Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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WAITSBURG – Parents of Waitsburg students will want to be sure their children are washing their hands well and often. The school district has sent out two emails letting parents know that hand-foot-and-mouth disease has been reported present in the school. School nurse Stacy Schwarz, who is in the district one to two times a month, said only one confirmed case has been reported so far. The disease is very contagious, and the spread of infection can be reduced by practicing good hygiene, such as...
From the Editor: A new resident to Waitsburg Randy Charles, and his wife Antoinette, joined the community in August of 2018 after purchasing the Fifth Street home formerly belonging to Larry and Deanne Johnson. The Charles’ moved from Key West, Fla. where Randy was a firefighter and paramedic for the City of Key West. Though moving from Florida, Randy is a native of Washington State, having grown up in Clarkston and Yakima. He is a proud Alumnus of Washington State University. From Randy: When a medical emergency occurs the city of Waitsburg a...
WAITSBURG-Most aspiring musicians are eager to run down to the music shop, buy a guitar and play songs for screaming fans, and start selling out concert halls. Few give thought to where instruments come from: through the care of know-how of a luthier. A luthier builds and repairs stringed instruments using their understanding of musical scales combined with the materials of the trade such as metal hardware and hardwoods, as well as craftsmanship to create a work of art you can play for years....
WAITSBURG – The Waitsburg City Council was in full agreement not to move forward with the proposed purchase of the former Jehovah’s Witness church building, across from Preston Park, as the new location for City Hall. They also said ‘no’ to retaining loan funds for upgrades to the current facility on the corner of Main and Preston Avenue at the Jan. 17 council meeting. City Manager Randy Hinchliffe proposed purchase of the former church building, which is also located next to the City Shop, as an alternative to performing extensive repairs...
In this multi-part series, The Times visits with businesses, organizations and agencies to learn their plans for 2019. This week, we wrap up our walk around Main Street. In future issues we will talk with off-Main businesses, churches, clubs and organizations. Waitsburg Town Hall Waitsburg's Town Hall operates on a one hundred percent volunteer basis and is supported solely by community donations. The building was donated to the city by the American Legion in 1976 and the Town Hall Association...
Nelson & Moreno is prepared to begin construction in February WAITSBURG – After spending more than an hour weighing the pros and cons, the Waitsburg City Council approved Resolution 2019-692, awarding the Taggart Road Extension Project to Moreno & Nelson Construction, at their Jan. 16 council meeting. The approval, which is contingent upon a release for construction package being completed and available for review at the February council meeting, passed with a 3-2 vote. Council members KC Kuykendall, Kevin House and Jim Romine voted in favor o...
City looks at incentives to help fill empty buildings WAITSBURG – City officials across the country are faced with the problem of what to do about empty storefronts in their business districts and Waitsburg is no different. A Main Street filled with vacant storefronts is a visual blight and leaves tourists and residents looking elsewhere for something to do or buy. The topic of how to fix the problem was on last week’s city council agenda. The council had previously requested that City Manager Randy Hinchliffe look into what could be done abo...
WAITSBURG – Waitsburg fourth grade teacher Deanna Coulston has reason to celebrate. After three years of hard work, Coulston is now certified as a National Board Middle Childhood Generalist. National Board Certification is the highest professional distinction available in education, according to Waitsburg Superintendent Jon Mishra, who congratulated Coulston at the January school board meeting. Coulston said she was willing to work around her job and family to pursue National Board c...
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg High School senior Loren Negron has been awarded the Washington State University Distinguished Regents Scholars Award. The scholarship covers full WSU tuition and mandatory fees for four years. Negron is currently taking classes full time at Walla Walla Community College through the Running Start program but the honor students has been an active part of the Waitsburg High School student body during her years at WHS. Negron won the creed competition at the Washington State...
Board members received engraved leather portfolio holders from the ASB and were served punch and cookies from National Honor Society members in honor of School Board Appreciation Month. Secondary Principal’s Report (Stephanie Wooderchak) -State testing will take place in April and May -Staff has met and will form a committee to provide recommendations for student placement and class schedules at the Feb. board meeting. -Mr. Leahy, Ms. Ball and Mrs. Wooderchak will attend a job fair in Spokane on March 13. -Matt Elder and Bailey Carlson a...
In this multi-part series, The Times visits with businesses, organizations and agencies to learn their plans for 2019. This week, we continue our walk around Main Street. In future issues we will wrap up Main Street and talk with off-Main businesses, churches, clubs and organizations. Nothing New Antiques After 14 years in business, Lupe and Sandra Torres have closed the doors and sold the inventory at Nothing New Antiques, but say they are not going anywhere. "We just want to kick back and...
PRESCOTT – The Prescott performing group Tiger Beat will debut its one and only performance of the year at Friday's Senior Night basketball game in Prescott. Approximately 30 students in grades two through five have been meeting before school for the last several weeks to hone their drumming and dribbling skills in preparation for Friday night's performance. The group is the brainchild of Prescott's new physical education teacher Tiffany Hedman who began teaching in Prescott last school year. T...
Physical Education teacher Tiffany Hedman joined the Prescott School District staff with the 2017-2018 school year and says she is very happy here. “I love it. I enjoy the small community and knowing all the kids by name. I also love that I see every one of them for at least 30 minutes every day,” she said. Hedman attended college at the University of Montana Western where she earned her master’s degree in elementary reading and math. She most recently taught for three years at Mattawa Eleme...
