Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

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  • County prepares budgets, road construction plans

    Rick Nelson|Nov 17, 2022

    It may be mid-November, but Wahkiakum County officials are making plans for 2023 budgets and activities. The 2023 Preliminary County Budget will be available to the public next Monday. On Tuesday, the board of commissioners will hold public hearings on annual road construction and six-year transportation improvement programs and 14-year ferry program, starting at 10 a.m. On Nov. 29, the commission has scheduled public hearings for each of the county's four flood control zone districts starting at 10 a.m. This is a fifth Tuesday; there will not...

  • Port 2 OK's 2023 budget

    Rick Nelson|Nov 17, 2022

    Commissioners of Port District 2 on Tuesday approved their 2023 budget and waived their authority to increase the district's property tax levy. All three commissioners voted to keep the levy at the current level; in their October meeting, Commissioner Allen Bennett had spoken in favor of taking the 1 percent increase. Commissioners Brian O'Connor and Austin Burkhalter had opposed it, saying the increase wasn't necessary. On Tuesday, Bennett agreed. "The revenue we'd get from this levy would be minimal, and we have other avenues to raise...

  • Gluesenkamp-Perez claims victory

    Rick Nelson|Nov 17, 2022

    Following recent updated vote tallies, Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is the projected winner of the race for the 3rd District seat in the US House of Representatives. A Seattle Times analysis said it appears that, at current rates, Republican Joe Kent would have to take at least 73 percent of the remaining votes to overtake Gluesenkamp Perez. On Tuesday, the Washington Secretary of State's website reported that Gluesenkamp Perez had received 157,365 votes, 50.24% of the total, and Kent had received 154,097 votes, 49.20 percent of the total....

  • Updated: Marie Gluesenkamp Perez claims victory over Joe Kent

    Rick Nelson|Nov 10, 2022

    Following recent updated vote tallies, Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is the projected winner of the race for the 3rd District seat in the US House of Representatives. A Seattle Time analysis said that it appears that, at current rates, Republican Joe Kent would have to take at least 73 percent of the remaining votes to overtake Gluesenkamp Perez. On Monday, the Washington Secretary of State's website reported that Gluesenkamp Perez had received 154,169 votes, 50.47% of the total, and Kent had received 149,548 votes, 48.96 percent of the...

  • McKeen closes gap; Kent claims irregularities

    Rick Nelson|Nov 10, 2022

    The election race for the position of Wahkiakum County prosecuting attorney became tighter Thursday with the second count of mail-in ballots. Incumbent Democrat Dan Bigelow led Independent challenger Holly McKeen 1,093 to 963 on Tuesday, a lead of 130 votes. After Thursday's count, Bigelow leads 1,241-1,155, a lead of 86 votes. The county auditor's elections website estimates there are another 100 ballots left to count; the next count will be Nov. 28. In the county's other contested race, incumbent Gene Strong boosted his lead over challenger...

  • Council works on budget, parking

    Rick Nelson|Nov 10, 2022

    Members of the Cathlamet Town Council on Monday did some fine tuning to their preliminary 2023 budgets, worked on parking ordinances, and acted on several other items of business. In opening remarks at the start of the meeting, Mayor David Olson announced he had contacted Governor Jay Inslee's office about potential conflicts of interest on the board that ranks applications for state recreational funding grants. Two years ago, Olson said, the town applied to the state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) for a grant to fund the proposed Wat...

  • Bigelow, Strong lead local races

    Rick Nelson|Nov 10, 2022

    Two incumbent Wahkiakum County officials have apparently defeated challengers and won re-election to their offices. In a tight race, Democrat Dan Bigelow leads Independent challenger Holly McKeen 1,093 to 963 in Tuesday's count. County elections officials said they had another 300 ballots left to count, and more may arrive in the mail before the next count today (Thursday) at 5 p.m. The county had a 61.43 percent voter turnout. In the county's other contested race, incumbent Gene Strong leads challenger Blair Brady 1,311 to 576 in the race for...

  • Tigers blank Mules 56-0 in season ending game

    Rick Nelson|Nov 10, 2022

    The Class B2 top ranked Napavine Tigers brought the Wahkiakum Mule football season to a close with a 56-0 shutout last Thursday night in Napavine. The teams played the game in heavy sideways rain and 40 mph wind gusts. "Napavine is the real deal," Mule Coach Ryan Lorenzo commented Monday. "They have a solid coaching staff; their athletes were class acts. "Our team was hit with a lot of adversity all year long. I'm proud of the athletes that stuck with their team. The ones that were left at the end went to battle, and I'm proud of the character...

