Here at The Times we sometimes complain to ourselves that there’s not much news in Waitsburg. It often seems like not a whole lot is going on, and so we must get our lazy selves off our behinds and venture out in search of news.

Don’t get me wrong. A lot of what qualifies as news you don’t want happening in your town. “Quiet” and “laid-back” are often virtues, not faults.

But the last few weeks here in “The Burg,” our job has gotten easier. The news is coming at us at a rapid pace. And that news involves things that people in Waitsburg need to care about:

Fairgrounds

A Walla Walla man’s request to establish dirt-track car racing on the Waitsburg Fairgrounds horse track woke us up to the need to do something with what is a very important asset for Waitsburg. That proposal was nixed, but a committee has now been formed and the community is being asked to help mold the Fairground’s future.

Main Street Bridge

Through the diligent efforts of city officials, the state of Washington has agreed to fund a replacement of the Main Street Bridge over the Touchet River. This is a big deal, and it will be a huge improvement, particularly for flood mitigation. There are many decisions that need to be made, and need community input, regarding design and layout of the bridge, including the rail design and pedestrian access.

Elections

Waitsburg’s “unique” annual elections system usually presents us with an unopposed slate of incumbents in April that are quietly returned to office. But every few years, challengers step up to offer change. This is one of those years. In this week’s issue, reporter Dena Wood presents excellent profiles of all of the candidates for Mayor and City Council.

And so, citizens of Waitsburg, it’s time to step up and take part. If nothing else, spend a little time learning more about these important issues, and then make your voice heard. The folks making decisions about the designs of the fairgrounds and the bridge want and need guidance. And your vote in the elections could make a difference. So please vote.

And finally, we give a big thank you to this wonderful town for making our news-gathering job much easier this week.