Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Sorted by date Results 2382 - 2406 of 2591
To The Eagle: With the low tides the last few days, I have taken time to do my routine survey of my section of dike. Today I also went and paddled upstream in the canoe at low tide. I encountered continual degradation of the dikes, in particular on the outside curves of the slough. Our section of the outside curve is particularly easy to see, as we have the dock to make close visual inspection at low tide. From the dock it is very easy to see the continuing and worsening scour and sloughing. Very noticeable, from just a month ago. The dike is...
To The Eagle: Thank you new County Commissioners and Dirk Rhone for putting the kibosh on the old commission's approval of the Oregon Pipeline. You quickly acted in the county's best interest. Re-evaluating the environmental and safety impacts of the proposed 41 mile natural gas pipeline that would cross Clatsop County is absolutely necessary. Whether the pipeline would be for exporting gas to China and other Asian countries or used for importing LNG, the consumer and the environment would be the loser of this venture. Since NorthernStar's...
The state legislature is considering legislation that would end requirements for cities and counties to publish legal notices in a newspaper of general circulation in their region. It's touted as a measure to lower costs and ease time demands on city and county offices. I think the effect will be to increase the disconnect between citizens and their elected officials and local government, and this legislation should be rejected. Legal notices encompass a variety of notices. Some are notices for environmental reviews of proposed projects; some...
To The Eagle: The front page article of The Eagle, January 13, 2011 about the Puget Island property assessments and a face to face discussion with our new assessor Bill Coons seems to lead one to conclude that property owners will not be able to contest any new assessments. Not being able to contest assessments will force property owners to pay the inflated tax rate for this coming year and maybe for the next four years. This appears to be a case of taxation without representation. P.J. Fleury Puget Island...
To The Eagle: First of all, ask Oliver and Irene Bacon about the history of my folks and me in Cathlamet. Irene took care of me in 1948-49 when my folks taught at Wahkiakum High School. We lived on Puget Island again in 1956-58 when they again taught at the high school. I was in the fourth and fifth grades and had a rowboat on Birnie Slough. Seems like I've written this to you before. Pardon if I have senior moments. Please do all you can to support the Veteran's Administration. They've done well by me. I lived in Cathlamet and volunteered for...
To The Eagle: In reading the December 30 edition of the Wahkiakum County Eagle, I have some more things that we should all consider and look at thinking positive and expressing our own opinion. I totally agree with our county commissioner on the thought that we should form a Park and Recreation District on the Johnson Park site. I've been thinking along the same lines for close to 10 years when the school and the county have been wanting the county to take over the operation of the area. I was a fifth grader when that school opened and it was t...
To The Eagle: Our editor prizes brevity, which perhaps explains why last week's editorial concerning the Chamber of Commerce/EDC merger was spare in its account of the adventures of the Economic Development Council. In an attempt to rescue the faltering golf course a few years ago, the EDC set up a condominium project complete with golf cart garages which, in theory, would disgorge a crowd of wealthy and eager golfers onto the course on a daily basis. The contractor balked until the town agreed to spring for a sewer system, and the town, pleadi...
To The Eagle: As a follow up to a call for citizen help I just wanted to notify the public that your response objecting to the closure of Tunerville camp has been heard and acted on. At a meeting on December 15 that could take the award for probably the most miserable conditions that elected officials have ever attended there came a compromise. Senator Brian Hatfield, Representative Brian Blake, Representative Dean Takko, County Commissioner Jon Kaino, and all three Commissioners from Wahkiakum County stood in the rain in a circle of concerned...
I was very leery two months ago when I learned the Lower Columbia Economic Development Council and Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce were going to discuss a merger. I worried about whether or not the two groups' missions are compatible enough to form an organization that will be able to handle a variety of economic development projects while still doing the community activities and promotions that the Chamber conducts. Instead, I should have been worried about whether or not local government would continue to support county wide economic developmen...
To The Eagle: Are you middle class? Every time I hear a talking head use the phrase “middle class,” I seethe. The implications are obvious and offensive in the extreme. For a middle class to exist, there has to be an upper class and a lower class. Point me out a lower class American. Show me a countryman that is locked in that strata. Our nation was crafted as a Republic, under the rule of Law, which affords the rights and protections of the Law equally to all citizens. To be locked into a “class” is the first bond of slavery. I refuse to be d...
To The Eagle: In the December 9, 2010 issue of The Eagle, Mr. Gordon had a letter with several questions for the Cathlamet Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services staff. Question 1 concerned being insulted by a referenced document from 1932. Why should anyone be insulted by the age of a document? Our U.S. Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787 and serves us well today with no one worried about its age. The remaining questions refer to individuals in the Fire Department that he feels wronged him on a civil matter. His letter...
To The Eagle: Questions for Cathlamet Fire Department/Emergency Medical Service managers and staff The citizens of Cathlamet and Wahkiakum County are and will always be indebted to its volunteer Fire Department (FD) and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) members. They have our continued thanks. However, some serious questions need to be asked of FD/EMS managers and their immediate staff. 1. Should City Council members and citizens be insulted by being giving a 1932 document by FD/EMS managers as justification for their managing these entities?...
To The Eagle: State governments, local governments, plain old citizens and most assuredly our Federal government are all having a tough time financially. Financiers, bankers and economists created a world wide financial crises that blew up in their faces. They were busy worshipping at "The Market is God" altar. But we know that they were not true believers because no only did they create the "products," bonds, and derivatives that created the crisis, they also created "financial instruments" whereby they would also make big bucks if the whole...
