Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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WAITSBURG-Weller Public Library began its Summer Reading Program on June 1, 2023, offering every K-12 student in the Waitsburg school district a summer reading kit. Students received a nylon drawstring backpack, a Bingo Summer Reading Activity sheet, a pencil, a booklight for reading, a journal notebook, and a quilt-square coloring page. When students participating in the Reading Bingo activity complete a line across, up, down, diagonal, or a blackout they will receive a free book and be...
WAITSBURG-Royal Block will host the 'Hansen House Couture Collection' fashion show featuring Waitsburg farming matriarch Geraine Hansen's collection of 45 global and local fashions from the 60s and 70s. The show is a celebration of her glamorous style and to her 100th birthday. Cheryl Hansen, has curated a runway show from her mother's well appointed closet. She asked friends, family, and community members to participate as models, bringing these mid-century styles to life. In the 1970s,...
WAITSBURG–This weekend, Burgers, Bands, and Brews features alternative country band Frog Hollow Band and some family lore. Band member Ty Lane plans on playing his grandfather Norval's Gibson ES-125 on a few numbers. The distinctive sunburst, hollow-body electric guitar holds a special place in Lane's family history. Norvel most likely purchased it in the late 50s and performed with it through the following decades. The guitar was played by Lane's aunt Leah in a band with Norval and Ty's f...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg City Council accepted an offer on Waitsburg’s former city hall at 147 Main Street. The offer made by Mark and Miriam Grant is for the listing price of $210,000. The council approved accepting the offer, adding a provision requiring occupancy of the ground floor commercial space within one year, with a possible one-year extension. There is no occupancy timeline requirement for the upstairs portion of the building. In October 2021, the city council first adopted Resolution 2021-735 to surplus the property after the cos...
WAITSBURG-This Saturday, businesses in Waitsburg are extending hours, offering pop-up retail, live music, food and drink specials, and art for the first of three Waitsburg Happenings. Here are only a few treats in store for visitors and guests. Visit the Grand Opening of the Touchet Valley Accoustic Music Project (TVAMP) studio at 141 Main St. Project founder and leader Kate Hockersmith has taught and arranged international travel for youth bluegrass bands through her program under RYES. Be...
WAITSBURG-This year's Business of the Year is Nancy's Dream Garden, owned by Janet Biolo Lawrence and her brother Doug Biolo. The business was nominated by Waitsburg City Council member Jillian Henze who presented the award. From providing beautiful plants and trees to hosting the Waitsburg Friday Market, Henze noted how the business had contributed to the town. After moving to the current location, the garden center has worked towards expanding its operations. It is a work in progress that...
WAITSBURG—At the April 18 meeting, the Community Health and Protection Committee (CHPC) discussed drug use, overdoses, and the use of naloxone to prevent deaths from opioid deaths. The CHPC was concerned about the increase in fentanyl use in the community. According to data from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), fentanyl replaced methamphetamines as the drug most involved in overdoses in Washington state in 2020. A big concern for local healthcare and law enforcement organizations is that people unknowingly purchase and use fake...
Below is the ChatGpt article written in the voice of Times columnist Vicki Sternfeld-Rossi. The writer asked the bot to create an article for The Times. It found Rossi's article from November 10, 2022 and used the title and the first two lines to begin its version. The original article is posted along side the "bot" version in this weeks online edition at www.waitsburgtimes.com. "The joys and sorrows of my new singledom" By Vicki Sternfeld-Rossi Daniel is still working in Portugal, and although...
WAITSBURG-Waitsburg District students were the first to receive new electronic library patron cards donated by anonymous donors. The donation of $1,000 allowed the library to purchase 1,500 cards, more than enough for every Waitsbrug resident to have one. Library staff member Sarah Roberts visited K-5 classes between April 10-12 to present students with the new colorful plastic cards. Roberts also shared a Burke Box, the visiting exhibit on whales provided by the University of Washington's...
WALLA WALLA-A documentary about the remarkable artist Ginny Ruffner will be presented at The Foundry Vineyards in Walla Walla on Friday, April 15. "A Not So Still Life: the Ginny Ruffner Story" will be followed by a Q & A session with the film's director, Karen Stanton-Gregutt. The movie, produced in 2010 by ShadowCatcher Entertainment, took 12 months to film and another six to edit. After the film debuted at the Seattle International Film Festival, Gregutt arranged a showing for her Waitsburg...
DW COMBINE—With the Dayton-Waitsburg combine ending this school year, an agreement hs been made between the school districts and WIAA regarding high school student transfers and sports eligibility. High school students who wish to transfer between the Dayton and Waitsburg school districts must submit transfer paperwork through Friday, June 23, 2023, to attend the non-resident school district and maintain their eligibility for sports. Here are issues to consider: For athletic eligibility in this specific case, a “transfer” will be defined as hav...
WAITSBURG-Allison Bond is the founder and project leader for Rural Youth Enrichment Services' (RYES) Waitsburg Urban Forestry project. This mentoring project provided evergreen seedlings to Waitsburg Elementary School students on past Arbor Days. Bond arranged for a row of trees to be planted in front of the elementary school to celebrate International Day of Forests this month. Volunteers included Andrew Knee, Doug Biolo, Kate Hockersmith, Eric Umphrey, and Bruce Donohue, who joined Bond in...
OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) approved $2 million in low-interest loans and $150,000 in grants for economic development and public infrastructure improvements to spur business growth and job growth creation in communities throughout the state. • Columbia County – Will recieve a $50,000 grant to the Port of Columbia for the “BMS Craft Malt & Grain Cluster Study.” This planning study will determine the feasibility, optimal configuration, and next steps for developing the infrastru...
