Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
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The Wahkiakum County Commissioners met on Tuesday, June 3, for their regular meeting. During Public Comments, Jason Will expressed his displeasure that someone had written “WAAG donation” on an envelope he left with change in it as a donation to the County Treasury. The Commissioners again stated that they would not accept the donation, as it would cost the county more money than the donation is worth. Will then angrily scribbled off the “WAAG donation” from the envelope in front of the commissioners. “I don’t want to see somebody write on th...
Opening the meeting on Tuesday, May 27, Dan Turner made a public comment to remind everyone that he will be at the car show on Saturday for anyone that would like to sign up for a library card and that the summer reading program be Thursdays at Erickson Park from 1 to 2 p.m., beginning June 26. Carrie Shofner, WSU county extension director, requested funds to help cover the cost of hiring a temporary employee to fill in while the grants and office coordinator is on leave for three weeks. The commissioners approved $1,438 for wages and $158 for...
Wahkiakum County residents living west of KM Mountain have, at times, had to travel 30 minutes or more to go into the Sheriff’s Office in Cathlamet to do any in-person filing or to speak with staff. The Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) recently reopened a field office at Johnson Park in Rosburg to, according to WCSO, “provide folks on the Westend better access to us, have face-to-face contact or, if they have any questions, comments, or even complaints that they might not call the main office line about.” The office being located...
Cathlamet resident Stefi Hallstrom owns Stoneriver Tattoo, Cathlamet's only tattoo shop, and has lived in town since 2022,. After moving here from Everett, Wash., to be with her boyfriend, Nick Sevald, Stefi was searching for community and found it at the fire station where she and Nick volunteer. "It takes a certain kind of person to be willing to fight fires, especially for no money," says Stefi, who describes that type of person as "empathetic and a little crazy." Stefi was recently voted as...
The Skamokawa Diking District invited the public to a meeting on Wednesday, May 7, at the Skamokawa Grange Hall. Restoration Coordination Manager from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Laura Brown presented attendees with a preliminary proposal for a fish habitat restoration project that involves breaching a dike and flooding 98 acres of privately owned land. In Skamokawa, a culvert collapsed inside resident Herman Migliore’s property. Though water is still moving through it, the tide gate has failed. The WDFW is p...
Grays River is a well-known waterway to Wahkiakum locals. It twists around farmland and flows through timberland in the western part of the county before meeting the Columbia River at Grays Bay. The upper Grays River watershed is surrounded by 95 percent timberland and has recently been the focus of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe's Habitat Restoration and Conservation Project efforts. The Tribe has been working to "restore complexity and biophysical connectivity" in the Grays Watershed, according to p...
For years, there have been discussions, suggestions, and conversations regarding a potential consolidation of the Town of Cathlamet’s (TOC) water system with the Wahkiakum PUD (Public Utilities District) that have been shrouded in confusion, complicated, hard-to-interpret financial reports, and rampant outpourings of misinformation. The Washington Department of Health approached the Wahkiakum PUD in August 2023 to consider consolidating the TOC and PUD water systems. A consolidation study was conducted through a DOH Consolidation Grant Fund. Gr...
When the Wahkiakum County commissioners met Tuesday, April 22, for their regular meeting, they were presented with requests to approve maintenance contracts for county properties. The landscape maintenance contract for the courthouse property with Forrest Mora Landscaping was approved for $5,405 annually. The landscaping contract for county properties with Zack’s Lawn and Property Maintenance was approved for $16,000 annually, a “good price,” according to commissioner Gene Strong. Building Inspector/Planner Dave Hicks presented the commi...
The 79 Main Boutique features handmade goods from about 20 vendors and is located at its namesake, 79 Main Street, in Cathlamet. Every item in the store was handcrafted in Wahkiakum by local residents. This collection of local crafters works together to make the store work, using a consignment-based sales approach and taking turns running the shop during the open season. The idea for the group began around 10 years ago with Made in Wahkiakum, where vendors shared equal space to sell their items...
Transportation for residents of rural areas can be considerably difficult for those living without their own reliable vehicle, those without a driver's license, or those whose health inhibits their ability to drive. Being able to get wherever and whenever necessary is a critical part of many Americans’ identities, but many still struggle to navigate public transportation or find a ride. Wahkiakum-Cowlitz Council of Governments has launched a resource for the community called Trip Assistant, a tool which shows how to use public transportation i...
The Wahkiakum PUD commissioners met on Tuesday, April 15 and approved a resolution to accept the Department of Retirement Systems Deferred Compensation Participation, an alternate compensation option that employees had requested. Director of Finance Erin Wilson requested approval to apply for Planning and Engineering funding of $300,000 for the manganese treatment of Puget Island well through the Washington State Department of Health Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The commissioners unanimously approved the request. During the meeting,...
The Wahkiakum County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, April 8, where they approved a letter to be sent to Senators Trudeau and Schoesler requesting support for fully funding the Encumbered Lands Gap Funding. The Senate’s proposed budget currently allocates only $1 million to Wahkiakum, Pacific, and Skamania Counties, leaving Wahkiakum County struggling to compensate for the funding shortfall. If the Senate approves the Encumbered Lands Gap Funding, it would provide each of the three counties with $1.8 million, enabling t...
