Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 10300
Prior to my current career as a local government administrator, I spent years working as a reporter, covering city council, county commissioner and school board meetings for various media outlets. Most of those local government entities were in small Oregon towns, but that wasn’t all that they had in common. Every single one of them - and the rural communities they serve - were struggling in some way or another. As I sat through more and more meetings in more and more towns, I couldn’t help but notice that those struggles were often the res...
The Columbia County Clerk’s Office has launched a new free service to help property owners monitor land records and protect against potential fraud. The Property Recording Alert Service (PRAS) notifies subscribers by email whenever a document is recorded and indexed under a monitored name. Property fraud such as recording a deed or other legal document without the property owner’s knowledge is rare but can be costly and time-consuming to resolve. PRAS serves as an early warning tool, allowing property owners to quickly identify and respond to...
On Jan. 1, 2026, all schools in Oregon were ordered by Executive Order 25-09 to have a policy banning phone and personal electronic usage during the school day. This ban was not brought on by the school district, but by the state and signed by Governor Tina Kotek. The executive order makes a standard for the state, but allows districts to have some leeway with the policy in certain situations. For medical reasons, or for disabilities that rely on a device, you could be permitted to use your cellphone or personal electronic devices during...
Columbia County’s Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department has announced its 2026 schedule of free Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection events, continuing an annual program that provides residents with a safe way to dispose of hazardous materials that do not belong in regular trash or recycling. HHW events are held each year to support environmental protection efforts and reduce risks to public health and safety. The 2026 schedule includes multiple collection opportunities in St. Helens, along with remote events in other c...
When the federal government stopped making pennies, it left it up to states to decide how retailers deal with the change. In Washington, lawmakers are trying to come up with a uniform approach for merchants that is easy to understand for consumers. Legislation making its way through the House and Senate would direct retailers to round cash transactions up or down to the nearest 5 cents when they make change. Payments with credit or debit cards would not be affected. “This was not something that I wanted to do or write or have to deal with d...
If you are interested in creating your own garden journal, or need a way to plan and keep track of your garden’s growth and successes for 2026, the Cathlamet Public Library (115 Columbia St.) will be offering a “Garden Journal Crafting and Planning” workshop. The event will take place Saturday, Feb. 28 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. inside the library. There will be local master gardeners there to guide and assist you. All materials and supplies will be provided for you to build, personalize, and craft your own garden journal for this coming growi...
John C Thomas Middle has announced the grade point averages recently earned by grades 6-8 The following students earned at 4.0 GPA: 8th grade: Olivia Gill, Alyssa McKay-Beach, Jaxson McPherson, Ava Mendez, Sawyer Peek. 7th grade:Aspen Cothren, Jeremiah Garrett, Emily Sutton. 6th grade: Jarrett Aegerter, Axton Mendez, Naveah Mendez. Students earning 3.2-3.9 GPA: 8th grade: Evan Bryant, Carter Carvalho, Autumn Cochran, Devlynn Ferguson, Jace Gibson, Leah Gonzales, Macie Helms-Masterson, Asher Jaksha, Aliya Mace, Max Ohrberg, Eloise Plank,...
During their weekly meeting Tuesday, Feb. 3, the Wahkiakum County Commissioners began their new business by unanimously approving Resolution 22-26. The resolution represents a funding agreement with the Town of Cathlamet to “assist the Town in operating and maintaining the Julia Butler Hansen Swimming Pool in 2026.” According to the meeting’s packet, the contract “is reduced from historical funding levels, providing up to $25,000 in matching funding for operational costs for the swimming pool.” The commissioners then approved Resolutio...
During its first meeting of 2026, the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments (CWCOG) moved to approve the recommendations "as presented for the 2026 calendar year" for the 2026 Board Officer and Committee Elections. The recommendations for the Executive Committee are as follows: Mike Karnofski (City of Kelso) as chair; Troy Stariha (Port of Kalama) as vice chair; Paul Helenberg (City of Castle Rock) as Past Chair; and Steve Ferrell (Cowlitz County), Lee tischer (Wahkiakum County), Patti Bowen (Longview School District), and Bob Wile (Port of...
Today is Thursday, Feb. 5, the 36th day of 2026. There are 329 days left in the year. Today in history: On Feb. 5, 2020, the Senate voted to acquit President Donald Trump in his first impeachment trial. Most senators expressed unease with Trump’s pressure campaign on Ukraine that prompted the impeachment, but just one Republican, Mitt Romney of Utah, broke party ranks and voted to convict. In 2021, the Senate acquitted Trump in a second trial for allegedly inciting the violent Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol. Also on this date: In 1917, the U.S. C...
Washington took a major stride Wednesday toward slashing the state’s legal limit for driving drunk. A divided state Senate voted 26-23 to approve legislation to reduce the maximum allowable blood alcohol concentration for drivers from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent. If it makes it through the House and into law, Washington would join Utah with the toughest standard in the nation on July 1. Utah moved to a 0.05 percent blood alcohol concentration limit in 2018. Wednesday’s passage of Senate Bill 5067 culminates several years of effort by Sen. Joh...
