Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 30
March 18 on Clodius Road, Spring Valley Vineyards. The grapevines are trimmed and ready to start growing. It was sort of a surreal Daliesque day that morning...the only things missing is watching the snow melting from the tree branches....
WAITSBURG—Equipment purchase and financing, and ongoing flood control efforts were discussed at the Waitsburg City Council meeting on March 17. Meeting in person for the first time in over a year, councilmembers present were Mayor Marty Dunn, Kevin House, and Jim Romine, with Karen Gregutt joining the meeting via phone call. City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe and two community members were also present. Waitsburg City Council will continue to hold their monthly meetings in-person at the W...
DAYTON—At their meeting on March 10, the Dayton City Council expressed reluctance to sign the Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with the County for Law Enforcement, Dispatch, and Municipal Court services. Columbia County Commission Chair Ryan Rundell went on record last week to talk about his frustration over the protracted negotiation process between the county and the city. He also addressed opinions expressed by some city council members at that meeting. Rundell explained the need for an updated I...
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Parks Winter Recreation Program announced the price of Sno-Park permits would increase when they go on sale on Nov. 1. This will be the first increase since 2009. The price increases reflect rising costs of Sno-Park operations, including trail grooming, plowing, clearing lots and roads, bathroom maintenance, fuel, and staffing. The program had to replace aging equipment, including snowcats. Over the last 12 years, the program opened several new permanent and temporary Sno-Parks to meet customer demand. The S...
WAITSBURG—Waitsburg Christian Church, in partnership with Restoration Community Impact and New Beginning Christian Community Church, will be hosting a drive-up food giveaway on Saturday, March 27, from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m., or while supplies last. Two semi-trucks loaded with 2,000, 30-pound boxes full of assorted fresh fruit, meat, and other items will be parked at the Waitsburg Elementary School parking lot, handing out boxes to anyone who shows up. The giveaway is open to residents of both Walla Walla and Columbia counties. “This is open to everyb...
Jim Pearson, Director of Program Operations at the Club has announced the decision to forego hosting a spring break program this year. “Despite the recent loosening of COVID-19 restrictions, there are still a number of barriers to providing a quality all-day weeklong program,” Pearson said. Although Pearson said the Club can’t offer a program during the spring break, the staff are setting their sights on planning for a six-week long summer recreation program that will be safe, stimulating and educational. This can take place as long as the c...
WAITSBURG—For the second year in a row, the third weekend in May will be a quiet one, as the 2021 Waitsburg Celebration Days has been cancelled. The decision to cancel was made by executive board vote on March 15, just before a regularly scheduled meeting. “Due to the uncertainty of COVID, the current phases of Washington State, and the requirements from the state to hold outdoor and indoor events; it is with regret that Waitsburg Celebration Days 2021 has been cancelled by Executive Board decision on 3/15/2021,” said Abby Grende, WCD Secre...
DAYTON-Showing at the Liberty Theater on March 26, 27, 28, and 30 is the 2020 drama Nomadland. Showtimes are Friday & Saturday at 7:30 pm, Sunday matinee at 3 pm, and Tuesday evening at 6:30 pm (Not 7:30). Following the economic collapse of a company town in rural Nevada, Fern (Frances McDormand) packs her van and sets off on the road exploring a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad. Nomadland features real nomads Linda May, Swankie, and Bob Wells as Fern's mentors and comr...
WAITSBURG—Between a major flood event and a global pandemic, repairs, and improvements for the levees surrounding Waitsburg have been slow going. At the March City Council meeting, City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe shared an in-depth look at some of the issues, like easement rights and costs, that have impacted flood repair. A significant breach along the Touchet Riverbank, which runs along Preston Avenue, has been a major concern for years, especially after the February 2020 event. H...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Sheriff Office has hired David Walling and Riley Conahan as new deputies for the county. David Walling was raised in the Ellensburg area, graduating from Kittitas High School in 2014. He served as a missionary in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for around six months before turning his focus to Pastoral Ministry, receiving a B.A. from Northwest University in 2018. After graduation, he began looking into Law Enforcement as a career. He was hired at the Benton...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg School Board met Thursday, March 18, for a regularly-scheduled meeting. Board members Christy House and Ross Hamann were unable to attend the March meeting. The school board is currently meeting in-person, with a Zoom option for anyone interested in attending virtually. Before the business meeting, the school board held a public hearing to discuss whether or not to sell two district-owned properties. The two properties in question were willed to the district in 1975 as p...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg School District is in the final stages of planning for the high school’s roof repair, a project that the board voted to approve in April 2020. Currently, the district is working with Design West Architects, based in Kennewick, WA, to complete the schematic drawings of the high school’s roof. Superintendent Mark Pickel said plans are being prepared for the bid process, but exactly when they would be complete was unclear. He plans to have information available at the upcom...
Ginny passed away unexpectedly on March 17, 2021, at St. Mary's Medical Center. Ginny was born in Kenmore, New York on April 4, 1937. She attended Cleveland Hill High School in Buffalo, NY, Cortland State Teacher's College, majoring in Education, and received her Master's Degree in Education at Eastern Washington University. While attending Geneseo State, Ginny married her sweetheart, Joseph Just, on August 25, 1958. God blessed Ginny and Joe with 4 children: Mary J Hutsell (Randy), Joseph A...
