Good morning, Walla Walla.

This weekend in Walla Walla will offer several events as the school year begins—on Aug.

22, a 4-H dog show at 9 a.m. and cat show at 5 p.m. will take place at the Fairgrounds, followed on Aug. 23 by a summer market in Helix from 3 to 8 p.m., a Sizzle and Sip barbecue competition at Fort Walla Walla Park at 5 p.m., and a back-to-school roller derby at the YMCA at 7:30 p.m. that supports Communities in Schools of the Blue Mountain Region; tickets for the derby cost $10 in advance or $12 at the door while kids 12 and under enter free and the barbecue event is for those 21 and older.

Walla Walla now accepts applications for a special education teacher residency that will pay participants to work 18 months in classrooms and earn their teaching certificate.

The program will begin with paraeducator duties in January 2026 and then shift to co-teaching—with pay rising from about $24,000 to nearly $60,000—a plan run by the Washington Education Association with local school partners.

Walla Walla County Fairgrounds manager Greg Lybeck was placed on paid administrative leave Monday, Aug.

18, nine days before the fair starts—no reason was given and Todd Kimball was named interim manager.

The Port of Walla Walla approved Empire Well Drilling LLC as the contractor for the Wallula Dodd Water System project to build a 1,000-foot drinking water well for Port-owned facilities, approving a $1.3 million budget on Aug.

14. The project will use tax increment financing to cover costs and is expected to be finished in the second business quarter of 2026 — marking the next step in improving local water supply.

The Washington State Department of Health warns licensed health professionals that scammers are mimicking Office of Health Professions emails & phone calls to request personal and payment information under false pretenses.

Environmental sampling in Central and Eastern Washington found fungus spores that cause Valley Fever in soil in Benton, Yakima and Kittitas Counties—while the state health department has reported cases in Franklin, Walla Walla and Spokane Counties and is monitoring the situation closely.

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.

Petty Fever Live at SOFH Walla Walla

6-9 p.m. — Sleight of Hand Cellars — $30 — Enjoy a night of live music from the best Tom Petty tribute band to kick off a weekend of wine and fun.