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The results of 38 pending COVID-19 test results from workers and inspectors at the Wallula, WA Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. plant will be released later this week, according to an email from the Walla Walla County Department of Community Health on Monday, May 11. The last update from the DCH about the plant dated May 4, 2020 reported that 1,258 Tyson employees and 19 USDA inspectors have been tested, 1,239 test results have been received and 147 workers have tested positive. Workers at the plant reside in multiple counties including Walla Walla,...
WALLA WALLA—In observance of Memorial Day, the grounds at Mountain View Cemetery will be open to the public from dawn until dusk on May 22-25. Due to COVID-19, below are a few considerations for those planning to visit on Memorial Day weekend; • Visitors are asked to strictly observe social distancing requirements while at the Cemetery. • Families are encouraged to use the online burial service to locate those memorialized at the Cemetery. This tool can be found on the City’s website at wallawallawa.gov. • Those planning to visit the Cemetery...
DAYTON—The Dayton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted on May 6 to cancel All Wheels Weekend, the 26th annual car show scheduled for Father’s Day Weekend, June 19-21. The decision to cancel was based on concerns over bringing large crowds into the community during the four-phase reopening of businesses due to the coronavirus pandemic. “It would not be wise or socially responsible to bring large crowds from outside into our community right now,” said Board Director Bette Lou Crother...
DAYTON—The Dayton Memorial Library is undertaking the initial collection, maintenance, and eventual archive of accounts of coronavirus in Columbia County. The purpose of this Community Memories Project is to encourage agencies, organizations, and individuals to document their actions and experiences during the COVID-19 outbreak. Caitlyn Dare, a staff member at the library, is asking for submissions of poetry, prose, diary entries, photographs, music, art, memes, videos, data collection, or any other medium that can be stored digitally. ...
OLYMPIA—Gov. Jay Inslee announced the launch of a statewide contact tracing plan on Tuesday, May 12 that will allow more businesses to open and more people to be active in public while helping to slow and prevent the spread of COVID-19. “Contact tracing is another tool in our toolbox for tackling COVID-19 in Washington,” Inslee said. “While we need to continue physical distancing, this will allow us to get a better handle on who gets sick and how the virus is spread, which is vital to re-opening our economy.” Local health departments will lead...
OLYMPIA—Unemployed workers throughout Washington will get jobs to help the state address and recover from the COVID-19 disaster, receive training for in-demand careers and get targeted help with their job search. The $12 million disaster recovery grant from the U.S. Department of Labor also will help the state’s workforce system adapt to providing services virtually during and after the pandemic. The grant will: Place laid-off workers into jobs to respond to or mitigate effects of the COVID-19 disaster, including positions in emergency man...
WAITSBURG—Waitsburg Elementary will hold Kindergarten and Preschool registration for the Fall of 2020 on Monday, May 18th. There will be a drive thru station to pick-up registration packets from 8 a.m. to noon. The registration drive thru will be in the bus zone at the elementary school building. There will be another drive thru for drop-off of registration packets from 8 a.m. to noon on Monday, June 8th. All children who turn five, on or before, August 31 and live within the Waitsburg School District boundaries are eligible to register for Kin...
CAMP MURRAY, Wash.—Immunization rates among children appear to be dropping during the COVID-19 pandemic. This leaves children and communities at risk. Providers in Washington’s Childhood Vaccine Program reported a 30 percent decrease in vaccinations for March and potentially a 42 percent decrease in April as data continue to be reported. The amount of vaccine ordered by providers in March also fell both in Washington state and nationwide. “We are concerned that babies and kids aren’t getting all the vaccines they need to protect them,...
April 15 Malicious Mischief investigation in Waitsburg at 137 Main Street, Waitsburg, WA. April 21 Residential burglary that occurred sometime over the last week at an address in the 17000 block of E. HWY 12, Waitsburg, WA. May 5 Someone illegally dumped a bunch of garbage in between the old barracks at the Airport, 180 E. Lear Ave., Walla Walla County. May 6 A man and his wife were attacked by their own dogs at an address in the 500 block of Gose Street in Walla Walla County. May 8 A compound bow was located in the back of a pickup truck, on...
DAYTON—The filing period for all Columbia County offices up for re-election this fall ends on May 15 at 4 p.m. Open offices include Columbia County Commissioner District No. 1, and Columbia County Commissioner District No. 2, along with Precinct Committee Officers. Candidates seeking to file must observe the social distancing of six feet while in the county auditor’s office. The auditor’s office is located on the second floor of the County Courthouse at 341 East Main Street. May 18 at 4:30 is the final day for a candidate to withdraw from...
WALLA WALLA—Walla Walla County commissioners met with fairgrounds General Manager Bill Ogg last Friday to discuss the viability of the 2020 Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days amid the pandemic. Roughly 30 events scheduled at the Walla Walla Fairgrounds have been cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in more than $30,000 in revenue loss. Commissioners are concerned that, if the fair goes on as scheduled, the event may not be successful enough to cover expenses. Fair M...
A group of 60-80 people gathered in downtown Walla Walla on Sunday, May 10 in protest of Gov. Jay Inslee's 'Stay Safe, Stay Home' proclamation. Organizer Kevin Davis of Dixie, WA spoke to those assembled using a loud speaker, warning that the partial shutdown of the local economy unfairly favored some businesses over others. Most who participated chose not to wear masks or observe six feet of social distancing space. Drivers passing by honked their horns and waved, receiving waves in return...
