Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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WAITSBURG—At the April 18 meeting, the Community Health and Protection Committee (CHPC) discussed drug use, overdoses, and the use of naloxone to prevent deaths from opioid deaths. The CHPC was concerned about the increase in fentanyl use in the community. According to data from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), fentanyl replaced methamphetamines as the drug most involved in overdoses in Washington state in 2020. A big concern for local healthcare and law enforcement organizations is that people unknowingly purchase and use fake...
WAITSBURG-Waitsburg District students were the first to receive new electronic library patron cards donated by anonymous donors. The donation of $1,000 allowed the library to purchase 1,500 cards, more than enough for every Waitsbrug resident to have one. Library staff member Sarah Roberts visited K-5 classes between April 10-12 to present students with the new colorful plastic cards. Roberts also shared a Burke Box, the visiting exhibit on whales provided by the University of Washington's...
WAITSBURG-Hannah Peralez, an eighth grader in Waitsburg, is the 2023 Queen of Waitsburg Celebration Days. Peralez will ride Stubs, her 15-year-old chestnut quarter horse, to parades and fairs this year. Working with Paralez, Cheyenne (Shoun) Reed is in her first year as a fair court advisor. Reed grew up in Dayton and competed in barrels and roping competitions from 2013 through 2019. Her first horse was a small wild Mustang named Penny. At age 13, she had a great horse, a paint named Forrest...
WAITSBURG-The Waitsburg annual Easter egg hunt has been a tradition for the Rick and Terry Ferguson family for over 40 years. The Fergusons, with the Penny Hazelbaker family and fellow Waitsburg Grange members, prepare and dye all the eggs before the event. On the day of the event, they arrive early to rope off the areas for each age group, scatter the dyed and chocolate eggs, and award prizes to the lucky ones who find golden eggs. The Ferguson's daughter, Angela, has been a Grange member and...
WAITSBURG-Roseann Groom's high school leadership class has organized special events and projects for students and staff during the school year. This year, junior Blake French suggested an art show as a leadership class project. The work was exhibited at the school on March 29 and 30. Fifteen students entered creative pieces in categories including poetry, woodcraft, drawings, and home décor. Before the show, Susan DeRuwe, a retired Prescott School District art teacher, spent two days with...
WAITSBURG-Last fall, Waitsburg School's Superintendent Mark Pickel read an article about getting kids active in programs after the pandemic. The article encouraged schools to utilize faculty and staff members' talents, interests, and expertise to develop new student programs. Pickel contacted preschool teacher Eleanora Montgomery and her husband, Mark, who are skilled beekeepers. Mark Montgomery grew up in Western Washington, where his father raised bees as a hobby. After graduating from WSU in...
WAITSBURG-Allison Bond is the founder and project leader for Rural Youth Enrichment Services' (RYES) Waitsburg Urban Forestry project. This mentoring project provided evergreen seedlings to Waitsburg Elementary School students on past Arbor Days. Bond arranged for a row of trees to be planted in front of the elementary school to celebrate International Day of Forests this month. Volunteers included Andrew Knee, Doug Biolo, Kate Hockersmith, Eric Umphrey, and Bruce Donohue, who joined Bond in...
WAITSBURG-The annual St. Patrick's Day fundraiser for the Waitsburg Town Hall was attended by around 150 guests on Saturday, March 18. Proceeds from the evening's ticket sales and auction will benefit the Waitsburg Town Hall Association's work maintaining and operating the historic community space. Town Hall Board President and head chef Jim Romine served a delicious corned beef and cabbage dinner. Assisting Romine were board members Allen Huwe, Louie and Marie Gagnon, Ron Standring, and Ron...
UPDATE WAITSBURG-After interviews with staff and community members held on March 13, the Waitsburg School Board of Directors voted to offer the superintendent and elementary principal position to David Woods. The unanimous decision was announced on the district's website and on social media on Friday, March 17, 2023. Pending contract negotiations, Wood will start July 1, 2023. Chairman of the Board, Dr. Carol Clarke said in the announcement, "The Board of Directors is excited to invite David Woo...
WAITSBURG- This week, the Waitsburg Historical Society will hold its annual membership meeting on March 21, 2023, at 6 p.m. at the Weller Public Library. Anyone interested in learning, preserving, or sharing the history of Waitsburg should come to the meeting. The Waitsburg Historical Society was formed fifty years ago to create a museum and renovate the neglected Bruce Mansion. The Mansion was built in 1883 and is a prominent building on Main Street. According to The Times January 11, 1968,...
WAITSBURG-High school students from six schools around the area attended the Waitsburg High School College and Career Fair on Thursday, March 9. Seventeen exhibitors were available to speak with students. Representatives provided information about colleges and careers, including health care, electrical, agriculture, and the armed forces. Waitsburg FFA students welcomed exhibitors and helped set up the one-day event. Members of the leadership class assisted throughout the day and restored the...
WAITSBURG-Waitsburg FFA members and their advisor Nicole Abel were busy with three events this past week. Four students traveled to Pomeroy on Wednesday, March 8, and competed in Sub District Leadership events. Freshmen Regan Milliman and Kiya Mings recited the FFA Creed, and sophomore Chasity Paddock gave a speech on windmills being helpful or detrimental in a prepared public speaking competition. Alyssa Hollingworth gave an extemporaneous speech on FFA's influence on agriculture education in n...
