Family Friendly Walla Walla

02/27/2021

// COVID VACCINE CLINIC NOTICE FOR WALLA WALLA COUNTY //

Walla Walla Department of Community Health (DCH) was notified today they will receive 3,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses from the state on Monday, March 1.

DCH and health care partners will open their mass vaccination clinic on Saturday, March 6, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There will be approximately 2,000 first-dose appointments available for eligible Phase 1A or 1B Tier 1 residents.

Eligible county residents will be able to start scheduling appointments on Sunday, February 28, at 8 a.m. Those who are interested in receiving a vaccine, should complete the following steps on Sunday:

• Step 1: Go to https://www.covidwwc.com and click the “Upcoming Vaccine Clinics,” button.
• Step 2: Scroll to the “Schedule an Appointment,” section and click “Schedule an Appointment,” after confirming eligibility.
• Step 3: Select an appointment time and complete the registration process.

It is important to note that no walk-in appointments will be accepted. If you are unable to schedule an appointment, please do not show up at the clinic to get your vaccination.

Residents without Internet or computer access can call the DCH helpline at 509-524-2647 and leave their name, date of birth, phone number, and a message stating that they do not have access to internet or a computer.

We encourage all residents to visit the County COVID website (http://www.covidwwc.com/) or text COVIDWW to 888777 for information on upcoming vaccination clinics and to use the DOH Phase Finder to verify eligibility.”

Information and resources about COVID-19 from the Walla Walla County Department of Community Health.

04/20/2020

Please watch this Thank You video. With all of us working together, we can
City of Walla Walla GovernmentProvidence St. Mary Medical Center -- official site@Walla Walla County Sheriff's OfficeCity of College Place, WashingtonWalla Walla Public SchoolsWalla Walla Valley Chamber of CommerceCollege Place Public Schools Place Police DepartmentWalla Walla County Department of Community Health Walla Fire Department

04/17/2020

04/11/2020

“Easter Advice

Hey there, Peeps!

Here are the tips for a safe Easter Weekend:

1. Stay Home, Stay Healthy, and follow the Governors orders by not leaving your home or participating in social, spiritual or recreational gatherings of any kind, regardless of the number of participants. Remember, this includes Easter and other special family events.

2. Protect our senior population—do NOT visit seniors in person. Call, text, or use video chat.

3. Protect everyone and attend all gatherings virtually. Do NOT go in person. Attend virtually with the member of the household you are sheltering in place with. You can call in, Zoom in, Face Time in, or use whatever technology is available to you.

Thanks for working together to ”

03/24/2020

“After the announcement of the "Stay Home. Stay Healthy." order, last night by our Governor, Sheriffs across the state want to get our message out as well.

COVID-19 -- The role of law enforcement:

Law enforcement’s primary role is to help educate people about how to comply with orders to not gather together, to stay at home, and other restrictions. Law enforcement is not being asked to detain, arrest, ticket or establish checkpoints for compliance. Rumors of strict law enforcement or “martial law” are simply not true.

Our communities have shown they understand the severity of the situation and most everyone is doing all they can already to keep themselves, their families, and neighbors safe and healthy.

Our deputies are not going around different neighborhoods and areas checking to see if people are out when they shouldn’t be. We understand some people need to carry out tasks related to life essentials such as:

• Safety and security
• Food, water, shelter
• Health and medical
• Energy (power and fuel)
• Communications
• Transportation

Law enforcement agencies do not have any desire to make any arrests or take anybody to jail for violations of pandemic restrictions. We continue to urge voluntary compliance.

The primary role of law enforcement related to pandemic restrictions is engagement and education: engaging with and educating citizens about how to keep themselves safe, how to keep their families safe, and most importantly, to keep the rest of the community safe, especially our vulnerable populations.

We are doing our best to protect our WWSO family be having non-essential employees working from home and urging social distancing whenever possible, on and off the job. Please do the same to protect your families and our community; the more we all do now the better off we will be as a unified county in the weeks, months and years to come.”

03/24/2020

This afternoon, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee issued a "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and well-being of everyone in the state. This order is effective immediately, and will remain in place for at least the next two weeks. https://medium.com/wagovernor/inslee-announces-stay-home-stay-healthy-order-4891a7511f5e

In Washington, everyone else is required to stay home or wherever they live, as much as possible. The order is enforceable by law.

People may leave the house to buy food, get necessary health care, exercise outdoors, or go to an essential job. If you must go out, keep at least 6 feet of distance between other people, and return home as soon as you can.

All non-essential businesses must close within 48 hours unless all employees can work from home. Grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, and other essential businesses will remain open. Restaurants can continue to offer take-out and delivery service.

The City will continue to provide essential services, including utilities, Police, and Fire, while the order is in effect. City parks will remain open for exercise, but playground equipment is considered off-limits in order to ensure the proper distance of 6 feet from other people and to prevent the spread of the virus from surfaces.

