Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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As photographed from Middle Waitsburg Road, the controlled burn makes for a post-apocolyptic-like drive to Walla Walla....
WAITSBURG-The coronavirus has highlighted some unexpected heroes over the past ten months. The Waitsburg School District has had a handful of heroes step up and go far above and beyond their typical duties this school year. "Our para-eds and our kitchen staff... they have been working their tails off this year," Superintendent Mark Pickel. "Last week alone, they put together 1,700 meals to go." During a 'normal' school year, paraeducators can be found assisting in the classroom, often offering...
DAYTON-Since he was hired in Dec. 2018 as the Columbia County Engineer and Public Works Director, Charles Eaton finds himself wearing more hats than ever. His responsibilities include multiple departments within the Public Works Department. Operations is responsible for county road maintenance. Engineering is responsible for designing or improving projects, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services responsible for mapping, and Equipment Replacement and Rental (ER&R) responsible for...
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) continues to make progress with our COVID-19 vaccine distribution planning efforts. We are working with the federal government and local partners within Washington to plan for the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine when one becomes available. DOH staff has been diligently working on an initial guidebook-style plan for the past few weeks, and we are on track to turn it in to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by the October 16 due date. The plan itself outlines specific a...
Basin Disposal will be picking up bagged leaves for customers in Waitsburg, Dayton and Prescott. The leaf pick-up is not part of the regular garbage route but will be done with a different truck on a separate route. The following are tentative dates: November 23rd, November 30th, and December 7th, all Mondays. Dates are subject to change for any reason. Leaves in bags only, no garbage, rocks, bricks sticks, roofing, etc. Do not overload the bags, 40 pounds is plenty. If you have an alley, place the bags in the alley. If you do not have an...
Gov. Jay Inslee announced the extensions of the eviction moratorium and public utility proclamations as COVID-19 continues to impact the finances of Washingtonians statewide. Both proclamations were extended to December 31. Moratorium on Evictions (20-19.4) This extension makes modifications to the prior moratorium, including: Clarifying that tenant behavior which is imminently hazardous to the physical safety of other persons on the premises is included among the existing permissible reasons for seeking to evict a tenant. Authorizing...
WALLA WALLA—The public is invited to take to the sidewalks on Sunday, October 25, at 1:30 p.m. to Walk the Vote. With or without their ballots in hand, community voters will celebrate the act of voting in a peaceful neighborhood walk, a free event organized by the Network of Exceptional Women. Walkers will start at Washington Park, or outside Garrison Middle School, Whitman College’s Reid Campus Center, or Edison Elementary school. Walk leaders from the Network for Exceptional Women will provide maps and lead walkers to the two Downtown Walla W...
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) released the latest statewide situation report on COVID-19 transmission. Report findings include: Transmission is increasing in western Washington and recently plateauing in eastern Washington. The best estimates of the reproductive number (how many new people each COVID-19 patient will infect) were 1.12 in western Washington and 0.94 in eastern Washington as of September 27. The goal is a number well below one, which would mean COVID-19 transmission is declining. The situation in eastern...
WAITSBURG-The Waitsburg School Board met Thursday, October 15, for a regularly scheduled meeting. The Board is still meeting via Zoom video call. Secondary Principal Stephanie Wooderchak reported that school has been going well overall, given the circumstances. She said that the parents had been a huge help troubleshooting the technology problems that sprung from the Chromebook distribution and remote learning. "People are having honest conversations and are making adjustments when we experience...
October 10 Unknown suspect struck a mailbox with their vehicle and left the scene of the accident. Walla Walla County October 12 Theft of a trailer and fuel occurred overnight in the county. Waitsburg October 15 Suspect opened a small business loan fraudulently using the victim’s social security number and name. Burbank October 16 A subject was found sleeping in a vehicle. Burbank Damage done to property while trying to locate a trespassing subject. Walla Walla County Deputies investigated a burglary. Prescott Vehicle tires were punctured. W...
Several years ago a friend of mine was involved in a controversy that went to trial before Judge Robert Zagelow, who was an exceptionally well liked and respected Walla Walla Superior Court Judge. After the trial, I asked how it went. My friend said, “We don’t have his decision yet, but he really listened to both of us, and whatever he decides, I know it will be fair.” It’s an extraordinary judge who inspires such confidence that a litigant accepts the decision before she knows if she won or lost! My friend was confident in the judge because he...
My daughter, Jenny Mayberry, is running for Walla Walla County Commissioner for District 1. Jenny is a strong, confident woman who believes everyone is important and should be listened to. She’s a woman who will stand her ground when the going gets tough. She is always looking to better herself in the world around her. As far as what she’s done for the community? Let’s start with her Volunteer Firefighting/EMT for 18 years in District 4. Did you know 80% of firefighters in Walla Walla County are volunteers? They train constantly in class...
Perry Dozier, as a county commissioner and citizen, has provided many benefits to our communities. The completion of 7th street rebuild in Waitsburg with streets, sidewalks, etc. was aided by Perry, while a commissioner, to secure funding for this project to aid in its completion. I question the validity of many items our media reports now days as most appear one sided and biased instead of letting the reader draw their own conclusion as reporting used to and still should be done! What would Edward R. Morrow do if he witnessed the true lack of...
