Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
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Photo: Chandler Chapman and Victoria Corona reigned as king and queen of the Naselle High School Homecoming Celebration last Friday. With the reader board flashing the word “Homecoming” to oncoming traffic, spectators crowded around Reuben Penttila Field to cheer on the Naselle Comets Friday evening. Clad in blue and gold, they cheered as the Comets scored on a 73-yard drive against the undefeated Willapa Valley Vikings. Comet quarterback Dustin Eaton opened the scoring on a 34-yard run to open the scoring. However, after an injury to run...
When the fate of the Naselle Youth Camp seemed questionable in recent months, local residents feared a loss of jobs, a hit to the local economy and a decreased enrollment in schools. Residents and local government officials were adamant in the belief that the youth camp was essential to our community. Most recently, the young men living in the medium security facility are proving to be essential on the state level as well. Naselle Youth Camp residents, male offenders receiving educational and treatment services, have been on the front lines,...
Tucked just out of view from coast-bound traffic, people from all over the area filled the fields of Fred’s Homegrown Farm – a mock parking lot – and happily progressed from workshops, to cooking, exhibits, and through the farmers market. This, in addition to camping, music and late-night dancing, were all part of the weekend festivities called Farmstock, a regional, homegrown festival. Hosted by Fred Johnson who owns a 70-acre farm on South Valley Road in Naselle, locals were invited to bring farm goods, expertise, wares and t...
His first call was within weeks of his 16th birthday. “I assisted my father in transporting an elderly woman to the hospital,” recalled Wally Wright. “We picked her up in the old red Cadillac. It was one of those cars that they used for both the mortuary and the fire department. You just flipped the sign, depending on what you were doing. "We drove out to the Elochoman and my father and I picked her up and put her inside. I went to get in the passenger seat and my father told me that I had to ride in the back. ‘What am I supposed to do?’ I...
When Astoria Police found the car at 3:24 a.m. on August 16, the keys were in the ignition and the emergency lights were flashing. The owner, Traci Wirkkala, however was nowhere in sight. Wirkkala, 41, grew up in Deep River and now resides in Naselle. She has not yet been located. The US Coast Guard provided a helicopter to search the area, and Wirkkala was entered into the National Crime Information Center. Additionally, an attempt to locate was issued to other agencies. Police found the vehicle in response to a dispatch that an abandoned car...
Members of the Grays River Grange #124 congregated last week for their regular Tuesday meeting. Prior to the 7 p.m. meeting, grangers strolled through the double doors bearing delicately baked treats to share with their neighbors and friends. Following a dinner, dessert and coffee, members gathered in the main hall to commence an opening ceremony traditional to the farm-based fraternal organization. Perhaps unique to the Grays River Grange was the musical accompaniment of Nirvana’s Krist Novoselic playing the tune of the Rolling Stones classic...
Almost four decades ago a small group of local businessmen in Long Beach came together to create a bank that would focus on the community. The Bank of the Pacific, which has served generations of Wahkiakum County residents, has recently received FDIC approval for their application to open a new branch in Warrenton, Ore. With an anticipated opening set for June 2013, construction will begin this fall. “I am excited about the opportunities in Warrenton and look forward to serving the needs of both the Warrenton and Astoria communities,” said Ban...
“I support teachers and administrators doing what it takes to make kids ready for a career or college,” State Superintendent Randy Dorn said in a recent press release. “I strongly encourage schools to be bold and creative when finding solutions that work for kids.” Wahkiakum School District is doing just that. This spring, school board members, administrators, teachers and parents made a commitment to improve student achievement within the district. One effective strategy for improvement, they found, is providing time for teachers to work to...
Pictured right: Darbury Novoselic, Krist Novoselic and Robert Pyle prepare for Tuesday's meeting. Photo by Melissa Linquist. Grays River Grange #124 rests just feet from the highway. It is lined with single piece wainscoting that stretches from floor to ceiling. Shoes shuffle across old growth solid fir floors, pale scuff marks suggest many years of passage from the front doors to the kitchen area. Inside, volunteers from western Wahkiakum gather over a banquet. Neighbors share freshly baked bread, homemade quiche and a fluffy angel food cake...
