Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 201 - 225 of 1893
DAYTON-Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Port of Columbia and Dayton Chamber officials have been working to gather, distill, and impart information that will help the business community as well as sidelined workers weather the COVID-19 storm. Part of this information gathering includes trying to decipher the programs they are looking into so they can help answer questions, reaching out to local foundations that have emergency funds, and then getting that money into the community....
DAYTON-Communities around the nation are coming up with creative ideas to honor their high school's Class of 2020 in the midst of a pandemic. In Dayton, Scott Kirk and Bette Lou Crothers teamed up to raise money for banners to display on Main Street. While Bette Lou handled the fundraising efforts, Kirk, owner of Scott Kirk Photography, donated his time to design the banners and ensure each student had a senior portrait for the project. The banner idea came from a few Facebook posts that Scott...
DAYTON—Learning has taken a curious shape in the Dayton School District since brick and mortar schools were shut down on March 17. The school closures have provided opportunities for teachers and staff who are working from home to provide continuous learning in different and creative ways, and not just distance learning, said Superintendent Doug Johnson, at last week’s board meeting. “We’re trying to continue educating the students in any manner, shape or form we can between now and when we can...
DAYTON—Second grade teacher Ginger Bryan said the teachers at the Dayton Elementary School are working hard to educate students either through Google Classroom, which is for grades 2-5, and/or pencil/paper packets of activities, which are for grades K-5. Bryan said many of the elementary school teachers have trained in various ways to support students and their families at home during the COVID-19 challenge. “One of our new favorites has been the opportunity to use Google Meet technology via...
When toilet paper supply was becoming an issue, I thought I would Google it and see if it really was that hard to find. I had plenty on hand, and it wasn't about over stocking or hoarding. My thought was if I was able to order it easily, I could share with family and friends. I found a site called Accofe.com (which is no longer on the web) and found they had several different products, one of which was toilet paper. The picture showed a package much like we buy from Costco, and for just $25. I...
DAYTON—The Columbia County Board of Commissioners (CCBC) has rescinded a nine-year-old agreement with the Columbia County Rural Library District Board of Trustees, regarding how appointments to the CCRLD board of trustees are made. In the past, interviews have been conducted by the CCRLD board of trustees, and their recommendations have been brought before the CCBC for tacit approval. Commissioner Ryan Rundell said he didn’t believe the agreement was adequate in the first place. He said it rem...
DAYTON—The staff at Blue Mountain Counseling of Columbia County have been discussing ways to maintain good emotional health during this time of required social distancing, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinic Director Chrisann Christensen said she has some ideas to share. First of all, check in with friends and family routinely through phone calls, FaceTime, through text messages or by snail mail. Limit media coverage. “Information can be good, but there is so much information being pus...
DAYTON—A revenue shortfall associated with the costs for mitigating damage to county infrastructure due to the recent flood, and from economic impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the Columbia County Board of Commissioners to take an early look at cutting department budgets. County Treasurer Carla Rowe said she is anticipating a possible 15 to 20-percent loss of sales tax revenue which could impact distributions for May, June, July, and possibly August. The revenue from sales taxes...
DAYTON—Fred Crowe, Port of Columbia Commissioner representing District 3, has resigned from the Port Commission effective Thursday, April 9. “It has been a pleasure and honor to serve with the current and past staff and commissioners of the Port over several years,” Crowe said in his resignation letter. “We together have accomplished many worthy projects in support of economic development in Columbia County.” “I am supportive of projects currently in development and am confident the Port will c...
DAYTON—Columbia County Health System officials have been concerned about the financial health of Dayton General Hospital, the Waitsburg Clinic, Columbia Family Clinic and the Booker Rest Home, because of the high costs associated with preparing for a possible surge in patient care due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Their concerns were reported in the Times on Apr 2. A special emergency meeting of the Health System Board of Directors took place on Wednesday, April 8. The purpose of the meeting was t...
Project Timothy (509) 382-2943: Financial assistance for rent, utilities, and food can be provided to those of you that have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 crisis. At our request, the Blue Mountain Community Foundation has awarded a special grant to Project Timothy just for this purpose—to serve the members of our community who don’t usually ask for help. Project Timothy has “phone” hours Tuesday - Friday from noon to 2 p.m. You can call for assistance and then a volunteer will ar...
DAYTON—Dayton Historic Depot Manager Tamara Fritze is busy with important behind the scenes museum work, pending museum reopening on May 4. She said work continues on inventory of the museum’s entire collection of artifacts. Fritze said thorough historical research must be completed and a written description of all that is known about the artifact will be included in their database. “This helps us create interesting exhibits and helps us provide answers to our visitors’ questions,” Fritze sa...
DAYTON—At the Columbia County Health System board meeting last week, CEO Shane McGuire shared his concerns about financial stability, emergency preparedness, and possible impact on patients and health system staff, in light of the potential for a serious local outbreak of COVID-19. McGuire said, “We have stopped all non-essential visits in physical therapy, imaging, and the clinics. This volume generates about half of our monthly revenue. . .This is happening at the same time that we are spe...
