The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG-Waitsburg Celebration Days officials announced that Karen Peters Tonne and Dan Katsel will lead the 2022 festivities as the Parade Marshalls.

Karen Peters Tonne is a lifelong area resident, including attending the Waitsburg School District for all 12 years of her schooling. She worked various jobs in the area before she took a job as a mechanical designer. She worked at Hanford, and later, at Key Technology, in Walla Walla.

In 1964, Tonne was selected as a Days of Real Sport Princess, alongside Sharon Anderson, Queen Margaret Nettles, and Linda Lou Lytle. She went to work in the race office for 30 years, keeping busy on the third weekend in May.

She served on the Waitsburg City Council and saw her daughter, Erica (Grende), and grandchildren Kaz (Pennington) and Brad (Grende) through school in our little town. She now enjoys spending time with her children, grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

"I don't think I've really done a lot for Waitsburg," Tonne shared. "I love the little town, and I am so happy they selected me!"

Dan Katsel grew up in Touchet but fell in love with Waitsburg after he began spending summers here on his grandparent's farm. He moved to town right after graduating high school and began working for an orchard in the area.

He was told that the City of Waitsburg was hiring, and he threw his name in the hat. His career with the city lasted for 40 years, during which he was awarded the "Operator of the Year" by the Department of Health for sewer and water management technologies, and was a part of rebuilding the award-winning waste water treatment plant, recognized by the Department of Ecology.

In his time living in Waitsburg, Katsel was a volunteer fireman for 30 years, and an EMT for 12 years with the Waitsburg Ambulance Service. He served as a District 2 Fire Commissioner for 12 years.

Katsel still lives in Waitsburg with his wife, Betty, and enjoys spending time with their children, and grandchildren.

"Waitsburg is like it's slogan says; it's one of a kind," Katsel said. "I really appreciate all of the people I dealt with while working for the city."

Waitsburg Celebration Days kicks of on Friday, May 20, with a Sunset ATV Cruise. The event lasts all weekend, and will feature a Main Street Parade, Classic Car Show, live music, and, of course, good food and great times.