Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Sorted by date Results 1101 - 1125 of 2569
To The Eagle: Eric Skemp’s letter last week about Sheriff Howie demonstrates the fallacy of Initiative 1639. The statement “No sales of assault weapons to people less than 21 years old” is powerful. Folks who did not read the initiative, or who are not familiar with rifles see this and think “Assault Rifles, yes we should restrict those.” I-1639 defines any and all semiautomatic rifles as “Assault Rifles.” Of note, “Semiautomatic” means basically one pull of the trigger, one shot fired, release the trigger and squeeze it again, one shot fired....
To The Eagle: Just saw the latest news that there were over 40,000 deaths last year from guns, more than half were suicides. And this is not an epidemic? Clearly we have to do something to protect our population. Our county commissioners want to try to turn back the referendum that our state recently passed. What do they intend to accomplish with this effort? Is it a good idea just as we see that gun deaths have reached a 40 year high? At the same time as the commissioners tell us they should not make any effort to take steps to combat this...
To The Eagle: Some years ago I heard that there was a baseball player whose annual pay was more than the combined pay of all our U.S. congressmen and senators. At the time I thought that was a terrible comment on our nation’s value system. Now after observing the behavior of our senators and congressmen and many other federal employees for the last couple years, I don’t believe their combined pay should be as high as a second baseman’s. Gilbert Vik Cathlamet...
To The Eagle: I find Council Member Sue Cameron’s “set the record straight” letter to the editor laughable at best and filled with disingenuous “facts.” Her attempts to justify council actions are an insult to the citizens of Cathlamet. I will only comment upon those issues of which I have personal knowledge. Regarding a “Code of Conduct” in which Cameron accuses citizens who comment upon the council’s actions as “toxic, with public members offering unconstructive, inflammatory remarks and personal attacks on council members.” I spoke...
To The Eagle: Thanks so much to all the people who have helped with Cathlamet’s city beautification project this year. I really appreciate the hard work these folks have done, planning, planting, watering and redecorating. The Town of Cathlamet and all who pass through are treated to clean and tidy streets, freshly painted businesses, and best of all, big blue flower pots with gorgeous displays. It’s such a treat to drive through and take in the view of this sweet little village. I’m sure it’s been more inviting for visitors to stop and exp...
Reader Commentary by Bill Wainwright In last week’s Letter to the Editor, town Councilor Sue Cameron illustrates again how tone deaf and deceptive the many narratives issued by our town council have been. Mayor Dale Jacobson and majority of the council have pretty much disregarded the issues voiced by many of our tax paying town residents. It still looks like more of the same. In her letter, Cameron spins a series of half- truths and omissions to justify some of the council’s recent actions, primarily regarding the town’s finances and plann...
To The Eagle: I just recently read that Sheriff Howie has stated that he does not intend to enforce the message that the vote on I-1639 made on changing the gun laws in Washington. Frankly, I think voters are frustrated to do something to curtail the epidemic that guns, and especially assault weapons represent in our society. The referendum might not be perfect but it does move this issue forward. No sales of assault weapons to people less than 21 years old, background checks for every sale of a gun and locking up guns in the home. These are...
To The Eagle: Thank you to the voters for electing me to represent you as County Commissioner for District 3. It was a pleasure going door to door and meeting old friends and new people who have moved to the area since I retired as Sheriff. I also want to thank each of you that assisted me by having yard signs, encouraging words or assisting me in my campaign. I will do my best to represent all the citizens of Wahkiakum County. Thank You, Gene Strong County Commissioner Elect District #3...
To The Eagle: In this Christmas season, the decoration lights beam out over so many dark places in our area. It’s dark earlier and there aren’t many street lights, certainly not out where I live in Grays River. But the lights that are here come from homes where families are celebrating the holidays with house lights that guide us home, sometimes quite literally. When there’s rain water covering the fog lines at the side of the road, or fog that makes distances confusing, or snow that brings a different kind of shadow, it can be harder to see wh...
Reader Commentary by Sue Cameron Councilor, Town of Cathlamet I am writing this as an attempt to set the record straight about misconceptions--which seem to have a life of their own--regarding the Town of Cathlamet, especially as noted by Bill Wainwright in the Nov. 29 issue of The Eagle. Regarding John Morgan: John Morgan is a highly respected consultant to Oregon Cities and came recommended by Bill Fashing of the Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Council of Governments (COG). I never worked with him in Tillamook, but I have co-facilitated leadership programs...
To The Eagle: Thank you, residents of Wahkiakum County, for having allowed me to serve our community for the past 11 plus years. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve. Congratulations commissioner elect Strong. You have taught me that knocking on doors works, see you in four years. Rest assured that I will continue to serve our county's interests going forward. I will continue to fight for our future and offer any assistance that I can provide. This includes continuing to work on getting our timber legislation passed in Olympia as well...
To The Eagle: After reading Citizen Wainwright’s letter to the editor of 11/29/2018, I have concerns why our town council is contracting with an Oregon firm for training on how to make decisions, at a cost to us citizen taxpayers of $20,000 when such training is available to all Washington municipalities at no cost or little cost! Free training programs on how to govern and serve as good leaders are offered by the Association of Washington Cities through seminars, classroom, and online eLearning courses. All courses earn credits that can be a...
To The Eagle: There’s an effort afoot to start a local Toastmaster’s club – basically a group that meets weekly to have fun developing speaking skills ranging from technical to humorous, from sublime to ridiculous. The effort is spearheaded by Sue Cameron who has recruited help from a couple of experienced Toastmaster organizers to help us get started. There are about a dozen of us so far, and we need about twice that number to become a viable club. This is an invitation to come check it out and see if it is something you might have fun with....
