Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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On April 16, 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (epa.gov) announced their final rule to withdraw the federal water quality standards for certain human health criteria in Washington (40 CFR 131.45) The final rule will be effective 30 days after posting in the Federal Register. Washington State Department of Ecology Director Laura Watson issued a statement last Friday, April 18, on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to roll back the water quality standards for Washington state that the agency approved in 2016: “The EPA’s d...
WALLA WALLA—Providence Medical Group patients now can have their medical appointments with many providers via a smartphone, tablet or computer for the same price as a standard office visit co-pay. These appointments include primary care and some specialists. Providence is offering the telehealth visits as an option to allow patients to remain safely in the comfort of their homes and still see their providers. When patients call for appointments, if their provider is participating, they will be given the choice of an in-person visit, t...
Columbia County Food Bank's distribution center moved from downtown Dayton to the Columbia County Fairgrounds on Tuesday, April 14. Distributions will be available every Tuesday from 2 - 4 p.m. with a drive by pick-up option. Blue Mountain Action Council (BMAC) Food Bank Director Jeff Mathias said that the distribution at this site will continue at least through the end of April. Members of the Army National Guard were on hand on Tuesday, April 14, helping to direct traffic and to pass out food...
Deb Callahan is excited about the opening of her new restaurant in downtown Waitsburg, the Millstone Cafe & Bakery, located at 206 Main Street. She is inviting all children in Waitsburg to... “get busy and make some money for our Resource Center,” by running a ‘backyard marathon.’ “Call all your family and friends to get sponsors for each lap you walk around your own yard. Example: grandma sponsors you for 10 cents per lap, you walk 20 laps, grandma will give you a $2.00 donation. Between Wednesday April 15 and Tuesday April 22 walk laps arou...
DAYTON—American Legion and Auxiliary Post #42 of Dayton has canceled their annual Spring Bingo event which was to be held on April 23. Commander Amerien states that “when it can safely be determined that the threat of infection has been mitigated sufficiently, we will happily reconvene and host our event.” Amerein asks that those who have already responded with donations and pledges, to “let us know how you would like us to proceed with your gift, as we do intend to hold the Bingo at a later date....
CAMP MURRAY, WA—After consulting with local authorities, Gov. Jay Inslee and Vice Admiral (ret.) Raquel Bono, M.D, announced on April 11 a decision to utilize Central Washington medical resources to ensure our most vulnerable are protected. The state has requested about 100 U.S. Health and Human Services (HSS) personnel and other resources recently deployed to the former Astria Regional Medical Center in Yakima now focus on long-term care facilities where COVID-19 is occurring in other parts of the state. The number of nursing homes and o...
WAITSBURG—The Waitsburg School District began serving sack breakfast and lunches following Governor Jay Inslee’s mandatory school closure in March. Originally the service had designated areas around Waitsburg for families to pick up meals, however, the district has decided to make changes to help further prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease. Starting April 20, the school district will bring meals directly to the doorstep of each student’s home. The meal pick-up has been well-attended by students. Food service supervisor Susan Wilde...
This weekend Ten Ton Coffee gave out 85 free bag lunches and raised over $500 for the Waitsburg Resource Center food bank! They give much love and thanks to their thoughtful community for helping people in need during this time of crisis....
The Board of Commissioners (BOC) for Waitsburg’s volunteer fire department, Columbia Walla Walla County Fire District #2, is advertising for the first paid Fire Chief position in the department’s history. The BOC is seeking a part time fire chief for the volunteer fire department. They are looking for an individual with a strong Emergency Medical Services background to serve the fire district which covers parts of both Walla Walla and Columbia County. The board hopes the new chief will be an effective leader to the department and com...
WALLA WALLA—The Walla Walla Board of County Commissioners will release information about a possible extension of the due date for payment of property taxes. The current due is April 30, 2020. In a press release, the commissioners note language in the state law, that “During a state of emergency declared under RCW 43.06.020(12), the county treasurer, on his or her own motion or at the request of any taxpayer affected by the emergency, may grant extensions of the due date of any taxes payable under this section as the treasurer deems pro...
OLYMPIA—Governor Inslee has taken action to allow the Department of Licensing (DOL) to temporarily extend the expiration dates of driver licenses. If your driver’s license is set to expire in the next 90 days (April 3 through July 3), the DOL will send you a letter confirming your expiration date has been extended. You will not receive a new card, however, the new expiration date will be updated on your driver record and available to law enforcement. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has also granted an extension on com...
WALLA WALLA— In order to provide better service to customers, the City of Walla Walla is adjusting the availability of the Sudbury Landfill to the public. The goal is to maintain a balance between these factors: The state of Washington’s COVID-19 restrictions on business operations Service to local residents The health and safety of Landfill operators and customers Effective immediately, landfill access for essential businesses and local and state government entities will be available between 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thu...
