Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 1887
DAYTON - The Dayton School Board held a special meeting at 6 p.m., January 26, 2022, to complete business from last week’s regular meeting. Due to increased community COVID-19 cases, the regular meeting had been limited to consideration of bills and vouchers requiring council approval. As a part of board organization, the first order of business was to appoint board members to sundry additional duties. The board elected Aneesha Dieu to the Legislative Representative position without opposition. The Board Chair made the following appointments f...
DAYTON—As of February 1, 2022, the new behavioral health crisis line for Columbia County is (509) 876-0626, as Comprehensive Healthcare begins providing behavioral health crisis services to Columbia County. “Comprehensive Healthcare has been delivering services for 50 years, and in that time, we have been able to build a strong network of providers and community partnerships,” said Jodi Daly, Ph.D., President and CEO. “By expanding that dynamic, high-quality care to Columbia County, we are able to support individuals experiencing a behavio...
COLUMBIA COUNTY—The Columbia County Commissioners met for a regular workshop meeting on Tuesday, January 25. The commissioners started the meeting with a ten-minute executive session, during which direction was taken, but no action was taken. Public Works Director Charles Eaton took the floor, speaking about appointing an acting director, effective February 1, following his resignation. After discussing the position with Eaton, the commissioners appointed Amber Phinney as the acting director. Phinney, who is currently the department’s business...
DAYTON—Support for the Port of Columbia’s broadband infrastructure project is crucial to prividng high speed, reliable, up to date internet to the residents of Dayton and Columbia County. Anne Walsh, speaking on behalf of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, spoke at a December 14 meeting, encouraging the commissioners to support the project, which is being overseen by the Port of Columbia. The total cost of the project totals $2.5 million, and could provide reliable, high speed internet to more than 1,200 homes and businesses in Dayton. The Port ha...
DAYTON—New policing laws and how they affect local law enforcement was the topic at a town hall presentation by Columbia County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday and Wednesday nights last week. The discussion offered an in-person and an online option for all attendees., and the same information was shared both nights. Columbia County Sheriff Joe Helm and County Prosecutor Dale Slack led the discussion both nights to explain the recent legislation HB 1310 and HB 1054. The bills were passed to cre...
DAYTON—The Port of Columbia commissioners held their last regularly scheduled meeting of the year at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 08, 2021, via Zoom. Commissioner Shawn Brown called the meeting to order. There was no public comment. The Board approved the minutes of the last meeting and addressed the monthly budget report. The Port Director, Jennie Dickinson, announced the Port received $55,000 in tax revenue from the County. The Port received from the County a bill for the primary election for $7820, which is about twice the past election c...
Port of Columbia Commissioners met at 3:30 p.m. on November 10, 2021, for their monthly meeting on Zoom. All the current commissioners were in attendance, Shawn Brown, Genie Crowe, Sean Milligan, and the executive director, Jennie Dickinson. At various times, about eight members of the public were in attendance. The commissioners accepted the minutes of the last meeting without comment. During the budget report, Dickinson said tenants of the Port's properties are up to date on rent. The Port has received its tax revenue for October and...
DAYTON—American Rescue Plan Act funds, and how to spend them, have been on the Columbia County Commissioners’ minds for months. Earlier this year, the Port of Columbia approached the commissioners about the funds, requesting a financial contribution for the ongoing broadband infrastructure project, which would provide reliable, high-speed internet for Columbia County businesses and residents who fall within the project’s service area. The perimeter was recently extended to areas surrounding Dayton, including Huntsville. Commissioners Rundell an...
DAYTON—The Columbia County Commissioners met on Monday, November 1. They discussed multiple resolutions, set a date for a public hearing regarding levy certifications, and discussed a behavioral services contract. The commissioners discussed Resolution 2021-48, Award 2017 Bridge Rail Update. This is a federally funded resolution aimed at fixing bridges, including the Turner Road Bridge. They were unsure of when the work would happen. The commissioners awarded the contract to Frank Gurney, Inc. The commissioners then discussed Resolution 2...
DAYTON—The Columbia County Commissioners held a public comment session on October 18. The first speaker, Cindi John, questioned why the contract for Blazin’ Burgers, the restaurant vendor at the Touchet Valley Golf Course, had not been renewed. John was concerned the contract was not renewed because the owner and staff were not enforcing masking or vaccine mandates. John said mandates were ‘getting out of hand’ when they close businesses that opt not to require proof of vaccines. “I got to tell you, the first thing my doctor asked me was ‘did...
DAYTON – A regular meeting of the Port of Columbia was held using Zoom at 3:30 pm, October 13, 2021, with Commissioner Brown moderating. The Commissioners discussed several administrative issues, including a line-by-line discussion of the draft budget for 2022. The meeting then went into a 45-minute executive session to discuss an employment contract. Port Director, Jennie Dickinson, announced that The Blues Crew, a volunteer group associated with the Blue Mountain Land Trust, would start work to improve and widen the Rock Hill trail. The B...
DAYTON-The community of Dayton recently lost two leaders from their community. Port of Columbia Commissioner Earle Marvin, and Kim Clark, General Manager of Ski Bluewood Resort, passed away unexpectedly over the past two weeks. The Port of Columbia announced the unexpected passing of Commissioner Earle Marvin on September 1, 2021. Marvin passed away on August 30 at a hospital in Portland after undergoing emergency surgery for a broken leg. Commissioner Marvin was in his tenth year as the...
