Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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The Waitsburg Clinic staff was formally presented with a plaque for being the 2016 Waitsburg Commercial Club Business of the Year on Tuesday....
WAITSBURG – Walt Gobel officially tendered his letter of resignation as mayor of Waitsburg on Tuesday afternoon. Gobel, who was easily re-elected to his sixth term in April, said he was stepping down because he felt his reputation has been irreparably damaged over his role in negations with Nestlé Waters North America. "When our voters and taxpayers put me in office it was an indication that they respected and trusted me to make decisions for the good of the community. I honestly feel that my re...
WAITSBURG – No one from the community spoke at the school district’s sparsely attended July 27 budget hearing, leaving it to the board to approve and adopt a $4.2 million budget for the 2016-17 school year. At the same meeting the board authorized the district to run a revised capital improvements bond levy of $3.8 million on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. Next year’s budget was based on a projected enrollment of 270 students in grades K-12. This is down from the 2015-16 projected enrol...
WAITSBURG – "I understand that when an announcement is made that Nestle' is evaluating business opportunities in a community, it raises a lot of emotions. Water is an emotional topic," said Nestle' Waters Natural Resource Manager Bruce Lauerman as he opened his presentation at the city's July 20 city council meeting. In the case of Waitsburg, that may be an understatement. Even harvesting farmers left their fields early to join the nearly 100 people who filled the chairs, lined the walls, and f...
WAITSBURG – You won't find to-go cups at Dynamite Art + Coffee, and that's not simply out of concern for the environment, though it is a factor. Proprietor Claire Johnston opened the coffee shop, located at 119 Main St. in Waitsburg, with the intent of creating an environment where customers can escape the hustle and bustle of modern society and take a few minutes to just relax and enjoy. "We have this beautiful space and I want people to come in, relax, enjoy the lovely environment, drink f...
WAITSBURG – Waitsburg’s city council approved an action plan endorsed by the Waitsburg Fairgrounds Committee, that will allow Terry Hofer to manage RV parking and camping at the Waitsburg Fairgrounds. The plan was approved at the July 20 meeting pending the approval of a more detailed lease agreement. In his introduction, Hofer said he has lived in the area his entire life, owned the Palm Club Tavern for several years, managed the American Legion for several years, was actively involved in the...
WAITSBURG – Nestlé Natural Resources Manager Bruce Lauerman will discuss the company’s exploration of Waitsburg as a potential new site for a water bottling facility at Wednesday’s city council meeting. In a statement released Tuesday, Nestle said the facility, which would support the Arrowhead Spring Water and Nestlé Pure Life brands, would provide an estimated 50 jobs at full build-out. Nestlé estimates their projected water use at 150 million gallons annually, which they say “is a small fract...
School board responds to survey results by dropping capital improvements bond by $1 million WAITSBURG - A $4.8 million Waitsburg School District capital improvements bond fell a mere 13 votes shy of reaching the required 60-percent supermajority vote needed for passage in February. The Waitsburg School Board returned to the drawing board, sought additional community input, and will drop two projects – at a reduction of $1 million – and re-run the bond in November. At June’s regular meeti...
WAITSBURG – Lane Hill debuted her newly remodeled 10 Ton Press studio, located on Waitsburg's Main Street, to a full house while hosting an ArtWalla Creative Network event on July 13. Artists from across the Touchet Valley showed up to see firsthand what is happening in the new space and to learn more about the burgeoning art scene in Waitsburg. In his introduction, ArtWalla board member Ted Cox referred to Waitsburg as "Artsburg" because of the number of artists living and working in the c...
Board members: Ross Hamann, Christy House, Russ Knopp, and Randy Pearson were present with Marilyn Johnson absent. Elementary Principal’s Report: *A small group of students have been visiting the library on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings to check out books and listen to stories with Eleanora Montgomery. Montgomery is supervising several students using an online reading program called Read Naturally, that was purchased with grant funds. Secondary Principal’s Report: *The district has started interviewing for the 6th grade teaching position, vac...
Clarence Stearns sits beside a box of newly delivered Hermiston melons at his produce stand off of Harmon Avenue in Waitsburg. The family has been selling produce from in front of their Preston Avenue home for several years. Over the last couple of years, they built a commercial kitchen, smoker, and cooling room behind the house and have expanded the business to include smoked meats and cheeses and wild and domestic animal processing. See story on Page 7....
WAITSBURG – Nestlé Natural Resources Manager Bruce Lauerman will discuss the company's exploration of Waitsburg as a potential new site for a water bottling facility at Wednesday's city council meeting. In a statement released Tuesday, Nestle said the facility, which would support the Arrowhead Spring Water and Nestlé Pure Life brands, would provide an estimated 50 jobs at full build-out. Nestlé estimates their projected water use at 150 million gallons annually, which they say "is a small frac...
WALLA WALLA – Six candidates are in the race seeking election for the Walla Walla County Commissioner District 2 seat, currently held by Perry Dozier (R) of Waitsburg. Dozier is serving his second four-year term in office, which expires Dec. 31, and is not seeking re-election. District 2 covers the east side of the county and includes the cities of Dixie, Waitsburg, and Prescott. Republican candidates seeking Dozier’s position are Don Gibbard, Melissa Hansen, Todd Kimball and Jacob Radke. Mic...
