Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
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The battle between Cathlamet Mayor David Olson and the Town's council members over the PUD consolidation continues to heat up. In a June 23 letter addressed to "all Town employees and contractors," Mayor Olson stated, "Town employees are advised that, in consultation with the Town Attorney, the Mayor has determined that the purported transfer of Town utility assets and funds by the Town Council to the Wahkiakum Public Utility District (PUD) without compensation to the Town is contrary to Washington law, specifically the Accountancy Act, RCW...
I'll be honest, but I'm sad. Not under the covers and sleep the day away sad, but almost. Why so blue? PIGYS is over for another year. No more Smash burgers and homemade bread pudding. No more S'mores cookies, popcorn, and hot dogs. PIGYS 2025 is over and, while there were fewer sales this year - not to mention the rain on Friday - I'd still call it an overall success. Fish poles, self-inflating air mattresses, spin-glos for steelhead, which, by the way, are already in a box marked "Julie's," so...
Mayor Olson Temporarily pauses transfer of Town assets until legal issues can be addressed. Mayor Olson has directed Town staff to temporarily “pause” Town processing of the pending transfer of Town utility assets to the PUD until significant underlying legal issues are fully addressed. This includes the critical issue of whether the Town can legally “hand over” an estimated $10 million in Town utility capital assets without the PUD paying for them or otherwise providing any type of reasonable compensation to the citizens of the Town. Mayor O...
Shiny geranium is a class B weed that is native to Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. This weed is not known to be toxic. It is on the Washington State quarantine list. Shiny geranium has recently established in Washington and has quickly spread to many counties. It is difficult to control as the seeds can germinate when conditions are favorable in a variety of habitats. This weed can be identified as a small, annual or biennial herbaceous plant with basal, lobed, shiny leaves and often reddish...
Effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, July 3, 2025, officials from Wahkiakum County are enacting a ban on all outdoor burning. As of Friday, July 4, 2025, all land clearing, residential and silvicultural burning is banned until further notice. This burn ban does not apply to federally managed land within Wahkiakum County. Recreational campfires are allowed if built in approved fire pits in designated campgrounds, such as those typically found in local, county, and state parks and in commercial campgrounds. On private land, campfires are permitted...
Summer theatre camp at the Pioneer Center wrapped up with “Alice in Wonderland.” Which starred local youth Daisy McEntire, Clare Doumit, Birdie Friend, Charlotte Mericle, Aiden McEntire, Dare McKnight, and Piper Steevens. The performance was directed by Joe and Delee Baker and Lorie Vanderwalker, produced by April Peterson and managed by Robin Westphalia....
On Friday, July 11, from 4-6 p.m., Tsuga Gallery (70 Main St.) will be celebrating its 14th anniversary. Founded in 2011 by the late Janet Kerstetter Cimino, Tsuga Gallery has become a cornerstone in Cathlamet. We will be having an open house with live music by Donnie Wages, finger food, beverages, door prizes, games, and more. Come by and meet the talented artists and authors that make up the membership of the gallery. All but one of the artists are from Wahkiakum County, with one being from Pacific County. Founding benefactor Janet...
Full Bloom The Library is in full bloom with beautiful flowers outside and wonderful new books inside. Thank you, volunteers. We’re now at 1,465 patrons, which means roughly 25 percent of Wahkiakum residents have a Cathlamet Public Library card! Passes Need a Discoverer Pass? We have them. Need a Columbia River Maritime Museum pass? We have them. Each pass is a family-type pass, which means many people are accommodated with just one pass. It works best to come into the library ahead of time and reserve your pass for when you need it. Stay t...
Today is Thursday, July 3, the 184th day of 2024. There are 181 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On July 3, 1863, the pivotal three-day Civil War Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania ended in a major victory for the North as Confederate troops failed to breach Union positions during an assault known as Pickett’s Charge. Also on this date: In 1775, Gen. George Washington took command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1944, during World War II, Soviet forces recaptured Minsk from the Germans. In 195...
I recently interviewed Andrew Emlen for our 20th installment of Reader's Fave, a casual interview with someone who shares their favorite book. Andrew lives in Skamokawa and is known throughout our county for his musical abilities and knowledge of wildlife as a naturalist. Andrew shared "Fidelity" by author Wendell Berry, which is a series of five stories where the author explores a fictional farm town in Kentucky, the various characters, and their interwoven relationships with one another. As...
The Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington (AAADSW) is accepting nominations for Senior Heroes in Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties. A “Senior Hero” is a person who serves older adults with excellence and compassion. This prestigious, annual award program brings together county, city, and civic leaders to honor the people in our communities who serve older adults. This is the fourth year that Senior Heroes are presenting awards specific to Cowlitz and Wahkiakum Counties. Nominations are open from July 1 through Aug. 29, 202...
WARMED UP. As this week begins, we’re definitely soaking in the sunshine after experiencing some drizzly weather at the end of last week, particularly in the morning hours around here. Of course, I heard it was dry in Cathlamet, so I guess we’re just special out here in West Valley — when no one else is getting the wet stuff, we often are. With a dry spell coming up, I’m thankful we had the moisture we did. But now, it’s haymaking time, so this dry stretch is very welcome for those trying to get crops cut, let to dry, tedded, raked into wind...
