Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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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
DAYTON—On Dec. 16, Columbia County Health System CEO Shane McGuire provided the hospital board of commissioners with an update on projects designed to improve the hospital’s ability to treat COVID-19 patients, as previously reported in The Times on Dec. 10. McGuire presented the commissioners with “firm” cost estimates for four of the five projects. The Medical Vacuum project, Medical Air project, and the Medical Gas projects came in close to, or below, budget. The new hospital generat... Full story
The position was left vacant in 2020 after then-manager Bill Ogg accepted a position in Nebraska WALLA WALLA—On January 4, 2021, Walla Walla County announced Gregory (Greg) S. Lybeck, CFE (Certified Fair Executive), has been selected for the Fairgrounds Manager position. Lybeck will start his new role with the County on January 19, 2021. “I am very excited about this opportunity to get back into the fair industry and be part of the oldest fair in Washington state that has such rich tradition and community support. Walla Walla is a place my wif... Full story
WALLA WALLA—Common Roots Housing Trust will hold a town hall meeting on Monday, January 11, via Zoom call, at 6:00 p.m. Common Roots Housing Trust is a Walla Walla-based community land trust that has been formed to provide affordable housing options for Walla Walla and Columbia County residents, as well as residents in the Milton Freewater, Ore., area. In a study completed in 2018-19, the Walla Walla Community Council found that more than 52% of Waitsburg renters and 46% of Dayton renters were living in housing that, by definition, was u... Full story
DAYTON—The number of households served by the Dayton Food Bank has shot up from 160 each month before the COVID-19 pandemic began, to now serving 588 each month. “In seven months, we have distributed 269,061 pounds of food in Columbia County,” said Judi Pilcher, Vice-president/Branch manager of HomeStreet Bank and board member overseeing the food bank. In March 2020, the food bank operated as a drive-through at the Columbia County Fairgrounds, with help from Blue Mountain Action Council, the N... Full story
DAYTON—The Dayton Chamber of Commerce has contracted to purchase the former Alder Dental building at 202 E. Main St., pending necessary inspections. Closing is scheduled for March 2, 2021 and the Chamber will move from its current location later this spring.... Full story
DAYTON—Columbia County Public Health (CCPH) will host a town hall meeting on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, at 12 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and CCPH officials will discuss Governor Inslee’s two-phase Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery plan. The plan can be reviewed at https://tinyurl.com/yymgvd3e. The county will also share updates on the vaccine phases for distribution and vaccine sign-ups for county residents. To join, visit: http://bit.ly/PortZoom on your smartphone, tablet or computer. To join via phone call, dial 1-253... Full story
WAITSBURG—Starting January 4, 2021, The Times office will be located inside Ten Ton Coffee, 216 Main Street. The office is currently closed to the public, however, payments related to the newspaper are now being accepted at the front window of Ten Ton Coffee from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, and subscriptions will remain available for purchase on the website, www.waitsburgtimes.com. For questions or inquiries, call The Times at (509) 337-6631.... Full story
Lane and Bill, I’ve mentioned to you both that I get a subscription to The Times for my aunt in Little Rock, Arkansas. She loves the paper, the small-town vibe, and Bill’s photos. She sent this email yesterday under the line, “Phabulous Photos”: ....by Bill Rodgers! I really love a couple of recent ones—especially the December 17 photo of red barns, with a background of those rolling hills dusted with snow and the December 10 photo with frosted branches foreground and the hills behind. And how many newspapers are clever enough to have a pa... Full story
DAYTON-On Dec. 29, Dayton General Hospital Pharmacy Manager Cheryl Pell administered the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to DGH employee Mike Paris, kicking off vaccinations for essential health care workers and first responders, according to Phase 1A guidelines from the Washington State Department of Health. Pell said 200 doses of the Moderna vaccine were received at the hospital pharmacy on Dec. 23, followed by another 100 doses on Dec. 28. She said each vial of the vaccine contains ten... Full story
Affordable housing means stability for families and community members; homeownership is one of the best ways to build financial comfort. The availability of affordable housing attracts families to help support our schools and businesses. Many local employers have difficulty attracting qualified, quality employees when housing is at a premium. Rents and home prices in our region have increased faster than incomes. In Walla Walla County, the median home resale value increased from $174,700 in 2013 to $249,300 in 2018, a 43% increase over five... Full story
Cletys Eloise Bowen of Dayton, entered into rest Friday, January 1st, 2021, with her family by her side. Cletys resided at Booker Rest Home over the last couple months due to recent medical difficulties. Cletys was 87 years old and is survived by her husband, Herbert Dale Bowen, whom she had been married to for 69 wonderful years. Cletys was born in Dayton, Washington on May 12th, 1933, to Orie Fletcher and Lela Winnett Fletcher, graduating valedictorian of her class from Starbuck School.... Full story
OLYMPIA—Governor Inslee announced Tuesday the “Healthy Washington- Roadmap to Recovery,” a new COVID-19 two-phased recovery plan. Starting January 11, 2021, Washington will follow a regional recovery approach with each region beginning in Phase 1. The state has been divided into eight regions. Walla Walla and Columbia Counties, along with Benton, Franklin, Kittitas, and Yakima Counties, are in the ‘Southcentral Region.’ For the region to move from Phase 1 to Phase 2, the following metrics must be met: • Decreasing trend in two-week rate of COV... Full story
My grandmother taught me the basic knit and purl stitches when I was eight years old. However, she didn’t teach me how to start or end anything. I just made odd rectangles with no rhyme or reason. Eventually, I got bored and gave up knitting; we moved on to gin rummy instead. Growing up in New York, girls were required to take Home Economics. I loved the cooking, hated the sewing. I am a terrible seamstress, as opposed to my sister, who is an amazing one. With her need for precision coupled with... 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
This week Seattle hosts the Los Angeles Rams in what will be their third matchup this season. Seattle lost the first game in Los Angeles 23-16 in a game that Russell Wilson had two interceptions and a fumble but no touchdowns. Seattle won the rematch in Seattle 20-9 behind Wilson’s two touchdowns, one throwing, one rushing. The biggest question coming into this game is who will be the starting quarterback for the Rams. Jared Goff or John Wolford? Jared Goff had surgery to stabilize a broken r... Full story
We already miss Teeny McMunn, our advertising manager and recipe writer who happily retired at the end of 2020. Her recipes were crowd favorites, not only for the food but for the good company. We've only begun to feel the void in the many ways she filled The Times office with joy. So, while there's a hole in our hearts, I can at least offer something to fill your bowl. New year, new you? Whether you're eating better as a New Year's resolution or just looking for a warm and filling yet light... Full story
Ten Years Ago January 6, 2011 When dozens of well-wishers gathered to celebrate Sarah Lyman’s birthday at Booker Rest Home in Dayton on Saturday, they came not only to honor this longtime Dayton resident’s 100th birthday but to commemorate a century of Columbia County history. Dayton graduate Garrett Bickelhaupt, 19, leaves this week for Army basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. [Photo caption] American Legion Auxiliary #35 President Rose Engelbrite of Waitsburg hands a $1,000 donation che... Full story
