Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 633 - 657 of 1889
DAYTON—Colby Litzenberger, of Tucannon Development, LLC, has stepped up to the plate with regard to building number two at the Blue Mountain Station, reported Port Manager Jennie Dickinson, during the Port of Columbia Commissioners’ meeting last week. Work on the building by Litzenberg’s family-owned construction company had stalled over a dispute with the Port about whose responsibility it was to provide electricity to the building. At a meeting with Port officials in February, Litzenberger’s father, Allen Litzenberger said he believe...
DAYTON—During last week’s meeting of the Port of Columbia Commissioners, Port Manager Jennie Dickinson reported that she has met with Adam Schmidtgall, Principal Engineer for Anderson Perry & Associates, to discuss an engineering design application for a $3.5 million bicycle trail between Dayton and Waitsburg. Dickinson said an application for funding of the design will be submitted to the Washington State Dept. of Transportation, Local Programs, in early May. “We’re excited to get started on seeking funding for the Dayton to Waitsburg bike tr...
DAYTON – Juan Castaneda, of Pasco, has pleaded guilty to multiple counts relating to a home invasion and shooting in Dayton last September, and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. According to Columbia County Deputy Prosecutor Dale Slack, on April 4, Castaneda entered guilty pleas to counts of first-degree burglary and first-degree assault, both with firearm enhancements, and also to unlawful imprisonment. The charges stemmed from an incident at Cameron Court trailer park in Dayton on Sept. 20. Law enforcement reports said that Castaneda a...
DAYTON – The brilliance of the four large historic stained glass windows at the Dayton First Christian Church has been restored and preserved thanks to a grant from the Warren Community Action Fund. The church applied for and received the grant last year. Associated Crafts, of Winona, Minn., a company specializing in stained glass restoration, agreed to discount the cost of the restoration project to the amount of the grant. The work was completed in March. The stained-glass windows were p...
DAYTON— The Columbia County Commissioners have set a hearing to receive public comment about proposed changes to speed limits on some county roads. Public Works Director Andrew Woods said the proposal is for the speed limit on all primitive roads in the county, and some roads having steep grades, be set at 35 m.p.h. A reduced speed limit, from 40 m.p.h. to 35 on North Touchet Road, from the Dayton city limits to the South Touchet Road turnoff, is also proposed. Woods said that about 18 months ago, the commissioners were approached by a group of...
DAYTON – The Friends of the Dayton Memorial Library are hosting the second annual Cowboy Poetry Night on Thursday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m. in the Delany Room. This free event kicks off with samples of many types of western finger foods, along with beverages. Western music and lyrics will be performed by local musicians, and poetry readings of original work is planned. Organizers urge people to come early to get a good seat. Last year more than 60 people were in attendance. For more information about Cowboy Poetry Night, contact Lois Hemphill at...
DAYTON—In late March, the Columbia County Commissioners met with WSU Extension Agent Paul Carter, who presented 2017 annual report. “It’s a bleak picture,” Carter said about cuts to WSU’s budgets, and possible regionalization of extension agents. Columbia County could lose its local extension agent if regionalization of services is put in place by WSU, said Carter. In that case one agent could be serving several counties remotely, Carter said. He said that despite the uncertain future, “It has been a pretty good year. We focus on the needs o...
DAYTON – Commissioner Merle Jackson formally announced last week he will not seek reelection to the Columbia County Board of Commissioners when his term is up at the end of 2018. He has served one term. He said he is finally going to take life a little easier, to enjoy travels with his wife Joelle, and visits with his sons Dave and Mike and their families. When he is not traveling, Jackson said he will be at home going through the barn, the basement, and the garage which are filled with the b...
Before the TV reality show that had little to do with its title, the simple life was one wise people have lived for thousands of years. It involves a lot of thinking, a sense of gratitude, and an appreciation for day-to-day elements which we tend to take for granted – especially in a corporate-based society emphasizing the over possession of advertised products to achieve happiness. But happiness, as Dixie artist Ellen Heath knows, has nothing to do with owning a particular model of car, d...
DAYTON—Capital projects, the athletic combine and the makeup of the hiring committee for prospective coaches were topics at last week’s Dayton School Board meeting. Superintendent Doug Johnson said the district has enough funds allotted to address the remaining capital projects on its list. Yet to be accomplished this year are upgrading the phone system, repairing and replacing the heating system, and replacing the high school roof. Johnson said 75 phones are to be installed by Tri-Tech Communications on March 26, and cable drops for int...
DAYTON – Comedians Tyler Boeh, from Portland, and Greg Kettner, from Walla Walla, will headline a fundraising event for the Boys & Girls Club of Dayton on April 28, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Columbia County Fairgrounds Pavilion. The evening will feature stand-up comedy, as well as a live auction. The auction will feature a bronze sculpture donated by artist Keith McMasters, creator of the Dayton Historic Depot’s Stationmaster. Also up for bid will be a Coeur d’Alene golf package, a Lake Coeur d’Alene sailing package and a package includi...
DAYTON— Angie Sanchez, Managing Principal with Financial Consulting Solutions Group in Seattle, has been working with the City of Dayton for the past year to complete a water and sewer rate study. Speaking at last week’s city council meeting, Sanchez said, “The goal of the study is to provide counsel to help the community make informed decisions. Financial sustainability can be achieved over the long term.” The rate study used data which included the city’s population growth, along with utilities revenue, expenses, reserves, contingen...
