Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 36
OLYMPIA, Wash.,-On Monday, March 23, Governor Jay Inslee spoke directly to Washingtonians to announce he will sign a statewide order that requires everyone in the state to stay home. The order will last for two weeks and could be extended. This Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is similar to orders that other governors, in places such as California and New York, issued last week. This proclamation will: •Require every Washingtonian to stay home unless they need to pursue an essential activity. ...
WAITSBURG-Former Waitsburg Mayor Walt Gobel passed away on Wednesday, March 19, 2020. A very active member of the Waitsburg community, Gobel was a well-loved leader in our small town. A retired Washington State Patrol trooper, Gobel was elected as Waitsburg's mayor in 2010. Gobel would go on to serve the community until 2016, tackling well-known issues like the clean- up of the former bunkhouse and passing the beloved golf cart road laws. "Walt was one of Waitsburg's finest," Mayor and fellow...
Ballots are in the mail for Waitsburg’s next City Council and Mayoral election. Although current councilmember Kate Hockersmith is listed as a candidate for Mayor, at the March 18 City Council meeting Hockersmith announced that she was taking herself out of the race and was throwing her support behind current Mayor, Marty Dunn. “Mayor Marty Dunn and I have been working together for four years and I feel very confident with the current city leadership. We are lucky to have a talented group of citizens returning to and running for City Cou...
WALLA WALLA—Effective Thursday, March 19, the Walla Walla Veterans Administration campus announced that all Veterans and visitors will be screened at the tent in front of Bldg. 143 (the outpatient clinic) before entering clinical buildings. The initial screening includes asking basic questions about fever, cough, or shortness of breath plus a temperature check. Those that screen positive are sent to a second level of screening to further rule out any issues. These processes have been put into place for the health and safety of everyone in order...
OLYMPIA-On Tuesday, March 24, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced the temporary closure of all state-managed parks, wildlife areas and water access areas for at least two weeks starting Wednesday, March 25. The closure is in response to Gov. Inslee's "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order issued yesterday. Entrance gates and facilities will be closed, and on-site public services will be suspended....
WAITSBURG—City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe announced that as of Tuesday, March 23 Waitsburg City Hall will be closed to the public until Governor Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy declaration is lifted. Waitsburg residents are encouraged to use the City payments box and online billing to pay their utility bills. Election ballots can be mailed and will be eligible with an April 6th postmark. Ballots can also be delivered to the black City payments box in front of City Hall—NOT the white County Elections box. For questions or City servi...
WALLA WALLA—The Walla Walla County Commissioners in conjunction with the Director of Community Health are approving modified operations/access to certain county departments to protect the employees and taxpayers from the spread of COVID-19. County employees are still there to help, although it may be by phone, or email. In addition, some elected officials may have stricter modified operations and public access policies set in place – please see their website for details. We also have many online self-service options available on our web...
March 26: Whitney Baker, Rod Estes, Emma Brookshire, Dottie Frohreich, Chet Bond, Jim Kessler, Dawn Nichols and Kris Lytle. March 27: Bill Laughery, Rachel Halley, Emory Flathers, Tammy Brown, Samuel Donnelly, Maddison Miller and John Mason. March 28: Natalie Faye Teal, Bill Hopwood, Gary Thomas, Terri Conover-Stroud, Collette Waltermire and Bret McKinney. March 29: Robin Hogan, Austin Beasley, Carroll Smith, Edna Pearson, Jan DeCoria, Bob Stokes, Vanessa Lafer and Karen Peters. March 30: Hubert Kinder Jr., Rosemary Brinkman and Elizabeth...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg City Council met Wednesday, March 18 at the Waitsburg Lions Building. All members of the council were present, and all attendees practiced social distancing measures for a safe environment. During public comment, Karen Gregutt spoke on behalf of the Planning Commission. At the February meeting, Gregutt informed the council that the commission would be making recommendations pertaining to the Waitsburg comprehensive plan each month. Gregutt updated the council, letting t...
WAITSBURG—On March 17, Waitsburg School District’s Food Services began delivering breakfast and lunch to children under 18 years of age, in Waitsburg. Hoping to help ease stress for families following the state’s mandated school closures, Food Services Supervisor Susan Wildey and Erin Elsey prepared enough grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches for more than 100 kids. The Waitsburg School District’s meal drop off service has gone better than Wildey had anticipated. More than 200 meals have been served in a single day. “The numbers are climbing...
DAYTON—The Blue Mountain Station is open for business! They have local & organic produce, and a wide selection of staples like organic rice, bean, grains, sugar and flour. BMS carries Pure Eire Dairy and has Umatilla Cheese stocked. Last, but not least, the Station carries a number of gluten free staples....
WAITSBURG—On Thursday, March 19, the Waitsburg School Board met for their regularly scheduled meeting. Superintendent Mark Pickel, Board Chair Ross Hamann, and board members Lisa Morrow and Sarah Boudrieau were present. Members Christy House and Pam Chapman were present via phone call. Due to COVID-19 concerns, the board will be meeting via conference call at the next meeting. All persons attending the meeting practiced social distancing. Superintendent Pickel swore in new school board member S...
DAYTON—The Dayton School District began their meal delivery service to anyone 18 and under. Assistant to the Supervisor and Food Services director Jana Eaton noted on their first day of meal delivery they prepared 150 breakfasts and lunches. Students are advised to look for a yellow school bus for in-town deliveries, and a white van providing rural deliveries at the following locations: (Times are approximate) Bus #1 11:00 a.m. – Valley View Court 11:30 a.m. – Country Village 12:00 p.m. – Cameron Court Bus #2 11:00 a.m. – 1st Street/Ri...