I recently interviewed Rosburg resident Judy Johnson for our 49th installment of Reader's Fave, a casual interview with someone who shares their favorite book. Opening our conversation, Judy said, "Books crafted my life and I recommend them to others. My mom read all the time. She'd read all kinds of things, whether to herself or to us. She also made sure we appreciated opera by having us listen to it every Saturday afternoon on the radio. We listened for several hours. I just grew up that way....
On Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at the Cowlitz Valley VFW Post 1045 in Longview, Veterans of Foreign Wars District 16 presented certificates and cash awards to winners of the 2025-2026 Youth Essay (grades three through five), Patriots Pen (grades six through eight), and Voice of Democracy (grades nine through 12) essay contests. District 16 Commander Gary Archer, District 16 Auxiliary President Doreen Dale, and District 16 Junior Vice President Tom Huffman made the presentations. District 16 is...
The Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington (AAADSW) supports older adults, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers across Clark, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, Skamania, and Klickitat counties. Through advocacy, planning, and service coordination, AAADSW works to promote independence, dignity, and quality of life for the region’s aging and disability communities. The group is currently inviting passionate community members to apply for open seats on its Advisory Council. The council is a citizen-led body that plays a vital rol...
The Washington Legislature is again considering empowering local governments to tax short-term housing rentals, much to the irritation of homeowners who rent out their properties on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. House Bill 2559 would allow cities and counties, starting in April 2027, to impose a tax up to four percent on short-term rentals to raise money for affordable housing. Uses of the revenue include building new housing, maintaining existing units and providing rental assistance. If the bill moves forward, the fight over the proposal...
Last Friday, conservation groups were granted intervention in a lawsuit filed by the timber industry against the Washington Department of Natural Resources, Washington Department of Ecology, and the Forest Practices Board. The lawsuit seeks to remove protections for forests along headwater streams that provide cool, clean water to downstream habitats supporting salmon, salamanders, and communities. Conservation groups will join state agencies in defending these science-based protections and Washington’s commitment to a healthy environment. T...
Welcome to February, good people. As I write, it is Groundhog Day and, according to the smartly dressed folks in Punxsutawney, Penn., we're due for six more weeks of winter. That will take us into mid-March; but, considering I've mowed my grass twice already, we'll just have to see what the weatherman comes up with, eh? Seeing as how I have few monumental words of wisdom this week, let's do an extended Outdoor Speed Round, shall we? Johnson's One Stop in Naselle "I finally figured out who you...
Federal energy regulators last Thursday greenlit a roughly $2 billion renewable energy megaproject on a Yakama Nation sacred site overlooking the Columbia River in Klickitat County. The 40-year federal license requires the project to break ground within two years, although it still faces legal challenges, said Erik Steimle, who is leading the project for Rye Development. The new license is the final legal approval needed to move the project into construction, Steimle said. The site is used for ceremonies as well as treaty-reserved fishing and...
Tsuga Gallery announces "Artists of the Month" for February: Julius A. Wendt's 5th grade class. For the past five years, Jamie Brown's 5th grade class has put together calendars comprised of the artwork from these talented young people. This year, the subject is pollinators. The students had to select a Washington wildflower, do research on their selected flower, and paint or draw it. All of the artwork for the calendar was produced by the entire class. The students learn about the importance...
Hello, readers. You may have noticed my column hasn’t appeared as frequently in the paper recently. As my life has shifted, so has the time I’m able to devote to regularly covering the West End. I remain committed to The Eagle, especially during the transition to its new ownership. That being said, I don’t want coverage of the West End to fade; it matters. We are surrounded by talented people—authors, creative writers, historians, and storytellers of all kinds—who have voices worth sharing. I would love to see Westside Stories become a collabo...
The Lower Columbia River Watershed Council (LCRWC), in partnership with the Friends of Fox Creek and the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, invites community members to get outside and lend a hand at a Fox Creek planting event on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 1 to 3 p.m. Meet at the C Street Trailhead (East C Street, next to Riverside Community Church) in Rainier. Volunteers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to join in this fun and meaningful community effort to care for our local watershed. This event offers a hands-on way to make a...
The following is a list of calls for service to the Rainier Police Department for the City of Rainier for the fourth quarter from Wednesday, Oct. 1 to Wednesday, Dec. 31. Each number in parentheses represents the amount of calls made for that respective incident. Abandoned vehicle (23), abuse/neglect (1), alarm (24), animal complaint (2), assault (2), assist agency - other (13), assist person/public (132), behavioral health (2), burglary (1), camping (3), civil (8), community contact (4), criminal mischief (1), detail (3), DHS referral (10),...
Rainier City Council met on Monday, Feb. 2, for its monthly meeting. Mayor Cole opened with a statement of support for the people of Iran and issued a formal proclamation declaring Feb. 2 through Feb. 8 as Seattle Seahawk Week in honor of the team playing in the Super Bowl. He encouraged all residents to wear Seahawks colors. The representative of the Rainier City Library board was in attendance. There are open positions on the board, and they unanimously voted in their last meeting to appoint Sarah Borders. The city council passed a motion to...
Washington lawmakers are considering three bills to strengthen regulation of kratom, a psychoactive supplement sold at convenience stores and smoke shops. One bill would impose a steep tax on the product. Another would ban the sale of a synthetic substance sometimes found in kratom. The third proposes a smaller tax combined with a version of the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, a regulatory framework passed in other states. All three measures would set new kratom labeling requirements. Kratom...