While she sat, propped by pillows, in a hospital bed Sunday evening, her friends and family were throwing Brandi (Knowles) Thomas, 35, a bash that she won’t soon forget. “She just had her third radical surgery last week,” explained Lisa Ridout, Brandi’s friend and event organizer. “She is very sore and hurting. They took skin from her thigh to graft it back to her chest area. She not only had her breast removed, but lymph nodes, some muscle and much of the tissue surrounding ribs, arm pit, side, etc. She will start chemo again (third time) as...
The Wahkiakum Cheer Squad poses with awards from their summer camp. From left to right are Chelsea Paulsen, Paris Cothren, Madison LaBerge, Taryn Peterson, Marissa Washington, Kennedi LaBerge, Lainie Ferguson, Megan Perez, and Coach Aztell in the middle. Not pictured are Dallas Gott and Selena Ramirez. Courtesy photo. This fall, students, parents, families and friends will pack into the bleachers to watch the Mules take on various opponents. Leading the audiences through various cheers, some of Wa-Ki-Hi’s most spirited students look forward t...
Home Depot employees showed local residents that they understand the impact of hard work and sweat equity. With the belief in the power of hands-on service, “Team Depot” volunteers joined community members at Lion’s Club Park in Naselle on Thursday to roll up their sleeves and get dirty. To the passersby, the park was spotted with bright orange t-shirts with the word “Team Depot” boldly printed across the chest. Inside, neighbors shoveled loose gravel into wheelbarrows, applied fresh coats of paint to existing structures, and planted new trees...
The roses are in full bloom, squash blossoms rise from the raised garden, benches boast a fresh coat of aquamarine paint and picnic tables line the walk just waiting for visitors to plop down and enjoy a plate of curly fries and a corn dog. The Wahkiakum County Fair, dedicated to the Grays River Grange in recognition of its hard work and community service, has begun to take shape. “It’s sort of like a family,” said fair manager Becky Ledtke of the many volunteers that come together each year in an effort to organize the fair. “We have six sup...
A new concrete walk weaves its way through Lions Club Park in Naselle. Metallic fish, children’s art and tiny hand prints line the path, highlighting the names of community members who have donated to the Lions Club Park Beautification Project. Led by Megan Tienhaara and Summer Johnson, both of Naselle, volunteers have been working tirelessly in preparation for the upcoming park remodel. Home Depot has selected the Naselle community to host a Team Depot Day. To get ready for the one-day event, Tienhaara and Johnson invited families to stamp t...
A white van sits in the corner of the parking lot, overlooking the still waters of the Elochoman Slough Marina. A banner drapes over the vehicle’s rear-end announcing in red lettering, “Sport-Reward Fishery Registration Station." In a camp chair, at a fold-out table, Tyson (last name unavailable) signs up Wahkiakum County fishermen who are joining efforts to save salmon and getting paid to go fishing. This is all part of a program funded by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) called the Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery Program. Ess...
Northwest residents are slightly spoiled when it comes to our seafood consumption. With access to Columbia River spring and summer Chinook, there seems an abundance of the local treat. These salmon have brought fame to the Columbia River and are considered the finest available on the market. However, much is at stake to the prized, local food source as Oregon Initiative Petition No. 21 gains steam. Though the Columbia River gillnet fishery is the sole provider of local fish to mass markets, the initiative will eliminate non-tribal gillnetting...
Local equestrians have been horsing around in mule country thanks to the Wahkiakum County Fair Board and the Island Riders 4-H Club. Grandparents, grandchildren and a plethora of people in between donned cowboy hats and belt buckles last Saturday to take part in the second Horsemanship Challenge of the summer. Participants enjoyed two speed events, two trail events and two ranch events. A smiling Landon Luce said, “This is my first year and I love it!” The third grade student at JA Wendt Elementary, clad in a green plaid shirt and a helmet for...
