Week of February 13, 2025
Week of February 13, 2025
WAITSBURG - Cheryl Hansen and her crew of friends harvested the first crop of Riesling grapes grown at Stella's Homestead in September 2024. Hansen contracted Truth Teller Winery to provide Custom Crush, winemaking, and maintenance services to help her create the single-varietal wine, Dona Stella. After harvest, the grapes went to the Walla Walla winery to be processed, sorted, pressed, and slowly fermented by owners and winemakers Rob Wohr and Chris Loeliger. On February 7, Hansen and her crew...
DAYTON – The Port of Columbia Commissioners held a workshop to discuss the potential sale of its railroad assets on February 5, 2025. Commissioners Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, Mike Spring, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were present. The meeting was a workshop for the edification of the commissioners, and public comment was not available. Stakeholders were invited to participate, including the rail operator, customers, and the city. Ryan Paulson represented the City of Dayton, which holds utility rights-of-way along and across the...
WAITSBURG - Seventeen students from Waitsburg Schools attended the Amazing Shake state finals in Mattawa, Washington, on Tuesday, February 4. The Amazing Shake teaches students about professional skills for success through manners, discipline, and respect to present themselves exceptionally for future opportunities. Participants from Waitsburg, Othello, Royal, and Wahluke school districts spent the day showing judges their skills in handshakes, follow-up questions, quick thinking, and effective...
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg High School's wrestling team traveled to Almira-Coulee-Hartline to participate in district wrestling on Saturday, February 8. "The kids did great," said Coach Lash LaRue. "Everyone is going to Regionals. Jarod Hankins is seeded third in the boys' state qualifier on February 15 at Freeman High School." Karissa Potts is the first girl wrestler for Waitsburg and will attend the regional competition at Roger's High School in Spokane on February 15. LaRue was happy with his...
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg Middle School girls basketball game against Desales ended in a tie on January 27 in Waitsburg. With the game tied at the end of the fourth quarter, the teams were given one minute for overtime. Neither team scored, and the game ended with a score of 15 –15. Five Cardinals scored; Kaitlyn Paul led with seven points, and Audrey Kiefel, Mady Potter, Peyton Childers, and Laila Long each scored two points. Kiefel had six rebounds and five steals, and Potter had five rebounds....
BELLEVUE – A trip to Bellevue, Washington, for the 2025 Fly Fishing Show will be worth the drive to the sport’s enthusiasts. Organizers said there will be thirteen classes, seminars, films, demonstrations, hands-on experiences, and wall-to-wall displays of everything new in the sport. There will be nearly $100,000 in door prizes, including the following trips: a Golden Dorado Trip for two to South America, a week on the waters of King Salmon, Alaska, a week at Rio Manso Lodge in Northern Patagonia, a week at Chile Trout in Patagonia, and...
Columbia County - With fresh snow, it is a great time for a trip to the Jasper Mountain Reserve. The privately owned, nonprofit reserve has 330 square miles of diverse terrain and offers year-round outdoor recreational options. The cross-country ski trails are groomed for classic and skate skiing. JMR President Hartmut Stecher shared the following visitor's information: Road Conditions: Payne Hollow Road, the road to the reserve may be plowed, though Columbia County usually clears it. In the...
DAYTON – The Dayton School Board met in the high school library at 5:30 p.m. on February 6, 2025. Dayton School District Superintendent Jeremy Wheatley, Business Manager Jana Eaton, Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen, and board members Aneesha Dieu, Grant Griffin, and Ryan Paulson were present. The sole purpose of this meeting was to select a new board member from candidates who applied for the position. Candidates were Melissa Gemmell, Brenda Henderson, Katie Lied, and Pat Davidson. Board members separately interviewed each candidate for about 30...
DAYTON — Nominated for eight Academy Awards, “Conclave” follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events, the selection of the new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence uncovers a trail of deep secrets left in the dead Pope’s wake, secrets that could shake the foundations of the Church....
DAYTON - The snowmobiling community in Dayton hosted the 2025 Washington State Snowmobile Association's Winter Rendezvous. Local chapter president, LaRhonda McCauley co-chaired the event that helped raise funds for the WSSA Legal Action Fund to protect motorized winter recreation. Over three days, there were adventures for every riding style and evening events at the Dayton Fairgrounds on Friday and Saturday. There were trivia games, a silent auction, basket raffle, a photo contest, and guest...
WAITSBURG — The Waitsburg School District board of directors is considering presenting a Safety, Security, and Technology Capital Project Levy to the voters on April 22, 2025. The board is seeking applications from district residents to be considered for a committee to write the “for” and “against” statements for the proposed levy to be published in the Walla Walla and Columbia Counties’ Voter Pamphlets. Any district residents interested should send their name, address, phone number, email address, and position they represent to...
Ten Years Ago February 12, 2015 [Photo caption] Kristine Warren pins an Eagle Scout badge to son Matthew during his Eagle Scout Ceremony as Scoutmaster Brian Houdak (far left) and Dad Bill look on. Twenty-Five Years Ago February 10, 2000 What's in a name? To Waitsburg Councilwoman Delores Nettles, who grew up on Wood Street on the eastern edge of Waitsburg, it's everything. Wood Street, the street next to the Jackpot Mini-mart, is only a block long and sashays into Taggart Road. The company...
In preparation for Valentine's Day, my mind naturally turns to food. The kitchen has always been an extension of my heart, cooking an act of love. While flowers and little trinkets are lovely, in my mind it is homemade edible gifts that have the most meaning. Among the list of romantic bites, sweet treats, and supposed aphrodisiacs, the ingredient most associated with this annual celebration of romance is chocolate. Foiled boxes of dark chocolate truffles, rich chocolate tortes and towering...
