Your Hometown News Source
Your Hometown News Source
Sorted by date Results 26 - 38 of 38
DAYTON–The Friends of the Community Center/Pool (FCCP) recently met to discuss grant and other funding opportunities for the community center and pool feasibility study. Currently the group has secured $6,500 from grants and donations. The committee recently applied for a Blue Mountain Community Grant, but was denied due to more applicants than funding available. Currently the group is hoping to receive a $20,000 grant from the Wildhorse Foundation, based in Pendleton, Ore. The proposed s...
DAYTON–No changes were made to service areas or to tax distributions to the three fire districts. The estimated $507,763 levy amount for 2020 would be split as follows for the three fire districts: Fire District No. 1 - $54,697, Fire District No. 2 - $36,721, Fire District No. 3 - $416,345. Jeromy Phinney, District No. 3 Fire Chief, presented the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Levy as a representative of the EMS Levy Board. Phinney stated that this board is required to meet at least once a year to recommend the following: amount of the l...
DAYTON– The County is currently working on obtaining grants for a replacement radio system along with Walla Walla, Benton/Franklin, and Yakima Counties. It was also discovered that the documentation on the current radio system is not correct. This happened because vendors were changed frequently, and system changes were made without updating the documentation. Later while researching this documentation, one radio link from the court house was taken down and nothing got dropped. Therefore, an unknown redundancy existed in the system. The County...
DAYTON–At the Design Charrette public presentation held at the Fairgrounds on October 26, four landscape architect teams presented preliminary designs for the proposed Touchet Trail. Each team mentioned sections of the trail that would cross current Port-owned railroads. A Charrette (or Charette or Charet) is defined as an "intense period of design or planning." It is a French word for "cart" or "chariot" and originated in Paris in the 19th century where a team of student architects would work r...
DAYTON–During the recent Columbia County Health System (CCHS) meeting, they discussed the continuing process to build funds in anticipation of a $1.15 million payback to Medicare. The $1.15 million is an estimate at this time. The final number should be known after the Cost Report for 2019 is finalized around March or April of 2020. The CCHS previously reported that Medicaid owed the district over $1 million due to inappropriate write-offs by contract billing processors. The Hospital now has three active claims with the three Medicaid M...
DAYTON–Columbia County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) hosted a second Community Concerns on October 21 at 6 p.m. Two issues were discussed: The Pool and the Fairgrounds Indoor Arena. The pool is basically a City of Dayton issue. Mayor Zac Weatherford stated that the City cannot afford a pool and it would be up to the citizens to pass a levy if needed. After the City Council decided in 2018 to close the pool, a Committee known as Friends of the Pool was formed. This Committee is looking for some grants to do feasibility studies. Mayor W...
DAYTON–During the Commissioners’ meeting October 21, the topic, Employees Let Go for Cause and Access to Technology, was explored and discussed. There has been some concern about employees moving from one department to another or dismissed. When an employee is terminated for cause, there is a concern about access to technology (such as emails). An employee let go for cause cannot be subsequently allowed to work in another department that has access to technology. The situation gets more complex if that employee worked two different dep...
DAYTON–The Columbia Pulp Mill at Lyon’s Ferry is up and running and straw pulp production will begin this week. The economic concern, however, is it does not appear that there is any increase in school enrollment, as the people moving here to work for the Pulp Mill do not seem to have children. Plus, there is still a housing challenge for these employees moving here. Kathryn Witherington reported that the two open houses one in Dayton and then again in Waitsburg, were successful. The National Park Service recommended the Port write up all the...
DAYTON–Washington State Representative Skyler Rude, R-16, appeared before a small crowd attending the County Commissioners scheduled work session for October 14, 2019. The purpose of his visit was to determine issues important to Columbia County and how he could be helpful in the State Legislature. David Ocampo, Columbia County Public Transportation General Manager; and Steve Mertens, Columbia County Public Transportation Finance Officer, requested Rep. Rude’s thoughts on I-976, which is an Initiative that will appear on the November 5, 201...
DAYTON– The Port of Columbia was approved for a grant of $26,625 in March of 2019 for a Feasibility Study to examine existing broadband networks, after requesting an initial grant of $30,000 from Washington State Department of Commerce Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB). The funds are to identify additional needs, determine if a Port-owned broadband network is the right solution for our community, and whether the necessary infrastructure investment is financially feasible and sustainable. A completed contract was signed in July 2...
DAYTON–The Regional Director of the Washington State Department of Ecology Spokane, Wash., (DOE) Brook Beeler and Small and Rural Communities Specialist, Ali Furmall (DOE), appeared before the Columbia County Commissioners (CCC) to provide information on the Brownsfield toxic waste grant and the application process. Brownsfield properties are source areas for redevelopment, but may have been environmental contaminated or have other concerns. This occurs, for example, in properties formerly containing gas stations, grain silos, or dry c...
DAYTON–Columbia County Hospital District Internal Billing Department recently discovered that Medicaid owed it over $1 Million under three different Medicaid Managed Care Programs. This money had been inappropriately written off by contracted vendors who had previously processed billings for the Hospital. In August of 2018, the Hospital District brought the billing function back in house after having contractors perform this service. An administrative staff member stated four different vendors had been used in the previous five years. After t...
DAYTON–Minnie Moe was dubbed an unconventional woman for her time. To venture in the past a bit and see this unforgettable woman, the Dayton Depot has made Minnie's photos available in the window of 238 East Main. These photos will remain there until sometime in January 2020. Historical records from local City Cemetery on the website of Blue Mountain Heritage show that Minnie Moe was born as Minnie Van Lew in Pennsylvania on December 25, 1877. She had one older sister named Lottie. Minnie's f...
