Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Sorted by date Results 2457 - 2481 of 2582
To The Eagle: Considering the three candidates running for sheriff, the choice seems relatively easy. Jon Dearmore is the only candidate who is currently employed in law enforcement and has 20 years experience in this field. Jon has numerous law enforcement qualifications beyond the minimum required. His community involvement is shown by his membership on several committees and boards in the county, including Wahkiakum County 4-H, Wahkiakum Community Network, Timberland Regional Support Network, Region 4 Law Enforcement Terrorist Prevention,...
To The Eagle: As many of you know, Grays River residents Del and Trudy Fredrickson lost their home in a fire last Thursday. I would like to thank all of the emergency crews that helped on the scene, including crews from Grays River, Cathlamet, Skamokawa, Dist. 4, and Naselle. Fortunately Grays River volunteer Jon Gudmundsen, who is a battalion chief for Kitsap County, was first on scene. He did an excellent job of commanding the scene and helping the crews work together to get the fire out. My husband Troy Norris was in charge of staging. He...
To The Eagle: On Thursday, July 29, some time after midday, I renewed one of our vehicle license tabs online. The next morning I picked up the tabs from our Post Office box. Wow. Thank you Wahkiakum County Auditors Office. Kathleen Morgain Skamokawa...
To The Eagle: Some people have forgotten things that taxes pay for. They are: PUD; services on electric lines; roads - building, resurfacing and repair; EMT/ambulance; firetrucks and police; social security; Medicare; Medicaid; children's services/immunizations; weed control on the highways; park maintenance; water pumped to homes; urgent dental with Human Services; food stamps for low income folks; senior produce vouchers; utility discounts for senior citizens; student loans for college students; vocational retraining; unemployment insurance;...
To The Eagle: Judge Jill Johanson is an excellent choice as candidate for the Court of Appeals. She has over 24 years' legal experience, as an attorney, a prosecuting attorney and for eight years as a County Superior Court Judge. She has had experience in felony criminal cases, dissolution of marriages, Juvenile Dependency and Offender matters. She has been the Presiding Juvenile Court Judge. Judge Johanson has received the endorsement of over 20 Court of Appeals, Supreme Court and Trial Judges. She is the past president of the Washington...
To The Eagle: A big thanks to Janet Cimino for organizing the Artisan Market once more for the Bald Eagle Day/Wooden Boat festivities. It was Janet who, once again, got the ball rolling for this third year in a row, drawing local artists together to display their work over the weekend in what used to be Ruthie's Downtown Gallery - a fantastic space for us to use. About 20 local artists throughout the county participated in the event, and we had a great response from people coming in to see the talent that surrounds us here along the river. It...
Elections The older I get, the more fondly I think of Tevye and "The Fiddler on the Roof." He wanted so much to adhere to his traditional way of life, but life wouldn't let him. Life brought change, and he had to deal with it. For those of us mired in a career of dealing with our state's tradition of a primary election in September and the general election in November, the new schedule, with the primary in August, is an unsettling adjustment. The election season should be heating up in August, but no, vote by mail ballots will be sent out at...
To The Eagle: Response to Daily News, July 16,“Local Economy Has Got Us Optimistic.” Brought instant memories of my fifth grade teacher, repeating, “You Don’t Got Anything!” In addition to the poor grammatical inference, another article concealing facts, there is $200 million in construction occurring at The Port of Longview, building an Export Grain Terminal (EGT) and a non-local workforce is accomplishing most of the work. The Port made public “New Jersey Skyline Steel” will-be-built “prevailing wage.” Upon examination, this is a public...
To The Eagle: As a person who has worked in Public Health for the majority of the last 47 years, as a Public Health Nurse and Public Health Administrator, it was a pleasure to read in the paper recently that the Wahkiakum County Health & Human Services had presented a report to the county on health data about our residents. This information in detail is available at www.countyhealthrankings.org and is based on an annual random survey of adults and youth in Washington State. Eighty years ago this report would have looked at things we now take...
To The Eagle: Well, another Bald Eagle completed and unfortunately there are too many to thank personally so I will just say thanks to all who helped and participated. There is so much to do behind the scenes and most have no idea of the time committed to soliciting vendors, getting permits, right down to getting the garbage cans placed. It is overwhelming. That is why I want to mention three people who every year around this time, give every waking moment to make sure this event is enjoyed by all and goes off without a hitch. Lynda Gerlach...
To The Eagle: Many statements made during the recent biosolids seminar hosted by Wahkiakum County were misleading and deceptive. Biosolids is not just human waste, but a complex mixture of thousands of industrial and hazardous chemicals, that are not removed when this material is treated. Spreading it on land has sickened people, polluted drinking wells, degraded healthy soil, and killed live stock that ingested forage grown on land treated with biosolids. This waste is not "heavily regulated." In fact, the latest National Academy of Sciences...
To The Eagle: Thank you to the community and Mary Dasher. As one of the volunteers who are blessed with the opportunity to offer service to the community by working at Helping Hand, I want to explain what we do. Rick Dasher and his wife Mary started Helping Hand over 15 years ago, as a personal ministry. It was housed in the Adventist church for most of that time. Much of the food that was provided came from other private ministries and individuals throughout the area and within the state. Now we are temporarily housed in the the old River Rat...
