Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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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...
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg elementary students and parents went above and beyond this year, raising over $9,500 for the American Heart Association participating in the Kids Heart Challenge on February 14. Last year, Waitsburg students raised $6,329. Schools nationwide participate in the annual Kids Heart Challenge, where students participate in heart-healthy physical activities and raise money for the American Heart Association. Waitsburg's kindergarten through fifth-grade students spent Valentine's...
WAITSBURG -After rounds of competition beginning last September, four Waitsburg students have come out on top and will participate in the National Great Shakes Competition. Carter Barron, Chloe McCaw, Verbena McLaughlin, and Wyatt Parish will travel to the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, in March. As a bonus, since Waitsburg students did so well at regionals, Olivia Kiefel, Jaylynn Gleason, and Lilian Carpenter will also attend the national competition as wildcards. Twenty-five Waitsburg...
WALLA WALLA-Waitsburg Girl Scout Troop 5381 hosted a Girl Scout Cookie Rally for Girl Scouts Service Area 492 at the Lions Building in Waitsburg on Sunday, January 28. Waitsburg Troop Leader Brandi Hollingsworth said the event is a workshop to prepare local scouts for the iconic annual cookie sale. The fundraiser supports Girl Scouts as they learn entrepreneurial skills and fund local life-changing, girl-led programs, experiences, and learning in their communities. This was the eighth year the...
WAITSBURG-Present for Waitsburg City Council's regular meeting on January 17 were Mayor Marty Dunn and council members Kevin House, Jim Romine, Jillian Henze, and Randy Charles. Due to an injury, new member Jennifer Bishop attended by Zoom. During public comment, Kate Hockersmith told the council that she hoped to use the fairgrounds for an annual youth bluegrass festival beginning with a one-day event this summer. She would not use the grandstands the first year but encouraged the city to prese...
WAITSBURG – Gloria Wilson, the owner of Waitsburg's new makerspace, is new to the Touchet Valley, but not to the power of making things. In fact, she's an expert. The grand opening of her business, "Simply Sawdust," on Saturday, January 27, will give locals an inside look at all the shop at 101 Main Street has to offer. "People have been so supportive in helping me to put the place together," she said. With help from her niece Becky Wilson and builder Charles Stanger, she transformed the Main S...
WAITSBURG – The Weller Library Board of Trustees met for its monthly meeting on January 9. Present were Chair Marie Gagnon, Rebecca Wilson, Sherri Erikson, Beka Compton, Library Supervisor Sarah Roberts, and City Council representative Jillian Henze. Vice-Chair Jim Leid was absent. Roberts reported that community members and participating businesses expressed appreciation for the StoryWalk program held in December, while the library saw increased foot traffic and book circulations during the m...
WAITSBURG-The Waitsburg School District is participating in the Amazing Shake National Competition this school year. Since September, students have been learning professional skills in the Cardinal Way, including how to interview, remain calm under pressure, and respond appropriately to different situations. All students in the fourth through eighth grades have participated in two Cardinal Way events. On November 9, students worked on their handshakes and eye contact and carried out o...
WAITSBURG — On Wednesday, December 20, the Waitsburg City Council voted to approve a three-year contract for Snake River Little League (SRLL) use of the little league fields at the fairgrounds. Abby Grende of Waitsburg, acting on behalf of Waitsburg parents, worked with the city to draft the contract in response to a decision by the SRLL Board at its November 30 meeting to disqualify Waitsburg’s ball fields from use for the 2024 season. On December 5, 2023, the SRLL board posted a press release on Facebook announcing its decision. As sta...
My name is Deanne Wilbur, and I was a friend and co-worker of Melissa Harting. Over the last month, I have been working closely with her family, friends, and Walla Walla Community College to initiate a nursing scholarship to honor an incredible person. Melissa had a rare and exceptional work ethic. She was the staff member that everyone else was measured against. While working in the high-stress environment of the emergency department, she still found the time to provide compassionate and...
