News Briefs
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 1608
Port announces additional assistance for Columbia County businesses
DAYTON—The Port of Columbia will once again serve as the conduit for grant funds for Columbia County businesses that have suffered financial harm due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Four different funding sources have provided or promised a total of $229...
Department of Ecology has announced water restrictions for Touchet River basin irrigators
WALLA WALLA—On Sunday, July 30, the Washington Department of Ecology announced water restrictions for many Touchet River basin irrigators beginning as early as this week. DOE’s Regional Watermaster Eric Hartwig is planning to call or visit junior...
Columbia County announces first COVID-19 related death
DAYTON—Columbia County Public Health released the following announcement on Monday, August 3, regarding its first confirmed COVID-19 related death: The individual was male and over the age of 50. He tested positive for the virus on July 27, and...
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County commissioners drop idea of assessing voter interest in State of Liberty (for now)
DAYTON—On Monday, July 20, the Columbia County Commissioners considered whether to place an advisory ballot before voters in November to assess the people’s interest in becoming part of the State...
Free Wi-Fi is now available at the Plaza on 1st
WALLA WALLA—A free Wi-Fi connection is now available for visitors to the new Plaza on First Avenue between Main and Alder streets. PocketiNet is providing the Wi-Fi hotspot via its downtown Walla Walla Fiber backbone. It offers high-speed internet...
Free Kids School Clothes
DAYTON—School clothes will be available free of charge on Sunday, August 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sponsored by the Seventh Day Adventist Church-Community Service Center, this event takes place in the parking lot at 1525 4th Street in Dayton. Call...
Matlock fire
Firefighters from a Umatilla National Forest Type 6 engine dig up and quench remaining hot spots along the line of the Matlock Fire. The lightning-caused fire burned 85 acres in the Umatilla National...
Meet the Prescott Superintendent
PRESCOTT—New Prescott School Superintendent Justin Bradford is inviting the community to meet with him to share their concerns, hopes, and vision for the Prescott School District. On Wednesday, August 12 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mr. Bradford will be...
COVID-19 Information
Find detailed, accurate COVID-19 activity levels in our counties and our state here: Walla Walla County Health Department lists new, confirmed, recovered, and active cases in isolation daily at 5 p.m. at this link: https://www.co....
Walla Walla County adds 'Subscribe by Cellphone' feature to emergency notifications
WALLA WALLA—Would you like to receive County emergency notifications directly to your cell phone? Walla Walla County Emergency Management has added a new feature to its Citizen Alert emergency notification system from Everbridge to make it even eas...
Botany in the Blues; online presentation and field trip planned
WALLA WALLA—The Blue Mountain Land Trust is introducing their new Botany in the Blues series, co-sponsored by the Washington Native Plant Society. The conservation organization will facilitate a...
Waitsburg passes utility tax to fund flood control
WAITSBURG—The City of Waitsburg passed a $5.00 per user per month increase in utilities for the remainder of the year, then an additional $5.00 per month per user starting in January of 2021 to be used to help fund flood control improvements and...
Weller Public Library offers summer projects
WAITSBURG—The Weller Public Library will be offering activities for area youth in lieu of the summer reading program. Supplies will be available for pickup in the library foyer. This week, the...
Dayton Memorial Library Director resigns
DAYTON—The Columbia County Rural Library District board has announced the resignation of Library Director Dusty Waltner, who has accepted another job, effective July 31. Board Chair Karin Spann said because of uncertainties concerning COVID-19,...
COVID-19 can cause prolonged illness
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Coronavirus Response Joint Information Center reported on a new Center for Disease Control (CDC) report that emphasizes that COVID-19 can cause prolonged illness,...
Help clean up Preston Park this Saturday at 9 a.m.
WAITSBURG—Matt and Krystal Wyatt Helping Hands of Waitsburg just announced a plan to clean up Preston Park this Saturday, August 1st, at 9 a.m. Lend a helping hand to clean up all sandbags that were left to help with the flood and remove the...
COVID-19 is on a path to runaway growth in Washington state
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) released the latest statewide situation report on Friday, July 17, which shows that Washington State as a whole is in an explosive situation. Transmission continues to increase or accelerate a... Full story
Army Corps of Engineers Change of Command Ceremony Friday morning
WALLA WALLA—The public is invited to attend the Walla Walla District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, change-of-command ceremony set for 10 a.m. on Friday, July 24. The ceremony will be live-streamed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/yPcI4jURgIY. Lt....
State health care changes continue
OLYMPIA—Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler extended his emergency order requiring health insurers to cover telehealth and copays for testing. On Friday, July 17, Kreidler directed all state-regulated health insurers to make additional coverage...
Julia Leavitt named Program Director for Sherwood Trust
Julia Leavitt has been promoted to Sherwood Trust’s Program Director, announced Sherwood Trust CEO Brian Hunt. Leavitt joined Sherwood Trust in November 2019 as Program Manager. As Program Director, Leavitt has responsibility for Sherwood...
Gatherings restricted to ten in Phase 3 counties
DAYTON—Columbia County Public Health Director Martha Lanman has reported one new positive case of COVID-19, over the past weekend, in a woman under the age of 50. To date, 339 people have been... Full story
Walla Walla County receives funding from Washington Community Economic Revitalization
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) today approved $2,005,000 in low-interest loans and $1,170,000 in grants for economic development, public infrastructure development and economic feasibility studies...
Columbia County commissioners considering advisory ballot for 51st state
DAYTON—During their work session on Monday, the Columbia County Commissioners discussed whether to give county voters an opportunity to voice an opinion about creating a 51st state, called Liberty. Earlier this month Danette Bolyard, a...
Lower Granite Lock and Dam crossings to be closed until late July
CLARKSTON, Wash.—Officials at Lower Granite Lock and Dam are closing dam crossings to the public for two weeks. The closure started on July 10, due to COVID-19 health concerns. Dam officials will...
VIVE Health and Wellness center to reopen
DAYTON—A local favorite health and wellness center is reopening after a long COVID closure. VIVE is operated by Levi Sowerby, a health and wellness coach that provides customized plans to meet your goals. VIVE, located at 446 E. Main Street in...
