Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Sorted by date Results 1101 - 1125 of 2280
The Wahkiakum High School football stadium grandstands may not be open to the public this year, district Superintendent Bob Garrett announced Tuesday. School staff have discovered dry rot in the structure, and the grandstand will be closed until repairs are made, Garrett said. District Maintenance Supervisor Mike Wright discovered the dry rot when he started to repair some fascia boards, Garrett said. Wright investigated and found extensive dry rot. He asked a local contractor to have a look, and after the contractor had checked the structure,...
A failing culvert has led Wahkiakum County officials to implement an emergency closure of one lane of Elochoman Valley Road. The single lane closure went into effect yesterday (Wednesday). The culvert carries Clear Creek under the road at approximately Milepost 6.53. Public Works Director Pete Ringen reported this week that the galvanized steel pipe is starting to buckle under the northbound lane. "I'm deeply concerned," Ringen told the board of county commissioners Tuesday. "It is heavily corroded and has buckled. It could collapse. It's...
Commissioners of Port District 2 discussed issues with County Line Park patrons when they met Tuesday. Commissioners also authorized Manager Janet Bryan to find a contractor to remove the district's navigation buoys from Grays Bay. Five patrons of County Line Park attended the port commission meeting in the port's Skamokawa Vista Park office to object to port plans to install a gate and close the park at night. One man said he is on call for his job and can be called out in the night. Another commented that a locked gate could prevent patrons...
Wahkiakum County will have a new ferry next year, but local officials are starting to wonder if it will be able to go into service. County Public Works Director Pete Ringen said Tuesday that the US Army Corps of Engineers is delaying action on permits needed to modify the Puget Island landing to accommodate the new ferry. The new ferry will have a deeper draft than the current vessel, the Wahkiakum, and some dredging is needed to provide adequate depth. The new ferry will also be larger than the Wahkiakum, and Ringen said mooring piling need...
Members of the Cathlamet Town Council addressed a variety of business when they met last Monday. The council approved a $6,071.10 change order for the new waste water treatment plant that is nearly complete. Consulting engineer Ken Alexander said $5,439 of that amount was required by federal auditors. They noted that the contract award was made more than 90 days after bid opening, and federal law requires that the most current federal wage rates be used at the time of the award. The rates had changed the day the contract was awarded, and no...
Prosecuting Attorney Dan Bigelow stopped in our office Monday morning to ask that we print something prominent that stated he is a candidate for office. In last week's edition, we accidentally omitted the name off a letter to the editor from Heidi Heywood, who stated that although she had received enough votes in the primary election to qualify as write-in candidate, she wouldn't be a candidate for the office. Bigelow told us that since the print edition appeared, several people had asked him why he wasn’t running. He wants everyone to know t...
Two said no, one said yes, and one said one way or another when asked this week if they would be write in candidates for county offices this fall. Four Wahkiakum County incumbent office holders entered the August 5 primary election with no apparent opposition and emerged with write-in opponents. Saying yes: Westend resident Sam Valdez said he would enter the race for county assessor. Incumbent Bill Coons has filed for re-election. Saying no: Deputy Sheriff Mike Balch said Tuesday he wouldn't campaign for sheriff against incumbent Mark Howie....
Wahkiakum County and the US Fish and Wildlife Service will work together to address erosion issues threatening Peterson Road in Middle Valley. Skamokawa Creek is meandering in the area and is undermining the road near the Peterson Road Bridge. County Engineer Pete Ringen has designed a project to protect the road, and in seeking possible funding parnters, submitted applications to funding programs of the Fish and Wildlife Service and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Fish and Wildlife Service responded positively, and Ringen began...
Four Wahkiakum County incumbent office holders entered Tuesday's primary election with no apparent opposition and emerged with write-in opponents. Under Washington election law, a person receiving 1 percent of the vote in a primary election is eligible to appear on the general election ballot as a candidate. Primary vote tallies were: County assessor--Bill Coons, incumbent, 757; Sam Valdez 43; Valdez qualified for the general election. County Commissioner, District 3--Blair Brady, incumbent, 207; Eugene Strong, 8; Strong qualified for the...
Wahkiakum County commissioners handled a variety of items of business when they met Tuesday. Commissioners authorized a closure of Columbia Street at its intersection with SR 4, across from Boege Road, so that Bonneville Power Administration can do some maintenance work August 18 and 19. Boyd Long, Bonneville's project manager, said the utility needs to replace a bad pole, and the affected high voltage electrical lines are too close to the road for safety and convenience. Sue Cameron, director of county Health and Human Services, reported that...
A group of longboarders and volunteers took over open space at the Elochoman Slough Marina Tuesday to begin building ramps and jumps for this weekend's Cathlamet Downhill Corral Longboard Festival. See supplement in this week's Eagle for information about the festival. Photo by Rick Nelson....
People gathered last weekend in Naselle for the biennial Finnish American Folk Festival. The festival's theme was "Nasel Heritage Days," and during opening ceremonies Saturday, Anna Ehrlund, left, read stories by early Finnish immigrants and their experiences. Winning the traditional wife carry race were Peter Hakim and Sheriann Wirkkala Hakim of Salem; placing second were Adam Vogt and Abbey Noon from Skamokawa, and third were Audrey Petterson Emlen and Andrew Emlen, Skamokawa. Sharon VanHeuit...
