Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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DAYTON—One of Dayton’s early pioneers and generous benefactors was an immigrant from Poland. Dr. Marcel M. Pietrzycki (Pit-rus-kee) settled in Columbia County, Washington, in the 1880s. The year after arriving in Dayton to start his medical practice, he helped fight the smallpox epidemic of 1881. Pietrzyski was familiar with the disease and, after diagnosing a patient, warned the community of the dangers. Other doctors had misdiagnosed the patient as having chickenpox. It took weeks before other physicians confirmed the smallpox outbreak. The... Full story
DAYTON – The Dayton School Board held its regular meeting at 6 p.m., on February 15, 2023, in the high school library. All members of the school board were present; Chair Jeffrey McCowen, Grant Griffen, Aneesha Dieu, Zac Fabian, and Korinda Wallace attended using Zoom. Also present were Superintendent Rich Stewart and Business Manager Jana Eaton. Dawn McGhan, Kristen Ramirez, and several of their students gave a presentation to the board. The students displayed work they created based on Inca a...
DAYTON- The Dayton City Council met on February 14, 2023 for its regular meeting. Mayor Zac Weatherford, council members Teeny McMunn, James Su’euga, Kyle Anderson, Dain Nysoe, Shannon McMillen, and Tiger Dieu were in attendance. Laura Aukerman was not present. Sheriff Joe Helm was unavailable and submitted a written report to the council, not included in the online public agenda and packet. Desirae Lockard from Columbia County Emergency Management presented its report on activity. January calls in the county consisted of 105 law, 10 EMS, a...
DAYTON-January 22nd was the first day of the Lunar New Year. For The Club's "Plus Delta After School Program" in Dayton, it was the start of a series of events for the kids to learn more about a holiday celebrated by more than 1.5 billion people worldwide. The Chinese calendar follows the monthly cycles of the Moon's phases, known as the lunar-solar cycles. Historically, in many Asian countries this time of year was celebrated to honor household and heavenly deities and ancestors. Some holiday a...
DAYTON-Ten years ago, Mike and Ann Springs opened Chief Springs Fire and Irons Brew Pub in downtown Dayton. Soon after they opened the pub and brewery, they added a third business by purchasing the pizzeria next door. After taking over from Skye Book and Brew, they remodeled the space to create the new brewpub. Putting in an extended bar, updating the brewing space downstairs, and utilizing some floor-to-ceiling shelving for firefighting memorabilia, the space became a reflection of Mike's past...
DAYTON – The Port of Columbia Board of Commissioners held its regular meeting on February 8, 2023, at the Port of Columbia conference room and on Zoom. Executive Director Jennie Dickinson and Commissioners Genie Crowe and Seth Bryan were present, and Johnny Watts attended remotely. Members of the public attended remotely and in person. Cedar Rain, a tenant at Blue Mountain Station (BMS), increased the square footage of their lease this month, returning BMS to full occupancy. Dickinson reported the State audit is complete and that it went w...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Health System community has looked forward to the opening of the River Walk Assisted Living facility since construction began in 2021, After weeks of anticipation and preparation, Rivers Walk Assisted Living welcomed all 18 residents from Booker Rest Home in time for Valentine's Day. The residents have moved into cottages B and C at the new facility. "A wonderful atmosphere filled the air on this momentous occasion - big bay windows allowed plenty of sun in while...
DAYTON – The Dayton School Board held a work session meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, in the High School library. School board members present were Chair Jeffrey McCowen, Grant Griffen, and Zac Fabian. Korinda Wallace attended on Zoom. Aneesha Dier was absent. Also present were Superintendent Rich Stewart and Business Manager Jana Eaton. The Board approved the consent agenda, which included approval for an FFA overnight trip to Olympia and the resignation of Carlos Norris as HS Head Wrestling Coach. Next, the Board listened t...
