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With over 50 years of continuous service as a volunteer firefighter, EMT and ambulance driver for Pacific County Fire District 4 in Naselle, Cliff Kilponen has received local recognition. The level of recognition took a big jump recently when Kilponen was informed he had been named as the 2024 Firefighter of the Year by Washington State's Department of the American Legion. Each year, the 148 American Legion Posts within Washington State and their 16,000+ members are invited to submit...
Getting the season's "first marks," the Clatskanie track and field team hosted its Twilight Icebreaker on March 21. "This season, we have around 40 athletes participating and we are excited to have such a large team," said Coach Tim Van Voorst. "We have quite a few new athletes that we are looking forward to seeing how they progress throughout the season." Returning 20 athletes from last year, including four who competed at state in 2024, the team saw plenty of personal records set last Friday....
The Clatskanie High School softball team opened its season with two offensive showings, taking down Rainier 16-6 on Monday, March 17, and outsourcing Umatilla 18-13 on Monday, March 24. The Tigers were led by sophomore Payton Taylor during last week’s win over Rainier, as the right fielder knocked in three runs. Junior Joey Sizemore had the lone home run for Clatskanie, knocking in two runs. Sophomore Emma Parley and senior Karielle Carlson led the Tigers in runs scored with three apiece. Carlson knocked in two runs as well, and junior K...
During the March 5 session of Clatskanie City Council, City Manager Greg Hinkelman addressed agenda item 2025-06, which is the approval of a contract awarded to Lee Engineering for the Conestoga Lift Station. According to the meeting’s minutes, Hinkelman indicated that the bids came in over budget and that he “was originally going to table the project until next budget.” However, after meeting with Interim Public Works Director Dave True, the two determined they “can’t wait.” Looking over the design and engineering specs, True and Hinkelman f...
The last concert of the the Clatskanie Arts Commission’s 35th season is country singer Trevor Panczak in concert Saturday, April 5, at the Birkenfeld Theatre. There is something honest, compelling, and immediately likable about this 6’5” gentle giant, Trevor Panczak, and his music. With a refreshing authenticity that is increasingly rare to find, the Alberta-based, award-winning country entertainer writes, and records songs that speak to one’s heart in a way that is simple, soulful, and with an appeal to a broad array of music fans. Whether...
Journalists and news organizations across Washington are pleading with lawmakers to set aside money to support local newspapers and broadcasters. "Journalism is the work that our democracy relies on," said WNPA (Washington Newspaper Publishers Association) Executive Director Ellen Hiatt. SB 5400 would create the "Washington Local News Sustainability Program," providing annual grants to help employ journalists and strengthen civic coverage in underserved communities. Funds for the program would...
Entering competition with the most athletes the team has had in years, Wahkiakum track and field has two in particular - Sam Dela Cruz and Mayleonna Casey - who return after having made it to state in 2024. Competing as an eighth grader last year, Casey has co-Head Coach Tina Merz's confidence she "will make it" with continued commitment. "Robby Chandler was one place from making it to state in the Javelin and has a fire under him to make it this year," said Merz of yet another of her returning athletes. Another "natural athlete" Merz notes as...
The Mules are back on the basepaths, and growth is the aim for Wahkiakum's softball season. Head Coach Kami Gray is excited about the potential of her team's development, not just this season but into the future. The softball program at Wahkiakum has been developing and building year after year. Gray said that in the past, softball hasn't been a consistent fixture of Wahkiakum High School sports due to low participation numbers, but this season has marked a shift. "This season, we're thrilled...
Over the past few weeks, John C. Thomas Middle School has showcased its school pride and spirit through a creative new project-a vibrant sign now displayed on the fence line facing Wahkiakum High School. The sign reads "Home of the Mules" and is a powerful statement of school pride and community, made possible by the Wahkiakum PTO. The sign is crafted from plastic put-in cups, a material designed to fit into chain link fence openings. In a school-wide collaborative effort, students carefully...
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson has a plan for about $7 billion in budget cuts, but he and Democrats in the Legislature have a ways to go before they solve a shortfall that may be more than double that size. The governor presented $4 billion in new reductions on Thursday and said he supports another $3 billion in savings former Gov. Jay Inslee proposed in December. This scrub is Ferguson’s first step in addressing an operating budget deficit that Democratic lawmakers say is roughly $12 billion over the next four years. Ferguson pegged the number h...
The Wahkiakum County PUD commissioners met on Tuesday, March 18, and approved Shelby J. Garrett’s appointment as the new director of finance. Erin Wilson, the current director of finance, will retire at the end of April after 21 years with the Wahkiakum PUD. The Puget Island Well Project is running on schedule, and test results for water quality are expected to be ready by the next meeting on April 1. Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which provides power to Wahkiakum PUD and a third of the Northwest, recently announced it intends to m...
The Town’s Waterfront Park Project began in Sept. 2023. The project’s scope, according to the Town’s website, is the “development and restoration of the last piece of town-owned waterfront property, the former site of the town's sewer lagoons, into a scenic and accessible seven-acre recreational space for visitors to relax and experience the beauty of the Columbia River.” Having received $586,000 in grant funding, the Town budgeted $401,000 in contribution to the project. During the Feb. 18 meeting of Cathlamet's City Council, Cathlamet...
