Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 1082 - 1106 of 2766
OLYMPIA—The Department of Health is collaborating with Safeway Inc. and Albertsons Companies LLC to offer no-cost influenza (flu) vaccination for uninsured adults over the age of 18 to help prevent flu illness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health officials are concerned that the presence of both viruses could put more people in the hospital and strain Washington’s health care system. Twenty-three Albertsons and Safeway pharmacies across the state will offer the flu vaccine free of charge through June 2021 to uninsured adults. The pha...
Most recreation opportunities offered by WDFW have reopened, and license sales have rebounded and even exceeded the previous year sales to date. (WDFW offices, hatcheries, and some campgrounds remain closed, though staff is to assist the public by telephone.) Still, COVID-19 re-emergence remains a serious threat. The department asks you to continue physical distancing, stay close to home until communities enter Phase 3, wash hands frequently, bring along a face covering, and only head out when you are well. The WDFW would like to thank our part...
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) continues to make progress with our COVID-19 vaccine distribution planning efforts. We are working with the federal government and local partners within Washington to plan for the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine when one becomes available. DOH staff has been diligently working on an initial guidebook-style plan for the past few weeks, and we are on track to turn it in to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by the October 16 due date. The plan itself outlines specific a...
Basin Disposal will be picking up bagged leaves for customers in Waitsburg, Dayton and Prescott. The leaf pick-up is not part of the regular garbage route but will be done with a different truck on a separate route. The following are tentative dates: November 23rd, November 30th, and December 7th, all Mondays. Dates are subject to change for any reason. Leaves in bags only, no garbage, rocks, bricks sticks, roofing, etc. Do not overload the bags, 40 pounds is plenty. If you have an alley, place the bags in the alley. If you do not have an...
Gov. Jay Inslee announced the extensions of the eviction moratorium and public utility proclamations as COVID-19 continues to impact the finances of Washingtonians statewide. Both proclamations were extended to December 31. Moratorium on Evictions (20-19.4) This extension makes modifications to the prior moratorium, including: Clarifying that tenant behavior which is imminently hazardous to the physical safety of other persons on the premises is included among the existing permissible reasons for seeking to evict a tenant. Authorizing...
WALLA WALLA—The public is invited to take to the sidewalks on Sunday, October 25, at 1:30 p.m. to Walk the Vote. With or without their ballots in hand, community voters will celebrate the act of voting in a peaceful neighborhood walk, a free event organized by the Network of Exceptional Women. Walkers will start at Washington Park, or outside Garrison Middle School, Whitman College’s Reid Campus Center, or Edison Elementary school. Walk leaders from the Network for Exceptional Women will provide maps and lead walkers to the two Downtown Walla W...
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) released the latest statewide situation report on COVID-19 transmission. Report findings include: Transmission is increasing in western Washington and recently plateauing in eastern Washington. The best estimates of the reproductive number (how many new people each COVID-19 patient will infect) were 1.12 in western Washington and 0.94 in eastern Washington as of September 27. The goal is a number well below one, which would mean COVID-19 transmission is declining. The situation in eastern...
DAYTON—Mike Ferrians has resigned as the manager of the Liberty Theater. Management of the theater will be by committee, for the time being, according to Dave Molesh, Touchet Valley Arts Council President. Molesh said Ferrians resigned on Sunday of last week and the executive board met to discuss theater operations two days later. The theater has been closed since March due to the COVID-19 restrictions, and no live productions are planned for this year. Molesh said the production of Nana Goes t...
WAITSBURG-Waitsburg's Rural Youth Enrichment Services (RYES) will host the Virtual BooGrass Auction starting October 23. Log on and bid on items including a Will Writing package donated by Karl Law Office or a Dinner for Four prepared by Chef Daniel Rossi and support the many youth projects offered by RYES. RYES is a non-profit organization established in 2010 to provide the youth of the Touchet Valley with opportunities to experience the arts, develop skills, hone leadership, and participate...
This year, Wenaha Gallery is giving bags of treats to Trick or Treaters, costumed or not, on Friday, October 30, from noon to 5 p.m. “Given that it’s the day before Halloween, it’s understandable if kids aren’t in costume. Unless they’re like my kids when they were growing up, creating and wearing their costumes WEEKS before the day and as long afterwards as they could,” said Carolyn Henderson. A table will be set up outside, and kept stocked with treat bags. Kids are free to walk by, grab a bag, and go. “We wish all in the community a h...
WAITSBURG—Waitsburg Celebration Days will meet Monday, October 26, at 7 p.m via Zoom conference call. Waitsburg Celebration Days is a multi-day event first held in 2013 to preserve the third weekend in May, once celebrated as Waitsburg’s Days of Real Sport. Now, folks from all over travel to our little town to participate in the Karen’s Ride ATV events, show off their classic cars, and enjoy live music at the Burgers, Bands, ‘n Brews. The board of directors seeks interested community members...
COLUMBIA COUNTY—Medical Appointment Gas Cards are available to any Columbia County resident in need of fuel for transportation to medical appointments outside of Columbia County. Fuel cards are available for those with a valid driver’s license, valid vehicle insurance, and proof of medical appointment date. Medical appointments should be within four days from the issuance of a gas card voucher. Eligible clients may have one voucher every 90 days. Stop into Columbia County Public Health to receive your voucher today. We are located at 270 E....
