Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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WAITSBURG-The Waitsburg Commercial Club and Waitsburg Town Hall will host a Candidate Forum on Wednesday, September 25. The club invited all state and Walla Walla County candidates in the November 2024 election to participate. Before the forum begins, attendees will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with the candidates from 6:45 to 7:15 p.m. Virginia Romine and Joy Marie Smith will moderate this year's forum. At the time of publication, the following candidates have agreed to participate:...
WAITSBURG - An essential part of Waitsburg's history will be reintroduced to the community at the Pioneer Fall Festival this Sunday by the Waitsburg Historical Society. The Miehle No. 3 flatbed press, used by the "The Times" for decades, has found a permanent home at the Wilson-Philips House in Waitsburg. The press was first assembled in 1912 and later bought by Emerson Wheeler, who published "The Times" until he died in 1942. The paper used the flatbed press until December 1975, when...
WAITSBURG - A Waitsburg couple is pleased with the community's response to their efforts to bridge the divide during these fraught political times. At his wife's suggestion, Tom Elstrom searched online for a tee shirt that combined the "Let's talk!" imperative with the symbols representing the two major political parties. Finding nothing, he bought some digital art and had a tee shirt shop add the type and create a single shirt. The response was phenomenal as he wore the shirt around town and...
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg Friends of the Pool, Parks and Recreation, and Rural Youth Enrichment Services held a Rhythm and Fun Festival at the fairgrounds on Saturday, August 24. Over 100 people came to hear the live music, have dinner, play carnival games, and watch young banjo and fiddle contestants. The fundraiser for the pool raised $3,600. Kate Hockersmith brought her community of bluegrass musicians to the Don Thomas Building with the first Jasper Mountain Opry Youth Festival. A large circle...
WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg FFA Chapter was recognized as a Superior Chapter and a State Gold National Chapter after meeting goals set forth by the National Chapter Award Program. The chapter qualified in the top ten percent in the State of Washington as a Gold Chapter and competed for National FFA 3-star, 2-star, or 1-star rating. Waitsburg's chapter was highlighted for its activities in its best nine categories, including growing leaders, building communities, and strengthening agriculture. The...
WAITSBURG - Following a special school board meeting on Aug. 16, the Waitsburg School Board voted to select Dr. Carol Clarke as interim superintendent for the 2024-25 school year. This decision comes a little more than two weeks after the board accepted the resignation of former superintendent David Woods, who told staff he was leaving the position due to health issues. Clarke is a retired Waitsburg School District Superintendent who retired in June 2017. She has more than 40 years of...
WAITSBURG-This summer, ten student-athletes from Waitsburg and Dayton participated in the NFL Flag Football program sponsored by Walla Walla Parks & Recreation. The non-contact sport helps youth become familiar with sportsmanship, dedication, and discipline. Participants received an official NFL reversible jersey with registration. The kids played for the Rams in the grades 2 and 3 age group. The six-week program ran from July 1 through August 8. The players practiced on Mondays and Wednesdays...
Superintendent David Woods resigned On Thursday, Aug. 1, the Waitsburg School Board held a special meeting to address the immediate resignation of Superintendent David Woods, who had served in the role since July 1, 2023. The board appointed Waitsburg School Board Chair Dr. Carol Clarke as acting superintendent. The board decided to begin the search for an Interim superintendent. Clarke retired as the district's superintendent in 2017 and has served on the school board since December 2021. She...
WAITSBURG - At its June meeting, the Waitsburg City Council discussed the condition and future options for the grandstands at the city's fairgrounds. The council was to vote on a a resolution to raze several structures at the city propery, including the grandstands. During public comment on the resolution, Friends of the Fairgrounds, Waitsburg Parks and Recreation District, and community members asked the council not to approve the action until a full fairgrounds plan has been completed by Parks...
WASHINGTON DC - Waitsburg students Alyssa Hollingsworth and Cedar Stegall attended the Washington Leadership Conference (WLC) in Washington, DC, from July 9 to 13. Tracy Barron traveled with the girls as chaperone. The National FFA Association-sponsored event provides members with a premier leadership experience while exposing them to the rich history of Washington, DC. The WLC inspires FFA members to become changemakers in their communities. Each day of the conference focuses on a different...
WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg Presbyterian membership has made it official; Heidi Lum has been named Pastor of the church. She takes over from Pastor Stan Hughes, who has been serving in a transitional role since April 2019. Lum, her husband Ellery, and son Matthew moved to Waitsburg last year after Hughes invited her to intern at the church. She met Hughes at the Presbytery of the Northwest after the Lums moved to Kettle Falls, Washington from Honolulu, Hawaii. Lum said she chose Washington to...
WAITSBURG - Wendy, Brian, and Coe Richards are inviting the Waitsburg community to join in celebrating the 25th anniversary of the surgery that saved their family. In July 1999, two-year-old Coe had already endured months of chemotherapy and hospitalization at Seattle's Children's Hospital before undergoing a liver transplant. A softball-sized tumor was found on his liver the prior December. Though the seven rounds of chemo managed to reduce its size by half, the tumor's position on the liver...
Six members of the Waitsburg Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star (OES) attended the annual Grand Chapter meeting in Wenatchee from June 23 – June 26. Those attending were Karen Palmer, Diane Rice, Sam Poulson, Susie Payne, Barbara Danforth, and Patricia Wilson. They reunited with many friends while there and everyone had a good time with lots of laughter and memories. However, the annual business meeting also held everyone's attention. The Worthy Grand Matron Judy Turchin's and Worthy G...
