Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 485 - 509 of 1890
By Carolyn Henderson If you walk around town or country, you may have found a piece of artwork in the form of a painted rock. Sometimes they have an encouraging statement on them, other times a colorful image that brings a smile and sense of gratification. "The best part about painting rocks is putting these small pieces of art out into the world to share with others as an act of kindness," says Ashly Beebe of Dayton. "I have found a few rocks myself, and it is such a special moment. For some it...
The Dayton FFA Agriculture Issues team placed third at Districts in Colton to qualify for State competition in May. (l to r): Samantha Davis, Tatumn Laughery, Josiah White, Ben White, Tayven Seney, Sage Kilts, and Juniper Kerr...
Northwest Farm Credit Services awarded a $1,500 Northwest FCS Rural Community Grant to Columbia County Friends of the Fairgrounds to help with the installation of a professionally engineered indoor arena footing. In 2018, Northwest Farm Credit Services committed over $297,000 to 187 projects in rural communities across Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington, according to a press release submitted to The Times. The next rural grant deadline is Feb. 1, 2019. Visit northwestfcs.c...
DAYTON—The new Columbia County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, April King, isn’t all that new to the job in Columbia County. King said she served in the same capacity, back in 2003, when Colleen Fenn was the County’s prosecuting attorney and she enjoyed living and working in Dayton then. “I prefer the smaller communities where you can get to know people,” said King, who was born in Singapore. King said her father’s work as a geologist in the oil business took the family to far-flung places, from In...
DAYTON – There is a kitchen, but there is no breakfast or lunch program for the 18 K-8 students and seven preschoolers enrolled in the Starbuck School District. Surprisingly, that's nothing new. There hasn't been for about 15 years, according to Starbuck School District Superintendent Kevin Graffis. "That's just not acceptable," said County Public Health Director Martha Lanman. "We don't know how many are coming to school without breakfast." That could be remedied if school and public health o...
Blah. That's how some people, in one word, encapsulate the month of January – it's cold and bleak, the holidays are over, and spring is maddeningly distant. "What on earth could possibly be exciting about January?" That's a good question, and at Wenaha Gallery, the answer every year is the Annual Canned Food Drive, with all the food brought into the gallery during . . . January donated to the Dayton Community Food Bank. "When we started the Canned Food Drive at the gallery – it was ten years ago...
DAYTON - The Dayton School District Board of Directors announces a vacancy for a Position 3 Director. Any Columbia County registered voter who lives within the boundaries of District 3 may apply. For more information contact Superintendent Doug Johnson at 509-382-2543...
DAYTON-Associated Student Body (ASB) Vice-President Kira Boggs shared that group's activities with school officials at last week's school board meeting. She said the ASB has raised $500 for the Cush Family, who lost their home in a recent fire. A tropical poster-making contest for all the classes is currently taking place. The winners of the contest will get to wear "beachy stuff" in the commons. The ASB has been meeting regularly to work on the outdated school constitution. High School...
DAYTON--Since she was hired in November, Dayton School District's athletic director, Vicki Luper, has had her hands full. Although she works on a part time basis, Luper wears many hats, including pitch-hitting for High School Principal Kristina Brown, when Brown needs extra help. And, as Dayton's chief athletic booster, she has a visible presence on game days. "I enjoy being back in a small school," Luper said. "In a small community athletics are a big part of the community feel. I think that's...
On Monday, Columbia County Auditor Anne Higgins (l) conducted a swearing in ceremony for the newly-elected county sheriff Joe Helm, and for Helm's newly-appointed undersheriff, Robbie Patterson (r). Helm said he appointed Patterson based on attributes such as character, honesty, integrity, training, experience, leadership, and proactive drive in the community. Patterson has been a deputy in the sheriff's department for almost two years....
DAYTON—Outside Superior Court last week, Benjamin Orozco’s attorney, Jane Richards, said Orozco’s poor health and the difficulty in locating material witnesses are responsible for the lengthy amount of time it is taking to bring him to trial. Richards said Orozco has suffered ill health ever since being held in a Mexican jail in 2016 while awaiting extradition to Columbia County to answer to charges stemming from the shooting death of Lance Terry and the wounding of David Eaton, for which he has plead ‘not guilty’. Since Dec. 2016, Orozco ha...
DAYTON--Robert Bryant, an independent auto repair mechanic, is opening an auto repair shop in Dayton this week. "It's a fact," said Bryant, who has been in the auto repair business since 1984. Bryant said he first worked in a Pendleton machine shop rebuilding engines, and he received training in auto repair while working at Round-Up City Dodge in Pendleton. That was followed by a brief stint operating his own auto repair business, "Mobile Technology". Bryant said he continued his formal...
DAYTON - Dozens of volunteers from Dayton, Waitsburg, Dixie, Starbuck and Walla Walla, many with no association to the Columbia County equine facilities, pooled resources and labor to remove the old soil and footing in the Columbia County Fairgrounds indoor arena and replace it with a professionally engineered footing. The value of the project is estimated at approximately $70,000, according to Friends of the Columbia County Fairgrounds President Julia Mead. "This project was truly an amazing...