  • Commissioners hear a variety of complaints

    Rick Nelson|Nov 3, 2022

    Wahkiakum County commissioners heard complaints from citizens and took care of several business items when they met Tuesday. An unidentified woman told the board that the county health department sent a letter declaring a trailer on her property a health risk and asking her to enter into an agreement to clean it up. The trailer, she said, is not a flat bed trailer as cited, but it is a dump trailer with sides and containing cardboard and similar debris that will be hauled to a dump. "I feel the health department is targeting me," she said. Anot...

  • Mules fall to Loggers

    Rick Nelson|Nov 3, 2022

    It's not going to get much easier. The Wahkiakum Mules lost 50-28 to the Onalaka Loggers last Thursday in a Central League football game. Today (Thursday), they travel to Napavine to challenge the 9-0 top ranked Tigers for a berth in the playoffs. The Mules kept up with the Loggers for three quarters. In the first quarter, Onalaska took the lead on a 43-yard pass play. The Mules responded with Zakkary Carlson returning a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. Onalaska took a 14-6 lead on a 37-yard...

  • Commissioners support patrol boat purchase

    Rick Nelson|Oct 27, 2022

    In a session that didn't end, Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday approved a variety of purchases and personnel moves and started meeting with department heads to discuss 2023 budget requests. Commissioners authorized the sheriff's department to pursue purchase of a surplus NOAA Fisheries aluminum patrol boat. Undersheriff Gary Howell said it appears the department is the leading bidder in the auction for the boat, but because it belongs to a federal agency, another federal agency could take priority and claim the boat. The bid stands at...

  • Field goals doom Mules

    Rick Nelson|Oct 27, 2022

    The Stevenson Bulldogs found three different ways to score and defeated the Wahkiakum Mules 14-12 in the Mules' homecoming football game last Friday. The visitors caught the Mules in their own endzone to score a two-point safety early in the game. The Mules responded with Zakkary Carlson scoring on a 21-yard touchdown run. The conversion failed, leaving the Mules ahead 6-2. The Mules led 12-2 at halftime after Dominic Curl returned a recovered fumble 37 yards for a touchdown. The conversion...

  • From The Editor

    Rick Nelson|Oct 27, 2022

    The election is coming, but not as fast as we thought at The Eagle. We have a policy of not printing campaign endorsement or similar letters in the last edition before an election, for a candidate who is attacked wouldn’t have a chance to respond. Thinking the election was coming sooner than it is, we told letter writers we wouldn’t run campaign letters this week. When one pointed out our error Wednesday morning, we decided to run the letters. As you can see, there are many, and because space is tight, we’ve cropped some of the extra...

  • Council considers 2023 budget, OK's new utility rates

    Rick Nelson|Oct 20, 2022

    The Cathlamet town council on Monday poured over their preliminary 2023 budgets and gave final approval to new sewer and water utility rates. The council took no action on the budget; that will occur at November and December meetings. According to the budget summary, the town expects revenue of $6.8 million, with expenses of $4.58 million, leaving reserves of $2.2 million. The council first tackled employee compensation and benefits. Originally, a 4 percent increase in pay was considered, but after discussion, council members agreed that they...

  • Port 2 commissioners consider 2023 budget

    Rick Nelson|Oct 20, 2022

    Commissioners of Wahkiakum Port District 2 on Tuesday went over their preliminary budget for 2023 and discussed desired improvements to the Carlton Appelo Center at Skamokawa Vista Park. The center is the former Skamokawa United Methodist Church building, which the port acquired when the congregation dissolved. It has been renamed in honor of Appelo, one of the founders of the district. The 2023 draft budget totals $1.05 million with $411,938 estimated operating revenue, $155,800 in interest and investment income, and $485,000 in beginning cash...

  • County board hears WAAGS funding request

    Rick Nelson|Oct 20, 2022

    Wahkiakum County commissioners touched on a couple 2023 budget issues when they met Tuesday; they'll meet with department heads next week to hear requests and get started. Treasurer Tammy Peterson reviewed financial status. Rising interest rates have benefitted county investments, which pool funds from a variety of local governmental entities. Based on 2021 interest rates, Peterson said she had budgeted only $15,000 in interest income for 2022. However, rates are rising, and at the end of September, investments had earned $90,196. Revenue from...

  • Riverhawks corral Mules

    Rick Nelson|Oct 20, 2022

    The Kalama Chinooks broke open a tight Central League football game with 18 third quarter points to key a 36-14 win over the Wahkiakum Mules last Friday. Kalama led 6-0 at halftime and pulled ahead 12-0 early in the third quarter. The Mules closed the gap with a drive ending in Zakk Carlson's three-yard run; he ran the conversion to close the gap to 12-8. Kalama then put two touchdowns on the scoreboard to lead 24-8. On the Chinook kickoff after the second score, Mule Jacob Johnson returned the...

