Good morning, Walla Walla.

Waitsburg Parks and Recreation and Palouse Outfitters will host a free Fly Casting Camp at Preston Park on August 18, 19, and 20 — offering daily sessions from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for participants aged eight and up.

The camp will teach rigging, casting, and water reading while providing all the necessary gear.

From July 28, Waitsburg youth took part in events including a play in Dayton, a band concert in Walla Walla and Vacation Bible School at home.

The week also featured a Snow White production where over 40 kids learned lines and moves—local musicians trained at a Rock Camp—and a girls’ basketball camp in the Tri-Cities.

Walla Walla County election officials released a second round of 2025 primary results on Aug.

8 that show no change in the voting trend. The numbers reveal that a sales tax measure for emergency dispatch services earned 7,091 yes votes to 4,135 no and that in the Waitsburg mayoral race incumbent Marty Dunn received 229 votes compared with 53 for challenger Brad Sandau and 10 for a withdrawn candidate—about 350 ballots remain to be counted and an update is expected on Aug. 19.

This summer, fires forced Level 3 evacuations in Walla Walla—one fire escalated from Level 1 to Level 3 in eight minutes, with county emergency management coordinator Patrick Prucell urging residents to sign up for alerts to get location-specific updates.

Prucell said the alerts will help residents prepare to evacuate by providing timely information.

In February, Columbia Walla Walla Fire District #2 hired Waitsburg resident and Assistant Fire Chief Matt Spring as its new fire chief—ending a search that began in 2021.

He grew up watching his father serve as a fire chief and built his career through volunteer work and training—earning certifications in Wildland and Structural Firefighting and EMS.

Emails obtained by the Union-Bulletin showed that in summer 2024 Port executive Jennie Dickinson warned Columbia Rail operator Paul Didelius for delaying maintenance on the 37-mile rail line from Dayton to Walla Walla to boost his bid to buy it—commissioners later split on whether to privatize the line. Didelius, who did not extend his lease past December 31, expects to learn soon if his ownership will be secured.

Sunday Tunes with Phil Lynch

2-4 p.m. — Henry Earl Estate Wines — Complimentary for wine club members — Enjoy live music from Phil Lynch at a local winery.

Bilingual Spanish Storytime

10:30 a.m. — Walla Walla Public Library — Free — Enjoy engaging bilingual storytelling for young children with Miss Jennifer.

Little Shop of Horrors

7-11 p.m. — Gesa Power House Theatre — Tickets available — Enjoy a delightfully dark and comedic musical performance with 'Little Shop of Horrors'.

The Grateful Dead Movie 2025 Meet-Up

7-9:30 p.m. — Gesa Power House Theatre — $10-$15 — Celebrate 60 years of the Grateful Dead with a screening of their iconic film featuring exclusive bonus content.

3 Doors Down Concert

7-10 p.m. — Walla Walla County Fairgrounds — Ticket prices vary — Rock out with Grammy-nominated 3 Doors Down as they bring their hits to Walla Walla.

Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days Parade

6-8 p.m. — Walla Walla County Fairgrounds — Free entry — A vibrant family-friendly parade featuring antique cars, decorated trucks, and appearances from the Fair & Frontier Days Royalty.