To The Eagle: I would like to thank The Eagle for getting the word out to the community about last Saturday's kick-off to the holiday season. The general theme was to "shop locally" so almost all the shops extended their hours, showed off their wares, provided tasty munchies, and welcomed Santa to town. The new feature of a "Walk Down Christmas Lane" seemed to really be enjoyed by the young folks, especially and the following people won the drawings: Howies' Coffee Shop Basket - Dallas Gott; Artisan Market Basket - Chrissy Teach; and Riverview...
To The Eagle: Bad news is that Sargasso Sea Antiques was unable to find a wholesaler to provide Christmas trees for our annual benefit sale for St. James Family Center. Good news is that both of our local suppliers (McCoy's Tree Farm and the Cathlamet Market) are really inexpensive so you can get your tree, help your local economy and still afford to send a donation to St. James at 1134 Columbia Street, 98612 and brighten everyone's Christmas. Howard Brawn Puget Island...
To The Eagle: This weekend will kick off the holiday shopping season in Wahkiakum County with the annual tree lighting and the arrival of Santa. We are very fortunate to have some great businesses in Cathlamet, but they cannot survive without everyone's support. If each one of you would purchase at least one gift in Cathlamet, think of the revenue it would create. I realize that you're not going to find everything here that you need, but I'm sure that you can find at least one item on your shopping list. Give it a try and support our home town...
To The Eagle: I do not know the Cathlamet mayor, nor the accused former firefighter. I do, however, have knowledge and expertise through three decades of Emergency Medicine practice at St. John Medical Center regarding the department's ambulance personnel and know what the community at large could not. The level of training and skill of the Nurse/Paramedics and EMTs has been unusual for a community this size, and their success has been unparalleled. I cite as an example a patient whom they successfully resuscitated from out of hospital cardiac...
To The Eagle: Reading the article about the rift between the mayor and the fire department, I have mixed emotions and questions. While we certainly have the utmost respect for all our volunteers in the First Aid/Fire Dept. and are truly thankful they're there 24/7 for us, rain, snow, ice or sunshine, it seems to me too much stress was emphasized on personal issues rather than business. As a taxpayer who is concerned as to where and how our money is spent, I'm not happy with the way bookwork was handled. Let alone, it boggles my mind how the...
To The Eagle: I want to restate what I said at the town council meeting of November 15. The present EMS accounting system was devised and put in place by Mayor Dick Swart and the Cathlamet Fire Department effective January, 2006. The accounting system had the approval of the State Auditor. Now Mayor Wehrfritz is implementing changes to the current EMS accounting system by terminating my contract and having the Town Clerk-Treasurer perform all accounting duties. He claims for transparency reasons and better financial control, that this change...
To The Eagle: The Cathlamet Fire Department has existed for 70 years and this totally volunteer group has served the county well over the years. The people who serve in it are dedicated, hard working and provide a quality of service which is better than some paid departments. Two former area firefighters, one from this outstanding organization, the other from Fire District 4, were instrumental in establishing the Volunteer Firefighters Pension System in Washington State. For the mayor to chastise the Fire Department over the single incident of...
To The Eagle: In reference to the article in The Daily News on November 9, George Wehrfritz wants to force Jerry DeBriae out as chief of the Cathlamet Fire Department. Who does he think he is? Jerry and Linda have done nothing but support the department for many years. Does the Mayor even know that if it was not for the DeBriaes, there would not be a beautiful new Cathlamet Fire Department complex? Doesn't he realize that all of the fire departments and first aid divisions are volunteer and everyone gives of their time to keep our county safe?...
To The Eagle: As you may or may not know, we have in Wahkiakum County some of the best emergency services and a Sheriff's Office which is very much a part of this community, as shown by the recent election. Our fire and ambulance services, which are volunteer, are far better than many private or full time salaried emergency services. Our people are experienced, fast to respond, efficient and very caring. Their response time compares to paid responders and in many cases, is quicker. Any mistake made has been corrected and they are moving...
To The Eagle: Unfortunately we have a serious disconnect between the Cathlamet volunteer Fire/EMS and the town/state/budget/? This needs to be resolved, now, by reasonable people sitting down and coming to reasonable conclusions. It is worth bringing in an experienced peacemaker to broker the peace and get this situation fixed, now. Cindy made a very moving statement regarding volunteers toward the end of the meeting which left me wondering what life in our town/county would be like without the many volunteers who work huge periods of time lead...
As community meetings went, Monday's town council meeting wasn't too bad. Sure it lasted almost three hours. The hot part, though, was the first two hours in which citizens generally criticized Mayor George Wehrfritz for his handling of proposed changes in management of accounts of the Cathlamet Fire Department and its First Aid Division. For the most part, discussion was fairly civil; only once did the crowd shout someone down. "You're smearing our reputations," the crowd told the mayor. He should have handled the issues more diplomatically, t...
To The Eagle: Now that our elections are over, I can say what I want to say without being accused of "thumping" for one candidate or another (by golly, I am sick of this election!) I am motivated to write this letter to the editor after hearing for the third time in recent weeks a Cathlamet person say, "I don't think I can afford my medication." I am, I think rightly, upset when I hear people that I view as responsible, normal citizens of various ages state that they cannot afford medications for diseases such as heart trouble, diabetes, and...
