Sorted by date Results 2326 - 2350 of 2595
To The Eagle: The Dark Ages are upon us. Not quite here yet, but you can see the lengthening shadows approaching just as depicted in a Harry Potter movie. Using tactics of demonization, our leaders have created apocryphal shortages of energy and resources, bringing the wheels of industry and finance to a grinding halt. Let's take it from the top: Ninety four percent of global trade depends on diesel and gas turbine engines and internal combustion engines allow us commoners to participate in both the production and consumption of this global cor...
To The Eagle: Wallowing in projects here, I just finished The Focus on Wahkiakum, 5/26/11. It's an endearing tabloid that I will share with close friends and visitors. I thank Ruby, Rick and Kay for the thoughtful journalism; all the familiar merchants being solidly there, Geri; and the whole Eagle staff for the extra effort. It's a keeper. Vail St. Vrain Seattle...
To The Eagle: In last week's edition of The Eagle, specifically in the Skamokawa News column, the author Kay Chamberlain promoted the Smoky Water Follies. She listed many cast members and included in many cases the musical and dramatic numbers they were to perform. Kay omitted one very important name. Without this name, the Follies would not have been as successful as it turned out to be. This individual's attention to every detail along with her acting and musical abilities were the reason for the show's success. The name that was left out of...
To The Eagle: KATU, Channel 2 Portland, came to the North Coast June 15 to cover a story about tiny Wahkiakum County's fight with the state Department of Ecology (DOE), a sort of David versus Goliath issue regarding the dumping of sewage within Wahkiakum County. The DOE issues permits regarding this kind of activity state-wide, but Wahkiakum County is also claiming authority. The Wahkiakum Board of County Commissioners recently passed an ordinance regarding the dumping of raw biosolids sewage onto lands that is more restrictive than what the...
To The Eagle: As I'm driving on my way to Long Beach, I near the Wildlife Refuge. Since I'm getting bored with all the scenery, I turn on my blinker and enter. As I wind through the tall grass and trees, I notice all the trash lying around. Then I scan my car and notice all the garbage I need to throw away. "Hmm..." I grab a crumpled McDonalds bag, look around outside then chuck it out the window. "Haha! That felt great." I pass some kids sitting around a fire pit on the beach, one of them carelessly tosses a pop can over his shoulder. "Well,...
To The Eagle: Pursuant to a freedom of information request under Revised Code of Washington to Wahkiakum PUD, I am advised that the PUD manager's salary is $114,865.08 and the auditor's salary is $62,469.84. As of April 30, 2011, the PUD services 2421 electric accounts and 827 water accounts. We must ask, is the management compensation appropriate for the number of rate payers of the PUD and the number of employees? P.J. Fleury Puget Island...
To The Eagle: How can our government be creating money? Congress can use the same technique banks use to create their money. But there is a major difference. Banks create their money "out of thin air." By what authority do they do this? Their claim is that the constitution gives Congress the authority to do this and that Congress has delegated this authority to the banking system. Therefore Congress can reclaim this authority. If Congress does create our money, it can be spent into circulation. This is the complete opposite of what the...
To The Eagle: We want to recognize three students at Wahkiakum High School for the time and effort they have invested in working to provide foodstuffs and personal care items to the Helping Hand Food Bank. Jo-Ceph McCall, a sophomore; Michelle Scheible, a senior; and Kenzi Abbott, a junior, all took time from their busy schedules and performed service to their community. They are also planting a portion of the community garden to grow and donate to the food bank. We also want to thank the people who donated to the young people and who bring ite...
To The Eagle: In the 20 plus years I have spent studying our money system, I have become aware of reforms that need to be implemented to improve conditions for people living here and also those living in other countries. I am presenting a list of them in this forum, but it will be a serial list. First, "The New World Order" is not just a slogan or phrase that is bandied about. High (and low) profile financiers around the world have been planning and making arrangements here and abroad to consolidate their control over governments. Here we will...
Here, from the Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service, is the second installment of questions and answers to the US Citizenship Test. See how you do. I plan to run more of the test in subsequent editions, but you can find the test online if you're interested. Sample US Citizenship Test Questions 30. Who is the head of the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government? 31. For how long is the President elected? 32. Name the highest part of the Judiciary Branch of our Government. 33. What are the duties of the Supreme Court? 34....
To The Eagle: Patronage is the financial aid or support that an organization or individual bestows to another. Normally the term has a positive connotation. Last fall, the presiding judges of the superior and district courts requested that the county commissioners fund selected individuals to provide for security during their court sessions. The commissioners denied this request as they should have. However recently, the district court judge proposed to the commissioners a creative set of fees to be levied against defendants to fund court...
To The Eagle: Brett Chaput was also a district discus champion and was not mentioned in your article with Land and Baker. It is unfortunate that such an outstanding achievement by a local student athlete was not given the recognition it deserved. He is ranked number two in the state and has a very good chance of placing very high in that event this weekend. Joleen Koehler Cathlamet...
