Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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WAITSBURG - After 30 years selling liquor on Main Street in Waitsburg, Bonnie Olson closed the doors of her liquor and spirits store on May 21. Olson had obtained a license from the state before the big transition that allowed her to carry and sell liquor, and but she recently decided that running her own store wasn't a priority. "I just decided I really didn't need to do that," Olson said. Initiative 1183 was passed by voters in the last General Election. The initiative took liquor sales in Washington out of the hands of the Liquor Control...
WAITSBURG - The WP Cardinal track and field team had state champions and personal records to celebrate last Wednesday night. And while the WP Tiger baseball team didn't come away with any state trophies this year, they had many moments of their own to cheer about. The athletes and their families gathered at Waitsburg Elementary School for food and awards to top off a successful season. Track Head coach Jeff Bartlow said he had about 50 athletes turn out for track this year and he said each of them made the season memorable for him. "It's my fav...
DAYTON -- The Dayton spring sports teams gathered together around collaged photo placemats and desserts to celebrate the three teams' work both during the season and in post-season competition at the state level. All three head coaches echoed sentiments of improvement through the season, which played a role in two of the teams making it to state competitions. Track and field coach Shawn Magee said he saw major improvements especially in the athletes who competed at the state level. Some of the t...
LAKEWOOD - WP's lone golfer Dakota Baker made it to the state competition in Lakewood on May 22 and 23 and despite pouring rain and tough competition he placed 16th overall. Baker tied with Colfax golfer Hunter Weitze with 176 points total. In the first round, Baker shot a 92 and in the second round he improved considerably and shot an 84. Baker has been playing and practicing alongside the DeSales golf team all year. DeSales won the overall state golf competition, but DeSales coach Lon Olson...
SPOKANE - James Lehr, a 2010 graduate of Waitsburg High School, is a shot put and discus champion in his conference and he's hoping to be an NCAA champion in the near future. Lehr, who has attended Spokane Falls Community College for the past two years, is working on his degree to teach special education. Most recently in his college athletic career, he placed first in the conference meet in the discus and the shot put on May 21 and 22 in Spokane. That's an improvement from 2011 when he placed f...
DAYTON -- The Blue Mountain Rocketeers may be one of the best kept and secrets in the Dayton area despite the group's explosive habits. Blue Mountain Rocketeers' cofounder and rocket aficionado Tim Quigg said the Blue Mountain Rocketeers is consistently ranked at the top of the national rocketry groups. "Blue Mountain Rocketeers is the premiere youth model rocketry group in the nation," Quigg said. Quigg, a senior communications officer for the sheriff's department, said beyond the club's...
Colleen was born in Dayton, WA in 1924. She later moved to Grand Coulee, where she married Ray Cross. They always said Ray was one of the best football and basketball coaches, taking Prescott to state. Colleen told all of us kids she had a great life! She was so full of life and never slowed down. Colleen is survived by four daughters (Marina Spencer, Connie Cricket Hofer, Chris Brow, and Renee Christian) and one son (Ray Cross Jr). She is preceded in death by her husband, Ray Cross, her parents, Bess and Otto Winnett, older sister Alura Barr,...
The Times would like to specially recognize Jeff Hofer, Tim Hofer and Ryan Mason for their service to our country....
June 7: Judy Adkins, Laurette McCaw and Dana Maki. June 8: Jamie Gritman, Patty Hendrickson, Sarah Price, Gary Cox and Kevin Erickson. June 9: Kay Heady, Vance Potts, Jack Roberts, Barbara McCauley, Edward Fisher, Ed Sickles, Jenny Rencken, Marnie Henderson, Cathy Abel, and Rich Webber. June 10: Jake Long, Belinda Johnson, Linda Doyle and Mike Drew. June 11: Frank Donnelly and Kathie Payne. June 12: Suzanne Moser, Ida Polley, Chad Lambert, Joshua Reser. June 13: Anne Nelson, Michael Raven, Jan Cronkhite, Larry Weir, Bob Newbury, Mike Talbott,...
Waitsburg 5-29 A possible trespass on a vacant house was reported on Seventh Street. 5-30 Illegal dumping was reported on Stonecipher road. 6-01 Stolen batteries from equipment were reported on Main Street. An abandoned vehicle blocking a roadway was reported on Lewis Peak. Dayton 5-29 A juvenile runaway was reported on Main Street. A suspicious vehicle was reported on Highway 261. 5-30 Threats reported on Spring Street. Vehicle vandalism at school was reported on Third Street. A dangerous dog reported on Valley View Court. A juvenile problem...
Over the weekend, siblings and I celebrated our father's 90th birthday. When I walked into Papa's home he was napping with an "Architectural Digest" sprawled over his chest, eyeglasses still on. "Papa," I whispered, he awoke and smiled and the weekend began. After everyone was accounted for, we caravanned into San Francisco where one sister owns a home across the street from the harbor. This is where we'd all stay for the weekend birthday festivities. In 1941, my father joined the Merchant Marines out of San Francisco and almost got blown out...
