Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
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Lee Wages, 54, of Puget Island has been charged in Wahkiakum Superior Court with three counts of attempted murder in the first degree. According to the probable cause statement, Wages shot at three officers who had come to his home to do a welfare check after he threatened family members who wanted to move cows on family property where he lived. According to the sheriff's report, a call came in at 11:11 a.m., on March 21 from Wages' brother, Don, who said that he and his father had been...
Glenn Rhodes, a Republican candidate for US senator from Washington, will make a campaign stop in Cathlamet on Tuesday, April 3rd. According to his email announcement, he will walk around town from 3-5 p.m., visit Maria's Restaurant, 88 Main Street, 5-6 p.m., and greet people at River Mile 38 Brewing Co. 7-8 p.m. Rhodes seeks the seat now held by Democrat Maria Cantwell....
Since December, members of Lee Wages's family have been pleading with the mental health department in Wahkiakum County to get help for a man they love so much. They are frustrated that their exhortations to the mental health department weren't enough to avert a crisis like the one on March 21, and they want to figure out how to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else. The family acknowledges that the mental health department made contact with Lee more than once. They acknowledge that when...
The Wahkiakum School District school board of directors offered the position of superintendent to current district Administrative Director Brent Freeman on Tuesday. "It will become official once a contract is negotiated and signed by all parties," Superintendent Bob Garrett wrote in an email to staff. Freeman was one of two candidates interviewed on Monday. Freeman was hired as administrative director last June. He was previously the financial officer for Wahkiakum County Health and Human...
Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday approved a resolution updating the county's public records policy. The resolution, board Clerk Beth Johnson told the commissioners, was drafted in response to new legislation regarding public records indexes and fees in an attempt to decrease the county's liability risks from public records requests by adopting state attorney general guidelines. The resolution states that it is unduly burdensome to maintain an index of records and that it is unduly burdensome to calculate the actual costs for fees for p...
A bald eagle comes in for a landing on Puget Island. Photo by Dan Tchozewski....
To The Eagle: While out for a walk Wednesday the 21st the first SWAT vehicle of many passed me and I watched it's path. Nothing good happening but I was relieved when I saw it not going towards the school. Then on Thursday the 22nd I was disappointed. These are uncertain, anxiety filled times for our students. All they wanted was to feel a sense of unity. To feel that they could do something, however inconsequential, to be part of the conversation and they were punished for the crime of taking part in a short remembrance of those who lost...
To The Eagle: Well let’s send our 18 year old young men and women off to war but make sure they can't buy a rifle until they are 21 here at home, really, is that what the ding dongs in congress came up with to curb gun violence? Message to Democrats: You applaud the fact that there is no real debate on college campuses anymore, now you take our youngsters (K-12) out of school to protest things that you brainwashed them with, can you say Nazi propaganda? Since when is it up to kids to walk out of school whenever they want to? Everyone has a r...
To The Eagle: I am writing in response to Ms. Hamp’s letter [March 22, 2018 edition] expressing her frustration with obtaining information for her appeal of her 2017 property value for 2018 taxes to the Wahkiakum County Board of Equalization (BOE). First, a couple clarifications must be made. The assessor’s office values property in Wahkiakum county for use in the levy of ad valorem (Latin for "according to value") property taxes. When Ms. Hamp refers to her property taxes, I believe that she means her property valuation, which increased 10...
To The Eagle: In regards to Lori Hamp's letter concerning her experience with the current county assessor, I am disappointed to hear of yet another citizen who is having a negative experience while dealing with our assessor. I believe that our county's property assessments should be accurate, equitable and appropriate, taking into account the location and condition of the property as well as the selling prices of similar properties near its location. I understand that there will always be citizens who disagree with the assessment of their...
To The Eagle: An old Native American proverb: White man cuts one (1) foot from the top of his blanket and sews it on the bottom to make it one (1) foot longer. The same applies to DST. Jerry Bain Cathlamet...
To The Eagle: Thanks for last week's front page article about robotics in Wahkiakum. It is community support like this that helps us to get grant money for robotics and other school programs. The Eagle's prior support helped us to get the $24,000 grant that has purchased the robotics equipment and training for our students and teachers. One addition to the article: We wish to thank our three judges for making the hard decisions amongst all of the teams present: County Commissioner Mike Backman, School Board member Paula Culbertson, and Sheriff...
Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) officials came to Puget Island last week to update travelers about impacts from approaching construction on the Puget Island bridge. The contractor will begin painting the bridge in April. The starting date is yet to be determined. "During the work, traffic will alternate through a single-lane of the highway with a 10-foot-wide travel lane," WSDOT communication officer Tamara Greenwell said in an email. Painters will encase portions of the bridge...
The Cathlamet Fire Department held an open house to show off their new rig on Sunday. "The Town of Cathlamet worked really, really hard the last couple of years to set aside money for this," Fire Chief Vernon Barton said. "This" is a 2017 Spartan, a traditional structural fire fighting engine. It is the first new engine for the department since 2001, according to Barton. Thanks to longtime volunteer Neil Beerbower, who has been with the department since 1992, the new truck is ready to go. "I...