This past weekend, I picked up a copy of the Spanish Yellow Pages, a publication that lists businesses serving the Hispanic population of the lower Columbia area. It also includes advice for dealing with US law, and there was a section with the U.S. Citizenship Test. Hmm, I asked myself, can I pass? Well, I didn't get all the answers, but it was fun. So, from the Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service, here are the first 29 questions and answers for you. They shouldn't be too hard. I plan to run more of the test in...
To The Eagle: Have you heard the word from the PUD lately? This is the time of the year that the annual ritual begins where management starts their lament about being underpaid. It starts out about how the ratepayers cannot afford to lose their PUD managers to other higher paying PUDs or private employers. The request for 10 percent increases were denied by the board the past two years and management had to settle for a mere four percent per year. However, by comparison, local county officials and many state workers have seen their salaries...
To The Eagle: The recent court defeat of Oregon LNG is especially relevant as this month is also the one year anniversary of the defeat of proposed Bradwood Landing LNG terminal and pipeline. It is good to live in a country of laws where sometimes ordinary citizens can prevail against overwhelming amounts of money and the influence it can buy. The Texas energy speculators promoting Bradwood Landing spent 100 million dollars over five years trying to buy our river. But estuary citizens rolled up their sleeves and went to work. They formed local...
Last week was National EMS Recognition Week, and the Cathlamet Town Council and Mayor George Wehrfritz adopted this resolution recognizing the work of emergency responders. We heartily endorse the proclamation. The local volunteers make significant sacrifices and do wonderful work. Proclamation Whereas, May 15-21, 2011, has been designated as National EMS Recognition Week, and Whereas, It is fitting and proper to accord official recognition to our Cathlamet Fire Department and EMS services for their service and sacrifices to the Town of Cathlam...
To The Eagle: I am not a lawyer, and I’ve found over the years that things that seem obvious to me can have a different meaning when subjected to the light of the law. In the May 12 edition of The Eagle, the Department of Ecology Director Ted Sturdevant is quoted as saying “Wahkiakum County does not have the authority to prohibit biosolids management practices authorized by the State Regulatory Program” However, when I review Washington Administrative Code 173-308 which governs Biosolids Management, in particular WAC 173-308-030 Relat...
To The Eagle: We in Wahkiakum County must thank our elected county commissioners Blair Brady and Dan Cothren for their stand on biosolids against the dictatorial nonelected bureaucrats! P.J. Fleury Cathlamet...
To The Eagle: On behalf of the Kiwanis Club I would like to say last night’s “Reading is Family Fun” program was a big success. I will let someone else suggest the exact number in attendance, but I was impressed by the large number of children, and equally impressive was the number of mothers and fathers in attendance. While there were some difficulties with the audio in the auditorium, it didn't totally distract from our guest speaker’s ability to make a few points as to the importance of reading and reading skills, and captivate the young p...
To The Eagle: Two men were quoted in the Daily News of Longview on May 3 as saying they didn't think they had broken any laws when they sprayed septic sludge on a Grays River Valley farm on April 30. They may not have broken any laws, but it seems to me that the farm owner knew that an ordinance would soon be passed, and so they intentionally went against the wishes of most of the people who live in the Westend. They knowingly put those same people, myself included, at risk from as yet unknown health effects of long term exposure to the septic...
To The Eagle: This week is national Nursing Home Week. At Columbia View Care Center, we are celebrating. I am very proud of the continued fine work of the nursing home staff; their passion for the work they do enhances the lives of the residents. I appreciate the dedication of our volunteers. To all who come routinely to visit, play music, lead a group and add life, thank you! Residents especially enjoy children, anyone performing, and well-behaved pets. If you are thinking that one day you would like to add volunteering to your life, do it...
The populist political movement that swept the nation last year is alive and well in Wahkiakum County. A group of conservative citizens upset about perceived threats to private property rights last year convinced the county board of commissioners to form the Wahkiakum County Property Rights Review Board to advise the board on issues that might affect private property. The board gave its first report this year, advising the commissioners to oppose a state Department of Ecology permit to allow a Long Beach company to dispose of septage biosolids...
To The Eagle, It’s time for me to sit down and steam up my typewriter which is as old as Bin Laden and let you know how proud I am to be an American. When we look at what took place this weekend and the fact that our people who carried this well-thought plan out in perfection and not harming any innocent people along the way, we can be very proud and fortunate that our forefathers made the big move to let us be Americans. When President Obama and his aides were able to sit in the White House and look at every detail being carried out you c...
To The Eagle: The Clean Water Act defines sewage sludge as a pollutant.1979? That is why they put a stop to ocean dumping as it killed whole fisheries and created dead zones. So under federal law if there is even a possibility the disposal site will have an adverse effect on a threatened or endangered species and their critical habitat, directly or indirectly, that diminishes the likelihood of survival and recovery of a listed species, that act, is considered destruction of a critical habitat. We have six listed species in the Grays along side...
To The Eagle: Welcome to the Grays River Valley, where the Washington State Department of Ecology, in their infinite wisdom, has given their blessing for septic sludge to be dumped in fields next to the Grays River where we are trying to protect several listed species from dying. Won’t that be an enticing note to folks who want to visit, hunt or fish in our county? Or how about, come view the last covered bridge still being used in the state of Washington and enjoy the odor. Watch the elk and deer walk across and graze the field that has j...