Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
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Last fall, The Eagle released "Emergency Preparedness in Wahkiakum County," a four-part series of articles written by local resident Shirley Rheault and DEM (Department of Emergency Management) Coordinator Austin Smith. From preparing a last-minute evacuation list to being "two weeks ready," these articles provided tips for individuals and families in the event of a major emergency. At the request of District 2 County Commissioner Dan Cothren, Rheault and Smith made a presentation during the Feb. 18 Board of Wahkiakum County Commissioners...
Bills dealing with cow burps, the state flag, and changes to police traffic stop standards are among the first to land in the legislative graveyard this year in Olympia. This session, lawmakers in the state House and Senate have introduced nearly 1,800 bills. To stay alive, much of that legislation needed to get voted out of policy committees by Friday. Next week, more bills will join the cemetery as a Feb. 28 deadline arrives for legislation to pass out of fiscal and transportation committees in the chamber where it originated. From there, bil...
The Wahkiakum County PUD Commissioners met on Tuesday, Feb. 25, for their regularly scheduled meeting. Jamie Samms was appointed to the Johnson Park Board unanimously. The Fairgrounds Horse Arena Footing Project had a change to be made to the contract; the soil depth in the horse arena did not meet the minimum requirements. An additional $9,960 plus tax was added to the contract for the additional soil, which will be covered by the initial grant. Public Work Director Chuck Beyer presented the commissioners with quotes on rock and asphalt...
Today is Thursday, Feb. 27, the 58th day of 2025. There are 307 days left in the year. Today in history: On Feb. 27, 1933, Germany’s parliament building, the Reichstag, was gutted by fire; Chancellor Adolf Hitler, blaming communists, used the fire to justify suspending civil liberties. Also on this date: In 1942, the Battle of the Java Sea began during World War II; Imperial Japanese naval forces scored a decisive victory over the Allies. In 1951, the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, limiting a president to two terms in office, was r...
Recently, I interviewed Stephanie Leitz of Puget Island for our third installment of Reader's Fave. This is a casual talk with someone who shares their favorite book. Right at the start, Stephanie said, "Picking a favorite book is really difficult for me as I love whatever I am reading." This quickly became apparent. However, Stephanie did share that her recent favorite book was "The Women" by Kristin Hannah, a book about the women nurses serving during the Vietnam war. Incidentally, this book...
To The Eagle, Our beautiful beloved Columbia River is dying.While politicians push mythical "green energy" projects producing millions of gallons of highly hazardous and toxic chemicals like so-called bio-fuels proposed by not N-X-T. Bureaucrats at Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality, Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife have approved permits against protests and testimonies of hundreds of residents from Oregon and Washington. Why are we the people allowing a handful of idiots sitting on computers in offices looking at computer screens of...
To The Eagle, I recently sent emails to elected officials of the City of Cathlamet and none of them bothered to respond. It was a simple question regarding recents news that the town of Cathlamet is facing serious financial problems. We have elected officials serving in a place of leadership who are unable or unwilling to respond to its constituents, or even tackle problems head on. The question I pose is what are they doing in office? I thinks it’s time we set a new direction for Cathlamet and gets these officials out. Keith Johnson C...
This Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2, Little Island Creamery (448 E. Little Island Rd.) will be hosting the "Big River" Book Festival. Promoted as "a celebration and showcase of authors of the Pacific Coast," this free event will feature over 30 authors, a youth writing contest, workshops and demonstrations, refreshments and concessions, and keynote addresses. Doors open at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by a keynote address by Portland Poet Emmet Wheatfall at noon. A youth open mic will take place from 2 - 4 p.m. Writers ages 18 and under are...
I am excited to be sharing a series of articles over the coming months that will highlight public servants and the wide range of services available in Wahkiakum County. I will start with the Department of Health and Human Services, as they play a crucial role in our community by offering a comprehensive set of services. By showcasing their work, I hope to increase awareness and appreciation for the important contributions they make to our county. Every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the office at Johnson Park opens its doors to the public,...
Following interviews of the three finalists, the Naselle-Grays River Valley School District (NGRVSD) Board of Directors selected Josh Brooks by a majority vote to be the next NGRVSD superintendent. Brooks has been the Principal at Morton Elementary School for the past 21 years. He is scheduled to begin his new position as the NGRVSD superintendent on July 1 ,2025. The other two finalists were Mark Westley and Ralph Watkins. Westley was employed as a math teacher at Centralia Middle School for over two decades and, in addition to serving on the...
Earlier this month, the Wahkiakum County Eagle welcomed author Kirk McKnight on as the newspaper's editor. McKnight has spent the last three years working as staff writer, associate editor and, ultimately, editor for The Wickenburg Sun, a weekly newspaper in southwest Arizona. "It's definitely a climate shift for my family and me," said McKnight. "Back in Arizona, when you see a puddle, you immediately assume something's leaking. The amount of rain I've seen since moving here, I told my family back in Las Vegas I wondered if the Columbia River...
On the west end of Wahkiakum County, the Johnson Park Community Center (JPCC) has become a beacon of community spirit where volunteers are rolling up their sleeves to preserve and improve this vital gathering space. Originally built as the Rosburg School in 1937 on land donated by the Johnson family in 1935, the site served generations of students before being transformed into a community center in the late 1980s. Since then, it has remained a focal point for local activities, offering various programs that bring people together. Recent...
