Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 36
Washington State Patrol (WSP) District 8 Commercial Vehicle Division (CVD) Troopers and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers (CVEO) will conduct a week-long emphasis focused on safe driving for commercial vehicles this month. District 8 serves Wahkiakum, Pacific, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, and Mason counties. The “Operation Safe Driver” emphasis kicks off Sunday, July 15, 2018, and continues through Saturday, July 21, 2018, sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). The purpose of the emphasis is to tar...
Full night time closures of the SR 409 Puget Island bridge are scheduled to begin Monday, July 23 "The full closure is necessary while crews remove aged timber decking and install a new deck, Tamara Greenwell, Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) officer said in a Friday press release. Closure details: • Beginning at 9 p.m. Monday, July 23 until 5 a.m. Tuesday, July 24 • Beginning at 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 24 until 5 a.m. Wednesday, July 25 • Beginning at 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 25 un...
The Wahkiakum School District Board of Directors, along with teachers, staff, and former and current superintendents gave an impassioned plea to visiting Washington State legislators Dean Takko and Brian Blake to consider how to address a budget shortfall created by the legislature’s solution to the McCleary Decision. Representative Jim Walsh was expected, but did not show up. Thanks to the McCleary Decision and a prompt from the courts, the legislature had to figure out how to better fund s...
Tuesday's meeting of the Wahkiakum County Board of Commissioners covered a lot of ground as the day started with a regional forum and moved into the board's regular business. The forum, hosted by the Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Council of Governments, brings local officials together with state representatives and representives of members of the US Senate and House of Representatives. In the forum, Commissioner Dan Cothren reported that although discussion might be heated at a newly formed Solutions Table for marbeled murrelet management, members...
Overnight bridge closures of the Puget Island bridge are scheduled to begin next week as contractors begin replacing the roadway decking. The total bridge closures will occur 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday through Thursday. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is working with Wahkiakum County Emergency Services to ensure emergency access on and off the Island during the closures. According to the most recent information from WSDOT, the Wahkiakum County ferry Oscar B. will run during the bridge closure hours. Travelers can use...
When Wahkiakum County Auditor Nicci Bergseng stepped into the position left vacant by Diane Tischer, who retired in December 2017, she knew she was going to have to campaign to keep it every four years. "When she was talking about retiring, Diane asked me if I was up for the challenge," Bergseng said. "Obviously she saw qualities in me that would work for that job. I'm always up for a challenge. Some people stay in a comfortable spot, and I never do. Partly because you get to see the end...
Matt Kuhl is running for the position of Wahkiakum County Auditor. Kuhl graduated from Wahkiakum High School in 2003. He attended community college in Wenatchee and worked for the forest service, but his mind was on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Someone was going to take my place to go, or I was going to join and make sure no one else took my place in this war," he said." I think it has something to do with my upbringing in Cathlamet. I wanted to serve. I was always amazed with veterans...
By Rick Nelson People are saying the next meeting of the Cathlamet town council (Monday, 6 p.m. in the Cathlamet fire hall) should be moved to a bigger venue, for they expect a large crowd to attend and protest the council's vote last month to purchase a Main Street parking lot. Eagle readers may have seen some reporting and several letters to the editor concerning the issue. Some of the objections to the purchase which readers have expressed include: 1. The town's offer was much higher than appraisals from the county assessor's office and a...
To The Eagle: The Town of Cathlamet is about to spend money and many people’s time for a long overdue update to it’s legally required Town Comprehensive Plan. This updated Plan will allow the Town to accomplish two primary things. It will: a) allow us access to available grant money for needed projects and efforts to improve our town. b) serve as a guiding path, or “North Star” for the Town Council to most effectively plan and prepare for our future - whether it’s making decisions for current issues, or planning for ones that are 10, 15, or 20...
To The Eagle: Every day when my wife Lee and I make our way to the pool for lap swim we give thanks for the great way we have to exercise our no-longer-young-or-healthy selves. What we need is more company. It’s good that plenty of kids are still enrolling in swimming lessons (a new session begins next week). And thanks to the school's use of the pool in PE each fall, we probably live in one of the most swimming literate communities in the state. Also one of the safest, thanks to the supervised recreation the pool provides every day. One way w...
To The Eagle: As a local resident for some seven years, I would like to express several thoughts with the voters regarding our next county assessor. I will vote for Bill Coons, again. Why? When I bought my home here in Cathlamet, Bill Coons was my real estate agent. We spent days, literally days, driving around the entire town, Puget Island, too. Street after street, Bill would point out individual house after house, its history, its good/bad qualities, and where it fit in value-wise with the surrounding neighborhood. When choosing an...
To The Eagle: Just wondering since the city seems to have unlimited funds if they might use some for the grounds at the pool. It looks pretty shabby. And speaking of the pool, it is open and the guards are doing a great job. Swim lessons begin July 15 and there are scholarships available. The Cathlamet Woman’s Club offers scholarships each summer, ask the guards for information. JoAnn Prestegard Cathlamet...
To The Eagle: After reading the letter from Elizabeth Brinker of June 21, I would like to address some of her issues with our little piece of heaven and the Grays River Valley, in particular. She did get two things right, it is beautiful where we live and, yes, everyone should ask questions, speak their minds and vote for new ideas and responsible leadership. Lack of compassion for animals? In my years here, I have witnessed nothing like she alludes to. Unlike the city where people dump or lose animals all the time, they get picked up by...
