Your Hometown News Source
Your Hometown News Source
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 25
DAYTON–The 2020 Columbia County Fair was like no other in its 130-year history. The fairgrounds were eerily quiet where, in years past, this corner of Dayton teemed with activity: people lined up for cheeseburgers, families strolling through the Midway and Pavilion, enjoying live music and viewing still-life exhibits, and young boys and girls striving to show their beef, swine, sheep or what-have-you to the best of their ability. This year, a limited number of masked exhibitors, divided into h... Full story
Young exhibitors at the 2020 Virtual Columbia County Fair proudly showed their livestock projects.... Full story
The 2020 Virtual Columbia County Fair included these young exhibitors and their livestock projects.... Full story
DAYTON–A pair of recent sightings of a cougar here has prompted a couple of calls from concerned citizens to local Fish and Wildlife Officer Chase Copenhaver. "We've had a couple of sightings in town," Copenhaver told the Dayton Chronicle last week. "It sounds like the same cat. It's younger, probably only a year and a half old." The most recent siting was on September 3, near Dayton General Hospital, along the Touchet River levee, he said. The cougar was spotted by one of the county road c...
DAYTON–Firefighting resources are mobilizing in Whitman County and near Ukiah, Ore., just two relatively close fires that are contributing to severe smoke in the western United States. Air-quality indexes were high on the hazardous level starting around Fair weekend, according to the Washington Department of Ecology. On a scale of 0-500, the worst air-quality reading was in Toppenish-Yakama Tribe at 438 on the PM2.5 scale. Dayton's reading of 300 was 26th worst in the state Tuesday. Twenty s...
A Dayton man sustained injuries in a single-motorcycle mishap nine miles from Dayton on North Touchet Road last Thursday, September 10. Thomas E. Vanzuyen, 57, of 1315 S. 2nd St., Dayton, was involved in a single-vehicle accident riding a 1998 Harley-Davidson. Vanzuyen was injured and transported to Dayton General Hospital by Fire District No. 3 ambulance. The motorcycle was towed by Kyle's Towing of Dayton. -Chronicle photo...
DAYTON–The Board of County Commissioners offered the Indigent Defense Contract to Rachel Cortez on Tuesday, September 8, 2020. She will represent Columbia County through the end of the year, fulfilling Julie Karl’s remaining contract, who ended her contract early. Cortez affirmed during the interview portion of the meeting; she is more recently qualified to handle all felony trials without the need of senior council. She said, “I hope that my past performances on the contract has been accep...
DAYTON–The Columbia County Health System will sponsor a free flu clinic in Waitsburg on September 30 at 4–6 p.m. behind the Waitsburg Clinic and here on two dates: September 24 at 12–1 p.m. at the Senior Center parking lot at 403 E. Patit and again on September 29 at 4-6 p.m. in the Alley the east side of Main Street between the Court House and County Commissioners Office. To remain safe during this uncertain time, all locations are drive through only. The CCHS will give your flu shot while...
“I can remember way back when a liberal was generous with his own money.” – Will Rogers... Full story
DAYTON–Everyone I talk to can’t wait for 2020 to be over with, done, finis. It’s like we’ll wake up some day and there won’t be any more hysteria about COVID-19 and we’ll say “Now, where was I?” What it’ll take to get to that “Someday,” I have some good ideas. But then again, I ain’t the governor and he’s got some different ideas and “2021” may be involved! We flattened the curve last winter, giving American Ingenuity a chance to build respirators and ramp up production of PPEs. Nowadays, if you hop out of your car and forget your mask, cha...
A. F. Branco...
I have known and worked with many women in the feedlot business. Some as cowboys, some as vets, some as lay doctors, as cattle processors, feed truck drivers, foremen (or forepersons) and managers (or should that be womanagers?). Lest you think I’m going to waste your time with a commentary on cute political correctness witticisms, relax, I’m not. Nor do the feedlot women I know waste their time with political correctness. I think I’d be safe in saying affirmative action doesn’t have much im...
Smoke from forest fires filled the air in [Western] Washington and immediately the finger of blame was pointed at climate change. Prior to the recent fires, the 2020 fire season had been extremely quiet. No matter how the season ends, however, blaming climate change is politics, not science. Not all the lands burned in the last week are forests, but forestland is a major source of the smoke we are seeing. The science is quite clear that timber harvests–including commercial timber harvests – are...
To the editor, After reading and watching the news online and on TV, it appears that our country is divided into those who care about property and those who care about people, and most astute observers could easily identify which political party caters to each group. Since I have traveled and lived in many different countries of the world–some “developed” and some “developing “which President Trump called “shithole countries”, I have never seen such wretched living as some people experience in certain parts of the United States, The disparity...
By Sean Russell Hopefully, by the time you read this, the smoke will have cleared, and our blue skies returned. This past weekend the air quality was an astounding 430 on a scale of 0-500; 0 being clear, healthy air and 301-500 being hazardous. Unfortunately, the smoke in the air right now isn't from our campfires or BBQs. The smoke in our valley contains the micro particles (pollution) of everything the fire(s) have destroyed; Trees, brush, grass, houses, buildings, cars, tires, equipment,...
