Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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WAITSBURG-United States Army First Sergeant Mitch Kriebel walked 150 miles last week, with a weighted rucksack on his back. Kriebel is the founder of Ruck for the Fallen, a non-profit organization that raises money to support families of fallen first responders and military personnel. The organization also helps veterans face mental, physical, and emotional health challenges by inviting them to participate in 'ruck challenges and races' sponsored by military units and donations. For the...
PRESCOTT—The Prescott School Board met on January 21 for a regularly scheduled meeting. Superintendent Justin Bradford shared COVID-19 vaccination updates, including information on a clinic held at the Walla Walla Fairgrounds over the weekend. He is encouraging school staff to get vaccinated, and he hopes to host a clinic at the school if the Health Department would be willing to allow it. The school’s nurse has agreed to participate, according to Bradford. He said that they are three weeks int...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg City Council met January 20, 2020, for its regular meeting via conference call. All council members were in attendance. Before public comment, Mayor Marty Dunn offered some clarification on projects under consideration under the 2021 City Budget, which was passed in December. One project listed in the budget is the widening of West Fifth Street from Main Street to Arnold Lane. On Fifth Street, homeowners circulated a petition against the project, voicing a strong s...
WAITSBURG-A small herd of whitetail deer swam across the Touchet River on a sunny January afternoon, before running along the levee at the north end of town. What was once a grassy, hard-to-enjoy path has been transformed into a wide walkway, as excavators made necessary levee repairs. Enjoy Waitsburg's walkability, check out the local wildlife, and get some fresh air. Remember to leash your pups, and be sure to remain physically distanced if you cross paths with other walker...
WAITSBURG—The Columbia-Walla Walla County Fire District 2 (CWWCFD2) Board of Commissioners met on January 13, 2021, via Zoom call. More than 20 community members, commissioners, and volunteers logged in to attend the meeting on Zoom. Columbia-Walla Walla County Fire District 2 commissioners are Chairman Jake Long, Randy Farley, Randy Charles, Deb Fortner, and Bruce Abbey. Anne Higgins serves as the District Secretary. All commissioners were present, with the exception of Commissioner Deb F...
WALLA WALLA—The housing crisis in the Walla Walla region has reached a tipping point. Thankfully, this problem is not unique to the region. With a decrease in affordable housing across the nation, community-based groups have been experimenting with creative solutions to alleviate the problem. These efforts to provide access to safe, comfortable housing to low and middle-income families have led the charge for communities like ours. In 2018, the Walla Walla Community Council (WWCC) recognized t...
So far, 2021 has done a fine job of proving itself. From national headlines to local weather, it has been textbook crazy. On January 13, an atmospheric river flooded over the Pacific Northwest, pelting residents with extreme winds and heavy rains. The weather triggered landslides that eventually closed I-84. Data provided by the U.S Weather Service (USWS) Pendleton showed gusts peaking at 70 mph in Walla Walla. Data specific to Waitsburg was unavailable, as there is not a USWS in the area. Some...
A train derailed just outside of Waitsburg last Friday, along Bolles Road. It was a non-injury event, and crews were on site with cranes to lift the car back onto the track....
WAITSBURG—A Walla Walla man was arrested last week near Waitsburg after leading law enforcement on a chase from Columbia County. On January 7, 2021, at approximately 7:30 p.m, Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 500 block of Bolles Road, near Waitsburg, to assist the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol in locating a suspect that fled on foot from a stolen vehicle. The suspect, Joseph A. Abbott, 25, of Walla Walla, led law enforcement officers on a pursu...
A safe, comfortable space is being prepared for those who are grieving a loved one at Walla Walla Hospice. Following the writings and journals of Dr. Alan Wolfelt, “Understanding Your Grief” is the first ten-week long grief support group of the year. For two and a half months, individuals grieving a lost loved one will have the chance to understand the ‘ten essential touchstones to healing your heart, which include dispelling the misconceptions of grief, exploring your feelings of loss, and u...
As he enters into his third year of racing, Koby Harris will represent three racing companies WAITSBURG-Waitsburg's favorite remote-control car racer has signed yet another racing contract as he heads into his third year on the track. Koby Harris, a senior at Waitsburg High School, signed a progressive deal with Tekno RC, an RC car parts company known throughout the industry for its proven car body styles and parts. A progressive deal means that as Harris' racing career continues to excel, he...
WALLA WALLA-Once a month, my husband and I try to make a point to go into Walla Walla without our kiddo. Our 'evening out' typically consists of a strategically-planned grocery trip followed up by a quick bite to eat, so we lean toward casual dining. With dining restrictions in place, 'date night' also means we either stop and eat outdoors or eat in the car. This 2020 twist has given us the perfect excuse to check out local food trucks, and we were intrigued by the 'WTF, Eat It' name. Where...
