Yakima County is now in Phase 1B Tier 1 of Vaccine Distribution following the state’s decision last week to expand vaccine eligibility – those age 65 and those 50 years or older who live in multi-generational households are eligible to receive the vaccine, alongside healthcare workers, first responders and residents and staff in long term care facilities.

We trust our local government officials to fiercely represent the strength of diversity that is Yakima County while upholding community values its residents have voiced to be of upmost concern — protecting the quality of life which has been cultivated by generations of hardworking families throughout the lower valley.

The U.S. Capitol stands as one the country’s most iconic buildings which represents our democracy has been tarnished after a mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters who were provoked by a rousing speech he had given earlier and is now where five people died, several police officers were injured, and dozens have been arrested.

Once the Sunnyside School District announced that due to a high number of staff absences, hybrid learning for pre-school through eighth grade was canceled for Monday, Dec. 7, on the 79th Anniversary of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

Yakima County and lower valley holiday shoppers are encouraged to safely patronize small and local brick-and-mortar businesses which may be open during the latest COVID-19 restrictions or purchase their local products online.

Yakima Health officials report the county is moving into its second wave of COVID-19 and over the past week, virus cases have doubled, while hospitalization rates continue to rise.

As an editor and journalists, we receive news tips from all kinds of places and people.

With a large contingency of major community gatherings canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 battle cry for “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” orders, lower valley Veterans Day observances was a virus casualty in our pandemic conflict.

As Yakima County Auditor Charles Ross and Deputy Auditor Vince Malzahn opened up the Election Ballot Box at the U.S. Post Office parking lot in Sunnyside, Tuesday morning, the number of returned ballots was an impressive reminder of how we cherish our democracy, along with the men and women of the armed forces who safeguard those freedoms.

The rate of speed digital information is being transmitted to and from personal devices and the ability to create and forward materials to others for connected engagement is being accessed and relied upon with great importance as a result of the ever changing COVID-19 environment.

Do voters really care what candidates have to say? One may not think so after seeing the piles of discharged General Election Voters’ Pamphlets left behind at the Sunnyside Post Office counter on Monday, October 12.

As we observe National Newspaper Week – October 4-10 this year – it is time to pause for a moment and reflect on the global and national issues which have shaped and added character to our local stories with relevance and importance, making the Sunnyside Sun Newspaper a real news source of community information and trusted journalism.

The much anticipated announcement by the Yakima Health District for local school officials to proceed with in-person, hybrid learning on Monday afternoon, September 28, is a positive step for students to begin transitioning back into the classroom within the next three weeks and moving beyond the limiting confines of distance instruction.

The term “social distancing” along with the wearing of protective face mask coverings has been merged together for safeguarding our physical health in maintaining a measurable distance from others who are not family members residing in the same household to prevent the viral spread of COVID-19 – contributing to the loss of personable contact with others, which may be having a significant impact on our mental health.