In last week's issue, we incorrectly identified Patsy Walsh Adams as Patsy Welch Adams....
On April 7 at around 5:20 a.m., Walla Walla Fire Department responded to a house fire in the 900 block of W. Alder Street. After further investigation, this fire was determined to be an arson. Police have obtained a picture of a person of interest and are requesting help from the public for identification. If you can identify the person in the picture, please contact Walla Walla Dispatch at (509) 527-1960 and ask to speak to an officer regarding case 2020-06070....
DAYTON—The City of Dayton, Dayton Chamber of Commerce and the Port of Columbia launched a promotional campaign called “Big Hearts for Small Business” on Monday, May 4. The campaign was developed to help Columbia County small businesses who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to encourage residents to love where they live by shopping locally. The campaign kicked off this past Monday on social media. The Dayton Chamber will continue to share posts on its Facebook and Instagram pages every day of the week. Each day has a theme—such as...
WALLA WALLA—The Sherwood Trust’s 2020 general operating grants are now open for applications to qualified Walla Walla Valley nonprofits. Up to 20 local nonprofits are eligible for awards up to $20,000, for a total local investment of $400,000. The 2020 operating grants will replace the foundation’s Core grant cycle for this year, according to Sherwood Trust CEO Brian Hunt. Feedback from nonprofit leaders helped frame the general grant guidelines, he said. “Our 2020 grant cycle is different,” said Board President Chuck Fulton. “These ar...
The Dayton Days parade and rodeo scheduled for May 23 has been postponed until 2021, according to Dayton Days Committee Vice-president Loyal Baker....
OLYMPIA—Governor Jay Inslee, Kelly Susewind, director of the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Don Hoch, director of the Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission, and Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz on April 30, announced plans to partially reopen some fishing, hunting, and outdoor recreation opportunities in Washington starting Tuesday, May 5. “We’ve had so many people doing their part to stay home, and we’re seeing results. We’re now at a point where we will soon be able to begin welcoming people back outdoors,...
WALLA WALLA—Columbia REA will donate $10,000 to the Providence St. Mary Foundation for the ongoing response to the coronavirus outbreak. The donation will help fund the continuation of the Community Health Worker program, which is part of the Population Health service line operated by Providence St. Mary Medical Center/Providence Medical Group. Community Health Workers (CHWs) are able to link participants to services such as food banks, heating assistance during winter, legal aid and transportation arrangements to/from medical appointments, a...
WALLA WALLA—Walla Walla Community Hospice has transitioned what was to have been a live presentation at the Gesa Power House into an online event. The Live Well—Die Well Webinar will be presented on Thursday, May 7th from 6 - 8 p.m. Guest presenter Kimberly C. Paul is the author of “Bridging the Gap: Life Lessons from the Dying,” a TEDx presenter on end-of-life planning, and the creator and host of the “Death by Design” podcast. Walla Walla Community Hospice will host Paul through an online webinar. Paul will share her wisdom and perspective...
WAITSBURG—Waitsburg Elementary will hold Kindergarten and Preschool registration for the Fall of 2020 on Monday, May 18th. There will be a drive thru station to pick-up registration packets from 8:00 a.m. to noon. The registration drive thru will be in the bus zone at the elementary school building. There will be another drive thru for drop-off of registration packets from 8:00 a.m. to noon on Monday, June 8th. All children who turn five, on or before, August 31 and live within the Waitsburg School District boundaries are eligible to r...
February 24 An abandoned vehicle was towed from Cemetery Road, Dixie, WA. April 20 A woman was arrested for possession of a stolen motor vehicle at an address on Blacksnake Ridge Road, Walla Walla County, WA. April 28 Deputies investigated a single vehicle collision with injuries to the driver and passenger in the 4000 block of Cottonwood Road, Walla Walla, WA. April 29 Vehicle was located in the ditch in the 2900 block of Old Milton Hwy, no one around and unable to contact any RO or driver. Fight occurred in C-Tank between two inmates at 300...
OLYMPIA—The Department of Ecology’s spill responders are seeing an increase in the number of illegal dumpings of chemicals and other waste. While many collection sites are closed due to COVID-19, Ecology is reminding everyone not to dump household waste. Abandoning chemical waste can have lasting effects on human health and the environment. Waste oil, paint, household chemicals or other hazardous materials should be safely stored until waste collection facilities reopen. For a list of facilities that will accept waste from households and bus...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated the governmental organization’s website with additional symptoms for the coronavirus. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19: •Cough •Shortness of breath or •difficulty breathing •Or at least two of these symptoms: •Fever •Chills •Repeated shaking with chills •Muscle pain •Headache •Sore throat •New loss of taste or smell The site states that “This list is not all inclusive. Please...
During the last month (March 21 to April 18) BMAC has directly provided 9,653 people with 93,678 meals worth of food. On average that is 3.5 day’s worth of food per person served once per week. In Walla Walla County, BMAC is now directly providing 3.5 days of food assistance to 5% of the population every week . Three other pantries are also operating in Walla Walla County and receiving food from BMAC. In Columbia County, BMAC is now directly providing 3.5 days of food assistance to over 10% of the population every week . On April 18th 2020, B...