Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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Dear Editor: With the August 4th primary election approaching I feel it is important that each voter examine the qualifications of the candidates and make a well-informed choice. As a taxpayer and resident of the 16th Legislative District for forty-seven years, I, along with the rest of the District, have been fortunate to have fiscally responsible elected officials throughout the years. Many of which have signed both sides of a paycheck and met that obligation with their own money. I feel very strongly that this single point should be a...
Dear Editor, In the course of her career with the U.S. Department of State under both Republican and Democratic administrations, Danielle Garbe Reser served the United States in a variety of roles. These roles included crisis management in response to both the Syrian war and the Bali terrorist attacks in 2002. As a diplomatic advisor to the U.S. Senate, Garbe Reser performed diligent work with the Armed Services Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, and the U.S. Department of Energy. Returning to her Eastern Washington roots in 2015,...
Dear Editor: It was very disappointing to hear the first negative ad on the radio for this local election cycle. It was unclear whether it was supported by either the democratic candidate or the other republican in the race against Bill Jenkin but apparently someone is feeling threatened by him. To me that means he must be doing a good job. Jim Davison...
Editor, The Waitsburg Times Publisher has this to say after attending the Peace Rally in Walla Walla: “The topic of our country’s systemic racism and its effects on people of color is difficult to hear.” She continues, “It was a big reminder that we must listen, truly listen, to voices other than our own. Listening without feeling the need to respond or debate.” This is awful advice. What if those “voices other than our own” are spewing bad ideas? Bad ideas that meet with no response or debate tend to turn into implemented bad ideas, bad po...
Dear Editor: We are fortunate indeed to have a remarkably experienced and qualified candidate running for the State Senate this year. Danielle Garbe-Reser, was born, raised, and educated in Eastern Washington. On September 10, 2001, she began what would be a dozen years of advancing our country’s interests, at duty stations and embassies in the post 9/11 world. Stateside, she also served American interests in the White House during both Republican and Democratic administrations, serving on the Staff of Condolezza Rice at State and, later, on t...
To the editor: Too many times in life an event leads to an abrupt change in a reactive manner versus proactive, planned approaches to change. Sometimes this is hard to avoid but in the case of choosing to age in place, most people will tell you that they want to remain in their homes and community with many feeling that this is completely feasible, and the good news is that studies support this idea. AARP’s most recent survey of adults age 50 and over reveals that 76% want to remain in their homes as long as possible, and that only 5% of the 6...
Dear Editor: Primary election day is approaching. Early voting begins on July 17th. Danielle Garbe Reser is the Democratic Party candidate for the 16th legislative district senate seat. Her experience, accomplishments, and commitment to working for the common good are unmatched. After graduating from Whitman College, cum laude, Danielle earned a Masters in Public Administration from Columbia University on a full-ride scholarship from the Woodrow Wilson Foundation and the United States State Department. Between 2002-2015, Danielle worked for...
Dear Editor: On behalf of Black Lives Matter Walla Walla, we, the organizers, demand that the Walla Walla Police Department be held to the highest standards as they work to protect our community. We support Black Lives Matter. We take a firm stance against police use of brutality and force, as well as expect transparency and communication from the WWPD. Our demands are separated into two categories; Use of Force, and Representation and Accountability. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but rather a starting point for authentic, tangible...
Sixteen weeks into this pandemic and I’ll admit, I’ve grown a little weary of the mask debate. Excuse me, cloth face-covering discussion. It seems endless, and redundant, and far too enmeshed in emotions and political parties. It’s exhausting! Do I choose to go to the trouble of sewing my own, having someone else make one for me, or buy some to wear when I go out and about these days? Do I always remember to have it on my person when I stop into a grocery store or pick up some takeout? Do I wear one at the home of friends? While seated at an...
Dear Editor: Down through the ages whether in chains or cuffs character has been more important than color. Guilt from defying authority brings on bad consequences and defines character. In spite of being either free or prisoner the issue is not color. We need to get our priorities straight by the Book or we get what we deserve. Sometimes it’s death though not always. Seventy years ago, at age 27, I was headed for Hell. Grace was offered to me and I accepted it. I am here to tell you to choose Grace and respect authority. Grace has no color b...
Dear Editor: Now is the time to make a big effort to rebuild our community by shopping small. Waitsburg has 600 households. If every household, every month spent $20 less out of town or on line and spent that $20 with our local hometown merchants, it would amount to $12000.00 in additional monies spent in Waitsburg, additional sales tax for our city services, and an opportunity to meet our neighbors. Every dollar spent locally, circulates locally 7 times. When you buy from your local small business neighbor, that proprietor pays her rent, city...
Dear Editor, I would like to respond to the letter sent to the editor a few weeks ago regarding face masks. I believe the writer is mistaken as to the efficacy of the masks. Community spread has increased, mostly as a result of relaxed “stay at home” orders and more public interaction. The more I read about the spread and the recent uptick in cases, the more I am convinced that masks in public places, although not a panacea, are useful in slowing down the spread of COVID-19. The reason masks were not recommended at the start of the pan...
