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DAYTON–The 2020-21 Columbia County budget has been impacted by COVID-19, and therefore adjustments have been needed to be made, and the Public Health Department is collaborating with the Dayton School District to manage the opening of the 2020-21 school year. County Commissioners recently amended the annual budget with reductions totaling $209,656, and School District Directors heard that Dayton Schools are taking steps to meet physical distancing requirements so school can start on schedule. C...
DAYTON–City gives state grant money over to Port of Columbia to disperse to local businesses in need due to COVID-19. The City of Dayton was awarded over $76,000 for the CARES Act. The Council has decided to give that money to the Port of Columbia which may disburse it to businesses that did not qualify for other grant funds. The money would be made available for businesses that did not already receive grant money, including start-up businesses, according to Jennie Dickinson, Executive D...
DAYTON– The Port of Columbia is seeking to immediately fill a Board vacancy which has occurred as a result of Dan Aschenbrenner resigning his position as Port of Columbia Commissioner District 1. He is leaving as a result of moving out of the district with his wife, Sarah. Aschenbrenner was elected to his position last November. The replacement would fulfill the remainder of the term with the option to run for election in November 2021. Milligan, who was at his first board meeting this month h...
DAYTON–The District School Board received Guy Strot as he stepped into his new position at the District's Superintendent at the meeting on July 1. Board Chair Katie Leid acknowledged him by saying, "Guy, I want to welcome you on board. Welcome to your first day of work and your first board meeting." In addition to Strot taking the helm, the Board approved Resolution 2019-10 of Fixing and Adopting the 2020-2021 Budget. District Business Manager Paula Moisio reported that the ending cash balance f...
DAYTON–The Summer Food Program will make available EBT (P-EBT) cards for all children currently enrolled in Dayton Elementary grades K-5. Students in Middle and High School (6-12) can also receive the card if they are receiving free or reduced-price meal benefits this year. Those who are currently receiving basic food benefits through Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) will automatically get the card. Immigrant households may apply and using P-EBT does not count as a public c...
DAYTON–Columbia County Public Health reported five active cases with three recovered and 173 negative tests as of Monday, June 29. There have been no new positive cases reported since the last outbreak which were in one household. Shane McGuire, CEO of the Columbia County Health System (CCHS), indicated that before the recent seven cases hit a few weeks ago, that they had become “relaxed” or “complacent” with only the one positive and long-since-recovered case since March. “It started wit...
DAYTON–Columbia County is experiencing seven new Coronavirus cases all within the same household, the Public Health Department has asked individuals who came into direct contact to be tested and quarantine for a period of 14 days from last exposure. These individuals are determined through contact tracing being conducted through the local health department. Public Health Administrator, Martha Lanman reported to the Board of County Commissioners Monday that one of the seven in the household is in...
DAYTON–The Port of Columbia Commissioners met with members of the Touchet Valley Trail Steering Committee and were presented with a Concept Plan as a result of months of meetings. The Trail Steering Committee consists of representatives from various entities including, but not limited to the City of Dayton, City of Waitsburg, Columbia County departments, Washington State Parks, Washington State Department of Transportation, National Park Service, Columbia Rail, Anderson Perry, Waitsburg C...
DAYTON-Students prepare for the end of the 2019-20 school year on June 16. Teachers placed a deadline for all completed work to be turned in which will be graded by June 12. No failing grades will be issued, but students receiving a D or below will receive an incomplete. Superintendent Doug Johnson indicated those students will have an opportunity to bring up their grade before the start of the next school year. As the present school year end, school staff and administration turn their focus on...
DAYTON–Columbia County Health System (CCHS) continues to maintain regular trainings for staff for COVID-19, and has two isolation rooms ready in case of need. The clinics continue to require that patients ring for entrance and be screened. But, CEO Shane McGuire said, there is cause to “celebrate that we are not in imminent closure” due to the various aid received by CCHS. “The Medicare prepayment was the fastest thing that they could do because there were already provisions put in place t...
DAYTON-Graduation is set for the original date of June 6, 2020 at 1 p.m. as voted on by the seniors. The closed to the public ceremony will be held on the front lawn of the high school. To follow group size and distancing requirements, graduation will be offered through Facebook Live. Seniors will gather with their families in vehicles and the ceremony will be broadcast by speakers. Each senior will come forward to receive their diploma and before they return to their vehicle, they will have a...
DAYTON-Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC) met with Public Health Administrator Martha Lanman to start the preliminary steps to advance the area to Phase 3. Lanman is composing a letter to Governor Inslee for the commissioners to sign that she will send ahead of the application request to alert his office of Columbia County’s plans to move ahead. She anticipates the application will be available Friday, giving her the weekend to work through it and have it approved by the State Health O...
DAYTON–VS Mainstreet, formerly Village Shoppes, has announced its closure at the May Port of Columbia Board of Commissioners meeting. Port of Columbia Director Jennie Dickinson met with vendors to gauge interest in working as a cooperative. No other businesses have announced they're closing. Some have reported increased business with the community shopping more local due to the stay-at-home order. The Port continues to try and promote local business through the shop local campaigns in p...
