Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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WAITSBURG–Waitsburg's fire hydrants are getting a much-needed flushing. It is important that all hydrants receive semi-annual maintenance by the city water utilities or local fire departments. Hydrants need to be checked for leaks, debris build-up, damage from accidents and any other issue that would be the difference between a home saved or destroyed. This month the District #2 fire department has taken on the job and there is discussion that a more robust type of flush will also be needed t...
WAITSBURG—Schulke Family Pumpkins have made their way back to Waitsburg for another year of fundraising for the Ronald McDonald House. The by-donation fundraiser is the Schulke family’s way of honoring their son, Cooper, who passed away in 2002 after a valiant fight against a brain tumor. Cooper was just seven and a half years old. In 2007, Cooper’s siblings, Emerson and Campbell, came up with the idea of selling pumpkins to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House, a place that became a ‘home...
DAYTON—Columbia County Hospital System (CCHS) CEO Shane McGuire is concerned about how the Flood of 2020, COVID-19, wildfires, and the smoke from them, is impacting the emotional health of CCHS employees and people throughout the local community. He shared those concerns with the Hospital District board of commissioners at their meeting in September. “We are experiencing a mental health crisis in our community and state,” he said. “In our own community, we have seen an uptick in suicide attempt...
SEATTLE—Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Washington State University was selected to receive $129,727 in grant funding to help develop multi-partner anaerobic digester projects in the Northwest. WSU is among 12 recipients selected to receive national funding to help reduce food loss and waste and divert food waste from landfills by expanding anaerobic digester capacity in the U.S. EPA anticipates that it will make these awards once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. “Finding sol...
WALLA WALLA—Walla Walla County health officials announced that a local man in his 60s, who had tested positive for COVID-19, passed away. This news brings the countywide death toll to six. As of Tuesday, there were 941 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the county. Of those cases, 872 have recovered. Sixty-two people are currently under in-home isolation, and one person is hospitalized. “We wish to express our deepest sympathies to his friends and family during this difficult time,” said a representative from the Walla Walla County Department of Co...
Karen Martin, Walla Walla County Auditor, announced on October 5, 2020 that Walla Walla County Elections will be moving all operations to the Pavilion building at the Walla Walla County Fairgrounds, 363 Orchard St., Walla Walla. Voter services, ballot processing, and Canvassing Board meetings will also be conducted at this location. This move is to ensure safety and efficiency during current restrictions imposed due to COVID-19. Logic & Accuracy Test The Logic and Accuracy Test, performed on the digital scan system used to tabulate the...
WALLA WALLA—With the second round of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) dollars allocated to the city of Walla Walla from the state of Washington, the city will distribute $250,000 in assistance grants to Walla Walla small businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19. These grants are separate from the Port of Walla Walla’s recent Working Washington Small Business Grants 2.0 and an upcoming round of grants funded by Walla Walla County. The maximum grant award is $10,000, and the criteria for eligibility is broad so...
Landowner participation is crucial COLUMBIA COUNTY-Columbia County is in the beginning stages of gathering the data required to determine if the Voluntary Stewardship Program has met its initial goals and benchmarks. With the five-year report due January 2020, the Columbia County VSP hopes the county deems the program a success. The VSP is an optional, non-regulatory alternative that allows area stakeholders to develop and implement work plans to protect critical areas while promoting agricultur...
PENDLETON, Ore.—Contractors will begin repair work on Forest Service Road (FSR) 32 along the Umatilla River this week to regain administrative access to Buck Creek Cabin. Work is anticipated to begin as early as Oct. 6 and will include debris slide removal, temporary repair of damaged roadway, and restoration of drainage features. The main objective of this work is to provide safe administrative access for land management agencies to continue to develop repair plans. FSR 32 will remain closed until repair work is completed. Forest Service R...
WAITSBURG—Waitsburg School District has adjusted the meal home delivery schedule to accommodate the recent change to a hybrid learning model. Starting October 5th, meals will be delivered on Monday and Wednesday, coinciding with the 2020-21 school year, and will consist of three meals. Students who attend in-person instruction on Monday and Tuesday will have their meals delivered to their home on Wednesdays. Students whose in-person instruction is on Thursday and Friday will receive their meal delivery on Monday. Meals will be available at t...
DAYTON—Despite economic challenges, building activity in Columbia County and neighboring jurisdictions is going strong, according to Columbia County Planning Manager Dena Martin. In her department update to the Board of County Commissioners at the end of September, Martin reported that despite a temporary spring construction shut-down due to COVID 19, all jurisdictions served by the County have already met 2020 projected annual permit revenues. “This is especially encouraging because there hav...
Starting October 5, the Waitsburg School District will only be delivering meals on Monday and Wednesday. If your student is already signed up for the meal program, the schedule will automatically adjust. If you have not signed your child up and would like to participate, you will need to submit a signed consent form to your child’s school. The consent form can be found on the school’s website, www.waitsburgsd.org....
Dayton Senior Round Table Lunch Menu Dayton Senior Center 403 E. Patit St. 12 p.m. Drive Up Only Thursday, October 8 Chili Spinach salad w/ blueberries Cornbread Pie, Milk Tuesday, October 13 Spaghetti Mixed veggies, Salad Garlic bread Fruit Jell-O, Milk Waitsburg Senior Center 504 Main Street 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 13 Meatloaf Mashed potatoes Vegetable (chef’s choice) Bread Fruit Cookie...