The 6th Annual Cathlamet Downhill Corral Longboard Festival will get underway next week in Cathlamet. The festival will have events for four days and bring over 1,000 people to Cathlamet to watch the competition. Streets where events are occurring will be closed during competition, and there will be no parking along the course routes. Course monitors will be on duty to assist residents who need to use streets. Events include: Thursday, August 7: Brand exhibition, 5-7 p.m., Spring Street. Friday, August 8: Run to the River Slalom: 10 a.m. to...
With an ordinance being drafted to govern marijuana growing businesses, Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday voted 2-1 to end their moratorium prohibiting those businesses. Commissioner Blair Brady, who chaired a committee that developed the draft, said the ordinance was developed with input from law enforcement, the prosecuting attorney, citizens, and growers themselves. State laws governing growing operations are very detailed, but the committee identified "major local areas of concern" and determined steps "required to address them to...
Wahkiakum County commissioners decided Tuesday they wouldn't proceed with drafting an ordinance to regulate public nudity. Last week, a Westend couple requested the ordinance, saying a nudist had moved into the area and was offending people traveling along the county road by appearing nude outside his home. The problem is no longer a problem, Westend Commissioner Blair Brady told his colleagues Tuesday. People had explained the situation to the man, and the man had volunteered that he would wear shorts while working outside his house. "That's...
The 6th Annual Cathlamet Downhill Corral Longboard Festival will get underway next week in Cathlamet. The festival will have events for four days and bring over 1,000 people to Cathlamet to watch the competition. Streets where events are occurring will be closed during competition, and there will be no parking along the course routes. Course monitors will be on duty to assist residents who need to use streets. Events include: Thursday, August 7: Brand exhibition, 5-7 p.m., Spring Street. Friday, August 8: Run to the River Slalom: 10 a.m. to...
People gathered last weekend in Naselle for the biennial Finnish American Folk Festival. The festival's theme was "Nasel Heritage Days," and during opening ceremonies Saturday, Anna Ehrlund, left, read stories by early Finnish immigrants and their experiences. Winning the traditional wife carry race were, right, Peter Hakim and Sheriann Wirkkala Hakim of Salem; placing second were, middle, Adam Vogt and Abbey Noon from Skamokawa, and third, left, Audrey Petterson Emlen and Andrew Emlen,...
Wahkiakum County commissioners decided Tuesday they wouldn't proceed with drafting an ordinance to regulate public nudity. Last week, a Westend couple requested the ordinance, saying a nudist had moved into the area and was offending people traveling along the county road by appearing nude outside his home. The problem is no longer a problem, Westend Commissioner Blair Brady told his colleagues Tuesday. People had explained the situation to the man, and the man had volunteered that he would wear shorts while working outside his house. "That's...
With an ordinance being drafted to govern marijuana growing businesses, Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday voted 2-1 to end their moratorium prohibiting those businesses. Commissioner Blair Brady, who chaired a committee that developed the draft, said the ordinance was developed with input from law enforcement, the prosecuting attorney, citizens, and growers themselves. State laws governing growing operations are very detailed, but the committee identified "major local areas of concern" and determined steps "required to address them to...
Two Grays River Valley residents on Tuesday asked the Wahkiakum County Board of Commissioners to draft an ordinance governing public nudity in the county. Christine and Robert Symonds said a new resident of the Valley is a nudist, and travelers often see him outside his residence or even along the county road. Robert Symonds said he had talked to the man when he first moved into the area and was told the man intended to build a fence to screen his property. However, the fence has not yet been built. "You're not the only ones on your road who...
Two Grays River Valley residents on Tuesday asked the Wahkiakum County Board of Commissioners to draft an ordinance governing public nudity in the county. Christine and Robert Symonds said a new resident of the Valley is a nudist, and travelers often see him outside his residence or even along the county road. Robert Symonds said he had talked to the man when he first moved into the area and was told the man intended to build a fence to screen his property. However, the fence has not yet been built. "You're not the only ones on your road who...
The Cathlamet Town Council gave approval for use of town streets for the Cathlamet Downhill Corral Longboard Festival and gave continued approval for use of the town dock to more net pens for raising juvenile salmon when it met Monday. JP Rowan, coordinator of the three-day festival was present to answer questions and go over last minute concerns. He, Council Member Andy Lea and town attorney Heidi Heywood have been working on arrangements and the conditional use permit for the event. Heywood said all that remained was slight wording changes in...
We have some changes in store for readers of The Wahkiakum County Eagle. This will have little effect for readers of our print edition, but for readers who follow us online, we have good and bad new. First the good news: The new website will have more content. It will be easier to navigate. It will have formats for PC's, tablets, pads and phones. We'll be uploading stories and photos more often than we do now. The bad news is that at some point, and even though I hate to do it, we'll put up a paywall and begin charging fees to access that...
Commissioners of Port District No. 2 thought they were ready to vote on an updated comprehensive park and recreation plan on Tuesday, but last minute details tabled the issue till next month. Commissioners Lori Scott, Kayrene Gilbertsen and Brian O'Connor heard criticism of the plan, and they agreed with some of it, but were ready to approve the plan with the understanding they could amend when they desired. Then Grays River resident Karen Bertroch asked if the board had the most up-to-date version of the plan in front of them. Commissioners...
Wahkiakum County and the US Fish and Wildlife Service have agreed to work together to improve the southern end of Steamboat Slough Road. Jackie Ferrier, manager of the Willapa Wildlife Refuge Complex, proposed that the county support the federal agency in a grant application for funds to upgrade the road. The grant funds are directed toward projects that improve access to parks and public lands, she said. "Steamboat Slough Road is in bad shape," said Wahkiakum County Public Works Director Pete Ringen. The grant, if the application is...