Ten Years Ago June 6, 2002 Thirty- four members of the Waitsburg High School's Class of 2002 will participate in commencement exercise Friday, June 7. Ceremonies will be held in the newly renovated gym at 8 p.m. Tri-valedictorians for 2002 are Jessie Winnett, Hilary Bye-Hogan and Kimberly Bloor. Shannon Brason will be the honor speaker, selected by her class. Twenty-Five Years Ago June 4, 1987 Jack Otterson, recent Waitsburg High School graduate, was the only member of the Vandal track team to place in the state meet in Wenatchee last weekend....
Bart Baxter and Tiffany Standfill were married May 1, 2012 and they honeymooned at Wallowa Lake. The parents of Bart Baxter are Bert and Bitzi Baxter. Parents of Tiffany Standfill are Clyde and Betty Standfill. The newlyweds are owners and operators of Betty's Diner in Waitsburg, Wash....
WAITSBURG JUNIOR LIVESTOCK SHOW WAITSBURG -- The 4-H Waitsburg Corral Wranglers Club will be participating in the Waitsburg Junior Livestock Show on June 9 and 10. On Saturday, there will only be sheep, goats, pigs and streers. At 9 a.m. that day, there will be livestock judging. The public is welcome. The Corral Wranglers Club is open to service project ideas. The next 4-H meeting will be July 2 from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Waitsburg park. CAR SHOW THANK YOU WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg "One Of A Kind" Classic Auto Show Group would like to thank all...
DAYTON - Columbia County Prosecutor Rea Culwell said Daniel Baxter, a transient man facing 28 burglary-related charges, does not want to go forward with a plea agreement after all. Baxter was arrested last February and charged with crimes including squatting in vacant homes in the Dayton city limits and stealing items from those homes from last summer through February. Baxter, who has ties to Pennsylvania, Montana and California, faces from 0 days to 70 years in prison if convicted. Baxter...
I read with real interest the guest editorial written by Sheriff John Turner (that ran in the Walla Walla Union- Bulletin). Although the article left me with more questions that I had previously, I was intrigued to learn the miscommunication between Sheriff Turner and the county commissioners. It is without integrity for a county commissioner to serve as a liaison for a department, discuss ideas for securing sorely needed equipment for the deputies, take credit for appearing as if he is on their side, and then later conveniently fail to recall...
Pioneer Portraits used to be interesting news of yesteryear, not just morbid rehashings picked up from the police blotter. Maybe this negative fixation is necessary to market newspapers today, and, too, it's bound to be grander entertainment for those of us who've led spotless lives; who have never done anything for which we've needed to be forgiven, anything we've had to pay society our dues for, to atone for, to regret, and finally, for those with the strength to work our way back into that society as useful and reliable and respected...
Correctional Industries (C.I) provides jobs and skill training for inmates at the correctional facilities administered by the Department of Corrections. These jobs provide employment and a modest income for the inmates, a skill that is transferable when seeking employment once released, and provides a savings to the taxpayers in the products they produce. I served as the General Manager for C.I. at the WSP until budget cuts resulted in the loss of my job back in 2010, so I am familiar with the local operations. I question then, why C.I. is...
There are many ways I'm patriotic. I can let people know how I support and respect our country. I can celebrate holidays that show patriotism. I can always support the flag. Those are the three ways I will give in detail on how you and I can show patriotism. It is easy to let someone know you are patriotic because there are many ways. One way is to tell someone that you're glad to live in America. Or you could say that you believe America is a great country. Lastly, you could say that you prefer America over other countries. Those are three...
Two weeks ago, the Times ran its weekly Pioneer Portraits column as it has for many years. For the second time since the newspaper changed hands in late 2009, it prompted a letter to the editor, which we have published on this page. The letter from Kate Reeve objects to rehashing local residents' past offenses, particularly for those who have since bettered their lives and become contributors to the community. She also asks for the same exception for those who have since passed away. Before we get into our response to the letter, it's worth...
DAYTON -- Feral cats prowled their way into the Dayton City Council meeting May 29 during the public hearing regarding the growing feline nuisance and the impact they have on residents. Mayor Craig George opened the public hearing segment of the meeting by reminding attendees that the decision required the input of the community and it could not be a decision made by the council alone. "We want the city involved in the decision," George said. Dr. Kennie Reeves of the Dayton Veterinarian Clinic took the floor to give hearing attendees some...
DAYTON -- The 131st class to graduate from Dayton High School recessed from the gym and into the rest of their lives on Saturday with thousands of dollars in scholarship money in hand and an upbeat Kenny Chesney country song filling the room. Valedictorian Carter Currin said any bad moments in high school were ultimately tiny blips on the radar and many happier moments await the group. "We, the class of 2012, are ready to make that future bright," salutatorian Keisha Phillips said. The future do...