Danielle Garbe Reser is uniquely qualified to become the 16th Legislative District’s next Senator. After graduating with honors from Whitman College, Danielle earned a Masters in Public Administration from Columbia University. Between 2001 and 2015, Danielle worked for the State Department. During the administration of President Bush, she served on the staff of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. She later served on the National Security Council staff of President Obama. During her tenure at the State Department, she was posted to U.S. Embassi...
Letter to the editor, Frances Chvatal is running to represent the 16th Legislative District in the State of Washington and I could not be more excited. I met Frances nearly three decades ago when we both served in healthcare management at what is now Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla. Before I met Frances, I had the privilege of meeting her parents, Ed and Rosina. Ed, a local farmer, had volunteered for years on the Community Advisory Board at St. Mary and Rosina was legendary as a nurse educator. Ed and Rosina both served our...
Our region must come together to vote and Elect Perry Dozier for State Senate Dist. 16. This election puts us at a crossroads of where we will be in a few years. Will we be more in debt? Will parents’ choices on how to raise their children be infringed on even further? Will hardworking laborers that make our region so vibrant go unrepresented? All these are issues that affect me personally, my parents who work the fields and processing plants, my children who I am choosing to raise in a conservative manner. Perry Dozier will ensure that all t...
I have been a trial court judge in Pierce County for nearly 24 years and have known Mike Mitchell professionally for the last eight years. Our families, however, have been acquainted for well over 40 years. Mike is an exceptional candidate for a critical position. He is devoted to sustaining and improving our current justice system. As a practicing attorney and Court Commissioner, Mike has reflected the highest traditions of the bench, through honesty, integrity, and compassion for others. Mike will bring to the bench a keen knowledge of the...
Many thanks to the volunteers of Waitsburg Fire District #2 and Dayton Fire District #3 who responded to the report of a fire that was blazing in the dry grass and stubble at our place on Field’s Gulch Road. Due to the prompt response a potentially serious fire was prevented and our buildings and trees still stand, and people and creatures who live there are safe Neighboring property also could have been threatened if flames had spread. Hooray for the volunteers who jump on their trucks to f...
Captain David (Dave) L Cox USNR, ret, of Palmer, Alaska, passed on Thursday, September 17th, 2020. Dave was born in Washington State but spent the first years of his life in California. His formative years were spent in Waitsburg/ Dayton, Washington. He graduated from Waitsburg High School and went on to earn both a bachelor's and a Master's degree from Washington State University. Dave began his 35-year military career as an army recruit, where he earned both Good Conduct and Defense Service...
Howard Preston Smith, 87 of Waitsburg, Washington passed away Monday September 21st at his daughter’s home in Dayton, Washington surrounded by family. Howard was born in Walla Walla, WA to Jake and Frances Smith. He graduated from Waitsburg High School in 1951 and attended WSU for one semester before being called home to take over the reins of the family farm where he continued raising wheat for the rest of his life. Howard had very strong work ethics and took pride in raising quality crops a...
WALLA WALLA-The 2020 ArtWalla grant season is open for applications until November 16. Arts Education Grants include the Arts Build Community (ABC) Grant for organizations creating arts programming for the community and the Dan Dunn Memorial Grant for individual artists of any discipline. "These introductory grants are perfect for young or emerging artists and budding organizations," said ArtWalla board member Natalie Lyons-Cohen. With the mission of enriching local artistic vitality and...
STARBUCK-Wally and Joanne Knouf are finalizing plans to purchase the Starbuck/Lyons Ferry Marina KOA business from Steve Klontz representing 7 K's Enterprises of Washington, Inc. The Knoufs are the KOA concessionaires, operating the campground, restaurant, and store at the marina. They will take over from Steve Klontz on Nov. 1. The Knoufs were "work campers" at the KOA when Klontz took over as concessionaire from Jim and Angela McArthur, in 2018. They were hired by Klontz to manage the day to...
Thursday morning, I met up with my friend and local businesswoman, Regina, to have breakfast at Locally Nourished in Dayton. As soon as I drove up and parked in front of this café, I felt welcomed by the beautiful greenery forming an arch over the doorway. Walking in, I was struck with the casual and elegant design of the dining room. The menu and menu boards are clear and easily read from a distance. There is a display case with the daily specials and staples promising fresh seasonal treats...
Seattle will host the Minnesota Vikings on NBC’s Sunday Night Football this weekend. It will be Seattle’s fifth matchup with a non-division opponent this year. Next week they will begin playing teams inside their division. This is a good matchup for Seattle as Minnesota is off to a poor, 1-3 start this season. Additionally, the Vikings have not had an effective passing team so far this season. Their primary strength is their running game, which Seattle will easily match with the Seahawks’ excel...
It’s a minor miracle, but the kitchen is done, finally! The correct glass panels were installed on Monday, the silicone holding the glass in place has dried. Our new sod has taken, so we have ceased the twice-daily watering, and the muddy footprints have subsided. Now that the major remodeling is complete, I knew it was time to clean the house from the construction mess. I mean really cleaned, including windows, baseboards, the works! I hired a cleaning crew, especially to clean the windows i...