  • Updated: DNR: County could receive $1.8 million

    Rick Nelson|Oct 13, 2022

    As Wahkiakum County officials head into development of 2023 budgets, they received Tuesday a fairly good report of probable revenue from harvest of timber off state managed trust timberland. The trust timber revenue supports most courthouse departments. Revenue in 2022 should be about $1.7 million, and in 2023, the county could receive as much as $1.8 million, Department of Natural Resources District Manager Padraic Callahan reported at the weekly meeting of the county board of commissioners. Timing of small sales could increase or decrease...

  • Port 2 considering budget

    Rick Nelson|Oct 13, 2022

    Commissioners of Port District No. 2 will consider their 2023 budget when they meet next Tuesday, 5 p.m., in Skamokawa. The 2023 draft budget totals $1.05 million with $411,938 estimated operating revenue, $155,800 in interest and investment income, and $485,000 in beginning cash and investments. Estimated payroll expenses are $331,300 other operating costs $196,500, capital costs $454,877 and debt service costs $70,000. Potential capital improvement costs include $80,000 for an additional rental cabin at Skamokwa Vista Park...

  • Riverhawks corral Mules 47-14

    Rick Nelson|Oct 13, 2022

    Toledo's Riverhawks overcame a Wahkiakum Mule rally and left Cathlamet with a 47-14 Central League football victory last Friday. Toledo led 21-0 as the second quarter was coming to an end when the Mules struck back. Mule quarterback Brodie Avalon put the ball in the air, and Kyler Sause caught the pass and ran for a 45-yard touchdown. A two-point conversion kick make the scored 21-8 at halftime. Toledo started the second half with two touchdowns to boost their lead to 34-8. On the kickoff follow...

  • County officials seek IT crew expansion

    Rick Nelson|Oct 6, 2022

    Wahkiakum County's elected officials spent a good amount of time Tuesday trying to resolve a conflict between security and deficit. Department heads and county commissioners agreed that they need to add a second person to their IT Department, but they're looking at a revenue shortfall next year and they're wondering how to cover the expense. With the county's budgeting process for 2023 about to start, commissioners asked department heads to identify the funding so that the position can be implemented. Department heads said the county's IT...

  • Pirates hold off Mules

    Rick Nelson|Oct 6, 2022

    The Adna Pirates came to Cathlamet last Friday and left with a 12-6 win in a defensive battle with the Wahkiakum Mule football team. After a scoreless first quarter, the Pirates took the lead on a 2-yard run. The conversion kick failed, leaving Adna up 6-0. Zakk Carlson took the ball on the Adna kickoff and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown to tie the game. Dominic Curl kicked the conversion to give the Mules a 7-6 halftime lead. Adna poked the ball over the goal line on another 2-yard run...

  • Commissioners okay sheriff's move expense

    Rick Nelson|Sep 29, 2022

    Wahkiakum County commissioners approved bids and plans for projects at county facilities and handled other business when they met Tuesday. Commissioners accepted a revised plan for moving sheriff department offices into the basement of the courthouse annex. Sheriff Mark Howie had presented a plan last week totalling an estimated $160,000, and commissioners asked him to look for savings and come back with a lower number. And Tuesday he did. A major change was to drop a plan to change the back entrance and leave it as is. With other minor...

  • Mules trample Wildcats, host Adna this Friday at 4 p.m.

    Rick Nelson|Sep 29, 2022

    Please note: Friday's home game against Adna begins at 4 p.m. The Wahkiakum Mule football team went on the road and steamrolled the Ocosta Wildcats 51-0 in a non-league game last Friday. The Mules led 13 after one quarter as Zakk Carlson scored on runs of five and 25 yards. Nathan Garrett kicked a conversion. Thirteen more points followed in the second quarter. Brodie Avalon scored on a 13-yard run and Dominic Curl on a 12-yard run. Garrett kicked another conversion for a 26-0 halftime lead....

  • Council adopts new utility rates, plans 2-hour parking

    Rick Nelson|Sep 22, 2022

    The Cathlamet town council on Monday took big steps on major projects--adopting a new rate structure for sewer and water utilities and starting the process to impose two-hour parking limits on Main Street. The council also gave initial approval to an ordinance allowing town residents to keep up to five chickens at their residences. Ordinances need approval in at least two separate meetings, so final action will come at a subsequent meeting. The council has been working on utility rates for years and put together a new structure designed to...

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