Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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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...
WAITSBURG-To have an impact in the community that others take notice of, yet remain quietly behind the scenes, is what Louie and Marie Gagnon do, day after day. The Gagnons will uncharacteristically be front and center as this year's Waitsburg Celebration Day's Parade Marshals. The Celebration Days parade committee selected the couple for their years of volunteerism and service in the Waitsburg community, including their involvement with the Weller Public Library, Waitsburg Town Hall, and the...
WAITSBURG -The Waitsburg Commercial Club honored community members at its annual meeting and community service awards dinner on Tuesday, April 16. The event was held at American 35, where guests enjoyed a lasagna dinner, desserts, a silent auction, and a chance to celebrate Waitsburg's one-of-a-kind community. The 2024 Community Service Award was presented to Jillian Henze. Incoming Commercial Club President Tiffany Baxter presented the award to Henze for her work on the Waitsburg City Council...
WAITSBURG - Its almost the end of the school year and Waitsburg is preparing to celebrate the school district's graduates. "The Times" will share the senior's stories, a few each issue, until Graduation Day on June 7, 2024. Jayce Gleason Attending Waitsburg Schools since pre-school, Jayce Gleason has fond memories of playing sports. At the high school level, Gleason has excelled at football and baseball. Gleason attends high school full-time. This year, he was elected ASB treasurer and assists...
WALLA WALLA - The Columbia Walla Walla Fire District 2 volunteers and board are grateful for the voters' approval of the 2023 Levy Lid Lift. In allocating these resources, the department has prioritized hiring a full-time, paid Fire Chief. The department understands the importance of the community having an opportunity to give input on leadership of CWWFD2. Assistant Fire Chief Matt Spring formed a hiring committee of department and community members to begin the process. The committee reviewed...
WAITSBURG— Waitsburg City Council held its regular meeting on March 27 after being delayed one week due to council members’ availability. In public comment, Joy Smith told the council that with the success of new businesses in town, there is now a budding parking problem. She said Waitsburg Commercial Club and the city have used signage to direct visitors to additional parking, usually the city-owned property west of the Main Street bridge. Smith suggested it may be time for businesses to post parking options on their websites. She also sai...
WAITSBURG - Spring is here and it seems everyone is back outside. Since its opening, Nancy's Dream Garden has helped many in Waitsburg and surrounding areas have productive and beautiful gardens. Owners Doug Biolo and his sister Janet Biolo Lawrence, working with Janet's son Mark Laroue, Jr, have created a full-service, year-round nursery. Earlier this month, Mark sustained extensive injuries in an accident. Janet has been by his side at a Seattle hospital as he begins the long journey to heal....
WAITSBURG-Rosy Nechodom, the school counselor for the Waitsburg School District, is in her second year as a mentor in the Sources of Strength program. The Walla Walla Health Department provides the district with a grant to fund the program. Sources of Strength is a best-practice youth mental health program using peer social networks to prevent suicide, violence, bullying, and substance abuse. It prevents adverse outcomes by increasing well-being, help-seeking, resiliency, healthy coping, and...
WAITSBURG - "Remember... Only YOU can prevent forest fires," which originated in 1947, is a slogan that children everywhere associate with Smokey the Bear. The Smokey Bear Wildfire Prevention campaign was created in 1944 and is the longest-running public-service advertising campaign in U.S. history. There is a lot of interesting information at smokeybear.com, which asks you to celebrate 80 years of Smokey by exploring Smokey's history throughout the generations. Weller Public Library's...
WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg Middle recognized Preston Hall students with February's Pep Band, Perfect Attendance, and PRIDE Awards at an assembly on Friday, March 8. Emcee Rosy Nechodom presented Shawna Hilton, Joy Nechodom, Rosalynn Harvey, Olivia Kiefel, Carter Barron, Colt Boudrieau, and Gage Mynear awards for their participation in pep band during the high school home basketball games. The school acknowledged Sophia Castillo, Verbena McLaughlin, Abel Creeley, Colt Boudrieau, Laila Long, Jake...
WAITSBURG-"What is it about this piece of art that offends you?" That question inspired Joseph Roberts' decision to start a monthly discussion called Art Talk. Roberts and Tiina Jaatinen are the team that founded the hotel and wine bar Royal Block in downtown Waitsburg. The high ceilings and gallery lighting make the space perfect for displaying artwork from Robert's extensive art collection. "Encouraging artists to strive on their path was one of the reasons that led me to collect art," Roberts...
Council member Charles steps down WAITSBURG - Mayor Marty Dunn called the city council meeting to order at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Council members Cindy Bishop, Kevin House, Jim Romine, Jillian Henze, and City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe were in attendance. Hinchliffe introduced representatives from the Washington State Department of Commerce to present the city with a 2023 Governor's Smart Community Award. The Smart Project Award was given to the City of Waitsburg for its...
WAITSBURG - On February 11, the Touchet Valley Acoustic Music Project (TVAMP) began recording local musicians for a new album to be released on CD. This is TVAMP's fourth production, preceded by two CDs for the Blue Mountain Troublemakers and one for Switchgrass Delta. TVAMP Project Leader Kate Hockersmith said, "We have so many wonderful local musicians in and around Waitsburg, and for years I've wanted to record local singer/songwriters. In early February, Mike Easton of Bar Bacetto,...
DAYTON – The Dayton School Board met in the high school library at 6:30 p.m. on February 21, 2024. Board members present were Chair Jeffrey McCowen, Zac Fabian, Aneesha Dieu, and Grant Griffin. Superintendent Rich Stewart was also present. The board approved the consent agenda, including hiring Danica Porter as the Middle School Head Softball Coach. Dayton FFA Trap Shooting Team members presented plans for an overnight field trip to the Wenatchee area. Six Dayton students expect to p...
