Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Articles from the December 21, 2017 edition


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  • School board plans workshops to start superintendent search

    Rick Nelson|Dec 21, 2017

    The Wahkiakum School District board of directors will hold some special meetings in January for workshops to organize their search for a new superintendent. Twenty-five year veteran Bob Garrett announced last week he would retire at the end of the school year. At their regular monthly meeting Tuesday, directors decided to enlist the aid of their Educational Service District staff to guide the search. Also at Tuesday's meeting, directors heard of concerns of water leaking into the floor of the high school welding shop and efforts to take care...

  • Council adopts budget, raises utility rates, receives liaison assignments

    Rick Nelson|Dec 21, 2017

    The Cathlamet Town Council adopted the 2018 budget, raised utility rates, swore in new members and handled other business at its Monday night meeting. Budgets total $3.9 million. Sewer and water utilities make up the major portion. The water operation and maintenance fund totals $706,307.14; the water cumulative reserve totals $70,000, and the water revenue bond redemption fund totals $128,802. The sewer operation and maintenance fund totals $88,116.82; the sewer cumulative reserve totals $440,3...

  • Rep. Jim Walsh visits county commission to discuss local issues

    Rick Nelson|Dec 21, 2017

    Wahkiakum County commissioners visited with Rep. James Walsh Tuesday and handled a variety of other business. The visit was part of an effort by the Washington Association of Counties to get state legislators and local officials together to discuss issues and concerns. Last week, Sen. Dean Takko and Rep. Brian Blake visited the commission meeting. Commissioners covered a variety of issues, including dissatisfaction with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) management of...

  • Assessor: State property tax levy headed up

    Rick Nelson|Dec 21, 2017

    Wahkiakum County Assessor Bill Coons had an unpleasant surprise in his email Tuesday afternoon. He received notification of new state property tax levy rates from the Washington Department of Revenue, saying, in effect, the state property tax levy rate is going up approximately 50 percent, which will raise property taxes about $1 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The increase is a result of the legislature's action in response to the state supreme court's McLeary Decision, which mandated increased funding for basic education in...

  • It's about our country, not politics

    Jim Roberts|Dec 21, 2017

    To The Eagle: It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. Forgive, please, the obvious rip-off of Charles Dicken's immortal line from the opening of Tale of Two Cities, but it seems rather appropriate given the times we share as Americans. It is heartening to note that ignorance and disgusting behavior was voted out by the enlightened citizens of Alabama in last week's senatorial election. It is disheartening to hear that the current administration is beginning to ban words that don't agree with the narrative they want in place to...

  • Group tests fish trap in Columbia above Cathlamet

    Columbia Basin Journal|Dec 21, 2017

    Pound nets or fish traps used to capture large numbers of salmon were outlawed on the Columbia River in 1936, over 80 years ago, largely due to massive harvests of salmon and steelhead when using the gear. So why has a Northwest nonprofit been testing the fish traps just upstream of Cathlamet for the last two years? That’s because the fish traps are more selective than commercial gillnets and, according to 2016 and 2017 testing, result in an immediate survival rate for released fall chinook salmon of over 99 percent. The more selective method o...

  • Kids, cops go shopping

    Rick Nelson|Dec 21, 2017

    Last Saturday, 10 young Wahkiakum County residents and 10 members of the Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Department descended on a Longview Walmart for a bout of holiday shopping. It was the department's first Shop With a Cop event, and Sheriff Mark Howie said it came together in a hurry. "(Undersheriff) Gary Howell and I were talking about setting it up for next year," Howie said Tuesday. Then Emergency Services Director Beau Renfro said he had money to do the program this year. In off hours,...

  • Robotics club earns award at tournament

    Ron Wright|Dec 21, 2017

    Last Saturday your Wahkiakum 4H Robotics Club sent its FIRST Tech Challenge team, the Wahkiakum Mecha-Mules, to Tacoma for the Watt Interleague tournament to compete with 36 other schools for the eight slots to advance to the State tournament in February. Teams from around southwest Washington were there: Olympia School District was the most represented with eight teams, followed by Tacoma with five teams and North Thurston with four and Enumclaw with three, plus Camas and Evergreen each sent...

  • Audry Lynch

    Eagle Staff|Dec 21, 2017

    Audry Louise Odegaard Lynch died December 13, 2017 at Columbia Memorial Hospital, Astoria, OR. She was born July 6, 1930 in Lakeview, Oregon. She attended Oregon State College where she met her future husband, Jim Lynch, at the Newman Center. They were married September 23, 1950. They lived in Vancouver, WA, until Jim was hired by Boeing and they moved to Seattle. During Jim’s career they also lived in Cocoa Beach, FL, Santa Maria, CA, Crawley, England, and Baltimore, MD. Audry loved family, traveling, sewing, gardening and fishing. Upon r...

  • Donald Vog

    Eagle Staff|Dec 21, 2017

    Donald Sigmund Vog, 84, of Springfield, Ore., died November 27, 2017 at home. He was born at Puget Island on October 24, 1933 to Sigmund and Ruth Vog. He married Sally Price on August 6, 1955 and she preceded him in death on September 15, 2017. Don is survived by daughters Sheryl Hakko of Eugene, Ore., and Sharla Jack of Custer, brother Ronald Vog of Kelso and sister Mary Cothren of Cathlamet. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. A service was held earlier at Springfield. Don will be greatly missed by his...

