Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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"We're missing snakes," Ali said. "It's the apex predator at ground level." "You're right. We've seen one gopher snake on this property in eight years," I replied. Rarely would anyone utter a thought about needing more snakes in their life, but this conversation followed a moment of compromised composure. A pocket gopher eating the entire root system from beneath a beautiful three-year-old sagebrush that had grown from seed provoked red-faced rage and copious obscenities. I'm not one to "throw...
Three and Done (for now). I recently completed my third week of tennis camp. Exhausted doesn’t begin to describe how I ache. But persevere, I have, and I’m sure the makers of Advil are celebrating my stubbornness and my dependence on their miracle drug. With all that time and money spent, you’d think I’d be scouted to play at Wimbledon, but nope. I am relegated to my usual but fun, regular games. And I am grateful that I can still play, have friends to play with, and have not been sidelin...
Ten Years Ago July 17, 2014 "I'm so great at swim lessons!" announced Alyssa Array as she exited the dressing room following her Level 3 swim class at the Waitsburg City Pool on Tuesday morning. That statement – along with the fact that 60 children participated in lessons this year – is a testament to the success of Waitsburg's swim program. This year Waitsburg offered one two-week session of swim lessons, from beginners at Level 1, to the more advanced Level 4 swimmers. Lessons are taught by...
Several years ago, we were in Los Angeles visiting friends and family during a milestone birthday. As part of the festivities, we were invited to a friend’s house for a potluck barbeque. Being very familiar with the culinary trends of health-conscious southern California, I made a joke on our way there that the potluck would be nothing but raw kale. When we arrived at the party, there was fresh guacamole made from avocados grown in someone’s backyard, gorgeous wild-caught seafood on the gri...
PRESCOTT - Thirty-seven miles from Waitsburg is the hidden gem of Fishhook Park. After turning off Hwy 124 W to Fishhook Park Road, you travel through the First Fruits Farms to reach the camping or day-use area. Fishhook Park has 53 campsites and a fairly large day-use area. You can fish, boat, swim, kayak, bird watch, play on the beach, or stroll through the park. There is a play structure for kids, restrooms with showers, and you can read a little history about Lewis & Clark when they were in...
Ten Years Ago July 10, 2014 [Photo Caption] Photographer Nick Page went to Lyons Ferry Marina for the Fourth of July holiday and stuck around long enough to catch the fireworks show at dusk. Here spectators watch a shot above the Snake River. Twenty-Five Years Ago July 1, 1999 Over 470 Barrel Racers strapped on their spurs and kicked up some dust at the 21st Annual VGBRA Barrel Daze held April 9-11, 1999 at the Walla Walla Fairgrounds. Guys and gals from across Washington, Oregon, Idaho,...
Recently, while preparing for a dear friend's birthday celebration, I came across a recipe for an old-fashioned buttermilk cake. After adding orange zest to accentuate the tangy flavor of the buttermilk, the resulting cake was rich and moist with a perfect texture. Topped with an orange infused cream cheese frosting, this cake was a smashing hit with the guests of the party, and most importantly the birthday girl. This week, I plan on making this cake again for another summer birthday of sorts,...
I just completed my first tennis camp session, and I'm not as fit as I thought (or hoped) I was. The camp started at one o'clock on Thursday afternoon, and I, being overly ambitious, decided to play a two-hour singles game before camp. I began camp a little "used up," but luckily, there was a break with snacks for a little energy boost. After camp ended in the afternoon, I met a friend for a quick dinner and went on to the tennis league games that started at six. To say I slept well that night...
Ten Years Ago July 3, 2014 Well-wishers bid a fond farewell to Coppei Café owner Allison Bond, while serving up a warm welcome to new operators Emry and Sandy Kleck, at Sunday night's welcome/farewell party. The café was filled with patrons who mingled, visited and laughed as they enjoyed good drinks and tasty tri-tip. "It was a great party! We even had people stop in who had never been down before," said Bond. Emry Kleck prepared specially seasoned tri-tip steak on his custom grill before a r...
There is no shortage of comforting dishes that can be made with a sack of potatoes. Light and tender, gnocchi are marvelous little Italian potato dumplings that can be dressed up in a wide variety of sauces. While packages of shelf stable, store-bought gnocchi have been a reliable staple in my pantry for many years, they are pale in comparison to the delicate texture of homemade. Here I have them tossed in a quick sauce of blistered tomatoes, garlic and herbs. A wonderful way to celebrate the...
DAYTON - Coming to the Liberty Theater is a female version of Neil Simon's classic "The Odd Couple." Dave Campbell directs the TVAC Production, which will run from June 21 through 23. The original "Odd Couple" premiered on Broadway in 1965, starring Walter Matthau as the messy but easygoing Oscar Madison and Art Carney as the uptight Felix Unger. Simon adapted his play, and "The Odd Couple" was released as a movie in 1968, with Walter Matthau reviving his role as Oscar and Jack Lemmon starring...
