Year In Review

DAYTON–Poof! Just like that, 2022 is in the history books...and what a year it was! The Dayton Chronicle here makes a brief fly-by of the stories, events, mishaps and triumphs that made up life in Dayton and Columbia County during the past fifty two weeks.

January 6: The Columbia County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) accepted Commissioner Marty Hall as the new 2022 chairperson. Assistant County Engineer Jeremy Weiland will be taking over as Interim Director for the District and Public Works and Interim Chief Engineer at the end of the month.

Newly appointed District Court Judge Kimberly Boggs and Superior Court Clerk Krissy Chapman were administered the oath of office by retiring District Court Judge G. Scott Marinella.

January 13: Newly elected Dayton School Board members Jeffrey McCowen, Aneesha Dieu and Korinda Wallace took the oaths of office January 5. McCowen was voted in as the Chair and Griffen for the Vice Chair positions.

January 20: Four City Council board members-elect: Marchand Hovrud, Laura Aukerman, Tyler Dieu and Teeny McMunn were sworn in.

A bill working its way through committee in the Washington House of Representatives, if signed into law, could provide funds to bring back horse racing to Dayton, Waitsburg, Walla Walla and Kennewick's Sundowns, members of Dayton Days, Inc. heard.

January 27: The Columbia County Commissioners held an exit interview with departing County Engineer and Public Works Director Charles Eaton.

Covid surge sweeps basketball off schedule for a week. Increased positive covid tests have scuttled basketball games and prompted Dayton School District officials to shift some classes to a few days of remote learning. At Dayton's High/Middle School, there were 61 students staying home, an increase of 20 from Monday, said Superintendent Guy Strot. Elementary School counts showed 26 absent on Tuesday, 14 of those staying home ill and 12 quarantining due to "direct contact" with someone who tested positive.

February 3: Dayton Days Inc. President Tim Donohue testified in favor of the house Bill 1928 along with a number of others who support the proposed legislation

Annie's Attic and Café is the newest eatery to open here and will serve a select menu of homemade goods The new Main Street business operated by Tony and Laura Aukerman, opened its doors at 232 E. Main Street on Christmas Eve. They will serve a limited menu changing daily, premiering home-cooked breakfast skillets, buttermilk pancakes, soups and sourdough from a 100-year-old recipe from "Grammy."

February 10: A bill which could revitalize the states limping equine industry, House Bill 1928, continued its advance through the Washington House of Representatives. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Joe Schmick, had been given a hearing in the House Appropriations Committee ,which voted 32-2 on February 3 to send the bill to the next step. That step is the bill being referred to the Rules 2 Review which occurred on Monday February 7.

New Interim County Engineer Jeremy Weiland met with the BOCC for a brief update the Commissioners about a grant from the Department of Ecology for a flood plain study to reduce flood risk in the community. Once the grant is received, he can move forward with soliciting a consultant to conduct the study.

February 17: An equine industry support bill plodding its way through the House of Representatives broke into a gallop Monday when it passed out of the chamber by a vote of 90-8. It advanced to the Senate for consideration prior to February 15 deadline.

Columbia Pulp LLC will idle operations of North America's first tree-free pulp mill February 18, 2022, an action that will affect approximately 80 employees who work primarily in its headquarters in Dayton and its plant located at Lyons Ferry in northern Columbia County.

February 24: An insurance agency with a long legacy in Pomeroy and Garfield County has branched out with an office here. Obenland & Low Insurance Agency, Inc. opened its second office at 303 E. Main Street on January 4, and it has primarily been staffed by Tara Hodges, who with husband Adam, own and operate the agency which was established in 1981.

The Dayton School Board heard a grievance over superintendent recommendations and in other topics heard updates on mask mandates, position statements, and financial report impacted by low student enrollment. Directors convened the hybrid meeting February 16, which was well attended with 27 on Zoom and more than a dozen in person. Community member and regular attendee at the meeting Pearl Dennis, spoke from reference to the meeting agenda, noting that an action item was listed separate from previous action items the item listed as Super intendent Recommendations to the Board to be presented after an executive session at a time when many may leave the meeting.

March 3: A bill to reinvigorate the equine industry was given a hearing by the Senate Ways and Means Committee and passed with an amendment which removed most of the bill sponsor's intended language. It was pulled from the Senate Rules Committee, making it eligible for debate on the Senate floor. Proponents of the proposed legislation testified remotely during the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Thursday,

The Commissioners held a public hearing for discussion on open range at the evening meeting February 22, there were ten who attended in person and one on zoom. Previously Rich DeLorenzo came forward with a request that the Commissioners consider restricting open range since more people are living in the County and he had experienced damage on his property from cattle. In response, the Commissioners agreed to hold the public hearing to listen to all sides.

March 10: Columbia Pulp I, LLC, which announced February 11 that operations at its innovative straw-pulp plant near Lyons Ferry would go "idle" on February 18, was handed a $758,490 default judgement in Columbia County Superior Court on December 16, 2021. Questions concerning the circumstances that lead or contributed to the two contractors not receiving payment, and why Columbia Pulp did not appear or have an attorney appear in answer to the lawsuit were not responded to by Interim CEO Terry Ryan. According to court records, construction contractor DKB, Inc. of Pasco, and electrical contractor Power City Electric, Inc. of Spokane, filed a lawsuit in December, 2020, seeking a lien foreclosure, and alleging breach of contract and unjust enrichment due to unpaid compensation for their services and materials. A third company was named as a defendant in the lawsuit however, its lien documentation was not "perfected" in the required time and its claim was dismissed.

