Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 101 - 125 of 431
DAYTON—Fireworks have been an issue for city and county officials as fire conditions continued to worsen in Walla Walla and Columbia Counties. Columbia County Commissioners held a public hearing on Tuesday, September 7, to discuss an ordinance to allow the county to impose emergency bans on fireworks should local fire conditions warrant it. Currently, Columbia County and the City of Dayton cannot impose a ban on firework sales and use, even if there is immediate fire risk due to drought or s...
Fall is finally here! I've been waiting for it all summer. Unfortunately, my tomato plants didn't get the message that their expiration date was quickly approaching. The first frost date for 2021 is expected on October 21. Like many other people in the area, my tomatoes are late. My plants remained pretty bare up until last month when everything decided to grow at once. They grew, and grew, and grew, but they would not ripen up. This weekend I had to pick green tomatoes earlier than usual,...
Evelyn Couch is caught in a monotonous life. The dowdy woman is stuck in an unhappy marriage, struggling with failing self-esteem, but that changes when she visits a nursing home in the 1980s. Her life changes when she meets Ninny Threadgoode, a lively elderly woman residing at the nursing home. The pair starts meeting weekly, and Ninny shares the story of a young girl, Idgie, who is the very definition of a free spirit. She grew up in Whistle Stop, Georgia, your typical 1930's small Southern...
DAYTON— County Commissioners approved a mandate that requires masks at the Columbia County Fair this weekend at a meeting on Tuesday, September 7. The mandate, signed by Dr. Lewis Neace, Columbia County Health Officer, will provide an added level of protection for exhibitors, guests, and facilitators. “As our cases continue to go up, we are looking at the fair,” Lanman said. “We need to do something at the fair, to make it clear that we have additional cases in our communities.” Lanman sa...
In just a few days, cows, curly fries, and farm critters will take over the Columbia County Fairgrounds for a "Blue Ribbon A-Fair." For the young horsewomen from Rocking D Riders 4-H club, the fair began early after the Columbia County Fair Horse Show was moved to an earlier weekend to solve time and space constraints. Having the show held on a weekend before the fair allowed fans and riders to distance themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic safely. Under the guidance of 4-H leader Shelli Bryan...
COLUMBIA, WALLA WALLA COUNTY—A letter shared online by Walla Walla County Commissioner Jenny Mayberry on Monday, August 30, expressed that local health officials are concerned about a potential employee and volunteer exodus over vaccine mandates. On August 9, Governor Jay Inslee announced a mandate that required all healthcare providers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18, 2021, or be terminated from their position. The mandate includes all professional firefighters, v...
DAYTON—The Dayton School Board called an emergency meeting on Monday, August 30, to discuss switching to remote learning for middle and high school students. Columbia County Public Health officials agreed with the decision to go remote for secondary students, Superintendent Guy Strot told meeting attendees. “This is a good opportunity to try and get cases back under control, instead of letting it grow to a much larger issue,” Strot said. Over the weekend, Superintendent Strot said that one v...
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) warns against using Ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug commonly used for humans and animals, to treat or prevent COVID-19. Ivermectin, first discovered in 1975 and commercialized in 1980, began making COVID-19 headlines last year, after Australian researchers reported that the drug could inhibit in vitro coronavirus replication in large doses. The drug has been permitted as treatment in some of the worst-hits areas of the world, including S...
DAYTON/WAITSBURG-Hut, hut, hike! Fall sports are officially underway from Dayton-Waitsburg Wolfpack athletes. Full rosters for both volleyball and football teams have given athletic officials high hopes for the upcoming season. Wolfpack Football had more than 30 players turnout at the first practice of the season on August 18, with numbers continuing to climb as late registrations rolled in. Athletic Director Sam Korslund said that those numbers provided the strong potential for a junior...
WAITSBURG—Emotions were high as parents and caregivers voiced opinions about the recent mask mandate at the Waitsburg School Board meeting on August 23. Secondary principal Stephanie Wooderchak reported that middle and high school business offices were now open, and staff would be available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. School registration was August 23-26. Ice cream socials and open house events were also held this week for middle school students to give them a chance to meet teachers, learn... Full story
DAYTON—The Dayton School Board met on August 18 for a regular school board meeting. Dayton School District had its first day of the 2021-22 school year on August 24. Before the business meeting, Superintendent Guy Strot spoke on recent mask mandates, which went into effect on Monday, August 23. Strot said that, aside from health-related risks, the school district had multiple reasons to comply with the mandate. According to Strot, the school’s insurance company has stated that they will not ins...
On Monday, August 23, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for people 16 and older. This is the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive full approval in the United States. The FDA ruling should help overcome vaccine-hesitancy in some unvaccinated people who have stated this as their primary concern. According to the FDA, the approved vaccine will now be marketed as Comirnaty to prevent COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and old...
UMATILLA NATIONAL FOREST-Good news in the Blues, the Green Ridge Fire has seen minimal growth over the past few days, aided by weekend rainfall and cooler weather. On Tuesday, August 24, the Green Ridge Fire had burned 39,471 acres, and was 35% contained. Officials report that fuel moisture encouraged less than 50 acres of growth on Monday. While containment did not increase, firefighters are becoming increasingly confident that additional portions of the fireline in Divisions M and K will soon...
