Week of June 12, 2025
Week of June 12, 2025
At the conclusion of the Monday, June 2 session of Town Council, council members moved to approve and then signed an operating agreement with PUD (Public Utilities District) at the end of a rather contentious meeting that had begun over four and a half hours prior. Council’s motion to approve cited changes to paragraph 1.1 of the operating agreement, which, according to the meeting packet, reads, “This agreement is effective June 2, 2025 (“Effective Date”) through June 1, 2026 (“Term”). The PUD’s operation of the Town System...
I recently interviewed Carol Ervest for our 18th installment of Reader's Fave, a casual interview with someone who shares their favorite book. Carol lives in Deep River and is known throughout our county for her volunteer work and support in various endeavors. Carol shared the book "Deep River" by author Karl Marlantes, a historical saga about immigrants who leave Finland in the 1900s to get away from Russian authorities and come to the Pacific Northwest. When asked why she was drawn to this...
Today is Thursday, June 12, the 163rd day of 2025. There are 202 days left in the year. In 2016, a gunman opened fire at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, leaving 49 people dead and 53 wounded. Today in history: In 1939, the Baseball Hall of Fame was dedicated in Cooperstown, New York. In 1942, Anne Frank, a German-born Jewish girl living in Amsterdam, received a diary for her 13th birthday, less than a month before she and her family went into hiding from the Nazis. In 1963, civil rights leader Medgar Evers, 37, was shot and killed...
The Wahkiakum County Commissioners convened on Tuesday, June 10, for their regular meeting, where they approved a proclamation declaring June 21 as “Wahkiakum Ferry Day” in honor of the upcoming 100-year celebration of the Wahkiakum Ferry. Public Works Director Chuck Beyer presented the commissioners with a Certificate of Good Practice from the County Road Administration Board (CRAB). This certificate affirms that the County has met all legal standards and ensures the ongoing distribution of Wahkiakum County’s state gas tax allotments....
Hello from your Sheriff! The Johnson Park Sheriff's Field Office has been open on Thursdays for a few weeks now with positive reception from our community. I have received many tips regarding traffic safety concerns and suspicious activity, which I have forwarded to the Deputies for increased patrols. Emergency Management Coordinator Austin Smith has also been able to answer questions regarding emergency response and preparedness during his time at the field office. I have enjoyed seeing all...
We are very proud to have Ester Slovikova as our April Student of the Month. Ester is an exchange student from Slovakia. When she returns home she will have two more years of school before she graduates as they have 14 years of school in Slovakia. Ester is 17, and speaks four languages. She enjoys sports, skiing, and cheer. After high school she hopes to go into biology, medicine & biochemistry focusing on research. Pam Hongel is her exchange student...
Saturday, June 14 is Flag Day, a day set aside to honor this vibrant symbol of our nation's history, ideals and the sacrifices made to protect them. For veterans and for the men and women of the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), Flag Day is not merely a holiday; it is a deeply personal and enduring reminder of our commitment, our losses and the true meaning of America. The story of Flag Day begins with a resolution passed by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777, declaring that "the flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and...
SUPER NICE. As last week ended and this one began, it was super nice outside and plenty warm. I’m not a heat lover, but for those who are, it looks like you’ll enjoy several days of sunny weather. By the time you read this, the hottest days should be behind us, and that won’t hurt my feelings any. The heat meant watering those plants a little extra this week, so I hope you didn’t forget, as it’s frustrating to buy a bunch of new plants or have a bunch of garden starts come up, only to have them all dry up, and you have to start...
Wahkiakum County Fire District 3 serves the West End of the county, operating stations in Grays River on N. Hull Creek Road, Rosburg on Raistakka Road, and a small station on Salmon Creek Road. Their coverage area extends from KM Hill in the east to the Pacific County line in the west, including the portions of Salmon Creek that fall within Wahkiakum County. The department consists of approximately 25 volunteers, with eight to ten of them regularly responding to calls and attending training...
Has it really been a week? Time goes fast, it's said, when one's having fun; and, if by "fun," that means trenching the yard, construction projects, mowing, more mowing, and having to have Julie's black Ford trailered back to the Elochoman from Bunker Hill due to a mechanical malfunction, well then I've been full up with 'fun.' Thank you, Randy Coleman for the lift and the assistance. Porcupines in June? I know. Anyone having anything to do with trees, i.e. loggers, tree farmers, and the like,...
I have participated in disaster planning events and the role of gardens in an emergency. Clatskanie and Wahkiakum County have had a lot of practice between the 1996 and 2007 floods, the 2008 Christmas eve snowstorm, and various serious wind events. The earthquake is yet to come but could be very damaging. An active gardening community can’t be expected to provide food for all but can be a significant resource for the kinds of foods such as vegetables and fruit that won’t be shipped into an area in the initial recovery process. The...
Poison hemlock is a weed class B native to Europe, Asia and Northern Africa. This weed is toxic to humans and livestock. Other common names for this weed are carrot-fern, fool’s parsley, and spotted hemlock. The entire plant is toxic to animals and humans, containing the poisonous alkaloid coniine and other alkaloids. Poison hemlock can quickly infest large areas of pasture as well as open waste places. Poison hemlock is a very tall biennial plant that can grow up to 12 feet in height. It grows into a rosette the first year; a cluster of...