Equine-support bill doesn't win, place or show. After passing out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee with an amendment that significantly altered the original bill's intent, House Bill 1928 was sent last week to the Rules Committee and given a spot on the Senate calendar, only to die as lawmakers debating other bills that didn't get HB 1928 addressed before the deadline.

March 17: Port of Columbia Commissioner Seth Bryan and Johnny Watts oppose siting a proposed grant-funded daycare center on Port property, discussed at the first hybrid meeting held since COVID hit two years ago. Some 50 attended online and a dozen attended in person. Most of the two-hour meeting discussed the proposed lease of Port Land at Blue Mountain Station for a $2 Million grant funded and constructed day-care facility. The Walla Walla Community Council had to postpone its presentation on housing other agenda items were briefly discussed.

The Palouse Reginal Transportation Planning Organization has scheduled a public meeting to participate in the Palouse's Regionally Coordinated Public Transit Human services Transportation Plan 2022.

March 24: A Langley, Wash. man is suing Columbia County for an alleged violation of the Public Records Act, but he got a different response here than he is accustomed to receiving. Rather than settle out of court, Columbia County is saying "see you in court." Eric Hood filed a complaint on January 19, 2019, after he requested from Auditor Anne Higgins "all records the county got from the State auditor and all records of the county's response to the audit or to the audit report." Hood's complaint does not specify a dollar amount for damages.

School board approved three additional recommendations from Superintendent Guy Strot, including to review the math curriculum, revise the master class schedule to include additional electives, and to develop a financial plan this fiscal year and next.

March 31: The Port of Columbia held an informational workshop about the history of the Touchet Valley Trail project.

The Assisted Living Facility's construction is well underway, and the Hospital Board discussed the future of Booker Rest Home. The changing of assignments to assisted living and medical needs will determine where and how patients are placed in coming years. Most current Booker Rest Home residents don't qualify for skilled nursing care and only about six or seven will remain in Booker, Hospital District CEO Shane McGuire said. The rest will be eligible for the assisted-living facility. McGuire explained that CCHS is licensed for clinical nurse specialist services, which is 25 beds for critical access; at 42 beds for hospital and Booker beds, Booker Hall One hospital beds and with Booker Hall One hospitals beds, and with Booker Hall Two providing licensed skilled nursing.

April 7: Two Washington State agencies with grant programs that offer funding every two years will be targeted for grant funding for the Touchet Valley Trail, Port of Columbia Commissioners will consider ay the April meeting. The Port is well positioned, Dickinson said, for the up to $1 million grant, thanks to local city, county and port entities crafting a cooperative parks master plan.

The BOCC approved setting the maximum lawful speed limit at thirty-five miles per hour on South Touchet Road, due to the average intersection spacing being one eighth of a mile and the average driveway spacing is less than 300 feet.

April 14: Former Hells Canyon Circuit Judge Scott D. Gallina has pleaded guilty to charges of third-degree assault with sexual motivation and fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation stemming from complaints followed by an investigation that resulted in the judge's arrest in April, 2019. Three of five counts lodged against Gallina, 58, were dismissed, according to a prosecutor's statement filed in Asotin County April 4 by the Washington State Attorney General. Gallina pleaded guilty to Count III, Assault in the Third Degree with sexual Motivation, and the Count V charge was amended from Third Degree to Fourth-Degree Assault with Sexual Motivation. Elements of the plea agreement include sparing victims from testifying in court. While the amended information indicated that prosecutors anticipate Gallina's attorneys may argue for the low end of the range on Count III, and that Count V be served concurrently or suspended, the plea agreement indicates that, by agreement "neither party may seek an exceptional sentence whether upward or downward."

What happened to our miracle March and La Niña, you may ask? The warm dry trend from January and February continued through March. There were only three or four significant periods where average temperatures were cold enough for snow accumulation. Otherwise, most days remained above freezing which caused snowpack to mature and, in most cases, peak one to three weeks early. April started out wet with substantial mountain snow, however initial indications are that the moisture content was not significant enough to add much to the overall snowpack except at the highest elevations. Snowmelt is well under way in most west side and lower elevations west side basins.

April 21: An offer of $65,000 for the vacant lor behind the 100 block of East Main proposed as the future site of a Dollar General store was unanimously turned down by the Dayton City Council. Council also considered how the fund Trail modification and West End beautification; and advised the swimming pool be filled with dirt. The Council unanimously in favor of the motion to not authorize the land purchase agreement at this time. The motion included Councils willingness to receive another offer after a current appraisal is done at the developer's expense.

The Port of Columbia commissioners voted 2-1 to pause funding for the Touchet Valley Trail until an advisory vote is conducted following a lengthy presentation by Commissioner Seth Bryan, and both for and against comments from the public at the hybrid meeting April 13. About 100 attended in person and over 50 by Zoom. The Port Commissioners discussed whether to pursue two grant opportunities for the Touchet Valley Trail project the Recreational and Conservation office and the WSDOT.

April 28: The Chamber of Commerce named Bette Lou Crothers "Citizen of the Year" as its annual Community Choice Awards Banquet, which recognized individuals and firms in the community for their contributions to Dayton's quality of life. This year, two categories were added to include Start-Up Business, meaning a business could be nominated that is less than three years old, and Non-Profit of the Year. The Start-Up Business of the Year is Paige's Floral & Gifts, and the Non-Profit of the Year was presented to The Club. Paige's Floral & Gifts was described by nominators as "accommodating, loving, service community, dedication, giving...This business has gone above and beyond expectations. They make people who are suffering, feel loved and understood during one of the worst points in their lives and bring brilliant smiles to others who may be experiencing the most joyous of occasions."

Superintendent Guy Strot has submitted his resignation. The Dayton School District issued a notice for a special meeting to consider resignation of Strot.