WAITSBURG – How will the recent closure of Walla Walla General Hospital impact the Columbia County Health System, as well as Waitsburg and Dayton residents? CCHS CEO Shane McGuire was invited to a July 27 meeting of the Waitsburg Commercial Club executive board to address just those questions.

McGuire attributed the closure of WWGH in large part to a lack of cooperation between WWGH and Providence St. Mary’s Medical Center, saying the two hospitals were in a constant battle over a relatively low population to support two hospitals.

“Instead of working collaboratively, General puts in a cath la...