Fire District #2’s Association is offering pink T shirts the month of October 2020 to help increase breast cancer awareness. T-shirts will be available at Ten Ton Coffee, 216 Main Street Waitsburg. Each colorful T-shirt is available for a $30.00 donation, though larger donations are always welcome. Profits from the sale of these T shirts will be donated to the Susan G. Komen® Breast Cancer Foundation. Fire District #2 would like to thank Blue Mountain Action Council (BMAC) for partnering wi...
SEATTLE—Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Washington State University was selected to receive $129,727 in grant funding to help develop multi-partner anaerobic digester projects in the Northwest. WSU is among 12 recipients selected to receive national funding to help reduce food loss and waste and divert food waste from landfills by expanding anaerobic digester capacity in the U.S. EPA anticipates that it will make these awards once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. “Finding sol...
WALLA WALLA—Walla Walla County health officials announced that a local man in his 60s, who had tested positive for COVID-19, passed away. This news brings the countywide death toll to six. As of Tuesday, there were 941 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the county. Of those cases, 872 have recovered. Sixty-two people are currently under in-home isolation, and one person is hospitalized. “We wish to express our deepest sympathies to his friends and family during this difficult time,” said a representative from the Walla Walla County Department of Co...
Karen Martin, Walla Walla County Auditor, announced on October 5, 2020 that Walla Walla County Elections will be moving all operations to the Pavilion building at the Walla Walla County Fairgrounds, 363 Orchard St., Walla Walla. Voter services, ballot processing, and Canvassing Board meetings will also be conducted at this location. This move is to ensure safety and efficiency during current restrictions imposed due to COVID-19. Logic & Accuracy Test The Logic and Accuracy Test, performed on the digital scan system used to tabulate the...
WALLA WALLA—With the second round of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) dollars allocated to the city of Walla Walla from the state of Washington, the city will distribute $250,000 in assistance grants to Walla Walla small businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19. These grants are separate from the Port of Walla Walla’s recent Working Washington Small Business Grants 2.0 and an upcoming round of grants funded by Walla Walla County. The maximum grant award is $10,000, and the criteria for eligibility is broad so...
PENDLETON, Ore.—Contractors will begin repair work on Forest Service Road (FSR) 32 along the Umatilla River this week to regain administrative access to Buck Creek Cabin. Work is anticipated to begin as early as Oct. 6 and will include debris slide removal, temporary repair of damaged roadway, and restoration of drainage features. The main objective of this work is to provide safe administrative access for land management agencies to continue to develop repair plans. FSR 32 will remain closed until repair work is completed. Forest Service R...
WAITSBURG—Waitsburg School District has adjusted the meal home delivery schedule to accommodate the recent change to a hybrid learning model. Starting October 5th, meals will be delivered on Monday and Wednesday, coinciding with the 2020-21 school year, and will consist of three meals. Students who attend in-person instruction on Monday and Tuesday will have their meals delivered to their home on Wednesdays. Students whose in-person instruction is on Thursday and Friday will receive their meal delivery on Monday. Meals will be available at t...
Starting October 5, the Waitsburg School District will only be delivering meals on Monday and Wednesday. If your student is already signed up for the meal program, the schedule will automatically adjust. If you have not signed your child up and would like to participate, you will need to submit a signed consent form to your child’s school. The consent form can be found on the school’s website, www.waitsburgsd.org....
OKTOBERFEST – The Blue Mountain Station Market & Nursery will be celebrating fall with the annual Oktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Whetstone Springs will be there with honey, garlic and more. And Zonia, Starbuck’s new mayor, will have her delightful baked goodies! Alas, no beer garden due to social distancing measures, but take a look at the menu on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/bluemountainstation. You can pre-order food for pick-up on Saturday by emailing BMS with your order, desired pick up time, and con...
The City of Waitsburg received roughly $37,000 in CARES ACT funding, and the City Council decided to make the bulk of the financing available to the local businesses impacted by the pandemic. The grant covers expenses from March through October and can be used to cover the costs of various things, including, rent utilities, PPE, etc. Information on the grant is available on the City website at www.cityofwaitsburg.com. Any business located in the City of Waitsburg that was impacted by the pandemic is welcome to apply. The grant amount is...
The Port just concluded the second round of grant funding for local businesses. Funding was made possible through Washington State’s CARES Act, the City of Dayton, and private grant funds from the Innovia Foundation. In this round, $170,718 has been distributed to 24 local businesses. Between the two grant programs facilitated by the Port so far, 44 businesses have received assistance for a total of $328,256. Funds are still available, so Round 3 will open up as soon as Round 2 distributions are complete. Notification will be sent via e...
On Thursday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced that Washington is setting new requirements for commercial airports and recommendations for airlines. “The steps we’re taking will help protect those who need to fly,” Inslee said. “This guidance isn’t just about SeaTac—these requirements apply to airports across the state—Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, and Everett too”. In addition to the new state requirements, Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, and the Port of Seattle announced additional steps to protect airline passengers and staff’s health and safety...
After months of trying to get residents to fill out their census forms, Columbia County has made very little progress. We are ranked 24 out of 39 counties in self-response rates. Why does this matter? Because federal funds (the tax dollars we’ve paid to the IRS each year) are sent back to states, counties, and cities based on population numbers as tracked by the Census. The number of representatives we have in Congress is also based on Census numbers. Millions of dollars are at stake for Columbia County, dollars that would be used for county r...
