the near future....
WAITSBURG – Waitsburg’s City Council weighed in on the replacement Main Street Bridge design, watershed hunting, and gave a brief update on the fairgrounds grandstands at a well attended March 17 council meeting. Public Comment Days of Real Sport Treasurer Terry Jacoy requested that the council reconsider the removal of the metal rail that runs along the existing horse race track. Plans had previously been made to remove the rail and grass in the track to provide an open area for a new spo...
WAITSBURG – Waitsburg High School Leo's Club President Timber Frohreich and Vice President Jacob Dunn, along with fellow club members, are spearheading a "Cash for Cody" Drive to help their friend Cody Washburn, an Athena/Weston High School junior. Cody attended Waitsburg High School in the past and this is where his family calls home. Months ago, Cody was in a tragic car accident where he was life flighted to Seattle with broken bones and had to have pins placed into his hips. He was in the h...
Incumbent Mayor Walt Gobel is vying for his sixth term since taking office in 2010. "I'm concerned about the community. I think everybody has a responsibility to support the community as much as they can. Serving as mayor is my way of doing that," Gobel said. Gobel has worked as Supervisor of Transportation for Pasco School District, Loss Control/Safety Specialist for ESD #123, and served 26 years as a Washington State Patrol officer, where he retired as a detachment sergeant. "My whole career...
Three-term city council member, Debra Callahan is running for mayor and says she hopes to have the opportunity to take Waitsburg's many great resources and make them even better. The 36-year Waitsburg resident raised her children, grandchildren, and foster children here while working actively in the community. Callahan belongs to Commercial Club and the Historical Society, served on the Waitsburg School Board and the Touchet Valley Arts Council, and is a volunteer administrative assistant for...
Lifelong Waitsburg resident Delores Nettles says her history here, along with a strong concern to make sure the voices of Waitsburg citizens are heard, caused her to throw her hat into the ring for mayor. Nettles said her parents moved here when she was one and, aside from time away while attending college, she has lived here ever since. She taught school in Dayton and has run a successful hair salon in Dayton for 45 years. “I’m very concerned about the city. I’ve been on the council befor...
Incumbent council member Marty Dunn is no stranger to city politics. Dunn has served two terms as mayor and has been on the city council since the early 2000s. "I left the council for a couple of years but returned due to my desire to ensure the City of Waitsburg is able to respond to the increasing economic and organizational challenges which it faces. I will bring a fiscally conservative and responsive perspective to the operations of the city," he said. Dunn moved to Waitsburg in 1995 and...
Karen Gregutt is vying for a first-time seat on the council, eager to contribute her professional expertise and fresh ideas to promote and enhance Waitsburg. Gregutt's career includes 30 years as managing partner at Kaye-Smith Productions in Seattle, producing and directing commercials and documentaries for national companies and brands. Gregutt and her husband, Paul, purchased their first home in Waitsburg in 2005. After extensive renovations, they moved here full time in 2011. The couple has...
Longtime Waitsburg resident and current Community Service Award (formerly called Citizen of the Year) recipient Kate Hockersmith, will make her first-time bid for a council seat this year. Hockersmith moved to Waitsburg with her husband, Eric, in 1992, and the couple raised their two sons here. "I have fundraising, marketing, organizational skills, and work well with others, seeking collaboration rather than confrontation," Hockersmith said, when asked what she brings to the council table. Hocke...
If there was a "People's Choice" award it would go to incumbent Kevin House who has consistently garnered the highest community vote since he was first elected to council in 2010 under the "Truth & Trust" slate. House moved to Walla Walla and began working for The McGregor Company in Waitsburg in 1996. By 2003 he and wife, Christy House, decided that Waitsburg was where they wanted to live long term and raise their two sons. "Some of my background that has been helpful as a council member is my...
Incumbent Karl Newell was elected to the city council under the 2010 Truth & Trust slate and is running for his seventh term. Newell moved to Waitsburg from Boardman, Ore. in 2005. He began his career working as a journeyman electrician in 1962 and spent 1966-68 in the army doing “a little bit of everything.” He said his extensive work experience provides him with an understanding of zoning, covenants, layout, and building and housing requirements, which has come in helpful at council mee...
Incumbent council member KC Kuykendall moved to Waitsburg from Colorado in 2010 and quickly became active in the community. He first ran and was elected to council in 2013. "I come from a blue-collar family of loggers, truck drivers, and construction workers, while my wife's family has been farming and ranching around Pendleton and Athena for many generations. We love this land and the rural communities of Eastern Washington," Kuykendall said. "My career in engineering and business management...
WAITSBURG – Anderson Perry & Associates engineer Eric Zitterkopf was on hand at a March 10 community meeting in Waitsburg to answer questions surrounding design plans for the Main Street Bridge that is scheduled to be replaced in the summer of 2017. The meeting was initiated after the city council was asked to choose railing designs at their February meeting. Council members wanted to know why detailed design decisions are required so early in the process, and requested more time to seek p...