Mike Mitchell misrepresents Brandon Johnson’s experience for Walla Walla Superior Court Judge. Johnson has broad experience in our judicial system. He earned a criminal justice degree. He graduated with honors from Gonzaga Law School. He served two years as a law clerk with the Washington Court of Appeals researching the law, reviewing the facts, and preparing the initial analysis for appealed Superior Court decisions. (50% were criminal cases.) He practiced thirteen years representing clients in civil and criminal cases. In 2015 Brandon, to b...
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. E...
I am writing in support of Mike Mitchell’s candidacy for Walla Walla County Superior Court Judge. There have been numerous letters of support for both candidates touting their legal experiences, educational backgrounds, and personal attributes. These candidates have been extensively vetted as they should have been. I don’t take issue with any of the positive assessments of each candidate. I believe I have a unique perspective on this race. I served as a Superior Court Judge in Walla Walla County for 24 years. During that time, I worked wit...
DAYTON—County Treasurer Carla Rowe presented the third-quarter financial statement to the Board of Columbia County Commissioners last week. She provided them with the following predictions based on various sources, including the Dept. of Revenue, the Municipal Research and Services Center, and webinars regarding banking environments, investment bond market, and government publications. Financial recovery from the COVID-19 impact to counties is not expected to occur until the latter part of n...
DAYTON—Mike Ferrians has resigned as the manager of the Liberty Theater. Management of the theater will be by committee, for the time being, according to Dave Molesh, Touchet Valley Arts Council President. Molesh said Ferrians resigned on Sunday of last week and the executive board met to discuss theater operations two days later. The theater has been closed since March due to the COVID-19 restrictions, and no live productions are planned for this year. Molesh said the production of Nana Goes t...
Several people have asked me about how I prepare my collection of 160 varieties of tall bearded iris for winter. Here is what I do: NOTHING! Iris are quite frost-hardy, so they do not need to be mulched. In fact, mulch is hard to remove, will retain too much moisture in the spring, and you will risk the new growth and root rotting. I wait until early spring to remove the previous season's leaves, for several reasons. This has been my procedure for about 15 years, and it really seems to work in...
WAITSBURG-Waitsburg's Rural Youth Enrichment Services (RYES) will host the Virtual BooGrass Auction starting October 23. Log on and bid on items including a Will Writing package donated by Karl Law Office or a Dinner for Four prepared by Chef Daniel Rossi and support the many youth projects offered by RYES. RYES is a non-profit organization established in 2010 to provide the youth of the Touchet Valley with opportunities to experience the arts, develop skills, hone leadership, and participate...
This year, Wenaha Gallery is giving bags of treats to Trick or Treaters, costumed or not, on Friday, October 30, from noon to 5 p.m. “Given that it’s the day before Halloween, it’s understandable if kids aren’t in costume. Unless they’re like my kids when they were growing up, creating and wearing their costumes WEEKS before the day and as long afterwards as they could,” said Carolyn Henderson. A table will be set up outside, and kept stocked with treat bags. Kids are free to walk by, grab a bag, and go. “We wish all in the community a h...
Seattle travels to Arizona to play the Cardinals this week. It will be Seattle’s first divisional opponent this season and also their most formidable opponent so far. Seattle is a slight favorite to win this game, but Arizona needs the win much more than Seattle at this point in the season. A Seattle win would propel the Seahawks to a 6-0 record and drop the Cardinals to 4-3 with the rematch in Seattle just a few weeks away in week eleven. For Arizona, like Seattle, the offense revolves around their quarterback Kyler Murray. The second year, t...
Both schools are working with county health departments for conditioning guidance WAITSBURG—The Washington Interscholastic Athletics Association (WIAA) recently released a ‘conditioning’ schedule for high school students. The Dayton/Waitsburg athletics combine has worked with athletes and coaches to develop a conditioning schedule for male and female athletes. Right now, coronavirus restrictions require students to stay within their district for conditioning. Waitsburg athletes must train in Wa...
Pumpkin Patch - Bad Seeds By Brouhaha Games This is a great game for 9 and up. It’s a quick 15 to 20-minute strategy game. The object of the game is to plant and gather the most seedling pumpkins. You are laying out seedling cards and coming up with a strategy to place the Cinderella pumpkin, but beware of the crows, and other players trying to lay their cards down first! Lots of fun spookiness! Review by Julie Original Wisdom By Robert Wolff Sometimes a book comes along that really lets you s...
WAITSBURG—Waitsburg Celebration Days will meet Monday, October 26, at 7 p.m via Zoom conference call. Waitsburg Celebration Days is a multi-day event first held in 2013 to preserve the third weekend in May, once celebrated as Waitsburg’s Days of Real Sport. Now, folks from all over travel to our little town to participate in the Karen’s Ride ATV events, show off their classic cars, and enjoy live music at the Burgers, Bands, ‘n Brews. The board of directors seeks interested community members...