DAYTON—The Port of Columbia Commissioners met Wednesday, August 11, for a regular board meeting. Port of Columbia Executive Director Jennie Dickinson reported a roughly $10,000 expenditure for an HVAC replacement at one of the Port’s properties. Dickinson said the Port’s property insurance went up 20% in 2020 and another 20% this year, now totaling $64,000. “That is disappointing,” Dickinson said. “I have done research into other companies, and I can’t find anything better.” Dickinson said the P...
DAYTON—Washington state’s legislation on police reform went into effect on Sunday, July 25, and has left many police officials across the state without needed clarification. Concerns over changes to police response based on House Bill 1054 and House Bill 1310, sponsored by State Representative Jesse Johnson, were discussed at an August 2 Columbia County Commissioners meeting. The State Legislature passed the police accountability measures in response to national, state, and local calls to reform policing after the deaths of unarmed Black Americ...
DAYTON—COVID-19 cases have risen sharply over the last couple of weeks in Columbia County. On Tuesday, August 3, there were 27 active cases. “We have been very fortunate over the past few months,” Columbia County Public Health Administrator Martha Lanman said Friday. “But the cases have risen significantly over the past week here. I want everyone to be aware and cautious.” Lanman encouraged people to get tested if they feel sick, especially if they are displaying symptoms of COVID-19. Common sy...
DAYTON—The Port of Columbia has taken a significant leap forward in its quest to bring broadband, high-speed internet access to the local community. In Olympia last week, the Port’s Executive Director Jennie Dickinson and Robert Greene, Manager of Communications and Internet Telecommunications for Columbia Rural Electric, met with representatives of the Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) to talk about how the local economy will benefit from such a project. Dic...
DAYTON-Chair of the Board of Commissioners, Earle Marvin, opened the May 12 meeting with public comment. Betty Longren spoke, urging the commissioners to respect all community members and get behind local businesses. She wanted the Port to listen to businesses and those in the community who are against the trail project. Dayton Chronicle reporter, Melissa Gemmell, asked if the commissioners had any comments they would like to make to those protesting the trail. Commissioner Sean Milligan...
DAYTON-More than a dozen Touchet Valley residents hit the streets of Dayton with "YES Touchet Valley Trail" signs on Wednesday, May 12, to show their support for the project and the Port of Columbia. "The mission is a positive opportunity for the community and expanding the valley for everybody," said Joanne Goldsmith of Dayton. Goldsmith was one of the organizers of the event. One Dayton resident and avid cyclist, Genie Crowe, said she has two friends who have been struck by vehicles while...
DAYTON—The Board of Columbia County Commissioners met Monday, May 17, via Zoom. The commissioners were joined by WSU Extension Whitman County Director Janet Schmidt to discuss a long-standing memorandum of understanding. Commissioner Chuck Amerein said that the County Commissioners have concerns with the push towards a regionalized extension agent, explaining that the agreement between the county and the university, initially signed in 1986, was not designed for a regionalized agent. “The con...
DAYTON—The Columbia County Commissioners met Monday, May 10, to discuss the WSU Columbia County Extension Agent position and the use of cameras in a county office. The Commissioners heard from Dave McKinley and Jim Moyer, who are exploring options to fill the local extension agent position. The former extension agent, Paul Carter, retired in January after more than 15 years on the job. McKinley, a local farmer, said that Columbia County has had an extension agent available for 100 years. He i...
When I took over The Times in 2019, I was an avid newspaper reader, not a newspaper journalist. Just because you've eaten in a restaurant doesn't mean you can run one. Michele was one of the constants as I began my new endeavor. She covered Dayton and Columbia county in a comprehensive way, as a citizen, friend, and civic member who cared about her community and journalism. You couldn't read her articles and say you weren't well informed about the issues. Michele joined the paper in October...
DAYTON—The Hospital District’s board of commissioners have authorized a request from Columbia County Health System (CCHS) CEO Shane McGuire to spend $250,000 from CARES Act funds allocated to the District. The requested funds are for the Construction Review Services application, electrical service relocation, and construction-ready documents for the proposed hallway construction project. The hallway to be constructed will join the Acute Care wing of the hospital with Hall One at the Booker Res...
DAYTON-On Monday, as many as 101 people attended the Port of Columbia Touchet Valley Trail (TVT) information meeting and to ask questions of the presenters. Brian Hansen, Principal Engineer for Anderson/Perry & Associates, Inc., shared the 30-percent design documents for the trail. He talked about the results of the surveying and ownership research through titles and deeds. Ken Voorhis, a Principal Architect with SPVV Landscape Architects, presented the 30-percent landscape design drawings and...
DAYTON—The Port of Columbia Executive Director Jennie Dickinson reminded those in attendance at the Port Commissioners meeting last week about the Touchet Valley Bike Trail informational meeting, which will take place on Monday, April 26, at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. Dickinson said most of the marketing for the meeting is in place. Ads have been placed in all the local newspapers and a digital ad campaign in the Union-Bulletin. Information about the meeting is posted on the Port’s Facebook page, as...
