Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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Hells Gate State Park, located in Lewiston, Idaho, was once the site of a Nez Perce village. Today, one can enjoy an abundance of activities. Located along the Snake River, park visitors appreciate the outdoors as they enjoy swimming at the long stretch of day-use beach, boating, fishing, and kayaking. Another adventure is stopping at the marina to schedule a day trip up Hells Canyon on a jet boat. Out of the water, you can play disc golf, take a walk, or ride your bicycle on the trails around...
There is still time to enjoy great weather conditions to kayak this September on the Snake River. It might be a little hazy and smoky at times, but with no wind, kayaking downriver is a pleasant way to spend three hours. And it is a good workout. Along with three of my sisters, a cousin, and a friend from Lewiston who knows the area, we traveled to Asotin to launch our kayaks. It was a tad cool when we started at 10 am, but the sun soon warmed us up. We traveled about 11 miles downriver to...
Taking a little over two-mile stroll around Bennington Lake in Walla Walla is a relaxing way to spend a Tuesday morning. Spotting different birds with the changing of the seasons and walking with experienced "birders" is educational no matter your age. The walk along the lake takes place every Tuesday starting at 8 am and is available to all who enjoy the outdoors. Bird-watchers bring their binoculars and walk alongside the very knowledgeable Mike Denny. Denny knows the birds by sound and sight...
The Blue Mountain Land Trust held its final Nature Kids summer event on Saturday, August 21. Kids and their families were invited to the free event at Rooks Park in Walla Walla to learn about stream ecology, salmon, and aquatic critters. So, Allen and I picked up our grandson Elijah and headed to the park. Elijah picked up a bucket and a net, put on a life jacket, and headed to the water. After collecting specimens, the kids compared their findings to a chart provided by the trust to see what...
Traveling is always an adventure. On our recent trip to Idaho, there wasn't time to nap or read. You are never bored traveling through small towns rather than taking the freeway. Out the window, you see beautiful scenery, hardworking farmers, wildlife, and workers out in the August heat constructing wider and better roads to travel on. We passed fire crews controlling the Riparia fire that spread to the edge of the road near Central Ferry. And passing through small towns like Tensed, Idaho, you...
"Phenomenal", "very good, best ever yields," and "fabulous, record yields" were statements received from area farmer's wives regarding this year's wheat harvest. Early summer rains pushed back harvest time for two to three weeks. Farmers from Prescott, Waitsburg, Dayton, and the Colfax area are finishing up harvesting winter wheat and will soon harvest other crops, such as spring wheat, garbanzos, and lentils, and baling a second cutting of hay. Fortunately, most farmers did not suffer any...
Harris Park is located 15 miles southeast of Milton-Freewater, Oregon. It is an excellent place to camp and close enough to enjoy a day trip to picnic in the day use area. Before the flood of 2020, the park had about 30 campsites, some alongside the south fork of the Walla Walla River, and three cabins. Alongside the river were trees and bushes where the sight of many species of hummingbirds were enjoyed by campers. If you held a feeder in your hand, the hummingbirds would come and get a drink....
The lottery was not for money but a week's stay at beautiful Lake Tapp near Bonney Lake, Washington. My sisters, sans one, and I enjoyed a two-bedroom cabin with a kitchen and a deck overlooking the lake. After stopping at the store to stock up on groceries, we enjoyed a boat ride compliments of an area resident and his family. At the lake, we saw geese, goslings, eagles, hot air balloons, and lots of people enjoying water sports. Mount Rainier is the backdrop of the lake, which made for...
One of our favorite camping spots is Winchester Lake State Park in Idaho. It is about 36 miles south of Lewiston and has a great lake to kayak or paddleboard, as motorized boats are not allowed. With an Idaho fishing license, you are sure to catch a few fish for a fish fry. The area also offers some nice hiking trails. Winchester is a small town of about 500 people, and this year we were camping during the 4th of July holiday and enjoyed the town's festivities. People came from around the area...
The sounds of laughter, singing, and children at play will bring a smile to your face. Children involved in indoor and outdoor activities create wonderful memories of their youth. Recently, members who attended the June school board meeting were treated to songs by the middle and high school choir. All those present had smiles on their faces. The choir had recently entertained participants at a mature exerciser's class at Town Hall. There, Anita Baker played the school fight song on the piano,...
You're never too old to ride a bike. It is not about a race; it's about the journey, the places you can go, and the scenery you will see! Easy rides such as pedaling around the streets of Waitsburg or riding the backroad to Huntsville are a good way to start easing into bicycling. On those rides, you will be on relatively flat surfaces, and in Waitsburg, you will get the occasional rest as you stop to visit people that are out and about. Places outside of Waitsburg that are easy jaunts are...
Dayton All Wheels Weekend The high gas prices might have kept a few car owners from “dragging the gut” Friday night. Quite a few were parked and not as many were lined up at the Homestreet Bank for the presentation of cars. The number of people walking the sidewalks were down also Friday night. There were two crackle cars that were quite noisy when fired up and the band “Cruize Control” played on the courthouse lawn. Saturday morning there was a little rain but by early afternoon the closed...
School's out for summer, and it's time to take the family outdoors and go camping. The decision is where to go that is close by, considering the high gas prices. You can travel to the Little Goose Dam area or the Tucannon Lakes in about an hour. Both are good choices with a few things in common and different features to consider. On the drive to your destination, you must be on the lookout for slow-moving animals crossing the road; cows near the dam and bighorn sheep in the Tucannon area. In bot...