I made a rookie plant collector mistake the other day, and failed to properly quarantine alocasia plants I found at The Home Depot. They were just too pretty to hide away! As a result, a handful of my plants started showing signs of spider mites and I had to act quickly before they got out of hand. Truth be told, I can't tell for certain if the mites came home on the alocasia, as there are a million and one ways that the pests can make it inside, but my recent infestation did not start until I...
Help wanted signs are showing up in storefront windows across the nation, with 9.3 million job openings being reported in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Economists have been studying this most recent employee shortage and the effects the gaping holes in the workforce have had for businesses, workers and consumers. Locally, businesses have had to adjust to the shortages. Waitsburg Grocery has had to close an hour earlier for nearly a month, missing out on the...
UMATILLA NATIONAL FOREST—Southwest wind gusts are expected to continue driving the Green Ridge Fire, feeding the flames with unburned pockets of fuel. As of Tuesday, August 17, the fire has burned 37,599 acres and is less than 20% contained. In the 48 hours leading up to Tuesday’s update, the wind tested fire lines created in Division M. However, the fire lines and previous firing operations have proven effective. The fire has been kept within the division’s footprint and the lines creat...
DAYTON—The Dayton City Council met Wednesday, August 11, for a regular meeting. The council continues to meet in person, with the option to join via Zoom. During the first public comment period, council members heard from Howard Novak urging them to consider hiring more than one animal control officer. Novak said he had been attacked or threatened by a dog on more than one occasion. Mayor Zac Weatherford said the city is currently working with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office to create and...
WAITSBURG—Waitsburg FFA has been awarded nearly $3,000 as part of the competitive Grants for Growing Program offered to middle and high school FFA chapters across the United States. The grant program, facilitated by the National FFA Organization, is funded by consumers who purchase FFA paper emblems at Tractor Supply Company (TSC) stores. Grants for Growth is sponsored by TSC and provides up to $5,000 grants which can be used to “Grow your Classroom,” “Grow your FFA Chapter,” or “Grow you...
DAYTON—The Port of Columbia Commissioners met Wednesday, August 11, for a regular board meeting. Port of Columbia Executive Director Jennie Dickinson reported a roughly $10,000 expenditure for an HVAC replacement at one of the Port’s properties. Dickinson said the Port’s property insurance went up 20% in 2020 and another 20% this year, now totaling $64,000. “That is disappointing,” Dickinson said. “I have done research into other companies, and I can’t find anything better.” Dickinson said the P...
Colville Street in Walla Walla is one of my favorite places to go for date night. From TMACS to the Colville Street Patisserie, you can find sweet, savory, fancy, and simple all within a few steps. Recently opened Pine Cone Creamery is a welcomed addition to the block's date-night appeal. It offers a wide selection of small-batch ice cream, sorbet, coffee, and other sweet treats. Whether you prefer fresh waffle cones or ice cream in a cup, Pine Cone has it. Like to add sprinkles, chocolate, or...
Ukuleles, sewing machines, and binoculars are just a few items at the Library of Things waiting to tag along on your next adventure around Dayton. The Dayton Memorial Library started the Library of Things in 2017, and it has since become popular with local patrons. It includes a little bit of everything for just about anyone; Discovery Kits for kids six years and under that make counting fun, inspire a love of entomology, and dive into the world of dinos. Science, Technology, Engineering, Art...
DAYTON—Washington state’s legislation on police reform went into effect on Sunday, July 25, and has left many police officials across the state without needed clarification. Concerns over changes to police response based on House Bill 1054 and House Bill 1310, sponsored by State Representative Jesse Johnson, were discussed at an August 2 Columbia County Commissioners meeting. The State Legislature passed the police accountability measures in response to national, state, and local calls to reform policing after the deaths of unarmed Black Americ... Full story
DAYTON—The Dayton City Council human resources and financial committees met Monday, August 9 for a work session. Due to the nature of the meeting, no action was taken on any agenda item. The council will meet for a regular monthly meeting on August 11, at 6 p.m. Frustration was a shared feeling across the attendees, as requests for specific financial paperwork have continued to go unfulfilled. Council members said that they have been requesting clear, concise line items regarding salaries for c...
WAITSBURG—It was a balmy Waitsburg City Council workshop on August 9, but members were happy to meet for the first time at the future home of City Hall. Due to the nature of a council workshop, no action was taken on agenda items. The City of Waitsburg now owns the property at 106 Main, after approving the purchase in July. During the workshop on Monday, the council began the discussion about the need to remodel the building to make the space work for city employees and the public. Part of t...
Amazon Original The Pursuit of Love, based on the 1945 novel by Nancy Mitford, is set in the short period of time between World War I and II. Tensions and prejudices were still ripe amongst older adults, but young women were eager and ready to start their own lives. Cousins Fanny (Emily Beecham) and Linda (Lily James) are as inseparable as they are opposite. Fanny is well-educated, reserved, and content with a stable, steady life, going on to marry the scholarly Alfred and starting her own...
