2014 - Year in Review

DAYTON - As 2014 winds to a close, we look back on a year that brought increased economic strength to the Touchet Valley, and some momentous voting results at the ballot box. Dayton and Columbia County again put on a great string of community events. Here we go with a look back at some major stories out of Columbia County:

Columbia Pulp Moves Ahead

In our Dec. 19, 2013 issue, we broke the news that a new straw pulp plant was in the works for Columbia County. It was to be built near Lyons Ferry, and open for operation sometime in 2015.

"[The new facility] would produce more than 400 tons of pulp per day and would likely employ more than 130 full-time workers," the article said. "The Lyons Ferry site was chosen, Begley said, because it is located in an industrial zone, and has access to a natural gas line. It also has good access to road, rail and Snake River barge transportation."

In September, we reported that Columbia Pulp was beginning the recruiting process for new employees:

"The Company's CEO John Begley said that about 30 salaried positions will be filled in the first quarter of 2015."

Separately, the company reported, "The firm will begin recruiting for 100 or more hourly operations positions beginning in January. Those positions will be filled, and training will begin, in the second quarter of next year, Begley said.

"For hourly operations employees, the firm will post openings through WorkSource Walla Walla. Those postings should begin going up early next year, according to Begley, with hiring to begin in March or April."

Begley told The Times in December that progress on development of the facility was still on track, with construction set to begin in the spring of this year.

Wind Turbines Arrive in Columbia County

Portland General Electric spent 2014 constructing its new Tucannon River Wind Project in northern Columbia County. Wind turbine components began traveling through Waitsburg and Dayton in the spring. In July we reported:

"According to Franco Albi, PGE's project manager, deliveries to the site are expected to continue through the summer and end by early October.

"A total of 116 wind turbines will be installed, having a maximum generating capacity of 276 megawatts. The expected cost of the project is approximately $500 million. Albi said that the project is expected to begin generating power in early 2015."

Dayton School Bond Levy Defeated

A special Dayton school facilities committee spent much of 2013 working with architects on plans for a major renovation of the school facilities. In March 2014, after several options were presented to the public, the Dayton School Board approved a $20 million capital bond levy that would be put before voters on April 22. It would cost taxpayers about $2.53 per thousand dollar valuation each year. As we reported in March:

"The project, which would begin in 2015 if the current bond measure is approved, will include a complete renovation of the high school building, system upgrades and gym modifications in the elementary school and construction of a new commons/ community/administration building that would connect the two existing school buildings."

The levy was soundly defeated, with more than 70% of voters rejecting the measure.

After the vote, Dayton School Superintendent Doug Johnson told The Times the facilities committee had a range of options:

"One is to run a revised levy measure in November. Another is to address the most pressing building renovation needs through a series of short term capital levies that don't involve bond purchases."

In late November, the school board heard a recommendation from Johnson to ask voters in early 2015 for approval of a capital improvement levy of approximately $800,000. Levy funds would be used to pay for the most critical facilities needs. No bonds would be purchased. The board is expected to make a final decision in January.

Hospital Levy a Squeaker

In late May, the Columbia County Hospital District Board of Directors announced plans for their own capital bond levy, which would be put before voters in November. The funds would be used for a major renovation of the Dayton General Hospital facility. We reported the announcement by the district's interim CEO Jon Smiley:

"According to Smiley, the main reasons for the proposed reconfiguration are to make staff operations more efficient and to increase privacy for patients and their families. Potential changes include moving the nurses' station closer to the emergency room and moving food services closer to the Booker Rest Home facility." The remodel would also significantly renovate and expand the physical therapy area at the hospital.

In July the board approved putting a $5.5 million dollar bond measure before the voters in November, which, if approved, would cost property owners approximately $.50 per thousand dollar valuation per year.

The morning after the November 4 election, the preliminary count showed the measure trailing the needed 60% threshold by about seven votes. At least 100 ballots were left to be counted. After additional ballots were counted on November 7, the measure trailed by just one vote. When the final votes were counted in Columbia and Walla Walla Counties on November 23, the measure squeaked by, with 60.08% voter approval – a two-vote margin.

The Hospital District board has set an all-day workshop for Jan. 14 to begin plans for the hospital renovation.

Write-Ins Shake Up Elections

Here's what we reported after the candidate filing period ended in May:

"Two Dayton natives, who returned to town to retire after careers away, will face off in the race to replace retiring Columbia County Commissioner Chuck Reeves.

"Merle Jackson and Dain Nysoe both filed for the position last week, Jackson preferring the Republican party and Nysoe, the Democrats.

"All of the other open positions in Columbia County received only one candidate filing."

The election picture changed significantly in the next three months. In early July, Dayton resident and former longtime Republican Party county chair Dwight Richter filed for the District 3 commissioner position, making it a three-way race.

Jackson and Richter prevailed in the August 5 primary, with Nysoe falling out of the race. Two other write-in candidates received enough votes in the primary to qualify for the November general election. Democrate Frank Blair's name was put on the ballot against State Representative Terry Nealey.

And former Columbia County Prosecutor candidate Randy O. Lewis received enough write-in votes against incumbent Rea Culwell to qualified him for the general election ballot. As we reported:

"Lewis, who challenged Culwell in her 2010 reelection bid and lost, received 18 write-in votes in this year's primary election. Culwell was running unopposed.

"According to Washington State law, if a write-in candidate receives at least one percent of the total votes cast in a race, he or she is eligible to be added to the general election ballot, provided the candidate is one of the top two vote-getters. Less than 1,000 votes were cast for Prosecutor, so Lewis easily qualified."

In the end, Jackson, Nealey and Culwell all prevailed over the write-in challengers, but those challengers' efforts made the elections much more interesting.

20th All Wheels Weekend Highlights Year of Successful Events

Visitors again flocked to Dayton for a half-dozen community events that were all big successes. The Columbia County event schedule was highlighted by the 20th All Wheels Weekend car show in June:

"A little rain and chilly weather only dampened spirits slightly during last weekend's 20th annual All Wheels Weekend event here.

"Friday night's cruising was nearly rained out, as was the outdoor stage where live music was planned.

"The Ultimate Elvis concert Friday night was moved to the Dayton High School Auditorium. A nearly packed house heard an awesome show. The band did a great job setting up, and almost missed dinner, according to organizers."

Other big events in Dayton included the Dayton Days Parade on Memorial Day Weekend, Mule Mania and Alumni Weekend in July, the Columbia County Fair in September, Dayton on Tour in October and Christmas Kickoff in late November.

In late August, the Columbia County commissioners approved a plan to move Mule Mania to Memorial Day Weekend. The event will help fill the weekend that, for a century or more, had featured the Dayton Days event. With the demise of pari-mutuel horse racing in southeast Washington, the mule event will help maintain an important draw into Columbia County on Memorial Day Weekend.