2016 in Waitsburg - The Year of Contention

WAITSBURG – 2016 in Waitsburg could be called The Year of Contention.

The year kicked off with the city council responding to public outcry by abandoning plans to approve a one-year trial lease with Brandon Kelly, who wanted to operate a race car track at the city fairgrounds. But that was just the beginning of citizens making their opinions known.

Voters rejected the school's capital improvements bond and community members shared their views about fairgrounds usage, removal of trees by the city, plans for the new Main Street Bridge, zoning changes, school staff cuts, and whether or not to allow hunting in the city's watershed. But nothing compared to the stir caused when Nestlé Waters North America announced they were looking at Waitsburg as a potential water bottling site.

And while it wasn't pleasant, the struggles resulted in some positive outcomes. Citizens began paying attention and many got involved. Committees were formed, surveys were taken, ordinances and policies were re-examined, and changes were made.

As we welcome 2017, the school district is implementing the capital improvement projects approved by voters in their second bond attempt, the Main Street Bridge is on track for replacement this summer, and RV parking and camping will be actively promoted and managed at the fairgrounds.

Groups and individuals are working together to brainstorm and implement ways to bring economic development to the Burg. Here's hoping the pains of 2016 will give birth to a 2017 filled with new hope and fresh beginnings.

January

As of midnight, Dec. 31, the Waitsburg city fire department and the Waitsburg Ambulance Service ceased to exist, and the services they provided are now covered by the Columbia-Walla Walla Fire District No. 2.

Waitsburg natives Gwynneth Neace, DO and her husband, Lewis Neace, DO returned home after long medical careers and became the newest physicians to join Columbia County Health System.

Following a contentious public meeting, and after being flooded with letters and emails of opposition, the Waitsburg City Council voted unanimously against a one-year trial lease of the Waitsburg Fairgrounds to Brandon Kelly of Walla Walla who, wants to modify the horse track to host monthly car races.

Caitlyn Jones and Zion Branson are named Exchange Club Youth of the Month.

Owners of the Whoopemup Hollow Café formally announce that they will open a second location in Walla Walla.

The Waitsburg School District asks voters to renew the district's maintenance and operations levy for $559,000 in 2017 and $570,000 in 2018. They also seek a 20-year $4.8 million capital improvements bond to fund HVAC improvements, a remodel of the district kitchen, construction of a field house, parking lot improvements and installation of an all-weather track and other field amenities.

Nurse Karla Scott is honored at a public retirement party after serving 20 years at the Waitsburg Clinic.

Waitsburg alum and "Voice of the Eagles" sportscaster Larry Weir is named Washington Sportscaster of the Year for the second time.

The city commits $5,000 towards a WWII memorial, to be located on the corner of Myra Rd. and The Dalles Military Rd. in Walla Walla.

For the first time in over 40 years, Prescott High School offers agricultural-focused career and technical education (CTE) courses. The program was developed by longtime vo-ag teacher Scott Branson, who also organized a new FFA chapter in Prescott.

February

John Mason is named Booster of the Year for his three decades of volunteer work, coaching, and support of Waitsburg's youth and high school basketball, baseball, and football programs.

Melissa Hansen describes her visit to Thailand and Laos for an international seminar as part of the 18-month Washington Agriculture and Forestry Leadership Program (AgForestry) she participated in.

Waitsburg alum Zach Bartlow is named Offensive Player of the Year for the 2015 season of the Eastern Oregon University football team.

The Waitsburg School Board approves a four-year athletic combine agreement with Dayton and Waitsburg to play football as a 2B team with program costs to be split 50/50.

WHS wrestler Tristan Newman takes third place at the State Mat Classic tournament in the Tacoma Dome. This is Newman's fourth consecutive trip to the State competition. Ky Adams, David Just, and David Lewis qualified for State but failed to place.

The Waitsburg School District M&O levy passes, but the capital improvement bond falls just shy of the 60% approval vote necessary to pass.

A structural engineering report indicates that the fairground grandstands are unsafe and must be either repaired or demolished.

Laht Neppur wins the People's Choice Award at the Palouse Cabin Fever Brewfest for the third year in a row.

March

Waitsburg reconsiders its participation the WDFW "Feel Free to Hunt" program in the city's watershed. Concerns about liability and possible contamination of the city's water source led the council to explore the idea of limiting access to the area.

Touchet Valley Little League gears up for a season of play at the new Waitsburg Little League field complex located on the fairgrounds racetrack infield.

Megan Morrison and Stuart Walsh are honored at a Boys and Girls State Honor Night.

A Fairgrounds Advisory Committee is established to develop a plan for the Waitsburg Fairgrounds and to promote the facility.