DAYTON—To respond to the economic impacts stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, Columbia County encourages property owners to pay property taxes as early in April as possible, to help fund vital services needed now, and in the months to come. Annual property tax collection is split into two payments, with due dates at the end of April and October. The due date for the first half of property taxes remains April 30 for tax parcels in Columbia County. According to County Treasurer Carla Rowe, property taxes fund essential services in state and l...
On Monday, April 6, Governor Jay Inslee extended Mid-March’s school closure directive to close all public and private K–12 schools throughout the remainder of the 2019–20 school year. Waitsburg School Superintendent Mark Pickel checked in after the announcement and noted that he will continue working with his colleagues at Educational Service District 123, as well as the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to strategize best practices for distance learning. Pickel and Secondary Principal Stephanie Wooderchak have plans to meet...
In an email to her Mythical/Moveable Blue Mountain Bluegrass Jam group, facilitator Kate Hockersmith announced the cancellation of the free, weekly, all-ages jam session. However, she has been updating the group’s Facebook page with daily postings from a video series entitled “365 Fiddle Tunes.” She noted the recent additions of three videos by Canadian fiddler Patti Kusturok. She doesn’t plan on posting all 365 of the videos, “but you can sure find them on YouTube, as soon as you view the first one, it’s a great way to be introduced...
Columbia County Public Transportation is accepting homemade cloth face masks at their office at 507 W. Cameron St. in Dayton. Columbia County Emergency Management Director Ashley Strickland said the masks must be made according to CDC guidelines. CCPT will wash them, sort them, and distribute them. To obtain, or deliver homemade masks visit the CCPT office, or call them at (509) 382-1647. More information can be found on the Emergency Management Facebook page at: Columbia County E-911 and...
Since schools are closed, Carnegie Picture Lab is unable to deliver its art history and art creation curriculum to area elementary schools. The nonprofit organization has stepped in by providing opportunities for at-home learning with A Daily Dose of ART. Monday through Friday, Picture Lab is providing an on-line art education lesson through their website. The lessons feature a notable artist and include an Artful Thinking activity. There are links to artist information and resources, as well...
Along with many annual fundraisers that help our local non-profit organizations, The American Legion Post #42’s Spring Bingo scheduled for April 25 has been canceled. No future date has been set....
On March 23rd I fell out of my Wheelchair at the corner of 6th & Main. A woman stopped, then Jim Lynch stopped, and together they got me in the wheelchair. Before I could turn to thank the woman, she had gotten back in her car and left. So I would like to thank these two, it was nice of you. THANK YOU Jim Wills...
DAYTON—Dayton Mercantile can now process phone orders for groceries and CCPT will deliver the orders to residences. CCPT will also deliver meals to the Starbuck Senior Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays, along with grocery orders to residences. Volunteers are needed to act as intermediaries. Call CCPT at: (509) 382-1647 to volunteer, or for more information. Contact the Dayton Mercantile at: (509) 382-2563....
In Walt Gobel’s obituary last week, his birthdate was erroneously listed as May 12, 1944. Walt was born on February 20, 1944....
WALLA WALLA—The Blue Mountain Community Foundation has created a COVID-19 Response Fund and is organizing an advisory committee so that charitable resources can be directed to nonprofit organizations assisting people affected by the COVID-19 virus pandemic in the Walla Walla Valley. Other local philanthropies are creating funds either on their own, or in partnership with BMCF. The Sherwood Trust, a privately held Trust in Walla Walla, Wash., made a $10,000 grant to BMCF’s fund, and an anonymous donor gave $5000 to the Fund in addition to the...
OLYMPIA—The Department of Licensing (DOL) is temporarily closing all driver licensing lobbies beginning March 31, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. All appointments are being cancelled at this time and no appointments will be made going forward. “The safety and health of both employees and customers is paramount. Sanitation products continue to be difficult to purchase and ensuring appropriate social distancing during in person transactions is difficult” said Teresa Berntsen, Director of the Department of Licensing. “We appreciate patienc...
WAITSBURG-Waitsburg residents are refusing to let the quarantine boredom get the best of them. Over the weekend, a few community members issued community-wide challenges, finding creative ways to encourage social-distancing approved exercise. Matthew and Krystal Wyatt went live on Facebook last week and challenged the community to use sidewalk chalk and decorate the areas in front of their house with encouraging messages. If you don't have a sidewalk, a driveway would do just fine! When the...
DAYTON—On Monday, March 30, XO Alambic, the Dayton distillery announced the immediate start of production of ethanol-based, anti-viral hand sanitizer, CovidEx AV. Friday, March 27 was the distillery’s last day of regular whisky and brandy production and the company has adapted its production schedule to answer the local need. Last week, the Columbia County Emergency Management Director, Ashley Strickland, asked XO Alambic owner and distiller, Rusty Figgins, if he would consider making ethanol-ba...