The walk is lined with aquamarine and canary colored flowers, over the entrance a banner boasts ‘Dream Big, Read!’, as the sliding doors open a tree with purple and teal branches holds cosmic ornaments boasting the names of young readers; it is summer at the Naselle Timberland Regional Library. Inside, librarians are ready with reading kits that include a reading log, a bookmark and coupons to Papa Murphys, McDonalds and the Point Defiance Zoo among other goodies. Children like Courtney and Rachel Paul participate in a scavenger hunt, sco...
Georgia Pacific - Wauna Paper Mill contributes greatly to the Wahkiakum County economy, employing residents to help in the production of pulp and paper products. But the company expends much more across the river where Wauna pays a total of $3,410,536 a year in property taxes to taxing entities in Clatsop County, making it by far the county’s biggest single taxpayer. Under the Lower Columbia Maritime Enterprise Zone for construction of its new No. 6 paper-making machine, Georgia-Pacific was granted tax exemptions in 2004. The exemption e...
Tammy Peterson For Tammy Peterson, the position of Wahkiakum County Treasurer has always been a goal. “It just feels like a natural progression,” said Peterson who has logged more than 20 years of work in county government. Tammy moved to Cathlamet from Port Angeles when she was just five years old. A 1977 graduate of Wahkiakum High School, she attended Longview Business College before going to work for Wahkiakum County. “I am invested in this community. I’m not going anywhere,” said Peterson who is the chairman of the Wahkiakum Community Netwo...
“I loved my time at Wahkiakum,” John Hannah said recently. “I have great friends and family here. Cathlamet will always be home.” Hannah began working for Wahkiakum School District in 1998, as a substitute teacher while working on his Masters Degree in Teaching. In the fall of 2001, he started teaching sixth grade full-time. He later moved into the middle school and most recently taught high school math. He has also coached wrestling and football. In June, Hannah packed up his classroom at Wa-Ki-Hi and headed east to begin his new career...
Robert Belleisle, 72, retired to Cathlamet with a love of the outdoors. The Coos Bay native would spend his free time hunting and fishing so after 20 years of work for Columbia Ford in Longview, Belleisle purchased a pole building and hauled his boat to Wahkiakum County. “Seven years ago, Robert had a heart attack,” recalled Ken Belleisle, Robert’s brother and power-of-attorney. Thirty days after his heart attack, Robert suffered a stroke while working outside in his garden. “He’s paralyzed on his right side. He can cuss and he can say my name...
The families of 40 young children in Wahkiakum County will now get the support they need to give their children a great start in life thanks to a recent award from the state’s Home Visiting Services Account (HVSA). Ten home visiting programs across the state will share $1,453,000 in grants over the next year. For St. James Family Center, The Parents as Teachers program will receive $71,335 to provide services to local families. “Over the past five years, our program has made a difference in the lives of more than 200 families,” said Beth Hanse...
When Mark Erickson began the restoration project of the exterior of the Deep River Lutheran Church, he had his work cut out for him. “There was about an inch of moss covering the building,” recalled Erickson who has donated both his time and energy to preserving the National Historical Site. With private funds collected by personal donations and fundraisers, the church is coming back to life. “We did a solid week of prepping the building,” said Erickson who, together with Richard Kandoll, went about wrapping windows and doors in plastic...
Jayson Cooley, 17, a senior at Naselle/Grays River High School, was recently selected as one of the 98 high school student representatives to attend The American Legion Boys Nation in Washington, D.C. He is one of two delegates selected from the state based on leadership skills, academic record and activity at American Legion Boys State. Cooley will join students from throughout the U.S. for a week-long program where he’ll be introduced to the structure and function of the federal government. The Legion Boys Nation combines lectures and f...
