Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
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To The Eagle: As I circle ever closer to my 75th birthday it is becoming more clear by the day that the war involving the civilized world against fascism seems to have been forgotten by many. Like some of you older folks, I had relatives that served honorably fighting in Europe, Africa and the South Pacific. What is troubling to those paying attention to what is happening is the apparent recurrence of a very similar set of circumstances that gave my generation the honorific title of War Babies. I would hate to think that your children or...
To The Eagle: The Free Summer Lunch Program is up and running! Our first week we served more than 90 meals. In addition to providing healthy food, the program has WSU Extension & 4-H leading Cooking Matters Food Demonstrations on Mondays. Those attending this week learned about Drinking Smart and left with their own personal water bottle and encouragement to refill and reuse for a cleaner environment. On Thursdays every kid can pick out a free book. We are encouraging youth to take their lunch to The Hope Center and join our local Senior Citize...
To the Eagle: Now that we have our ballots in hand, and we have the information before us to choose the candidates we prefer. Please, vote! After reading about and speaking with many of our local candidates, one man stands out in my mind. Mark Howie stepped into a big job when he accepted the position of sheriff a few years ago. He always seems to be available to the public, there seems to be more of a police presence on both ends of the county, and I for one appreciate him. He is a man of integrity, has knowledge of his profession and is...
To The Eagle: With the election of county officials only a month away, there isn’t much time left for the incumbent assessor to make good on his suggestion to hold a workshop (March 29, 2018, Letters to the Editor) to explain his property evaluation procedures. Property owners had complained in several issues of “The Eagle” about the difficulty in accessing the necessary information to file property value appeals. Bill Coons answered those concerns by volunteering to hold a workshop, but nothing has transpired since last March. In the meant...
To The Eagle: I want to thank the Town Council for having the foresight to purchase the Butler lot. As far as I can see, it is the only vacant lot in the city center area and is both a reasonable and wise investment. The Bank of Pacific sold it for 90K in 1996. Someone bought it for 75K in 2007, and now is selling it to the City for 68K. What's the problem here? Is someone jealous that they didn't get a chance at it? It's a no brainer purchase for the city. Let's use it for green space or parking or both. Thank you council members! Hilarie...
To The Eagle: I recently attended a candidate forum that was held here in Wahkiakum County. After listening to the prospective candidates speak and the public-submitted questions, I felt urged to voice my thoughts. First off, the high attendance at the event was impressive. For being such a small county, I was amazed at how many community members took time out of their day to come listen, to inquire, and to observe each candidate in action. This was the first thought that sparked my enthusiasm. Democracy, as described by Merriam-Webster, is a...
To The Eagle: Please think about Washington State Primary Election is just weeks away, August 7. Know why you support someone on the ballot. Best to ignore party politics and focus on the person. Do you agree with the candidate on issues at least 80 percent of the time? Does their past performance reflect your views? Also very important for state and national candidates is protecting your personal liberty and individual rights. In Washington State, all elected officials must protect individual rights. Washington constitution: “All political p...
To The Eagle: While attending the July Town Council meeting, I was saddened to realize that we have been influenced by the national trend to be caustic and lacking in basic civility at a public meeting, regardless of the issue over Ms. Goodroe’s property. I have the impression that some of us will no longer engage each other in what used to be called “civil discourse.” That is not an impression drawn just from public conduct alone. Even some of our elected council members lost awareness of their duty to conduct themselves as examples of prope...
To The Eagle: The Challenge of Champions Pro Bull Riding exhibition will be held at the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds in Skamokawa on Friday July 20. The gates open at 6p.m. with the event starting at 7:30 p.m.; admission is $15 before event and $20 at the gate with children 5 and under free. Food will be available on site. Tickets are available at the Duck Inn and Road Kill Saloon in Skamokawa; Johnson's One Stop in Naselle and Bob's Surplus in Longview. The Fair Foundation has been working hard to bring this event to Wahkiakum County and...
To The Eagle: As residents of Wahkiakum County we feel that Mark Howie has done an outstanding job as sheriff. His knowledge and integrity of the job has made our county a safer place to live. We are proud to call him our friend. Sincerely, Ray & Ora Loraine Bauer Puget Island...
To The Eagle: As a concerned citizen of Wahkiakum county, I want to express my support for Brian McClain in his campaign for Wahkiakum county assessor. I have known Brian for over 10 years and found him to be a professional businessman during his years as an auctioneer and business owner. He ran his business with accuracy and fairness as well as having outstanding customer service skills. Brian has done so much for the community and we need someone who really cares about Wahkiakum county and the people in it. He volunteers his time and skills a...
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...
To The Eagle: I will quote again from Thomas Sowell: “If people in the media cannot decide whether they are in the business of reporting news or manufacturing propaganda, it is all the more important that the public understand that difference and choose their news sources accordingly.” I am referring to the photo of the little crying girl supposedly separated from her family at the Mexico-US border. As most of us now know, that never happened. The child was right there next to her mother with the border patrol. There is a picture to prove it....
To The Eagle: Great things can happen when we work together! The Kiwanis Club of Cathlamet has joined in the effort to feed our local kids this summer from July 16 – August 16. Partners also include First Interstate Bank, Wahkiakum Health & Human Services, WSU Extension, local churches, and many interested community members. Thrivent is generously donating $250 to help. Additional contributions are most welcome and can be mailed to Kiwanis Club of Cathlamet, Summer Lunch Program, PO Box 515, Cathlamet, WA 98612. With additional financial h...
To The Eagle: The town’s water system has had two large leaks this past week. During both events, there were neighbors who helped trouble shoot which I sincerely appreciate. Our leak on 3rd Street has really damaged the road there, and I will work to get that fixed as quickly as possible. The other leak, which we had a hard time finding, will be much more difficult to repair. It occurred on Sunday night and caused homeowners effected to have low to no pressure at their homes. We lost about a quarter of our reservoir storage in around two h...
