Downriver Dispatches

The Eagle: This is my 15th column for a paper I'm quite fond of. In the big world "outside" there are few newspapers still alive, certainly not in little counties like ours. We owe Rick Nelson and his father, Bob, and all the owners before them who kept our little paper alive for 131 years. Not only that, the Eagle is not owned by some consortium. It is an American small business, supported by subscribers and advertisers period. There are no "investors" or "donors." Just us in the county and a few outside the area, but in a sense the paper belongs to us. And to all the advertisers from here and further out, like Longview. So maybe we are the investors. Much like the campaigns to "buy locally" to support local businesses, I hope we all recognize The Eagle as a local business, so as a way of support, be sure to subscribe and encourage newcomers to do so, too. Just imagine life here without The Eagle keeping east and west county areas connected, informing us of our small government's activities and issues, and even reporting on the Sheriff's Department's calls. There are few newspapers like it left in our country. It keeps up, though, you can even read it online. So next time you see Rick, let him know how much we appreciate this newspaper and him as well. As my Aunt Hattie says, "That little paper truly shows how "down home" your county is." And remember she likes the Sheriff's Report best!

Appelo Archives Center News: Annika Kay, Director, sent some news: "We are hiring for an Audio Tech. This is a grant funded temporary job offered on a stipend, depending on experience. Work can be done remotely but will require continuous communication and some in-person meetings. However, we would prefer someone who is nearby who can come into the Archives more often than not. Interested parties should contact Annika Kay at the Archives Center via email: info@AppeloArchives.org or may call in for more information at 360-484-7101." Also, Annika tells me a tea is planned for the end of June. This will be at the Archives Center and will be a fundraiser.

New Wellness Center Update: Spoke with Ed Hunt, local nurse who works at the Ocean Beach Hospital. He, like many others, highly recommends local folks get signed up with the new FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner), Lori Sharrow, who loves working in rural area clinics. She takes folks on Medicare, so keep that in mind. Ed says she is a "perfect fit" for our area. Work is coming along at the bank building in Naselle that will be the location for our new Wellness Center. It's good to see things changing and work getting done so we can start seeing Lori there, hopefully sometime this fall.

Photo of the Week: I spoke with Pam Anderson, co-owner with her husband, Wayne, at their Deep River Camp location on SR 4, just past the Deep River Bridge and before Salmi Hill in Deep River. The Anderson's have lived at the camp property for 20 years. They have operated the camp for nearly that long, too. They have plenty of dry camping spots available and they have nine hook-ups with water. They are planning on putting in five new hook ups also. There is a shower and four porta-potties so it's a true roughing it camp, not a fancy one with a pool or playground. Their customers are mostly fishermen and hunters.

The camp is busy most of the year, and for this summer, August is fully booked. There is a store with basic camper needs, such as ice and fishing gear. Their rates are good: dry spots for tents and self-contained RV's is $30 and for full hook-up's with water: $50. They have one long term senior who lives at the camp. The store is busy with campers coming and going and visiting with her. There's fishing very close by and the Oneida Boat Ramp is close so campers bring their boats and get them in the water quickly from their camping sites. Many of the hunters who come in hunting season are regulars. They plan ahead and get signed up months ahead of time. There is plenty of room for a party of campers to set up as a group at the camp as well. It's a true camping experience since there is no TV available. But it's close to Naselle and the beach areas, so campers are more likely to get a spot there sometimes, rather than trying to find a spot along the Peninsula.

These are folks who run their business without any loans. They owe no one and they don't make a lot. But they are happy. Pam told me that she quit a good office job and decided she'd rather work outside and make less, than work in an office. She is great with customers. No one comes in looking for help without her full attention. She keeps track of all the campers and their schedules and is very careful about making sure she can deliver what she promises for folks coming a long way to stay at the camp. Pam is not in the camp photo at her own request.

Water Issue: I find it interesting that I had set a time to meet with her and feature the camp in The Eagle at the same time Deep River's water issue has come up before the PUD. Thanks to PUD Commissioner Dennis Reid, the PUD Board is again hearing of West Deep River needing water. It would seem to not be that big an issue since water is not far away, but too far, I understand, to run it to the camp and other land owners along SR 4 and Oneida Road. There is water on the east side of Deep River, but not the west side. The water line ends across from the Oneida boat launch site. The Pacific County water line ends at Salme Hill where the water line ends for Pacific County. I remember when county Commissioner Mark Linquist worked so hard to get the PUD's line extended to Deep River. It was a combination of federal, state and county money that paid for it. Now it appears Congress will be passing a bill to support infrastructure with new money available, supposedly for providing water, since clean, safe water is part of our country's infrastructure. My view is that if the PUD has any opportunity at all to support the economic life of our county, and the health of its people, no matter the population number, then perhaps a work group could be put together to invite landowners to give input as to what they would like to see happen. I know the Deep River Camp would grow and have more customers if they didn't have to buy clean water from the Fire District. And our county would benefit economically.

Senior Lunches: Yesterday (Wednesday), the Senior Lunch Club sponsored a potluck at noon at Rosburg Hall. Today (Thursday), CAP box lunches will be available at noon at Rosburg Hall with Creamy paprika pork, mashed potatoes, tossed salad and sliced apricots. The box lunches on May 27 will be spaghetti and meatballs, orange glazed carrots, and Caesar salad.

Please send me your news and announcements using contact information above. Word for the week: water