Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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Dear Editor, My oldest daughter, Alyssa, loves being at Weller Public Library. As her mom, I love that she loves it! What better way to foster a passion for reading and learning than to place her in such an environment at an early age?! Also, it has been a wonderful way for her to be introduced to other adults and children outside of our family. She’s learned how to share, practice her manners, and has learned how to be respectful of others (adults and children alike). On a few different occasions, I have taken Alyssa to the library to spend o...
Every community should like the picture of Bill Rodger’s iris garden. Everyone growing up together and looking their best indicates being created for a great purpose by a Great God. With every glance, my eyes catch the beauty which illuminates my attitude with a feeling such as having been forgiven of sin. Only God can make a flower. Pictures are taken by photographers: no fooling around. Bill Rodgers has an eye for what’s been created for the created. Enjoyed by a sinner like me. Phillip Monfort Waitsburg...
Dear Editor- I am writing in regards to the recent article about the future of the Weller Public Library. I grew up in Waitsburg and I agree that libraries are definitely the heart of the community. The Weller Public Library was a space I attended as a child, and then later in life it became a place that my children attended when we were visiting Grandma and Grandpa. I frequently helped my mom plant or water flowers out front of the library throughout the summer. Although the Weller Public Library has special memories for me, and the staff...
To the editor, There are sudden dramatic changes and there are slowly moving changes. Both affect the overall temperament of the citizens of a community. The first challenge brought about by change is to come together and talk with each other. It is never simple but always important. Residents of the towns of Malden and Pine City, located in northern Whitman County, experienced a sudden devastating change last August when a wind-driven fire burned their homes to the ground. The event, and its consequences, are literally unimaginable to those...
The taxpaying citizens of Columbia County have approved and are paying for bonds supporting Education and schools, Hospital and Health Care and Fire Department and Ambulance Services, all which support our quality of life. We are now being asked to soon support and help pay for a decades overdue new Justice Center and Jail, also which affects our quality of life. Very limited tax dollars are available in Columbia County to pay for these essential quality of life services. With COVID’s impact it will take months if not years to recover. The P...
Dear Editor, I am concerned about the conflicting messages we as small business owners are receiving from our government leaders. I thought small (Ma & Pa) businesses were viewed favorably by most Americans. Some of the policies that have been put forth lately will have a significant negative impact on small businesses and small towns. 1. Low Carbon Fuel Standard: If this legislation passes it will raise the price of fuel for everyone and eventually raise the price of everything for everyone. All this with no guarantee of improving our...
To the Editor, Recent articles in this publication and others have told only part of the story that is the first semester of the COVID era in Dayton. Here is the reality: A recent article in the Waitsburg Times misquoted our MS/HS Principal claiming truancy didn’t contribute to the D and F grades as only 3 students were truant; this is not true nor is it what was said by our Principal in the Board Meeting. What she stated in that Board Meeting (conducted via Zoom and recorded) is that little to no support is given to the school district by t...
Dear Editor The town of Dayton is fortunate to have Dayton General Hospital with its professional caring staff. Especially the PT staff who went over and above their duty to make sure I had what I needed and make me comfortable. Kudos to Dayton General Hospital. Diana Black...
February 10, 2021 Dear Editor, Over the past 18 months, there have been several inaccurate headlines and stories printed in the Dayton Chronicle related to our work at the Port of Columbia. This misinformation has caused unnecessary concern among citizens and has inaccurately portrayed the intent of our work. One example is the recent headline stating “Port Proposes Annexation.” The Port did not propose annexation, and this fact could have been verified with a quick phone call or email to the Port office for confirmation. This headline cau...
Dear Editor, The decision to fire Walla Walla Columbia County Dist. 2 Fire Chief, Michael Moynihan, should be rescinded immediately. It was made secretly in executive session at the Fire Commissioners' most recent board meeting. This amounts to character assassination despite the fact that section 5 in Moynihan’s contract states that termination can take place at will, without cause for any reason, and without available grievance procedures. Even he has no explanation as to why he was dismissed. Moynihan knows his position as a Chief and how t...
Waitsburg Community, Pastor Matt Wyatt and his wife Krystal have a new adventure ahead. How profound a contribution they have made in the life of the Christian Church and in the life of Waitsburg! They will be missed greatly. But not too fast! With their departure set for August we will still benefit greatly from their friendship and their ministry. Stan Hughes Pastor, Waitsburg Presbyterian Church...
Dear Waitsburg Community, We are writing you on behalf of the Waitsburg Resource Center and the Waitsburg Ministerial Association. We want to thank you all so very much for your generosity. These have been difficult times, but because of your gifts, we have been able to help meet the needs of many. Yours, Pastor Matt Wyatt, Waitsburg Christian Church, (916) 622-9932 Pastor Stan Hughes, Waitsburg Presbyterian Church, (509) 607-5409 (Please do feel free to contact either of us.)...
Washington State, under the leadership of Governor Jay Inslee, recently received national recognition for adopting the pandemic protocol established by scientists and health care professionals: “Against all odds some states have managed to keep the virus under control. Washington State, which recorded 37 of the nation’s first 50 coronavirus deaths, has kept in place a steadily adjusting suite of mitigation measures and now ranks 44th in deaths per capita. If the nation had achieved a rate comparable to Washington’s, about 220,000 fewer peopl...
