Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Sorted by date Results 2030 - 2054 of 2591
I pause this week of Independence Day to remember the sacrifices that have been made and that continue to be made for the benefit of our country. This week especially we mourn the loss of 19 firefighters in Arizona. They're not the only ones who've given their lives for our country. We've lost soldiers in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, good people who dared greatly and put their lives on the line for the interests of our country. This is a tradition that goes back to the days of the revolution. Of course, there are wounded survivors of our...
To The Eagle: Some recent experiences got me looking again at what is really going on today in the world and right here at home. The current governing bodies are operating on a tax and spend basis. Who gets taxed? Those who are still working and providing a service or selling material products to others and getting paid in some form. There is nothing wrong with working and getting paid or selling a product produced. The problem is there are agencies who have given themselves the right and power to demand a person or business support them no...
To The Eagle: Here we go again with certain people (non-business owners) trying to further hamper Cathlamet businesses and citizens with a ban on sidewalk signs and banners. Will this affect yard sales, etc? It will surely affect our struggling businesses, such as sales, specials, announcements, etc. Why do some people continue to try to turn our town into the one that they came from? If they liked that town so much they should go back to it. Mike Mouliot Cathlamet...
The Daily Olympian's June 18 editorial headline read, "State caught in test of political power." It has almost been six months since the beginning of the session, and legislators have been unable to compromise on a budget that should take effect next Monday. One might blame the situation on party politics. The Democratic party controls the House of Representatives and did have a majority in the Senate until two Democrats aligned themselves with the Republicans to create a split legislature. This Republican controlled Senate has shown itself to...
To The Eagle: While I knew Jim Bjorge was in the hospital in a serious health condition, I am shocked and saddened to learn of his death. Jim was a great neighbor and I would like to have had him considered me more than just an acquaintance. It was always good to talk with Jim. Jim represented to me what is a solid citizen and upon which a community is built, thrives and remain stable. We need more Jims! We might all think we know hard work, but Jim exemplified this quality. As a builder, he was sought by many and all his work was appreciated;...
To The Eagle: New blood is definitely needed for heading up the Puget Island Garage – Yard Sale. I understand people can get burned out. After reading the very disturbing letter written to the editor dated May 30 by Dean Wesner and then speaking with him, it is obvious he and Mr. Brawn need to be thanked for their service and hand the gavel over to new leaders. I know there are some island residents who would be willing to take over the duties. So, let’s keep our spirits high and get on with making the event even greater in the years t...
To The Eagle: The Julia Butler Hansen Municipal Swimming Pool is now open. On behalf of all the lifeguards, we are very excited for the season. Swimming lessons will begin next week, and we are in the process of planning a few special events for the summer. We are open to any suggestions or ideas. Give us a call if you have an idea for a fun event. We would like to say thank you for our fridge donation. We are very happy to have received such a quick donation and couldn't be more grateful. If you would like to make a donation, we would gladly...
To The Eagle: There are individuals who have contributed their time, their energy, and their lives for students and athletes in our community. In particular, Nick Vavoudis, one of WHS’s golf coaches, has shown student athletes what hard work and dedication can accomplish in and beyond the classroom. As a former golf team member and pupil of Mr. Vavoudis, I wish to show my appreciation to the man that has positively influenced our community and specifically, our high school. In the spring of 2009, in only its third year, the golf team gained M...
To The Eagle: This evening around 5 p.m. Jim Jespersen stopped by. He said he'd been driving past and stopped to extinguish smoking bark on our neighbor's flower bed adjacent to North Welcome Slough Road. The owner was away, so Jim wanted to let us know what had happened. I walked over with him to inspect the place he'd watered and we found three new smoking fumaroles in the bark. About two feet away from one fumarole was a cigarette butt. I phoned the property owner, and during our conversation a second Puget Island resident stopped his truck...
To The Eagle: I am writing to correct the letter written by Patricia Rafferty regarding the post office food drive. We were told that Helping Hands declined to participate in the collection. With the help of postal staff, three volunteers from Wahkiakum Food Bank and two gentlemen from the VFW, we were able to man four drop off sites. Even though we were not obligated to do so, we delivered part of the collection to Helping Hands. The baseball game collection was split exactly in half. Our shelves are currently full because we constantly work...
To The Eagle: Regarding Patricia Rafferty’s letter in last week’s Eagle that was titled, “Reader suggests food banks explore merger,” I’ve had to address this issue so many times that I’m starting to sound like a recording, and feel like one too. Just one more time: Because both of our local food banks, as well as the St. Vincent’s distribution site at St. Catherine, have different sources of supply, any “merger” of these entities would result in losing some of our food and household goods suppliers. Wahkiakum County would end up with less. We...
To The Eagle: First I would like to thank Debbie Kuller for her letter to the editor two weeks ago wondering why the Drop Anchor Brewery did not choose an empty space on Main street Cathlamet. It has been wonderful that so many local citizens have supported our new business venture. First let me say we at Drop Anchor are very excited to bring this business to our community. We hope that we can add to our tax base, create a few jobs, and bring more visitors to our County. Debbie we looked at every building and open space in the Cathlamet area...
To The Eagle: The 12th annual Puget Island Garage and Yard Sale (P.I.G.Y.S.) is approaching rapidly. It’s the last weekend in June, which this year falls on the the 28th and 29th with Sunday the 30th optional. It’s been a great run for the past decade with enthusiastic neighbors and Island businesses and organizations (churches, Norse Hall, Farm Market, VFW.) We usually have around 50 vendors and draw about 500 carloads of customers. The cars all leave loaded with Island treasures and the participants end the weekend tired, happy and pre...
