Week of January 16, 2025
Week of January 16, 2025
State environmental regulators approved a key permit for a controversial refinery project near Clatskanie this month. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality had previously denied water quality permit applications submitted by Houston-based NXT Clean Fuels, also referred to as NEXT, in 2021 and 2022 “due to insufficient information to evaluate the permit application.” The state’s approval now moves the project forward in a significant way, marking the final comprehensive state...
Jan Silvestri, the President of Helgeland Lodge 2-30 for the past 40 years and who has given a lifetime of service to the lodge, handed her gavel to incoming President Steve Stomme on Jan. 8 at the Norse Hall. Jan received a standing ovation from the members and a beautiful red and yellow rose bouquet as a gift from members Alice and Charlie Miller. Elmer Kurtti, the President of Breidablik Lodge in Kelso was the installing officer. The newly elected officers were Vice President Sue Johnson,...
Greetings from the fair office! Wow, 2025 is here! We have several events coming up this month and you will want to mark them on your calendar. On Jan. 18 is the 3rd Annual Crab and Oyster Feed. Tickets are on sale at Maria's in Cathlamet and Naselle Hardware. Tickets are selling fast, so get your tickets soon. There will be a live auction that night and I will be posting pictures the week of the event on Facebook, so check it out. Thank you to everyone who supports the fair. All money goes back into the fairgrounds. On Jan. 25 the 4-H will...
The Clatskanie Arts Commission will host the duo Piano Heist Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Birkenfeld Theatre in Clatskanie. The duo will present a genre bending performance of piano pieces from Bach to Elton John. Lifelong friends and colleagues Nico Rhodes, and Patrick Courtin, were shocked and appalled by the realization that piano just isn’t cool anylonger and set off on a divine quest to redeem the keyboard and reinstate its reputation as the greatest instrument of ALL TIME! Armed with the...
The Eagle is looking for writers, photographers, and columnists who would like to help us cover events in Wahkiakum County, Naselle, and Clatskanie. This is your opportunity to keep your neighbors informed about important news and events happening in our area. Contact The Eagle at 360-795-3391 or...
Did you know your Library has a Community Book Club? Oh yes it does! Do you know when it meets or where? Well, here you go: The Community Book Club meets the third Thursday of every month in the Community Center below the library from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Our current Community Book Club reading includes Percival Everett’s novel “James”, the retelling of Huckleberry Finn and the original classic “Huckleberry Finn”. The novel “James” tells the story of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, Huck’s enslaved companion....
At the last Wahkiakum VFW Post 5297 monthly meeting, the winners of the 2024 Post Raffle were drawn. Jane Kelsy of Rosburg won a Quilt, Carol Wegdahl of Cathlamet won a Sling Shot Rifle, Sulema Zerr of Puget Island won a Camp Box and Rose Long of Long Beach won a Hunting Bow. We anticipate having another raffle this year beginning in May and will be offering a Marlin 45-70 cal., model #1894G, lever action rifle. Our Post very much appreciates the support from the community with the raffle and donations during...
Did you know your Library has a Community Book Club? Oh yes it does! Do you know when it meets or where? Well, here you go: The Community Book Club meets the third Thursday of every month in the Community Center below the library from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Our current Community Book Club reading includes Percival Everett’s novel “James”, the retelling of Huckleberry Finn and the original classic “Huckleberry Finn”. The novel “James” tells the story of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, Huck’s enslaved companion....
The Senior Friendship Group started as a Facebook Page to allow Wahkiakum seniors to make connections and new friends. Some seniors have mobility issues and have difficulty getting out and about, and this group gave them an online place to meet, chat, answer daily questions, and share photos. Soon, Pastor Jeff at the Lutheran Church offered the downstairs as a place for the group members to fellowship in person. There is now a monthly potluck, and various sub-groups focus on specific interests and hold weekly meetings. If you aren’t...
I am writing my column this week from Littleton Colorado. I’m spending the week visiting my family and enjoying time with my 9-month-old grandson. The temperatures here are frigid, with highs in the 30’s and lows in the teens. There is a layer of snow and ice on the ground. If you haven’t flown in and out of PDX recently, be prepared for some changes. The terminal is now a wide-open space and getting to your gate can be a long walk, depending on what airline you are flying with. A...
Mid December’s high tide, rain and high winds combined to move a boat housing structure off its moorings and afloat on Deep River. The structure had been a many decades old fixture on Deep River that once served as a floating garage for the gillnet boat owned and operated by Walter Cato. Once afloat, the wind and incoming tide sent the structure toward the area that was once the town of Deep River. Along its journey it caused damage to a dock owned by Deep River resident Mark Erickson. The...