WAITSBURG – In the late afternoon of November 29, Waitsburg was the scene of a vehicle accident on the north side of town following a 20-mile police pursuit by Walla Walla Police. The suspects' vehicle, a motorhome, damaged three power poles near the intersection of Preston Avenue (Highway 124) and Coppei Avenue (Highway 12.) The motorhome landed in a lot across from Preston Park, ending the chase. It left Main Street commercial and residential customers in the dark for several hours. The pursui...
WAITSBURG - Waitsburg's Friends of the Pool with Rural Youth Enrichment Services (RYES) hosted a Pool Kick-off celebration and fundraiser at the Royal Block Wine Bar on Thursday, November 16. The event featured a silent auction, Walla Walla DJ music, and Daniel Rossi catering. Pool Committee member Wendy Carter and Waitsburg Mayor Marty Dunn made speeches on the efforts to build a public pool in the city. Jesse Brown was recognized for her ideas and energy in making the well-attended event...
WAITSBURG— All members were present at a meeting of the Waitsburg School Board on Wednesday, November 15. Secondary Principal Joe Wirtzberger reported that he was pleased with the district’s overall full-time enrollment attendance rates. However, the high school’s junior class is currently under expectations, with half of that class under a 90% attendance rate. He said that the administration will continue to look at ways of improving that statistic. Wirtzberger reported that the Preston Hall...
WAITSBURG - Last summer, the Waitsburg Commercial Club reached out to the Gaudy Gals to see if they would host the 2023 Hometown Christmas arts and crafts show. Kimi and Lori gladly accepted the challenge and are working hard to create a beautifully curated show at Waitsburg Town Hall. A call for vendors went out in August and filled up within a few days. To ensure a successful show for vendors and shoppers, interested vendors provided photos and descriptions of their wares to prevent...
WAITSBURG - The Weller Public Library looks fresh after Walla Walla's Meticulous Touch Painting, LLC finished painting the front room and hallway. The building's historic tin ceiling stands out with a new coat of paint highlighting its decorative details. The shelves in the front room are painted and ready for library staff to restock, with books available for checkout starting on November 29. The Friends of the Library are busy with holiday projects and programs. They held an ornament painting...
WAITSBURG - The seats were filled in the Waitsburg High School gymnasium for the Veterans Day program, "Honoring Those Who Served," under the direction of music director Elizabeth Jagelski. Principal Joe Wirtzberger and ASB President Blake French welcomed veterans, followed by the presentation of the flags. The K-5 students entered the gym singing Neil Diamond's "America." French, Makenna Barron, and Cedar Stegall gave the history of Veterans Day. The students worked many weeks to prepare for...
OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Commerce is pleased to announce the 11 winners of the 2023 Governor’s Smart Communities Awards. The program has been presented annually since 2006 and recognizes local governments and their partners for exceptional land use planning and development. The awards showcase the effective implementation of the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA). The honored local programs and projects serve as leading examples for other communities as they seek to address similar land use planning issues or look for i...
WAITSBURG - The Royal Block Reading Series welcomes prolific author and globally renowned explorer Richard Bangs for a reading from his 20th book, "The Art of Living Dangerously," at the Royal Block in Waitsburg on November 22, 2023, at 6:30 PM. Admission is free and open to the public (21+). In 1973, Richard Bangs co-founded Sobek Expeditions, now MT Sobek, the world's original and largest adventure travel company with over a million clients guided since its beginning. The Art of Living...
WAITSBURG - It was a scary time in the Preston Hall gym on Monday, October 30 for those who dared to walk through the haunted house. With the leadership of Waitsburg staff member, Dusty Wirtzberger, the gym was transformed into five rooms featuring scary clowns, a chainsaw madman, ghosts, goblins, and creatures with glowing green eyes. Numerous adults and students hung black plastic from the balcony to create a maze for attendees to venture through. The decorations were scary, and there was a...
