Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Sorted by date Results 1757 - 1781 of 9496
As January rolls to its end, daffodils bloom along Cathlamet's Columbia Street. Photo by Rick Nelson....
The implementation of Washington’s highly-touted and highly controversial long-term care program should be delayed by 18 months, lawmakers in both the House and Senate decided this week. In a floor debate Jan. 26, the Senate voted 46-3 in favor of delaying both the collection of premiums and WA Cares Fund’s implementation. And on Jan. 19, the House of Representatives did the same, voting 91-6 in favor of the same bill. This bill would result in the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Program known as WA Cares Fund, signed in 2019, to beg...
By Rick Nelson "Water, water, everywhere," says the old poem, and it could well have been describing Wahkiakum County's January. December's snow and January's rain pushed streams out of the banks, flooded roads and properties, and sent local agencies looking for answers to the challenge of maintaining infrastructure. Three local agencies shared their challenges at Tuesday's meeting of the board of county commissioners. Poul Toftemark of the Grays River Habitat Enhancement District described a...
Positive covid-19 cases have affected the Wahkiakum Mule boys basketball team, the girls basketball team, and the wrestling team, halting athletics this week. “[They] have shut down for the week and we hope that will put a stop to things for now,” Athletic Director Rob Garrett said. “Problem is this isn’t a school or sports problem, it’s everywhere. We are just using the numbers and guidelines we have been given and trying to allow our kids to play the safest way possible.” The Mules are tentatively set to resume their games on Monday. Che...
By Diana Zimmerman Covid-19 seems to be causing staffing issues everywhere right now, including the Wahkiakum Clinic, which was closed last Thursday and Friday. “All of our clinics are just getting slammed with covid-19,” Cowlitz Family Health Center (CFHC) Director Jim Coffee said on Monday. “Most of our staff are vaccinated and are just being taken down by the omicron virus. It’s been pretty devastating. We’ve had a couple clinics that have been closed off and on because we don’t have any st...
There are three variations of homelessness that Wahkiakum Health and Human Services Community Services Manager Julie Johnston sees in Wahkiakum County. There are those who are literally on the streets, or living in cars, without easy access to anything; another version the school usually sees are families doubled or tripled up in housing, or couch-surfing, where they might have a roof over their heads but it’s not permanent, or it may be more than one place over and over. The third, or what J...
Forcing higher densities in Washington’s cities will help reduce housing costs, cut fuel emissions and put an end to exclusionary zoning, supporters of House Bill 1782 say. Critics of the idea, however, say it will require significant overhauls in city infrastructure and reduce local control of housing options. The bill addresses the “missing middle,” housing options that exist between single-family homes and apartment complexes, such as duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes. The bill requires cities to allow middle housing in every zone where...
Washington marijuana users won’t face losing their job over a positive drug test if a proposal under consideration in the state Legislature wins approval. SB 5517 would update the Washington law that currently allows employers to turn-away job applicants and fire employees for testing positive for marijuana use in drug screenings. Prime sponsor of the bill, Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, said current employment laws must be reformed to accommodate recreational legalization of the drug. “The war on drugs has had a really negative impact on...
Young adults will be able to access a fund years from now to give them a boost if lawmakers pass a bill aimed at narrowing the gap between the rich and poor. Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver, sponsor of HB 1861, said the Washington Future Fund Trust would act as a savings and investment account for babies born under the state’s Medicaid program, Apple Health. Beginning in 2024, a minimum of $3,200 will be set aside for each eligible child to access between their 18th and 31st birthdays. “I think it’s an exciting way to deal with a lot of the c...
Advocates hope mandatory conservation of key habitat areas will help salmon runs recover, but opponents worry farmers will pay a price. House Bill 1838, to be known as the Lorraine Loomis Act in honor of the late Northwest Indian Fisheries Commissioner, will reserve land on public and private property near salmon bearing waterways. Prime sponsor of the bill, Rep. Debra Lekanoff, D-Anacortes, said salmon play a vital cultural and economic role in Washington. The potential loss of the species will affect all Washingtonians, she said. “Salmon a...
THURSDAY Cathlamet Fire Department, 7 p.m. District No. 4 Fire Department, drill night, 7 p.m. Grays River Fire Department, fire/ambulance, 7 p.m. Skamokawa Fire Department, 7 p.m. Wahkiakum Planning Commission, Courthouse, 6 p.m. Wahkiakum Commissioners, Courthouse, 9:30 p.m. Walking Group, Community Center, Cathlamet, 9 a.m. Eastside Play & Learn Group, St. James Family Center, 10-11:30 a.m. West End Food Pantry, GRVC at Johnson Park, 1-5 p.m. Wahkiakum Food Bank, 42 Elochoman Valley Rd., 3-5 p.m. Sewing Room, GRVC at Johnson Park, 11 a.m....
At the beginning of the Naselle/Grays River Valley School District board of director's meeting on Jan. 18, Superintendent Lisa Nelson presented plaques to the volleyball coaches, Bekah Wirkkala, Hanna Higginbotham and Kayti Updike for their fifth place finish at the state tournament in Yakima. At the December board meeting, the main topic during public comment concerned questions regarding students’ safety when riding school buses. All board members were present including Tyson Vogeler, who was present by phone. During the public comment time o...