DAYTON-Kristie Korslund was hired in February to take over for Vicki Zoller, who took a job in the county's Emergency Management Services Department in January.While Korslund is performing many of Zoller's outreach duties, she is also helping with the after school programs and providing general customer service. Korslund is also in charge of the Bookmobile, and will be taking books to the senior center every month, beginning in April. She said working at the library is a good fit for her. "I...
DAYTON—The first quarter of the year has been busy for the staff at the Columbia County Planning and Building Department. Planning Director Meagan Bailey outlined some of the projects her office is working on during a recent interview. Land Swap The planning office is working on an adjustment to Dayton’s urban growth area, involving a land swap. The plan is to incorporate additional land just outside Dayton’s east city limit into the UGA, which is expected to be developed in the next few years. A comparable amount of land just west of Dayton th...
DAYTON – Bill and Teresa Ayotte grew up in food service. "Teresa's mother ran a café in Garibaldi, Ore.," Bill said. "I worked at a Spudnut shop in Richland as a teenager." Bill and Teresa are the new concessionaires at the Touchet Valley Golf Course, and their new venture, Chicken Bill's BBQ Cafe, is open for business. The café is currently open for lunch from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. seven days a week. The menu includes burgers and sandwiches, as well as daily barbeque specials. "I do my own bar...
DAYTON—Columbia County is currently one of only four counties in the state without an emergency medical services levy. That could change if a proposed ambulance levy is approved by voters in August. The levy would add 50 cents per $1,000 assessed value to county property tax rates in 2019. The proposed levy would affect all property taxpayers in Columbia County, including those in Fire Districts 1, 2 and 3. Fire District 2 residents in Walla Walla County would not be affected. A supermajority of 60% yes votes is required to pass the levy. If p...
DAYTON--The Board of County Commissioners has signed a two-year lease to rent space next to the Columbia County Courthouse, formerly occupied by Manila Bay Restaurant. The Commissioners will move their offices and meeting room into the new space this spring. The move is designed to make room for Columbia County District Court to move from its current location at the Port of Columbia to the courthouse. "The savings would be considerable, and it will be better for the Sheriff's response time."...
DAYTON--Last week, the Columbia County Friends of the Fairgrounds came before the Columbia County Commissioners with their vision for facilities improvements at the fairgrounds. “This is nuts and bolts. It is a work in progress,” CCFF President Julia Mead told the commissioners. She said around 200-260 hours of research has gone into the document, and 18-20 subcommittees have contributed to it. The CCFF has as its goal to make the fairgrounds self-supporting and generate revenue to the Parks and Recreation Fund, specifically to be used for fai...
DAYTON – A group, including farmers, wildlife officials and local planning officials, has been meeting for two years to develop a new plan to meet state requirements for a Voluntary Stewardship Program in Columbia County. The program would supplant the current requirements for agricultural land in the county to follow the Washington State Growth Management Act. Don Brigham, a consultant in Clarkston, is the project coordinator and facilitator for the program. He said the new VSP will allow farmers and agricultural landowners to continue the p...
DAYTON-The Dayton Historical Depot Society is currently showing a collection of 10 paintings and drawings that were owned by late Darlene Broughton. They are on display on the first floor at the Dayton Historic Depot until the end of the month. The watercolor, oil, and pen and ink drawings depict a few of the many historic buildings in Dayton. Works created by local and regional artists Vivian Eslick, Richard Hashagen, Mary Ann Nyborg, Gerald Snapp, Patti Eaton, John Remington and Lucy Jones...
DAYTON-Terry Bartlett is planning an April 1st opening for his new Italian "Trattoria-style" restaurant on Dayton's Main Street, to be called My Dad's Place. Bartlett and his wife Lu Ann have recently moved to Dayton from Corvallis Ore. and are bringing with them some special sauce recipes Terry developed for the pasta, pizza and sandwiches he is planning to serve at the restaurant. Bartlett said he will source local products for use in the restaurant, including the wheat flour for the pasta....
Bryan has been the Chamber's Events Co-ordinator for a year DAYTON-Melissa Bryan, who has served as assistant director and events Coordinator at the Dayton Chamber of Commerce for the past year, has been hired as the new Chamber director. Chamber Board President Kathy Berg said that the board has been impressed with Bryan's work during the past year. "She is so bright, and she is a willing learner. We just felt she is the one," Berg said. The Board has decided to have Bryan retain the primary...
DAYTON-Since moving to Dayton last July, the Port of Columbia's new Economic Development Coordinator, Kathryn Witherington, has not wasted time getting involved in the local community. Witherington is currently serving on the City of Dayton Planning Commission. And she played the role of Janet in the recent production of Two Across at the Liberty Theater. "I'm excited to jump in and take the challenge," Witherington said about her new job at the Port, which will begin on March 1. Witherington...
Snapdragon owner Vicky Beckmeyer is creating piggy banks for a Dayton pool fundraiser DAYTON-Business owners and citizens in Dayton are invited to have some fun with old-time piggy banks and help out the Dayton city pool at the same time. Vicky Beckmeyer, owner of Dayton's Snapdragon Floral and Gifts, is working with the Dayton Chamber of Commerce on a fundraiser to help with the operation of the pool. She has made a variety of ceramic piggy banks for the project. Twenty of the pigs will be...
