Wahkiakum County has become couple's home

To The Eagle:

Some people call us outsiders. Mark and I came to Wahkiakum eight years ago when we bought a small cottage. My mother in law lives here and we made this our second home. Whenever we drove into Cathlamet, I knew we would live the rest of our days here. We came from a city with high crime, gangs, drugs, and prostitution. After a weekend ended, and we had to go back to Seatac, we hated leaving. The only thing calling us back was Mark's job and family--our two daughters, grandsons, my mom, dad, and aunt.

When Jon Dearmore called Mark and asked him to be his undersheriff, we thought it was a dream come true. After everything that has happened in the past year, Mark and I still call this home. Home where we live, home where we want to die. For us who have settled here later in life, we have felt welcomed and loved by people that have grown up here as well as by others who have made this county their home. We are part of a true community. Mark and I love Wahkiakum and we hope to stay here because it is our home.

Deb Howie, Cathlamet