Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
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Wahkiakum County courthouse department heads presented on Tuesday a plan to relocate and remodel offices, but the board of commissioners sent them back to the drawing board. The estimated price tag is $160,000, and that figure bothered commissioners. "That number is higher than I expected," said board Chair Gene Strong. "I'd like you to review it and see what you can trim. That would be my request." "Shell shock," commented Commissioner Dan Cothren. However, he added that after looking over the proposal carefully, he was satisfied with its...
The Wahkiakum Mule football team ran into another powerhouse last Friday and suffered a 45-6 loss on the road to the Pe Ell/Willapa Valley Titans. The hosts put two touchdowns on the scoreboard in the first quarter for a 14-0 lead; they added another 14 points in the second to lead 28-0 at halftime. Zakk Carlson put the Mules on the scoreboard with a 57-yard run in the fourth quarter. The Mules gained 276 yards on the ground, with Carlson gaining 110. Cooper Carlson had 32 yards and Dominic...
Taxes, construction, and candidate interviews highlighted the Tuesday meeting of the Wahkiakum County Board of Commissioners. County Assessor Bill Coons discussed the recent revaluation notices sent to county property owners. Overall property values increased 22.3 percent, largely because of the addition of $14.6 million in new construction to the county's overall property value. While assessments are up, the increased value will cause the tax rate to drop from approximately $7 per $1,000 of assessed value to $6 per $1,000 next year. The...
The visiting Raymond/South Bend Ravens handed the Wahkiakum Mules a 48-20 loss in the second game of the 2022 football season last Friday. The Mules scored first, with Dominic Curl running in a 6-yard touchdown. Nathan Garrett kicked the conversion, and the Mules led 7-0 in the second quarter. From there the Ravens rattled off 22 straight points and took a 22-7 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Mules opened the third quarter with Brodie Avalon passing to Curl for a 69-yard touchdown. The Mule defense cut the Raven lead to 28-20 when...
Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday approved a road closure on Eden Valley Road and addressed issues relating to operations of courts. Eden Valley Road will have a short closure Sept. 20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to replace a culvert. "This is the first step to try to control flooding in the winter time," commented County Engineer Paul Lacy. The work will take place at the South Creek crossing. Commissioners and court officials brainstormed a response to a recent state supreme court rule that will prohibit superior, district and municipal courts...
The Wahkiakum Mule football team opened the 2022 season with a 36-28 win over the Rainier Mountaineers last Friday. Visiting Rainier tied the game 28-28 on a long pass play late in the fourth quarter. To start the overtime period, Zakk Carlson scored on a 10-yard run, and quarterback Brodie Carlson ran the conversion for the 36-28 margin. Rainier's series of downs came to an end via a behind the line of scrimmage tackle from Mule defensive end Tanner Collupy. On offense, the Mules gained 189...
Wahkiakum County commissioners made plans to appoint members to the Grays River Habitat Enhancement District and touched on other issues when they met Tuesday. The enhancement district is involved in efforts to improve flooding and drainage issues in the Valley. Membership on its board of commissioners waned in the past couple years, and efforts to reconstitute the board filled two of the three seats on the commission. County commission Chair Gene Strong said Tuesday that one of the current habitat board commissioners, Krist Novoselic, is stepp...
The 2022 Wahkiakum Mule football team will start their season with more players than last season and a good number of experienced upper classmen. The Mules start the season with 26 athletes turning out. They started the 2021 season with 17 players and ended with 21, Coach Ryan Lorenzo said. The 2022 group includes seven seniors, eight juniors, five sophomores and six freshmen. Lorenzo, in his second year as the Mules' head coach, offered the following report of the squad: "Our team has a lot of...
The Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce has been busy with activities and presenting programs to support and expand county businesses, Monica Budd, executive director of the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce, reported Tuesday. Budd spoke during meetings of the boards of commissioners of Wahkiakum County and Port District No. 2. Chamber sponsored activities have been quite successful this year she said; these include the fund raising crab feed, spring salmon derby, and Bald Eagle Days Festival. Later this month, they're sponsoring another derby (for...
Wahkiakum County commissioners breezed through a short meeting Tuesday, advancing a road project design, discussing dredging and hearing a report on Chamber of Commerce activities. The board approved an updated call for design proposals for realigning the intersection of SR 4 and East Valley Road in Skamokawa. East Valley Road currently intersects at an angle, making it hard for vehicles to turn to the right. The new design would call for widening and adjusting the intersection. County Engineer Paul Lacey commented that large vehicles can't...
Commissioners of Port District No. 2 approved a bid to replace the roof at the former Skamokawa United Methodist Church building and also voted to support a proposal for creation of public computer facilities across the county. The port has acquired the church building and is upgrading it to house offices, meeting space and other undetermined uses. Roof repair will total $131,000. The project will include addition of insulation and a 50-year guarantee. Commissioners signed a letter of support for Steve Carlson of Computer Link Northwest who is...
Election officials across Washington state last week updated vote tallies from the August 2 primary election, and on Tuesday afternoon, incumbent Congresswoman Jamie Herrera Beutler conceded her race with fellow Republican Joe Kent. According to the Washington Secretary of State Tuesday afternoon report, Kent had 49,515 votes and Herrera Beutler had 48,587. In Washington's primary elections, only the top two candidates advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation. Democrat Marie Guelsenkamp Perez leads the race with 30.97% o...