WAITSBURG-Dr. Roger Hevel, one of The Times' "Nine over 90" honorees, visited the Weller Public Library last week with his daughter Claudia. The former physician and his late wife, Laura Jean, came to Waitsburg in the early fifties to open a practice after the previous doctor moved. The couple has supported the city by funding swim lessons, upgrading the library, and giving time and monetary donations. Library assistant Sarah Roberts welcomed the Hevels, giving Roger a ride in the lift and a...
UPDATE WAITSBURG-After interviews with staff and community members held on March 13, the Waitsburg School Board of Directors voted to offer the superintendent and elementary principal position to David Woods. The unanimous decision was announced on the district's website and on social media on Friday, March 17, 2023. Pending contract negotiations, Wood will start July 1, 2023. Chairman of the Board, Dr. Carol Clarke said in the announcement, "The Board of Directors is excited to invite David Woo...
WAITSBURG- This week, the Waitsburg Historical Society will hold its annual membership meeting on March 21, 2023, at 6 p.m. at the Weller Public Library. Anyone interested in learning, preserving, or sharing the history of Waitsburg should come to the meeting. The Waitsburg Historical Society was formed fifty years ago to create a museum and renovate the neglected Bruce Mansion. The Mansion was built in 1883 and is a prominent building on Main Street. According to The Times January 11, 1968,...
"Brian and Charles" Focus Features, streaming on Prime Video. Since "Lost in Space," I have wanted a robot. A company produces replicas of the Robinson family's robot, also known as Robot B9. I just don't want one that costs $25,000. In "Brian and Charles," the robot is the brainchild of a lonely Welsh inventor. Brian (David Earl) lives alone and is a bit too quirky, even for Wales. He is always on the lookout for materials for his inventions. If his creations don't quite work out as he...
COLUMBIA COUNTY—County Commissioners Ryan Rundell (Chair), Jack Miller, and Marty Hall attended the March 6, 2023, regular commissioner’s meeting. The commissioners approved two public works contracts, first for constructing ADA ramps and stairs at the fairgrounds’ Pavilion. Engineer/Public Works Director Grant Morgan recommended accepting the bid from Conframe Construction LLC, which was over $40,000 lower than the other two bids. The Commissioners unanimously approved awarding the contract to Conframe. The second approved bid was for a two-y...
DAYTON—One of Dayton’s early pioneers and generous benefactors was an immigrant from Poland. Dr. Marcel M. Pietrzycki (Pit-rus-kee) settled in Columbia County, Washington, in the 1880s. The year after arriving in Dayton to start his medical practice, he helped fight the smallpox epidemic of 1881. Pietrzyski was familiar with the disease and, after diagnosing a patient, warned the community of the dangers. Other doctors had misdiagnosed the patient as having chickenpox. It took weeks before other physicians confirmed the smallpox outbreak. The...
WALLA WALLA—The Nonprofit Association of Washington in partnership with Sherwood Trust is offering the Nonprofit Fundamentals Series to help nonprofits build on their skills to run efficiently and effectively. The series consists of three free workshops, all to be held at Walla Walla Community College (WWCC). The first workshop, Boards in Gear will include information on board responsibilities, board operations, composition and development, fundraising, and advocacy. There is still time to get information and register for the first workship a...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg City Council met for its regular meeting at City Hall on February 15, 2023. Council members Jillian Henze, Randy Charles, Kevin House, and Jim Romine were present. Also in attendance were Mayor Marty Dunn, City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe, and City Attorney Jared Hawkins. Court Ruppenthal was unavailable. The council passed Ordinance 1080, approving the City’s Shoreline Management Plan update. The council discussed possible changes to the nuisance ordinance for the city. The change would offer an additional step bef...
WAITSBURG—Flamenco guitarist Gustavo Alonso López will perform at the Royal Block in Waitsburg on Saturday, February 25. López recently moved to Walla Walla from Austin, Texas, and quickly found a home where he could continue his musical journey. He was born and grew up in Twin Falls, Idaho and received degrees in architecture and has worked in Texas and Washington as a registered architect. Music has been in his life since he was a child. Through his mother’s interests, he had access to recor...
DAYTON-Ten years ago, Mike and Ann Springs opened Chief Springs Fire and Irons Brew Pub in downtown Dayton. Soon after they opened the pub and brewery, they added a third business by purchasing the pizzeria next door. After taking over from Skye Book and Brew, they remodeled the space to create the new brewpub. Putting in an extended bar, updating the brewing space downstairs, and utilizing some floor-to-ceiling shelving for firefighting memorabilia, the space became a reflection of Mike's past...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Health System community has looked forward to the opening of the River Walk Assisted Living facility since construction began in 2021, After weeks of anticipation and preparation, Rivers Walk Assisted Living welcomed all 18 residents from Booker Rest Home in time for Valentine's Day. The residents have moved into cottages B and C at the new facility. "A wonderful atmosphere filled the air on this momentous occasion - big bay windows allowed plenty of sun in while...
"Stonehouse" – BritBox, 2023 A three-episode mini-series on BritBox is based on a story of a British politician in the seventies who digs himself into a hole through his constant lying. Is he a naïve victim of pride, or just a criminal? He certainly appears delusional in his confidence to evade consequences. John Stonehouse is ambitious and entitled. He is played by Matthew Macfadyn, who is a regular cast member on HBOs Succession. Both characters share a comical ability to misread si...
