Sorted by date Results 1551 - 1575 of 2280
Cathlamet 3rd Street paving project may not take place this year as planned. The project calls for widening the street and installing sidewalks roughly from the Elochoman Slough Marina to the SR 4 intersection, about two blocks in length. Cathlamet town council members thought they would be voting to authorize a call for bids on the project when they met January 25 to hold a meeting postponed from January 17 because of bad weather. Town officials learned in January that the project hadn't taken into consideration the old clay-pipe sewer line th...
The Wahkiakum Lady Mule basketball team won one game and lost another in tight Central League basketball this past week. The Mules turned on the defensive pressure in the second half and overcame a four-point deficit to defeat the Winlock Cardinals 50-46 last Saturday in a game postponed from earlier in the week because of snow. Winlock led 34-30 at halftime and 40-38 after three quarters. The Mules used a full-court press to slow the Cardinal offense, outscoring the visitors 20-12 in the second half. Brieanna Olsen led the Mule scoring with 16...
Wahkiakum County government should expect to see about $1 million per year for the next three years in revenue off state managed county trust timber land. The revenue from the timber sales is a major part of the revenue for the county's Current Expense Fund, which funds most courthouse offices. Steve Ogden, regional manager for the state Department of Natural Resources, reported to the board of county commissioners on Tuesday that the agency has plans to offer timber sales that should generate that level of revenue. The county received $1.3...
Wahkiakum County commissioners learned Tuesday that proceeds from a Puget Island farm seized from a marijuana grower are carefully governed. The county acquired the six acre property on East Birnie Slough Road last fall after its owner became the focus of investigations in Clark County, where he was convicted of growing marijuana. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on the property and found that buildings had been used to grow marijuana. Commissioners had heard several proposals for use of the property, including as a site for...
Wahkiakum County commissioners decided Tuesday to search of an interim director for the county's Department of Health and Human Services. Former Director Judy Bright resigned effective the beginning of January, and commissioners have been seeking advice on how to fill the position. On Tuesday, they spent an hour discussing the situation with Marie Flake, a regional official with the state Department of Health. Flake described the variety of health departments across the state and talked about the fiscal and political issues facing heath...
The Washington state legislature is poised to pass a law recognizing marriages of same gender couples. Governor Chris Gregoire got the ball rolling before the state of the current legislative session when she said she would sponsor the legislation. She said she had considered the issue and concluded it would be the right thing to do. Here are her comments, as reported by The Associated Press. “It’s time, it’s the right thing to do, and I will introduce a bill to do it,” Gregoire said. “I say that as a wife, a mother, a student of the law, and...
Commissioners of Port District No. 2 reviewed their contract for legal services and discussed other business when they met for their monthly meeting on Tuesday. Attorney Tim Hanigan requested the commission consider updating their contract for legal services. Neither his office nor port staff can find a copy of the original contract, which goes back to the port's formation in the 1960s. Commissioner Kayrene Gilbertsen suggested the commission could issue a request for proposals and see if other attorneys are interested in working with the...
Wahkiakum County officials are continuing to develop their process for filling the vacant position of director of the Department of Health and Human Services. Commissioners and other officials met last week with heads of health and human services of Cowlitz, Clark and Skamania counties to get their input. Next week, they'll meet with representatives of the state Department of Health. On Tuesday, the board passed Commissioner Lisa Marsyla's motion to make the position of county Public Health Nurse a full time position. Marsyla stated that the...
Wahkiakum County officials are looking for a way to get around a major road construction project at the end of East Valley Road this summer. Storms in early 2009 led to a significant settling of the road, and a long stretch has been limited to one-lane traffic since then. The county road crew periodically has to smooth out areas where it settles, said Public Works Director Pete Ringen. The easiest way to accomplish the settlement project would be to close the road and allow the contractor to dig out the soft material and place a hard base....
By a 2-1 vote, Wahkiakum County commissioners approved payment of a $7,720 bill for a contractor's assistance to the county assessor's office. The payment went to Hagen and Son, LLC, for services dating back to July, 2011. Assessor Bill Coons used the firm to provide assistance in getting valuations done by deadline. Commissioners paid the bill unhappily. They and Coons had gone back and forth last year over funding for extra help, and when the commission refused to give Coons the funding he wanted, he said he would engage a contractor....
The Wahkiakum Lady Mules basketball had a rough week, losing two Central League games. On Tuesday, the Mules traveled to Pe Ell and lost 63-35. The Trojans jumped to a 21-4 first quarter lead, and the Mules couldn't get back in the game. Baylee Olsen led the Mule scoring with 11 points. Haylee Budd and Brieanna Olsen each scored eight, and Blaine Land and Maya Stanley each had four. Budd had nine rebounds, Brieanna Olsen six, Sam Boyce five, Stanley four and Land and Baylee Olsen three each. Brieanna Olsen made four assists, and Land, back in...
Wahkiakum County commissioners voted Tuesday to hold a public hearing on the sale of a Puget Island farm property seized from a Vancouver man convicted of drug charges. The board also held a broad discussion with citizens urging commissioners to cut other county services before cutting the sheriff's department any more. Officers seized the property on East Birnie Slough Road earlier this year. The owner was charged with manufacturing marijuana in Clark County; he pled guilty to diverting electricity around a meter in Wahkiakum County. The...
Wahkiakum County commissioners adopted an ordinance Tuesday that will lower the speed limit on the Elochoman Valley Road from SR 4 to Family Camp Road later this year. Valley resident Mike Mouliot had asked the board last year to consider the move. He said population growth had increased the number of driveways and drivers in the lower portion of the valley, and safety was becoming an issue. Commissioners asked Public Works Director Pete Ringen to prepare an engineering and traffic inspection of the road. Ringen presented the report in...
