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DAYTON–Columbia County is again one of the few Washington counties with just a single case of coronavirus in this 14th week of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. That one case has recovered and the county is one of 19 counties yet to count a death attributed to the virus. According to the Columbia County Department of Health, there have been 60 negative tests of county residents as of early this week. Neighboring Garfield County again remains coronavirus free this week. Walla Walla County has c...
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–Everyone loves a parade, but not if there's risk of spreading coronavirus among the vulnerable population of the Columbia County community, says the Dayton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Meeting last week, the Board opted to forgo the annual Memorial Day Weekend parade, a spring-time tradition here for decades. The parade is canceled and won't be rescheduled this year. "Due to the coronavirus pandemic and uncertainty of large group gatherings," said Molly Weatherill-Tate, C...
“A people free to choose will always choose peace.” – Ronald Reagan...
By Liv Finne, Director, Center for Education Washington Policy Center State government has closed all of Washington’s schools to halt the spread of the coronavirus. The families of over 1.1 million students are struggling to adjust. Many policy responses are possible, but some districts are already acting to help stressed families. The districts of Darrington, Everett, Ferndale, Lakewood and Sultan have responded by delivering property tax relief. They have just withdrawn the multi-million-dollar levy and bond property tax increases they had p...
Over the years I have gotten to know, or meet or hang out with, what I call ‘famous people’. From movie stars, politicians, world champions, athletes, writers and moguls. Often it was just circumstance. Other times it was an intentional connection. Like being invited to be on ABC’s first DOLLY PARTON SHOW. What I remember is how small she was in person and how she could play guitar with such long fingernails. She was also very kind to Little Richard, who couldn’t get his song right after 2...
To the editor, We appreciate the recent front-page article on my departure as commissioner from the Port of Columbia. However, without giving the reason for my departure, the article leaves it a bit mysterious about why I left. There is no mystery: State law says that if a commissioner changes legal address into a different district from that which he/she was elected and represents, resignation must be immediate. As my wife Genie and I relocated recently into a different district, I was automatically obligated to resign. The Port plays an...
9% of county residents in “at risk” category By Shane McGuire CEO Columbia County Health System DAYTON–I have lived in Columbia County since 2003 and felt like there was an invisible shield protecting this amazing community. We weathered the great recession that decimated many other communities and industry, and even terrible flu seasons seem to sort of side swipe us a few weeks after clobbering our urban neighbors. Part of our resilience is wrapped within the culture of our people which generally watches out for one another, and we have highe...
The Columbia River System Operations draft environment impact statement (EIS), which was released on Feb. 28, reviewed and rejected breaching the four lower Snake River dams as the best alternative to restoring endangered salmon runs. Despite the apparent victory for agriculture, growers are still strongly encouraged to submit comments on the EIS concerning the importance of the dams to their life and livelihood. The EIS and a link to submit comments are available at nwd.usace.army.mil/CRSO/ Released jointly by the U.S. Army Corps of...
Editor's Note: This is a new weekly editorial sent to us from the Columbia County Public Health DepartmentH providing updates for the COVID pandemic. DAYTON–In Columbia County, the weather continues to tempt us to go out and enjoy the outdoors. Normally, we would be knee-deep in spring athletics, planning camping trips and we would be getting our water toys ready for summer. One of spring's top activities is Yard Sales. We all love a good deal, but because of the following reasons, Y...
OLYMPIA–Governor Jay Inslee spoke directly to Washingtonians Tuesday evening to lay out his vision for the eventual safe return to public life amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Inslee said it is unlikely many restrictions under the "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order will be modified before May 4. Rather, this plan is intended to be a framework for the loosening of restrictions contingent on a steady decrease of the spread of COVID-19. "It will look more like the turning of the dial than the flip of a swi...
WASHINGTON, D.C.–As Congress continues to negotiate additional legislation to support small businesses struggling with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) spoke on the Senate floor today to urge her colleagues to make local media outlets eligible for funding through the federal government's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Cantwell's speech came after she led a bipartisan letter over the weekend calling on Senate leadership to make local newspapers, TV, and...
Ten Years Ago April 21, 2010 A crowd of over 200 people gathered at the Running T Ranch for the Dayton Days coronation event. Lanny Adams, vice president of the Board of Dayton Days, emceed the evening. Chaperone and Court advisor Kelly White announced Kellie Wessels was named queen of the Dayton Days Court with Madeline Jensen and Darci Hall will serve as princesses for the coming year. Rea Culwell, Columbia County Prosecutor is seeking re-election to a second term as Columbia County Prosecutor. Twenty-six members of the Dayton High School...
PENDLETON–Contractors have begun work on Forest Service Road 47 in the Tucannon watershed, which will continue over the next several weeks following the widespread damage caused by the flooding event on Feb. 6, 2020. The planned work includes debris slide removal, temporary repair of damaged pavement, and restoration of drainage features. The main objective of this work is to provide safe administrative access for land management agencies to continue to develop repair plans. However, once the work is completed, Forest staff will determine if i...
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...
First-year Head Coach Carly Benavides offers these accolades to the senior members of the 2020 DW Softball Team as their season is canceled due to COVID-19. This was a wonderful group of seniors. They showed up every day ready to take on the challenge of bettering themselves. They all had something really big to offer this program. They will be greatly missed. – Head Coach Carly Benavides...
