The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Dentist Dr. Corey Blankenship DDS has started to settle into his new practice vacated by Dr. Douglas Martin DDS at the end of October.

Martin and his wife, Jill, spent a long time trying to find the right replacement and finally Blankenship came along.

"We'd been looking for someone for about a year," Martin said. "We spoke with several people, but we didn't feel that they had the right ideas in mind for the community so we waited to find the right person. We were looking for someone who wanted to make this a home and was concerned about the patients' best interest. Someone who could handle the practice and take good care of the people."

"I think Corey is going to be a great dentist for the community," Martin continued. "I hope people will support him and shop locally and keep services here. It is really important to us to make sure that services are supported-so they remain here."

Blankenship joined the Air Force after graduating from a high school in Vancouver. Eventually he returned to Vancouver and got a degree from Concordia University in Portland. He worked at Oregon Health and Science University as a bio med tech and dreamed of managing his own bio med shop.

That was before he talked to the people who managed bio med shops.

"I wanted something more fulfilling. Classes at Portland State University were $25 a credit because I worked at OHSU," Blankenship said. "I took all the science courses I needed to apply to medical and dental school and got into dental school at New York University. I tried to get the Air Force to pay for a four year scholarship but they didn't go for it. My second year I applied for a three year scholarship from the Air Force and the Navy. The Navy agreed and I owed them a year of service for each year on the scholarship."

After graduating, he served his first year on a marine base, Parris Island in South Carolina. He worked on the teeth of Marine recruits. He spent the next two years on a carrier called the John C. Stennis, continuing to use his new skills as a dentist.

"Out of the 24 months I was assigned to the ship," Blankenship said, "I was only home for about six months. We were out doing laps around the Persian Gulf."

Blankenship returned to civilian life after his tour was over, but he remains in the reserves, with a reserve unit out of Portland. His first job was with Sunrise Dental of Ellensburg and Yakima. He worked there for two years, splitting time between the two offices.

He would like to move to the area, but so far he hasn't been able to convince his wife, Theresa, so he drives here Monday night and works Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and then drives back to Vancouver on Thursday night.

As for his work, he says: "Some dentists like to focus on a particular area. I like to do a little bit of everything. Family dentistry. I'm looking forward to meeting people in the community."

And the Martins? They are retiring, but they have no plans to leave.

"We had an office in Lake Oswego," Martin said. "We came to Cathlamet on our annual boat trip. We liked the area so much we bought property on Puget Island. When people found out what we did, they suggested we set up an office here. We did that in 1996 and it took. Neither one of us has ever regretted it. It was one of the best decisions we ever made."

These days, the two are excited to take time for themselves and their family. They will spend more time visiting their two daughters and three grandchildren. Doug's carpentry skills paid for college and he is looking forward to getting back into the craft and tackling some new projects. Jill, who makes jewelry, has bought a sewing machine and can't wait to play in her garden.

"I would like to thank the community for their support over the years," Martin said. "We've made a lot of great friends. "This will always be our home. We plan to stay here for the rest of our lives. We look forward to seeing people around town."

Jill echoed her husband's statement.

"It's bittersweet," she said. "We're excited about retirement, the grandkids and hobbies. But the loss of contact with patients and the friendships we've acquired over 16 years is really hard. We hope that we keep up those friendships and see people around. Including our employees. That's why we're not leaving. The community is that special to us."