Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 1898
DAYTON – Port of Columbia Commissioners held its regular meeting on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, at the Port of Columbia conference room and on Zoom. Commissioners Genie Crowe, Seth Bryan, Johnny Watts, and Executive Director Jennie Dickinson were in attendance. Port Director Dickinson gave an update on the ongoing scheduled State audit. She said the Port staff works remotely with the state auditors, who expect the work to be completed in January. Dickenson estimates the cost may be $8,000. T...
COLUMBIA COUNTY-Jack Miller has defeated the incumbent Charles Amerein in a tight race for a seat on the Board of Columbia County Commissioners, representing District 3. Miller garnered 51.95 percent of the vote, narrowly defeating incumbent Amerein by 89 votes. Sheriff Joe Helm has defeated Deputy Jeff Jenkins for his next four-year term as Sheriff in Columbia County. Helm received 61.95 percent of the vote. Former County Auditor Anne Higgins resigned from the auditor's office last August, afte...
DAYTON – The Columbia Port Commissioners held their regular meeting at 5 p.m. on September 14, 2022, at the Port of Columbia and on Zoom. Commissioners present were Genie Crowe, Seth Bryan, and the Executive Director, Jennie Dickinson. Members of the public attended using Zoom and in person. Johnny Watts did not attend. Dayton Resident Teresa Eier addressed her comments during public comment to Commissioner Bryan. She said Columbia County Commissioner Chuck Amerein told her to investigate issues for herself, which she said she had. The c...
DAYTON--Last week, Columbia County Health System CEO Shane McGuire provided updates on different initiatives at the monthly meeting of the hospital board of commissioners. He spoke about the partnership with Walla Walla University in College Place for CCHS to operate its on-campus health care clinic. CCHS had been working on the partnership for over a year. The University clinic is located near campus and had been without an operator since COVID-19. Many of the current CCHS providers and...
The Times reached out to Todd Vandenbark, MLS, Director of Library Services for Columbia County Rural Library District to respond to the recent requests to remove content from the collection during public comment at the last Library Board meeting, The following is a statement “The Columbia County Rural Library District welcomes feedback from patrons, community members, and others regarding its collections and services. The presence of visitors at this and other Board meetings demonstrates that the library is an important institution in the life...
DAYTON – The Columbia Port Commissioners held their regular meeting at 5 p.m., July 13, 2022, at the Port of Columbia and on Zoom. All Commissioners were present in person, Genie Crowe, Seth Bryan, and Johnny Watts, along with the Executive Director, Jennie Dickinson. Members of the public attended using Zoom and in person. Dickinson reported that Dayton Electric will vacate its lease at the Port to move into a duplex the company purchased. Red Band Cellars has agreed to expand its operation into the unit vacated by Dayton Electric. D...
DAYTON – The Dayton School Board met for their regular meeting at 6 p.m., June 15, 2022. All board members were present in the auditorium, Aneesha Dieu, Zac Fabian, Grant Griffen, Chair Jeffrey McCowen, Korinda Wallace, Madison Richardson (Student Representative), and Superintendent Guy Strot. The meeting was also available on Zoom. At the start of the meeting, Superintendent Strot announced four changes to the agenda. First, Strot said he plans to schedule a joint board meeting with the Waitsburg School Board to further discuss the athletic c...
The comprehensive plan, and potential litigation are discussed in public and executive sessions. LYONS FERRY MARINA– The Columbia Port Commissioners held their regular meeting at 5 p.m., June 8, 2022, at the Lyons Ferry Marina after having a tour of that facility. The operators lease the marina and camping area from the Port of Columbia. All Commissioners were present in person, Genie Crowe, Seth Bryan, and Johnny Watts. The Executive Director, Jennie Dickinson, was also present. Some members of the public attended using Zoom. The C...
DAYTON—The Columbia County Commissioners met on Monday, May 9, for a short work session. The only item on the agenda was ‘general discussion.’ Commissioner Marty Hall shared that he was heading to Pomeroy to meet with a representative concerning the Turkey Trail Restoration Project funding redirection. Initially, the project was supposed to take place in 2021 but was canceled by the Turkey Trail/Green Ridge Fire that burned last summer. Hall did not specify where project funds would be redirected, but he did note that they would still benef...
DAYTON – Actions taken by the Port Commisioners at the April 13, meeting may have ended years of work on the Touchet Valley Trail Project. The meeting at the Columbia County Fairgrounds Youth Building was standing room only and well attended on Zoom. Director Jennie Dickinson, Chair Gene Crowe, and Council Members Seth Bryan and Johnny Watts were present. The meeting began with public comments focused on the Touchet Valley Trail Project (TVTP). Concerns from those against the project included f...
DAYTON—The Columbia County Commissioners met Monday, February 7, for a regular meeting. Equipment use and acquisition, and real estate acquisition were a few of the topics covered. The commissioners were presented with a real estate acquisition firm recommendation, signed by the County Engineer and the acting Public Works Director, for needs related to three projects; Bowman Grade, Barnes Smith Bridge, and Starbuck Bridge projects; for the necessary right of way acquisition. Hiring a real e...
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...
