Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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To the Editor: When I announced my candidacy in January for position 1, Washington State House of Representative – Legislative District #16, I imagined discussions on neighbors’ doorsteps and forums with engaged citizens. I imagined listening, learning, agreeing and agreeing to disagree. However, the word pandemic did not come to mind, yet here we are. According to the 4 county health departments that make up LD#16, each have confirmed cases of COVID 19 and sadly, 4 people have died in Benton county. My campaign plan and strategy required a s...
To the residents of Walla Walla County: Due to the restrictions put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, you, your friends, or your family members might be out of work, missing personal contact, favorite activities, or living and working in extra-stressful conditions. As officials elected to serve the residents of this county, we’d like to thank everyone who is helping to keep our Valley safe and working to maintain a sense of normalcy during this crisis. Everyone has a part to play, including health care workers, first responders a...
Waitsburg is a community we all can be proud of. Neighbors standing shoulder to shoulder shoveling mud from each others homes. Salvaging what could be salvaged. We are Truly “One Of a Kind.” But there were events happened during our recent disaster that have me concerned. Events that should have every resident of Waitsburg concerned. Our leadership failed us in this disaster. Plain and simple. Especially the east side of town. The east side did not have a warning even though we have a flood siren and emergency protocol in place, or so I tho...
To the Editor: My Facebook page reminded me this week of a photo I took in 2011 of the Iwo Jima Memorial. It was a timely reminder of the hard challenges our country has faced before. That memorial is officially called the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial and it recognizes all our Marines who have given their lives in defense of the United States. The memorial shows our Marines working together to raise the American flag. We can face today’s challenges by tackling them together. I was inspired to dedicate my life to serving our country and our c...
Thank you to our volunteer groups, generous businesses and countless individuals for supporting our Waitsburg flood relief efforts – you made a difference! Sincerely, the Waitsburg Flood Relief Committee Banner Bank Big Cheese Pizza Blue Mountain Community Church Blue Mountain Community Foundation Blue Mountain Humane Society Catalyst Church, Dayton Chicken Bill’s Cafe & BBQ Chief Spring’s Fire & Irons Brew Pub Christian Aid Ministries Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort City of Waitsburg Clean Home Restoration of Walla Walla Colle...
Letter to the editor, I feel the need to respond to last week’s letter that spoke on the lack of unity in our society. In the past 17 days since multiple communities were hit by the flood of 2020, I have witnessed nothing but unity. Not just in our town of Waitsburg, but in multiple surrounding communities. I personally witnessed people putting aside different beliefs, faith, resentments, personalities, cultures, economic class and backgrounds to be a helping hand for someone in need. One could argue that two weeks doesn’t prove anything, but...
To the Editor: Though I write what may be an unpopular letter, by God’s grace I am still warm at age 96. Along with my World War II friends we agree America should reinstate the military draft to active service for both young men and women. The results might bring discipline in ideological training, how to love another for freedom’s sake that is missing in our world war of ideas today. For example: People don’t sit united together in our churches elbow to elbow or on the front seats except in our sports arenas of entertainment. Christian love...
To the editor: Upon reviewing the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) presently proposed cougar management regulations, there are considerations I believe the general public should have more clarity on regarding the science behind the proposed alternatives. Scientifically, there are cautions with every alternative, all for the same reason; setting and managing “harvest guidelines” appropriately to maintain healthy cougar populations. The example given in Alternative 3 that relies on a target population density to inform harve...
To the Editor Pastor Matt Wyatt and the Christian Church have received much thanks and praise for their response to needs arising from the flooding. All well deserved! And Margie Benson with coordinating meals for the displaced and for the work crews coming to town to help! Thank you again! The opportunity to help continues with meals to be provided for those volunteers arriving to offer assistance. For the next month the community will be feeding them.You can contact Margie Benson, 337-8898, at the Christian Church or Barb Abbey, 337-5789, at...
Dear Editors, Libraries are filled with words. All along the shelves are bound series of words that tell stories of all kinds. Libraries have always been places where words are important even when a reader or a patron disagrees with those words. Libraries are supposed to be the last bastion of banning of words. They are the fortress against the silencing of voices. They allow all to be heard. Perhaps at one time that is what Dayton Memorial Library was like. But things have changed. The Board of Directors at CCRLD have decided that public comme...
Dear Editor, We are writing in support of the upcoming Dayton School District Levies. Nothing is more important than the children of our community! The EP&O Levy supports Educational Programs and Operations that are not funded by the state. This levy is a replacement for the previous 2016 M & O Levy. The Capital Levy has two parts. One is a 4-year Technology Levy, which is needed to maintain and improve the use of technology for teaching and learning. The second is a one-year Elementary Building Electrical & HVAC Study. It is our...
To the Editor: I would like to urge voters to pass the Dayton School Levies during the February election. These levies are needed for our schools to continue to provide a quality education to our youth. We are quite lucky to have programs in our schools which are difficult to find elsewhere and are only able to continue with the valuable funds these operational and facilities levies bring. These programs include: -Agricultural Education -Wood Shop -Metal Shop -STEM programs -Athletics Support services for students also require levy funds:...