Russ and Jennifer Crawford are the owners of Crawford Berries 'n Cream, a crowd favorite in Columbia County. Both are Rainier natives and Jennifer grew up on a dairy farm two miles from where they currently live. The two picked berries for Russ's parents and Russ milked cows for Jennifer's parents. This history led to the naming of Berries 'n Cream, a blend of the two. Russ's parents originally operated the berry farm as a cannery and retired in 1989 with the Crawfords taking over operations...
The Columbia River PUD and American Red Cross are holding their next county-based blood donation drive later this month at the CRPUD office. Columbia River PUD’s Community and Public Relations Specialist Kyle Boggs said, “Columbia River PUD has hosted blood drives for many years, and it’s something we like to do to give people the opportunity to come out and donate to a good cause. Over the last two to three years we have upped the frequency of them and now do them quarterly so people have a place they can reliably donate on a regular...
Going into the 2025/26 school year, Rainier will be implementing a four-day school week. This will be Monday through Thursday, and students will no longer attend school on Fridays. Over a third of the schools in Oregon - and many across the U.S. - have started implementing this schedule in recent years, in order to cut costs on transporting students and operating the building for an extra day each week, as well as to help with attendance for students who need more time at home or out of the classroom. Policies still require a certain amount...
The Rainier Oregon History Museum (ROHM) hosted a meeting of the Cowlitz County Historical Museum's (CCHM) First Thursday program on Thursday, June 5. The First Thursday series features speakers on various local historical topics. ROHM moved from their previous location in City Hall to their new building on A St. in May, and board members and volunteers are still unpacking and arranging displays ahead of their grand opening to the public this summer. CCHM Museum Director Joe Govednik welcomed...
Across different schools in Columbia County and Oregon, there is a rising number of students reporting feelings of anxiety and disconnection with their school. A large number of students don't feel safe or valued in school, citing recent issues like the ongoing St. Helens student abuse cases and the local sextortion case. Although the case happened over a decade ago, it still affects our local community. When incidents like this happen, they impact the mental stability of both students and staff. In recent reports made in various Oregon...
The Clatskanie Community Choir will be holding its spring concert on Thursday, June 12. This is the choir's sixth season together, and they will be showcasing some of their favorite songs from the past three years. Join us at 6:30 p.m. for some finger foods and to mingle with the singers. The show starts at 7 p.m. This concert will be held at "The Meeting Place" at 290 S Nehalem in...
Long time Wahkiakum resident Sharlene A. West, 71, born in Breckenridge, Minn., went to be with the Lord on May 31, 2025, surrounded by her loved ones at her home in Cathlamet. She is survived by her husband, Alan West; her daughter, Angela Velke (John); her son, Jason West; her grandsons, Andrew West, Preston West, Israel Velke, Brock West and Leo Velke; her great grandson, Noah West; her sisters, Sandra Laycock (Bill) and Beverly Gruenberg (Duane); her brothers, Lee Tischer (Diane) and Brent...
Libraries are at the beating heart of our culture, what there is of it. Especially in these times of book banning and institution wrecking, our libraries and librarians stand between all of us—whatever political persuasion—and barbarism. Many years ago, my late wife Thea spearheaded election initiatives to create a library district in Wahkiakum County so we could join Timberland Regional Library. Both successive attempts—first for the whole county, then just for the West End—went down, the latter by three votes. I hate to say it, but...
To The Eagle, Saturday, June 14, we celebrate Flag Day and Julia Butler Hansen’s 118th birthday, the Cathlamet Woman’s Club “most distinguished member.” Julia was a third generation Cathlamet resident. She was the first woman to serve on Cathlamet City Council and was a Washington State Legislator. She was also the first woman to head the Washington State Highways Commission. In 1951, Julia was the first female member of the Eleven Western Inter States Highway Commission. In 1956, she became one of the most authoritative highway...
As the world continues to evolve, so do the people in it. Even in a small, tight-knit community like ours, change is not just inevitable, it’s already happening. For generations, many families here have followed familiar traditions and ways of life. But now, new residents are arriving, bringing with them fresh perspectives, diverse cultures, and new ideas. This is a pivotal moment, an opportunity to embrace positive change and come together to shape a stronger, healthier future for our town. By respecting our laws, policies, and one...
To The Eagle, The current merger put forth by the PUD as such as it is was put together by a small group over a couple of weeks until they got the vote what they wanted. Now I understand when you have two major parties the citizens have a right to their say openly. The first merger was in 1947 between three parties: Cathlamet waterworks, the residents of Puget Island, and the PUD. The Cathlamet waterworks was to supply good water to the entirety of the big and small islands of Puget Island, with the PUD’s sole responsibility was to collect...
The Clatskanie High School varsity baseball won 19 games in the regular season, including a record of 14-1 in league play. Unfortunately for the Tigers, there would not be a 20th victory, as visiting Portland Christian ousted Clatskanie from the playoffs with an 8-3 victory on Wednesday, May 28. Jumping out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, Portland Christian would add another five runs in the second off of starting pitcher Luke Andreasen and reliever Zach Mollenhour - both juniors - to take a commanding 6-0 lead heading into the...
June 2 7:56 a.m. A caller at Greenwood Cemetery reported that someone was removing flowers from graves without permission and disposing of them. The caller stated that this had been an ongoing issue and requested that it be documented. 1:08 p.m. A caller on Columbia Street reported that a vehicle was driving erratically and performing lane changes. 6 p.m. A concerned caller on SR4 reported an individual was on the side of the road flagging drivers down and appeared to be yelling “help.” The caller said the person was walking towards the...
