Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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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...
MILTON FREEWATER–What would you do with a highly productive dairy cow? For Jeff and Andrea Adams, the answer was cheese making. Their son's dairy cow, Toasty, gave the couple plenty of raw material, up to 12 gallons a day. Since then, the hobby has become a full-fledged business. After 25 years of running their dairy farm in Tillamook, Oregon, the couple moved to Milton-Freewater in 2005. Jeff found work at a dairy-cow replacement farm, and Andrea offers veterinarian services at a Walla Walla a...
WALLA WALLA–The Foundry Vineyards is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with a juried regional art show. The exhibition’s reception will be held on Friday, February 3, 2023, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Art has been a big part of the vineyard. In 1980, Mark and Patty Anderson opened the Walla Walla Foundry, a contempory art production facility. Internationally recognized artists bring projects to be fabricated in resin, bronze, wood, glass and other materials. Work from artists including Deborah Butterfield, Yayoi Kusama, Paul McCarthy, and Isa...
WAITSBURG-Weller Public Librarian Twila Tate presented the library's 2022 year-end report to the Waitsburg City Council at its regular meeting in January. The report included data on the collection status, staffing, programming, and grants. At the end of 2022, the current collection at the Weller Public Library included 7,776 physical items. In the summer of 2022, the library staff began assessing the materials in the collection. The materials are reviewed for age, accuracy, duplications,...
DAYTON- Now that the ski season is in full swing, visitors at Bluewood Ski Resort are enjoying an array of recent improvements and upgrades, including a revamped food service area, additional parking options, an improved and newly named terrain park, and new program offerings. The third floor of the lodge has undergone a complete overhaul, featuring draft beer and wine, and new seating options. R&B Barbecue has brought BBQ to the mountain. The resort has added an overflow parking lot with a...
WAITSBURG-The purpose of a booster club is to provide support, funds for student activities, equipment, and expenses not covered by the district. The Waitsburg Booster Club has a long history as a very active and robust organization. It has been a registered 501(c)3 non-profit since 1999. Club President Ross Hamann has led the organization for over twenty years and said past projects include the press box at the high school football field, banners, painting the gym floor, providing crossing...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg City Council met for its regular meeting on Wednesday, January 18, at City Hall. Mayor Marty Dunn, City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe, and all council members were in attendance. After approval of the agenda and the last meeting’s minutes, the Mayor opened public comment. Stephanie Cole and Katelyn Stahl, representing Touchet Valley Soccer League, and Stephanie Ruffcorn for the Snake River Little League, asked the Council for help with the youth athletic fields at the fairgrounds. Concerns included field con...
WAITSBURG-A local musician, educator, instrument builder, photographer, and seeker of knowledge has combined camera obscura technology with digital convenience. Carrie Hendrix took a break from building musical instruments to make a camera obscura to aid her drawing. Using information from "The Birth of Photography" by Brian Coe, she learned how to construct her first camera obscura. Using her strengths in problem-solving and craftsmanship, she created the portable optical device using a lens...
WAITSBURG-Talented musician and songwriter Kellie Rose is coming back to Waitsburg. Since last visiting Waitsburg, she has settled back in Bellevue, Wash., where she has been performing and writing. On Friday, January 20, 2023, she will be performing at The Royal Block from 6 to 8:30 p.m. At the event, she will be debuting her new song, C'est la Vie. "The song is about moving on, moving forward, and letting go of what doesn't serve us. It's also a reminder that we all have special, divine gifts...
WALLA WALLA-At least two national chains are opening locations in Walla Walla. As reported in The Union-Bulletin on January 5, Planet Fitness and Burlington opening stores at the Walla Walla Town Center. Big Lots and Home Goods also leased space at the shopping center once the location of the fr Blue Mountain Mall on Rose Street in Walla Wash. Burlington, formerly Burlington Coat Factory, will lease space in the former Shopko building. According to the company's website, it has over 650...
WAITSBURG-Local entrepreneurs Erin Elsey and Kimberly Smith are opening a new shop in Waitsburg. The shop, 131 Main, is full of products from the two owners' businesses, A-Ron's Rustic Designs and Smith Craft. The shop will also include a selection from Hugs Gifts & Collectables. Owner of A-Ron Rustic Designs, Elsey has participated in local vendor events offering decorative dish towels, potholders, aprons, and clothing. Her humor is evident on the selection of children's t-shirts and onesies...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg School Board held a special meeting on Monday, January 2, 2022, to discuss the school’s administration and superintendent search. Six members of the staff and two community members attended in person. Currently, the District has two full-time administrators, which the Board would like to maintain. The discussion, which School Board Chair, Dr Carol Clarke said, was a great brainstorming session on maximizing resources. One suggestion was to follow Districts that have two buildings for K-12. Sixth graders would move int...
The Port of Columbia's broadband project took great strides forward in 2022. Franchise agreements between the Port and Columbia County and the City of Dayton were approved, and fiber cable is on-site and ready to go. The drop cables, splice cases, and other materials are ordered and will arrive in the first quarter of 2023. The system design has been completed, and bids for the project are due on January 5, 2023. Construction will begin in January after the Port verifies contractor eligibility...
This stop-motion animation, written and produced by Guillermo del Toro, is not for the youngest kids. It is dark and has much more in common with "Pans Labyrinth" than Disney's classic. Pinocchio is a spiky, tree-limbed, knotty, and naughty boy. He is sweet but feckless, a challenge to keep on the right track. The Blue Fairy gave that job to Sebastion J. Cricket, who lives in the trunk of the tree that became the trunk of Pinocchio. The story takes place in Italy; however, it is Benito...