Society seeks help as they work to develop and promote the Bruce House Museum as an event space WAITSBURG – With big plans for the future, the Waitsburg Historical Society is in need of some helping hands. “We are a strictly volunteer organization and are very dependent on the community to step up and help fill needs,” said Historical Society President Richard Hinds. First and foremost, Hinds said the society is in need of a replacement for the current recording secretary. The recording secretary is responsible for taking and distr...
WAITSBURG – Rows of brightly colored pumpkins and a cheery wave from Clarence Stearns have been familiar sights to Preston Avenue travelers each fall. But this year, the produce can be found around the side of the house, off Harmon Street, where the operation has expanded to include much more than just fruits and vegetables. Clarence Stearns says Mr. C's Smokin Co., located at 405 Preston Ave. in Waitsburg, is a true family endeavor. What started out as a simple produce stand several years a...
WALLA WALLA – Democrat Mike Bates is the current Director for the Walla Walla County Corrections Department, overseeing the Walla Walla County Jail and the Juvenile Justice Center. Bates has worked for the county since 1975 and believes his experience in criminal justice and the court system will benefit the citizens of Walla Walla County. "Nearly 75% of the county current expense budget is consumed by the courts, juvenile justice, county jail, Prosecutor's Office, County Clerk, and the S...
WALLA WALLA – Don Gibbard (R) moved to Walla Walla 28 years ago because the mix of agricultural, natural resources, recreational activities, and municipal experiences makes it a place where families can succeed. Prior to his work in telecommunications, Gibbard served 16 years as an ordained pastor and says that experience prepared him to work with a diverse set of expectations and opinions which are as present in county government as they are in the church. He has actively supported the c...
WALLA WALLA – Waitsburg resident Melissa Hansen (R) cites her experience managing her family's farm, operating a custom seeding, spraying, and harvesting business, and her recent graduation from the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Leadership Program as strong foundations to build on in serving as commissioner. "The community of Waitsburg is my home and I will be available to Waitsburg residents to hear their concerns and make sure they are well represented at all times," Hansen said. H...
WALLA WALLA – Todd Kimball (R) is a sixth-generation Walla Walla County resident who returned to farming while continuing to work in accounting, after working in Boise as a CPA for four years. He is a DeSales graduate, earned his B.S. in Accounting from Whitworth College, and attended Gonzaga University for a Masters in Accounting. Kimball is active in the community as a coach and volunteer, and has held leadership positions with the Northwest Grain Growers Board, Walla Walla County Conservation...
WALLA WALLA – Thirty-five year old Republican Jacob Radke is currently deployed to Iraq and will return to Walla Walla in August. He served as a combat medic in the Washington Army National Guard for ten years and currently serves in the Oregon Army National Guard as a Warrant Officer and helicopter pilot. Radke has lived and worked in the Walla Walla area for 28 years. He is a Wa-Hi graduate and earned an AA degree from Walla Walla Community College and Bachelors in Health Science degree f...
WALLA WALLA – Forty-five year resident Randal Son (D) said he set roots in the Walla Walla Valley as soon as he was old enough to choose where to live. Son said he has worked in the fields, canneries, as a painter, and as a carpenter. At 62, he currently works as a transit operator for Walla Walla Valley Transit, but plans to retire if elected. "I"ll be a 100% full-time commissioner with no sideline distractions, working as long and hard as business owners and wage earners," Son said. Son s...
WAITSBURG – Council members spent a large chunk of the June 15 Waitsburg City Council meeting evaluating current city codes to be considered for revision or repeal. City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe said the last comprehensive code review was approximately ten years ago and about half the code was stripped away at that time. Some of the proposed modifications were word changes, such as substituting the words “City Administrator” for “City Marshal” since the city no longer has a marshal....
Noah, and Daniel Moser wait for the "go" signal to walk and ride in Waitsburg's annual Fourth of July Parade of Patriots. The parade ends with a short ceremony in front of the Waitsburg Hardware Store and is followed up with a community potluck in the city park. See more photos on the Last Page....
WAITSBURG – At both the June Garden Club Meeting and City Council Meeting, Waitsburg resident Allison Bond raised the idea of Waitsburg pursuing designation as a Tree City USA. Bond said Tree City USA recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation would make many types of support available to the city, including free educational tools and grants. The program has been in existence since 1976 and provides the framework for communities to manage and expand their public trees. More than 3,400 communities across the United States have achieved Tree C...
WAITSBURG – "I'm great with cars, I'm just not the best at marketing," said Bill Feather, owner of SteelFeatherAuto, located at 615 Preston Avenue in Waitsburg. Feather opened his auto repair shop last October, but many residents are unaware of his shop and the services he offers. The 38-year-old mechanic says he has always had an obsession with anything running. Feather grew up in Walla Walla and said he was lucky enough to have a neighbor who took him under his wing and taught him what he k...
