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DAYTON–The Columbia County Rural Library Board met September 16 approved policies; heard the director's report; and listened to citizen concerns. The financial report was approved as were revisions to the Bulletin Board Policy and the Service of Process Policy which addresses the request for patron information from law enforcement. Trustee Kevin Rust questioned Library Director Ellen Brigham about the specific lawsuits against Kellogg County, Wyo., that she had cited last month when he p...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Hospital District Board of Commissioners was presented with an audit report for 2023 and 2022 which reflected a critical loss in 2023 of $6.2 million during the August 28 board meeting. Both CFO Matt Minor and CEO Shane McGuire commented on the audit report and offered comparisons to the improvements in current year. The accounting firm DZA of Spokane presented an audit report to the Board of Directors on the financial position of the district for 2023 and 2022...
DAYTON–The Granny Caravan prevailed upon the Dayton community on Thursday, August 29 at Flour Mill Park to ask citizens to come out and "talk like a neighbor" about the issues that tend to polarize society and to help bridge the gap through civil discussion. In turn, they promised to bring those issues to elected representatives. A few stopped by during the hour I spent with Roz Luther and Shirely Grossman of Spokane. They stopped in Dayton as part of their Unity Tour of Eastern Washington w...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Rural Library District Board of Trustees reviewed and approved a series of business items including the Collection Development Policy on August 17. Library Director Ellen Brigham presented her report along with the financial report. The Board approved a second public comment period to continue. The Collection Development Policy was approved following months of review with only minor edits. The policy includes several chapters guiding the selection and maintenance of...
DAYTON–The School Board met on August 21 for the final meeting before the start of the 2024-25 school year on Tuesday, August 27. They approved Resolution 2023-12 which will extend $390,000. At the recommendation of Business Manager Jana Eaton, the Board approved Resolution 2023-12 for a General Fund Budget Extension of $390,000 for the 2023-24 budget year. August is the final month in the budget year. Eaton cited three reasons for the extension. The first was because of grants received d...
DAYTON–The Columbia County Health District Board was advised of a Washington State Department of Commerce grant; a net loss of $464k was reported for June; Rivers Walk Assisted Living is near capacity and revenues; and RoseMary's Place Child Care is at 50 percent capacity. An expansion is planned to the Columbia Family Clinic with the help of a grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce in the amount of $1,224,415. They will expand out the back side of the current building which w...
DAYTON–The Columbia County Rural Library Board were informed of the progress of the summer reading program; digitized Dayton Chronicle files; a $2,500 grant; and other library business tasks during the July 15 meeting. The Summer Reading Program is in full swing at the Dayton Memorial Library. As reported by Director Ellen Brigham they have over 30 kids participating of various ages. The library had its first virtual author talk with others scheduled each week. People can participant in p...
DAYTON–The local High School Alumni Association Parade Committee named fellow alum husband and wife Bill (a member of the Class of 1960) and Jackie (a member of the Class of 1962) Savage as Parade Marshals for the Alumni Weekend Parade held this weekend July 20. Bill and Jackie Savage expressed surprise at the honor of being chosen as the Parade Marshals for the Dayton High School (DHS) Alumni Weekend Parade. Bill and Jackie were married following high school and have been together for 62 y...
DAYTON–Those attending the Annual Fourth of July Picnic in the Park, sponsored by the Columbia County Conservatives with assistance from the Columbia County Republican Central Committee, heard from five candidates– Fifth Congressional candidate Brian Dansel, Attorney General candidate Pete Serrano, Secretary of State candidate Dale Whitaker, and County Commission candidates Marty Hall and Ryan Rundell, plus relaxed in the shade of the City Park on a warm and sunny Fourth of July. In add...
DAYTON–The Columbia County Parks and Recreation Pool District Commissioners passed the budget and the resolution for the ballot proposition for the excess levy for funding a pool at the June 27 meeting. Commissioners approved the $200,000 budget. Earlier in the month, a work session was held by the Commission to discuss the budget and to prepare it for approval at the regular meeting. The budget totals $200,000, consisting of $63,000 for personnel, $53,000 for administration, $67,000 in professi...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Health System (CCHS) heard reports on the financial report which reflected a loss for May of $71,000; with the opening of Cottage D in April, and Rivers Walk Assisted Living is closing in on meeting the anticipated revenues. In addition, COVID cases cause short-term personnel availability. The financial report reflected a loss for May of $71,000 in part due to an increase in paid salaries, benefits, and professional fees. Expensive contract labor expenses have gone dow...
DAYTON–The Board of Trustees for the Columbia County Library District voted to exclude private businesses from the Hotspot lending, during the June 11 meeting. In addition, minor revisions were made to the Request for Reconsideration of Materials Policy. The finance report was approved. Director Ellen Brigham presented her report for the previous month which included information on the kick-off for the Summer Reading Program. The Board had discussion about the pending concrete work for the r...
DAYTON–the Columbia County Rural Library District Board of Trustees approved the small works roster and a revision to the Public Code of Conduct to disallow the open carry of weapons according to a new law; were given the Director's and Financial Reports for April from Ellen Brigham; reviewed part of Chapter 6 of the Collection Development Policy which covers receiving gifts, as well as the Purchasing Policy; and discussed making Narcan available at the library; concrete work bids for the front...