DAYTON- Now that the ski season is in full swing, visitors at Bluewood Ski Resort are enjoying an array of recent improvements and upgrades, including a revamped food service area, additional parking options, an improved and newly named terrain park, and new program offerings. The third floor of the lodge has undergone a complete overhaul, featuring draft beer and wine, and new seating options. R&B Barbecue has brought BBQ to the mountain. The resort has added an overflow parking lot with a...
DAYTON – The Dayton School Board held a regular meeting at 6 p.m., on January 18, 2022, in the high school’s library. All members of the school board were present, Chair Jeffrey McCowen, Grant Griffen, Aneesha Dieu, and Zac Fabian. Korinda Wallace attended using Zoom. Also present were Superintendent Rich Stewart and Business Manager Jana Eaton. After receiving some items from representative K-12 students in appreciation for the Board’s service, the Board passed the consent agenda without discussion. During the public comment period, Pasto...
DAYTON- The Dayton City Council held its regular meeting at 6 p.m. January 10, 2023. Mayor Zac Weatherford and council members Teeny McMunn, James Su’euga, Kyle Anderson, Dain Nysoe, Shannon McMillen, Laura Aukerman, and Tiger Dieu attended in person at City Hall. Sheriff Helm attended and gave his department’s report. He said Deputies Bruce and Wagner are doing well with their training at the academy. Helm said the department would hold a citizen’s academy sometime this spring. The academy is a chance for citizens to learn more about law enfor...
DAYTON – The Columbia Port Commissioners held their regular meeting at 5 p.m. on January 11, 2023, at the Port of Columbia conference room and on Zoom. Commissioners present were Genie Crowe, Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, and the Executive Director, Jennie Dickinson. Members of the public attended using Zoom and in person. The Commissioners first dealt with several administrative items and were briefed by Dickinson on the status of the State audit and the year-end financials. Dickinson gave a brief background on the proposed property sale to T...
DAYTON—The Dayton School Board held its regular meeting in the High School library on December 21, 2022. School Board Chair Jeffrey McCowen, board members Grant Griffen, Aneesha Dieu (attended using Zoom), Zac Fabian, Superintendent Rich Stewart, and Business Manager Jana Eaton were in attendance. Board member Korinda Wallace was absent. The first order of business was to establish the board organization for the coming year. For the two elected positions, McCowen was re-elected Board Chair, and Griffin was elected Vice Chair. Other positions w...
DAYTON-The Tri-City Steel Band entertained a crowd of music enthusiasts at its 9th annual concert at Faith Chapel in Dayton on Saturday, December 10. Twenty-seven members and their instructor Ben Leggett played upbeat music in the first set. After a brief intermission, the crowd enjoyed Christmas music ending with a four-song Christmas Carol mashup. Attendees interested in learning about steel drumming were assisted by band members during the intermission to play the drums and ask questions....
DAYTON-The Dayton Chamber of Commerce brought Ladies Night Out back on Monday, December 5. Girlfriends and Shopping was a night for participants to relax, rewind, and reboot this holiday season. For those who came out, it was an opportunity to find something special for hostess, birthday, holiday, and children's gifts from carefully curated items at Dayton's shops. After visiting eight of the participating businesses, attendees for the event could enter the Grand Prize Draawing. A win/win for...
DAYTON-Another year and another great start to the holiday season. The Dayton Chamber of Commerce pulled out all the stops for the 2022 Christmas Kickoff weekend. So many ways to celebrate with ugly sweaters on the run, visits from reindeer and Izzy the camel, the Festival of Trees, the Lighted Parade, Santa, and fireworks. There were plenty of shopping opportunities, a grinchy movie with popcorn, mule-drawn hayrides, and loads of local food, wine, spirits, and beer. It always takes a lot of... Full story
DAYTON—The Board of Trustees held its regular meeting on Monday, November 28, 2022, which included a public meeting on the proposed budget. All Trustees were present for the meeting. Approximately 30 people attended in person, with another ten or more on zoom. Before the public meeting on the budget began, Todd Vandenbark, Director of Library Services, presented his director’s report. The Director said he would soon hire an independent contractor to provide cleaning services for the library. No one answered the job posting until after the lib...