Hello from your Sheriff! A round of new scams has hit our phones, sometimes multiple times a day via text message. You may receive text messages claiming to be from WSDOT and stating that you have outstanding traffic tickets and face legal action if you do not pay. The texts contain a false WSDOT link to enter your financial information. Please do not click on any link provided as this is a confirmed scam. Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will never send official notice of outstanding tickets or request financial informatio...
On July 4, 1944, World War II was at a pivotal time in Europe, marked by the fierce Battle of Normandy and the intense fighting in the Cotentin Peninsula and around Caen. Just shy of a month after D-Day, the millionth Allied soldier landed in Normandy. Amidst this backdrop, my grandfather, Eddie Wirkkala, took a few precious moments to write a letter to his mother, sharing his thoughts and experiences. "July 1, 1944 Dear Ma, Hi! Here it is, July already. What are you going to do on the 4th?...
The County Commissioners met on Tuesday, July 1, and appointed Bruce Craven and Steven Lake to the District 1 Planning Commission. There is still a vacancy to be filled for District 3, which serves Skamokawa and the Westend. The commissioners officially approved the contract between Wahkiakum County and the Washington State Conservation Commission for the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP). The program aims to protect critical areas such as streams, habitats, and wetlands located on agricultural lands without hindering production or...
Almost 60 years after the Wauna Mill's No. 1 paper machine went on-line, Georgia-Pacific celebrated the groundbreaking of the new $150 million project to rebuild and modernize it on Wednesday, June 25. The project will rebuild the vintage 1965 paper machine into a world-class operation to make paper for Angel Soft and private label bath tissue. In the ceremony held under a tent on the mill grounds in eastern Clatsop County, Georgia-Pacific Vice President and Wauna Mill Manager Keith Seal told...
Though Clatskanie Heritage Days began last weekend, a bulk of the activities will be taking place Friday, July 4, starting with the parade. For those wanting to enter the parade, the line forms at 10 a.m. A waiver/adult responsibility form will need to be completed by each entrant the morning of the parade. Marching units and horse entries form at Clatskanie Elementary School, and motorized units are to form at Clatskanie Middle/High School and enter via the front entrance off Bel Air Drive. The parade begins at 11 a.m. and will take place alon...
The Kiwanis club of Clatskanie hosted their annual Strut Your Mutt dog show on Sunday June 29. The show included 24 contestants, as both youths and adults brought their lovable dogs to the Clatskanie City Park to share in the festivity. Dogs of all sizes and several breeds were on site for Strut Your Mutt, which has been a regular event and part of the annual Clatskanie Heritage Days celebration for many years. Community businesses from Clatskanie, Astoria, and Longview contributed prizes in...
Located on 1st Street in the heart of downtown Rainier is Mee Maw's Attic, a treasure trove for bargain hunters, vintage seekers, and all-around treasure hunters. Always bustling with visitors from Rainier and beyond, the store features new inventory every week. Jill Parker, along with husband Tom, owns Mee Maw's Attic, said she didn't set out to open her own retail store but the opportunity fell into her lap. "I was volunteering at Hope [a local non-profit] for two years and also helping the...
Tuesday, July 1 marked one year since the enactment of House Bill 4156, Oregon’s modernized stalking law, which expands the definition of “contact” to include emerging forms of harassment and threats, including the use of technology, that was not accounted for under the original law drafted in 1995. Definition and common motivations By definition, stalking is legally defined by the United States Department of Justice as “a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety or the...
Warmer weather is finally here, and we couldn’t be happier to feel that glorious sunshine on our skin. However, if there’s one thing that loves summer even more than we do, it’s mosquitoes. These tiny intruders have a way of crashing every backyard BBQ, camping trip, and evening patio hangout. The good news is you don’t have to resort to toxic, chemical-laden bug sprays to keep them away. With just a few natural ingredients, you can blend up your own DIY mosquito repellent spray that’s gentle on your skin. First, you’ll need to get your suppli...
Sue Marshall has been selected as the Tsuga Gallery Artist of the Month for July. Sue is a semi-abstract, mixed-media artist who started painting approximately five years ago. She uses acrylic paint and acrylic inks, both on canvas and paper, to explore emotion, feelings, and real-life experiences. Although she does dabble in realism, Sue feels her creative calling lies in the unusual, even wonky, abstract world. Her focus is bold colors, mark-making, and thinking "outside the box." Most of...
Last week, the Naselle-Grays River Valley High School Robotics team competed in Atlanta at the National SkillsUSA competition in the Robotics and Automation Technology event. During the competition, the two-member team of Andy Rojas-Meliton and Logan Wirkkala-Scheller had eight hours to design, construct, wire, and program a robot work cell with controlling PLC to move objects, test them with sensors and a camera for flaws, and place them into the correct bins. After the event, the judges said...
An estimated 225 people came out to Little Island Creamery last week to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ferry service that connects Puget Island with Westport, Ore. With so many in attendance already filling the venue to capacity, volunteers in the Little Island Creamery parking lot had to turn vehicles away. "This event was a major success in celebrating our community," said Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ryan Murillo. "To be able to showcase the ferry, its history, and...
The County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, during which they voted to rename the section of Steamboat Slough Road that runs through the Wildlife Refuge to White Tail Road. This change will reduce confusion for travelers and help emergency responders respond more effectively to calls on either road. During public comment, a resident from Eden Valley Road raised concerns about the overgrown grass along Eden Valley Road and inquired about the timing and frequency of mowing. The overgrowth has created potential safety hazards...
