A look back at 2020

The year 2020 started as most any other year then, for both Columbia County and the nation, went off the rails.

If February, conditions were right for a flood event which devastated county roads, some properties and did millions of dollars of damage to the county and region.

Then came snippets of information about a potentially deadly virus from China, and by March, schools and most businesses were shut down.

It was a tumultuous year and one which won’t be soon forgotten.

Here we recount the events, week by week, from 2020.

JANUARY

2). Representatives rally public to attend governor’s Snake River Dams Stakeholder workshops being held this January in Clarkston, Vancouver and the Tri-Cities.

Six-Year Transportation Improvement Plan passes which includes three sections: Bridge Inventory, Road Revenue vs. Expenditures and the Six-Year Plan that is submitted to Washington State Department of Transportation.

Eastern Washington Congresswomen Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) and Congressman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) blasted a $750,000, year-long study of the Snake River Dams as a waste of taxpayers’ funds and time.

Columbia County Public Health will receive funds from two grants, and the Friends of the Golf Course in applying for a grant to fund improvements to the Touchet Valley Gold Course and Walla Walla Country Department of Community Health applied for and received a grant of $80,000, Columbia County Public Health will uses between $15,000 and $20,000.

Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is updating training, gear and equipment in an effort to prepare for unexpected situations in and around the county.

New Polling released by Washington Policy Center shows Washingtonians are opposed to destroying the dams on the lower Snake River and are unwilling to pay higher electric rates in order to have them removed.

9). Charles Amerein, District No. 3 Commissioner on the Board of County Commissioners, took over as chair on January 6, 2020, replacing outgoing Chair Michael Talbott, District No. 2 Commissioner.

February 11 Special Election will seek voter approval of two levy measures, Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) and Capital Technology & Facilities, by the Dayton School District.

Golf course neighbors Paul and Marcene Hendrickson report having sighted a grey wolf on the Touchet River levee about two weeks ago.

A sentencing hearing for Benjamin Orozco, who was convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree assault following a three-and-a-half day trial last August, has been set for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 15 in the Columbia County Superior Court, according to Prosecuting Attorney C. Dale Slack.

16). Five people from Hermiston, Ore. sustained injuries in a rollover accident late Monday night January 13, 14 miles north of Dayton at the intersection of State Route 12 and 261.

Due to the small number of completed applications for the position of Dayton School Superintendent, the Educational Service District (ESD) overseeing the process has asked the Dayton School Directors to consider extending the original deadline for application due January 10 to January 17, 2020.

Earle Marvin, named Chair of Port Commissioner; Dan Aschenbrenner, Secretary; and Fred Crowe Commissioner.

Pirate wrestlers Braedyn White and Will Winona faced some heady competition at the January 9 Colfax Mix and Match and came away with wins.

23). Benjamin Orozco, convicted last August of the July 7, 1996, shooting of Lance Terry which resulted in Terry’s death, receives maximum sentence, of four consecutive sentences of 192 months for Second Degree Murder, two separate 60-month sentences for Firearm Enhancement and 123 months for First Degree Assault, a total of 435 months. Also added was a 12-month concurrent sentence for Second Degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

Touchet Valley Trail Concerns heard by Columbia County Board of Commissioners during a regular session on January 21. Local residents since 2010, Chuck Beleny, M. D. and his wife Darcy, presented issues with the proposed Touchet Trail and the impact on Right to Farm policies previously established in the county. “The Right to Farm” policy adopted by the County (currently codified in Chapter 18.110 of Columbia County Code).

Commissioners addressing cannabis issues.

Dayton wrestler Carlos Norris cruised through the quarter and semi-finals at the Northwest Christian Crusader Classic wrestling tournament, capturing second at the Crusader Classic.

Students of the Month, Congratulations to the following Middle School Students Carri Martin, eighth grade, Dakotah Griffen, seventh grade and Kaylee Coleman, sixth grade.

30). Hospital working on Assisted Living Project; Kime replaces Dyball. The Columbia County Health System (CCHS) is working on an Assisted Living project. The desire is Assisted Living not an Adult Family Home Assisted Living facilities are regulated by the State, Adult Family Home are not, they are regulated by a third-party group.

