Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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DAYTON — The Port of Columbia County Executive Director Jennie Dickinson received a Government Service Agency email on February 25, terminating the building lease between the port and the Columbia County Farm Service Agency, effective August 31. The FSA houses the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The NRCS offers programs that support conservation work in agriculture, timber, and pasture lands. For example, Dickinson said her family utilized an NRCS cost-share program for pre...
WAITSBURG — Mayor Marty Dunn called a special meeting of the Waitsburg City Council for March 6, 2025. The purpose of the meeting was to review and vote on three bids submitted for the purchase of the old city hall building at 147 Main Street. The council accepted the bid from Delbert and Cindy Steinhorst, past Waitsburg residents f who made an offer of $150,000. The offer is for the city hall building and a second vacant lot property on 6th Street the city has for sale. The second property is an oddly shaped, 1.15-acre lot on East 6th Street....
DAYTON — Columbia County Park and Recreation Pool District board met for their regular monthly meeting at 5 p.m. on February 27 at the Dayton Fire Station. Board members Diane McKinley, Lisa Naylor, Terri Hessler, and Katie Leid were present. Friends of the Pool Chairperson Fred Crow and Cole Massey, the district’s website designer, were also in attendance.In February, the board applied for a Washington State legislative grant for $250,000 and expect to hear if it is awarded in May. The money will come from Washington State Capital Budget fun...
WALLA WALLA - Waitsburg School District will host Whitman College for a Family Science Night on Thursday, March 6, in the Preston Hall gym. Whitman brings science nights to students and families in the fall and spring at different schools throughout the valley; this was the first time it was held in Waitsburg. The event provided an interactive evening of science geared towards K-5 students and their families. Preston Hall was filled with parents watching their children get excited about science...
DAYTON - During the 2024 fall migration season, the National Audubon Society was concerned that the avian flu's virulent H5N1, or HPAI strain, could spread to and by wild songbirds at backyard feeding stations. During last year's migration, wild and domestic birds' infection and death rates soared. The virus spreads along bird migration routes, or flyways, to the detriment of many birds, mainly waterfowl, during the fall migration. There is good news for songbirds, though. According to an...
DAYTON — Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council to order at 6 p.m. on February 11, 2025. Trump, council members James Su’euga, Joann Patras, Michael Smith, Laura Aukerman, Kyle Anderson, and Shannon McMillen were present. During the public comment period, Dayton resident Theresa Eier spoke about the recall petition she intends to file against Columbia County Sheriff Helm. Eier also discussed her litigation against Columbia County for “withholding records and a lack of transparency.” Eier said there were 600 documents withheld for 600...
DAYTON — The Port of Columbia Commissioners held their regular meeting at 5 p.m. on February 12, 2025, at the port’s conference room. Commissioners Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, Mike Spring, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were present. The commissioners handled a few administrative items, including approving minutes from past meetings and reviewing the monthly budget report. There were no new or amended leases to review. The commissioners reviewed and approved a sewer agreement with the City of Dayton, which allowed wastewater pipes to...
DAYTON—When her alarm goes off at 5:45 a.m., Carol Anderson, 80, rises, washes her face, makes her bed, empties the dishwasher, and then calls for the Ski Bluewood daily report. She is going skiing! Breakfast is first. Then she dresses in long johns, a ski turtleneck, and very tight ski socks, carefully working them over her feet so there are no wrinkles. Then she starts loading the car, first with her skis, poles, and a small gear bag to the car. Helmet and goggles go into the car next. She p...
WAITSBURG - Cheryl Hansen and her crew of friends harvested the first crop of Riesling grapes grown at Stella's Homestead in September 2024. Hansen contracted Truth Teller Winery to provide Custom Crush, winemaking, and maintenance services to help her create the single-varietal wine, Dona Stella. After harvest, the grapes went to the Walla Walla winery to be processed, sorted, pressed, and slowly fermented by owners and winemakers Rob Wohr and Chris Loeliger. On February 7, Hansen and her crew...
DAYTON – The Port of Columbia Commissioners held a workshop to discuss the potential sale of its railroad assets on February 5, 2025. Commissioners Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, Mike Spring, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were present. The meeting was a workshop for the edification of the commissioners, and public comment was not available. Stakeholders were invited to participate, including the rail operator, customers, and the city. Ryan Paulson represented the City of Dayton, which holds utility rights-of-way along and across the r...
WAITSBURG - Seventeen students from Waitsburg Schools attended the Amazing Shake state finals in Mattawa, Washington, on Tuesday, February 4. The Amazing Shake teaches students about professional skills for success through manners, discipline, and respect to present themselves exceptionally for future opportunities. Participants from Waitsburg, Othello, Royal, and Wahluke school districts spent the day showing judges their skills in handshakes, follow-up questions, quick thinking, and effective...
WAITSBURG — Due to increasing print production costs, I am transitioning “The Times” from a print to an exclusively online publication beginning February 6, 2025. The transition will allow the paper to continue covering local news and support businesses, non-profits, schools, and healthcare systems in the Touchet Valley. “The Times” is committed to providing accurate, fair, and relevant information to its readers and community. I purchased the paper at the end of 2018 when the previous owners planned to close the publication after they coul...
DAYTON — The Dayton School Board met in the high school library at 6:30 p.m. on January 22, 2025. Superintendent Jeremy Wheatley, Business Manager Jana Eaton, and Student Representative Lila Hutchens were present. Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen and board members Aneesha Dieu, Grant Griffin, and Ryan Paulson were present. A board position remains vacant, and persons interested in volunteering should contact the district office for more information. The board re-elected McCowen as board chair and Griffin vice chair. In the consent agenda, the b...