  • Paulsen named to EWU Dean's List

    Eagle Staff|Dec 21, 2017

    Chelsea Paulsen, of Cathlamet, was named to the Fall Quarter Dean’s List at Eastern Washington University. She is the daughter of Mike and Penny Paulsen of Cathlamet....

  • Entertainment News

    Eagle Staff|Dec 21, 2017

    On Saturday, December 23, at River Mile 38 Brewing Co., Holiday Spectacular, 15-plus musicians, 6-9 p.m., 285 Third St., Cathlamet. For more information: 360-366-4662....

  • A free raised bed could be yours

    Eagle Staff|Dec 21, 2017

    If you would like a free 4 x 8 foot raised bed for gardening to be placed at your home, then consider this opportunity. Those interested should submit an application. Started in 2012, the Home VEG (Vegetable Educational Garden) Program goal is to promote vegetable gardening in Cowlitz County. Ten applicants will be selected to have a raised bed built for them that includes soil and seeds. Applications may be secured by contacting Gary Fredricks at 360-577-3014, Ext 3 or at garyf@wsu.edu. Applications are due March 1, 2018. This program is...

  • Sheriff's Report, December 21, 2017

    Eagle Staff|Dec 21, 2017

    Wahkiakum County law enforcement officers and emergency response personnel handled a variety of reports during the past week, including: December 11--9:48 a.m. A Middle Valley resident reported five horses were loose in the Maki Road area. 10:34 a.m. A caller reported an assault; an officer investigated. 12:26 p.m. A woman reported her daughter had been missing since the previous day. 3:28 p.m. A Rosedale business reported a subject was harassing customers; an officer investigated and summoned mental health provessionals. December 12--A caller...

  • Massage therapist opens studio in Cathlamet

    Diana Zimmerman|Dec 21, 2017

    For anyone looking for a little bodywork, Liz Workman has opened Cascade Massage on Main Street in Cathlamet. Workman grew up on Germany Creek and attended school in Longview. After she graduated from Mark Morris High School, she decided to do some exploring and left the area for a decade. Eventually she ended up at the Ashland Institute of Massage when a friend suggested she give it a try. "I really didn't think about it," Workman said. "I just went. I ended up somewhere great. Bodywork...

  • Comets beat Mules for KM Trophy win

    Rick Nelson|Dec 21, 2017

    The Naselle Comets defeated the Wahkiakum Mules 57-51 last Friday to claim the KM Trophy for basketball. The Comets led 12-9 after one quarter, but the Mules were on top 21-19 at halftime and 37-35 after three quarters. The Comets outscored the Mules 22-14 in the fourth quarter to win. "Their in your face defense really bothered us all night and made it difficult to get in a rhythm on the offensive end," said Mule Coach Todd Souvenir. The Comets executed from the charity stripe late in the game,...

  • This week's basketball

    Eagle Staff|Dec 21, 2017

    Girls Basketball Thursday: Wahkiakum 72, Kalama 12 Monday: Wahkiakum 57, Mossyrock 45 Tuesday: Naselle 38, MM Knight 33 Boys Basketball Thursday: Kalama 59, Wahkiakum 48 Friday: Naselle 57, Wahkiakum 51/KM Trophy game Saturday: Winlock 84, Naselle 49 Monday: Wahkiakum 68, Mossyrock 46...

  • School Sports Schedules

    Eagle Staff|Dec 21, 2017

    Comet Boys Basketball December 22 Firm Foundation 2:00/3:30 27 S. Bend at Menlo Tournament 2:30 28 at WV/Menlo Tournament 30 Knappa 10:00/1:00/4:00 January 4 Columbia Adventist 5:30/7:00 6 Winlock 4:00/6:00 9 at Firm Foundation 7:00 12 at South Bend 7:00 16 Three Rivers Christian 3:30/7:00 18 WA School for the Deaf 3:30/7:00 23 at Columbia Adventist 3:30/7:00 25 Firm Foundation 7:00 30 Wash. School for the Deaf 7:00 31 at Willapa Valley 5:00/7:30 February 2 at Three Rivers Christian 3:30/7:00 Home games in bold face. NHS Girls Basketball Decemb...

  • The Eagle Calendar

    Dec 21, 2017

    December 21 through December 28, 2017 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. Rosburg Community Club, 7 p.m. Cathlamet First Aid Division, Fire Hall, 7 p.m. Skamokawa Fire Department, First Aid Division, 7 p.m. Grays River Fire Department, ambulance training, 7 p.m. Wahkiakum Fire District No. 4, 7 p.m. Helping...

  • Scam alert: Scammers posing as Washington State Supreme Court Clerk

    Eagle Staff|Dec 21, 2017

    Scammers are posing as the Washington State Supreme Court Clerk to call Washingtonians to demand money and threaten arrest. The fraudulent calls have so far targeted individuals with Hispanic last names. Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst urge consumers not to fall for the scammers’ ploy. The Supreme Court will never threaten people with arrest or demand payment. “These imposters prey on consumers’ fears to gain access to their bank accounts,” Ferguson said. “Washington court clerks have never and will never beh...

  • Christmas weekend is nearly upon us

    Kay Chamberlain|Dec 21, 2017

    GLOOMY--Our freezing weather finally released its grip on us, and the rainy weather showed back up, but they say we may have some dry weather coming and we'll be dipping down in the 20s again! Of course, the other forecaster I heard said that if a front moves in, there will be snow in the mountains and some areas it would be down to 1000 feet. I am hoping that the snow stays away until all of our Christmas festivities are over, as traveling during the holidays is always a challenge! Even if we only have heavy rains this week, we do need to...