The Downtown Walla Walla Foundation has named Kathryn Witherington as its new Executive Director, effective February 18, 2020.

On the stage at the Liberty Theater last weekend, the cast of “Foolish Fish Girls and the Pearl”, kept audiences laughing in this fishy and feisty fairy, er, mermaid’s tail, directed by Bev Startin.

It is nearly time for Punxsutawney Phil (nationally renowned groundhog) to let the world know what to expect with the weather. The Blue Mountain Heritage Society (BMHS will hold its 12th Annual Ground Hog Dinner at the Columbia County Fairgrounds Youth Building Saturday, February 1, 2020 and will start at 5;30 p.m. A special presentation by Gary Lentz titled “Frank Finkel & the Sole Survivor Controversy”.

FEBRUARY

6). Rural Library Trustees make changes to meeting protocols. The Columbia County Rural Library District (CRLD) Board of Trustees met for their monthly board meeting. Community members present reported that the typical time at the end of these meetings for questions and comments was not on the agenda, becoming clear at the close of the meeting that questions and comments were not being allowed. Tanya Patton, Board Chairman, allegedly made the decision without a vote from the board, stating they would take questions and comments by email.

Columbia Pulp is a finalist for the 2020 PPI Awards “Environmental Leadership” from Sustainable Forestry to Waste Management.

Three superintendent candidates, Effie Dean, Assistant Superintendent, Royal School District, Wash.; Guy Strot, Principal, Kalama School District, Wash.; and Andie Webb, Principal, Hoquiam School District, Wash., to speak at a Forum February 10, following interviews conducted by the Dayton School Board and administration.

13). The School Board selected Guy Strot to fill the open Superintendent position after interviews and the public form process. Strot plans to join the District following the retirement of current Superintendent, Doug Johnson, and effective July 1, 2020.

The City of Dayton Council and the Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC) will hold a joint public meeting at the Pavilion Building at the Columbia County Fairgrounds at 6 p.m. Thursday, February 13, 2020.

Flood hammers Touchet Valley as high water in the Touchet River and Patit Creek careens through Dayton.

Dayton-Waitsburg’s Carlos Norris secured his fourth consecutive league wrestling title, and is looking forward to making a return trip to the Regional wrestling Tournament this Saturday in Oroville.

Two levies on the Columbia County ballot for February 11 passed with flying colors. The Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy passed with 714 yes to 429 voting no. The two part Capital Levy pass with 723 yes to 418 no.

20). Columbia County Commissioners met for a joint community meeting with the Dayton City Council to address the recent flooding that began on February 6, 2020. Columbia County Emergency Management Director Ashley Strickland led the meeting with information about the flood event and the processes of damage assessment and recovery. The United States Forest Service (USFS) has temporarily closed several roads and trails in the Pomeroy Ranger District due to water damage from flooding on February 6.

Port hears trail concerns, considers ballot measure. Members of the public were given a chance to voice their concerns about the proposed Touchet Valley Trail to the Port of Columbia Board of Commissioners, Wednesday, February 12.

Community meeting addresses growing predator problem in southeastern Washington. Over fifty Columbia County residents gathered to share concern over the growing problem of area predators, namely wolves and cougars during a meeting called by ex-Columbia County Commissioner Don Jackson and former member of the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Commission (2013-2019) Jay Holzmiller.

Blue Mountain Station (BMS) C0-0p Market and Nursery hav selected Valerie Mudry as the new Market Manager.

Dayton-Waitsburg wrestler Carlos Norris Captures Second at Regionals: heads for State again and will wrestle Josh Haas of Liberty High School, Spangle, WA.

27). The City of Dayton and Columbia County planning departments have recommended to their governing bodies that building-permit fees for victims of flood damage be waived until April 1, 2020, {permit requirements are still in effect, but fees for permits will not be charged.

Has the Columbia County Rural Library District (CCRLD) been operating a surveillance system at the Dayton Public library that records audio and video? Library Director Dusty Waltner ordered a 12-camera surveillance system for the Library building that was approved by the Board of Trustees in May of 2018.