Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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WAITSBURG — Between February 23 and 28, Waitsburg FFA members wrapped up a fun week of activities during National FFA Week. On Monday, the members wore blue, treated the staff to a soda bar, and held a chapter meeting. On Tuesday, members dressed in blue and voted for the 2026 Harvest Court. The court result was announced on Western Wednesday. This year’s Harvest Ball Court consists of freshmen Carter Barron, Joslin Nodine, sophomores Gavin Mikesell, Makaelyn Mikesell, juniors Griffin Hinchliffe, Kayla Mikesell, and seniors Koyen Fortune and...
WAITSBURG - The Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction selected the Waitsburg School District as one of five to offer the Natural Helpers program. The OSPI describes the program as a peer-to-peer support program designed for middle and high school students. Since friends tend to go to friends for support or advice, the program helps students recognize when peers need help, and how and when to connect them with, and how to do so. Natural Helpers refer to youth who are seen...
When I was a boy living in a linear neighborhood between beef cattle and silage corn fields, my best friend Sarah and I often hid among the branches of a sweeping eastern hemlock. The stately evergreen reached toward the sky with its conical shape, its low branches sprawling over the ground. Sarah and I would sit on the branches, laugh at each other's jokes, and invent silly childhood games, like creating our own language. Describing my and Sarah's unique language as nonsensical is an adult...
Fifteen Years Ago March 3, 2011 Cougars have been seen more often in recent years in Columbia County. Just two weeks ago, Dayton resident Derek Katsel found one roaming through his backyard before it was taken down by a Fish & Wildlife official. High School students from Dayton, DeSales in Walla Walla and Waitsburg competed in Tuesday's Knowledge Bowl at the WHS auditorium. Former Seattle Supersonic Shawn Kemp signs autographs for fans at Ski Bluewood on Saturday during the resort's first Snow...
As spring green colors are finally popping up in our yard, I found myself craving tender green flavors. Rainbow chard braised with aromatics in stock and wine, is a favorite side dish that I love to prepare throughout the year. Here, the addition of potato gnocchi and sweet peas turns the braised greens into a delightful main course. For serving, a dollop of ricotta cheese adds a luscious creaminess, while fresh lemon zest and juice adds brightness. Ingredients: 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 3...
Fifteen Years Ago February 24, 2011 Both the girls and boys Cardinals basketball teams celebrated district tournament victories at Whitman College in Walla Walla this past Friday. They made history by becoming the first teams to win the title at the same time. Cole and Brittany Lindsey, married just last year in Puerto Rico, left for a missionary adventure to Kenya last week. Young wrestlers and their support staff roll up the mats that are too old and worn out for the growing wrestling...
Waitsburg Elementary students participated in the annual Kids Heart Challenge on Friday, February 13, in the high school gym. The students rotated through stations, participating in activities such as jumping rope, hula-hooping, bowling, and basketball. A heart-healthy snack was served at one station. Students in kindergarten through sixth grade received donations from family and friends and raised over $ 3,000 for the American Heart Association. Kennedy Henze was the top money raiser,...
WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg High School's leadership class and FFA Advisor Nicole Abel have enrolled in the peer-to-peer program, "Teens in the Driver Seat". The program began in Texas in 2002 as an initiative under the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. "Teens in the Driver Seat" is available to high schools in 28 states, including Washington, which introduced the program in 2021. The teen driving program promotes traffic safety by addressing specific risks for teen drivers. Risks identified by...
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg High School senior Karissa Potts has signed papers to join the Navy and will leave for nine weeks of boot camp on June 29. When Potts was in the seventh grade, she considered joining the Coast Guard after high school. After researching job training, boot camp, and benefits, including healthcare and housing, she decided the Navy would be her choice of military service. Potts went to the recruiting office, gathered more information, and a week later, returned with her mom,...
Waitsburg High School FFA program has been busy since January with competitions and has more activities and competitions planned through March. On January 28 at Oakesdale, FFA members competed in the AG Marketing Plan category, with one team earning third-place honors. The team of Olivia Kiefel, Kayla Kuykendall, and Carter Barron will compete at the 96th Washington FFA Convention at Washington State University in May. The AG Mechanics team competed at Walla Walla High School on February 12,...
Fifteen Years Ago February 17, 2011 Blurred from a quick takeoff in the rafters of the old Loundagin building on Waitsburg's Main Street, a barn owl flies over contractor Nat Farnam who has been trying to "evict" the squatter and his friend for more than two weeks. Mary Laughery of the Dayton Historical Society helps colleagues set up the new Green Giant exhibit at the depot. The exhibit, honoring the history of the Green Giant Cannery in Dayton, runs from March through October. Twenty-Five...
Bighorn sheep inhabiting the steep canyon terrain of Washington's Blue Mountains have benifitted from conservation efforts to increase numbers. This trio was spotted in the Tucannon region....
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg Elementary PRIDE winners exemplifying E for Excellence were announced on Friday, February 6, during an afternoon assembly with students, staff, and parents. K – Axel Lachowicz & Bode Brannock 1st – Axel Stenson & Landon Long 2nd – Reagan Deal and Ember Adams 3rd – Talen Kibler & Kaidence Wilcox 4th – Dakota Creeley & Cash Grende 5th – Azaliah Flores & Charlie Reger 6th – Reagan Fabian & Ana Frye Principal Mr. Sabin announced that the kindergarten class won the attendanc...
