Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Sorted by date Results 276 - 300 of 2280
Wirkkala Road near Deep River will be closed to traffic August 17-19, Wahkiakum County officials said Tuesday. The county road department will replace a small, failing culvert with a 9-foot diameter pipe. In June, 2019, Wirkkala Road resident Nick Nikkila reported the culvert was failing and had only a very small opening for drainage. Subsequently, County Engineer Paul Lacy said the culvert had almost collapsed, and the county commission imposed a 10,000 lb. weight restriction on the road. The road crew placed steel plates over the 4-foot...
By Rick Nelson Members of Wahkiakum County's board of commissioners would like to see an increase in public restrooms available to travelers. On Tuesday, they explored the concept with representatives of Port District 1 and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. All agreed this would be a long-term project and that they would see what each could offer to the project. In other business at the board's meeting Tuesday, commissioners accepted the resignation of another member of the county planning...
Two days after Wahkiakum County officials opened the courthouse to the public, they closed it again. Three days later, they voted to open again. The officials learned that their janitorial contractor lacked sufficient personnel to provide the schedule of cleaning required under the state Department of Health guidelines to deal with the covid-19 pandemic. The board of commissioners voted Tuesday to close the courthouse again until the required cleaning can be provided. People needing to access courthouse offices again need to phone the office...
Two days after Wahkiakum County officials opened the courthouse to the public, they closed it again. The officials learned that their janitorial contractor lacked sufficient personnel to provide the schedule of cleaning required under the state Department of Health guidelines to deal with the covid-19 pandemic. The board of commissioners voted Tuesday to close the courthouse again until the required cleaning can be provided. People needing to access courthouse offices again need to phone the office to set up an appointment. However, the county...
Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday accepted a company's proposal to replace the heating and air conditioning system in the courthouse. Also Tuesday, Public Works Director Chuck Beyer announced that the ferry Oscar B. would be out of service Friday morning, 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, for a variety of repairs. A crew will replace the ferry's inoperable air conditioning system (HVAC). Other projects include replacing an injector line on an engine and repair of buffers. Commissioners agreed to use the services of Wildan Performance Engineering,...
Commissioners of Port District 2 approved a health insurance benefit for full time employees and agreed to honor some refund requests when they met via Zoom Tuesday afternoon. Initially, the port will pay for the health insurance costs for three full-time employees. Benefits for subsequent full-time employees will be 100 percent for the employee; the employees would be responsible for dependents' coverage. The commissioners discussed whether or not to pay refunds to four different camping parties and eventually agreed to pay the refunds but rev...
Members of the Cathlamet Town Council covered lots of ground when they met Monday, hearing bad news about dock repairs, setting up a park design plan for the Butler Street parking lot, and addressing swimming pool issues. Repairs to the town's dock at the end of Broadway Street have hit a snag, said Mayor Dale Jacobson. One of the two floats has broken loose and has bouyancy issues. A diver is needed to inspect the underside, otherwise, the float should be lifted out of the river to determine...
Wahkiakum County commissioners handled a variety of business Tuesday and, meeting as the county Board of Health, to express their frustration in dealing with the covid-19 pandemic. Commissioners supported a proposed grant request by Port District 1 for upgrades a County Line Park; they approved plans to replace an air conditioning unit on the ferry Oscar B. and the courthouse heating and air conditioning system, and accepted the resignations of Trudy Fredrickson and Colleen Haley from the county planning commission. In his report to the board...
By Rick Nelson and Diana Zimmerman The covid-19 pandemic and subsequent responses to ensure people's health and safety are creating great uncertainty for school systems, and as July begins, participation in fall sports. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) and other governing agencies have published guidelines for programs, including allowing some summer activities, but nothing is certain. During its July 7 meeting, the WIAA Executive Board took action to delay the start of the fall season until September 5 for football...
As the covid-19 pandemic evolves around Washington, Wahkiakum County officials are looking to advance to a Phase 4 opening as soon as possible. "I'm ready (to apply) if the state will allow it," county Health and Human Services (H&HS) Director Chris Bischoff told the county board of commissioners on Tuesday. "My feeling is that as long as the trend is upward, they won't allow anybody to go to Phase 4," he said. "That's the problem with Phase 4," commented Commissioner Gene Strong. "People will come in from other areas. The more you open things...
Commissioners of Port District 2 discussed a potential health insurance plan for district employees and the plan for enhancing the waterfront trail at Skamokawa Vista Park when the board met via Zoom on June 16. Manager Jeff Smith said the port could join other local governmental entities in an insurance pool. Commissioner Brian O'Connor said he liked the idea because it would help make the district an attractive employer. However, Commissioner Lee Tischer had concerns about the potential growth of expense over the years. Smith suggested the...
By a 4-1 vote, the Cathlamet Town Council decided Monday not to open the municipal swimming pool this summer. The council cited a mix of concerns over the covid-19 pandemic and financial and operating costs in making the decision. The decision upholds a consensus the council reached at their June 1 meeting. However Council Member David Olson subsequently asked that the council discuss the issue and vote on it at this week's meeting. Olson said he had learned the town had a pool advisory...
Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday approved a shoreline management permit that could lead Wahkiakum PUD to improve water supply in Skamokawa. Commissioners approved the permit despite a recommendation, on a 4-3 vote, from the county planning commission to reject it. The PUD has assumed operation of the Westside Water System. The permit would allow the PUD to connect Brooks Slough and Sleepy Hollow neighborhoods to the system. The project would involve installing new mains and meters and a chlorine treatment device. Planning commission...
