Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
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Days of fine weather seemed to ensure that the Wahkiakum High School Class of 2023 would enjoy graduation in the sun, but when the rain came the district scrambled to move the ceremony indoors. For the first time since the pandemic began, the gym was full to the rafters with friends and family on hand to celebrate 44 students participating in their final act as students at Wa-Ki-Hi. Malia Ana Silva, the class salutatorian, welcomed the crowd. In her speech, she remembered one teacher from their...
The saloon in downtown Cathlamet changed hands to Realtor Debi Trull and her husband Gary last week to the tune of $225,000. “We are the proud new owners of that catastrophe," Debi Trull said with a laugh, before turning more serious. “It’s getting more and more dilapidated and it’s such an iconic piece of the history of Cathlamet its not in its best interest to continue rotting way,” she said. It will take some time, but the couple have long range plans to restore the building to its former gl...
The Wahkiakum County Port 1 Board of Commissioners increased the manager’s salary, approved a free launch day, and heard about activity at the Elochoman Slough Marina at their meeting last Thursday, In their first order of business, the board adopted a resolution to give the port manager a seven percent raise, which brings Todd Souvenir’s salary to $71,508.53, effective June 1. They also approved a free launch day in support of the Wounded Warriors event on August 31. The launch will be fre...
This week's county commissioners meeting started with the approval of a letter of support for the PUD to the state Public Works Board. The commissioners endorsed funding proposals for four capital projects in the county. The projects include an alternate water source for Cathlamet, the extension of the Skamokawa mainline, the western Wahkiakum system Grays River and Hull Creek extension, and the replacement of 4,000 feet of mainline along State Route 4 in Grays River. Port #1 manager Todd Souvenir told the commissioners that he had applied for...
After a moment of silence for Rick Nelson, the editor and publisher of the Wahkiakum County Eagle who passed away on June 2, the Town of Cathlamet spent the greater part of the next four hours discussing a variety of subjects at length at their meeting on June 5. Sheriff Mark Howie talked about his department’s move to the back of the Wahkiakum County Courthouse, how they responded to the recent swatting incident at the school where a caller falsely reported an act of violence, the addition o...
The cause of two unrelated and recent fires in Wahkiakum County remain undetermined. According to Austin Burkhalter, assistant chief for the Grays River Fire Department, because a fire at a home on Altoona/Pillar Rock Road on May 28 did not appear suspicious, there was no request for a fire investigator. It is believed that the homeowner’s insurance company will likely conduct their own investigation. As for the fire at the home on South Welcome Slough on May 31, the cause is still being i...
In a story about the county commissioners meeting in last week’s paper regarding the landscaping projects that were approved by the county commission on June 6, the funding for this project is coming from the Capital Projects fund. This fund is supported by Real Estate Excise Tax. Real Estate Excise tax is collected on property sales. This project is not funded by individual property taxes. The only thing that may be funded with the Election Security fund is proper lighting around the election drop box and the main entrance....
A special filing period for three elected positions came and went quietly last week. According to Amanda Boehler, election coordinator for the Wahkiakum Auditor’s Office, no one filed for the Skamokawa Water/Sewer District position or the Cemetery District #1 position. Robert Torppa, however, filed for the Naselle Grays River Valley School District #155 Director 1 position. According to the RCW 29A.24.201, Boehler said, “If no candidate files for an office during the special filing period, an...
THURSDAY Walking Group, Community Center, Cathlamet, 9 a.m. Senior Citizen Luncheon, Hope Center, Noon. Senior Citizen Luncheon, Rosburg Hall, Noon. Fire Protection District No. 1 Commissioners, Fire Hall, 5:30 p.m. Fire District No. 4, 7 p.m. Puget Island Fire Department, 7 p.m. Cathlamet First Aid Division, Fire Hall, 7 p.m. Skamokawa Fire Department, First Aid Division, 7 p.m. Grays River Fire Department, ambulance training, 7 p.m. Free Senior Fitness and Balance Class, Hope Center, 3rd & Maple, enter via door on 3rd, 12:45-1:45 p.m. Food...
By Karen Bertroch At last Saturday's graduation ceremony, Naselle/GRV seniors celebrated their high school years with information on scholarships given in support of their pursuits in higher education. Principal Justin Laine's scholarship presentation reported as follows: "There is great leadership, strong character, and outstanding citizenship in this class. I am proud of every single one of them. Collectively, they have shown tremendous kindness, grace, humility, and respect. "Local scholarshi...
The second annual Cup of Sunshine Food Donation Challenge began June 1. The event, designed to support local food banks and the people who use them, is the brainchild of Jabber Shack owner, Sue Zabel. She’s challenging all the businesses in Wahkiakum County, west of KM and east, to participate in the food drive. This year, she said, even the employees at the Wahkiakum County Courthouse want to join in on the fun. “We live in the best community,” Zabel said. With children out of school, and some...
The Washington State Patrol (WSP), Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC), and partner law enforcement agencies across the state are participating in a statewide “Surviving Summer” campaign, with a goal of reducing serious injury and fatality collisions during the state’s 90 dangerous days on Washington roadways. For the past five years, June 9 through September 7 has become the highest consecutive 90-day stretch for traffic-related fatalities within Washington. According to the WTSC, more than 967 lives were lost due to fatal crash...