WAITSBURG-The American Heart Association's Kid's Heart Challenge was created to teach children the importance of heart health and encourage healthy lifestyle choices. The students at Waitsburg Elementary School participated in the health awareness program, exceeding their fundraising goal and sharing awareness for heart health. The students began raising money for the Kid's Heart Challenge in February and ended the program with an activity day on Friday, March 6. Students jumped rope and played...
WAITSBURG-The Waitsburg FFA students had a busy National FFA Week. This year's National FFA week is celebrated by chapters throughout the United States from February 20 to 24. Activities started on Tuesday after the Presidents Day holiday. Students participated in dress-up days with WHS students encouraged to dress in camo on Tuesday, pajamas on Wednesday, Thursday was cowboy day, and Friday was FFA pride day. FFA advisor Nicole Abel took a partial team to compete in an AG Mechanic event hosted...
Adult Fiction “The Unsinkable Greta James” by Jennifer E. Smith, 2022. An indie musician reeling from tragedy decides her path forward and how to find her voice again. Compared by some reviewers to “Where’d You Go Bernadette” and “Daisy Jones & the Six.” “Dear Edward” by Ann Napolitano, 2020. A novel about the sole survivor of a plane crash, his coming-of-age, an unforgettable cast of characters, and an examination of some of life’s most profound questions “We Begin at the End” by Chris Whitaker, 2021 An extraordinary crime novel about two k...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg City Council met for its regular meeting at City Hall on February 15, 2023. Council members Jillian Henze, Randy Charles, Kevin House, and Jim Romine were present. Also in attendance were Mayor Marty Dunn, City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe, and City Attorney Jared Hawkins. Court Ruppenthal was unavailable. The council passed Ordinance 1080, approving the City’s Shoreline Management Plan update. The council discussed possible changes to the nuisance ordinance for the city. The change would offer an additional step bef...
WAITSBURG—Twenty-four years ago, the Waitsburg Booster Club was formed. Ross Hamann was elected president and has continued in the role over the years. Even though the club lost momentum about five years ago, Hamann and 12-year veteran treasurer Becky Harshman kept the club alive as they knew “this club will come back!” About thirty supporters met on Monday, February 7, to get the Booster Club active again. Hamann started the meeting by giving the group a brief review of the club’s history, current status, and a treasury update. When the clu...
WAITSBURG-Weller Public Librarian Twila Tate presented the library's 2022 year-end report to the Waitsburg City Council at its regular meeting in January. The report included data on the collection status, staffing, programming, and grants. At the end of 2022, the current collection at the Weller Public Library included 7,776 physical items. In the summer of 2022, the library staff began assessing the materials in the collection. The materials are reviewed for age, accuracy, duplications,...
WAITSBURG-The Waitsburg Commercial Club has asked the public for nomination letters recognizing Waitsburg community members in three categories, Community Service, Business of the Year, and Employee of the Year. Awards will be presented at the club's annual meeting in April. This is a chance to let community members in Waitsburg know they are appreciated and valued for the excellent work and service they provide. Nomination letters are due by March 15, 2023, and can be mailed to the Waitsburg...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg City Council met for its regular meeting on Wednesday, January 18, at City Hall. Mayor Marty Dunn, City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe, and all council members were in attendance. After approval of the agenda and the last meeting’s minutes, the Mayor opened public comment. Stephanie Cole and Katelyn Stahl, representing Touchet Valley Soccer League, and Stephanie Ruffcorn for the Snake River Little League, asked the Council for help with the youth athletic fields at the fairgrounds. Concerns included field con...
WAITSBURG-Local entrepreneurs Erin Elsey and Kimberly Smith are opening a new shop in Waitsburg. The shop, 131 Main, is full of products from the two owners' businesses, A-Ron's Rustic Designs and Smith Craft. The shop will also include a selection from Hugs Gifts & Collectables. Owner of A-Ron Rustic Designs, Elsey has participated in local vendor events offering decorative dish towels, potholders, aprons, and clothing. Her humor is evident on the selection of children's t-shirts and onesies...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg School Board held a special meeting on Monday, January 2, 2022, to discuss the school’s administration and superintendent search. Six members of the staff and two community members attended in person. Currently, the District has two full-time administrators, which the Board would like to maintain. The discussion, which School Board Chair, Dr Carol Clarke said, was a great brainstorming session on maximizing resources. One suggestion was to follow Districts that have two buildings for K-12. Sixth graders would move int...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg School District Board of Directors is asking the community to participate in a superintendent profile survey. The online survey is available at tinyurl.com/wsdinput and is also available through the District website homepage at www.waitsburgsd.org. All surveys must be completed by January 10. Your input will help identify the qualifications and characteristics of the next Waitsburg School District Superintendent. The Board of Directors values community input and guidance, and strongly recommends taking advantage of t...
WAITSBURG-The Waitsburg School Board held its regular meeting on December 15. Board members and attendees heard updates from Carol Clarke, who was nominated and approved by the board to serve as the Board Chair for the 2023 year. Stephanie Cole was selected and agreed to serve as the vice chair. The organizational vote is held every year and confirmed by a roll-call vote. School Counselor Rosy Nechodom and high school students gave a presentation on the Sources of Strength program, which is new...
WAITSBURG—Staff, and students from Waitsburg High School participated in a Sources of Strength (SOS) training this past Wednesday, December 7. The Waitsburg Presbyterian Church hosted the event. Students received training to help fellow students recognize their full range of resilience through the areas and relationships discussed: family support, positive friends, mentors, healthy activities, personal expressions of generosity, spirituality (that can include the practice of gratefulness), physical health, and mental health. Sources of S...