My first year of retirement from Waitsburg Schools just zipped by! I went with three of my four sisters on my first zipline adventure to commemorate the occasion. It zipped by also! The Coeur d'Alene 7-line zip tour consisted entirely of tree-top platforms. There were two high-swinging sky bridges to cross, and twice we belayed down to the next level. There is not a lot of walking in this family-friendly adventure; just zipping along above Beauty Bay, through trees and gorgeous scenery....
Senior McKenzie (Kenzie) Lewis recently was awarded the State Degree at the Washington State FFA Convention. The State Degree is bestowed to FFA members after meeting ten requirements set forth by the state constitution. Some of those requirements are serving as an officer, working over 300 hours outside scheduled class time on an SAE project, demonstrating leadership, participating in five different FFA activities above chapter level, and completing at least 25 hours of community service. She...
Waitsburg High School/Middle School Bands & Choir performed at the Spring Music Program on Tuesday, May 17, in the High School Auditorium. Director Elizabeth Arebalos-Jagelski and the students presented the crowd with an array of songs. The sixth and seventh-grade beginning band started the evening off, followed by the high school and middle school mixed band. A highlight of the evening was a performance by Natalie Knudson, who played the piano and sang her original composition, "Natalie's...
What started as a rainy Saturday morning turned into a sunny afternoon for the Walla Walla Ducky Derby and the Return to the River Salmon Festival. The 25th Annual Ducky Derby, a fundraiser for child abuse prevention and youth programs in the Walla Walla Valley, was held on Saturday, May 14. This year, for the safety of the volunteers, the ducks did not race down Mill Creek due to recent rain and high water. Instead, a crowd gathered to see the almost 20,000 ducks get piled onto the lawn at...
You don't have to wait for the NFL season to see exciting football. There is one more regular-season home game for the Tri-City Rush, a professional indoor football team to be played at Pasco's HAPO Center. The team's website, www.tricityrush.com, is the place to buy tickets, Rush gear, and find out about the players, including information about the newly recruited female kicker, Jamie Council. Brandon Tate, a Waitsburg High School graduate, is in his second year as owner and coach of the...
FFA Vet Science Waitsburg's FFA Vet Science team was successful in a district Vet Science event hosted in Dayton on Wednesday, April 20. The seven FFA students were tested on tool identification (ID), parasite ID, and breed ID and scored by the FFA advisors. Dr. Chuck Reeves of Dayton and Dr. Jessie Lentz of Animal Clinic East in Walla Walla judged the students on the clinical and handling portion of the event; which included administering ophthalmic solution and haltering a ruminant. Of the...
PENDLETON, OR-A fun and educational occurrence can be found in nearby Pendleton, Oregon. The Pendleton Underground Tours located downtown is also within walking distance to great restaurants and other attractions. . The website states that it is "A Place Where Culture is Kept, History Is Told and Legends Live On". After receiving your ticket, a guide will take you under the streets of Pendleton to a place that was once alive with card players, saloon girls, and Chinese laundry workers. You will...
How Does Learning a New Perspective Change How You View Things? Walking the grounds at Whitman Mission, you will see this question posted on the interpretive panels. The National Park Service will replace these panels at the end of 2022 or early 2023. Currently, on the panels it states that the information listed includes one-sided representations of history and perpetuates harmful stereotypes. These depictions were wrong when created and are still wrong today. Truthfully telling this history...
Parts of the Columbia NWR are closed from February 1 to April 30 so the sandhill cranes will not be disturbed. The cranes feed in fields of waste corn in the early mornings and early evenings to gather and store fat energy so they can continue their flight to Alaska. When not feeding they gather at places like Marsh Unit 1 which is near water and closed to hikers. If you like seeing birds in their habitat, take a road trip. You will also see swans, pelicans, ducks and numerous smaller...
WAITSBURG-The Waitsburg Town Hall held its annual St. Pat's dinner and silent auction on Saturday, March 12. About 100 people enjoyed corn beef with the trimmings at the annual fundraiser. Head chef Jim Romine was assisted in the kitchen with board members Allen Huwe, Jim Davison, Ron Standring and Louie and Marie Gagnon. As Town Hall board members' wives, Pat Davison and I, greeted guests at the door and assisted with the silent auction. Board member Ron Griffen was in charge of the 50/50...
During National FFA week, February 19-26, Waitsburg members had dress-up days, Ag Olympics, a trap shoot meet, and the Harvest Ball. Monday, President's Day, the students did not have school. On Tuesday, it was pajama day and Wednesday was hat day. There wasn't a dress-up day on Thursday and Friday was flannel day. Friday afternoon was also the Ag Olympics. One girl and one boy from each class was selected to compete for Harvest Ball King and Queen. Freshmen, Alyssa Hollingworth and Jack Karl;...
Waitsburg's young people are staying fit by engaging in a variety of sports and activities. Parents, grandparents, and fans of our youth are volunteering to coach, chauffeuring players, and cheering at events. Whether it's indoor soccer, basketball, wrestling, skiing, or competing in the Kids Heart Challenge, players are learning new skills, competing with intensity, and building team spirit. Skiing, a lifelong sport, is offered to the fifth-grade students at Waitsburg. Due to COVID, the...