Residents attend a public meeting to weigh in on the design of the Main Street Bridge, which is scheduled for replacement in the summer of 2017.

Incumbent mayor Walt Gobel runs against Debra Callahan and Delores Nettles in the annual city elections. Council incumbents Marty Dunn, KC Kuykendall, Karl Newell and Kevin House are challenged by Karen Gregutt and Kate Hockersmith.

Melanie Wilkinson opens Fancy Treasures in the Nothing New Antiques building.

April

Mary Phillips is named Commercial Club Citizen of the Year, and the Waitsburg Clinic is named Business of the Year.

Walt Gobel easily wins re-election as mayor. Incumbents Marty Dunn, KC Kuykendall, and Karl Newell retain their seats and Kate Hockersmith replaces Debra Callahan, who gave up her seat in order to run for mayor.

Makenna Barron, age 10, is named Washington Little Rodeo Queen.

The school board is given until May 15 to make a decision regarding possible staff cuts for the 2016-17 school year, due to a declining general fund balance.

Kyle Gradwohl, Timber Frohreich, Mark Montgomery, Cailtin Mohney, Jacob Dunn, and Caitlyn Jones are named to the 2016 prom court. Zion Branson and Sydney Fowble are king and queen.

After some contention and a public meeting, the city council approves a railing design for the replacement Main Street Bridge.

May

Pam Alexenko is Eastern Washington University fraternity Beta Theta Pi's Mom of the Year.

WHS junior Emily Adams is named 2016 Waitsburg Celebration Days Queen.

Citizens threaten legal action and the city postpones the planned removal of five large trees causing sidewalk damage along West 6th Street in Waitsburg. The council later moves forward with the removal, after receiving an arborist's report stating that the trees are diseased. The council agrees to consider changing the city's tree ordinance and committee structure in the future.

The Lions Club feeds 800 people and serves over 1,100 pounds of ribs at the annual Rib Feed fundraiser.

WHS alum Owen Lanning is a Male Athlete of the Year finalist at the Blue Mountain Sports Awards for his performance in track and field at Lewis-Clark State College.

In response to teachers who flocked to the May school board meeting to express opposition to proposed staff cuts, the board tabled a plan to reduce certified staff by one person, and will allow staff time to consider alternative budget solutions.

Larry and Pam Conover are chosen as Waitsburg Celebration Days Parade Marshals.

June

Landon Callas wins the 300 meter hurdles at State. Other state track and field qualifiers are Emily Adams, Mark Montgomery, Skylar Wood, Joe Leamy, Nick Kitselman, and Travis Crockett.

WHS freshman Loren Negron takes first place in the creed speaking competition at the State FFA Convention.

Melissa Hansen, of Waitsburg, is one of six candidates seeking to replace retiring Walla Walla County District 2 Commissioner Perry Dozier.

Stuart Walsh is valedictorian, Zion Branson is salutatorian, and Caitlyn Jones is honor speaker for the WHS graduating class of 2016.

The Waitsburg School Board agrees to collaborate with the WWCC ECEAP program to provide free preschool for all students.

Jaqueline Velazco is valedictorian and Salomon Martinez is salutatorian for the Prescott High School Class of 2016.

The Waitsburg Resource Center receives a Community Leadership Award through the Southeast Washington Association of School Administrators.

Following a public meeting, the Waitsburg Planning Commission denies a rezone application from residential to commercial from Marvin Aronson who requested it for his Preston Ave. property in order to perform hobby automobile and equipment repair in his shop. The commission will look into other solutions.

Ken Miller receives the prestigious Lions Club Melvin Jones Award, and Brian Richards is named 2016 Lion of the Year.

July

Waitsburg artist Lane Hill debuts 10 Ton Press and introduces Waitsburg artists to a full house at an ArtWalla Creative Network event in her Main Street building.

On July 18, Nestlé Waters North America issues a news release stating that a company representative will attend the upcoming city council meeting to discuss plans to explore Waitsburg as a potential site for a water bottling plant. The plant would reportedly provide an estimated 50 full-time jobs, and Nestlé would provide maps and improvements to the city's watershed at no charge. Nearly 100 people attend the July 20 meeting to object to any partnership with Nestlé.

Citizens, and some council members, are outraged to learn that Nestlé representatives have already performed initial exploration in the watershed. The council orders Nestlé to cease and desist all work until they can evaluate the scope, duration, and risk implications to the city. A community meeting is scheduled for Aug. 2.

Claire Johnston opens Dynamite Art + Coffee in the former jimgermanbar space in downtown Waitsburg.

The Waitsburg City Council approves a plan endorsed by the Waitsburg Fairgrounds Committee allowing Terry Hofer to manage RV parking and camping at the fairgrounds.

