Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 201 - 225 of 431
If you want to travel to simpler times, all you have to do is pop Grandma & the Boys’ Old Time Gospel into the CD player. A true testament to the bluegrass genre, this locally produced album features the voices of the late Grandma Jo Shay, the late Shawn Wray, and Joe McCutcheon, with lively mandolin and smooth acoustic bass. Though I was late in finding this album, Grandma Jo’s version of “Amazing Grace” is, without a doubt, one of my new favorites. I never had the privilege of meeting her, bu...
The lion of early spring has roared, and shops are embracing the relaxed pandemic-related restrictions as they shake off the winter blues. As shoppers, we have gotten used to wearing face masks and the smell of hand sanitizer, and before we know it, we will be used to packing reusable shopping bags with us. According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, Washington shoppers use two billion single-use plastic bags each year. Most bags go in the trash once people get home and put their...
Anxious People, by Fredrik Backman Anxious People, by Fredrik Backman, is a poignant story about an inept, wannabe bank robber who disappears into thin air, a father and son cop team, and a handful of folks who showed up to an apartment as prospective buyers and left as rescued hostages. The night before New Year’s Eve in a small Swedish town, a struggling parent attempts to rob a cashless bank for 6,500 kronor. After a solid ridiculing by the young bank teller, the would-be robber flees and das...
WAITSBURG-Seventy-five thousand pounds of food from participating sponsors was dropped off at the Waitsburg Elementary School parking lot over the weekend. The semi-trucks that hauled it disappeared as soon as the trailers were empty. Countless smiling volunteers helped distribute every single bit of food to anyone and everyone who drove up. The food was prepackaged in 30-pound boxes. Dairy staples, including yogurt and butter, and other essential pantry items like fresh potatoes, onions, and...
WAITSBURG—On March 15, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee released an emergency proclamation concerning updates to school reopening plans. The directive stated that all schools in Washington State must offer in-person instruction for elementary students by April 5, and in-person instruction for high school students by April 19. On March 25, the Washington State Department of Health adopted guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that lessened the six foot physical distancing requir...
WAITSBURG—House Bill 2005 was introduced in 2017 to improve the business climate in Washington State by simplifying the administration of municipal business licenses. The bill went into effect in July 2017. The Waitsburg City Council officially voted to align with the state’s business license system in November of last year. The bill stated that cities that require a general business license must partner with the Department of Revenue for issuance and renewal of any business license through the...
WAITSBURG—Spring has sprung, and daffodils aren’t the only things popping up around town. Last week, a couple of Waitsburg residents posted on social media, warning of solicitors going around town selling air purification products. According to the Waitsburg Municipal Code, solicitors are defined as: ‘Any person who goes from house to house or place to place in the City of Waitsburg selling or taking orders for or offering to sell or take orders for, goods, wares or merchandise, for prese...
THE TIMES-Roadside assistance is closer than ever for Waitsburg residents. Kyle's RSA, owned by Kyle Sickles, is now available for "everything but the tow." Sickles said that he got the idea for a roadside service business after speaking with local towing company owner Trevor Johnson, who suggested that Sickles start small with a service business before investing in a tow truck, and other necessary equipment. "They told me that it's a lot to take on," Sickles said. "They said to start with the r...
DAYTON-The Dayton Kiwanis Club met Thursday, March 25, at noon, for a regular meeting. Attendees heard from Dayton High School Alumni Keith Nealey, Director of Engineering at KIRO TV and esports enthusiast. Nealy has more than 30 years of experience creating graphics and integrating statistics for traditional sports broadcasts. He has worked with companies including CBS, ABC, and ESPN. He has worked closely with Seattle-based professional sports teams, the Sonics, Seahawks, and Sounders FC....
WAITSBURG—Equipment purchase and financing, and ongoing flood control efforts were discussed at the Waitsburg City Council meeting on March 17. Meeting in person for the first time in over a year, councilmembers present were Mayor Marty Dunn, Kevin House, and Jim Romine, with Karen Gregutt joining the meeting via phone call. City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe and two community members were also present. Waitsburg City Council will continue to hold their monthly meetings in-person at the W...
WAITSBURG—Between a major flood event and a global pandemic, repairs, and improvements for the levees surrounding Waitsburg have been slow going. At the March City Council meeting, City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe shared an in-depth look at some of the issues, like easement rights and costs, that have impacted flood repair. A significant breach along the Touchet Riverbank, which runs along Preston Avenue, has been a major concern for years, especially after the February 2020 event. H...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg School Board met Thursday, March 18, for a regularly-scheduled meeting. Board members Christy House and Ross Hamann were unable to attend the March meeting. The school board is currently meeting in-person, with a Zoom option for anyone interested in attending virtually. Before the business meeting, the school board held a public hearing to discuss whether or not to sell two district-owned properties. The two properties in question were willed to the district in 1975 as p...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg School District is in the final stages of planning for the high school’s roof repair, a project that the board voted to approve in April 2020. Currently, the district is working with Design West Architects, based in Kennewick, WA, to complete the schematic drawings of the high school’s roof. Superintendent Mark Pickel said plans are being prepared for the bid process, but exactly when they would be complete was unclear. He plans to have information available at the upcom...
