Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 3108
Recently, friends invited me to join them at a snowshoe event hosted by the Blue Mountain Land Trust at the Horseshoe Prairie Nordic Ski Area near Tollgate, Oregon. I've never snowshoed before. The event organizers said they would provide snowshoes and snacks. They had me at snacks. My friends are two of the most active and well-traveled people I know. This year marked their record of visiting all seven continents. I'm impressed and a little jealous. They always find adventure on their trips;...
Ten Years Ago January 22, 2015 [Photo caption] Seahawks fever struck the Waitsburg Grocery Store early Monday, after the Hawks won the NFC Championship Sunday with a stunning comeback against the Green Bay Packers. This artwork was painted by Waitsburg Grocery employee Kasmira Grende. Twenty-Five Years Ago January 20, 2000 Waitsburg Elementary is boosting reading in grades K-6 with a very simple philosophy: The best way for students to improve their reading is to read. To encourage more... Full story
Five seventh graders and four sixth graders started basketball practice on January 6. The middle school girls' first game will be on Wednesday, January 22 at Rogers in College Place. Back row l-r are Shylo Hedges, Laila Long, Madyson Potter, Audrey Kiefel, and Jaylynn Gleason Front row l-r are Tanna Ray, Kaitlyn Paul, Ava McCaw, and Peyton Childers...
I am heartbroken watching the fires burn in Los Angeles. I don’t have one friend or family member who has not been affected, from those who have lost their homes to those who have been on edge from evacuation orders in place, which were rescinded and then ordered again. Some have evacuated, others have their cars packed and ready. The house we owned is in a hole at the center of the fires, like the eye of a hurricane. The Palisades and Malibu fires are to the west, the Kenneth fire to the north,...
Ten Years Ago January 15, 2015 [Photo caption] WP wrestler Tyler Brooks performs a take-down on Wa-Hi's Isaac Melton during a home match against Wa-Hi and Columbia-Burbank on Monday night. Brooks won his only match of the night in a 7-4 decision in the 170-pound division. A highlight of the evening included a first-ever win by WP grappler Dejay Lalka who's win had the coaches and crowd in tears. Lalka won by a 11-7 decision in his second match against Walla Walla High junior varsity wrestler... Full story
All sorts of stories aim to explain how this dessert got its name, but we have not come to any consensus (according to Wikipedia, anyway). I've heard the pastries were invented by a shoemaker's wife who stared down the cobblestone lane waiting for her sweet to return. She put together a smattering of sweet and tart fruits for her husband, the cobbler, to gobble. Similar desserts have been and are still called by various names such as tart, pie, etc., with only subtle differences between them....
Six years and counting. I think I’m a bit of an outlier; I am not a big Wicked fan. But a lyric keeps playing in my head, “Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? But because I knew you, I have been changed for good.” And that is how I feel about my move here. I happily say, “I have no regrets.” That being said, I recently drove to Tri-cities to have heels put on two pairs of shoes. When I lived in Los Angeles, this was a five-minute walk to my neighborhood shoemaker. I never paid...
Ten Years Ago January 9, 2015 [Photo Caption] New Whiskey Creek Sports Bar & Grill general manager Gary Bales (l) stopped for a quick photo with restaurant investor Ken Cole, Jr. before heading to the work site to check on construction progress. The Whiskey Creek Sports Bar & Grill is right on track to open early this spring. Twenty-Five Years Ago January 6, 2000 The Washington wheat industry is keeping a close eye on Zak, a promising newcomer among soft white spring wheat varieties. Zak's crede... Full story
Since moving to Waitsburg, we have been slowly remodeling our older home one room at a time. Finally, the end is in sight with the biggest project, a planned complete overhaul of our kitchen, scheduled for later this year. In anticipation of this, we have getting by with the aging components of our current kitchen, making piecemeal repairs to buy us time until we eventually replace everything. Lately, it seems that as soon as we fix one problem the next one pops up. First, it was the dishwasher... Full story
A stiff breeze shoved through the sagebrush, wafting the soft branch tips like a feather duster and scattering the pungent scent with the puffs of dust rising from underfoot. A valley quail breast feather clung to the sage as it whipped in the wind. The soft, downy barbs flailed around the feather shaft while the vane gently fanned. The feather was that of a female, white with a thin black outlining band and dark shaft splitting the vane perfectly centered. The feather was deposited following a...
Ten Years Ago January 1, 2015 Losing a public works director with 40 years on-the-job experience is bound to be a big blow to a city, but that hit is softened significantly when the incoming director has 20 years experience of his own. At the Dec. 17 city council meeting, the council approved a recommendation from the personnel committee, consisting of Walt Gobel, Randy Hinchliffe and Marty Dunn, to promote city crew staffer Jim Lynch to public works director. Lynch, who replaces longtime... Full story
My mother's family has roots in Texas, which often influences our holiday gatherings. In Texas, as with much of the South, eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day is thought to bring good luck and fortune in the coming year. We often serve them simmered with bacon, along with a big hunk of my aunt's famous corn bread. This year, I wanted to try a twist on this family tradition, one that included a nod to my Latino heritage. The result was flavorful spiced black-eyed peas stuffed into flakey...