Last week turned out to be an exciting week for Eagle staff. You should know that we plan ahead to make sure we cover local events, such as the Finnish American Folk Festival that occurred July 29-31 in Naselle. Reporter Diana Zimmerman already had a series of interviews planned for the weekend, but western Wahkiakum/Naselle correspondent Karen Bertroch said she would be happy to cover the event for The Eagle. I have a compromised immune system and avoid crowds. And when Friday rolled around, I became concerned about my health. My lower left...
Change is coming slowly to Wahkiakum County regulations covering festival food vendors and other food service, Health and Human Services Director Chris Bischoff said Tuesday. Bischoff's comments came in response to questions from vendor Bob Hill, who had raised complaints about the county's regulations to the commission in June. Hill said the regulations were inconsistent and the fees more expensive than those of Cowlitz or Pacific counties. At that time, Bischoff said he would consult with groups like the county fair and the Chamber of...
Wahkiakum County commissioners acted on road projects, heard a report about an activity program for senior citizens, and took care of other business when they met Tuesday. Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with Columbia Land Trust to accept ownership of a bridge which the agency is constructing on Risk Road over Nelson Creek. The bridge will replace a culvert that restricts the creek’s flow during heavy rainfall and is part of a project to reduce flooding and restore habitat in the area. The land trust provided funding for t...
Wahkiakum County commissioners breezed through their meeting Tuesday, rolling over a light agenda and spending time discussing trust timberland management issues. Commissioners signed a public assistance grant agreement with the Washington State Military Department that will steer federal disaster response funding to the county to cover damage and expenses resulting from the heavy winter storms in December 2021 and January, 2022. The board approved a letter of support for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe's grant application to the National Fish and...
Commissioners of Port District 2 worked over plans for upgrading facilities when they met Tuesday evening. The port has purchased the former Skamokawa United Methodist Church Building, now named the Carlton Appelo Center, and is in the process of making improvements so that it can host a variety of uses. Commissioners approved a $27,384 bid from Felton Electric to replace the heating system with two heat pumps. They would replace baseboard heaters and a propane furnace. Commissioners and staff also discussed roof repair and decided to wait to...
Wahkiakum County voters will be asked to approve a boost to the local sales tax in an issue approved Tuesday for this November's general election. The tax would generate funds for improvements and maintenance of the radio system serving a variety of county organizations, from the sheriff's office and emergency services to Wahkiakum PUD and school buses. The tax would be 2/10 of 1 percent, or 20 cents per $100 spent. Estimated collection would be $130,000 per year. Sheriff's department officers commented that the current system has holes in...
Culverts, roads, boats and finances dominated the business at Tuesday’s meeting of the Wahkiakum County board of commissioners. During public comment citizens pointed out two long standing issues with roads and offered advice while urging action on the problems. First, residents of the 600 block of Elochoman Valley reported that ditch can’t handle drainage during heavy rainfall; it floods the road and is eroding property, including underneath a fence and power pole. They said they’ve been told action to remedy the situation has been delay...
I've decided to implement some changes in The Eagle policy for letters to the editor. First and foremost, letters need to be shortened. In the past, the limit has been 350 words; starting with the July 23 edition, the limit is now 250 words. We seem to have lots of people who want to comment; space is tight. Second, letters laden with disinformation won't be published. The Eagle won't be party to poisoning reader's minds with cons and conspiracy theories. Of course, there's room for debate on issues, but remember to keep it civil and avoid...
Here's a short commentary coming from Tuesday's House Jan. 6 Committee. It's testimony from witness Stephen Ayers: "People dive into the politics, and for me, I felt like I had horse blinders on. I was locked in the whole time. The biggest thing for me is take the blinders Here's a short commentary coming from Tuesday's House Jan. 6 Committee. It's testimony from witness Stephen Ayers: "People dive into the politics, and for me, I felt like I had horse blinders on. I was locked in the whole time. The biggest thing for me is take the blinders...
Members of the Cathlamet Town Council addressed some thorny issues when they met Tuesday, including possible sewer system expansion in Rosedale and possible zoning changes for Main Street business properties. There were many questions, few answers, and Mayor David Olson said he would work with town staff to return with more information. The town has spearheaded an effort going back several years to expand the sewer system, especially up Boege Road and its connections, identified as Area A. In a June 20 feasibility report from Gray and Osborne,...
(Editor's note: The language about the amount that would be added to the sales tax by the proposal outline below. Undersheriff Gary Howell on Thursday said the new tax for radio communications would be .02 percent, not as stated in the original version of this report.) Wahkiakum County voters this fall will likely face a request to boost sales tax to fund improvements to the radio system serving local governments and emergency responders including law enforcement, fire and ambulance crews, utility crews, school district and county and...
Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday approved contracts for constructing a small animal barn at the county fairgrounds and security upgrades for the county courthouse. Commissioners also reported progress in talks with the US Army Corps of Engineers on potential projects to address erosion on Puget Island and siltation of Gray's Bay. Fair officials have sought funding for the barn, which would house sheep, goats and pigs. The commission approved a $93,988.60 bid for the project. The fair has been awarded a grant from the state Department...
Here's how you turn a democracy into an autocracy. Follow these steps: --Identify a group of citizens to vilify as The Enemy; it can be an ethnic group, immigrants, a political group/party, or other, such as the LGBTQ+ community. Identify them as threats to the nation and stir up anger against them so that the public will support you as the protector of the nation. Invoke religion to set the standards men and women must meet to be considered legitimate citizens and not part of The Enemy. --Take control of the media so that only your messages re...
