Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
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A sea lion took a rest on Puget Island dock last week. Photos courtesy of Scott Echols....
Wahkiakum County residents on Tuesday called on the county board of commissioners to use their political influence to address problems in the region. Grays River resident Karen Bertroch asked the board to press the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to construct a one-lane bypass around a slide that has closed SR 401 between Naselle and the Astoria-Megler Bridge. Altoona/Pillar Rock Road resident Steve Gacke sought commission advocacy in getting the US Army Corps of Engineers to add the area waterfront to sites receiving dred...
Last month, one of the Wahkiakum County PUD’s water systems was showing a substantial loss in distribution, General Manager Dave Tramblie told the board of commissioners at their meeting on Tuesday. The water crew looked for a leak but wasn't able to track it down. When they revisited the data this month, the losses were much smaller. Tramblie said he had considered installing bypass meters as a possible solution, making it easier to find and address large leaks when they happen, but u...
On Monday, the Cathlamet Town Council swiftly passed several ordinances during a short council meeting. The meeting was delayed once again by technical issues related to Zoom and the idea of safely having in-person council meetings was proposed but not decided upon. Town Attorney Fred Johnson reminded council members that the ordinances up for vote were those reviewed by Code Publishing as a part of an external legal review of the town’s municipal code (CMC). Code Publishing has made recommendations for updates in order to be in compliance w...
On Tuesday, the count of covid-19 cases in Wahkiakum County had reached 100. Of those, 19 were considered potentially active. According to the Washington Department of Health, 1,483 tests of county residents have been conducted, and five people in the county have been hospitalized. There have been 4,248 cases of covid-19 in Cowlitz County, with 94 considered active. They are attributing 54 deaths to the virus. Pacific County reported 21 new cases on Monday, for a total of 762 cases. Of those,...
To The Eagle: A contributor recently stated his opinion that our country’s Constitution was “divinely inspired.” That brings to mind the oft mentioned fallacy that America was founded as a Christian nation. Evangelicals misinterpret references to God in the words of the Founding Fathers. Those who insist that America was founded as a Christian nation run roughshod over the historical record, one example of which is The Treaty of Tripoli, approved by Congress in 1797, which declared that “. . . the Government of the United States of America...
To The Eagle: I rarely write a letter to the editor, but last week something really struck me odd. A lady wrote "Why, Mr. Editor, do you print such rubbish instead of the informative interesting stuff? Having served in the military and being a red blooded flag waving American I totally believe in the first amendment. But the lady wanting the editor to restrict free speech and only print what she considers informative is why our country is splitting right down the middle. She reminds me of my niece from California that said the Constitution...
To The Eagle: We often take much for granted in our daily routines and along comes a severe storm. Our road crews, PUD crews and law enforcement are out risking life and limb to repair and maintain our roads and power systems so emergency vehicles can transport along with providing needed power for life saving equipment. The next time you might complain about our dedicated professionals serving our communities, stop and remember the risk they put themselves in to help us be safe. Take a moment when the opportunity presents itself to say thank...
To The Eagle: A big thank you to Wahkiakum Health Department, for their well organized covid vaccine distribution; they just called for appointment for my wife, I got both mine, with only a little tiredness after second one. Also for the fire department for their contribution. It's almost a year that we have followed the mask and distance recommendations, which 45 downplayed to the detriment of so many. It's just over a month since Biden won the election fair and square, though many on the right still dispute that. “The Big Lie” which I hav...
To The Eagle: The other day I had the chance to talk with one of our school's teachers and found out, to my surprise that they had refused the vaccine for Covid-19. I think that our teachers should be required to take this vaccine due to their ongoing interaction with their students and their community. If I was superintendent it would be “Take the vaccine and continue teaching or be barred from teaching at our school.” This may sound harsh and possibly the teachers union would have something to say, but I feel that this person’s decis...
To The Eagle: A letter to the Editor described me as being childish. I guess that is one of the nicest things I have been called by those that can't seem to be cured of their Trump Derangement syndrome. That person’s letter comparing President Trump to Hitler is pretty sick stuff. Where is the same outrage over China killing more then 500,000 Americans with their lies and deceit about Covid 19? I'm not hearing it from the left. Karl Marx stated that if you tell a lie long enough people will begin to believe it, Lincoln said the truth doesn't m...
On February 16, the Wahkiakum School District Board of Directors got updates on the budget, the four day school week, and Superintendent Brent Freeman’s ongoing challenge to fund renovations at the high school. Budget Manager Shelby Garrett started the meeting with an apportionment comparison of the September-December period to the January-August period, which showed a loss of $167,751.61 because of decreased enrollment. Freeman was hopeful that enrollment would go up next year if the s...
Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon on Feb. 23 approved this year’s spring Chinook angling season for the lower Columbia River, with low returns expected to once again impact recreational fishing. The 2021 forecast for upriver spring Chinook numbers just 75,200 fish, which would be the second-lowest return in the past 20 years, and lower than the 81,300 fish that returned last year. While the projected return is only about 6,000 fish fewer than 2020, the forecast numbers trigger tighter restrictions meant to protect salmon runs l...