WAITSBURG - Twenty-one Waitsburg students participated in the regional Amazing Shake challenge held in Mattawa, Wash., on Tuesday, February 3. Students from grades 4 through 8 vied for six spots to compete in the Amazing Shake Global Competition in Atlanta, Georgia. On Wednesday, February 4, the six Waitsburg students who earned spots to compete in Georgia were announced at a morning assembly. Placing first is 6th-grader Oaklee Adams, second is 7th-grader Katherine Roberts, and third place went...
Fifteen Years Ago February 2011 Milton Koch, great-grandson of Frank Finkel, only survivor of Custer's Last Stand, gets ready for his interview with the History Channel at the Dayton Depot. On Sunday night, dozens enjoyed night skiing at Ski Bluewood for the first time. New owners Mike and Kelly Stephenson rented lights to try it out and may bring them back every year. Football fans were also able to watch the Super Bowl with new televisions and sound at the lodge. Twenty-Five Years Ago...
On a recent sunny walk around town, I spotted the first early spring crocus of the season, and on Main Street, the dirty giant mountains of old plowed snow have finally melted away. Even so, the cold dark nights and frosty mornings of late winter continue. Yes, despite our yearnings for spring, it is still most definitely sweater and casserole weather. This week, I turned to ground turkey to create an unexpected twist on an old favorite recipe, Shepherd's Pie. Filling the house with tempting...
The Mythical/Movable Bluegrass Jam has a new venue – Wolfling Coffee in Waitsburg. Over fifteen musicians, and more in the audience, came to the new coffee shop on Friday evening. The shop will be in the regular rotation, hosting the jam once a month with coffee, teas, and housemade baked goods. (l-r) Scott Smith on saxophone, Kelly McFarley on mandolin, and Jimmye Turner on guitar....
It had been a minute since I last felt the forest's presence, and not the kind you experience on a typical sunny summer day. The ground was covered in fresh, soft snow, untouched by high winds throwing twigs and limbs or branches dripping from rising temperatures. While the evergreen forest often carries a solemn aura, nothing compares to the quiet, soothing heaviness of dark timber beneath a blanket of snow. The creek tumbled behind us with the migrating waters of the unusually warm, rainy seas...
Fifteen Years Ago February 3, 2010 January's students of the month for Waitsburg Elementary are Brayden Miller 4th grade, Karlie Pettichor 5th grade, Haylee Crow 4th grade, and Chris Philbook 5th grade. Twenty-Five Years Ago February 1, 2001 "The Historical Walla Walla Valley" by Dr. Chester Collins Maxey, which has been out of print since 1998, is once again available. Last year Fort Walla Walla Museum was awarded a grant from the Yancey P. Winans Testamentary Trust through Baker Boyer Bank to...
Some of the most popular and recognizable foods of Mexico fall into the category of small bites called antojitos, which can be found across the country sold in markets or from street vendors. Translated as "little cravings", these savory dishes, including tacos and chili rellenos, are often served as appetizers or as midday snacks. One of my favorites, taquitos or flautas, are tortillas rolled with flavorful fillings and fried crisp. Perfect served with an array of different salsas, guacamole...
This Great Blue Heron is a regular visitor on the Touchet River in Dayton....
Fifteen Years Ago January 27, 2011 Army Pfc. Jeffery M. Hofer has graduated from the Fire Support Specialist Advanced Individual Training course at Fort Sill, Lawton, Oklahoma. Hofer graduated from Waitsburg High School in 2009. He is the son of Waitsburg residents Jeffrey T. Hofer and Lynda C. Stokes. The field artillery specialists serve in intelligence activities, including target processing in field artillery, cannon battalions, division artillery, artillery and maneuver brigade, and...
As regular readers of my column might recall, I often use my time in the kitchen to satisfy my periodic bouts of wanderlust. Recreating discoveries made during past travels, or dreaming of future trips, cooking and eating have become an extension to my passport. Music, like great food, can have the effect of transporting me to faraway places, with my kitchen playlist often influenced by what is on the stove. There are passionate Mexican corridos on my stereo when stirring a pot of mole, while...
Fifteen Years Ago January 20, 2011 Hosted by Schweitzer Mountain Resort, the Chad Engstrom Memorial Race is traditionally the first race of the season for the Emerald Empire Youth Ski League (EEYSL). The Bluewood Alpine Race Team (BART) is one of seven Emerald Empire Youth Ski League (EEYSL) member teams. It fielded 12 athletes at this year's event, which featured Giant Slalom races both Saturday, January 8, and Sunday, January 9. Despite being a small part of the total of 152 racers competing,...
Sometimes, while researching recipes, I am overcome by unexpected cravings. This week, I was reminded of the flavorful and messy childhood lunchroom classic, the sloppy joe sandwich. Always up for a challenge, I set out looking for an alternative to the overly sweet version that comes out of a can. Here, ground beef is simmered in a tangy homemade sauce that comes to life with a zesty combination of spices. Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound ground beef (80/20) ½ yellow onion,...