To The Eagle: The Town of Cathlamet is carrying a debt of $6,272,000 in principal plus interest of $3,658,000 that will accrue over the life of the various loans, for a total of about $9,933,000. According to the most recent census, the town had 532 people, 258 households and 136 families. Broken down by those demographics, that equals about $18,671 per resident, $38,500 per household, and $73,036 per family. How do you feel as residents of Cathlamet about your elected officials saddling you with that kind of debt? How do you feel about them...
To The Eagle: Like most voters, I consider candidates for office as applicants for a job. My duty is to examine their credentials and cast a vote for the most qualified. No matter how amiable a candidate is, if they can't cut the mustard, they won't get my vote. The campaign for Wahkiakum County assessor is a case in point. In my view, incumbent Bill Coons is qualified for the job. But he is also a man who doesn’t suffer fools gladly, resulting in an occasional brusque demeanor. Challenger Brian McClain, on the other hand, a U.S. Navy retiree k...
To The Eagle: Wahkiakum County is fortunate to have such a dedicated leader for our office of sheriff. Mark Howie and his professional staff help in maintaining order in our community, and especially in Deep River where we reside. We support Mark Howie for Sheriff! Ron and Eva Malerich Deep River/Naselle...
To The Eagle: Start making money and stop spending money! I am concerned not only that the town is buying a parking lot and turning it into a “Green Space,” but that the cost of the new sewer plant is driving up sewer rates that really affect local citizens on a fixed income and small businesses trying to stay open. I am afraid the so called green space will turn in to a money pit because it will require maintenance. The town has trouble maintaining the parks it has now. I have been told the town won't put trash cans on Main Street because the...
To The Eagle: I do not know whom Prudence Diem was referring to in her July 5 letter to the editor when she stated “we still owe the county around $360,000 for hookups for Boege.” Certainly with her involvement with the Town Planning Commission she would know that hookup fees are the responsibility of the property developer or owner. Fact, the town owes nothing to the county for the county’s Sewer Line Extension Project. If Ms. Diem is not aware of this fact then where did she get her misinformation from? Ms. Diem did not live in our commu...
SURPRISE--As this past weekend began, we had a bit of a surprise, as we woke up to wetness on Saturday morning and had some off and on misty times throughout the morning. While I appreciated the unexpected watering, it was not appreciated by those who had either just baled hay or just taken down a field, thinking they had no rain in the forecast; bummer! However, Sunday morning came around and it was blue skies and temps in the upper 70s, with a good breeze, so it was a great way to end the weekend. Monday started with some great cloud cover,...
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. Walking Group, Community Center, Cathlamet, 9 a.m. Senior Citizen Luncheon, The Hope Center, 3rd & Maple, Cathlamet, Noon. Senior Citizen Luncheon, Rosburg Hall, Noon. Food Addicts Meeting, The Hope Center, 3rd & Maple, Cathlamet, 5:30-7 p.m. Cathlamet Fire Department, 7 p.m. Puget Island Fire Department, drill night, 7 p.m. Port District #1, 500 2nd St., 5 p.m....
Greetings from the fair office. I hope everyone had a safe and fun 4th of July. This Saturday is the Flea Market at the fairgrounds. Tables are still available and only cost $10.00. Call the office for more information (360)795-3480. The fair will have a raffle again this year. You will be able to purchase tickets from the fair royalty. The Grand Prize this year was donated by Chinook Winds Casino Resort, an enterprise of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. And it is a (1) night stay for 2 in a standard room at the Chinook Winds Casino...
Home again and loving it. This trip added nearly 7,000 miles to my car’s odometer, and I have gained a new housemate. My brother Dave is here to stay, and my sister and I are very happy to have him. We drove back to Floodwood, Minn., visited Duluth and Lake Superior, got his essentials packed up into a U-Haul truck (we packed as he has had a recent hip replacement) and drove through some beautiful country both ways, but none as beautiful as here. As most of you know by now, I love home. Wahkiakum County has one more, happy resident for the c...
Wahkiakum County law enforcement officers and emergency response personnel handled a variety of reports during the past week, including: July 2 — 5:02 p.m. A driver was cited for driving with a suspended license. 5:03 p.m. A Deep River resident had video evidence of a trespasser. 10 p.m. A neighbor reported a possible burglary in progress at a Puget Island home. Deputies responded. July 3 — 10:44 a.m. The fuel lines had been cut and gas was missing from a Town of Cathlamet truck. 12:49 p.m. The Cathlamet ambulance aided a Cathlamet res...
The Wahkiakum County PUD Board of Commissioners met quickly on July 3 to listen to reports and approve a capital asset policy. Commissioner Dennis Reid said he had been approached by a business owner who had asked if there was anything the PUD could do to fix the costs for water and sewer, which are set by the Town of Cathlamet. “Such a high percentage of this business’s income is going to pay water and sewer that it’s a tough deal. It was interesting that he reached out to me. I told him I coul...
The Wahkiakum County Commissioners met July 3 to field questions and concerns from residents and handle county business. Puget Island resident Nicki Seiler presented a letter signed by several of her neighbors regarding 6-8 parcels in the Pancake Point flood zone. The parcels were not included by Wahkiakum County in the list of recommended sites to receive dredge spoils under the permit currently in process. The letter was a formalized request to commissioners that efforts include these...