WAITSBURG - In the first semester at Waitsburg Schools, Elizabeth Jagelski introduced Music Exploration to a combined class of sixth and seventh graders. Jagelski led students in exploring music and musical instruments, including bucket drumming and kazoo playing. The students got to vote for their last segment of instruction in music. They could choose between putting on a play, learning to play recorders, or forming a choir to sing in four-part harmony. With ninety-eight percent of the vote, t...
WAITSBURG. - The Waitsburg Celebration Days will hold its Annual Spaghetti Feed Fundraiser on February 15 at the Waitsburg Town Hall. The doors will open at 5 p.m. with live music and a silent auction. The event organizers will begin serving the spaghetti dinner, with salad and garlic bread, at 6 p.m., followed by the live dessert auction. The evening ends with the crowning of this year's royal court at 8 p.m. The three court members are Hadley Fullen, age 15, from Milton-Freewater; Jemma...
WAITSBURG — The Waitsburg City Council voted unanimously to accept a new offer for the former Waitsburg City Hall building at its regular meeting on January 15. Todd and Carrie Alexander’s offer included a letter introducing the couple and their interest in the building. The Alexanders have many interests, including food, wine, travel, design, art, and music. They recently bought and renovated the JL Elam bank building in Milton-Freewater, built in 1906. It sat empty for over ten years before the couple purchased it. The couple created Ate...
DAYTON — Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council meeting to order at 6 p.m. on January 14, 2025. Trump and council members James Su’euga, Joann Patras, Michael Smith, and Shannon McMillen attended the meeting at Dayton City Hall. Kyle Anderson was not present, and Laura Aukerman joined the meeting later. Sheriff Helm reported 565 incidents in December, consisting of 134 traffic stops, 23 other traffic calls, one DUI investigation, and 16 traffic accidents. Helm reminded everyone to drive appropriately, considering the winter weather. H...
WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg Parks and Recreation District(WPRD) board has received the feasibility study it commissioned from PBS Engineering and Environmental in 2024. The purpose of the study was to determine if a pool could be rebuilt at its current location or on one of two alternative sites. The completed study shows a new municipal pool could be built on the alternative site on the north side of the Touchet River. On January 2, the WPRD board voted unanimously to pursue building the new...
DAYTON – The Columbia Port Commissioners held their regular meeting at 5 p.m. on January 8, 2025, at the port’s conference room. Commissioners Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, Mike Spring, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were present. The meeting began with public comment. Some concerns regarding the potential sale of the port’s railroad included the loss of the railroad and the effects on grain transport if the Snake River dams were to be removed. Seth Murdock spoke first, saying that with continued government ownership, he was concerned that...
WALLA WALLA - Bertha Clayton was sworn in as Walla Walla County Commissioner for District 1 on Tuesday, December 31, at the Walla Walla County Commissioner's office in Walla Walla. Clayton, an attorney and the Office of Agricultural and Seasonal Workforce Services director, unseated incumbent Jenny Mayberry in November's general election. A Waitsburg High School graduate, the first-time elected official unseated Jenny Mayberry in the November elections. Before being sworn in, Clayton thanked...
WAITSBURG - Nicole Abel and her Waitsburg Ariculture Education students offer fresh cut trees to local businesses and clubs to decorate for the Festival of Trees. The students put up the trees before Hometown Christmas and pick them up again after New Year's Day. The trees are decorated with battery powered lights and unbreakable but creative ornaments to bring color and cheer to the downtown streets. Trees also compete for recognition as the Hometown Christmas fan favorite. The trees were cover...
WALLA WALLA - The Walla Walla chapter of the American Association of University Women has added a third scholarship type to its scholarship fund for women seeking a trade school certificate. The Women in Trades Scholarship is available to help women enrolled or intending to enroll in trade programs at Walla Walla Community College. "Locally and nationally, AAUW's mission is to empower women and girls. And we know workforce needs are changing," said AAUW Walla Walla President Mitzi Jensen. "For...
WAITSBURG - For the last 21 years, the Waitsburg Booster Club has honored a member in January for their exceptional dedication to supporting our students. Vickie Hamann, a long-time Booster Club supporter, was recognized as Booster of the Year on Saturday, February 1, 2025. Booster Club Vice-President Julie Karl made the presentation after President Ross Hamann read Vickie's attributes, including her contributions behind the scenes, poster making, washing and mending uniforms, organizing...
WAITSBURG - Tom and Judy Bennett brought wood-fired pizzas to Waitsburg in 2022. After buying the former American Legion Post 35 from winemaker Charles Smith, the pair has remodeled, added outdoor seating, and hosted trivia, axe-throwing, burlesque, and live bands. The couple is now adding international travel to the fun. Partnering with The Table Less Traveled, the couple is offering a one-of-a-kind trip to southern Italy to explore Neapolitan pizza's roots. The trip is open to six to 14...
Waitsburg Students brighten the holiday season with music WAITSBURG - Waitsburg Elementary School held its winter program at the high school auditorium on Thursday, December 18. Students from preschool through fifth grade performed to the delight of a house packed with family and friends. The preschool students were directed by their teacher, Eleanora Montgomery. Music Director Elizabeth Jagelski directed the kindergarten through grade five students. Preschool's morning class sang – "We All H...