After six years of owning and operating the Naselle Community Center, the Finnish American Folk Festival decided to sell the building. The decision to sell was voted on and unanimously approved at their November meeting. “This was not a decision we took lightly,” FAFF Chair Jennifer Boggs stated. “The difficult decision to sell is in the best interest of our organization to remain true to our mission and focus on our biennial festival. We were grateful for this opportunity given to us by...
2024 was a whirlwind year for Wahkiakum Animal Advocates Group (WAAG). we are proud to share some highlights of a remarkable year. Thanks to the support of our donors, volunteers, and community partners, WAAG was able to continue making a difference in our community. Last year, WAAG received 240 calls for help from community members, averaging 20 requests per month. These requests highlight the critical need for animal welfare support in our area. We averaged one call per month from the Sheriff’s Office, bridging the gap between our...
LOOKING COLD. I’m writing this at the beginning of the week as it’s clearing up after some rain. The forecast for this week looks quite nippy, so by the time you read this, you’ll have felt the freezing temperatures for yourself if the forecast is accurate. Of course, I live in one of our county’s cold zones, so you might luck out and be chilly but not frozen. At any rate, this is the time of year to have those outside pipes, plants, etc., all taken care of so they don’t freeze. Then you can relax a bit knowing that you’ve done...
Gilbert E. Charles, Jr., 29, of Cathlamet, died December 27, 2024 in Dallesport, Klickitat County, WA. A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, February 8, 12 p.m. at The Rivermile 38 Brewery. Full obituary to follow next...
To The Eagle, Does our Library just kinda happen each week? Does anyone really have to do much to make it work? Silly thoughts! Here are some people and groups who have recently helped to keep the library working: Cheryl, who made pillow covers for the library teen section. She also donated craft supplies, Christmas lights, and a lot of time. Heather; who donated puzzles, craft supplies, a brochure holder and her time during the holiday season. Robin; who donated a live tree, decorations, books, and a lot of her time during the holiday...
The Clatskanie High School girls basketball team saw its season-high, six-game winning streak come to an end in Cloverdale Monday night, falling 29-28 to Nestucca. The tone for a defensive battle was set early, as the teams scored a combined 17 points in the first half. Picking up the pace a bit in the third, Nestucca took a 21-20 lead into the fourth they were able to retain down the stretch for the one-point victory. Junior Joey Sizemore led the team in scoring with 10 points to go along with a team-leading 17 rebounds and two blocks....
The Clatskanie High School boys basketball team had a couple of close losses on the road this week, falling 30-29 at Vernonia last Friday, Jan. 10 and coming up two points short to Nestucca in Cloverdale on Monday, Jan. 13. The boys took a 16-12 lead into halftime against Vernonia, but the Loggers were able to even the score in the third quarter. With the score tied at 22 going into the final frame, Vernonia outscored Clatskanie 8-7 down the stretch to secure the win. The Tigers were led in scoring by sophomore Michael Simpson, who had eight...
Naselle's girls basketball team has been playing well this season, winning eight of their first 12 games, including their most recent home contest against Columbia Adventist, whom they beat 60-44 on Jan. 13. The Comets put together a solid all-around game against Columbia Adventist, going up 30-21 at halftime. Two of the offensive conductors for Naselle were Aubrey Katyryniuk and Brooke Davis. Katyryniuk created all sorts of problems for the opposition in the first half, scoring 15 points of...
The Naselle Comets take home the Bear River Belt last Saturday night, after outshooting the Ilwaco Fishermen 60-51. Both sides battled all night but it was the Comets who won the war both offensively and...
Wahkiakum Mule 6’ Junior Jayden Stoddard, takes a shot during last Thursday’s game against Pe Ell. The Mules lost to the Pe Ell Trojans 68-32. Photo by Todd...
After a tough loss to PeEll the Lady Mules hosted MWP Timberwolves Monday January 13th. The Lady Mules started out a bit slow with a very aggressive Timberwolves offense coming at them strong. The first half of the game was a struggle for the Lady Mules to get the ball in the basket, but they came out the second half with determination and drive. Though it wasn't enough to defeat the Timberwolves. Mules lost 50...
January 6 9:05 p.m. The Grays River Ambulance responded to a call from a sick resident in the Westend. 12:18 p.m. Cathlamet Emergency Services assisted an elderly Wahkiakum resident who had fallen. 1:13 p.m. A Cathlamet resident called to report that they believe a business in Cowlitz County had scammed their elderly relative. 3:06 p.m. Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of vandalism at Erikson Park; vents and doors had been kicked and damaged in the bathrooms. 4:16 p.m. The Cathlamet Ambulance responded to a call for an Elderly...