To The Eagle, Bill Wainwright’s letter, published last week, was intriguing. If, as he claims, three members of the town council coordinated to meet separately with a consultant they subsequently hired, it would appear to constitute a serial meeting in violation of the Open Public Meetings Act. The fact that two other council members were not invited to meet the consultant is good for them (legally speaking) but also underscores the damaging extent to which the mayor fosters an in group, out-group dynamic on the council and the secrecy he c...
To The Eagle: In the time that my family lived in Cathlamet over the past seven years, we were blessed in some of those years to have received holiday help from the Stars program. Thanks to the generosity of kind local donors in those years, my children were given wonderful gifts of much needed clothing and shoes (which were all we hoped for and anticipated-as it is a needs based program vs a toy wish program), as well as thoughtful bonus gifts of toys which made their Christmas mornings magical. I could not have managed those Christmas...
To The Eagle: I saw the letter to the editor about making an anti-gun control law here in Wahkiakum County and was overjoyed at the idea. The state made this law, fully aware it goes against the intent of the constitution. I dislike where this law is headed; it’s only the first step and needs to be opposed no matter what your feeling about guns are. It’s called civil disobedience, and our nation is founded on it since that day they threw the tea overboard. Don Kinney Cathlamet...
To The Eagle: Thanks Kent Martin for writing so eloquently on the effects of urban/suburban rule-making for rural parts of the state. I first heard you present that perspective about a year ago and it set me thinking that this issue is not limited to just fishing, and not just to Wahkiakum county. The same problem is lurking behind other issues of the day: for example in timber management, the urban/suburban destruction of their own areas, and their voting power to force rural areas to make up for their own problem; in gun rights, their...
To The Eagle: Thank you. Thank you Wahkiakum County for electing me as your Auditor. Thank you for putting your trust in me for the next four years. Soon, the General Election will be over. The ballots are counted and the decisions have been made. I feel extremely fortunate to have retained my position as your auditor. The immense amount of support I have received over the course of this campaign has been truly overwhelming. From allowing me to display my signs in your yards, to monetary contributions and moral support, I couldn’t have done thi...
To The Eagle: Yesterday (Nov. 20), Trump made some more appalling statements. He actually said that for a few bucks, we can sell human rights! Over the last two years, I have offended some people with my writing and posting on Facebook, but I have never been as offensive as has been the president. For my offenses, I am sorry. Not sorry I wrote or posted, but sorry that some took offense to it. I have had many friends demote me to acquaintance; I understand, it’s difficult to scroll past all my postings of truthful criticism, especially if y...
To The Eagle: Last week I suggested a high tax on ownership of assault weapons. Today, I do not think that this is a very practical idea. With 11,000,000 of these weapons already out there, it would be really hard to collect such a tax. With 96 Americans being killed by guns every day in the US one would think that this death rate certainly could be defined as an epidemic. In the 1970’s when the death rate from automobile accidents was going through the roof, our government made seat belts and wearing them a law. When a new virus or bacteria t...
To The Eagle: More of the same: At the October Cathlamet Town Council meeting, town councilor Sue Cameron discussed having invited John Morgan from the Morgan Group to speak with the town council. The purpose was to meet the council about helping them develop strategies when making decisions on major issues. She publicly stated he had been referred to her by Bill Fashing, the Council of Governments director. In fact, she had known Morgan since the 90’s when she worked with him in Tillamook. This really isn’t a big deal, except at that mee...
To The Eagle: My husband and I attended the Thanksgiving community dinner at the Hope House last week. The dinner was put on by the Wahkiakum Fair Foundation. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed one of the best Thanksgiving dinners we've ever eaten. Turkey, ham and all the traditional trimmings. Price was by donation, and no one was turned away. We want to thank Jean and Neil Beerbower and all those who volunteered their time and hard work, and/or donated financially to make the dinner a success. While fairly well attended, I am certain there...
To The Eagle: After reading the article in The Eagle titled, “After midterms, Dems develop 2020 plans,” I recalled the old adage, “divide and conquer.” I noticed that nearly all of the “Dems” in the article were talking about fighting. Without getting into the specifics ask yourself who stands to profit if America is busy fighting internally? Perhaps we should/could all stand united against the source(s) of internal strife, or better yet let’s all get busy and get this country productive. Drop all the ism’s, politics, et al and just get busy!...
To The Eagle: Thank you, Wahkiakum County! Thanks to my parents, Lief and Mattie Enge, along with Dr. Fritz who got me started in 1930 on this trip called life. Yesterday (Nov. 13) was birthday number 88, and things have gone very well. Also, thanks need to include a lot of other people and things, including two places called Puget Island and Skamokawa where all of my extended family got their starts. I am sure that all of them have now found a better and higher place to live. If that is possible, then Wahkiakum County is in second place. I als...
To The Eagle: Apparently, every vote does count! In the Kentucky state House race Democrat Jim Glenn defeated Republican DJ Johnson by 1 vote. Democrat Jeff Greer lost to Republican Nancy Tate by six votes and Republican Jill York lost to Democrat Kathy Hinkle by 5 votes. All of these House race results were upheld after recounts failed to reveal any irregularities. By the way, welcome, Anna Zimmerman, to electoral politics and to our public forum. You should immediately join the debate team at whichever university accepts you and hone your...