Last week, word traveled by social media that people supporting the Black Lives Matter would hold "A March of Silence" on Friday afternoon, state wide. According to news reports, the event's purpose was to honor those lost to police brutality and institutionalized racism, with the silent part also to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. I and members of my staff were pleased to learn a group of Wahkiakum County citizens would join the statewide event. They gathered in front of the community center in Cathlamet, held signs and waved at...
By Rick Nelson With the state secretary of health approving Wahkiakum County's move to a Phase 3 opening for covid-19 virus restrictions, county officials are planning how to open their offices. Since the start of restrictions, the courthouse has been closed to the public, with customers able to meet with office staff by appointment. However, under Phase 3, the offices can be opened to the public. County Emergency Management Director Beau Renfro said glass partitions needed to create clear barriers along counter fronts should arrive late this...
Wahkiakum County on Friday received word from the state Department of Health that the county can move to a Phase 3 opening status. Some guideline details remain to be worked out, sad Chris Bischoff, county Director of Health and Human Services. Following is the text from John Wiesman, state secretary of health: June 5, 2020 Chris Bischoff, Director Wahkiakum Health and Human Services 64 Main Street Cathlamet, Washington 989612 Dear Director Bischoff: I am in receipt of the Wahkiakum County’s COVID-19 application requesting approval to fully i...
Town of Cathlamet officials have backed away from a Monday evening announcement that the town swimming pool wouldn't open for the 2020 season. Instead, the council is seeking public opinion about opening the pool or keeping it closed for the summer, and the council will vote on the issue at their June 15 meeting. On Monday night, Mayor Dale Jacobson announced that the pool wouldn't open this season. He said he had discussed the issue with Clerk/Treasurer Sarah Clark, and given the uncertainty and requirements of dealing with the covid-19...
Members of the Cathlamet Town Council acted on an update of the town's comprehensive plan and debated change order procedures and how to allocate CARES Act funds when they met Monday. The council voted 3-2 to extend their contract with the Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Council of Governments (COG) for plan development by $4,500 for a total of $13,500. COG Executive Director Bill Fashing said the initial contract envisioned a quick, uncomplicated update, but there had been lots of input from council members,...
An anonymous comment drew our attention to a misstep in last week's edition in which we allowed the use of the term Chinaman in a letter to the editor. It was strange for us to see that term; it's an archaic term and not in our normal vocabulary. It was used in conjunction with writing from Cathlamet's past, perhaps close to 100 years ago. But after receiving that anonymous comment, I went to the online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, always a good starting place for quick research. Here's what Wikipedia had to say about the term: "Chinaman is an...
Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday approved a budget for spending a large portion of their federal CARES Act funding to address issues arising from the covid-19 pandemic. Commissioners had planned to approve a formal request to the state Department of Health asking that the county be moved to Phase 3 restrictions for covid-19, However, DOH application timing led the board to adjourn the meeting to Wednesday morning (as The Eagle went to press) for approval and later submission to DOH. The county received $250,000 in CARES Act funds, and...
By Rick Nelson Wahkiakum County could move to the less restrictive Phase 3 covid-19 opening, if county officials get their way. On Tuesday morning, Chris Bischoff, director of Wahkiakum County Health and Human Services (H&HS) told the board of commissioners he would present the request for a variance from state mandated restrictions later that day to the state secretary of Health. "All our neighbors are in Phase 2 now," he said. "We have been good; we've had no new cases for two weeks. "But the state hasn't prepared the guideline for Phase 3,...
Skamokawa Vista Park will open to camping beginning May 28, Jeff Smith, manager for Port District 2, announced Tuesday. The park has been closed to camping as part of the social distancing closures mandated by Gov. Jay Inslee to slow the spread of the covid-19 virus. The park reopened to daytime use last week. On Tuesday, Smith reported to the Port 2 board of commissioners that staff have been able to make grounds keeping progress and improvements to restrooms while the park was closed to the public. Camping will be limited as park staff await...
The Cathlamet Town Council covered lots of ground when they met Monday, with topics ranging from CARES Act funding and swimming pool to maintenance of town parks. The town will receive $25,000 in CARES Act funds which can be used in a variety of ways to respond to the covid-19 pandemic. Council members said they were unclear of specifics governing their use. "I haven't looked at the fine print, but in most instances, the council has some discretion," said town attorney Fred Johnson, adding he would be happy analyze the specifics for the...
As Washington state responds to the covid-19 pandemic, the Washington Legislature will have to address a huge revenue shortfall in a special session later this year, Sen. Dean Takko, D-Dist. 19, told local officials at a Tuesday roundtable meeting. Because of the covid-19 pandemic, "Everything is up in the air," Takko said. "The process for opening up society and the economy is confusing, Takko said. "I'm hearing about it. I've been told some natural resource activities will open up in a few days. "In the big picture, the budget is way out of...
Candidates finished filing for 2020 elections last Friday with Wahkiakum County set for two races for positions on the county board of commissioners. As of Friday, filings included: County Commissioner #1, Mike Backman, incumbent, Independent, and Lee Tischer, Independent. Backman is running for his third term, and Tischer is a present member of the board of commissioners of Wahkiakum Port District 2 and a former member of the Wahkiakum School District board of directors. County Commissioner #2, Dan L. Cothren, incumbent, Independent; Tim Lawry...
