Week of February 5, 2026
Week of February 5, 2026
During their weekly meeting Tuesday, Feb. 3, the Wahkiakum County Commissioners began their new business by unanimously approving Resolution 22-26. The resolution represents a funding agreement with the Town of Cathlamet to “assist the Town in operating and maintaining the Julia Butler Hansen Swimming Pool in 2026.” According to the meeting’s packet, the contract “is reduced from historical funding levels, providing up to $25,000 in matching funding for operational costs for the swimming pool.” The commissioners then approved...
During its first meeting of 2026, the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments (CWCOG) moved to approve the recommendations "as presented for the 2026 calendar year" for the 2026 Board Officer and Committee Elections. The recommendations for the Executive Committee are as follows: Mike Karnofski (City of Kelso) as chair; Troy Stariha (Port of Kalama) as vice chair; Paul Helenberg (City of Castle Rock) as Past Chair; and Steve Ferrell (Cowlitz County), Lee tischer (Wahkiakum County), Patti Bowen (Longview School District), and Bob Wile (Port...
Today is Thursday, Feb. 5, the 36th day of 2026. There are 329 days left in the year. Today in history: On Feb. 5, 2020, the Senate voted to acquit President Donald Trump in his first impeachment trial. Most senators expressed unease with Trump’s pressure campaign on Ukraine that prompted the impeachment, but just one Republican, Mitt Romney of Utah, broke party ranks and voted to convict. In 2021, the Senate acquitted Trump in a second trial for allegedly inciting the violent Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol. Also on this date: In 1917, the...
Washington took a major stride Wednesday toward slashing the state’s legal limit for driving drunk. A divided state Senate voted 26-23 to approve legislation to reduce the maximum allowable blood alcohol concentration for drivers from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent. If it makes it through the House and into law, Washington would join Utah with the toughest standard in the nation on July 1. Utah moved to a 0.05 percent blood alcohol concentration limit in 2018. Wednesday’s passage of Senate Bill 5067 culminates several years of effort by...
I recently interviewed Rosburg resident Judy Johnson for our 49th installment of Reader's Fave, a casual interview with someone who shares their favorite book. Opening our conversation, Judy said, "Books crafted my life and I recommend them to others. My mom read all the time. She'd read all kinds of things, whether to herself or to us. She also made sure we appreciated opera by having us listen to it every Saturday afternoon on the radio. We listened for several hours. I just grew up that...
On Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at the Cowlitz Valley VFW Post 1045 in Longview, Veterans of Foreign Wars District 16 presented certificates and cash awards to winners of the 2025-2026 Youth Essay (grades three through five), Patriots Pen (grades six through eight), and Voice of Democracy (grades nine through 12) essay contests. District 16 Commander Gary Archer, District 16 Auxiliary President Doreen Dale, and District 16 Junior Vice President Tom Huffman made the presentations. District 16 is...
The Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington (AAADSW) supports older adults, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers across Clark, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, Skamania, and Klickitat counties. Through advocacy, planning, and service coordination, AAADSW works to promote independence, dignity, and quality of life for the region’s aging and disability communities. The group is currently inviting passionate community members to apply for open seats on its Advisory Council. The council is a citizen-led body that plays a vital...
The Washington Legislature is again considering empowering local governments to tax short-term housing rentals, much to the irritation of homeowners who rent out their properties on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. House Bill 2559 would allow cities and counties, starting in April 2027, to impose a tax up to four percent on short-term rentals to raise money for affordable housing. Uses of the revenue include building new housing, maintaining existing units and providing rental assistance. If the bill moves forward, the fight over the proposal...
Last Friday, conservation groups were granted intervention in a lawsuit filed by the timber industry against the Washington Department of Natural Resources, Washington Department of Ecology, and the Forest Practices Board. The lawsuit seeks to remove protections for forests along headwater streams that provide cool, clean water to downstream habitats supporting salmon, salamanders, and communities. Conservation groups will join state agencies in defending these science-based protections and Washington’s commitment to a healthy environment....
Welcome to February, good people. As I write, it is Groundhog Day and, according to the smartly dressed folks in Punxsutawney, Penn., we're due for six more weeks of winter. That will take us into mid-March; but, considering I've mowed my grass twice already, we'll just have to see what the weatherman comes up with, eh? Seeing as how I have few monumental words of wisdom this week, let's do an extended Outdoor Speed Round, shall we? Johnson's One Stop in Naselle "I finally figured out who you...
Federal energy regulators last Thursday greenlit a roughly $2 billion renewable energy megaproject on a Yakama Nation sacred site overlooking the Columbia River in Klickitat County. The 40-year federal license requires the project to break ground within two years, although it still faces legal challenges, said Erik Steimle, who is leading the project for Rye Development. The new license is the final legal approval needed to move the project into construction, Steimle said. The site is used for ceremonies as well as treaty-reserved fishing and...
Tsuga Gallery announces "Artists of the Month" for February: Julius A. Wendt's 5th grade class. For the past five years, Jamie Brown's 5th grade class has put together calendars comprised of the artwork from these talented young people. This year, the subject is pollinators. The students had to select a Washington wildflower, do research on their selected flower, and paint or draw it. All of the artwork for the calendar was produced by the entire class. The students learn about the importance...
Hello, readers. You may have noticed my column hasn’t appeared as frequently in the paper recently. As my life has shifted, so has the time I’m able to devote to regularly covering the West End. I remain committed to The Eagle, especially during the transition to its new ownership. That being said, I don’t want coverage of the West End to fade; it matters. We are surrounded by talented people—authors, creative writers, historians, and storytellers of all kinds—who have voices worth sharing. I would love to see Westside Stories...