Dear Fellow Taxpayers, We are urging you to continue your support of Dayton schools and students by voting YES for the upcoming Capital Projects and Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levies. Continuing these existing levies will help maintain programs not funded under “Basic Education” in the State of Washington. These programs are important to our students and our communities and continuing them will not increase taxes in Columbia County. In fact, local taxpayers will find themselves paying LESS than they have been the past 4 yea...
To the Editor: The Dayton School District is running replacement levies and a Capital Levy (a feasibility study to improve electrical outlets in the Elementary/Middle School building to be able to install air conditioning). During our last “community meeting” a few years ago, this was one of our (yours and the district’s) major concerns. I am in favor of and will vote for the future of our school district by always supporting the education of our students. Please check out the District website, the Citizens for Education website, and the Faceb...
Dear Editor: We would like to offer accolades about the show stopping flower hangings that adorned our Main Street this past Summer and Fall. The baskets were all propagated, planted and maintained by local gardeners and were a joy to see throughout their growing season. We want to thank everyone who provided their hard work and expertise and look forward to the coming season’s beautiful displays. Bruce & Heather Hiebert...
To the Editor, The Dayton School District needs your support with the upcoming replacement levies. The State of Washington is committed to providing the costs of basic education. The local levies help to support the parts of public education that are not fully funded by the state allocation. Here are just a few of the many ways the levy funds are used: Smaller class sizes Counselors and Nurses Transportation for field trips and club activities Athletics Classroom supplies CTE Classes- Home Ec, Wood Shop, Ag Shop, Business Education...
Dear Editor, Four generations of my family attended Dayton Schools and received a solid education here. I want to ensure that the children in our community continue to have the same opportunity for a quality, well-rounded education. That is why I am supporting the upcoming levy for Dayton Schools. This renewal levy will provide needed funds to bridge the monetary gap left by the state’s funding formula. The Educational Programs and Operations (EP &O ) levy will support maintaining smaller classroom staffing, Career & Technical Education (...
Dear Editor: Walla Walla’s struggle to retain its curbside recycling program has rightfully overshadowed our efforts to resuscitate glass recycling in our community. In many ways, this new struggle is repeating the one that resulted in the abandonment of glass recycling in 2012. In both cases, the problem is lack of cost-effective markets for the waste product. While wholeheartedly supporting the efforts of the Sustainability Advisory Committee to retain the curbside recycling program, Ted and I and friend Philippe Michel are persisting in o...
Touchet Valley Arts Council and the Liberty Theater concluded its last performance of Mary Poppins on December 7. It was our 19th fall musical production, and one of our most successful. When I say “our” I’m referring not only to the TVAC Board or even the Productions group who produced the show. I’m referring also to everyone from the stage crew to the audiences which made it happen. In fact, audiences are a key component to live theater. They are not passive viewers; they are active characters. Each audience brings a unique persona and energy...
Dear Editor: Full disclosure, while never descending to the level of a Grinch, I never could really fully celebrate the spirit of Christmas. I raised children and hopefully provided for them a Christmas-ish foundation, but personally never quite got it. That is until this weekend in Waitsburg. What a charming couple of days, from the wonderful vendors at Town Hall, to Santa at Ten Ton Coffee, to the grand finale of the parade, it had the magic I have been largely denied all of my many Christmases. At least in part it was knowing a bit about...
Dear Editor, Theater at its Best!! From the front rows I witnessed a full house at Dayton Liberty Theater, presenting Disney’s Mary Poppins musical. One could not have enjoyed more if seeing it on Broadway. The cast of 59 was magnetic, makeup artist, costumes, staging, design, pianist, everything was suburb and, selflessly given. Team-work was professionally over the top. More powerfully presented than one experiences today in most churches. Phillip Montfort Waitsburg...
As we prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday we have been reflecting on what we are thankful for and wanted to update you on the what we have been up to at Ten Ton. Two years ago a plan was hatched in Seattle and a couple of city slickers made the journey east to a small town on the other side of the state. Using our combined years of experience in food service, the goal was to create a coffee shop within an existing, family-owned art studio. We dreamed of creating a beautiful, inviting space where people from all different walks of life could...
To the Editor: First of all, I would like to thank the voters in Dayton, for turning out during our recent elections. Our participation was the third highest in the state. During the local campaigns for Mayor and City Council members, there was an endless amount of false information posted on social media. False accusations, misleading or erroneous information, did not afford the public the necessary and factual information they needed, prior to casting their votes. This demonstrated that social media is not the most reliable source of...
Dear Editor: Thank you so much to all the voters and supporters who helped me along the way to win this election. I couldn’t have done it without you. I’m excited to move forward with serving this community and continuing to work on improving Dayton. Along my campaign trail, I have had the opportunity to speak with many of the residents who live and work here and who have given me insight on what concerns our community. I have been in contact with the various entities that serve the people and continue to fuel our city with great res...
Dear Editor: Over the course of the campaign, I’ve canvassed neighborhoods across the county and met with more than 2,200 residents on their front porch. I’ve also held meetings with major employers, institutions (colleges, university, school districts, etc.), governmental agencies, civic organizations and leaders from the business community. Through these conversations, I’ve heard a near-universal desire for expanded economic opportunity across the county. The world of economic development is highly competitive. Our country competes with...
