Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
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This fall, Washington voters will decide on Initiative 1000, better known as The Washington Death with Dignity Act. This bill would allow competent adult (18 and over) patients to obtain lethal doses of medications to end their life if they have six months or less to live. This must be verified by two physicians. Should the law go into effect, eligible patients must be residents of the state of Washington, and have completed counseling with a state licensed psychiatrist or psychologist. Patients must make three requests without coercion; one...
Physicians Assistant/Clinician Mike Meno has joined the staff at the Wahkiakum Family Practice Clinic. Photo by Sunny Manary. The Wahkiakum Family Practice Clinic’s family has grown. Mike Meno, Physicians Assistant/Clinician (PAC) joined the clinic the first week of September. Meno received his education and training in Portland where he practiced at Bess Kaiser for three and a half years in the ER. He is trained to do everything from pediatrics to X-Rays. “Everything but obstetrics,” he said. Meno became certified to practice medicine in 19...
The Wahkiakum School District Board of Directors met for the first time this school year on September 17. Board members discussed the possibility of replacing the roof and gutters on the bus shop. Superintendent Bob Garrett told the board that Transportation Supervisor Calvin Grasseth didn’t have a formal presentation for the board at this time but he believes the rough estimate will be around $25,000. Garrett said that amount is actually lower than what they discussed the repairs. If the work is done, it will come out of the Capital Projects F...
Science class at John C. Thomas Middle School is more than taking notes and watching the occasional movie. This year teachers are using Science Kits by FOSS, (Full Option Science System). The kits have all the materials the teacher needs for her lesson. Each grade has a different kit they will be learning from for the next couple of months. Tiffany Niemeyer’s eighth grade students are learning about rock formations in the Grand Canyon. They begin with “Investigations,” which are lessons that explain a section of the entire unit. “The greates...
Washington Department of Transportation crews are working to repair the Elochoman River bridge on SR4, which was damaged in a hit and run late June. A beam on the east end of the bridge was severed in the impact. Whoever hit the bridge had to have known he hit something, said Jerry Barsness, Region Wide Supervisor for WSDOT. “He got a jolt that probably knocked him right out of his seat.” The legal limit for bridge clearance is 14 feet 6 inches, Barsness said. “Everything we have is either over that or it is posted.” The clearance on the Elo...
Wally Wright, third generation owner of Wright Pro Hardware, is observing the 75th anniversary of the store's opening this week. Photo by Sunny Manary. On September 3, 1933, a young entrepreneur stepped off a river boat looking for a new venture. “Grandpa” Eugene Wright came to Cathlamet to see what was going on. He asked Herbert Faubion, the first person he met when he stepped off the boat, about a good place to open a business. Faubion pointed up the hill to what was the old creamery. Wright found the owner and after negotiations, “Wr...
Results from the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) were released last week. Local students faired well when compared to the rest of the state. In reading, Wahkiakum fourth graders scored 78.8 percent, state average 72.3. Seventh graders, 79.5 percent, state average 62.8 percent and 10th graders, 87.8 percent, state average 81.3 percent. In 2007, Wahkiakum reading scores were; fourth graders, 90.2 percent, state average 76.4. Seventh graders, 65.8, state average 68.5 percent and 10th graders, 85.7 percent, state average 80.6...
They control the crowds during large events. They keep their eyes open watching for crime. They aren’t sheriff’s deputies or reserve officers; they are the Volunteers in Police Service, or VIPS. In Wahkiakum County, Chief Civil Deputy/ 911 Coordinator Joannie Bjorge leads the group of six men and women ranging in age from 20 to 70 years. VIPS are different than officers, she said. They don’t attend a law enforcement academy, they are non-confrontational and don’t carry weapons. Their work is more behind the scenes, she said. “As confronta...
Drivers traveling west from Cathlamet toward Skamokawa will notice Washington Department of Transportation employees working on the Elochoman River Bridge on SR4 beginning September 15. On or about June 26, a hit and run occurred on the bridge doing a significant amount of damage, said Jerry Barsness, Region Wide Supervisor for WSDOT. “It got schmucked by a large unidentified load.” With labor and maintenance costs, taxpayers are looking at a bill of 60 to 70 thousand dollars and it keeps going up. WSDOT workers anticipate work should be don...
The Puget Island Bridge was closed for nearly six hours Saturday morning after a passing motorist observed a black backpack tied to the structure over the roadway. The Washington State Patrol bomb squad was summoned to thae scene and used a ladder from the Cathlamet Fire Department to remove the bag for X-ray and search. The United States Coast Guard and Clatsop County Marine Patrol secured boat traffic on the Columbia River. When the bomb squad determined the pack was safe to open, a cuttiang tool was used and miscellaneous items were...
The 5th Annual Buzzard’s Breath Chili Cook-Off brought visitors from all over to enjoy the festivities. Bud Radke of Scappoose, Oregon was visiting friends and family in Cathlamet for the weekend and had to stay for the food and fun. “This is the best marina on the river,” he said, with a bowl of steaming chili in hand. “We love it in Cathlamet!” There were 16 competitors in Saturday’s contest. From yacht clubs to banks to families, it seemed everyone wanted to be a part of the action. Kathleen Cone stood with friends Don and Sheryl Reed...
In the September 2 meeting of the Wahkiakum PUD, board members discussed the preliminary budget and future projects. PUD employees have been working with the engineering firm of Gray and Osborne on replacing the water main and installing new electrical facilities on SR 409. Manager Dave Tramblie said he found the estimated construction costs higher than required for project completion. He said it was his intention to take a step back and re-evaluate the project to ensure rate payers get what they are paying for. Tramblie said he would work...