Taylor Johns: Taylor is a care free, easy going, a go with the flow person and likes to try new things. She is looking forward to joining the work force and trying a few jobs to see what fits. She has been a part of the volleyball team this year and feels proud of what they have done as a team. Gary Burke: Gary is a member of the robotics team who competed in Sea-perch, an underwater robotics program that made it to the finals in Washington D.C. His plan is to attend the school of engineering...
WET ENOUGH. By the time you read this, I am hoping we are still afloat and drying out a bit. Man, oh man, has it been pouring or what? The ole atmospheric river started in on us on Saturday, Feb. 22 but it is supposed to quit long before you read this. I sure hope it does because this is miserable. By the time you get this paper, we are supposed to be dry for a couple of days, and that sure would allow my webbed feet to dry out a spell. At any rate, I hope we didn’t sustain too much damage from flooding, slides or any other bad thing that could...
February 17, 7:34 p.m. The Grays River Ambulance responded to a call for an Elderly Grays River resident who fell. 8:55 p.m. A caller on SR4 near the county line called to report that a fallen tree was blocking both lanes. February 18, 7:38 p.m. There was water reported over the roadway in three different places on Eden Valley Rd. Signs being put in place by authorities. 3:31 p.m. Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of vandalism at the Elochoman Slough Marina; someone had broken into the facilities and damaged the shower door. 4:31 p.m. A...
Welcome to this week’s rendition of The Eagle Outdoors. A lot to cover this week, but first, I want to thank all of you who have commented on the column and how much they enjoy it. The feedback is taken to heart, greatly appreciated and helps on several fronts, the least of which isn’t to make The Eagles Outdoors. I tip my hat to y’all for taking the time to read, reply and, at least to this point, not toilet papering my home in response to something I’ve said. Outdoor News By now, many of you avid anglers will already have heard the news as...
Kale is one of the hardiest and most rewarding crops to grow in the Pacific Northwest, and February is the perfect time to appreciate its resilience and nutritional value. Originating in Asia, kale became popular in cool climates of Scandinavia, Germany, Holland and Scotland. The crop is historical in Scotland, as in to “come to kale” when being invited as a dinner guest. As one of the few greens that thrives in winter, kale offers fresh harvests even in the coldest months, making it an essential staple for gardeners looking to maintain a pro...
Friday, Feb 28, is Free Cookie Day from 2 to 5 p.m. at the library. Just drop in and grab yourself a cookie or two. Enjoy eating your cookie while working on the jigsaw puzzle or one of our ongoing craft activities. Maybe even chit-chat with a pataron while you enjoy the cookie. We look forward to seeing you this Friday. Wednesday, March 5, from 10:30 – 11 a.m. is Story Time. This is a special 30 minutes where young ones can enjoy someone reading aloud to them. We’ve had strong interest recently, with many enjoying this time in the lib...
The state playoff picture is falling into place, and Wahkiakum boys basketball has danced through the district gauntlet to earn a first-round matchup in the Washington 2025 1B Boys State Basketball tournament. Wahkiakum basketball After losing to Willapa Valley in the District 4 1B Boys Basketball Tournament semifinals on Monday, Feb. 17, the Mules battled their way through the backdoor bracket to advance to state as the third-place team in the district. Despite the loss to Willapa Valley, the...
The Clatskanie girls basketball team split a pair of games last week, resulting in a #2 seeding entering its state tournament play, which begins Friday, Feb 28. Finishing the regular season with an 18-5 record, including a 12-2 record in 2A Northwest League play, the Tigers began their postseason with a close 36-33 home win over Nestucca on Thursday, Feb. 20. The Bobcats stayed close throughout, trailing Clatskanie by three entering the second and third quarter and outscoring the Tigers 9-7 in...
Formed in 2010, the Columbia Economic Team's (CET) mission is to "promote the creation, growth, and attraction of business and industry throughout Columbia County." In partnership with groups like Columbia County Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Keep it Local Columbia County, GRO Greater St. Helens, and Columbia County's Destination Management Organization, CET specializes in business recruitment, retention, and expansion, as well as serving as advocate, collaborator, convener, facilitator, and small business program and enterprise...
This past first semester, Clatskanie Middle High School (CMHS) has been preparing to say goodbye to one of its beloved teachers, Mr. Deney Flatz. Mr. Flatz has been teaching at CMHS for seven years. Before teaching at the school, he worked as a logger and contract timber faller. He will be replaced by Jeffery Opsahl, who has some big shoes to fill in the coming months. During a final interview with Mr. Flatz, I sat down and asked him several questions. First off, I started with the standard, “What are some of the greatest achievements your f...
President Donald Trump’s moves to slash the federal workforce have gutted the ranks of wildland firefighters and support personnel, fire professionals warn, leaving communities to face deadly consequences when big blazes arrive this summer. “There’s going to be firefighters that die because of this, there will be communities that burn,” said Steve Gutierrez, a union official who served 15 years as a firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service. Gutierrez now serves as a labor relations representative with the National Federation of Federal Employe...
Visiting a state park next year will cost more if a proposal in the state Legislature wins approvalProposed by Sen. Derek Stanford (R-Bothell), SB5390 increases the cost of a Discover Pass from $30 to $45 and the day pass fee from $10 to $15. As an avid user of state parks, Rep. Beth Doglio (D-Olympia) and primary sponsor of the House version of the bill said this increase was “long overdue.” Revenue from the pass helps fund Washington State Parks (WSP), the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Washington Department of Fish and Wil...