DAYTON–City Administrator Trina Cole reported initial loss of revenue at the City Council meeting recently, estimating $1 million due to the flood. FEMA will cover seventy-five percent of the cost of authorized recovery plans. Cole will have a more accurate financial picture after all figures have been reported. Additional loss of revenue is expected from COVID-19 shutdowns, but unclear what the full impact will be at this point. Cole stated that tax revenue is down roughly about $210,000. The c...
DAYTON–At a special Port of Columbia meeting on May 18, 2020, sole applicant Sean Milligan was appointed as Commissioner for District 3. He replaced Fred Crowe who had to step down in April because of a change in residence outside of the district. Milligan has resided in Huntsville for 14 years and has worked as a civil engineer for the Corps of Engineers. He has been active in his Dayton church but admits to not being involved much in Dayton in the years since he’s lived here. He wants to see...
DAYTON- Columbia County has entered Phase 2. Public Health Administrator Martha Lanman stated at the County Commissioners meeting on May 11, "I'm happy to be in Phase 2...it's a big step." One of the criteria for being approved to Phase 2 is the ability to have enough testing for those with possible COVID-19 symptoms. Lanman assured the Commissioners that the County has "ample testing" and have tested 94 individuals as of the time of the meeting. Those counties approved for Phase 2 are still...
DAYTON-Bob Patras, manager of St. Vincent de Paul Store in Dayton, has decided to open the doors on May 11, after being closed since March 20. He is of the belief that St. Vincent’s offers essential service to the poor and the community in and around Dayton. “We are providing for the people in this town-clothing and essentials,” Patras said. “We did four times more than normal (the first day) that tells me people needed stuff- clothes. Hundreds and hundreds of items sold.” Additionally, Project...
DAYTON–Columbia County Commissioners have decided to apply for the variance required by the State of Washington to move into Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee's "Safe Start" guidelines. The county is one of 10 that have a population under 75,000 and have had no COVID-19 cases for three weeks, qualifying it to apply for Phase 2. At this point, Columbia County is in Phase 1 which allows the Touchet Valley Golf Course and restaurant to reopen. And as a gesture of consideration and conviction to honor o...
DAYTON–March net patient revenue, $242,000, for Columbia County Health System (CC HS), is down due to reduced hospital admittance, appointments for the clinic, and for various outpatient therapy, labs, imaging and procedures and is expected to continue to fall through the end of April. Shane McGuire, CCHS CEO, has been working with the hospital accounting department to secure a contract with Haggerty and Associates who will then contract with FEMA on behalf of CCHS to get federal aid due to t...
DAYTON–With a decrease in sales tax and gasoline tax revenue due to the Stay at Home Order for Washington State, many counties are meeting to look at trimming department budgets by 5-15%. Across the state, various county commissions–Columbia County's included–are also concerned there could be less money from property taxes this year because of hardship due to COVID-19. The first quarter taxes are due April 30 and the current amount received for Columbia County is close to previous years. Most pe...
DAYTON–The school closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic will impact the budget for the 2021-22 school year and likely into the following year. The district, as requested by the state, plans to write a minimalistic budget reduced by 10% or more and put money away to possibly prevent cuts from critical areas over the next year or two. Educators and students have been transitioning into continuous learning at home since Gov. Jay Inslee mandated school closures on March 17, 2020, due to COVID-19 p...
DAYTON-Heather Stearns and Joe Huether were recently appointed to the Columbia County Rural Library Board of Trustees (BOT) by the Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC). The County Commissioners had been in negotiation with past-Library Board of Trustees Chair Tanya Patton, and Secretary Karin Spann to fill two recent board vacancies. Stearns was recommended as a final candidate in February, which they agreed upon. Commissioner Ryan Rundell stated in an open letter to the BOCC at the April 2...
DAYTON–The Port of Columbia Board of Commissioners is seeking interested candidates to fill the District No. 3 position vacated by Fred Crowe. He has served over five years. "Fred's input on the board was very helpful," said Jennie Dickinson, Executive Director of the Port. "He was a scientist and educator during his career, and had a very measured and thoughtful approach to making important decisions." In his absence, the Port will seek to fill the position as soon as possible and before the ne...
DAYTON-In the wake of the COVID-19 event, representatives from city, county and state offices met to review and update participants regarding the constraints and available care to the public during a virtual meeting of the Economic Development Steering Committee April 7. Shane McGuire, CEO of Columbia County Health System, said the volume of patients being seen or admitted is purposely down to curb the risk of potential transmission of the virus. The clinic and hospital are being selective about...
DAYTON-Public shutdown and protective preparation for the COVID-19 event was assessed during the Columbia County Commissioners teleconferenced meeting recently. Martha Lanman of Public Health state that the office is seeking volunteer help for delivery of food, prescriptions and other needs to those in isolation. This would be done without any contact. Volunteer nurses are also being sought for help in receiving and making calls. The office has worked on the distribution of information to the...
