Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
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On Feb. 26, Wahkiakum County Health and Human Services hosted a grand opening ceremony at Johnson Park Community Center, unveiling the West End Healthcare Kiosk. County Commissioner Mark Latham cut the blue ribbon to officially mark the occasion. Attendees were given a demonstration on how the kiosk works, along with free promotional items and cake to celebrate the launch. Sponsorship from CHOICE Regional Health Network provided $2,500 worth of products to stock the machine. The kiosks dispense...
The West End Food Pantry's Valentine's Day fundraising dinner was an enormous success. With minimal promotion, organizers Diane Hollenbeck and Shonda Ware were pleasantly surprised when 96 people filled Rosburg Hall for an evening centered around good food and a good cause. Guests enjoyed a hearty meal of tender prime rib, tasty green beans, twice-baked potatoes, a full salad bar, and strawberry shortcake topped with whipped cream. Tables were dressed in red and white tablecloths and set with...
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. That said, I don’t want to see that coverage fade. It matters. The West End of Wahkiakum County is filled with community gatherings, school events, quiet acts of kindness, and the everyday moments that don’t make headlines but define who we are. It’s a place rich in history and shaped by hardworking people whose stories deserve to be told and remembered. Our community...
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 become a collabo...
If you've driven down Loop Road in Grays River recently you may have noticed something missing at the intersection with Covered Bridge Road. Last week, members of the Grays River Grange discovered the Covered Bridge sign had been damaged and was barely standing, supported by a single rotted post. Working with county commissioners, members of the Grange removed the sign and took it to the Grays River Grange. Due to the extent of the damage, it cannot be reinstalled and will instead be displayed...
Happy New Year! With all the busyness of the holidays, I don’t have much to write about this week. Still, I want to thank everyone who contributed to my column over the past year. Coming up with topics to write about every week can be tough, and input from all of you helps keep me motivated. I look forward to sharing more about fun community events, historical stories, and interesting human-interest topics in the year ahead. I do my best to stay updated on upcoming events through Facebook, but hearing about events and story ideas directly w...
Answering an invitation from founder Carlton Appelo and serving on the original board of directors, Anita Raistakka has been a dedicated volunteer at the Appelo Archives Center since 2010. One of her earliest projects was organizing the Finnish library, a fitting role for someone who proudly claims to be 94 percent Finnish. Although she doesn't speak Finnish fluently, Anita grew up hearing it at home, especially when her dad was upset. That's where she picked up most of what she knows today. "I...
Westside Stories By Lisa Yeager This past Sunday was filled with Christmas events throughout the West End and Naselle, and while it was impossible to be everywhere at once, the holiday spirit was hard to miss. I spent the afternoon manning a table at the Christmas Bazaar at Naselle School, but by all accounts, the concert at Deep River Church was packed. Festive music filled the church, with performances by Carl Wirkkala, along with Wren Hendriks and Erik Friend of Skamokawa Swamp Opera. A...
The weather forecast definitely wasn’t exaggerated this week. It poured heavily, straight through Sunday and into Monday and, by late Monday night, the Grays River had had enough. It jumped its banks and spread across the valley, swallowing fields, creeping into barns, and shutting down roads all over the West End. SR4 went under in Grays River and Seal River, and parts of Naselle weren’t any better. The Grays River Grange Christmas party was canceled, and Naselle Schools called off school for the day on Tuesday. Mark and I slogged out int...
On Sunday, Dec. 14, the Finnish American Folk Festival is packing the day with Christmas events, and the organizers are eager to share it all with the community. Tour of Homes – 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. The Annual Tour of Homes features four decorated homes in Naselle and Rosburg. This long-running tradition gives residents a chance to show off their holiday décor. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in advance at Hair Villa and FinnWare, or at any home on the tour. Questions can be directed to Haleigh See at TourofHomes@nasellefinnfest.com. Ch...
Members of the Cathlamet Woman's Club gathered on Nov. 19 during senior lunch at Rosburg Hall to announce their 2025 Citizen of the Year. Woman's Club President Pearl Blackburn had the privilege of presenting the honor to Westend resident Mark Letham. Mark was recognized for his years of community service and for his volunteer spirit. His commitment to Wahkiakum County Fire District 3 is notable. For fourteen years, he has responded during some of the most challenging moments families face, answ...
+We’re deep into fall now, and the rainy season has settled in for good. Recently, we were gifted a small orchard-in-the-making with two lemon trees, two kumquat trees, and an olive tree, and we’ve been scrambling to protect them before the first frost hits. Since they came from the comfort of a greenhouse, we needed to get them under cover. Last weekend turned into a full-on construction project by our shop. Using pallets, PVC pipe, and a healthy dose of redneck ingenuity, we cobbled together a temporary winter shelter. The plan is to dra...
In honor of Veterans Day, members of American Legion Post 111 were up at the crack of dawn Saturday morning, whipping up pancake batter, cooking eggs to order, and brewing buckets of coffee for the crowd. Rosburg Hall was filled with community members enjoying breakfast served by local youth who kept our cups full and the tables cleared with cheerful efficiency. I had the pleasure of sitting across from Sheriff John Mason and his wife, Jodie, and congratulated him on retaining his position for...