OLYMPIA — Councilmember Jillian Henze of Waitsburg was elected to the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Board of Directors by members representing 281 cities and towns in the state. The election was held at the AWC Annual Conference in Vancouver, Washington, held from June 18-21, 2024. Henze will represent the 34 cities and towns in Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties. “I’m honored, humbled and so excited to serve Waitsburg and its neighboring cities and towns in southeast Washington on the AWC b...
WAITSBURG-Summer youth programs kicked into gear this weekend for kids in Waitsburg, Dayton, and Prescott. The Waitsburg Christian and Waitsburg Presbyterian churches offered Vacation Bible School to preschool through sixth-grade students from June 26 through 28. This year's "Breaker Rock Beach" theme was a hit with more than 40 kids who enjoyed the beach decorations, crafts, songs, games, and other activities. On Saturday, June 29, from 9 to 11 a.m., the two churches and Waitsburg's Firemen's...
Bar Bacetto and Gaudy Gals on Main are closing, and former city hall sale is moving forward. WAITSBURG -The last few years have seen significant changes on Waitsburg's Main Street. This June, the city lost two popular businesses, and several empty buildings are finding new owners. Mike and Erin Easton announced they would not reopen Bar Bacetto in July. The James Beard 2024 nominee for Best New Restaurant opened in October 2022 and offered Easton's signature pasta, cocktails, and excellent servi...
WAITSBURG - Girl Scout Troops 2127, 5381, and 5383 and Boy Scouts of America Troop 337 held a Flag Retirement Ceremony at the Waitsburg Cemetery on Flag Day, June 14. The ceremony began with the raising of the Flag of the United States. Emylee Willams, Lillian Carpenter, Shylo Hedges, Chelsea Faden, Sidian Stegall, and Katherine Roberts followed with retirement ceremony readings. "The Flag of the United States of America is an honored symbol of our nation's unity, its hopes, its achievements, it...
WAITSBURG/AN TIR KINGDOM-Waitsburg's Preston Park will be the weekend base for members of the Society for Creative Anachronism from June 7 to 9. The society is an international community in which members choose a pre-seventeenth-century period to research through immersive reenactment. Dame Katherine of Akornebir, once Baroness of Wastekeep, and known in present-day as Kathy Carpenter, encouraged anyone interested in history to come to the park, ask questions, borrow a tunic, and join the...
OLYMPIA - In early May, Waitsburg Youth and Government sent a Youth Legislature Delegation to Olympia for the first time since 2019. Advisors Matt Elder and Heather Baker spent four exciting days with students Will Ahler, Mylie Jones, Chasity Paddock, Grayson Teal, and Lucas VanHoose at the state capital. Before traveling to Olympia, the students met weekly during their lunch break, preparing to debate issues that affect citizens in their state, propose legislation, and learn procedures they...
WAITSBURG - On May 31, Waitsburg High School students attended a morning assembly to hear speeches by candidates before voting for 2024-2025 ASB officers. The new officers are Cedar Stegall as ASB President, William Daves as vice-president, Miley Jones as secretary, and Isaac Mahre will serve as the public relations officer. After the assembly, the students enjoyed Spring field day activities. The Mi Pueblito Taco Truck was on-site for the lunch break. The students then gathered in the Cage for...
PULLMAN - The 94th Washington FFA Convention was held in Pullman, Washington, on May 9 through 11. Students from around the state competed in competitions, and members who met the final requirements ran for a State FFA office. Waitsburg's Makenna Barron ran and was elected FFA State Treasurer. Barron will serve a year leading over 14,500 Washington State members with five other officers. Barron will serve with President Emily Ryder of Ellensburg, Vice-President Levi Kukes of Quincy, Secretary...
The Waitsburg City Council met at the city hall for its regular meeting on Wednesday, May 15, at 7 p.m. Council members Kevin House, Jim Romine, Jennifer Bishop, and Court Ruppenthal attended in person, and Jillian Henze attended on Zoom. In new business, the council discussed Ordinance 2024-1090, which would amend the municipal code regarding how the city council conducts business. Council members would no longer be limited in the use of a virtual option to attend meetings. Another change was adding Section I(10), which limits council members...
WAITSBURG - On May 4, the Waitsburg Lions Club's Annual Rib Feed brought over 600 community members together for great food at the fairgrounds. The tally so far shows over 760 tickets sold, raising $26,000. Additional funds from beer, wine, and leftover racks of ribs sales at the event could raise another $4,000 to $5,000. New this year, the club held a raffle offering prizes, including a "Stay-cation Night" and a bottle of wine at the Royal Block. The second prize was four Salmon BBQ tickets...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg Citywide Garage Sale is coming up on Saturday, June 1. “The Times” will publish the go-to map for the event in the May 30, 2024, edition. The map will have addresses for all the participating garage and yard sales in Waitsburg and Prescott. It is free to be included on the map, so send your garage sale details to “The Times” to be included. Information must be sent to “The Times” by 3 p.m. Monday, May 24. Please email advertising@waitsburgtimes.com with all the necessary information to direct buyers to your garage o...
WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg BE, P.E.O. held the chapter's 100th Anniversary luncheon at Town Hall on Sunday, April 28, 2024. Over 100 attendees, including long-time members, new members, and B.I.L (Brothers in Love) members, enjoyed the luncheon. The hall was decorated with period clothing and memorabilia from the Waitsburg Historic Society collection. Members recognized at the luncheon included Barbara Danforth, who has been a member for 60 years. Lynn Mantz-Powers, Linda Stonecypher, Kathy...
