Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 1 - 24 of 24
Crop dusting is one of many crop protectant and fertilizer application methods in the area. Spray planes left the landing strip near Whiskey Creek Road on Monday to get a jumpstart on a busy spring.... Full story
WAITSBURG—A little more than a year after the City of Waitsburg experienced a major flood event, repair efforts are still underway. Additional flood improvement projects are still being planned. In 2005, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) decided to remove control of the levees surrounding Waitsburg from the inactive Waitsburg-Coppei Flood District. The flood control district had failed to address levee deficiencies found in yearly inspections. As a result, the City of Waitsburg was g...
DAYTON—Middle and High School (MS/HS) Principal Kristina Brown has met with her staff to discuss strategies and interventions they can use to help students struggling with failing grades, she told attendees at last week’s school board work session. During the first semester of the school year, there were 34 middle school students with at least one F grade and 16 middle school students with at least one F. In the high school, there were 18 students with at least one F and 25 students with at leas...
OLYMPIA—Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation this week providing relief for businesses and workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. SB 5061 will increase minimum unemployment benefits for workers and provide significant tax relief for businesses over the next five years, to support recovery from the economic impacts of COVID shutdowns. The legislation, which the governor requested, is a critical piece of the state’s COVID-19 recovery plan. It passed with strong bipartisan support in both chambers. COVID-19 has caused deep economic hardship for...
DAYTON—Columbia County has recently experienced a string of burglaries targeting churches and businesses. The Columbia County Prosecuting Attorney announced that charges are being filed. No further details are currently available as the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation. The Times will report on further information as it is released. If you have information regarding the burglaries, contact the non-dispatch line (509) 382-2518....
OLYMPIA—Sen. Perry Dozier, R-Waitsburg, passed his first bill off the Senate floor Wednesday night—a measure that allows mortgage loan originators to work from home. The occasion prompted much teasing from Dozier’s colleagues, per Senate tradition, as they denounced the bill and urged the full Senate to vote no. Yet when it came time for the roll call, the bill passed 49-0. “It’s a tradition around here, and I’m glad to be part of it,” said Dozier, who took office at the start of this year’s legislative session. “It was as if the entire Senate...
WALLA WALLA—The Walla Walla County Department of Community Health (DCH) acknowledged concerns raised by many members of the community regarding equitable vaccine distribution. DCH has implemented an equity task force and partnered with community organizations that serve low-income and hard to reach populations. With these efforts well underway, county health officials want to thank residents that have stepped up to help those in need. “We are a community,” said Public Health Officer Dr. Daniel Kaminsky. “We can reach out to friends, family...
DAYTON-The Dayton Cut and Wrap will be rebranded as the Table Rock Meat Company when Sierra Smith and Michelle Shoun finalize the business's purchase from long-time owners Joe and Sue Nyce. Smith said she and her mother, Michelle, plan for custom cut meats and wrap at the shop. They will offer customers boxed meats and smoked meats, including pepperoni, smoked sausage, and brats, along with newer product lines like brisket bacon and Denver steaks. Fans of Joe Nyce will rejoice to see some...
WALLA WALLA—Walla Walla County Department of Community Health (DCH) and county health partners will be holding a second-dose vaccination clinic on February 13 at the County Fairgrounds for those who received their first dose on Saturday, January 23. Those who received their vaccine that day should arrive at the fairgrounds at the same time as their original appointment with the CDC vaccination card that they received at that appointment. That card is important for verifying the date of their first vaccine. Walla Walla DCH was notified last wee...
WAITSBURG—This past week, suspicious activity involving a resident was shared on Waitsburg’s Helping Hands Facebook page and reported to local law enforcement. Other incidents were reported to The Times concerning the same individual during that same period. According to social media posts made by the individual’s family, he was experiencing a mental health crisis and has now sought help and under medical care. The Times is not releasing the name of the individual and directed concerned parties to contact Walla Walla Sheriff’s department. Those... Full story
DAYTON-The Columbia County Health System's Executive Leadership team participated in a five-day leadership course led by its Semi Bird, Executive Director of Team Concepts Training Services, reported CCHS CEO Shane McGuire at the hospital district commissioners meeting in January. Team Concepts will continue providing training to CCHS staff throughout the year. The goal of the training is to transform workplace culture. Each department-level manager will receive the same training as the...
