Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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Dear Editor, “He’s not from here.” “He didn’t go to Wa-Hi.” “He doesn’t even have a 509-area code.” “I don’t know him, so I’m not voting for him.” These are all comments I’ve seen on social media or heard in public sphere regarding Mark Crider and the current race for Sheriff. The insinuation is that since Mark wasn’t born here, didn’t attend local schools, and has a different phone number, he isn’t capable of being our next Sheriff. As an immigrant by way of the United Kingdom, I find this way of thinking ridiculous. The idea that somebod...
Dear Editor, I’ll be the first to admit it. When Mark Crider first stepped into the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office last Fall to interview for the position of Chief Criminal Deputy, I was skeptical. Who was this FBI agent from the Spokane Field Office? Sure, he’d been involved with our Office over the last few years providing tactical and firearms training to some of our members, but what made him think he could come on down and help lead our agency forward? Well after Mark opened his mouth and spoke for about thirty seconds, I ate a big pi...
Dear Editor, Two years ago, Sheriff Turner approached me and asked me a question about the next new hire. His question to me was “would you trust this guy in a gun fight; would he stand by you or run?” Little did I know he asked the deputies the same about me when I was hired. I thought about the three candidates running for Sheriff and asked myself the same question, which is why I am choosing to endorse Mark Crider. Not so much for the gun fight situation, though it wouldn’t hurt, since he is a firearms instructor. But I know he would suppo...
(Editor’s note: We received this letter this week from a young reader with a special connection to Waitsburg, and we are very pleased to publish his letter.) Dear Mr. Graham, My name is Sean William Stonecipher Sollars and I’m in the 6th grade. My mom is Suzanne Stonecipher-Sollars and she grew up in Waitsburg. I’m a Boy Scout and pleased to write about one of my Boy Scout stories. I am working on my communication merit badge, and this is one of the things I’m required to do! As a small kid, all I wanted was to be a Boy Scout like my cousins...
Dear Editor, Matthew J Stroe is one of my favorite people. He and his wife, Elizabeth, share the same family values my wife, Jessica, and I do. His devotion to service and community in Walla Walla County is unparalleled. Wherever and whenever he is part of something, he throws his whole self into it. I first met Matt when I was a security officer at Whitman College and he became the new director. I had the rare opportunity of training my new boss. We agreed that security should be visible and approachable in all areas of campus. Thus, while...
Dear Editor, In my ministry, I’ve always tried to stay out of politics and publicly voicing my personal political inclinations. Why? Because I feel that my main job is to bring people together and to share the love of Jesus. The political arena can be a divisive area and can lean more on the individualistic rather than the whole, and that’s a tough area to navigate as a pastor. However, my wife and I recently placed our first-ever political sign in our front yard, and we were asked the question “What is it about this person that you feel so pa...
Dear Editor, I’m writing to express my ardent support for Matt Stroe as a candidate for sheriff of Walla Walla County. I met Matt as a student at Whitman College while working for the Security Department in a work study position. Matt is an outstanding director of security. He found innovative ways to improve safety on campus and gained the trust of students in a way that facilitated a to-my-knowledge unprecedentedly positive relationship between the student body and security. Outside of his accomplishments for the Security Department, Matt w...
By Jennie Dickinson and Kathryn Witherington, Port of Columbia One of the significant advantages of having new industries invest in a community is the potential of an increased tax base. In Columbia County, we have already seen the effects of this from one important industry – renewable energy. Before the wind industry invested in Columbia County, our tax base was just over $286 million. Ten years later, our tax base has risen to $868 million. This is an increase of 227%. For comparison, Walla Walla County experienced an 86% tax base i...
By Don C. Brunell Editor’s Note: The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday, after this column was written, that it had deadlocked 4-4 (with Justice Kennedy abstaining) on the Washington culvert case, and therefore the lower court ruling will stand. While much of the media buzz over declining salmon runs focuses on dam removal and predation by sea lions and cormorants, the U.S. Supreme Court is asked to decide whether Washington State needs to spend an additional $2.4 billion to replace more road culverts. In 2001, Western Washington Tribes sued c...
By Don C. Brunell Editor’s Note: Don Brunell is a regional business columnist who works out of Vancouver, Wash. This column will appear in newspapers throughout the state this week. Here’s a switch! Rather than closing another pulp and paper mill, a new one is under construction right here in Washington. Columbia Pulp’s plant on the Snake River will use a new technology that pulls cellulose out of the abundant straw left over from wheat and alfalfa harvests. The $184 million plant near Dayton is scheduled to open later this year. Tradi...
Submitted by the Waitsburg Commercial Club Executive Board The Waitsburg Commercial Club regards the Waitsburg Fairgrounds as an integral part of our event venue inventory to bring visitors and commerce to Waitsburg. It is important to start marketing and booking events at our Fairgrounds. Many art, food and music outdoor events are booked in Walla Walla County, particularly at privately-owned Wineries, that are very successful, without benefit of installed facilities for seating. Saying that no events can be booked at the Waitsburg...
Dear Editor, I apologize to the community for showing off doing wheelies with my old Ford Tractor in Saturday’s Waitsburg Parade, May 19th. A dumb, selfish thing to do and a bad example for the youth. Thinking about it later if an accident had happened, I would have spoiled the day’s celebration and lives forever. Please help me to thank God for His mercy and Grace that nothing bad did happen, and hope I will think beforehand and remember not to do dumb things again. Thank you all for a Forgiving heart. Philip Manfort Waitsb...