For more information, visit http://governor.wa.gov/. For additional local details, visit http://www.wallawallawa.gov/COVID-19/.

03/21/2020

After consultations with Ballon Stampede committee members and Columbia REA, we have decided to push back the dates for the 2020 Balloon Stampede to the first weekend in June.

With the climate of uncertainty and unease now upon us caused by Covid-19, we are hoping that as the weeks go by and people self quarantine and practice social distancing when they are out that the curve will flatten and this virus will get under control so we can get our day to day lives back.

We remain optimistic that we will see you in about 11 weeks to celebrate ‘life back to normal’ and kick off the summer by filling Tietan Park and the skies of Walla Walla with colorful balloons.

See you the morning of June 3rd for Kid’s Day sponsored by P1FCU!

03/18/2020

UPDATE: his humans picked him up at our house about 5 minutes ago ❤ They are from Vancouver visiting Walla Walla. His name is bear and is such a sweetheart ❤ Happy ending ❤

I found this cutie at the corner of Bryant & Howard around 5:45pm. No tags. Very friendly and cute and chubby

03/15/2020

"To all the cyclists preparing for the Tour of Walla Walla:
We know there has recently been speculation and concern about whether the TOFWW would take place this year. With much regret, we have had to cancel the 2020 TOFWW. The Governor of Washington announced Friday afternoon that all events with 250 or more people in attendance will not be allowed for the next 6 wks. We were anticipating that this would happen and had been considering that move given the current state of uncertainty, but we were still holding out hope that the race would take place, unfortunately this is not the case.
It was shaping up to be a fantastic year for the Tour and we were looking forward to a great event along with the Tour of Washington. This will be only the second time in 23 years that this spring classic has not taken place. As before the race will be missed and we will miss seeing the racers.
Looking ahead to May 21-23, 2021 we will be ready for the return of stage racing in Walla Walla. Remember, we are changing dates next year! All riders that are registered for this year’s race will have their registration transferred to the 2021 race. Please contact us if other arrangements need to be made.
We wish you good health and hope that you support later season races and events that are rescheduled. Be sure to come and see us in September for the Walla Walla Grit gravel event/race – registration will open soon on BikeReg.
Until next year!
Michael and Kathryn Austin – TOFWW Race Directors."

03/13/2020

The governor previously had announced a closure of schools in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. The expansion will mean more than 1 million children and youths will be out of school, and it will be a hardship for families who...

02/13/2020

IF A BLACK EXPLORER WITH YELLOW FLASHING LIGHTS ATTEMPTS TO STOP YOU, THIS IS NOT A POLICE OFFICER. PLEASE DO NOT STOP AND CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.

Today WSP and WWSO had contact with this vehicle. It is a privately owned, civilian vehicle, but has amber LED lights installed in the grill and visor. The vehicle also has a siren installed in it. There was also a functional radio in the vehicle scanning our local law enforcement channel. It was called in because it was seen in a parking lot with the lights and siren activated. THIS IS NOT A POLICE VEHICLE.

At the time of the contact, the individual operating the vehicle was not found to be in violation of RCWs (below) pertaining to impersonating a police officer but there was a long conversation and stern warnings.

https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9A.60.040

https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9A.60.045

02/09/2020

Balloon Stampede returns to Mother’s Day Weekend in 2020

Lighter Than Air America, organizers for the Walla Walla Balloon Stampede, announced today the 46th Annual Walla Walla Balloon Stampede will return to its traditional Spring dates of Mother’s Day Weekend in 2020.

Columbia REA will also return as title sponsor for the 5-day event beginning on Wednesday, May 6, and continuing through Sunday, May 10.

Preliminary Schedule of Events:
• Wednesday, May 6th: Billy Blast Valve Kid’s Day, with tether rides for children.
• Thursday, May 7: Media Day
• Friday, May 8: Regular flights.
• Saturday, May 9: Regular flights
• Sunday, May 10: Regular flights.
Exact times for these and other activities will be finalized and published closer to the event, including the date and time of the very popular Columbia REA Nite Glow Spectacular.

Now in its 46th year, the Walla Walla Balloon Stampede is the oldest continuous hot air balloon event west of the Mississippi River, and Walla Walla residents and visitors should expect to see 35-plus hot-air balloons launching and filling the beautiful blue skies over Mother’s Day weekend. All flights, as in the past several years, will launch from Howard-Tietan Park, weather permitting.

“The Balloon Stampede prime sponsor is very excited the Stampede will be returning to Mother’s Day Weekend. It’s a wonderful, family-friendly event and free to the public, and individuals will have an opportunity to volunteer, as in the past, to help make this year’s Balloon Stampede successful and truly a community event”, Doug Case from Columbia REA stated.

It is important at this time to alert the public that the event is returning to its iconic Mother’s Day Weekend dates so the public can plan for the event.

Mark this weekend on your calendar, not only to acknowledge your Mother; but also as a reminder to attend this great community event at Howard-Tietan Park.