Susan Lynn Williams Farrell passed away on February 3, 2021 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, WA. She was born to Martha Ann Williams and Ferris Dale Williams on October 14, 1961 in Dayton, WA. She is survived by her husband Dan Farrell and her son Bradley Farrell, her mother, two sisters, and a brother. Susan was 59 years old. She was very loved by her friends and family and will be greatly missed.... Full story
DAYTON-The Columbia County Public Health Department moves from 270 East Main Street to their new location at 112 North Second Street the week of Feb. 15, with plans for the department to be officially open on Feb. 22. County Public Health Administrator Martha Lanman said there are several benefits to making this move. There is adequate space for all the staff to occupy the new offices while complying with current social distancing guidelines. Lanman said two department staff members are...
When she was in the fourth grade, Kennie Lamming's grandmother's cow was going to have twins. Kennie wanted to watch. However, it was her bedtime, and she wasn't allowed to participate. She was angry and decided to learn to help so she could watch all the births she wanted and even participate in some. "Actually, I believe that was the first time the Holy Spirit spoke to me about becoming a veterinarian," Kennie Reeves said. Reeves has been our animal doctor for 30 years, arriving in Dayton...
Grace Coulston, of Waitsburg, is vivacious, known for her constant smile, and never hesitating to lend a helping hand. Her entire life, she has been active. She grew up on a farm just outside of Waitsburg and loves all-things agriculture. Less than one year out of high school, Coulston is the owner-operator of a successful Boer goat breeding program, Sorghum Hollow Boer Goats, which takes her all over the country for shows and sales. February is a special month for Coulston: It is Turner Syndrom... Full story
Mariners’ general manager, Jerry Dipoto, was asked several questions about the upcoming 2021 season in a recent interview via Zoom. When asked about whether or not the team’s finances this offseason would be affected by COVID-19, he responded, “Economically no….it had nothing to do for us with the revenues or economic issues that clubs may have experienced in 2020.” “We can set the goal of competing for a playoff spot,” Dipoto said about the goals for the upcoming season. He did note that he didn’t expect the team to be at the top of the Amer...
WAITSBURG—Dayton Waitsburg volleyball and football are scheduled to begin Monday, February 15. Locker rooms will not be available for athletes to use, so they must show up to practice dressed appropriately. The fall sports season will go for six weeks, and games may be played once the region has reached Phase 2 of the Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan, which went into effect January 11, 2021. Volleyball athletes will practice in Dayton, and buses will depart Waitsburg at 3:15 p.m for p...
When I was in my teens, I was adamant that I would not become my mother. Of course, as I matured, I realized that I would be lucky to be more like her. However, I think life played a joke on me and skipped a generation; instead of my mother, unfortunately, I may have become my grandfather. I weighed myself this morning and noticed I gained three pounds. I decided to move the scale an inch to one side, and I lost one pound, so then another side, a little in front, and boom! Three pounds down. I s...
Michele Smith’s picks Caste by Isabel Wilkerson The concept of caste has been around long before the concept of race. In her book, Caste, Isabel Wilkerson takes us on a trip through the Hindu caste system, the Nazi plan to exterminate Jews and others deemed inferior, and through to the caste system in America, which is based on race. As an artificial hierarchy, caste determines one’s place in society and which members will benefit from having better access to resources. Tecumseh and the Prophet:...
As part of my new year’s resolution, I have decided to focus on small ways to make a big difference. The pandemic has made it difficult to help out in-person, so I was thrilled when I found the Be My Eyes app. A volunteer service launched in 2015, Be My Eyes, connects blind and low-vision individuals with ‘seeing’ individuals when a little extra vision is needed. The app is accessible in more than 150 countries worldwide and over 180 languages. The app makes it easy to volunteer; just your...
Ten Years Ago February 10, 2011 Dayton farmers now have more options for their agronomy needs. The Walla Walla Farmers Co-Op has opened an office at 509 Cameron Street, right next door to Columbia County Transportation, on Port of Columbia property. Lee Ann Literal has been a racehorse owner and trainer for almost a quarter of a century. The stables on her 500-acre ranch on Smith Hollow Road are a living testament to that long "track" record. Members of the Waitsburg Ministerial Association met...
Pepper-crusted love This year, perhaps more than usual, many of us are planning Valentine's date nights at home. Beautifully sauced steaks served with a nice bottle of wine will surely impress while not trapping you in the kitchen. In this classic French recipe, pepper-crusted steaks are pan-seared in butter, then finished with a velvety cognac sauce, which gives a slightly sweet balance to the pepper's robustness. There is much lore behind the origins of this dish, but one version dates back... Full story
WALLA WALLA-While Fort Walla Walla Museum may still be closed, their online programs will continue with the first Museum After Hours presentation of the year. On Thursday, February 25, geologist Bob Carson will be discussing the various regions found in Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon. It will take place on Zoom at 5 pm, with a live Q & A session to follow. The talk will address the factors that influence the region's physiography and biology, the different habitats they create, the re...