In last week’s story regarding the Port of Columbia’s broadband project, we erred in stating that the Port was having Pocket iNet expand broadband within the city limits. The Port is seeking to build a fiber optic network that may be leased by any internet service provider, such as Touchet Valley Television, Columbia iConnect, Inland Cellular, CenturyLink and Pocket iNet. Pocket iNet contracted with the Port to conduct a feasibility study and presented its findings at the public meeting. We regret the error....
Breakfast Wed, Sept 16: Muffin, Fruit, Juice, Milk Thur, Sept 17: Sausage Gravy, Biscuit, Fruit, Juice, Milk Fri, Sept 18: Cheddar Omelet, Bagel, Cream Cheese, Fruit, Juice, Milk Mon, Sept 21: Waffles, Sausage Patty, Fruit, Juice, Milk Tue, Sept 22: Breakfast Sandwich, Fruit, Juice, Milk Wed, Sept 23: Scrambled Eggs, Waffles, Fruit, Juice, Milk Thur, Sept 24: Cheddar Omelet, Toast, Jelly, Fruit, Juice, Milk Fri, Sept 25: Cereal, Fruit, Juice, Milk Lunch Wed, Sept 16: Chicken Sandwich, Chips, Veggie, Fruit, Milk Thur, Sept 17: Corn Dogs,...
DAYTON-School has been in session for two weeks now, and things are looking good. In the beginning, there seemed to have been a lot of uncertainty from many students, parents, and even teachers about this school year, but so far getting accustomed to high school with “the new normal” is going much smoother than some may have anticipated. Getting used to the new class system–where class periods switch off every other day, was a concern for many students. After attending seven classes a day for m...
DAYTON–A virtual gallery exhibition for the Blue Mountain Artists Guild features member art of animals which is now available for viewing and sharing via the guild’s gallery show video ANIMALS. The September show ANIMALS was decided upon last fall before any of us ever heard the word COVID. We chose the theme because it is usual that we are having our artwork shown in the Columbia County Fair and most of our kids, grandkids, neighbors, and friends are showing their animals. This year, however, the members have brought you their beloved com...
By Carolyn Henderson Special to the Dayton Chronicle DAYTON–Wenaha Gallery is showcasing both the functional and non-functional ceramic ware of Pat Fleming through October 3. Kennewick artist Pat Fleming, has been creating, making, and teaching art for more than 54 years, uses clay that he has dug up from Othello, Prosser, and along the Walla Walla River Basin. His glazes derive from soil and ash in the area, including that from the 1980 Mt. St. Helens eruption. "The coloring of most of my g...
DAYTON–The 2020 Census deadline is just around the corner on September 30, 2020 and the power to shape Columbia County and southeastern Washington for the next ten years lays in the public’s hands. The census provides information about public services like healthcare, law enforcement, employment and training, agriculture, food programs in school and SNAP, childcare, special education, transportation, roads, emergency assistance, and community development. Most emergency funds, such as the COVID pandemic were allocated based the 2010 cen...
Ten Years Ago September 15, 2010 Two longtime Columbia County 4-H Leaders, Donna Hanger and Lawana Harting, whose dedication in local 4-H program spans over four decades, are being inducted into the Washington State 4-H Hall of Fame at the Washington State 4-H Leader’s Forum. Twenty-Five Years Ago September 13, 1995 August 30, 1995, Todd Powell presided over the Court of Honor held for Boy Scout Troop 313 of Dayton. Participating members of the Court of Honor were Don Palmer, Don Fulbright, Monte Fulbright, Don Scribner, Victor La Vanway, a...
Della Jean Hill February 20, 1944–September 8, 2020 Della Jean Hill, 76, longtime Rosalia resident, passed away suddenly there on Tuesday, September 8, 2020. Della was born to William and Hazel (Bishop) Hilgert on February 20, 1944 in Dayton, Wash. She grew up in there with her three siblings and graduated from Dayton High School in 1962. Soon after graduating, she married Robert Henry Hill whom she'd met in high school on June 9, 1962. They made their home at Huntsville near Waitsburg where she...
Hubert Richard Harting Jr. November 7, 1948–August 19, 2020 Hubert Richard Harting Jr., "Rick", age 71, died peacefully Wednesday morning at the Valley Medical Center in Renton, Wash., on August 19, 2020. Born in Dayton, Wash., a home town he loved and visited often, he went on to Washington State University to earn Bachelor Degrees in Architecture and Civil Engineering, where he met the love of his life, wife, and mother of his children, MaryLou. The couple made their home in Renton, Wash., w...
COLFAX–The unique growing environment of the PNW, paired with the highly mobile nature of nitrogen, poses significant and cascading challenges that are increasingly difficult to overcome if nitrogen investments are not adequately managed from the start. Holding nitrogen higher in the soil profile longer into the season is critical to better align peak nitrogen availability with the peak nitrogen demands of the crop. “The single largest driver we have to effect the grains per head yield component is aligning the crop’s nitrogen access with...