The South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce held its annual Celebration of Excellence Awards Banquet on Saturday, March 29, at the Columbia County Fairgrounds. The event included a time for cocktails and mingling, a four-course dinner, and an awards ceremony that honored local businesses, non-profits, and citizens who have impacted the community. Along with a chance for business owners to network and dine together, the banquet also provided the opportunity to learn about some of the small businesses in South Columbia County that the people...
The Commissioners met on March 25 for their regular meeting, during which they approved the lease agreement with St. James Family Center for the Charlotte House location, which serves as a domestic violence shelter. The commissioners also voted to accept the bid from Bush Whackers LLC for roadside mowing, totaling $72,833 for 2025. During a work session with the Heritage Group Coalition to discuss plans for the Johnson House. The group intends to utilize it as a central point for their planned Heritage Campus, which will encompass the Julia...
The Wahkiakum County PUD commissioners met on Tuesday, March 18, and approved Shelby J. Garrett’s appointment as the new director of finance. Erin Wilson, the current director of finance, will retire at the end of April after 21 years with the Wahkiakum PUD. The Puget Island Well Project is running on schedule, and test results for water quality are expected to be ready by the next meeting on April 1. Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which provides power to Wahkiakum PUD and a third of the Northwest, recently announced it intends to m...
The people of Wahkiakum rely on the small businesses in the area for everyday needs unless they’d like to make the drive to Longview or Astoria. However, businesses in rural towns like Cathlamet face unique challenges compared to big cities. A recent PR Newswire article for rural businesses in “underserved populations” states that the most significant hurdles impacting startup and growth lie in three primary areas: access to labor, connectivity (internet service, updated technology), and capital. The article also states, “Rural entrepr...
The Wahkiakum County Commissioners met on Tuesday, March 18. The commissioners began the meeting approving the liquor license renewals for Skyline Golf Course and Cathlamet Mini Mart. The commissioners then voted to approve the appointment of Heath Yob to the Real Property Rights Advisory Board. Public Works Director Chuck Beyer presented the commissioners with a request to call for bids for landscape maintenance. HHS Operations Manager Duncan Cruickshank requested approval for funds for door replacements at the Elochoman Campus in building 3,...
The Wahkiakum County Commissioners met on Tuesday, March 11, for their regularly scheduled meeting. Commissioners approved The Duck Inn’s liquor license renewal and Public Works Director Chuck Beyer’s request to call for bids for landscape maintenance on county properties. Dave Hicks, Wahkiakum County’s Building Inspector, asked for approval on the Shoreline permit with Wooden LLC; this would allow the installation of conduit fiber Optic cables across the Julia Butler Hansen Bridge. Carrie Shofner, County Director at the WSU Wahkiakum Exten...
The Wahkiakum County PUD Commissioners met on Tuesday, Feb. 25, for their regularly scheduled meeting. Jamie Samms was appointed to the Johnson Park Board unanimously. The Fairgrounds Horse Arena Footing Project had a change to be made to the contract; the soil depth in the horse arena did not meet the minimum requirements. An additional $9,960 plus tax was added to the contract for the additional soil, which will be covered by the initial grant. Public Work Director Chuck Beyer presented the commissioners with quotes on rock and asphalt...
Since its opening, The Dollhouse (73 Main Street) has almost exclusively sold collectible and antique dolls on consignment; owner Sue Scott opened The Dollhouse in March of 2023 after moving to the area. Scott made a friend with someone while she was staying at the hotel Cathlamet whose mother had a vast collection of dolls. This collection inspired Scott and was the starting point for the shop, but if you were to visit the store now, you might be surprised at what else you would find. Scott’s daughter passed away very suddenly in October, l...
The Wahkiakum County PUD Commissioners met on Tuesday, Feb. 18, for their regularly scheduled meeting. The Commissioners passed a motion to change the job position title from auditor to director of finance. This new title describes the job’s duties in a more encompassing way and will better assist in acquiring a replacement for the position. The commissioners then held a workshop on the Town of Cathlamet Utilities Consolidation. Commissioner Eugene Healy drafted an opening statement that broke down the conversation surrounding the water s...
The Wahkiakum County Commissioners met on Tuesday, Feb. 11, for their regularly scheduled meeting and appointed Robert Johnson to the Johnson Park Board. Jamie Davidson and Forrest Mora were appointed to the Wahkiakum County Planning Commission, District No. 2. The time had come to reauthorize Wahkiakum County’s Associate Development Organization (ADO), which supports and coordinates community and economic development services. The Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce was appointed once again as the county’s ADO. The Commissioners approved a let...
Washington District Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez visited Wahkiakum County on January 29 to meet with PUD leaders and be updated on the progress of the Puget Island well-drilling, which went underway in December 2024. Drilling this well is among the PUD’s final steps in meeting requirements for a Washington State Department of Health-approved Water System Plan for the Puget Island Water System. Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez helped to secure funding for the project through her C...
The Wahkiakum PUD Commissioners held their regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 4 where they discussed the recently submitted PUD/Town of Cathlamet consolidation study submitted by Grant and Osborne. Commissioner Gene Healy suggested scheduling a workshop where the three commissioners could reassess both the positive and negative implications, address any misinformation that has been circling, and answer the public’s questions. “Put notes on the whiteboard, everybody participates, and we have a workshop that allows the public and anybody els...