Erickson Park in Cathlamet is getting a facelift. Jerry DeBriae Logging has contracted with the town to remove excess brush, fallen trees and branches and invasive plants that have overgrown in the area over several years. The removed debris was transported to the 4.7 acres the town recently purchased from the school district. A controlled slash burn will be conducted at a later date. Upon the completion of the clearing, Dr. Rob Stockhouse will work with students from Jeff Rooklidge’s Environmental Science and Kyle Hurley’s Vocational Edu...
Participants in the 2008 LoCo Round Up practiced the differences between paddling canoes and kayaks at a weeklong conference last week. Photo by Sunny Manary. The second annual Lower Columbia Kayak Round up, or as it is affectionately called by participants, “LoCo Round-Up,” wrapped up last Sunday. Visitors from as far away as the Netherlands come to Wahkiakum County to take part. The round up is the brainchild of local farmer, kayak enthusiast and founder of Columbia River Kayaking, Ginni Callahan of Puget Island. “Kayak symposiums are getti...
At the August 20 meeting of the Wahkiakum School Board, members discussed plans and contracts. Transportation Supervisor Calvin Grasseth presented the board with an estimate regarding a school bus purchase. Board member Willie Johnson moved and Board member Tony Boyce seconded the motion to allow the district to purchase a new school bus. Superintendent Bob Garrett said they had previously advertised for a part-time math teacher locally and within the state of Washington. He said there were four applicants for the position, including recent ret...
Members of Diking District 4 met August 20 to discuss the group’s future and possible elections. Washington state law calls for an election of diking district board members every six years. However, if nobody runs, the board stays. The purpose of the diking district is so landowners within the district have a vote when it comes to district projects. Chairman of the Board Maury Mooers said he couldn’t agree to allow use of one area to control water management which would affect other owners in the district. “They have got to have a say if they...
Preparations for the 2008-09 school year are underway. The first day of school for the Wahkiakum and Naselle/Grays River Valley Districts is September 1. Teachers report for duty on August 26 in both districts. Both districts are in the process of hiring new staff. For WHS, four candidates are being discussed for the half time math teacher position, while NHS has two open positions. The contracts of individuals will be discussed at each districts' school board meetings this week. Julius A. Wendt Elementary School will have a Back to School Nigh...
The Wahkiakum PUD met Tuesday to discuss topics ranging from a planned power outage to energy conservation. The power will be turned off from KM Mountain to the Wahkiakum/Cowlitz county line from midnight on Saturday until 7 a.m. Sunday morning. Bonneville Power Administration requested the outage for routine maintenance. “This is not a scheduled program. We are doing our work in concurrence so it wouldn’t require a second outage to do our work,” said Commissioner Larry Reese. “There was going to be an outage up there that we have no control...
The 100th Annual Wahkiakum County fair opens today. Despite last minute cancellations and changes, things are going well, said Fair Manager Sarah Lawrence. Due to the hiring freeze by the county commissioners, she said, staff has had to rely solely on volunteers to pull the fair together. Last year, there were eight full time employees, this year there are two but the county commissioners on Tuesday approved hiring of up to 10 part-time employees during the fair. Even with the last minute drop outs, Lawrence says there are still many fun...
The Wahkiakum PUD met in a low key meeting to discuss vehicle and power issues. A reminder to all residents from KM Mountain to the Cowlitz/Wahkiakum County line, a scheduled power outage will take place on August 23 from midnight until 7 a.m. Sunday morning. The outage is for routine maintenance and high voltage switch replacement. In other business, Manager Dave Tramblie told the board Energy Northwest (ENW) is still working on environmental issues regarding the Radar Ridge wind project. He said he has authorized an engineering firm to do an...
The 25th Annual National Night Out (NNO) brought approximately 50 people from all over Wahkiakum County to the fairgrounds in Skamokawa August 5. The usual protocol for NNO is community block parties, however, this year, organizers decided to take a different approach. NNO has never really taken off locally, said Joannie Bjorge, Chief Civil Deputy and 911 Coordinator for the Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s office. “We really wanted to expand it and get more people involved.” Adding the prepare fair to teach people how to be ready for any type of em...
Chemistry, physics and math may never be the same at Wahkiakum High School. Sharon Dennis, who has been teaching there for at least 31 years, has decided to put away her protractor, at least for now. In the beginning of her career, most math teaching jobs were connected to coaching sports like basketball and football. There weren’t many women in the field. Graduating from Anchorage High School in Alaska and Greenville College in Illinois, Dennis was the first woman to graduate from her college with a major in physics. That was in 1964. When D...
Mike Howell of Little Island Farm feeds his flock of breeding goats. Photo by Sunny Manary For Mike and Kim Howell, farming is more than having fresh fruits and vegetables to choose from for dinner; it is providing a service to the local economy. Mike has worked on a farm since age 13. He worked all through school on the farm until his entrance into the Navy. After finishing his service, he spent 38 years employed by Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) as a chief substation operator in charge of several large substations in the...
Ballots for the August 19, 2008 primary election hit mailboxes last week. This year, the top two winners of the election, regardless of party affiliation will advance to the general election in November. State representative profiles are as follows: Incumbent Brian Baird (D): Brian Baird has represented the 3rd Congressional District since 1998. His qualifications include a B.S in Psychology from the University of Utah and a Ph. D and M.S in clinical psychology from the University of Wyoming. His elected experience includes chair of the House...
The Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s Office will sponsor a Prepare Fair to celebrate the National Night Out (NNO) on August 5 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds in Skamokawa. The purpose of NNO is to educate individuals about emergency preparedness and crime prevention in their homes and neighborhoods. “It’s simply an educational night out for families,” said Chief Civil Deputy Joannie Bjorge. "It’s a night for people to get out and get to know one another." There will be booths for visitors to learn how to properly use a fi...
