Articles written by Rick Nelson
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 1871
By 
Commission OK's park plan work, hears request to increase staff
As usual, Wahkiakum County commissioners covered a variety of business when they met Tuesday. Commissioners heard a request from Auditor Nicci Bergseng to add another deputy to her office. At the...
Nightly paving closures set for PI bridge
The Washington State Department of Transportation has announced late last Friday that full overnight closures of the SR 409 Puget Island bridge will take place four nights next week to accommodate paving work. The closures would run 9 p.m. to 5 a.m....
County commission deals with Johnson Hours, security measures
Wahkiakum County commissioners addressed two property issues when they met Tuesday. First, they agreed to delay a decision on the fate of the Johnson House two weeks, and next, they authorized the Public Works Department to obtain quotes for...
Bridge work should end ahead of schedule
Construction work on the Puget Island bridge should wrap up this year, according to the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT). "The contractor anticipates all work to be completed before...
With no primary, focus moves to general election
Election officials across Washington state have sent vote-by-mail ballots to registered voters for the August primary election. Unless, of course, one lives in a county such as Wahkiakum County, which has no contested races on the ballot, and...
State treasurer speaks at courthouse
Photo and story by Rick Nelson Washington State Treasurer Duane Davidson visited the Wahkiakum County Courthouse last Thursday to meet officials and citizens and comment on issues with which his...
County board, residents frustrated over sand
Wahkiakum County commissioners and residents of Cape Horn shared frustrations Tuesday over lack of information about US Army Corps of Engineer beach nourishment plans. Commissioners also received an evaluation of costs of maintaining a vacant house...
Council debates park maintenance contract, administrative assistant
Members of the Cathlamet Town Council acted on a variety of business when they met Monday, including debating park maintenance and a possible town administrator. Council Member Sue Cameron, who announced she is moving away from Cathlamet and will...
Port 2 would consider managing fairground park
Will staff of Port District No. 2 take over maintenance and operation responsibilities for Wahkiakum County's Fairgrounds Park? At their monthly meeting Tuesday, commissioners and staff of Port 2 said they are willing to consider the possibility....
Change in store for Johnson Park traffic
By Rick Nelson There is change ahead for the traffic pattern at Johnson Park. Wahkiakum County Engineer Paul Lacy on Tuesday reported that the Washington State Department of Transportation has relocated the painted stop bar that guides vehicles...
Commissioners OK Wirkkala Road work, Grays River gauge
Wahkiakum County commissioners authorized emergency repairs and a weight restriction load limit for Wirkkala Road north of Deep River when they met Tuesday. Last week, area resident Nick Nikkila reported the culvert was failing and had only a very...
Cathlamet council adopts ambitious planning process
Planning was a major concern for members of the Cathlamet town council during two meetings Monday. In a special meeting held Monday afternoon, councilors met with John Morgan to plan the process for developing a strategic plan to guide the council's...
County commission covers store, other varied issues
Wahkiakum County commissioners covered a lot of ground when they met Tuesday, discussing issues ranging from a new store to coming community activities. Puget Island resident Kristen Lee questioned the board's commitment to researching the adverse...
Junk car concerns return to board
Wahkiakum County officials may take another look at their ordinance governing junk vehicles following complaints from citizens during the past few weeks. Skamokawa resident Ursula Petralia raised the issue at Tuesday's meeting of the county board of...
County: Dollar General meets code
In a June 4 written statement, Wahkiakum County officials said proposed construction of a Dollar General Store in Rosedale meets building permit and land use requirements. Applicant Zaremba Group, LLC, is short platting a 1.19 acre lot off North...
County: Little to do about Dollar General
There's little Wahkiakum County can do or want to do to stop a corporate store from locating in Cathlamet, officials said Tuesday. The Dollar General retail chain plans to build a store on recently cleared ground near the corner of North Jacobson...
Commissioners plan for dredging, support planning grant
Wahkiakum County commissioners looked to the future during their business meeting Tuesday. First, the board reviewed the status of beach nourishment plans with Cape Horn residents. State and federal agencies have approved permits necessary to...
Port 2 increasing fees at County Line Park
Commissioners of Port District 2 on May 21 agreed to raise camping rates $2 at County Line Park effective this Saturday. Port Manager Jeff Smith proposed the increases, saying current rates of $13 for tents and $23 for recreational vehicles are...
Council schedules Friday meeting to go over, act on Butler St. park input
The Cathlamet Town Council will hold a special meeting this Friday to review public input on the proposed Butler Street park and possibly take action on next steps. Here is the agenda.: 1. Call to Order – Mayor 2. Pledge of Allegiance – Mayor 3....
WDFW officials: Salmon stocks suffer from ocean conditions
Wolves and fishes--those were the topics addressed with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) officials visited the Wahkiakum County board of commissioners Monday. The group shared points...
Recall issues haunt council
By Rick Nelson Monday's meeting of the Cathlamet Town Council had a bit of everything: Council members amended their 2019 budget, agreed to hold workshops, covered other business, and ended with a heated discussion about the effort to recall the...
Filing for political office is underway
By Rick Nelson The initial filing period for elected offices on the fall election ballots closed last Friday, with the following results: Court of Appeals, Division 2, District 3 (Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Skamania, Wahkiakum counties), Judge...
County receives final OK for beach nourishment
By Rick Nelson The US Army Corps of Engineers last week gave final approval to a 10-year permit for placement of dredged sand on eroding beaches on Puget Island and Cape Horn. As described in a county news release, the purpose of the sand placement...
Council names Olson to fill vacancy
The Cathlamet Town Council held a special meeting Monday to fill a vacant seat on the council and go over needed amendments to their 2019 budgets. After interviewing two people who applied to fill...
Commissioners, health director discuss homelessness
Wahkiakum County commissioners covered a variety of issues at their meeting Tuesday, including how to address the population of homeless persons in the county. Cape Horn resident Trish Shroyer said she had seen news reports about the controversies...