Last Thursday there was a full house in the sanctuary of the Hope Center, when 20 people turned out for the Stay Active and Independent for Life class, otherwise known as SAIL. The class is led by a retired nurse, Vicki Skeers. She joined the class not long after it was started by Sharon Shelby and eventually began leading the activity herself. "I was inspired by Sharon Selby," Skeers said. "If it weren't for Sharon there wouldn't be a program." Skeers received eight hours of training, and got...
The Wahkiakum County Fair's 4th annual Cruzin to the Fair car show was held Saturday at the fairgrounds in Skamokawa. The weather cooperated and the cars were shown in all their glory. Photos by Ian Brandon....
Editor’s Note: In mid-May, Rick Nelson and his family received a letter from Washington State Governor Jay Inslee. Here is what he had to say: Dear Rick, Mary Ann, Jacob, and Jamie: Trudi and I were deeply saddened to hear that Rick recently entered hospice care. Please know that we are keeping your entire family in our prayers during this difficult time. Words are inadequate to express the depth of our appreciation for Rick’s contributions to the Wahkiakum County community, but I wanted to take a moment to recognize his decades of exe...
There's a new exhibit at the Wahkiakum County Historical Society Museum celebrating the big band era and one particular family who made a big splash on the local scene at the time. "There were a lot of dances," Kari Kandoll, the museum curator said. "This was your entertainment." Wilbur Jacobson, a trumpet and saxophone player who was born and raised in Cathlamet, started a band while he was in high school. When he met Mary Wegdahl, who grew up on Puget Island, he found a life partner and a lead...
The Wahkiakum County PUD Board of Commissioners began their meeting with a moment of silence for Wahkiakum County Eagle Publisher and Editor Rick Nelson. Commissioner Dennis Reid shared his thoughts on the PUD’s project to find a secondary water source on Puget Island, saying that he would prefer to use the water as a primary source for island residents instead of a back up system for the Town of Cathlamet. “I absolutely do not think that we should spend $3 million to make a back up system for...
Graduation takes place on Friday and Saturday for Wahkiakum and Naselle seniors. Wahkiakum High School will hold their graduation in the football field again this year and this time, students will sit in the field while guests will watch from the grandstands, extra bleachers, and folding chairs. The event takes place on Friday, June 9. Guests are welcome beginning at 5:30 p.m., and graduation will begin at 6 p.m. Speakers this year include Valedictorian Reigha Niemeyer, Salutatorian Malia Ana...
Wahkiakum County commissioners met as usual on Tuesday. Before the meeting began Commissioner Lee Tischer asked for a moment of silence to recognize the editor of The Wahkiakum County Eagle, Rick Nelson, who passed away Friday. The silence in the meeting room was deafening. Forrest Mora was approved as the contractor for the courthouse landscaping project. The commissioners approved $134,426.60 for the project which is not just about beautification of the grounds but is also to improve safety and security. A beautification committee...
Puget Island residents Ed and Stacey Lane have been married for several years, but once upon a time, it was to other people. Ed's first wife passed away suddenly and without warning, and Stacey's first marriage ended in divorce. Neither one of them was looking for a second act when they met. There was always an easy friendship between them, despite their differences. And though they came to grief in different ways, they found a common ground in their experience with the emotion. One day, surpris...
THURSDAY Walking Group, Community Center, Cathlamet, 9 a.m. Free Senior Fitness and Balance Class, Hope Center, 3rd & Maple, enter via door on 3rd, 12:45-1:45 p.m. Food Addicts, Hope Center, 3rd & Maple, Cathlamet, 6-7 p.m. Cathlamet Fire Department, 7 p.m. Senior Citizen Luncheon, Rosburg Hall, Noon. Senior Citizen Luncheon, Hope Center, Noon. Puget Island Fire Department, drill night, 7 p.m. Port District No. 1, 500 2nd St., Noon. District No. 4 Fire Department, 7 p.m. Grays River Fire District No. 3 Commissioners, 7:30 p.m. Grays River Fire...
Last Wednesday, volunteer firefighters responded to a second structure fire in Wahkiakum County in less than a week. The first was on May 28 on Altoona/Pillar Rock Road. The second fire, unrelated, was on Puget Island. According to Tom Merz, the incident commander for the event on Puget Island on May 31, crews were dispatched for a structure fire on South Welcome Slough at 8:36 p.m. Personnel arrived at 26 South Welcome Slough to find a single story, single family residential structure ablaze....
Westend residents enjoyed a potluck, performances by local musicians, and some ice cream at Johnson Park in Rosburg on Saturday. Photos by Ian Brandon....
Are you swimsuit ready? Doesn't matter! Come to the Julia Butler Hansen Swimming Pool while the sun is shining and the water is warm. The pool opens next Wednesday, June 14 and is available for everyone, young and old, for play and exercise. There are group and private swim lessons, lap swim times, water aerobics classes, and hours set aside for open swim every day but Sunday. The pool can even be rented for private parties. Admission is $4 for children and seniors, and $5 for adults, but there...
Early Sunday morning at 2:06 a.m., the Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Department received a call about a structure fire, including the garage and deck, at a home in the 1300 block of Altoona/Pillar Rock Road. The caller said that all 10 people in the house were able to evacuate and were safely outside. There were no reports of injuries at that time. The Grays River Fire Department was first on the scene, according to Skamokawa Fire Department Captain Steve Lewis who arrived around 2:30 a.m. Lewis,...
