Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Sorted by date Results 1226 - 1250 of 2699
I hope everyone had a wonderful, fun and family filled Christmas. Now on to a new chapter of life in 2015. It even looks like we will have some sunshine to end 2014. There are a couple of upcoming events that I would like to report. On Sunday, January 18, the Johnson Park Advisory Board is hosting our annual 3 C’s Chowdown in the Grays River Valley Center from 1-5 p.m. You will have your choice of homemade chili, clam chowder and chicken noodle soup. Your generous donations for this meal will be used to fund ongoing operation costs for the c...
Here we are, patiently waiting for the big night when the jolly old fellow in red makes his rounds. I trust that the readers have all been nice throughout the year and that you will be rewarded. Rudolph is still waiting, with his nose blinking, on my front lawn. It’s probably a good thing too, as Santa might lose his bearing with all the rain and wind we have had. On a more serious note, we must never forget the true meaning of Christmas and the love and compassion it should bring out in all of us. Reach out and give of yourself in this j...
Wahkiakum County commissioners this year may turn the county fairgrounds over to Port District No. 2 which operates nearby Skamokawa Vista Park. County Commissioner Dan Cothren visited the Port 2 board of commissioners Tuesday to begin discussion of the idea. "We've heard a rumor that the port district would like to take over operation of the fairgrounds," Cothren said. "That could be a win-win for both of us." Port commissioners confirmed they were interested in the idea. "The facilities, okay," said port commission Chair Brian O'Connor, "but...
For the second time in two weeks, Wahkiakum County commissioners denied a request to the addition of a Christmas manger scene to the holiday display on the courthouse lawn. Commissioners also approved a bid to revamp the Puget Island ferry landing to accommodate a larger ferry whose construction is nearing completion; they approved a financial appropriation for the Grays River Valley Library, and they signed a letter to Governor Jay Inslee urging more support of the local commercial fishing industry. Commissioners start their meeting by...
by Rick Nelson I came to work full-time at The Eagle as a reporter in February, 1979. At some point I joined the Cathlamet Commercial Club, an organization of merchants, local elected officials and community minded citizens who wanted to promote fun and prosperity in Cathlamet. At one point in the early 1980's, we decided to hold a Christmas lighting festival and sought permission to use the courthouse lawn, the closest thing to a town square that we have around here. The festival included lighting a large tree and decorating the lawn. A...
Little notes: I've been in this business now for 40 years and have learned a few things. One is that it is tempting but ill advised for local elected officials, during their meetings, to toss "story requests" to members of the press. The reporters are there for purposes other than creating an announcement for the elected officials. For best results, officials should contact the news desk during regular business hours. I was on the receiving end of two such requests in meetings I covered Monday and Tuesday. I'll do the best I can with them. 1....
Members of the Cathlamet Town Council had a quick and easy meeting Monday. Three of four different presenters in the new business section of the agenda were unable to come to the meeting. Councilmembers discussed the pending move of town offices from the Scarborough Building on Main Street to a building on the town's old sewer lagoon property. The Cathlamet Fire Department has used the building for storage, and it will need some remodeling, including addition of a restroom, to accommodate the town offices. Councilmember David Goodroe suggested...
News from Naselle: Even though students will be out of school from December 22nd for the Christmas holiday, returning on January 5th, there will be some sports events during that time. On Monday, the 22nd-JV boys and girls basketball at Valley at 4 p.m., Varsity girls basketball at 5:45 p.m. and Varsity boys basketball at 7 p.m., also at that location. Go Comets! While you're in Naselle, check out some of the holiday coffee drinks and goodies at Mochas & More. Laura is running a few specials...
There won't be a religious manger scene this year on the Wahkiakum County courthouse lawn. The Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce has, for years, decorated the lawn and plantings with holiday lights and figures, including a Santa Claus. On Tuesday, five men asked the board of commissioners for permission to add a religious manger scene to the decorations. "All we're asking is to put up a small scene out there which wouldn't interfere with anything else out there," said Len Lindsey. "We just feel we have a right to put this out there, and we would...
Wahkiakum County commissioners will lobby this winter for better representation of the commercial industry among high level state officials. Gillnetter Kent Martin of Skamokawa presented Tuesday an economic analysis of the industry's value to the county and suggested how it would fade under current fishery management practices, which, he said, increasingly put recreational fishers' interests over those of commercial fishers. "It's an attempt to castrate the economy of the county and turn it into a service industry," he said, adding that coastal...
News from Naselle: Sports calendar for the coming week for the Naselle Comet teams: Friday, the 12th- boys basketball with Valley in Naselle at 4:30 p.m. followed by girls basketball at 5:45; Monday, the 15th-middle school girls basketball with North Beach in Naselle at a 5:45 p.m.; Tuesday, the 16th-boys basketball with Three Rivers in Naselle at 5:45 p.m. followed by girls basketball; Wednesday, the 17th-boys basketball at South Bend at 5:45 p.m. Go Comets! The Naselle-Grays River Valley School Board meets on Tuesday, the 16th at 6:30 p.m....
Wahkiakum County commissioners approved budgets for 2015, approved road and ferry improvement programs and acted on other business when they met Tuesday. The board had met on Monday for the statutory public hearing on the proposed budgets, and the only real discussion concerned salaries in the public works department. Public Works Director Pete Ringen plans to retire, and the board has planned to fill the position in-house with a staff member who won't have his engineering license until 2017. He would become public works director, and until he...
