Week of February 26, 2026
Week of February 26, 2026
During their meeting Tuesday, Feb. 24, the Wahkiakum County Commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 34-26, authorizing an interlocal agreement between the county and Fire District No. 3 for the purpose of borrowing funds in the amount of $13,000. The commissioners then authorized the Chair's signature on the County Road Levy to the County Road Administration Board (CRAB). Per Washington Administrative Code 136-150-021, state law requires each county to submit an annual certification of their road levy by March 1. County Department of...
Washington state moved one step closer Monday to creating a personal income tax two years after the Legislature said it wouldn’t. Majority Democrats in the Senate advanced legislation on a 27-22 vote to tax households earning more than a million dollars. Passage of the bill followed a three-and-a-half hour debate on whether this will make for a fairer tax code or harm the economy and incite an exodus of Washington’s wealthy residents. House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, who watched the vote from the wings of the Senate, was all smiles...
On Thursday, Feb. 19 at 8:07 a.m. the Longview Police Department (LPD) arrested two juveniles in connection with “the ongoing investigation involving allegations of criminal misconduct at Mark Morris High School,” according to a statement issued by LPD. The two juveniles were taken into custody on the charges of rape in the second degree, unlawful imprisonment with sexual motivation, indecent liberties with forcible compulsion, and indecent exposure. According to LPD, since the case involves minors, “no additional identifying...
At the 53rd annual Michael Dugaw Smelt Classic tournament at Lower Columbia College, the Fighting Smelt speech and debate team completed a dominant wire-to-wire season in the Northwest Forensics Conference (NFC). LCC was named Division III conference champion in speech, conference champion in debate, and was honored as a Gold Medal Program. The conference, which represents all collegiate speech and debate programs in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, and northern Utah, honors top programs in multiple competitive divisions, including...
Because the dates line up, The Eagle has decided to reprint events from 1976. Thank you to volunteer Julie O’Neil and volunteer curator, genealogist, and board member Kari Kandoll. Puget Island News From Norway Mrs. Gudrun Enge from Vik Helgeland in Norway has been visiting many homes on Puget Island recently. A first cousin to Sigurd Blix, she has spent time with Mr. and Mrs. Sigurd Blix, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Danielson, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Danielsen, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Bergseng and with many other friends and relatives. Mrs. Enge left for her...
HELLO. Welcome library members, readers, and all to our monthly update. READ ACROSS AMERICA. In recognition of Dr. Seuss, Cathlamet Library will be celebrating Read Across America for all of March, with a mystery guest reader, as we recognize the importance of promoting reading for all children. ST. JAMES EVENT. On Thursday, March 12, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., we will be at the St. James Family Center Parent Group Literacy Night event to offer library cards and provide free books for children. Stop by and say hello. We are here for you....
Despite what I wrote a couple of weeks back about February (and March) being slow months in the outdoors, it seems there's quite a bit going on outside the front door as February winds down and we segue into March. I spoke with Britton Ransford, the communications manager for the WDFW's Region 5 (Ridgefield) office on Friday, Feb. 20. This was just two days after the agency's first-of-the-season morning smelt dip on the Cowlitz. To paraphrase, Ransford told me that as of the evening of Tuesday,...
I recently interviewed Massachusetts resident Paul Rogers for our 52nd installment of Reader's Fave, a casual interview with someone who shares their favorite book. Paul and I met together via zoom on the podcast "Frivolous Dreams," which is hosted and operated by his son, Kyle Rogers, here in Cathlamet. Paul and Kyle had recently begun reading the book "Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties" by Tom O'Neill. Beginning our conversation, Paul said, "I'm not big on...
Swiss chard: one fantastic vegetable Chard, also called Swiss chard, is a close relative of beets; but, unlike most beets, chard is grown for its tasty, vitamin-rich greens rather than its root. The large green leaves have a texture like spinach and have edible, fleshy red, yellow, orange, or white stalks. Chard is amazingly cold hardy, and a planting often lasts through the winter. Unlike spinach, it does not bolt to seed as the temperatures warm, allowing harvests all summer long. Plant chard seeds about 30 days before the last frost date...
Starting in March, the Clatskanie Library District will be hosting a series of classes by Master Gardeners about seeds, propagation, and advice to help your garden thrive. The first class will be “Sustainable Gardening Practices” with Rachell Meyers, Friday, Feb. 2,7 at 6 p.m. By Sunday, March 15, the library will have a “Seed Library,” offering a variety of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and more for library fans to “check out.” Small packets will be given of requested seeds. The Clatskanie Library District is also partnering with...
On Feb. 18, former State Senator Rachel Armitage (D-St. Helens) filed to run for the seat she previously held in 2022. "I hear it over and over from the people of this district," said Armitage. "They feel like they're on their own, and that no one is really looking out for them. I'm here to change that. Senate District 16 deserves the best: affordable housing and health care, family-wage jobs, good schools, and a government that works for everyone." Armitage is a long-time Columbia County...
The Rainier Spring Bazaar is returning on Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Rainier Riverfront Center. The Bazaar debuted in 2025 and featured 18 Rainier-based businesses with wares that ranged from baked goods, homemade jewelry, handmade soaps, metal sculptures, paintings and art, wood carved items and quilts. Last year's event was attended by a few hundred people at the "Big Green" building located behind City Hall. This year's event has changed locations to expand space...