WAITSBURG—Pick up times and locations for Waitsburg students are as follows: 202 Harmon St. 9 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. 705 Maple St. 9:20 a.m. - 9:35 a.m. Whiskey Canyon Parking Lot 9:40 a.m. - 9:55 a.m. High School Parking Lot 10 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. 900 Caroline St (side of football field) 10:20 a.m. - 10:35 a.m. Preston Hall Parking Lot 10:40 a.m. - 10:55 a.m. Catholic Church Parking Lot 11 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Waitsburg Grocery Parking Lot 11:20a.m.-11:35 a.m....
Waitsburg is a community we all can be proud of. Neighbors standing shoulder to shoulder shoveling mud from each others homes. Salvaging what could be salvaged. We are Truly “One Of a Kind.” But there were events happened during our recent disaster that have me concerned. Events that should have every resident of Waitsburg concerned. Our leadership failed us in this disaster. Plain and simple. Especially the east side of town. The east side did not have a warning even though we have a flood siren and emergency protocol in place, or so I tho...
To the Editor: My Facebook page reminded me this week of a photo I took in 2011 of the Iwo Jima Memorial. It was a timely reminder of the hard challenges our country has faced before. That memorial is officially called the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial and it recognizes all our Marines who have given their lives in defense of the United States. The memorial shows our Marines working together to raise the American flag. We can face today’s challenges by tackling them together. I was inspired to dedicate my life to serving our country and our c...
DAYTON—Washington State Governor Jay Inslee’s March 15th proclamation calling for the mandatory closure of bars, restaurants, recreational facilities and large social gatherings, is scheduled to run through March 31. The Port of Columbia County’s Executive Director, Jennie Dickinson and the Dayton Chamber Manager, Molly Weatherill-Tate, are busy locating resources for business owners who are impacted by the closures and are making a plea to the community to shop locally. “Many local busines...
Martha Anne Kenney, 85, passed away March 12, 2020, at Parkview Memory Care - Wheatland Village in Walla Walla. Martha was born to George (Bill) Bosley and Jessie (Hanger) Bosley in Dayton, Washington. She attended schools in Dayton. She started at Star School and finished at Dayton High School. Martha married the love of her life, Ronald Kenney, on July 22, 1950. They moved to Waitsburg where the family farmed. She worked at the Waitsburg Pharmacy for many years and was a Hospice volunteer...
Walt Bryan Gobel, passed away in his sleep on March 19, 2020 at Park Manor Rehabilitation Center in Walla Walla, Washington. Walt was the 4th born child of 5, to Paul Roy Gobel and Agnes (Brumley) Gobel in Prosser, Washington. His family lived in Mabton, Washington where Walt attended all twelve years of his schooling and graduated with 42 classmates in 1962. After graduation he worked as a carpenter, as well as, for local farmers as an irrigation specialist. In 1963, Walt was hired by Safeway...
Robert (Bob) Durwood Wagar, 81, a resident of Shelton, WA., passed away at his home on March 17, 2020. Bob was born in Grand Forks, ND., on April 30, 1938, to Melvin and Signe Wagar. The Wagar family, including parents and their children; James, Vern, Bob and JoAnn, moved from Inkster, ND., to Hoquiam, WA . Bob graduated from Hoquiam High School in 1957. Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Signe Wagar, and his brother Jim Wagar, and sister, JoAnn Wagar. After high school Bob...
DAYTON—Government, businesses, and services are being impacted by COVID-19. Here’s a run- down of impacts: On March 18 the Dayton City Council closed the Dayton City Public Works Facility and the City Hall to the general public. Permit applications, and other City business can be conducted via telephone at: (509) 382-2361. Utility bills can be placed in the payment drop box located along the alleyway adjacent to the City Hall. The City will waive any late fees for utility accounts as a result of...
In a meeting held virtually, the Dayton School Board met to discuss a few items including the impact of the health crisis on the schools. When discussing the budget, board members noted that district costs have gone down with travel out of district being cancelled, and there being no substitute teacher costs to pay. The key date for the Dayton School Board is April 27. That is currently the scheduled date that all students are expected to return to school following Governor Inslee’s mandatory school closure. The return date is important to s...
I am not complaining about our "new normal;" I believe the doctors and the scientists, I will adhere to social distancing guidelines, I have been washing my hands until they are raw, I will not travel, I will do my best to help mitigate the spread of this virus. But I will not succumb to becoming a couch potato or a hermit. I am luckier than so many; I don't have children in school, no worries about day care, home schooling, aging parents or compromised immune systems. I have a fully stocked...
You're stuck with me for a bit longer, I'm afraid – as of last Wednesday, in-person classes at Notre Dame Law School are cancelled for the rest of the school year. I should probably finish unpacking my suitcase. My mom's birthday was on Sunday. Not being able to leave the house to buy her an expensive present, even on the spurious assumption that I could afford an expensive present in the first place, I did the next best thing and made her a cake shaped like an expensive present. One batch of f...
Self- isolating during a pandemic isn't easy. Throw a very social, extremely busy toddler in the mix, and self-isolating suddenly seems impossible. After spending a couple of years as a full-time stay at home mom with my daughter, Gracie, I've got a few toddler-tested and approved projects up my sleeve. One of our favorite projects is a simple one. Shaving cream 'paint' is super inexpensive and the ingredients are typically already in your home. All you need is shaving cream and food coloring....