Times subscribers (R) Kathy Oman and (l) Mary Denault and Margaret Umphrey shared the wide range of winter holiday climates in their Times Travelers photos this week. Oman was on a cruise in Mexico where, in one port, she enjoyed the beach and sun in Loreto, Mexico. Mary Denault and Margaret Umphrey hosted family for the holidays, sharing the snowy wonderland that is Grand Forks, North Dakota in December.... Full story
Pfeffernusse or Peppernuts are traditional German Christmas cookies. This recipe was submitted by Waitsburg resident Joan Helm in memory of her mother-in-law Aleda Helm. "It is a family favorite," said Helm. Ingredients: ½ lb butter 1 cup sugar 2 eggs, beaten 1 cup molasses ½ cup dark Karo syrup 1 tsp ginger 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp salt ½ tsp cloves 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper ½ tsp edible oil of anise 1 tsp baking soda 5 cups flour 1 ½ cups finely chopped walnuts... Full story
Ten Years Ago December 25, 2014 [Photo Caption] Eight-year-old Kailee is blind but loves to snuggle in the beard of the only Santa she's ever known. Waitsburg Santa, Skip Winchester, made a pre-Santa-season trip to New York to visit some of his special friends. Twenty-Five Years Ago December 23, 1999 Outdoor Christmas light displays are very prevalent around town this year, with more than seventy light displays to be seen. Outstanding and sweepstakes winner is the home of Steve Huxoll, 141 West... Full story
Among the things I love about living in Waitsburg are the packages of homemade Christmas cookies that we receive from several of our neighbors this time of year. Brightly frosted sugar cookies, chocolate crinkles, and spiced oatmeal raisin are just a few of the sweet delights already lovingly gifted to us this holiday season. A simple but thoughtful gesture, the sharing of treats from home kitchens is the kind of thing that gives small towns such big hearts. With platters of assorted baked...
First, after making twenty typos typing the title and first sentence, I am thankful for spell check. My fingers are stiff from the cold weather, and although I can spell, my fingers are less than agile. I am thankful for our wonderful neighbors who invited Daniel and me to spend Thanksgiving with them. We had planned on dining alone on Cornish game hens, with Mugsy waiting under my chair for a spill or leftovers. Instead, eight friends gathered, ate great food and had a lot of laughs and great...
Ten Years Ago December 18, 2014 There is a new chef at the Dayton School District and her name is Angie Monyak. "Someone told me the position was open and thought I'd make a good fit," Monyak said. "I was a little worried though. It's scary to make a change, and I'd been with the hospital for 10 years." Monyak is wowing the students and staff at the school with her handmade muffins and pancakes and her extremely popular full salad bar (for high schoolers and adults) and full mixed salad for... Full story
For the food obsessed, like me, planning a menu for a holiday fête can take weeks of research and recipe testing. While Thanksgiving is often made up of standard classics to pair with turkey, for me Christmas is an opportunity to experiment, building menus centered on different meaty mains. Over the years, my holiday repertoire has developed a rotation of favorites from Julia's bœuf bourguignon, or herb crusted rib roast, to stone fruit stuffed pork loin and classic glazed ham. Once the main d... Full story
Many thanks to the teachers at Waitsburg Elementary School for sharing the creative writing from their students. It is a busy time for all, with last minute shopping, wrapping, and visiting family and friends. Take a little break to enjoy these wishes, poems, and riddles, they will put you into the holiday spirit. Pre K Morning Class What we want Santa to bring us for Christmas Caiden Able- Train set, slingshot. Tony Copple- Farm trucks. Rhett Elsey- Big monster truck. Adalyn Gleason- Toy...
Dear Santa! My name is Adi, I am 5 years old, I live in Waitsburg. For Christmas I would like toy make up and a rainbow to hang on my Barbie house. One question I have for Santa is, when do you and the reindeer start flying to people's houses? Love, Adi Knighton Dear Santa! My name is Alayna, I am 5 years old and I live in Dayton in a new house. Something I would like for Christmas is a picture of my whole family and a pretty bracelet with my mom's picture. One question I have for Santa is,... Full story
The Grinch Green, Hairy Stinking, Stealing, Yelling He doesn't like Christmas! Mean One by Elijah Dalhby Christmas Tree Beautiful, Sparkly Cutting, Decorating, Admiring Christmas trees smell good! Evergreen by Valynn Nokes Santa's sleigh Big, Red Carrying, Flying, Delivering Santa delivers presents fast Sled by Myles Grende Snowman Round, Cold Rolling, Stacking, Decorating Building snowmen is fun! Frosty by Alaia Gagnon Reindeer Big, Powerful Jumping, Flying, Landing They help Santa deliver.... Full story
Second Grade Winter Haikus Snowman Frosty the Snowman Frosty and I love to play. We drink hot cocoa. by Corben Brock The Winter I love hot cocoa. Playing with my family. I like snowball fights. by Oliver Castillo Winter I love hot cocoa. Making snowmen in the snow. I like snowball fights. by Richard Chavez Christmas Joy Drinking hot cocoa. Christmas is joy and goodness. Spreading happiness. by Alyssa Cole Winter is Fun I love when it snows. I like to make snow angels. I play with my friends. by... Full story