Dear Editor, I believe most would agree the discussion of the fate of the Waitsburg Fairgrounds Grandstands has been going on for too many years. Differing views by members of the latest Grandstand Committee regarding public support for the grandstands resulted in the recent Advisory Vote. The results of that vote left little doubt as to the “will of the people” but now even that is being questioned by some. If the Waitsburg City Council is still not willing to accept and act on the outcome of the advisory vote may I offer one final sug...
Dear Editor, There is a virus spreading across America. It harms the 1 in 5 Americans affected by mental health conditions. It shames them into silence. It prevents them from seeking help. In some cases, it takes lives. What virus are we talking about? It’s stigma. Stigma against people with mental health conditions. But there’s good news. Stigma is 100% curable. Compassion, empathy and understanding are the antidote. Your voice can spread the cure. May is Mental Health Month and Blue Mountain Counseling is raising awareness in the role men...
With spring finally arriving, I want to remind everyone of some items associated with wet and warmer weather. First, grass and weeds are not allowed to exceed five inches in height in Waitsburg, so please keep your lot(s) mowed and/or sprayed. Second, warm weather brings on puncture vine; depending on what stage you catch it, the best course of action is to spray it, burn it with a weed burner, or dig it up and throw it away. The city crew only has a limited amount of time to spray and doesn’t typically devote a lot of time to spraying road e...
Dear Editor, I want to share an opportunity for Dayton Parents and members of the community to help us make decisions about schools in our state. Our state’s lead office for education – the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), led by State Superintendent Chris Reykdal – just opened a survey to the public asking for input on public K-12 education investments for the future. This is the first time families, educators, students and community members will have an opportunity to give input about the areas where state leaders shoul...
On April 16, the Columbia County Commissioners voted 2-1 to select the Dayton Chronicle over The Times to be that county’s legal newspaper for 12 months, beginning July 1. (The Times was awarded the contract last year.) This year, Commissioners Norm Passmore and Merle Jackson voted to select the Chronicle, even though its bid was 61% higher than The Times’ ($7.36 per column inch, vs. $4.50 for The Times). Furthermore, The Chronicle uses a significantly larger typeface for its legal notices tha...
With the annual election over and the same city council re-elected to another term, the city of Waitsburg is moving forward with a variety of projects, including water meter replacement and various design and engineering work for future system improvements. At the last city council meeting, the council authorized my office to start the water meter replacement project, which at its base is the replacement of approximately 550 water meters throughout the city at an expense of about $300,000. With the majority of water meters being on average 60...
Dear Editor, Across the country, the “Age Wave” of older Americans are taking part in activities that promote wellness and social connection, sharing their wisdom and experience with future generations, enriching their communities. They’re working, volunteering, mentoring, learning, leading and engaging. Older Americans Month (OAM) recognizes older Americans and their contributions to our communities providing an opportunity to hear from, support, and celebrate our nation’s elders. This year’s OAM theme, “Engage at Every Age,” emphasizes th...
Dear Editor, In February of this year, 2018, an extraordinary thing occurred to benefit our dear town. By extraordinary, I mean something that doesn’t happen every day or even every year. Michael Haight and Cathy Lee-Haight decided to make some very large gifts for the good of our community. They gave to enrich and strengthen what we already have that is vibrant and to help a new organization get up and running. To the Dayton Historic Depot Society, they contributed $20,000 toward the operations endowment that the Depot has been working to i...
Dear Editor, Regarding the proposed water bottling plant, the commission looks at this decision as a “Land Use Issue” which I understand. In that regard here are points they need to consider: Use of the land is important, although the commission does not regulate morality, I doubt they would allow zoning for a house of prostitution. This is agricultural land, there is no industrial zoned area nearby. Wineries are agricultural and produce water as a product with added value. Irrigation returns the water to the ground from which it came. The irr...
It takes coordination and engagement on many levels when addressing behavioral health issues, and more so when delivering mental health services to persons who have the potential for violence. A recent example was when an Alzheimer patient “headbutted” Columbia County Sheriff Rocky Miller after he responded to a call for help at the patient’s home in February. An interesting conversation took place last week in the Columbia County Commissioners’ chambers between Sheriff Miller, Deputy Prosecutin...
Any trade war between the United States and China is worrisome, but if it escalated and tariffs are imposed, it will hit Washington particularly hard. Avoiding that possibility should be our primary goal. Our state is our nation’s third largest exporter, with more than half of the containers leaving Puget Sound heading to China. The Port of Seattle estimated that China trade alone accounted for $18 billion last year and 40 percent of our state’s jobs are now tied to trade. President Trump has...
In 2016 Washington lawmakers passed a bill called Ricky’s Law. The law allows mental health providers to order patients who are drug addicted into a locked detox center if he or she is an imminent danger to self or others. Ricky’s Law extends a law that already allowed health providers to confine people for mental health reasons. The law went into effect on April 1....
Dear Editor, The Waitsburg Times account of publisher Ken Graham’s interview with County Commissioner Todd Kimball was accurate as far as it went. It gave more than adequate coverage to the Commissioners’ perspectives on the Dozier’s request to start a water bottling business on their land. What was missing was any acknowledgment whatsoever of the well-reasoned legal, zoning and resource-savvy positions that oppose this misuse of the county’s valuable and limited water supply. The Times repeated the claim that since wineries and distilleries ar...