DAYTON—Zac Weatherford was elected Mayor Pro-Tempore for 2019 by the Dayton City Council at their first regular meeting of the New Year. “I’m excited. Zac’s going to do a good job,” said Councilwoman Delphine Bailey who nominated him for the position. Mayor Craig George said that when he moves to Arizona in late spring, the council will have 90 days to appoint a mayor to serve until the end of the year. Affordable Housing The Port’s Economic Development Coordinator, Kathryn Witheringto...
A cowboy silhouette appears to be taking in the devastating scene of a house fire that destroyed the home of Joe and Kandis Cush at 740 S. 4th Street in Dayton in the wee hours of Monday morning. "The home is a total loss but everyone got out safely," said Columbia County Fire Marshal Clint Atteberry who said the official cause of the fire was a wood stove. Donation boxes and accounts for the family of three are in the process of being set up throughout Dayton. More information on family needs...
DAYTON-When the Hospital Board of Commissioners met in December, Columbia County Health System (CCHS) CEO Shane McGuire took the opportunity to thank them for their show of support since he has been at the helm of the organization. "You have been great visionaries and you have been very supportive with this community. It has been challenging, but it has been impressive. There are a lot of elements you have allowed me to invest in to enhance services," said McGuire. "We are growing programs, making investments, and bringing on staff." McGuire sa...
DAYTON – Sheriff Joe Helm is pleased to announce the 2019 Columbia County Citizen’s Academy. The Citizen’s Academy will be held every Friday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for 11 weeks beginning Feb. 1, 2019 through April 19, 2019. The classes will be held in the training room of Columbia County Fire District #3 located at 111 Patit Road, Dayton WA. “This is a rare opportunity for the citizens of our community to learn more about the individuals who are protecting Columbia County and why they make the decisions they do. The intent of the Citizen...
DAYTON – In January, the Space Gatos, Columbia County's 4-H Robotics and FIRST Lego League Team, advance to the State Finals in Spokane, after winning the Community Connection Award at FIRST Lego Regionals in Pasco. Their coach, Jeanne Walter, said this is the third year the robotics team has advanced to the final competition. They are one of only six teams out of a field of 28 to do so. Teams compete in Robot Design, Project Presentation and Core Values, and Robot Mission Games. This team h...
DAYTON-If you think Victoria has a secret, wait until you meet Sylvia Charles in the Touchet Valley Art Council production of Nana's Naughty Knickers. This fast-paced romp, co-directed by Leah Stockton and Bev Startin, is a story about a twenty- something girl, named Bridget Charles, who comes to stay with her grandmother in New York City for the summer and discovers that her Nana, Sylvia Charles, is running an illegal boutique out of her apartment. Apparently, Nana is selling handmade naughty...
All day, every day, we use things. While this sounds ridiculously simple, think about it: when you make a tuna fish sandwich, you grab the can opener, scoop tuna into a bowl with a spoon, stir in mayonnaise, spread the filling on with a knife, and cut the final product in half on a cutting board. When any of the elements you use – spoon, knife, bowl, cutting board – is beyond boring and ordinary, it adds a jolt of beauty to the experience. "There is a satisfaction that comes with a com...
DAYTON-Tony Waldo, Operation Manager for Columbia Pulp, spoke about the Lyons Ferry Straw Pulp Mill at the annual Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Update meeting, on Dec. 19. Waldo said that construction of the facility has been a little behind schedule, but it will be operational late in the first quarter of 2019. "All the buildings and equipment have been set," said Waldo. "Right now they're working on piping and wiring, and instrumentation." Waldo said 60-100 skilled people will...
DAYTON—At the annual Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy update meeting on Dec. 19, community leaders discussed some of the projects in the Dayton area in the works, and progress that is expected in the next year. Dayton Development Task Force and Dayton Chamber of Commerce Dayton Chamber of Commerce Director Melissa Bryan said the Main Street Approach framework used by the Dayton Development Task Force is working, as people can see in improvements to the building facades, the r...
DAYTON-Voters in Columbia County were busy this year, with the passage of two levies, along with an election that will result in changes to key positions, in Columbia County. In February, the Dayton School District passed another two-year capital-projects levy. This year the levies paid for new asphalt on the elementary playground and at the bus loading zone, a new heating system, the upgraded communication system, and repairs to the flat portion of the HS roof. The entrance to the elementary...
DAYTON—The Dayton City Council decided to table a request from PocketiNet, of College Place, for a franchise agreement with the city to install fiberoptic line north of Main St, between Front St. and 2nd St, and the ability to expand in the future. During the public hearing Mayor Craig George read letters of support for local businessman David Klingenstein, owner of Touchet Valley TV, whose family has been in business in Dayton since 1953 and who is providing local cable and internet service. Klingenstein told the council he plans to build o...
Drivers passing through downtown Dayton this Christmas season have been greeted by Santa Claus, showing off the town's new antique tractor, which is on display in front of Flour Mill Park. The tractor was donated to Dayton's All Wheels Weekend event by Bill and Michele Konz, of Dayton (shown in this photo with Santa). It's a 1939 Farmall Model M, made by International Harvester, and it runs like a top. All Wheels Weekend Committee Chair Bette Lou Crothers says the event committee is planning to...