When I spoke to the congregation as we went into Phase 2 in Walla Walla County, I said that we have been praying heavily over the direction of the church, when to reopen the building, and that it may feel that we are slower moving than other churches in our area. This past week has been a mixture of emotions as the leadership of the church has continued to pray and ask God for answers. On Wednesday night we prayed over a June 28th opening for an outside service. That night was a night of restless sleep as I realized that I was rushing God’s tim...
I am extremely worried about the current COVID-19 situation, and my concern has nothing to do with coughing, sneezing, or any other symptoms of the common cold/flu. In the recent video press release on May 31, 2020 Jay Inslee mandated that all workers in Washington state, effective June 8, must now wear a face covering at all times, and if they don’t abide by these rules are subject to all sorts of fines, although, in classic Inslee fashion, he is indefinite about the specifics, leaving us to infer the worst. Inslee loves to talk about S...
This last Sunday I was fortunate to be in attendance at the Peace Rally held in Walla Walla. I was there to take photographs for the The Times. I was immediately impressed with the number of people who turned out for the event. As I was taking photographs, I got caught up listening to the speeches from the impressive lineup of scheduled and impromptu speakers. The topic of our country’s systemic racism and its effects on people of color is difficult to hear. It was a big reminder that we must listen, truly listen, to voices other than our o...
Dear Waitsburg Families, As the final month of the 2019-20 school year approaches, we want to take a moment to thank you all for the tremendous efforts you are making to help your children stay engaged in learning from home. Our staff truly appreciate the partnerships that were made with you during this difficult time in our state and nation. We know that this is a stressful time for students and families, and we are committed to helping all of our students finish the school year strong. With a...
I believe that what starts here at Dayton High School can change the world. Although this year's path has been rocky, twisty, windy and rough, you have overcome and will be the change you want to see in the world. I have always loved Dr. Seuss. One of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite books declares: "You're off to great places! Today is your day! You're mountain is waiting, so get on your way!" What starts here changes the world, but it will not be on your terms, nor your timeline. As...
Congratulations on graduating from high school.That seems normal to say this time of year, but as we all know too well, nothing is normal now. Watching all the social media posts, the downtown banners, and the school pride displays has educated all of us on how special this class of 2020 truly is. As a High School coach, I always think back to what the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) says about participating in High School activities. "Activity programs instill a...
I would first like to congratulate all of you on all your accomplishments and graduating this year! I know this was not the way you seniors had in mind on how you would have liked to end your high school athletic careers, I did not either, but you will move on and accomplish new goals. I would like to thank you for allowing me to be part of your lives. It has, and always will be, an honor and a privilege to work with and get to know you. When you seniors go out to college, work, military, or...
Congratulations, graduates of Waitsburg High School. What a ride it has been this school year, especially these last few months. There are not a lot of classes that can say that they lived through a flood and a pandemic in the same school year! So, what is next? As you contemplate your plans post high school, I offer you a couple of things to think about. Whatever you have planned for next fall, as best as you are able to, keep those plans. Whether its college, military service, apprenticeship...
I believe that every teacher has a special place in a school. Some are meant to teach littles, some are meant to teach middle school kids, some are meant to teach high school students. Even within these categories, teachers find that place where they are meant to be; where magic can happen in a classroom. For me, after my long career, I can safely say I am meant to teach older students, especially seniors. Even though they drive me crazy once that Senioritis bug hits (sometimes as early as Septe...
Exploring the outdoors feeds our souls and helps keep us healthy, when done responsibly. Yet, as we begin to once again enjoy these benefits, we must keep the wellbeing of all of us in mind. For several weeks, Washington residents have put protecting their families and communities above enjoying our natural landscapes. As leaders in Washington’s outdoor recreation community, we want to say thank you for this sacrifice. Fortunately, as Washington’s state-managed lands, including parks, forests, natural and wildlife areas, begin to reopen for...
Dear Editor: While the COVID-19 pandemic is constantly evolving, we will continue to respond as quickly as possible using data and current recommendations from public health and government leaders in our on-going commitment to keeping our staff and patrons safe and healthy. Working in collaboration with other libraries across Washington State we have had to adapt to a new reality, develop new and innovative ways to continue to deliver library services, and implement procedures for staff to work remotely, all while continuing to ensure that we f...
To the Editor: I send my condolences to all the individuals who have tested positive at the Tyson Fresh Meat Plant and my wishes for their healthy recovery. Thank you to Walla Walla County Department of Community Health and Benton-Franklin Health District for your collaboration to address this issue and assist affected workers. I appreciate the ongoing work of local health care providers to assist the more than 790 individuals with confirmed cases across our district. This development at Tyson underscores how critical it is to follow the...
To the Publisher: Thanks for running the interview with the YWCA DV advocates and sharing information about domestic violence in the time of stay-at-home orders. I work for Northwest Justice Project, a statewide nonprofit law firm which helps low-income people with legal needs. We’ve been worrying a lot about escalating DV paired with reduced opportunity to seek help. So the article was genius! A related, timely reporting idea is the eviction and foreclosure moratoriums currently in force. In addition to the moratoriums, there are programs whic...