News from Naselle: Sports calendar for the coming week for the Naselle Comet teams: Friday and Saturday, Warrenton Tourney (Friday start time is 6 p.m and Saturday is 11 a.m.), Monday, middle school girls basketball with Raymond in Naselle at 5:45 p.m., Wednesday, boys basketball with South Bend at 5:45 p.m. and middle school girls basketball at Ocosta at 5:45 p.m. Go Comets! Westend new: Today (Thursday) is the big day for the opening of the West End Food Pantry. Located in the Grays River Valley Center (the north end of the building), the...
Members of the Cathlamet Town Council on Monday reconvened their recessed November 17 session to act on a resolution raising property taxes. The council voted 4-0 (Council Member Wally Wright was absent) to raise the tax rate 1 percent, the maximum allowed by law without a vote by the public. The increase will be $725.98 for a total levy of $73,324.13. The proposed 2015 budget totals $3.4 million. Among the funds totalling over $100,000 are the Water Operations and Maintenance fund, $784,700;...
Wahkiakum County commissioners will hold their annual public hearing on their 2015 budgets next Monday, 10 a.m. in the commission's meeting room. Commissioners went into the budget preparation process thinking they were looking at a revenue shortfall for the Current Expense Fund, which covers most courthouse services, and the preliminary budget shows $900,000 deficit that the board will have to clean up during the week. Estimated Current Expense revenues are $4.5 million, while expenditures are $5.4 million. Overall the treasurer's predicted...
News from Naselle: Students will return to classes on Monday following the Thanksgiving holiday. Sports calendar for the Naselle Comet teams this week: Monday, boys basketball with Montesano in Naselle at 5:45 p.m.; Tuesday, boys and girls basketball at Three Rivers at 5:30 p.m.; Wednesday, middle school girls basketball at South Bend at 5:45 p.m. Go Comets! The annual Deep River Christmas Concert and Tour of Homes, sponsored by the Finnish American Folk Festival Committee, will be held on December 7 at 1:30 p.m. at the Deep River Historical Lu...
Wahkiakum County's lawsuit with the state Department of Ecology over the application of biosolids is attracting attention across the state and nation. National groups are weighing in on the biosolids issues, and counties and municipalities across the state are watching the case to see how it applies to the regulation of marijuana cultivation, processing and sales. In 2011, Wahkiakum County adopted an ordinance banning the application of Class B biosolids, septage or sewage sludge to any land within the county. The ordinance allows application o...
The Cathlamet Town Council gave initial approval to the town's 2015 budget when it met Monday. After going into executive session, the council also authorized Mayor Dale Jacobson to seek legal counsel regarding potential litigation against Skillings Connolly, the firm that has been designing the street light improvement project, and the council approved a $23,197.70 payment to the lighting contractor for recent work. The budget has little change from current levels, officials said Monday. The committee that drafted the budget focused on...
Wahkiakum County commissioners discussed their comprehensive plan and other issues in a 25-minute meeting Tuesday. Lily Kolditz, a member of the commission's Real Property Rights Advisory Committee, said that board has been examining the work done a few years ago to begin updating the county comprehensive land use plan. They discussed that update with the county planning commission at a recent meeting, and they feel the draft needs to be changed to keep the plan from tying the county to onerous land use controls. Kolditz suggested the board see...
News from Naselle: Sports calendar for the Naselle Comet teams this week: Thursday, middle school girl’s basketball with Ocosta in Naselle at 5:45 p.m.; Monday, middle school girl’s basketball at North Beach at 5:45 p.m., Tuesday, middle school girl’s basketball with Valley in Naselle at 5:45 p.m. Go Comets!! Wednesday will be an early dismissal day with students excused at 12:30 p.m. for the Thanksgiving holiday. School will resume on December 1st. ESA Alpha Theta will be holding a food drive to benefit the local Naselle food bank today (Thurs...
Commissioners of Port District No. 2 on Tuesday approved expansion of electrical connections, removal of some trees, and purchase of small computers for commissioners. Commissioners authorized Manager Janet Bryan to call for bids on extending RV electrical connections to camping sites along Skamokawa Vista Park beach. "I think we are in agreement that this would be a plus for the park," said Commissioner Kayrene Gilbertsen. Commissioners also authorized Bryan to look for a contractor on the port's small works roster of pre-qualified...
Individuals and families looking for health insurance this fall have 15 insurers and 230 health plans to choose from starting Saturday, Nov. 15. According to a news release from the Washington State Office Insurance Commissioner's Office, the average approved rate change was 1.5 percent. Originally, the insurers requested an average 8.3 percent increase, but it was lowered after a review by the commissioner's office. “The number of choices consumers have this year is evidence that Washington state’s individual market is thriving under hea...
The Washington Court of Appeals on November 4 ruled against the Wahkiakum County ordinance banning the application of biosolids. In 2011, Wahkiakum County adopted an ordinance banning the application of Class B biosolids, septage or sewage sludge to any land within the county. The ordinance allows application of Class A biosolids, which have a higher standard of treatment than Class B biosolids or septage. According to a Department of Ecology news release, the decision, that state law cannot be overridden by a local ordinance, was upheld by...
Wahkiakum County election officials tallied late arriving general election ballots last Thursday, and results remained unchanged from the county on November 4. The count did solidify passage of the Wahkiakum School District special levy, which needed only a simple majority vote to pass. The levy will raise $125,000 for four years for purchase of computers and other equipment of classroom use and school building security. The count also solidifed re-election for four county officials who faced challenges from candidates who qualified by drawing...
News from Naselle: Naselle sports calendar for the week includes Thursday (today), middle school girl's basketball with South Bend in Naselle at 5:45 p.m.; Tuesday, middle school girl's basketball at Raymond at 5:45 p.m.; Thursday,middle school girl's basketball with Ocosta in Naselle at 5:45 p.m. Congratulations to the Naselle Comette volleyball team for qualifying for the state tournament. The Naselle School Board will hold their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The Naselle Cong...
