The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Ten Years Ago

July 21, 2011

Susan Hosticka always wanted to do a "bee beard" to prove the hard-working insects are really quite gentle and harmless despite their reputation to the contrary. Late last month, during a field day for the state's beekeepers association at Washington Sate University, she finally had her Fear Factor moment when 4,000 bees crawled and buzzed around her shoulders, neck and head. "Not a single sting," said the co-owner of Octopus Garden Honey on South Touchet Road near Dayton. "It kind of felt like a scratchy wool sweater."