Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Sorted by date Results 1805 - 1829 of 2591
To The Eagle: I would like to thank the voters of the Naselle-Grays River Valley School District for their recent support of our school’s Maintenance and Operations (M&O) levy. In this time of economic challenge, a ‘yes’ vote is of major significance and a tremendous sign of the value you place in our children’s future. Your ‘yes’ sends a message to every child and staff member that you believe in the power of education and community support. I am proud to represent a community that supports its school in this manner! On behalf of the student...
To The Eagle: After reading in The Eagle that the Town of Cathlamet had reached a water sale agreement with the PUD, I contacted Town Hall to get a copy of the new contract. To my surprise, I was told that a draft contract did not yet exist, that the contract wasn’t even on the last meeting agenda and that no documentation was provided to the public or to the town council before the decision was made. It also seems that the town agreed to join the PUD as a junior partner in a grant proposal to study creating a combined water system. It is time...
To the Eagle: There are many ways to describe what banks are allowed to do to create our so called money. They create their “money” out of thin air. They create “money” by making a bookkeeping entry in a ledger or an account, as they say. They “monetize” debt. This is the term economists commonly use, seemingly to give the activities of banks a noble air. They “loan” credit they don’t have against a borrower’s asset to receive profits (interest) they don’t deserve. They call this fractional reserve deposit expansion. I call it fictional res...
To The Eagle: Dating abuse isn’t something anyone wants to talk about, but as long as we ignore it, the problem will never go away. Did you know that: • 1 in 3 teens will experience dating violence and 2/3 will never report it. • 1 in 4 teens who have been in a serious relationship say that a boyfriend or girlfriend has tried to prevent them from spending time with friends or family; the same number have been pressured to only spend time with their partner. • Half of teen girls who have experienced sexual pressure report they are afraid...
To The Eagle: My name is Shawn Deal and I need your help. At this moment there is to be no Missoula Childrens Theatre coming to our school district this year. Unfortunately, the funding for this wonderful program does not exist for this year. Hopefully, this is only a one year problem. For the past 20 years, The Missoula Children’s Theatre has given our school district a much needed drama program. Not only have they put on a play in the course of a week, they also come in to teach classes at the grade and middle schools. I have had the p...
To the Eagle: Poul Toftemark deserves extra high marks for his literary efforts in these pages two weeks ago. Not only did he treat us to some wry and incisive observations on the frustrations of dealing with our Olympian overseers, but he also provoked a piece of equally entertaining vainglorious puffery in response. In answer to Paul's comment that the State Auditor requires a "lengthy full report," the auditor's DDT (Deputy Director of Talking) asserts that he is incorrect -- it is a requirement of those nasty old legislators in RCW...
To The Eagle: Apparently there’s been some confusion on two points regarding the Community Center in Cathlamet. And apparently I’ve contributed to that confusion. I’m sorry, and I’d like to set the record straight. First problem: Is this facility properly called the “senior” center, or is it the “community” center? Or are there two separate facilities? Answer: It’s all one place, and it is the Community Center. The confusion stems from our morning schedule, which we have called the “senior center,” to differentiate these activities from our a...
To The Eagle: Now another year has passed as have the many holidays on which we enjoy displaying our colorful national flag. It might be time to remember, however, that our flag has also a dark side, as have many other flags. We use our flag too often to drape the coffins of our young people whom we have sent to fight and die in parts of the earth where our military forces cannot prevail. So why do we keep sending them there? Over years? In one of Daily Astorian’s editorials last year we were reminded of President Eisenhower’s warning abo...
To The Eagle: I would like to respond on behalf of Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley to Grays River Habitat Enhancement District Commissioner Poul Toftemark’s letter to the editor that appeared in your publication on January 22, 2015. Commissioner Toftemark asserts that “the Washington State Auditor demands a lengthy full report on our finances.” He is incorrect. It is the Washington State Legislature that requires local governments to file a financial report with the State Auditor’s Office within 150 days of the close of the local governmen...
Submitted by Robert Calkins, Captain, Washington State Patrol On January 4, 2015, troopers in Lewis County were called to a two vehicle collision on State Route 12 involving a passenger car and semi-truck. The driver of the passenger car, Mr. Jay Sume of Randle, was fatally injured when the vehicle he was driving crossed the center line, impacting the front of the semi-truck. The cause of the collision is still under investigation. This fatality collision presented another obstacle for troopers. The wife of Mr. Sume arrived on scene after...
To The Eagle: The Naselle-Grays River Valley School District board of Directors recently authorized the placement of a three-year Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Levy on the February 10th ballot. This levy, which is a renewal of the existing tax, asks voters for a collection of $715,000 per year at an approximate rate of $3.05 per $1,000 of assessed valuation to help fund existing school programs and district operations. The current levy expires in 2015, and compares at a rate of $3.06 per $1,000. Naselle-Grays River has had a long history of...
To The Eagle: As commissioner of Grays River Habitat Enhancement District, I am responsible for how the taxed money is spent. I take that very seriously, since we (the commissioners), never see or handle any of the money, only the county, it is quite difficult to misuse that money. That said, the Washington State Auditor demands a lengthy full report on our finances. A report so lengthy, they give a three hour class just to file this report. I took the class, and at that time was ready to resign as commissioner. With some help we conquered the...