When the unexpected happens - such as a winter storm knocking out power, floodwaters blocking rural roads, or a wildfire getting too close - there's one person whose phone never stops ringing: Wahkiakum County's Emergency Management Coordinator Austin Smith. It's a title that sounds bureaucratic, but the job is far from it. Smith's responsibilities include planning, prevention, response, and recovery from disasters that could overwhelm the county's typical resources. In a small county like...
Last Saturday's Rosburg Hall Holiday Bazaar was a big win for the Rosburg Community Club. The hall was alive with conversation, the scent of baked goods, and the unmistakable energy of friends and neighbors gathering. Vendors lined the room, their tables overflowing with handmade quilts, pottery, jewelry, knives, and an impressive array of baked goods. Everything from cinnamon rolls and cookies to delicious loaves of sourdough bread was on display. Many familiar faces from the West Wahkiakum...
This past week was both informative and educational, as I attended the Candidate Forum at the Grays River Grange and the Town Hall meeting at Johnson Park. Hearing directly from local candidates, not just their speeches and prepared statements, but also how they interacted with residents, offered a valuable perspective. Whether the questions were constructive or confrontational, it was refreshing to see candidates respond face to face. Local elections often see low voter turnout, but these...
The Fall Barter Night at the Grays River Grange was another successful evening full of good food, good company, and that warm, practical hospitality our community does so well. Folks who didn't bring anything still came to look, chat, and see what their neighbors had hauled in. Those who did bring items were generous with them. Trades often started as conversations and ended with someone walking away with something they actually needed. One of the evening's highlights was the squash walk....
This past Saturday, the historic Grays River Covered Bridge once again transformed from a quiet landmark into the centerpiece of one of Wahkiakum County's most beloved traditions, the 18th Annual 4-H Covered Bridge Dinner. Long tables stretched the length of the bridge, set with eclectic tableware and jars of homemade pickled beets and cucumbers. The air carried the scent of smoked salmon, slow-cooked brisket, and the faint mustiness of the bridge's old timbers. A string of lights draped along o...
Today, my son can send a video of my grandson in Colorado climbing a playground slide and, within seconds, my whole family has seen it. A few taps on my phone keep me connected to people across the country or even across the world. It's so easy that I sometimes forget how remarkable it is. Not that long ago, things were very different. Even as part of Generation X, I grew up when long-distance phone calls were expensive, and letter writing was still the primary way to stay in touch. Go back...
Over the past couple of months, I’ve found myself looking forward to Fridays in a way I haven’t before. Writing about the vendors at the West Wahkiakum Farmers Market has been such a joy. I’ve not only gotten to know the people behind the booths, but I’ve also been able to share their stories with all of you. Judging by the responses I’ve received, many of you have enjoyed it too. Someone has told me more than once, “I’ve known that person for years but I never knew that about them.” That’s precisely why I love this kind of writing. We pass...
On Thursday, Oct. 2, the Cathlamet Public Library will launch the first-ever Westend–Cathlamet Library Delivery & Pick-up service. The process is straightforward: place a book, DVD, or Cultural Pass on hold using the library website, then pick up the requested materials on Thursdays from 2-3 p.m. at the Raistakka Fire Hall Station in Rosburg. Returns can be made at the same time and location. Please note that you may also call, email, or make in-person requests; however, the website is recommend...
When Wallie Garvey invited me to his home for an interview, I was glad he had warned me to bring a four-wheel drive vehicle. His house sits far from the main road and getting there is not for the faint of heart. Several miles down Altoona-Pillar Rock Road on a sunny afternoon I reached the steep, rocky climb that snakes up through the trees toward his property. I'm no stranger to tricky roads, so I shifted our Dodge Ram into four-wheel drive and forged ahead. It's not a road I'd want to tackle...
When Lyle Haataja sits down at his scroll saw, patience is just as important as precision. What began years ago as a curiosity, after a friend gave him a magazine full of scroll saw patterns, has grown into a craft that blends artistry, humor, and a touch of stubborn determination. Initially, it was just a hobby, but Lyle enjoyed the challenge of guiding the fine blade through delicate patterns. Over time, as his skill improved, so did his reputation. He started selling his pieces at local bazaa...
One of the things I enjoy most about writing my column each week is getting to know incredible people. This past week, I sat down with a few members of the Zimmerman family to learn about their journey to the farmer's market. Bekalyn, the mom, shared, "We read in The Eagle that there was going to be a farmers market the following Friday, and vendors were invited to participate. It was the perfect fit for us. It's low-key; you can move around as much or as little as you want. You can bring what...
If you’ve lived in the Grays River Valley for any length of time, you have probably met Mark Latham in some capacity. He serves as the chair commissioner for Wahkiakum County Fire District 3 and is seeking re-election in November. In his capacity as a volunteer firefighter, he consistently responds to calls that come in over the radio. Just this past Friday, while overseeing his honey table at the West Wahkiakum Farmers Market, a call came in. He didn’t hesitate to rush out the door to att...
