Week of December 19, 2024
Week of December 19, 2024
Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of a missing Cathlamet resident in the early morning hours of Dec. 14. Family members said they had not seen the resident since the night before; the search began at 1:30 a.m. and a silver alert was issued later in morning. Search and Rescue was called in. Their first steps were to call the State Emergency Operations Center and establish a base camp. The resident was last seen near Columbia Street in Cathlamet. Sheriff’s deputies began driving all the roads within town limits and...
Speeches and candlelight celebrated the induction of six new members of the Wahkiakum High School chapter of the National Honor Society (WNHS) on Monday, December 6th, in the high school library. Each year, Wahkiakum sophomores, juniors, and seniors with at least a 3.25 accumulative GPA are invited to apply for admission in our local chapter. Applications reflect not only scholastic achievement, but the four pillars of the National Honor society: scholarship, service, leadership, and character....
The Wahkiakum School District Board of Education held its regular December meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10. The original agenda was amended to add an executive session and discussion on the pool information. The consent agenda was approved as submitted, which included regular payroll, vouchers, meeting minutes, supplemental contracts, and the second reading of the civil rights policy update. The old business was short, and the focus of discussion was on the child’s nutrition review with the upcoming January audit of the school nutrition...
The Wahkiakum County Commissioners held their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday Dec. 17. During the Commissioner’s reports, Commissioner Lee Tischer reported that the Town of Cathlamet will be raising sewer rates for the courthouse by nearly 17,000 dollars next year. Commissioner Gene Strong reported that the VFW requested permission to place a solar light at the new veteran’s memorial in front of the courthouse. Commissioners approved the appointment and re-appointment of several Marine Resource Center committee members: Bret...
Since publishing the story entitled “HHS Works Toward Healthcare Kiosk Relaunch”, Washington State Department of Health announced an extension of the DOH COVID-19 Testing Kiosk Program, allowing all kiosks to remain operational until end-of-day on March 31, 2025. This extension will help Wahkiakum County through the respiratory virus season and gives Wahkiakum County Health and Human Services more time to secure a harm reduction product dispensing alternative. Residents may continue to use the kiosk located below the Cathlamet Public...
WET AND WETTER. We had a fairly damp and nasty Saturday but nothing like what hit up north; the Sound area people were rescuing decorations, flags, and anything else that wasn’t nailed down so at least we didn’t lose power or have any more than short bursts of wind and rain out here in West Valley. With the entire week looking wet, we may need waders or a boat to get around with the King Tides and added rain. Folks in low-lying areas, like Swedetown and over in the Grays River, Rosburg area were experiencing road closures due to water...
My letter of last week was ill-advised and mis-informed. My sincere apologies for that; I should have at least gone down and looked at the tree before my pontification. Having done so now, I judge the tree to be about 80 years old and in poor health to the point of perhaps being a danger tree. The top has been blown out maybe 40 years ago which usually results in killing a tree over a period of years. I’ve seen monster spruce that looked perfectly healthy collapse in a pile of rotted rubble in an instant. If it were up to me, I would have...
The mighty Columbia River and its estuary are at risk of destruction for generations to come. A major water permit stands in the way of NEXT Renewable’s approval to construct one of the world’s largest non-conventional diesel refineries at Port Westward, a swift and dangerous dock that recently dodged a massive spill from a tugboat collision. Many flaws in the proposal remain ignored by state permitting agencies. Community and expert concerns are routinely silenced. On more levels than can be discussed here, this project is greenwashing,...
The Clatskanie girls basketball team lost its first game of the season last Tuesday, Dec. 10, at home against Riverdale 42-35. The visiting Mavericks held a slim, five-point lead going into the half, but were able to double it by the end of the third quarter. Despite outscoring Riverdale 11-8 in the fourth, Clatskanie couldn't get over the hump enough to completely erase its deficit. Junior Joey Sizemore led the Tigers in scoring, rebounds, and steals, hauling in 16 points, 12 boards and five swipes. Sophomore Lacey Willis had two blocks -...
The Naselle Comets are off to a good start in both boys' and girls' basketball, as both teams came away with wins in their first conference games of the year, and the girls also won the local cross-county rivalry against the Wahkiakum High School Mules. The boys and girls conference games were each played against Taholah on Dec. 13. Boys basketball beat Taholah The boys came away with a strong 68-47 win against the Chitwins, powered by strong performances from Trajen Ford and Leith Chadwick,...
The Clatskanie Tigers boys’ basketball team earned their first win of the season Monday by nearly doubling up on rival Rainier High School 55-30. The boys were led by junior Zack Mollenhour who delivered 19 points, going 7 for 15 from the field. Mollenhour led the teams in blocks as well with two to go along with his three rebounds and lone assist. Also scoring in double digits was sophomore Gunner Engen who had 13 points and a team-high of five assists to go along with his five rebounds, two steals, and lone block. Senior Ryder Gorley led...
December 9 1:26 a.m. Cathlamet Ambulance responded to an elderly person who fell. 11:53 a.m. A caller on Crossdike Rd reported a pile of concrete, rock, and plastic bags dumped next to the slough. A Cathlamet resident reported a 1911 style pistol alongside the road on SR 4 and River Ridge Rd. Deputies discovered the item was an airsoft gun and not a firearm. 5:12 p.m. Grays River Ambulance responded to an elderly person with chest pain. December 10 6:22 a.m. An elderly Cathlamet resident requested transportation to the hospital 2:42 p.m. A...