To The Eagle: In response to the two previous letters about my comments on the Watson house being in danger of being swallowed up by the encroaching Columbia River, I want to thank the writers for validating my point that putting sand on the beach in a never-ending attempt to stem the erosion simply does not work. A solution exists: Since all the land covered by dredge spoil is claimed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), it should be the legal responsibility of that agency to protect the buildings on it. They claim th...
To The Eagle: New Jersey's system of medical marijuana regulation, which requires all patients obtain a state-issued patient identification card to possess and purchase medical marijuana, in tracked sales, is unconstitutional. Federal law still criminalizes marijuana. New Jersey medical marijuana patients must not be forced to incriminate themselves federally in order to obtain their medicine and be protected from prosecution under state medical marijuana statutes. In 1969, the United States Supreme Court struck down the federal Marijuana Tax...
To The Eagle: In the wake of all the negative fallout from negative coverage on our nation's law enforcement, I wanted to share my husband's writing - "An Invocation For Police Officers" written many years ago when he was a young officer. We are proud of our public safety officers at the Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Office and we know the sacrifice they make every day they put on the uniform: An Invocation For Police Officers Dear Lord As a police officer, help me To do your bidding, To bring light where there is darkness. Make me a warrior...
To The Eagle: There are several different beliefs of religious zealotry in our midst today that claim they are commissioned by God—the creator of the universe—to pressure you, me, everyone—to believe and act and live their way and if we don’t then the penalty is abandonment by God and them for eternity. The wonderful thing about our Constitution is that it frees you to believe that way and it frees me to reject that way and neither of us are allowed to use the property held in common by everyone (government) to impose their, or our, zealous...
To The Eagle: Attention all Skamokawa Sewer District Customers: Due to a clerical error, half of our customers (about 30) were sent a faulty newsletter last month stating that they would be billed for sewer services this December, while the other half received an updated letter stating that they wouldn’t receive a December bill. We regret the confusion caused by this mix-up and wish to affirm that our 2014 Fiscal Year needs have indeed been met with the November billing cycle (mailed Nov. 20 due Dec. 20), and that we will therefore not be i...
To the Eagle: In the Middle East, west Africa, and China, Christians are being persecuted and in some areas slaughtered, while in Europe Christian faith slowly fades away, complemented by a rising tide of anti-Semitism. Locally, a brave band of Christian soldiers has arisen, leaping into the breach and striking at the very heart of evil by attacking our county commissioners for nay-saying a nativity scene in the courthouse garden. The commissioners have stuck to their guns, no doubt fearing that capitulation would bring down the wrath of t...
To the Eagle: I applaud your editorial in last week’s paper (Lights, Festival, and a Manger Scene) and at the same time applaud our county commissioners for having the wisdom and foresight to avoid opening the Pandora's box that allowing a Manger scene on County Property would cause. A Government agency has to remain open to all of its citizens' protected status, Race, Color, Sex, Age, Sexual orientation, etc; including Religion. Frederic Carroll Cathlamet...
To The Eagle: I and four other concerned citizens of Wahkiakum County approached the county commissioners about putting up a nativity scene on the courthouse yard. It would go along with the other display already there. We felt the true meaning of Christmas should be represented. The decision of the commissioners was we should wait till next year to bring this up as the season was running short. They also stated other reasons, which we were in total disagreement with. We left feeling disappointed but agreed to wait till next year. We then went...
To The Eagle: In January the Skamokawa Post Office will not only lose half of the open hours but will also lose its leader. The Postmaster, LouAnne Johnson (well she was Johnson when we were in school) will have to retire. The long standing tradition of exceptional Postmasters and outstanding service will be ending. The days of receiving your mail even if someone made a little mistake on your address will be over. If someone should use your physical address instead of your post office box, you will no longer receive your mail even though they...
by Rick Nelson I came to work full-time at The Eagle as a reporter in February, 1979. At some point I joined the Cathlamet Commercial Club, an organization of merchants, local elected officials and community minded citizens who wanted to promote fun and prosperity in Cathlamet. At one point in the early 1980's, we decided to hold a Christmas lighting festival and sought permission to use the courthouse lawn, the closest thing to a town square that we have around here. The festival included lighting a large tree and decorating the lawn. A...
To the Eagle: This holiday season, as we enjoy family and friends and give thanks, we hope you will join us in remembering those in need. For many of our neighbors, the holidays are a difficult time. They may be struggling to pay the bills, might not have enough to eat, or could be without a safe place to live. Our local United Way campaign supports 23 partner agencies and their programs. These agencies count on your generous gifts to the United Way of Cowlitz and Wahkiakum Counties to provide the services that gives those in need a helping han...
Little notes: I've been in this business now for 40 years and have learned a few things. One is that it is tempting but ill advised for local elected officials, during their meetings, to toss "story requests" to members of the press. The reporters are there for purposes other than creating an announcement for the elected officials. For best results, officials should contact the news desk during regular business hours. I was on the receiving end of two such requests in meetings I covered Monday and Tuesday. I'll do the best I can with them. 1....
To the Eagle: Let’s put Jesus back in Christmas. It is his birthday! He is the Son of God and greatest gift of love who came to earth in human form because He and Father God loves us so much. He came to save the world and will come again soon for those who love Him. Since our christian government cannot acknowledge Him let’s celebrate His birthday and decorate our lawns, homes, and church yards with His nativity. After all it is Christ-mas! For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him sho...