Today in history: On March 20, 1995, in Tokyo, packages containing the deadly chemical sarin were opened on five separate subway trains in a domestic terror attack by members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult, causing 14 deaths and injuring more than 1,000. Also on this date: In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte returned to Paris after escaping his exile on Elba, beginning his “Hundred Days” rule. In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s influential novel about slavery, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” was first published in book form after being serialized in the abolitionis...
The people of Wahkiakum rely on the small businesses in the area for everyday needs unless they’d like to make the drive to Longview or Astoria. However, businesses in rural towns like Cathlamet face unique challenges compared to big cities. A recent PR Newswire article for rural businesses in “underserved populations” states that the most significant hurdles impacting startup and growth lie in three primary areas: access to labor, connectivity (internet service, updated technology), and capital. The article also states, “Rural entrepr...
The Wahkiakum County Commissioners met on Tuesday, March 18. The commissioners began the meeting approving the liquor license renewals for Skyline Golf Course and Cathlamet Mini Mart. The commissioners then voted to approve the appointment of Heath Yob to the Real Property Rights Advisory Board. Public Works Director Chuck Beyer presented the commissioners with a request to call for bids for landscape maintenance. HHS Operations Manager Duncan Cruickshank requested approval for funds for door replacements at the Elochoman Campus in building 3,...
We had a wonderful time attending two amazing community events this past Saturday. The lasagna dinner fundraiser hosted by the Wahkiakum Fair Foundation at Rosburg Hall was absolutely delicious. That was the best lasagna I’ve ever had! It was a delight to meet all the fantastic volunteers who pour their hearts into planning and organizing events at the fairgrounds. Their dedication keeps the fairground facilities filled with activities all year round. About 40 people came out to the Grays R...
Thanks to Serenity Veterinary Care, a mobile clinic based out of La Center, residents of Wahkiakum County will soon have a unique opportunity to access affordable veterinary care for their pets. Known for their commitment to community service and their passion for providing care to patients in the comfort of their homes, Serenity is expanding its outreach to Wahkiakum County this spring. Since 2020, Serenity Veterinary Care has served the greater Vancouver area through partnerships with programs like Meals on Wheels, ensuring that pets...
Resident health keeps Wahkiakum County Health & Human Services (WCHHS) staff busy competing for grants for utility and housing assistance, picking up vital services like WIC and employment services that other organizations can’t, and developing new programs like Kid’s Connection. Addressing the complexity of health outcomes, WCHHS devotes staff time to programs that affect lives in Wahkiakum County like mental health, substance use, housing, food insecurity and nutrition, public safety, transportation, and public and environmental health. The...
ANOTHER WET WEEK. This whole week looks wet and soggy except for one day, and I am pretty sure “spring sprung a leak,” A big one. I wish someone would plug it up. It’s nice to get some rain, but every day seems like a bit much. Though I’ll take the rain over the horrible weather that is happening East and Southeast of us, some areas wound up with a ton of snow, which caused huge accidents and shut down freeways. Of course, the massive number of tornadoes and fires that have just ravaged areas from Oklahoma to Mississippi up to Illinois and eve...
Local history comes alive again at Little Island Creamery when local historian and author Janine Klint Davidson presents the “History of Ocean Beach Highway.” Hundreds of vehicles travel the route between Naselle and Longview/Kelso daily. Still, many don’t realize the history that this highway has shaped or the economy that has boomed due to its installation. Cathlamet is the county seat, the hub of the community, so to speak, and early highway planning nearly passed the town by. The Little Island Creamery will present “The Highway that Al...
The Writers Guild of Astoria is delighted to announce the 2025 North Coast Writer’s Residency. Now in its seventh year, this jointly sponsored residency affords both established and emerging writers the time, space, and solitude needed to work uninterrupted on a project of their choosing. One selected writer-in-residence will have the opportunity to spend one week in the meaningful pursuit of creative work. The residency provides time and space in an idyllic setting to make substantial progress on a significant writing project. Writers of n...
As Pacific Northwest gardeners eagerly anticipate spring planting, one tried-and-true technique can help ensure a strong potato crop: chitting. Pre-sprouting seed potatoes before planting can lead to an earlier harvest and higher yields, especially in our cool, wet climate. Chitting involves placing seed potatoes in a bright, cool, frost-free space for a few weeks before planting. This encourages them to sprout sturdy shoots, giving them a head start once in the ground. Gardeners should choose firm, disease-free seed potatoes and set them in...
Recently, I interviewed former teacher Linda Wright of Wahkiakum County for our sixth installment of Reader’s Fave, a casual talk with someone who shares their favorite book. As we chatted, Linda shared that her favorite author, at least recently, is Louise Penny, and her favorite books are Penny’s “Inspector Gamache” series. This mystery novel series is now up to 19 books, and Linda has read them all. She remembers being given the first book, “The Still Life” as a Christmas gift when visiting her daughter in Alaska. Linda then went on and read...