Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
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Wahkiakum Superior Court Judge Donald J. Richter on Friday ruled that charges to recall Cathlamet's mayor and three council members were legally insufficient to proceed toward election. Cathlamet resident Bill Wainwright had filed the charges alleging misfeasance and malfeasance and violation of oath of office against Mayor Dale Jacobson and Council Members Sue Cameron, Jean Burnham and Ryan Smith. The charges alleged that all four participated in the purchase of a vacant lot contaminated with gasoline at an exorbitant price that benefitted a...
• Small businesses sales would be taxed Jan. 17, 2019--People representing small business owners and low income workers had plenty to say at a public hearing Jan. 16 on Gov. Jay Inslee’s proposal to impose a state capital gains tax. Thirty-three individuals testified before the Senate Ways & Means Committee. Those in favor of the tax noted that Washington’s current state tax system unfairly and disproportionately strains the budgets of low-income wage earners. Others were concerned that taxing proceeds from selling off a small business to fu...
(OLYMPIA) Jan. 18, 2019--Former California Governor Jerry Brown was in Olympia late Jan. 17 to support Governor Jay Inslee’s climate change proposals. Just hours earlier, the state Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee held a hearing on one of the largest bills in Inslee’s climate package. If Senate Bill 5115 is passed, Washington State would transition to a completely renewable energy economy by 2045. California passed a similar bill last year. “Virtually everything that we have p...
(OLYMPIA) Jan. 16, 2019--Washington may become the first state to designate an official state clam, according to a law co-sponsored by Rep. Brian Blake, D-Aberdeen and Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen. The bipartisan partnership of HB 1061 was scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee on State Government and Tribal Relations on Jan. 16. “I think it is common knowledge that the razor clam is the most important clam in the state,” said Blake at the hearing. The bill finds that the Pacific razor clam, otherwise known as Siliqua patula, is...
• Wide rural and tribal support (OLYMPIA) Jan. 16, 2019--The creation of a Statewide Broadband Office and an initial investment of $25 million into getting broadband into “every nook and cranny” was announced by Governor Jay Inslee on Jan. 16. “We know the reality on the ground is that there are just too many places that do not have access,” said Inslee. “So, we know that fundamentally the digital divide should not and will not be able to divide those haves and have nots when it comes to digital and broadband access.” Inslee’s proposal target...
By Emma Scher WNPA Olympia News Bureau OLYMPIA— In his State of the State address Jan. 15, Governor Jay Inslee emphasized his program requests but was criticized by Republicans for fueling partisanship. House minority leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, said he believes the governor “dissipated” feelings of unification after Monday’s speech by Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, at the House swearing-in ceremony. Inslee’s stance on gun control drew a clear line on the floor between Democrats, who gave a standing ovation, and Republicans, who remained...
(Olympia) Jan. 16, 2019--Gov. Jay Inslee introduced an executive order last year establishing the Southern Resident Orca Task Force, directing state agencies to develop a long-term plan for recovering the species. After months of deliberation and input from the public, the task force developed 36 recommendations aimed at increasing the local population from 74 to 84 orcas over the next decade. Also included in the proposal is $1.1 billion to fund orca and Chinook conservation in the state budgets. Resident orcas are one of three main types of...
Vote by mail could become postage-free in Washington state • Could increase voter participation (OLYMPIA) Jan. 17, 2019--A proposed law requested by Gov. Jay Inslee would provide prepaid postage for all election ballots in the state of Washington. Since 2011, all elections in the state have been conducted by mail, leaving voters responsible for paying return postage. Senate Bill 5063, co-sponsored by Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-White Center, and Sen. Bob Hasegawa, D-Beacon Hill, would eliminate that cost. Inslee and Secretary of State Kim Wyman c...
(Olympia) Jan. 17, 2019-- Healthcare professionals may gain protection from retaliation for reporting medical care violations even if they don’t work for the facility they’re reporting. Currently, confidentiality and retaliatory protections only extend to health care professionals that are employed by the health care facility. According to House Bill 1049’s prime sponsor Rep. Nicole Macri, D-Seattle, the nature of health care has changed from a bevy of small practices to more large health care providers. The bill is intended for health care...
(OLYMPIA) Jan. 18, 2019--Three representatives from the Democratic caucus are sponsoring a bill to work towards reducing food waste by consumers and grocery stores in Washington state. House Bill 1114 suggests a plan to fight hunger and reduce environmental impacts of wasting food. The bill was co-sponsored by Reps. Beth Doglio, Vandana Slatter and Jake Fey and discussed at a public hearing on Jan. 17. Rep. Doglio, D-Thurston, aims to combine the two issues of rising sea levels and food insecurity in an effort to become a more environmentally s...
(OLYMPIA) Jan. 17, 2019-- “Bring Back Our $30 Car Tabs,” an initiative that would limit annual motor-vehicle registration fees to $30 except for voter-approved charges, was sent to the Legislature for consideration by the Secretary of State. Initiative 976 received enough signatures to potentially make it to the November 2019 ballot. The initiative can take three different pathways by either being approved as is by Legislators, by Legislators passing on the initiative and it being voted on by the public, or by Legislators passing an alternative...
January is school board appreciation month, and the Wahkiakum School District Board of Directors were feted with banners, dinner, and some special art created by Wahkiakum students at their meeting on Tuesday. Superintendent Brent Freeman talked about a few issues, most notably about coming transportation costs and an exciting new opportunity that might come with a partnership with the WSU Extension Office. "We've got an aging fleet," Freeman said of the district's buses and smaller use...