WAITSBURG – The Waitsburg Superintendent Advisory Committee has met three times and has nailed down a purpose statement and action plan. The committee was formed in the last quarter of 2018 as an advisory committee to the superintendent. Committee Chair Matt Wyatt shared the following goals with the board: Identify all needs and goals among community, parents and students to increase the communication and effectiveness of the district/community Provide the superintendent with feedback and insigh...
WAITSBURG - At the December 20 regular school board meeting, Waitsburg School District Superintendent Jon Mishra surprised school board members by tendering his resignation. Mishra cited family needs as the determining factor in his decision to leave Waitsburg. Mishra will terminate his employment effective June 30 and said he submitted his resignation early so that the district can move forward with the search for a new superintendent. Mishra, along with his wife, Loreena, and son, Aakash,...
WAITSBURG – Friends since first grade, Waitsburg High School grads Colton Townsend and Connor Talbot have built a successful website design business in the Seattle are. Townsend, son of Mike and Carla Townsend of Waitsburg, graduated from WHS in 2007, as salutatorian, and then attended Washington State University where he earned a degree in international business. Talbott, son of Becky Huwe and Jon Talbott, graduated a year later, and also headed to WSU where he earned a degree in a...
LaVerne Filan has been enjoying the company of a friendly moose at his property, just outside of Waitsburg off Highway 12. Filan said the young bull moose has visited several times now and waits for him to feed bread to his peacocks. "He's a pretty good-sized animal. His legs are so long it's hard for him to reach down and get the bread, so he got down on his knees to eat this last time," Filan said. Filan said he's had several moose visit over the years, but this one seems to be staying. "He's...
WAITSBURG – Waitsburg school counselor Rosy Nechodom wants parents to know about two opportunities for families taking place in February. Rodeo clown JJ Harrison will give a bullying prevention and intervention presentation on Feb. 6 and a Strengthening Families program will begin February 14. JJ Harrison While he likes nothing more than making people laugh, Ellensburg's favorite rodeo clown, JJ Harrison, has an important message to share. Harrison, who is a WSU alum and taught middle school f...
Waitsburg students got a lesson in law enforcement on Wed. Jan. 10 as Walla Walla County Sheriff's deputies made an arrest right next to the elementary school playground. Joshua J. Hershaw, driving an older model limousine, was pulled over on an outstanding warrant and cited for driving while license suspended, third degree, and having no interlock device on the vehicle, according to Walla Walla County Sheriff Mark Crider....
In this multi-part series, The Times visits with businesses, organizations and agencies to learn their plans for 2019. This week, we continue our walk around Main Street. In future issues we will wrap up Main Street and talk with off-Main businesses, churches, clubs and organizations. Waitsburg City Pool It's business as usual for the city pool according to pool administrator Kelly Steinhoff. If time allows, the City may apply another coat of liner, she said. Steinhoff does want to urge anyone...
WAITSBURG – Local entrepreneur Dan Cole said he hadn’t intended to rid himself of more than one business, but when the right offer came along, he and wife Trina decided to accept. After 32 years in business, Cole sold Waitsburg Grocery, Inc. to Jamie Allen and Jesse Smit in September of 2018. On Jan. 1, he handed over the keys of Touchet Valley Communications, a Waitsburg Internet provider, to fellow entrepreneurs, Erik and Diana Young, of Prescott. “Erik approached me and said he heard I had sold the store and asked if I would be inter...
WAITSBURG – A Waitsburg woman has been formally charged with second-degree murder for the stabbing death of her boyfriend, Marcus J. Allessio, 25. Leslie Melgar Moreno, 25, of 206 Wheatland Drive in Waitsburg, is accused of fatally stabbing Allessio on Dec. 28, 2018. She was arrested and charged the following day. According to court reports, Walla Walla County Dispatch received a call from Moreno at approximately 3:35 p.m. on Fri., Dec. 28. Moreno allegedly told dispatchers that her boyfriend had a knife wound, was unconscious, and that she w...
WAITSBURG – In a 2018 budget recap, Waitsburg Mayor Marty Dunn listed completion of the Main Street Bridge as one of the most important projects completed in 2018. Looking forward, the Waitsburg City Council approved a 2019 budget of $1.98 million, slightly lower than last year’s $2.17 million budget, at its Dec. 27 meeting. While “substantially complete” in 2017, the Main Street Bridge project was finally checked off as officially complete in 2018. The roughly $1.8 million, three-year project...
Council members Mayor Marty Dunn, KC Kuykendall, Kevin House, and Kate Hockersmith were present. Terry Jacoy and Jim Romine were absent. Following a public hearing, council approved the 2019 final budget. (See story on this page.) Danielle Carpenter provided a Parks and Recreation Board update. Discussion on the possibility of changing the current City election process to fall in line with election laws of the state. Passed a resolution allowing the city administrator to submit a grant application to the Washington State Military Department...
WAITSBURG – With a new year ahead, and the paper under new ownership, The Times thought it would be fun to take a walk around Waitsburg to learn what local agencies, businesses and organizations are anticipating in the coming year. In this multi-part series, The Times will work its way up and down Main Street, check in with off-Main businesses, and talk with churches, clubs and organizations to learn their plans for 2019. The series kicks off this week with a Waitsburg School District update f...