A Vancouver woman has filed a $200,000 claim against Wahkiakum County for the slaying of her son by a Cowlitz County man. The victim, 26-year-old Jeremy McLean, had been shot four times in the head. He was found in the Columbia River at Willow Grove near Longview on December 31, 2008. McLean had been a confidential informant working for the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Narcotics Task Force (NTF). His testimony helped send William Reagan to jail on trafficking charges in 2008. While on pre-trial release, Reagan got an aquaintance to lure McLean to a...
Wahkiakum County Commissioners handled a variety of business Tuesday in their first meeting of 2012. Public Works Director Pete Ringen reported that a landslide is threatening Loop Road. A portion of the slope between the road and the Grays River slid away on Friday downstream of the Covered Bridge. Ringen said the County Road Department would install barriers to close the road down to one lane while he works on a solution to the problem. "There are many components to consider," he said. The river is eroding the toe of the hill, and the top of...
Wahkiakum County Commissioners heard some good advice Tuesday about replacing retired Health and Human Services Department Administrator Judy Bright, who announced her resignation in December for health reasons. Commissioners heard from the administrators of health and human services departments in Skamania, Clark and Cowlitz counties from Dr. Alan Melnick, health officer for Clark and Wahkiakum counties, and Wahkiakum's deputy directors weighed in also. Commissioner Lisa Marsyla invited the officials to offer input and insights, saying that th...
In a special meeting last Friday, the Cathlamet Town Council formally accepted a contractor's bid for constructing a new waste water treatment plant. The new plant will replace the sewage lagoons at the mouth of Birnie Creek with a new facility across SR 4 from Thomas Middle School. Construction should begin this winter. In other business, council members agreed to seek re-negotiation of a contract with Wahkiakum PUD for supplying water for the Puget Island Water System, and they adopted a resolution to update emergency medical services...
The end of 2011 brought a lot of transitions to the ranks of Wahkiakum County's public employees and volunteers. Three county employees retired after decades of public service--Kathy Durrah, a clerk in the auditor's office, Danny Eaton, a skipper of the ferry Wahkiakum, and Eddie Blaine, a member of the road crew on the Westend. It's time for a break--I hope they enjoy it. Some of the people leaving their jobs leave big shoes to fill, and I hope we'll continue to see them involved in public service. David Goodroe has left the Cathlamet Town...
The Naselle Comettes claimed the girls' KM Trophy with a 63-32 win over the Wahkiakum Mules last Thursday. The Comettes roared to an 18-5 first quarter lead and never let the Mules into the game. Carly Kitzman led the scoring, scoring 36 points for the Comettes. Makenzie Matthews added 10, Katie Green six, Victoria Corona and Ciara Sandell four each, and Briannan Olson two. Sam Boyce led the Mule scoring with 11 points. Baylee Olsen added eight, Haylee Budd seven, and Brianne Helms and Marissa Washington three each. The Mules, playing without...
Wahkiakum County Commissioners last Wednesday closed the upper end of the Elochoman Valley Road temporarily because of danger from a rockslide at Milepost 10.3. At this point, the County Road Department will install safety barriers, and then the road may re-open. Engineers will observe the slide and develop a long term solution to the problem. "We will be monitoring the slide, particularly after intense rainfall," Public Works Director Pete Ringen said Friday. "Unless we see a dramatic change, we will add features at this location in the next...
Wahkiakum County's department of Health and Human Services is looking for a new director. Current Director Judy Bright informed the county board of commissioners last week that she is resigning effective the end of this month. "Due to ill health, I am resigning my position of Wahkiakum County Director of Health and Human Services effective January 1, 2012," she wrote in her letter of resignation. "I want to thank each of you for this amazing opportunity to work for Wahkiakum County and wish you the very best." On Tuesday, county commissioners...
Wahkiakum County Commissioners on Wednesday closed the upper end of the Elochoman Valley Road temporarily because of danger from a rockslide at Milepost 10.3. At this point, the County Road Department will install safety barriers, and then the road may re-open. Engineers observe the slide and develop a long term solution to the problem. "We will be monitoring the slide, particularly after intense rainfall," Public Works Director Pete Ringen said Friday. "Unless we see a dramatic change, we will add features at this location in the next couple...
The Wahkiakum Lady Mule basketball team had ups and downs in action this past week. On Tuesday, the Mules beat the visiting Mossyrock Vikings 62-34. The Mules led 25-21 at halftime. Their press crushed the Vikings in the third quarter, with the Mules outscoring the visitors 24-7 in the period and moving to a 49-28 lead going into the final quarter. Brieanna Olsen led the scoring with 21 points. Sam Boyce added 14, Haylee Budd nine, Baylee Olsen eight, Maya Stanley six, and Brianne Helms and Marissa Washington three each. Boyce also had 10...
Law enforcement officers from two counties praised the work of the Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Drug Task Force when they met with the Wahkiakum County Board of Commissioners Tuesday. Wahkiakum commissioners haven't funded the county's membership fee in the organization for a couple of years, and Wahkiakum Sheriff Jon Dearmore and the other officers suggested the commissioners should fund the membership fee and negotiate to catch up with the county's $150,000 unpaid fees. Speaking on the issue were Cowlitz Sheriff Mark Nelson, Kelso Police Chief Andy Hami...
The Wahkiakum County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting Wednesday, 2 p.m., to consider the possible closure of the upper Elochoman Valley Road. A landslide blocked the road near Milepost 10.3 last Friday, and the County Road Department had to clean rock and debris to reopen the road. On Tuesday, Public Works Director Pete Ringensaid he was concerned about the stability of the slope above the road, which consisted of fractured basalt. Ringen has asked a geo-technical engineer to check the slope and give an evaluation so that he can...