BRR--This past weekend saw some nippy temperatures, and even some snow in higher elevations, so it looks like Winter is not quite ready to give up to Spring! With a few dry days scheduled for this week, I'm hoping that they materialize, as it will make all the upcoming Easter egg hunts and celebrations much more enjoyable. Here's to sunshine; bring it on! SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from March 29-April 4 are Aaliyah Montgomery, Leif Carroll, Mike Carroll, Linda McClain, Dana McClain, Vaal Gribskov, Paul Vik, Pam Emery, Gordon...
THURSDAY Community Center, Cathlamet, 9 a.m.-Noon. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Community Center, Cathlamet, 6-9 p.m. Girl Scouts, Community Center, Cathlamet, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Senior Citizen Luncheon, Congregational Church, Noon. Senior Citizen Luncheon, Rosburg Hall, Noon. Food Addicts Meeting, Congregational Church, 3rd & Maple, 5:30-7 p.m. Grays River Fire Department, open meeting, 7 p.m. Skamokawa Fire Department, 7 p.m. Eastside Play & Learn Group, St. James Family Center, 10-11:30 a.m. Helping Hand Food Bank, Seventh-day Adventist...
It is so good to be home where I belong after a two-week absence, and the more trips I take away from this wonderful place, the more I believe it. That is not to say you shouldn’t leave occasionally, but it seems I have been away too much lately. It was a wonderful visit with family and a cold (colder than it was here) race weekend but still had a good time. The desert, I will never like, whether it is hot or cold. I did come home to my favorite spring flowers, the trilliums are blooming, the frogs sing all night and the ever present rain. I l...
Wahkiakum County law enforcement officers and emergency response personnel handled a variety of reports during the past week, including: March 19 - 3:26 a.m. An alarm was activated at an office in Cathlamet. An officer investigated and found everything secure. 2:03 p.m. An officer was requested for a civil standby at a Puget Island address. 2:17 p.m. Two dogs left in front of an office on Main Street in Cathlamet were reported to be barking and lunging at people walking by. 2:35 p.m. The...
The Press Gang will perform at the Liberty Theater, 1203 Commrecial St., Astoria, April 14 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 for general admission. Based in Portland, Maine, The Press Gang fuses the talents of squeezebox player Christian “Junior” Stevens, fiddler Alden Robinson, flute-player and vocalist Hanz Araki, and guitarist Owen Marshall into a high-octane musical partnership. The quartet blends their skill and fluency in traditional Irish music with their curiosity and aptitude for other styles. Hailing from York, Maine, Christian “Ju...
Lower Columbia College Art Gallery: Peipei Wallace (Lower Columbia College ceramic instructor) will be exhibiting art during the month of April. Exhibit pieces include ceramics and mixed media prints. The theme of Peipei’s work is based on the cultural importance of food (born and raised in Taiwan). Peipei has lived in the U.S. for over 15 years and her Chinese cultural identity has shifted to blend with American culture. The use of ceramics, printmaking, and brush drawing have a long history in Chinese culture which she continues to use w...
Verena "Frana" Nepsund, 94, longtime Cathlamet resident, died March 15, 2018 at Hospice Care Center in Longview. Frana was born to Hans and Hilda Fluckiger on January 23, 1924 in Hustisford, WI. In 1937, at age 13, her family moved to Puget Island. She graduated from Wahkiakum High School in 1942. On February 4, 1945 she married Norman Nepsund and he preceded her in 1961. She delivered papers for the Daily News for over 40 years, retiring in 2006. During that time she enjoyed the help of her gra...
Veronica Gilbertson, 46, of Cathlamet died March 23, 2018. She was born June 13, 1972 in Longview to William and Betty (Jackson) Swift. She married Rex Gilbertson in July of 2013. They moved to Portland for a while, then returned to Cathlamet to live in Rex’s family home. Veronica was dedicated to her family and friends. She is survived by a daughter, Brittany Jean Brumbaugh in Oregon; a son, Rafael Ramos of Longview; two grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. A service will be held April 14 at 2 p.m., at Dowling Funeral Home in C...
Mrs. Fudge's kindergarten class began robotics last week with mentoring help from Mr. Rooklidge's high school robotics class. A good time was had by all. It is also educational, as Mrs. Fudge remarked after seeing robotics in action: "Robotics ticks off many of the skills we are trying to teach these young learners, including procedural thinking, problem solving, and creative thinking. They also learn about teamwork and to see themselves as creators, scientists and mentors for each other....
Sharyl Iblings, who serves the rural mail customers from Skamokawa and Grays River-Rosburg Post Offices, will be retiring March 31, 2018 after 28 years. She started as the relief carrier for Hermina Carroll in 1999 and was awarded the USPS Highway Contract Route (HCR) in 1999 when Hermina retired. Hermina left her with a few useful items that Sharyl has continued to use.; a coin cup (a plastic thermos lid/cup), a box that stays on the dash of her mail car that holds the coin cup, stamps, and...
The United States Postal Service Highway Contract Route (HCR) Division has awarded the fourth contract in the 82 year history of the “Skamokawa to Pillar Rock” contract route to Shelby Hoiland, a Cathlamet resident. The route consists of delivering the mail to the rural addresses originating from the Skamokawa and Grays-River Post Offices. There have been only four contractors awarded this route; Frank Faymonville, Hermina Carroll, Sharyl Iblngs and now Shelby. In past transitions to the next carrier, it was hardly noticed as Hermina and Sha...