Superintendents at Wahkiakum School District and Naselle/Grays River Valley School District were asked to respond to how the Washington State legislature’s new system to fund schools and cap local levies at $1.50 per $1,000 will affect their budgets. Wahkiakum School District: “There is an equity issue in the way the state implemented the McCleary decision,” WSD Superintendent Brent Freeman said this week. “Wahkiakum School District is one of many small school districts that are negativ...
The effort to recall Cathlamet's mayor and three council members took two steps forward this week. In a special meeting last Thursday, the council voted to pay initial legal expenses for the four respondents to the recall petition. On Tuesday, the petitioners and respondents appeared before Superior Court Judge Donald J. Richter for a hearing for a ruling on whether or not the charges for recall are specific enough to meet legal test and whether or not the ballot synopsis proposed by Wahkiakum County Prosecuting Attorney was acceptable. The...
Wahkiakum County commissioners sailed through a light agenda Tuesday, taking action on some items of business and planning action for future meetings. Commissioners approved a three-year renewal of a contract for computer network maintenance with More Power Technology Group. Commissioners have held off on the renewal for several weeks and held two workshops with More Power principals to evaluate services and alternatives. "I think it was a productive meeting last week," said Commissioner Gene...
The Cathlamet Town Council started 2019 with a light agenda for their first meeting of the year. Council members voted unanimously to give employes a 3 percent cost of living adjustment. Interim Clerk/Treasurer Sylvia Costich said the increase would amount to approximately $10,613.38 without considering overtime. The raise is retroactive to Jan. 1. The council also voted to the employee portion of a new state family leave assessment. The cost will be about $853.43 per year, Costich said. The council was favorable to allowing the Public Works De...
[Editor: The first posting of this story had an incorrect byline. Sean Harding actually wrote the article.] OLYMPIA — A bill intended to enhance the safety of hikers, hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts would establish designated target shooting areas on some Department of Natural Resources-managed lands. Senate Bill 5099 was introduced Jan. 8 by Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Mason County. “Target shooting is not getting the same recognition as other forms of recreation,” Sheldon said in a telephone interview. Because of a lack of designated targe...
• Sponsor wants next step forward taken by next week • Preliminary fiscal note anticipates $650,000 (OLYMPIA) Jan. 18, 2019--A bill to transition Washington into a state that runs entirely on renewable energy will go to the Senate floor if Sen. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle gets his wish. He wants Senate Bill 5116 to start moving forward by Jan. 22. If passed, Washington state would transition to a completely renewable-energy economy, requiring each electric utility to provide 100 percent of its electricity services using non-polluting, ren...
To The Eagle: Puget Island Volunteers are participating this year in Doernbecher’s Children’s Hospital “Fill The Boot” on Saturday and Sunday January 26 and 27. Stop by and donate to a wonderful cause. Hope to see you there! Sherrill Bollen Puget Island Volunteer Firefighters...
Happy new year! Well the new year is getting started with a kick and the Sheriff's Office is abuzz with several new deputies! Two of our new recruits already lived in our county at the time of hire and all of them are excited and dedicated to protecting and serving this county with professionalism and honor, and all have a public servant's heart. Upon graduation from the academy we will be posting their photos, bios, and introducing them to the community. We are looking to fill one corrections/dispatch position and are going to have a local...
The Wahkiakum High School drama club came away with an award after participating in the second annual Stageworks Northwest Theatre 2019 High School One Act Play Festival in Longview last weekend. Shelby Bond won best overall performer for her work in Eyes of the Beholder, one of two plays written by their club advisor, Shawn Deal, and performed by Wahkiakum students on Sunday. Mossyrock High School, Skyview High School, and Washougal High School drama students also participated in the...
Last Thursday the Wahkiakum County PUD learned they had become the recipient of a $50,000 broadband feasibility grant from the Washington Department of Commerce’s Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB). "We are working on the next ‘steps,' and it would be premature to speculate on the exact process at this time," said Wahkiakum PUD Manager David Tramblie, who made a presentation to CERB. “The study will include a formal needs analysis to assess existing and future demand for high speed...
Monday through Wednesday 9 a.m. to 1p.m. Thursday 9 a.m. to 12 Friday 10:00 to 1 p.m. This week at the center we are getting excited with plans and ideas to recharge the community center. We have officially welcomed Kelly Patterson as Community Outreach Specialist and she is a lovely addition, a friendly face and ready to dig in. Tomorrow, Brown Bag social group will be gathering at 11, Book Club will be right after at 2 p.m., and movie night is at 7 p.m. Winter is not over, and we have people in our community that could use some generosity....
• High-capacity magazine legislation • 3-D printed firearms covered for 1st time • DV,and extreme risk protection By Sean Harding WNPA Olympia News Bureau, Jan. 22, 2019 OLYMPIA — More than 2,000 people signed into the Senate Law and Justice Committee on Monday for hearings on 3-D printed guns, high-capacity magazines, domestic violence, as well as proposed training requirements for legally obtaining a pistol. Outside of the Legislative Building, a silver Toyota blaring music and displaying a sign bearing words from the Second Amendme...
NICE START--It was a nice sunny day on Monday, so that was great. This followed a decent night in which we were actually able to witness the lunar eclipse, which we had really not expected to see, but were lucky enough to have just enough visibility and the parting of fog and clouds, to wind up witnessing. While other folks got to see the "blood moon" part of it, here at my house we didn't see that aspect of it, but oh well, at least it was neat to see the full moon "disappear" before our eyes! SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from...