This is the insert I wrote on my New Year’s cards for 2021. Since last year was so depressing, I wanted to do something positive, and this has helped me as well as several of my friends, so I thought I would share it with you so more people can benefit from it. Most of my friends have put the card where they can read it each day. I hope it will help others! Let’s make 2021 productive and fun! Let us not dwell on this past year for what might have been. We cannot change it, but we can learn from it and enter into 2021 with strong desires to ful...
Dear Neighbors, I am writing to express my concern for this lovely community that I have just become a part of. May God bless and protect you because I have some serious doubts that the Fire Department knows how. As you may be aware, my husband, Michael Moynihan, was recently let go from the Columbia-Walla Walla Fire District after only three short months of employment. Since he has yet to learn why he was let go, I can only assume it has something to do with the transition to a more professional fire department, one that would be respected by...
Change is the only thing permanent in the world since the beginning of time. Though not popular or easy, it can be progressively profitable. Absolute honesty and unselfishness are usually the missing factors omitted from decisions made in secrecy. Discharging Fire Chief Michael Moynihan is a blemish on the character of Waitsburg’s “One of a Kind” pride. It must be challenged. Sincerely, Phillip Monfort Waitsburg...
Dear Waitsburg Parents, We want you to know that we are thinking of you every day. We thank the reporting from the Waitsburg Times which helped us do that. We have copied the pictures the paper published of each of your elementary children, and every week are stapling a photo to each bulletin. This past Sunday we encouraged this week’s prayer be for 2nd graders and their families. A number of our congregation, out of health concerns, are viewing our messages online. They all are receiving our bulletins by mail, including the photo of a child t...
Affordable housing means stability for families and community members; homeownership is one of the best ways to build financial comfort. The availability of affordable housing attracts families to help support our schools and businesses. Many local employers have difficulty attracting qualified, quality employees when housing is at a premium. Rents and home prices in our region have increased faster than incomes. In Walla Walla County, the median home resale value increased from $174,700 in 2013 to $249,300 in 2018, a 43% increase over five...
To the Editor: Obedience is not a virtue. Exacted from slaves, dogs, and very young children, obedience is an essential component to a well-run society, but not necessarily a free one. For the tyrant, the despot, the emperor, a well-run citizenry results when its people are taught to do what they are told. This is more easily achieved when the people implicitly and unquestioningly trust their political, religious/scientific, financial, and medical leaders. These leaders generally communicate with the citizenry via mass media, oratory crafted...
Dear Sirs, With all our challenges these past nine months, my “self” returns to Waitsburg, my favorite place of choice. My name is Dorothy Mock Shepherd. Onset of 1947, my family traveled to Waitsburg to live with my grandparents, Alex and Lilliam Mock, my dad’s parents, for the summer months. He worked the three months for the Parks & Recreation program to supplement his income as a teacher in Kirkland Wash. Established in the early 1900s, my grandparents’ farm was located on a gravel road close to what was then the cannery. My dad, Hunter,...
Letter to the editor My name is Sharon Eaton, and I do not like to cause problems or arguments. However, there was an incident at the Dayton Senior Center on Dec. 15 that has caused me concern. Because of COVID-19, we are not going into the Senior Center Building. We are able to pick up meals safely on Tuesday and Thursday thanks to Orinda Woods and other volunteers. (Most of whom are over 65.) The senior citizens do this by driving up in their cars and are given a meal by volunteers- all wearing masks. When we pulled up, on Dec. 15, we...
I had the nicest surprise last week. UPS had a Christmas mix-up and delivered a package for me to the wrong address, here in Waitsburg. The lovely person who received it took it to the Post Office so I could be found. I was delighted when I got a call from Sarah at the P.O. telling me my package was waiting for me there. Thank you, Sarah and a BIG thank you to the person who dropped my Cougar Gold cheese off at the Post Office. I love our little town! Kate Hockersmith...
Dear Editor, We at the Waitsburg Resource Center (the Food Bank) are so grateful for the donations made during this challenging 2020 year of the pandemic. As a non-profit we also thank all who volunteer (20+) at the WRC. Each month the WRC serves about 100-150 neighbors in Waitsburg and Prescott, distributing over a ton of food each month. With the generous monetary donations received, we purchase other food and hygiene supplies as needed. The support from community members, businesses, youth gr...
It seems common sense and decency have been upstaged by rule changes at the USPS. In our small town of 1,200 we do not have mail delivery to our homes as an option. The two choices are a mailbox at the end of the street, if living far enough away from the Post Office, or a Post Office Box. With COVID-19 restricting so many folks to shopping from home due to store closures to in-person shopping we are having problems. Sellers want to know a street address, even though their shipper sometimes drops packages off at the local Post Office. At the...
Let me begin by saying I know this policy of returning items has caused a huge inconvenience for many Waitsburg Postal Customers, and I am sorry. Also, we at the Post Office appreciate the support many of you have extended. The Waitsburg community has been overwhelmingly kind while trying to deal with this problem. After talking with some of our valued customers, we have decided to suspend the practice of returning items through December so patrons will not have to worry about this through the holidays. Over the past two-plus years, we have...