High-speed satellite internet may be the future for Columbia County residents, and a former Dayton resident is an early adopter and advocate. DAYTON-Self-proclaimed techie Phillip McKeen, of Walla Walla, may have a solution for rural households who may not have access to reliable internet connection. "Growing up in Dayton, with very limited internet options, I saw the value of Starlink when it came available," said McKeen. "When they opened it up for sign up, I signed up with my parents...
Planty friends, this one's for you. My birthday was on Friday, and it presented my mom and me with the perfect excuse to pop over to the Tri-Cities and do some plant shopping. We joined the Tri-Cities Houseplant Lover's Facebook page, and members were constantly posting photos of their loot from C&M Nursery in West Richland. This was our first stop of the day, and we ended up falling in love with the little shop located at 2517 W Van Giesen Street. They have a huge outdoor plant spread which...
Did you know that a moose can run as fast as 35 miles per hour? This young moose wasn’t worried about speed, however, as he soaked up the last few moments of daylight before bedding down on a hillside....
WAITSBURG-The students at both Dayton and Waitsburg School districts have selected a new mascot for the Dayton-Waitsburg Athletic Combine, Waitsburg School District announced Monday. The process for selecting a new mascot began in November 2019, when the Dayton Waitsburg Athletic Combine Committee voted to continue the combine indefinitely. Both schools allowed their respective student bodies to submit mascot suggestions before voting. In March of 2020, the DWACC postponed the final selection...
DAYTON—The Dayton Kiwanis Club met via Zoom on March 10. The club meets every second and fourth Thursday of the month at noon. The meeting began with an update from Public Health Administrator Martha Lanman, who spoke about Columbia County’s COVID-19 statistics and current standings. At the time of the meeting, Columbia County had not had a new case of the virus for 13 days, with Lanman saying that it is a “good sign of where the county was.” She said case testing has dropped to less than ha...
WAITSBURG—Columbia-Walla Walla County Fire District 2 met for a regular meeting on March 10, 7 p.m. Commissioners Jake Long, Deb Fortner, Bruce Abbey, Randy Charles, and Randy Farley were present. Eight other district members attended the meeting. Sabrina Smith of Waitsburg joined the meeting as a new volunteer. District Clerk Anne Higgins gave a brief update on monthly expenses, reminding members that they needed to go to the Main Street Station to sign vouchers. Fortner also reminded d...
The bronze Stationmaster, which watches over the Historic Dayton Depot, was sculpted by Montana-based master sculptor Keith McMasters. The Stationmaster and Companion was dedicated and installed in 2010. McMasters was the featured guest during the March Kiwanis Club meeting, sharing words of inspiration and his journey through the world of fine art. McMasters was born and raised in Colfax, Wash., and the surrounding Palouse area. His love for art was nurtured from a young age. His grandmother...
WAITSBURG—Fresh produce, hand-crafted soaps, and local art are just a few of the items that Noelle Olson, Doug Biolo, and Janet Lawrence hope to see at the upcoming Waitsburg Farmers Market. Olson, owner of Dusty Britches Farm in Waitsburg and market manager; and Biolo and Lawrence, co-owners of Nancy’s Dream Garden Center in Waitsburg, are excited to announce plans for a summertime market that focuses on locally grown fruits and veggies, local art, handicrafts, and foods, featuring bus...
If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood, by Gregg Olsen. A horrifying, true story, If You Tell is the story of the sadistic killer Shelly Knotek living in Raymond, Wash., and the sisters who ultimately stopped her. In 2003, Knotek and her husband, Dave, were arrested and sent to prison for the murder of Kathy Loreno, Ronald Woodworth, and Shane Watson. People Magazine called this book a "stunner about sibling love, courage, and resilience,"...
WAITSBURG—Spring is here, and Waitsburg businesses are welcoming the season with new products, and a few lifted restrictions under Phase 2 of the Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan. As the weather warms up, enjoy the sunshine, grab a cup of coffee and visit the many Main Street businesses! Laht Neppur: Burgers and microbrews are going strong at Laht Neppur Brewing Company. Indoor seating is limited to 15 customers, and bar seating is still unavailable. Glen’s grill fires up again this Thu...
WAITSBURG-Waitsburg Elementary students spent the first couple weeks of the year raising funds for the American Heart Association. The students raised a grand total of $5,185.96, breaking the school's record with ease. Established in 1983, Jump for Heart is an AHA program that raises vital money for research, while simultaneously encouraging exercise and healthy diets while teaching about heart health. The Jump for Heart program ends with a Jump-Off Day, where kids get to play jump rope games....
METLAKATLA, Alaska-A documentary set to premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in April follows a familiar face throughout Southeast Alaska, documenting a glowing basketball team and the ups and downs of rural island life. Alaskan Nets focuses on former Waitsburg-Prescott basketball coach TJ Scott and the Metlakatla Chiefs basketball team. Metlakatla, located on Annette Island, is the only Native Reserve in the State of Alaska. Located 20 miles south of Ketchikan, the...