By Melissa Gemmell Dayton Chronicle Reporter DAYTON-The first of three public meetings to glean community feedback for the study on Rural Clean Energy sponsored by the Department of Commerce, was held in Dayton on May 14. This study is in response to an amendment to policy for HB1216 requiring public input on the impact of clean energy to rural communities. The meeting was hosted by the consultant firm Ross Strategic who is conducting the study for the Department of Commerce. Susan Hayman from...
DAYTON–Columbia County residents gathered at the steps of the courthouse on Thursday, May 2 for the National Day of Prayer led by Undersheriff and Pastor Robbie Patterson, Pastors Tony Sykes of Faith Chapel, Dewayne Ramsey of The Community Bible Church, and Jeff Hall of Abundant Life Ministries with one location in Waitsburg. The pastors led those gathered in prayer. Pastor Sykes opened with verses from 2 Samuel 22:29-31. "For you are my lamp, O Lord; and the Lord illumines my darkness. For b...
DAYTON–Spokane artist Daniel Lopez paints a mural of four characters from the movie Stand by Me, on the opposing wall of the Weinhard Hotel parking area. New owner of the property previously known as the Weinhard Hotel, Padraic Slattery, commissioned Spokane artist Daniel Lopez to paint a mural on the opposing wall of the parking lot. For the last few weeks, the wall was painted over to become a blank dark canvas awaiting what would be the four main characters from the 1986 movie Stand by Me p...
DAYTON–A group of about 60 from LIFE Church in Walla Walla, under the leadership of Tim Toom, spent about an hour and half on Friday April 19 cleaning up around Dayton. Toon connected with City of Dayton Public Works Director Ryan Paulson to do five projects, covering the graffiti on two bridges in town, cleaning up at the golf course, painting the gazebo at the City Park, and weed eating around headstones at the Dayton City Cemetery. The group chose Dayton for the service because over that w...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Hospital District Board were advised of a grant; updates on River’s Walk Assisted Living; RoseMary’s Place Childcare; presented with the results from a quality improvement survey; and heard other business during the April 24 meeting. The hospital district was given a $1.13 million grant for distressed hospitals, according to CEO Shane McGuire. March revenues for both in-patient and out-patient services were under budget though the acute care/swing bed census was str...
DAYTON–The Columbia County Rural Library District (CCRLD) Board of Trustees met on April 16 with new Board Member Dale Walling, and voted on new officer positions for its members. Library Director Ellen Brigham reported on library operations and programming, as well as the financial report for March. Dale Walling was appointed by the Board of County Commissioners last month, to replace Karin Spann whose term was up. During the April meeting, the Board held the election of officers. All votes w...
DAYTON–Local resident Dale Walling was chosen from among seven candidates for the open Columbia County Rural Library District Board of Trustees on March 15 by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). The BOCC spent most of the business day interviewing the applicants for the open position, including incumbent Karin Spann who completed a five-year term. Board trustees can serve up to two terms. Other applicants were Thomas Utt, Kaye Eaton, Ken Graham, Peggy James, and Joann Patras. The i...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Rural Library District Board of Trustees (CCRLD) heard a report from Charlie Oribio who spoke on the Washington Library Association Conference; were updated on upcoming programs; and other regular business at the abbreviated meeting on March 18. Following the public meeting, the Board would go into executive session to review Ellen Brigham's time as interim director. Charlie Oribio reported about the Washington Library Association Conference that he attended early in...
DAYTON–The Friends of the Library hosted a Community Civility Café with grant funding from the INATAI Foundation, at the Fairgrounds Pavilion March 7. Some 100 attendees came to listen, discuss, and break bread. Sandwiches, cookies, and beverages were offered while engaging in the question of "Which books should be available in our school and public libraries?" As the community has experienced, differing positions have caused divisions in this community and many communities around the na...
DAYTON–The Columbia County Rural Library Board stated Ellen Brigham was offered the Library Director position; heard the director and financial reports; completed the collection development and internet policies; and heard public comment during the February 26 meeting. Ellen Brigham, who has been in the position of interim library director following the vacancy left by Todd Vandenbark last July, was offered a two-year contract late last month. The board held executive session to address the c...
DAYTON-The School Board gave oath to returning and new elects and assigned positions; update on permanent superintendent application process; interim Superintendent planned levy meetings; and reviewed policies during the December 20 meeting. The oath of office was given to those Board members who were re-elected – Grant Griffin and Aneesha Dieu, as well as to Zac Fabian who was elected following his appointment to the position. Jeff McCowen was voted in as chairman for a second term and Fabian w...
DAYTON-The Columbia County Rural Library District Board of Trustees heard reports from Interim Director Ellen Brigham and finished working through Chapter Three of the Collection Development Policy during the December 21 meeting. To review the bids for the digitization of the Dayton Chronicle archives, as well as the applications for a permanent library director, a special meeting was scheduled for December 28 at 7 p.m. The Board completed the review of Chapter Three of the Collection...