The Lower Columbia River Watershed Council (LCRWC), in partnership with the Friends of Fox Creek and the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, invites community members to get outside and lend a hand at a Fox Creek planting event on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 1 to 3 p.m. Meet at the C Street Trailhead (East C Street, next to Riverside Community Church) in Rainier. Volunteers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to join in this fun and meaningful community effort to care for our local watershed. This event offers a hands-on way to make a...
The following is a list of calls for service to the Rainier Police Department for the City of Rainier for the fourth quarter from Wednesday, Oct. 1 to Wednesday, Dec. 31. Each number in parentheses represents the amount of calls made for that respective incident. Abandoned vehicle (23), abuse/neglect (1), alarm (24), animal complaint (2), assault (2), assist agency - other (13), assist person/public (132), behavioral health (2), burglary (1), camping (3), civil (8), community contact (4), criminal mischief (1), detail (3), DHS referral (10),...
Rainier City Council met on Monday, Feb. 2, for its monthly meeting. Mayor Cole opened with a statement of support for the people of Iran and issued a formal proclamation declaring Feb. 2 through Feb. 8 as Seattle Seahawk Week in honor of the team playing in the Super Bowl. He encouraged all residents to wear Seahawks colors. The representative of the Rainier City Library board was in attendance. There are open positions on the board, and they unanimously voted in their last meeting to appoint Sarah Borders. The city council passed a motion...
Washington lawmakers are considering three bills to strengthen regulation of kratom, a psychoactive supplement sold at convenience stores and smoke shops. One bill would impose a steep tax on the product. Another would ban the sale of a synthetic substance sometimes found in kratom. The third proposes a smaller tax combined with a version of the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, a regulatory framework passed in other states. All three measures would set new kratom labeling requirements. Kratom...
To The Eagle, I remember walking down the street in my small town and seeing a large group of people gathered in front of our courthouse, holding signs that read “No King.” These signs were a clear expression of their dissatisfaction with how President Trump was running the country, reflecting concerns about leadership and a desire for more democratic governance. While the crowd seemed to be socializing more than actively protesting, their presence and the messages on their signs spoke volumes about the political climate at the time. As I...
To The Eagle, Democrat Warren Magnuson represented Washington State in the US House of representatives from 1937 to 1944 and in the US Senate from 1944 to 1981. Democrat Henry Jackson represented Washington State in the US House of representatives from 1941 to 1953 and in the US Senate from 1953 to 1983. I was born in 1945 so these respected statesmen represented me for nearly half my life. How would these men react to the leadership of the Democrat Party of Washington State and Washington DC today? Paul Vik,...
The Clatskanie girls varsity basketball team had yet another win/loss split last week, beating Portland Christian 56-41 on Wednesday, Jan. 28, and falling to Vernonia 50-46 in overtime on Saturday, Jan. 31. Last Wednesday, the Tigers jumped out to a commanding 34-22 lead by halftime. Clatskanie and Portland Christian were pretty evenly matched in the third quarter, but the Tigers' lead proved insurmountable, resulting in the 56-41 final score. Close-range shots proved to be the backbreaker for...
Last week opened as one to forget but closed as one to remember for the Clatskanie varsity boys basketball team. Last Wednesday, the Tigers were blown out 78-32 by the Portland Christian Royals. Committing 30 turnovers and being outscored 28-2 in transition points over the whole game, Clatskanie went into halftime down 50-19. Clatskanie was outscored by Portland Christian another 15 points in the third quarter, and a stalemate fourth had the final deficit at 46. Junior Gunner Engen led the team...
Congratulations to the Rainier girls basketball team for being mentioned on the OSAA (Oregon School Activities Association) official page as the 3A team of the month. Coached by Shanda Wagner, the team ranks 16th out of all 3A teams. They are 11-2 on the season and have crushed many harsh competitors, including 69-17 over Corbett and 46-16 over Gladstone. If you’re interested in seeing this amazing team, they have a home game on Friday, Feb. 6, at 6 p.m. inside the Rainier High School gym. Another opportunity to come watch the team is on...
The Rainier wrestling team shined bright this month at the Braided 64 Tournament and the Oregon Wrestling Classic competition. Several clips from their outstanding League-Dual results and efforts have been shared on their Facebook page. “I really like doing wrestling because it teaches discipline,” said wrestler Ivan Vosika. “I just really like playing the sport.” Kiya Roe, another wrestler who has done amazing work throughout her career with the team, said, “My parents really pushed me to go into wrestling, and I don’t regret it....
The varsity basketball district championships are around the corner for the Comets and Mules. Both schools will look to finish the regular season strong as they prepare to mount a postseason charge. Though results from some of the games were not available at the time of press, the body of work for Naselle and Wahkiakum to this point should give a pretty good indication of where they'll stack up when the district championships tip off next week. Diving into recent results may help indicate what...
The Washington state Senate declared Monday what many Mariners fans have been thinking this offseason: Cal Raleigh deserved to be named the American League’s Most Valuable Player. The Mariners’ switch-hitter finished a close second in voting after a historic season that saw him blast 60 home runs, the most ever by a catcher. And he broke Mickey Mantle’s record for dingers by a switch-hitter in a single season. But that wasn’t enough to dethrone New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, who also had a historically great season at the...
January 26 8:56 a.m. A driver on SR 4 found cigarettes and a cellphone near Graggs. The owner of the items called and later claimed them, confirming the cellphone's PIN. 9:06 a.m. A Cathlamet resident was transported by ambulance to the hospital due to breathing difficulties. 11:51 a.m. A welfare check was requested by the friend of a Cathlamet resident who had not been heard from in several days. Deputies made contact with the resident, who was doing well and had just spoken with the friend. January 27, 3:52 p.m. Deputies issued a trespass...