Advocates hope mandatory conservation of key habitat areas will help salmon runs recover, but opponents worry farmers will pay a price. House Bill 1838, to be known as the Lorraine Loomis Act in honor of the late Northwest Indian Fisheries Commissioner, will reserve land on public and private property near salmon bearing waterways. Prime sponsor of the bill, Rep. Debra Lekanoff, D-Anacortes, said salmon play a vital cultural and economic role in Washington. The potential loss of the species will affect all Washingtonians, she said. “Salmon a...
The following is a summary of the 2020 census of Wahkiakum County, completed by the United Census Bureau. The total population on April 1, 2020 was 4,422 compared to 3,978 a decade earlier, an increase of 444 people. Females make up 50.1 percent of the population. While 33 percent of the population is 65 and older, 17.1 percent of the population is under the age of 18, and 3.5 percent are under the age of 5. According to race, 91.2 percent of Wahkiakum County is white, 0.7 percent is black or Af...
Residents of Skamokawa's East and Middle valleys on Tuesday asked Wahkiakum County officials to take steps to end threats to their properties resulting from flooding earlier this month. Marshall and Martina Snow said an emergency culvert repair redirected the course of a Middle Valley creek toward their house, which is now threatened by erosion. "It is a very severe situation," Marshall Snow said. They asked that the road department address the situation and return the creek to its previous...
Advocates hope mandatory conservation of key habitat areas will help salmon runs recover, but opponents worry farmers will pay a price. House Bill 1838, to be known as the Lorraine Loomis Act in honor of the late Northwest Indian Fisheries Commissioner, will reserve land on public and private property near salmon bearing waterways. Prime sponsor of the bill, Rep. Debra Lekanoff, D-Anacortes, said salmon play a vital cultural and economic role in Washington. The potential loss of the species will affect all Washingtonians, she said. “Salmon a...
Members of the Cathlamet Town Council on Tuesday approved the expense of extra engineering services for two construction projects and took care of some housekeeping business. The council approved contract amendments with the firm Gray & Osborne to include project management services for the projects--constructing sidewalks along South Third Street and the Butler Street Parking Lot upgrade. Clerk/Treasurer Sarah Clark said because of the complex reporting for the projects funding grants, it is essential for the town to have project management....
The Wahkiakum County PUD Board of Commissioners learned there would be a second round of disconnects this week, listened to reports, and approved a cost of living increase for their new general manager on Tuesday. General Manager Dan Kay spoke about how the recent weather had affected the PUD. “Mother Nature has really been directing our attention,” he said, “from snow, wind, rains, floods, landslides.” Kay said that there had been challenges in East Valley and along Altoona/Pillar Rock Road br...
The Wahkiakum County Port 1 Board of Commissioners met briefly last Thursday to do a little housekeeping and talk about potential business. Commissioners authorized Port Manager Jackie Lea to sign paperwork to resolve a boundary issue with the Town of Cathlamet pending a final survey of the former sewer pond property, of which both entities have a share. They also waived their compensation for any special meetings and authorized a resolution to adopt one change to Port 1 commissioner district...
The Wahkiakum School District Board of Directors covered a lot of ground Tuesday, talking about transportation, the coming levy, the lawsuit, transportation, and more. Superintendent Brent Freeman was most animated when he began to talk about witnessing the school’s robotics team participation in a regional competition, which pitted Wahkiakum against some students from bigger school districts. “It was an absolutely wonderful experience,” Freeman said. “It was amazing to see the kids come to...
At the last Grays River Diking and Enhancement District’s meeting on January 12, the board of commissioners had a quorum with two members present: Poul Toftemark and Steve Blaine. The third member, Brian Livingston, is not available for meetings because he teaches evening classes and does not have the time to serve on the board. Also present at the meeting were county Commissioner Gene Strong, a landowner in the district. Others attending were Susan Amala, a landowner, Laura Brown from the Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Ian S...
Election officials will get more protection from harassment if SB 5148 becomes law. The bill was approved in the Senate Jan. 12 with 48 yeas and 0 nays. It will be up to the House to approve or amend it. In debate on the Senate floor, Sen. David Frockt, D-Seattle, said the bill will address a “grievous threat” to our democratic system. “Here in our own state, in Washington State, which inspired this legislation last year, the top elections official, a deputy to our former Secretary of State...
Harborview medical center is currently the only hospital in Washington State that provides training for nurses to become sexual assault nurse examiners, also known as SANE. A bill in this year’s state Legislature is aimed at taking down barriers to training, especially for those coming from rural and underserved areas. The House Health Care & Wellness Committee held a virtual session on Jan. 10 to discuss HB 1621, that would establish a stipend program for nurses for them to complete a training course designed by the international a...
For a large portion of Washingtonians, the use of cosmetic products is a part of their everyday routine, but some of those same household products often contain harmful chemicals that cause a variety of health risks. A bill now making its way through the Legislature will require manufacturers to adhere to more transparent label requirements. Similar bills that monitor and prevent the distribution of cosmetic products have already passed in California and Maryland. “It’s a simple bill that will have a huge impact on the health and well bei...
Sam Martinez, a freshman at Washington State University, was found dead from alcohol poisoning at his fraternity house just weeks into the 2019 school year. He was the victim of a hazing tradition at his fraternity. Now his mother is pressing for rules that would prevent future tragedies. Jolayne Houtz said her goal since her son’s death has been to “try and save a life for the one that was taken from us two years ago.” According to Rep. Mari Leavitt, D-Pierce County, approximately 100 deaths associated with hazing have occurred in the U.S s...