DAYTON-What does it mean to be the new Boldman House Museum manager in a museum that is closed through May 1 because of the concerns around the novel coronavirus? Amy Rosenberg is now conducting virtual live tours of the museum on Facebook, every Saturday at 2 p.m. "I'll be exploring different areas of the house and the collection every week," Rosenberg said. "There's so much to see, I'm sure I have months of content." Rosenberg has been a museum volunteer for the past couple of years and is...
One of the Dayton Depot Gallery exhibits this year is called “Romping in the Blues,” and features photos, camping gear and journal entries from the early 1900s. Membership and Events Coordinator Shellie McLeod has kicked that off on Facebook with a Caption Contest. This photo from the G.F. Jackson Family Photo Album from 1910, yielded the most likes for Paisley DeSiga’s caption, which read “When It Came to Setting Up Camp, Harold was always draggin’ his behind.” DeSiga won a $10 gift card t...
DAYTON—On Tuesday, Martha Lanman, Columbia County’s Public Health Director, discussed the Health Department’s response and activities regarding COVID-19 with the Board of County Commissioners. She stated that there has only been one positive case of COVID-19 in Columbia County as of March 30. This individual has since recovered. Thirty-five tests have come back negative and there is one test pending. The department goal is to “be prepared”, she said. Department staff has been getting the word...
DAYTON—Washington State Governor Jay Inslee’s March 15th proclamation calling for the mandatory closure of bars, restaurants, recreational facilities and large social gatherings, is scheduled to run through March 31. The Port of Columbia County’s Executive Director, Jennie Dickinson and the Dayton Chamber Manager, Molly Weatherill-Tate, are busy locating resources for business owners who are impacted by the closures and are making a plea to the community to shop locally. “Many local busines...
DAYTON—Government, businesses, and services are being impacted by COVID-19. Here’s a run- down of impacts: On March 18 the Dayton City Council closed the Dayton City Public Works Facility and the City Hall to the general public. Permit applications, and other City business can be conducted via telephone at: (509) 382-2361. Utility bills can be placed in the payment drop box located along the alleyway adjacent to the City Hall. The City will waive any late fees for utility accounts as a result of...
In a meeting held virtually, the Dayton School Board met to discuss a few items including the impact of the health crisis on the schools. When discussing the budget, board members noted that district costs have gone down with travel out of district being cancelled, and there being no substitute teacher costs to pay. The key date for the Dayton School Board is April 27. That is currently the scheduled date that all students are expected to return to school following Governor Inslee’s mandatory school closure. The return date is important to s...
DAYTON-Closing the doors of the Liberty Theater, clearing the marquee, wiping everything down with sanitizer, cancelling all our film bookings for the time being and issuing notices of postponement for all the live shows we have been planning...none of this is happy work. It is sobering. It wakes you up to the things you took for granted and hope you won't ever take for granted again. Michael and Cathy Lee Haight of Dayton, have generously responded to the crisis with a gift of $10,000 to...
DAYTON—The thought never crossed my mind that COVID-19 would infect anybody at the senior living center where my 92-year-old mother lives. I just didn’t think it was likely because most of the infections have been concentrated on the West side of the state. But, last week an 80-year-old resident at the Bonaventure of Tri-Cities, senior living community in Richland, Wash., where Mom lives, died after contracting the infection probably through travel to the West side of the state. Mom said she...
DAYTON-Jeanne Walter, Coach of the FIRST Tech Challenge and Columbia County 4-H leader, said the 4-H Robotics Club will be focused on fundraising activities during the 2020-21 school year. The Club will need to pay for new robot parts, controllers, a 3-D printer, and state and national registration fees, so they can continue to compete in local, state, and national robotic competitions. To help offset costs, there will be an 'Egg Your Yard' fundraiser for Easter Sunday. For twenty dollars the...
DAYTON—On Monday, March 16, Dayton Schools Superintendent Doug Johnson announced Dayton schools, athletics, activities, and clubs are closed to student participation beginning on Tuesday, Mar. 17 through Friday, April 24. In his statement to the community Johnson said, “We know this mandated closure may create hardships for many families, and we plan to do our best to serve you during these challenging times.” Johnson said parent teacher conferences will most likely take place remotely, via p...
DAYTON—Special Guest Juan Sanchez, Columbia County Census Coordinator, discussed Census 2020 at the Dayton City Council meeting on March 11. Sanchez said census letters will be mailed out in mid-April and will provide a website for people to answer the ten questions asked. He said a paper form can be requested. If necessary, an enumerator will come to the door in person. Sanchez said he doesn’t like to use fear as a tactic to get people to fill out the census. “If we can help people fill it ou...
DAYTON—On Wednesday of last week, the Port of Columbia Commissioners addressed a request from a small group of community members who came before them in February, seeking an advisory vote of the people to determine whether, or not, the proposed Touchet Valley Trail will be allowed. Commission Chairman Earle Marvin read a prepared statement to a handful of people who returned on Wednesday, to hear their decision. Marvin said he would prefer to have Anderson/Perry & Associates complete the planning study for the trail. “At that point the Por...