Ronald Ernest North passed away on March 9, 2021 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Ron was born in Vallejo, California on July 16, 1942 to Lyle and Thelma (Kinvig) North and grew up in Lakeview, Oregon. He joined the Air Force soon after high school and served until 1964. He later joined the Navy in 1967 and served until retirement in 1983. The Navy took him to Memphis, Tennessee where he met and married Brenda Burgess in June 1968. As an aviation electronics technician, he was stationed in San Diego,...
Velma Adeline Sickles, 93, passed away peacefully following an extended illness. Velma was born on July 15, 1927, in White Bluffs, WA to Denzil C. and Neoma R. Gluck Mock. The family moved to Waitsburg in 1933 and she graduated from Waitsburg High School in 1945. She attended the University of Washington where she majored in music. In 1948, she returned to Waitsburg where she met Bob Sickles while working in the cannery. The couple married on February 6, 1949. Velma worked at Maybac's until she...
WALLA WALLA—In an attempt to normalize discussions regarding end-of-life, Walla Walla Community Hospice has started a book club. The structure of the club is relatively informal. Group members are encouraged to read a selection of the assigned book before each meeting and some thought-provoking questions are supplied ahead of time to guide the discussion. According to Brad McMasters, Community Outreach Coordinator for Hospice, the discussion ends up being pretty organic and free-flowing. The questions just fill in the gaps. The book clubs are o...
DAYTON—At the Dayton School District (DSD) board meeting last week, Superintendent Guy Strot provided a COVID-19 update, impact to the athletic program, how federal COVID relief funds will be spent, discussed an alternative learning program for fall, and changes to graduation requirements. He also spoke about an Innovia Foundation grant to help students achieve post-secondary education and training. Strot said under the statewide move to Phase 3 of the recovery plan, attendance at athletic e...
DAYTON--"Congratulations to the students of Dayton Elementary for reading more than 3,000 pages during Dr. Seuss week," said Elementary Principal Guy Strot. Strot said "Spud" the bulldog, pictured here, handed out bite size cupcakes, "for being sweet", and Smarties for "being smart" to students in Grades K-3 after their reading success during Dr. Suess Week on Mar. 2. This week, Grades 4 and 5 will celebrate their reading success with a treat, and Principal Strot will be on the receiving end of...
March 15 Lost dog taken to pound. Stockton Road Animal call. Highway 12 Citizen contact at Ameristar. Main Street March 16 Wanted person located at Dayton City Park. 1st Street Citizen Contact at Blue Home. Main Street Domestic problem. Lower Hogeye Road March 17 Traffic call at General Store. Main Street Warrant service at Country Village. Citizen contact. Spring Street March 18 Civil problem. Stedman Road Animal call. Wagon Road Warrant confirmation. Main Street March 19 Threats at Dayton High School. 3rd Street Citizen Contact at Best...
March 15 A woman’s home was entered, paperwork stolen. Prescott March 16 A theft was reported. Burbank A domestic disturbance occurred, and a man was injured. Walla Walla County March 20 Adult male was arrested on three misdemeanor warrants. Walla Walla County March 21 Female arrested for assault, DV. Burbank Seized vehicle pending search warrant after the operator eluded Oregon State Patrol. Touchet Verbal domestic. Touchet DWLS 2nd degree. Touchet...
If you had asked me about shed hunting a few weeks ago, I would have assumed we were talking about rotting pieces of pioneer carpentry that folks love to photograph or scrap out for projects. I was disabused of that notion when I learned about one of Max Schmidt's favorite forms of recreation: scouting for cast-off deer antlers, called "sheds." It turns out it's not an uncommon thing to do, but I'd never met anyone who did it until I met Max. Dayton High School student Max Schmidt began shed...
High-speed satellite internet may be the future for Columbia County residents, and a former Dayton resident is an early adopter and advocate. DAYTON-Self-proclaimed techie Phillip McKeen, of Walla Walla, may have a solution for rural households who may not have access to reliable internet connection. "Growing up in Dayton, with very limited internet options, I saw the value of Starlink when it came available," said McKeen. "When they opened it up for sign up, I signed up with my parents...
It is often difficult to determine how strong a conference is going into the national tournament. This year was especially difficult, with most teams limited to games inside their own conference. Based on the results so far, the PAC-12 conference was certainly underrated and under seeded for the tournament. Four of the five PAC-12 teams have advanced to the sweet sixteen-round. USC, Oregon, UCLA, and Oregon State. Overall, the PAC-12 is 9-1 in the NCAA tournament, with the only loss the Colorado Buffaloes dropping their second-round matchup...
DAYTON-The newly-named Dayton Waitsburg Wolfpack Volleyball won against River View High School on March 18. Set scores were 15-25, 25-23, 25-14, 22-25, 15-9 Teagan Larsen finished the game with four aces, 15 assists, five digs, and one kill. Sadie Seney totaled 14 digs, 14 kills, three blocks, and two assists. Katherine Houchin ended the game with 16 digs and six kills, and Makenna Barron had 15 digs and four kills. "The team worked hard tonight and continues to gain confidence in themselves...
WAITSBURG-Dayton Waitsburg Wolfpack Football had a rough night against a fast River View High School team on Friday, March 19, with a final score of 41-6. River View High started the game with a dive play up the middle for a 60-yard touchdown. "On Senior Night/Homecoming, I thought our heads were in a good place, then RiverView ran up the middle for a touchdown (TD)," said coach Troy Larsen. "To give our team some credit, they came out and made River View go three and out on the next three...