To The Eagle: Audiences were delighted by a film festival chronicling the film work of young film maker Elia Hoover in the High School library last Friday. During the thirty minute showing, Elia's talents spanned battle field scenes, intergalactic travel and old west gun fights. Elia Hoover's talents are unmistakable. As a former film maker myself, what impressed me most about Mr. Hoover's achievement was the perseverance. Making a film is a mammoth undertaking, somehow he fought through the self doubt and limited resources and made several...
To The Eagle: A couple of weeks ago there was a door-to-door collection of food for the food banks. I was told that the food would be distributed equally between the two food banks that operate in this county. As a user of these foods banks I am very concerned. I visited the Wahkiakum Food Bank and their shelves were stuffed with food to the point that there was food on the bottom shelves for holiday giving. There are such wonderful caring people in this county to help out the less fortunate. The following week I visited the Helping Hand Food...
To The Eagle: I would like to put my two cents in on the new brewery that they want to put in Cathlamet. I truly feel it should be in a building that is already built in town and I think the brick building at 83 Main Street would make a spectacular place for a brewery. We would use the building that is and has been empty for a few years which makes me sad every time I walk by it. It is a historic building, it would bring people downtown. We have a nice boardwalk to downtown from the marina. Something to consider. Debbie Kuller...
To the Editor: At the last of the 2013 Citizens' Police Academy sessions, our prosecuting attorney, Mr. Dan Bigelow, presented a superb seminar in which he reminded attendees of the citizenry's right and responsibility to monitor the activities of elected officials. As the current chairman of the board of commissioners, Mr. Blair Brady, has repeatedly barred inquiries from this voter, and has retracted statements he made on the purpose of approved expenditures exceeding $400,000, I wonder whether he is cognizant of this role of the electorate....
To The Eagle: Politicians are classes of individuals we can’t have arrive soon enough, but then we are perhaps more than happy when they leave; the feeling is like the day of buying and day of selling a boat. But it is with great disappointment that the Cathlamet mayor George Wehrfritz will not run for reelection in November. While a few of you might feel relief that he is leaving, it is too hot in the kitchen, I think there is an overwhelming feeling for many of us to compliment his vision and accomplishments to help Cathlamet grow and i...
To The Eagle: Even if Obama and his minions got every gun control and background check law they wanted, the next school shooting will go off as planned or conceived or whatever serves as creative fermentation in the minds of the deranged souls who do these things. Lifting the punch line from an old joke: They are crazy, not stupid. No matter what the law reads, they will equip themselves with whatever armament, artillery or explosive device suits their feverish fantasies. Here’s a thought experiment: The population of the United States is aroun...
To The Eagle: I hope most of you are able to see the front page article in The Longview Daily news on Friday regarding Wahkiakum County wanting public input on a proposal for a junk ordinance. There are 2 meetings coming up, May 15, 6:30 at Johnson Park in Rosburg, and May 21, 6:30 at the courthouse. I urge everyone to attend these meetings and let the commissioners know you care. I have always been pro real property rights and it is something I have advocated for, for many years. I hope people will not see this as an infringement on those...
To The Eagle: On April 25 while camping at Elochoman Slough Marina RV Park, I accidentally injured my face and required medical attention. The young man managing the office at the RV park kindly took me to the Wahkiakum Family Clinic where I was immediately attended to by the staff. I regret that I did not get their individual names, because the care and attention both of the staff at the clinic and at the RV park were outstanding and greatly appreciated. I am sending this email because I wish to publicly acknowledge the kindness and...
To The Eagle: Where was I? “Money is an agreed upon medium of exchange. It is also an idea backed by confidence.” Recent reading indicates it may well have been goldsmiths who issued receipts to people who brought them gold who actually started the current system of money. Makes sense when you think back to the now defunct gold standard, silver certificates, and the fact that pre-federal reserve, the money in the USA was backed by something of value. Unfortunately today it is nothing more than key strokes on a computer that create money. In...
To The Eagle: Wahkiakum 4-H has conducted several awareness activities in the last few weeks to help reduce underage drinking in their community. For one activity we plan to attend an athletic and community event to hand 100 flyers to youth and community members with information about the effects of underage drinking. We will be writing a script for a Public Service Announcement to hopefully be aired on a local radio station. So stay tuned to your local stations and listen for a PSA by your local 4-H youth to help prevent underage drinking. We...
Faith Action Network and the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility gathered over 40 regional interfaith leaders for a news conference at Seattle’s Town Hall Monday for the official launch of a campaign on universal background checks. There were many prominent faith leaders of our region present—Jewish, Sikh, Christian, Baha’i, Unitarian, Buddhist, Quaker, and more. Their message was one: It is time to resolutely face the moral challenge of doing everything in our power to stop the violence. These interfaith leaders gathered last Dec...
To The Eagle, On Tuesday of last week, I had an opportunity to discuss economic development and the Department of Commerce’s Associate Development Organization (ADO) grant awarded to Wahkiakum County with Commissioner Mike Backman. Commissioner Backman consulted with me to discuss the outcome requirements of the ADO grant and explore if changes to the grant might assist the county in achieving its expected outcomes. I was pleased Wahkiakum Community Network was able to assist the county in this consulting service. Working with contractual a...