To The Eagle: To the 25 families living in the town of Cathlamet who so far have completed and returned the recent survey, I thank you. This survey is designed to help restore the vitality of stores and other businesses in Cathlamet and reduce the number of vacant storefronts. For cost considerations, this first survey was sent only to those people who receive a water bill directly from the town of Cathlamet. It is recognized, however, that the success of businesses within the town affects everyone in the county so I am working on proper ways...
To The Eagle, The posted speed limit is 20 mph in a school zone, so what's the problem on Clover Street? Posted speed limit is 20 mph, just like in a school zone and there are lots of kids. Is it that some people don't feel that the speed limit applies to them? If so, I'd love to hear their reasons. On that dead end street,can a few extra seconds be that important? I guess we will have to wait until something tragic happens before they get it. Roger Bucholtz Cathlamet...
To The Eagle: Recently, we have been treated to many letters to The Eagle focusing on projects that the Lower Columbia Economic Development Council and the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce have worked hard on and supported. We are told by the writers that defeating these efforts is cause for joy. As one of the people who works very hard for our community, I challenge those who work so hard to stop projects to roll up their sleeves and find a way to get involved in helping the community. It is not enough to simply sit at home and say, “I have g...
To The Eagle: The amazing facts and figures in the county health analysis on last week's front page sure did clarify my thinking. I thought that our slightly high incidence of coronary disease and stuff was because half of us are over 60, but now I find out it's because of low intake of spinach and rutabagas. The fact that such produce is not available must also come as a reall shock to the folks who run the wonderful produce department at Cathlamet Market and our world class farmers market on Puget Island. I was also under the misapprehension...
To The Eagle: I am opposed to the disposal of untreated human waste through land application. Since I am a resident of Grays River valley, I am especially opposed to the land application of untreated human waste in the valley. It is unsafe and unwise on several levels. If that were not the case why have we been prohibited for years from constructing outhouses near wells or close to streams and rivers? What about the studies linking the introduction of human medicines into aquatic environments with aberrant morphological changes in amphibian...
To The Eagle: “Oh my God, it’s pooh!” These were the first words uttered when visiting the Renton wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) for the first time as an engineering student. That reaction is reminiscent of the knee-jerk reaction I’m observing today among Wahkiakum residents. I have studied biosolids a lot since then; and a dear colleague just completed his PhD on the matter. Let me attempt to explain why Class A biosolids should not be included in the County’s proposed ban. A biosolid itself is the solid material from the clarifica...
To The Eagle: I am a Republican, but there are worthy Democrats who keep their promises to the people that placed them in office. I am not in the habit of endorsing Democrats unless they show the following traits: 1. Truthfulness. 2. Honesty. 3. Trustworthy. 4. Who are incorruptible by affluent outside influence. 5. Who truly represent their constituents. For all of the above reasons, I am endorsing Blair Brady for re-election. In these times of little money, I believe that Blair fully understands and has proven his ability to tighten the...
To The Eagle: The snap, crackle and pop of Independence Day pyrotechnics echoing up and down the lower Columbia felt unusually festive and celebratory this year. Seems our little backwoods neighborhood has three major wins to crow about as we bid a not-too-fond but very relieved farewell to NorthernStar's LNG, ShoreBank's NHA and also the D.I.P. (Dreaded Incubator Project). Not too surprising, really, that our merry band of rustics and hayseeds is leading the trend that is gathering momentum all over the county: killing inappropriate...
To The Eagle: Two writers, letters to the editor dated July1, 2010, two opposite views. The first letter titled "Fear of change will isolate Wahkiakum County." It discusses "Lack of vision and openness to new ideas." To me and probably to most Wahkiakum County residents this seems like an insult. We must appear to be dumb and stupid for wanting to live in Wahkiakum County. I'm also in disagreement about "What makes a healthy community." Healthy communities are made by people who care for the welfare of the whole county, not just a few...
To The Eagle: Recreation and rest or recreation and retirement, what does it mean for Wahkiakum County For years there are those of us whom have argued with the Lower Columbia Economic Development Council (LCEDC) and the Chamber of Commerce who continue to attempt to bring new businesses into Wahkiakum County. In my opinion you can have all the incubators in the world but they will die shortly after being hatched for lack of people using them. The LCEDC is still trying to bring businesses to Wahkiakum County but are not much help to the...
To The Eagle: On June 17, an editorial in the Daily Astorian stated, "Looking at the comparative economic success and diversification of Clatsop County and the Long Beach Peninsula and comparing that to the sad struggles of the hotbeds of National Heritage Area opposition, it is clear that our openness and other values are their own reward. Ultimately, we'll recover from the current downturn and do fine - NHA or no NHA. The same cannot be said of north Pacific County and Wahkiakum County where fear will continue to always interfere with...
"So much angst! So much anger! Big government! Elected officials are corrupt! Throw them all out!" While these messages aren't shared by all, there are enough people and organizations proclaiming them that confidence in all levels of government is weak. The reaction is to get tough and make them toe the line, "our line," what ever it may be to each individual or group. But with hard line, no compromise negotiating positions, it's hard to get differing groups together and address the troubling issues we face locally or worldwide. Cooperation...
To The Eagle: Our mayor's bleak characterization of the Wahkiakum Welfare State in last week's Eagle seems a bit skewed, particularly when he chooses to kick around those old straw dogs "political axes" and "ideological blinders." The "shrill critics" at the meetings we attended were mostly citing real concerns from past local history or thoughtful studies from respected foundations giving mixed reviews of the 27 year history of NHAs or making polite inquiries about the apparent connections between ShoreBank Enterprise Cascade and the Chicago...