DAYTON – The Dayton School Board held its regular meeting on November 16, 2022. Members of the school board were present, Chair Jeffrey McCowen, Grant Griffen, Korinda Wallace, Aneesha Dieu, and Zac Fabian. Also present were Superintendent Rich Stewart and Business Manager Jana Eaton. Resident Jeff Milsten offered the following proposed resolution to the Board: “All teachers in Dayton Schools are encouraged to always teach factually, always teach truthfully and without bias. This includes teaching the reality that Jesus Christ is the most inf...
DAYTON-This weekend is the 2022 Christmas Kickoff in Dayton, Wash. Every year, the community comes out and proves that it is the town that still believes. Preparations started with volunteers who created the Festival of Trees in the historic building at 219 E. Main Street. Organizations and groups have been working on their lighted floats for the parade up Main Street on Friday, November 25, at 6:00 p.m. After the parade, sing along with the choir at the tree lighting in front of Elk Drug,...
DAYTON- The Dayton City Council held a regular meeting on October 11, 2022. Mayor Zac Weatherford and council members Teeny McMunn, James Su’euga, Kyle Anderson, Laura Aukerman, Dain Nysoe, and Tiger Dieu were present at City Hall. Shannon McMillen was absent. County Commissioner Ryan Rundell gave the emergency management report and announced the new director, Tina Bobbit, who will begin on December 1, 2022. Sheriff Helm joined the meeting on Zoom. He informed the Council of his department’s programs involving the school district, inc...
DAYTON – The Port of Columbia Commissioners held its regular meeting November 10, 2022, at the Port’s conference room and on Zoom. Commissioners Genie Crowe, Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were present. Members of the public attended using Zoom and in person. In the public comment portion of the meeting, Melissa Bryan requested an update on the status of 214 E. Main, the former Woody’s Bar & Grill. An update was given later in the Director’s report. The Port Director introduced Abbi Russell and Sarah Sieloff f...
DAYTON – The Dayton School Board held a work session meeting at 6:30 p.m., November 2, 2022, at the Dayton High School library. All school board members Chair Jeffrey McCowen, Grant Griffen, Korinda Wallace, Zac Fabian, and Aneesha Dieu, were present. Also present was Interim Superintendent Rich Stewart. The work session’s agenda did not allow for public comment. K-12 Dean Hannelee Farrell briefed the board members on the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program, which the district has implemented. PBIS focuses on con...
DAYTON-When the Hospital District commissioners met last week, they heard from Columbia County Health System CEO Shane McGuire about substantial operational losses for Washington State hospitals in 2022, as well as other issues impacting hospitals. He shared some statistics: A 2022 survey of 97% of hospital beds across the state by the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) revealed a total loss of $1.75 billion in the first six months of 2022, of which $1.2 billion was in operations. The... Full story
DAYTON – The Columbia Port Commissioners held a special meeting on October 26, 2022, to complete three agenda items postponed from the regular meeting on October 12. Commissioners Genie Crowe, Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were in attendance. Members of the public attended using Zoom and in person. The meeting opened with a public comment period. Resident Jerry Kaiser objected to the suggestion by Bryan and Watts not to include a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase for the Port employees in this y...
DAYTON – The Dayton School Board held a workshop meeting on October 19, 2022, in the High School library. All members of the school board were present, Chair Jeffrey McCowen, Grant Griffen, Korinda Wallace, Aneesha Dieu, and Zac Fabian. Also present were Superintendent Rich Stewart and Business Manager Jana Eaton. During the general public comment period, resident and pastor Jeff Milsten said that though the school allows comparative religion instruction, he felt education ignores facts. He said, “the most influential person in the world, hands...