WAITSBURG-Many students are eagerly anticipating the start of the new sports seasons after traditional fall and winter sport schedules were cleared to keep athletes safe. At this time, Washington Interscholastic Athletics Association (WIAA) has labeled sports as 'high,' 'moderate' or 'low' transmission sports, based on contact players have during training and game play. For example, Golf is a 'low' risk sport, while basketball is considered a 'high' risk sport. WIAA uses individual county COVID-... Full story
WALLA WALLA—As the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to impact Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) employees and incarcerated population, the Department of Corrections (DOC) has updated policies and procedures to better combat the virus at facilities throughout Washington State. Starting April 10, 2020, DOC mandated the use of facial coverings for staff at all DOC locations, and on April 17, the DOC expanded the mandate to include facial coverings for the incarcerated population. On November 6, DO... Full story
Duke had a short stay at the Blue Mountain Humane Society before joining his new family on the farm. Equal parts handsome and goofy, Duke's family raves about him, saying he is the "awesome farm dog" and a "blessing for the family." His hobbies include overseeing day-to-day farm chores, camping, and hanging out with his girl, Katie. Have a pet who deserves recognition? Send a photo and information to beka@waitsburgtimes.com to be featured in the Pets of the Valley series.... Full story
WAITSBURG - "Two weeks to flatten the curve." In March, Washington State enacted a "Stay Home, Stay Safe" mandate as the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the globe. Now, as 2021 knocks loudly, we are still staying home, and Waitsburg has done what Waitsburg always does in a challenging situation: Rolled with the punches It became apparent early that two weeks might have kept the local hospitals from being overwhelmed and kept cases low in our little town, but it wasn't going to stop this virus. Our...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg City Council met on December 16 for a regular meeting. The board discussed an inter-fund loan and reviewed budget amendments. The Council also held the final public hearing for the 2021 City Budget. At the November 2020 meeting, the City Council discussed a potential second round of business grants to use the remaining amount of the CARES Act funding the city received. Due to time constraints, it was decided to use the money for infrastructure purposes, focusing on w... Full story
PRESCOTT—The Prescott School Board met on December 17 for a regular meeting. A brief update from the Associated Student Body (ASB) Co-Advisor Bob Young, thanking the administration for their continued support of the ASB and the students. Superintendent Justin Bradford said that more than 60 students attended a virtual hot cocoa party. Bradford said the kids were happy to see their teachers and thanked staff for making the event happen. He said they have been having some student engagement p... Full story
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg School Board met on December 17, 2020, for a regularly scheduled meeting. Chairman Ross Hamann announced that he would not be running for another term after 18 years of serving on the board. He stated that he is looking forward to spending time with his family, especially his grandkids, and that being on the board for nearly 20 years has been a great joy. The board elected Pam Chapman as the new Board Chair. Secondary school Principal Stephanie Wooderchak reported a... Full story
WAITSBURG—A little sadness hung over the Touchet River this weekend. Reports of a beaver making its residence near Preston Park were short-lived, and on Saturday, the young mammal was found dead and left in the river. Residents who discovered the beaver reported it midweek last week, and on Saturday, it was reported that the beaver was dead from an apparent gunshot wound. The beaver was relatively small, and observers guessed it to be on the younger side. It was suspected to be building a dam o...
WAITSBURG—Most big game hunting seasons have come to a close. As hunters finish processing their deer and elk, reports of animal carcasses disposed of by hunters in the Touchet River have begun coming in. Hunters who do not have access to fields or ditches to dump their game carcasses may be tempted to leave the remains in rivers or other waterways, with hopes that the carcass will wash away. Wildlife officers would like to remind hunters that there are many options to dispose of the unusable re...
DAYTON—The Dayton School District Board of Directors met Wednesday, December 2, for a regularly scheduled board workshop session. During the session, Superintendent Guy Strot gave a brief update on the Dayton-Waitsburg Athletic Combine mascot. After speaking with Superintendent Mark Pickel, Principal Kristina Brown, and Principal Stephanie Wooderchak, Superintendent Strot said that the schools would keep their individual mascots. Dayton School District will still be represented as the Dayton B...
Christmas has changed a lot since I was a kid. Our gatherings have gotten smaller, our menus have changed drastically, and our gifting has gotten more strategic. One thing, however, has remained constant: My mom has yet to find a way to label her magazine-worthy wrapped gifts so she can remember who gets what, and it has become one of the most looked-forward-to parts of the holiday. It’s not for a lack of trying: She’s tried using color-coded wrapping paper, which works wonderfully if you stick...
WALLA WALLA—“Emily Anne McClenny had not set the world on fire with accomplishments at the young age of 7 1/2 years old, but she had worked her way into the hearts of many with her infectious smile,” wrote Nancy McClenny-Walters on what should have been her daughter’s 40th birthday. “While her life ended at 7 1/2, her story did not.” For the past 32 years, McClenny-Walters has put Christmas decorations up on her daughter’s birthday, pausing for a moment from advocating against impaired driv...
The famous Tuxedo Bar and Grill announced they will be temporarily closing, taking a breather until the COVID-19 pandemic-related dining restrictions are lifted. Owner Pam Stueckle took to social media to make the announcement, saying that it’s ‘not goodbye, just see ya later!’ The closure went into effect on December 1, 2020. It is unclear when the dining restrictions will be lifted enough for the Tuxedo to reopen. The little bar and grill, located at 105 D Street in Prescott, has drawn diner...