An adolescent bald eagle keeps watch from a tree near Nassa Point east of Cathlamet. Photo courtesy of Sarah Lawrence....
A ban on the use of chokeholds, military equipment, and most types of car chases by law enforcement passed the House of Representatives after lawmakers voted along party lines in a 54-43 vote Feb. 27. HB 1054 was the subject of much debate. Some Republican leaders said the bill went too far to strip police of self-defense options, and Democrats said the bill addressed a growing problem with violence and racism in law enforcement. “While Washington State still has work to do to demand equity in our law enforcement, today’s vote is a step for...
A low carbon fuel bill passed the state House of Representatives Feb. 27 in a 52-46 vote with every Republican voting no. Its next stop is the Senate. The bill directs the Department of Ecology to institute rules that require refineries to produce fuels, like gasoline and diesel, to have reduced greenhouse gas output over time. Current goals within the bill require emissions per unit of fuel to be 10% below 2017 levels by 2028, and 20% below 2017 levels by 2035. The bill also requires an annual report from the Department of Ecology and...
Washington’s only private detention center is proposed for closure. House Bill 1090 prohibits any person, business or government from operating private, for-profit detention facilities. It recently passed in the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support and will receive a Senate vote in the coming weeks. “When you have to report to [stakeholders] that profit, there is a conflict with meeting the needs of those that are incarcerated,” said Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, D-Mukilteo, who was prime sponsor of the bill. “And it's easy to...
Outrage over deaths of citizens in police custody sparked efforts by lawmakers to address racial equity, hiring and training, and the use of force within law enforcement. Now, nearing the halfway point in the 2021 legislative session, the steps toward major reform of police tactics have gained support from both sides, though not without controversy. “I wouldn't argue that we have complete agreement amongst all of them but we're continuing to work to bring people together and to move the bills,” said House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, in a...
MIXED--By the time you read this, we may be back to some soggy weather after a supposed dry spell, which is at least happening this Monday morning after some heavy fog. Of course those cloudy days often wind up a bit damp, but if we get any break from the downpours we've had, that will be a good thing, so we'll hope for the best. I know we certainly enjoyed the dry moments and the bit of sunshine we saw at the end of last week, even though it didn't last nearly long enough to suit me! SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from March 4-10...
Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, meetings and events usually listed here have been canceled or changed to online participation until further notice. The Eagle was advised of the following events: Online Recovery Meeting, Lower Columbia River Refuge Recovery. Mondays 6:30 p.m. Zoom ID 960 8413 9102. Community Center, Mon. 9-12 & 1-5. Tues-Thurs. 9-1. Friday by appointment. Cathlamet Library T-F 2-5 p.m. Covid restrictions enforced. Cemetery District #2, Monday, March 8, Skamokawa Fire Hall, 7 p.m. Wahkiakum PUD, Tuesday, March 9, 8:30...
Jakob Shockey has been working professionally in Oregon’s streams, rivers, and wetlands for over eight years. He is the co-founder and Executive Director of The Beaver Coalition, an organization working to empower humans to partner with beaver through education, science, advocacy, and process-based restoration. He owns Beaver State Wildlife Solutions, a company that specializes in addressing frustrating conflicts with wildlife in a new way. Join this talk to learn about the benefits of collaborating with beavers in ecological restoration. T...
As the only local non-commercial broadcaster, Coast Community Radio operates its three stations by relying on funds from the community it serves. Because of the community's strong support, KMUN has been getting better and better for 38 years. “KMUN is a reflection of the community we serve. Listener support facilitates and drives our quest to be a refuge, through music programming, and a resource, through news and local interest shows,” said Janet Fryberger, Membership Director. Starting March 15 through April 17, KMUN will have it's ann...
Highway 401: I'm writing this on Tuesday. I waited to finalize this column so I could report on the Wahkiakum County Commissioners' meeting in Cathlamet that I attended this morning. I went to speak in person about the highway 401 situation. Since everyone in our area is affected by the closure, I wanted to report to them on the changes we are experiencing since the road has closed, including Dismal Nitch. Visitors should have access to that rest stop, or at least that's my thought. I asked...
February 21 — 6:01 p.m. The Skamokawa ambulance and the Grays River Fire Department aided an ailing Skamokawa resident who was vomiting and had stomach and body pain. 10:02 p.m. A caller reported that a tree was blocking the eastbound lane of SR 4 in the Rosburg area. February 22 — 10:20 a.m. A caller reported that a slide was blocking both lanes of Elochoman Valley Road, just past the eight mile marker. 5:38 p.m. A caller reported that a woman was disturbing customers at a Cathlamet business. 7:46 p.m. An Elochoman Valley resident rep...
Pacific County Public Health and Human Services is concerned that there was a high possibility of exposure to covid-19 for individuals attending a memorial service on February 19 at the Raymond Eagles. People who attended this event are asked to monitor themselves for symptoms of covid-19. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html). Anyone showing symptims is asked to isolate and get tested for covid-19. Drive through testing is available at the Willapa Harbor Hospital Monday-Wednesday from 12-1 p.m. with no...