August

Arson is suspected in a wheat fire originating just off Nordheim Road and burning down Whiskey Creek. Several outbuildings, many filled with antiques, belonging to Ivadell Nordheim, are destroyed in the fire.

Four outbuildings are destroyed by fire on Timpey Road behind Lewis & Clark Trail State Park.

Waitsburg Mayor Walt Gobel resigns following backlash from citizens who feel he overstepped his authority as mayor by engaging in private meetings with Nestlé and allowing the company's contractors into the city's watershed to do exploratory work without the knowledge or consent of the city council.

Waitsburg citizens and out-of-towners pack Waitsburg Town Hall to weigh in on Nestlé's proposal. Passions are high as the overwhelming majority express opposition to Nestlé.

At their Aug. 17 meeting, the Waitsburg City Council agrees to cut any involvement with Nestlé Waters North America.

After investing 17 years coaching and teaching in Waitsburg, Coach Jeff Bartlow resigns to accept a position as a counselor at Pioneer Middle school in Walla Walla.

The city council approves Mayor Pro-tem Marty Dunn to fulfill Walt Gobel's term as mayor, and agrees to accept applications for the resulting vacant council seat.

September

Matthew Wyatt, a 1998 WHS graduate, is selected as the new pastor of the Waitsburg Christian Church.

Siblings Delbert Mock and Velma Sickles are chosen as the 2016 Pioneers of the Year.

The annual Pioneer Fall Festival is well-attended, and the second annual Laurette McCaw Pie-oneer Pie Baking fundraiser, to raise money for the city pool, is a success.

The Waitsburg Resource Center will provide weekend lunches to needy elementary students through Second Harvest's Bite to Go program.

Karen Gregutt is chosen o fill Waitsburg's empty city council seat. Gregutt was first to submit an application for the vacant seat and was the next highest vote-getter at the last election.

Waitburg's council approves a $4,500 expenditure for the purchase of grandstand design plans to aid with the planned renovation.

The city council does not approve a 17-page Equestrian Use Proposal presented by the Waitsburg Fairgrounds Committee. Council members are impressed with the plans for the recreational facility that includes indoor and outdoor arenas, a horse hotel/layup facility, and year-round horse boarding, but says there are too many unanswered questions, especially legally and contractually, between the city and the proposed fairgrounds co-op entity.

October

Wing-Air changes hands as Kevin Winger retires after 28 years of operating his aerial application business out of the Huntsville airport. Employee Seth Murdock, of Dayton, takes over operations under the name Maco Aviation, Inc.

Waitsburg schools respond to citizen surveys and run a smaller, $3.8 million bond levy. Parking lot improvements and the installation of an all-weather track and field amenities are scrubbed from the original bond request for the $1 million reduction.

Waitsburg and Dayton approve establishing a high school varsity and JV baseball combine. Practices will held in Dayton under head coach Shane Loper and assistant coach Johnny Watts.

November

FFA members Loren Negron, Emily Adams, Seamus House, and Tom House attend the FFA National Conevention in Indianapolis, Ind.

Waitsburg car collector Herb Mettler has three different vintage vehicles showcased in three separate 2017 Hemmings Motors calendars.

Emily Adams takes sixth place at the State 1B/2B Cross Country meet in Pasco. Landon Callas and Skylar Wood qualify for State but fail to make the podium.

WHS senior Timber Frohreich is the new Waitsburg City Council student representative.

The Waitsburg Leos and Lions Clubs bring in nearly 1,000 pounds of food to stock the Waitsburg Resource Center.

Voters pass the revised $3.8 million Waitsburg schools capital improvements bond with a 62.99% approval vote. The approval means the school can access $40,000 in additional funds given by an anonymous donor for the construction of a field house.

Quarterback Zach Bartlow leads EOU to the NAIA Quarterfinals.

Waitsburg mourns the loss of longtime civil servant and former publisher of The Times, Tom Baker, who passed away at age 86 on Nov. 14.

In a 3-2 vote, the Waitsburg Planning Commission supports a mixed-use rezone of property at 503 W. 2nd that would allow owner Marvin Aronson to operate a hobby auto repair shop with a conditional use permit. The proposal must still be approved by the city council.

December

Sixteen-year-old Cheyanne Shoun is named 2017 Waitsburg Celebration Days Queen.

Retiring Walla Walla County Commissioner and Waitsburg famer Perry Dozier is selected as interim manager of the Walla Walla Fairgrounds.

The Waitsburg School District plans to complete a search for a new superintendent by March, and hires Bill Jordan as the lead search consultant. The new superintendent will replace Dr. Carol Clarke, who has held the position since 2004.

The district also plans to hire an architectural services and construction manager to guide them through the process and implementation of its capital projects with the expectation of having them all completed by fall of 2018.