Local News

Lia Sealund, executive director for the Wahkiakum Community Network, greeted the crowd at the town hall meeting held March 25 at J.A. Wendt Elementary School. Sunny Manary photo. The Wahkiakum Community Network held a town hall meeting March 25 to find ways to discourage alcohol use among area youth. “A Guide to Action” is the second town hall meeting where local residents came together to find ways to keep all students alcohol free.
Carrie Kennedy, WSU Extension agent for Wahkiakum County, greeted the crowd of approximately 100 people and described the evening’s itinerary. She then passed the microphone to Lia Sealund, executive director for Wahkiakum Community Network, the sponsor of the event.
Sealund told the crowd, ranging in age from kindergarteners to adults, about the Healthy Youth Summit results from 2005. She said that the students in attendance felt that the community didn’t discourage underage drinking. She said that was their number one concern.

The first town hall meeting took place in March 2006 after a local youth was killed in a car accident as a result of alcohol.
The intent of this meeting was for adults and youth alike to come up with ideas that would keep young people from drinking.
Small groups were formed to brainstorm alternatives to drinking. People came up with risk factors they would like to see decrease and changes they would like to see community wide. Ideas were posted on the wall for participants to see and take home to put to use.
Attendees also made hand traces and were requested to come up with a pledge and five things they could do to combat teenage drinking.

Lia Sealund, executive director for the Wahkiakum Community Network, greeted the crowd at the town hall meeting held March 25 at J.A. Wendt Elementary School. Sunny Manary photos.