Ten Years Ago June 26, 2014 Jim German says that he expected his bar to always be a small sidelight to the nightlife in Waitsburg. "I thought there'd always be other bars and taverns here, and that we'd be just a small part of that," German said recently. "I never thought we'd be the only bar left standing." ON a recent Friday night in June, jimgermanbar was standing tall. A waitress and bartender were taking drink orders, and a wood-fired grill was blazing on the back patio. While a reporter...
WAITSBURG - The Royal Block will welcome Brooklyn, New York-based abstract artist Jeffrey Bishop, for a presentation on his fifty-year art-making practice on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at 6 p.m. After the presentation, Royal Block owner and art curator Joseph Roberts will join Bishop to discuss his work. Bishop's work has been widely exhibited and critically acclaimed. The Royal Block and Roberts host monthly Art Talks. These round-table discussions facilitated by Roberts consider differing...
Camp is not just for kids. It is for us tennis aficionados as well. Otherwise known as the overly ambitious, overly confident, ready for sunburns, exhaustion, and probably a good dose of tennis humility. The Whitman College tennis team coaches run three-weekend tennis and wine camps in the spring and another three in the fall. I will be a returning camper and plan on attending all of them as I am a glutton for punishment. The Tennis and Wine Camp is for adults and offers a full day of tennis...
Before moving to Waitsburg, bread baking was an elusive skill I always shied away from. Despite my deep love for all the shapes and styles of bread, the idea of making my own always seemed like an impossible feat. Perhaps inspired by the rolling wheat fields that surround us, I have since learned a lot while discovering the magic that can be made with a few ingredients, patience, and a hot oven. This chewy and crusty focaccia was one of the first successful bakes, filling our home with an...
Congratulations to Luke Chavez on graduating with Summa Cum Laude (4.0) honors from CWU on June 8. He leaves this fall for graduate school at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash. Chavez is the business manager and "My Recipes" columnist for "The Times." He is also the manager and one of the founders of Ten Ton Coffee in Waitsburg. We at the paper are as happy for him as we are sad for us to see him move....
One of the things I truly enjoy about Waitsburg is that because of our oasis of trees and water in a normally dry environment, we are provided with a litany of bird songs at any time of day. For example, when I sit on my front porch on a weekend morning drinking my coffee, I can hear up to 20 different types of birds calling to each other. Sitting on my back porch at dusk, I hear the evening songs as the birds go to bed. And when I let the dog out one last time for the evening, I regularly hear...
WAITSBURG-Waitsburg celebrated a week of graduations, promotions, induction or installation and numerous parties. On June 4, the Kindergarten class held an afternoon graduation ceremony in the Elementary's multipurpose room. Twenty students sang "Kindergarten Medley" and "Goodbye My Friend" before receiving certificates from their teacher, Mrs. Jordan Greer. In the evening, the school honored Hope Adkins, Sarah Daves, Karissa Potts, and Sara Wilson, inducting them into the National Honor...
1 Years Ago June 19, 2014 A good many local dads spent this Father's Day weekend lending a hand to the exhibitors and organizers of the Waitsburg Livestock Show and Fair that took place at the Waitsburg fairgrounds on June 14 and 15. Fair President Sandra Farley estimates that approximately 70 exhibitors participated in the event. The longstanding Waitsburg tradition – originally known as the Waitsburg Junior Livestock Show – formally changed its name to the Waitsburg Livestock Show and Fai...
As we move towards the summer solstice, many of our meals will be enjoyed on the back deck. From all-American cheeseburgers or Mexican carne asada to Korean bulgogi, the art of grilling is a culinary skill that brings people together all around the world. In fact, there is something quite primal in the communal experience of gathering around a meal sizzling over an open flame. A reminder of the universal commonalties of the human experience that far outweigh the differences. Here, ground beef...
Showmanship at the Waitsburg Junior Livestock show began early on Saturday morning at the farigrounds. The two day event gave FFA and 4H members the opportunity to prepare for the big shows at the Walla Walla and Columbia County Fairs later this summer....
Stan passed away on March 12 at Providence St. Mary following a sudden illness. A Celebration of Life will be held in Stan Thatcher's honor on June 15 at 2 pm. in the picnic shelter at Rooks Park, Walla Walla. Friends are invited to bring memories to share....
Cecil Louis Gagnon was born to Philip and Eunice Gagnon on April 6, 1930, and said farewell to the ones he loved on March 21, 2024, just shy of his 94th birthday. He was our dad, your brother, uncle, and friend. Cecil served in the Korean War and returned to Waitsburg before moving to Idaho, Oregon, then back to Waitsburg. He built his first home in Hines, Oregon, before returning to Waitsburg. After a few years, he moved his family back to Oregon to begin his very successful lifelong career of...