In April of 2024, the Rainier Oregon Skate Park (ROSP) Project initiative was launched to revitalize the skate park in Rainier, Ore., and strengthen community engagement through youth-driven sports programs. According to Project CEO Shane Bell, ROSP has made “significant progress” over the past year. “We have held productive discussions with city leadership, including the Rainier City Administrator and Mayor, and built strong local support,” said Bell. “In May 2025, ROSP partnered with the Fraternal Order of Eagles (F.O.E.)nonprofit...
Jeremy Williams, former principal for Rainier junior and senior high school, was sentenced Monday, Feb. 23 to five years in prison for possessing child sexual assault materials (CSAM). According to a statement issued by the Cowlitz County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Williams pled guilty to three counts of “Possession of Depictions of a Minor Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct in the First Degree.” Williams was arrested Sept. 16, 2025, after the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office received multiple referrals from the National Center...
The long-standing free “Seed to Supper” gardening course is returning to Columbia County starting in March. “Seed to Supper” is a joint effort of the Oregon Food Bank (OFC) and Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service. OFB created the program in 2004 with the goal of enhancing food security and increasing education and access to locally-grown foods in food insecure communities. The program expanded following a partnership with OSU Extension Service in 2010. “Seed to Supper” is a free six-week gardening course designed to...
The Rev. Susan Jo Owen was born in Vincennes, Indiana, on Friday, July 13, 1945. She died unexpectedly February. 17, 2026. Sue grew up in her beloved town of Cazenovia in upstate New York. She attended Indiana University, graduating in 1969 (Go Hoosiers!). She arrived in Oregon in 1975 and her daughter Vanessa was born in 1976. Later Sue received an MSW from Portland State University and worked for Child Protective Services in Oregon. Sue entered ministry in the early 1980s and attended San...
Jeanette Brusco passed away peacefully on February 12, 2026, at Angel's View Adult Family Home, with the love and support of her family. She was 87 years old. Born in Biwabik, Minnesota in 1938, Jeanette grew up with three brothers and at the age of three, she moved with her family to Mayger, Oregon, later attending school in Clatskanie. After graduating, Jeanette worked as a bank messenger in Portland and then married her husband. Jeanette married the love of her life, Michael Brusco Sr., and together they raised five children, experiencing...
Chantel Dee Spiering would do anything for anyone. It was simply who she was. On Jan. 2, 2026, she passed away peacefully at home. Her strength and grace was unwavering to the end. Chantel grew up in Clatskanie, Ore., and graduated from the University of Portland. She built a successful career at Intel while maintaining a thoughtful balance of family and friendships. Brilliant, articulate, and deeply generous, Chantel lived with purpose and heart. Her belief in optimism and renewal shaped how...
To The Eagle, Attention Grays River alley landowners. Please notice your new assessments from the Grays River Flood Control District in the 2026 tax bill. What’s new is that even a sliver of property in the GRFCD gave them an idea to assess your total property owned from $1 to $3 an acre. Or you may be paying $25 per parcel, no matter how small the parcel touching the district, and no matter how many parcels you may own. Is that fair? Nope! I believe this to be an illegal taxing of people’s property not in the GRFCD by an entity that...
To The Eagle, Wahkiakum PUD will be seeking public input regarding whether to continue or discontinue the addition of fluoride to the Cathlamet Water System. It is my opinion that our water should absolutely continue to be fluoridated. Fluoridation is an equitable public health measure providing cavity prevention benefits to everyone in this community, regardless of age, income, or access to dental care. Consistent, low-level exposure through water provides a continuous protective effect. It’s a cost-effective public health intervention...
The Clatskanie varsity girls basketball team ended the regular season on a high note with a narrow, two point victory over Knappa on Friday, Feb. 13. However, with postseason seeding on the line Wednesday, Feb. 18, the Tigers fell 36-29 to the same Knappa team and had to settle for the third seed, rather than the second, in the tournament. This forced the girls to take on Portland Christian on Saturday, Feb. 21. Though the Tigers led the Royals 18-16 entering the second quarter, Portland...
The Clatskanie varsity boys basketball team saw its 2025-26 season come to an end last Saturday following a 60-24 loss to Nestucca. The Bobcats took advantage of 29 Clatskanie turnovers and set the tone early, jumping out to a 17-5 lead to end the first quarter. The deficit would only grow larger and more insurmountable for Clatskanie, as Nestucca outscored them 15-3 in the second to take a 32-8 lead at halftime. Nestucca would further outscore Clatskanie 28-16 in the second for the resulting 60-24 final. The Tigers were led in scoring by...
The 1B district championships have wrapped up across Washington, and the state tournament field is set. Wahkiakum's boys and Naselle's girls have punched their ticket to the big dance. The Wahkiakum boys earned their spot after securing the District 4 crown, and Naselle's girls qualified with a district semifinal win over Wahkiakum's girls basketball. Let's dive into the results from the district championships and see what the opening rounds of the state playoffs hold for the Mules and Comets....
February 16 5:31 p.m. A Cathlamet resident called to report that an individual they have a no contact order against violated the order. One person was arrested. 6:43 p.m. The Cathlamet Emergency Services responded to perform a lift assist for an elderly Cathlamet resident. February 17 7:11 p.m. A Cathlamet resident was transported to the hospital for mobility issues and pain. February 18 4:53 a.m. A Skamokawa resident called to report suspicious individuals at the fairgrounds and claims one of the prowlers’ dogs attacked them. 5:13 p.m. A...
