Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
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The budget passed by the state legislature last week contains funding important to Wahkiakum County, District 19 legislators (Senator Jim Wilson and Representatives Jim Walsh and Joel McEntire) told the board of commissioners Tuesday. The budget includes continued funding for the county ferry, the Oscar B, they said. This includes the funding for the state's 80 percent funding of ferry operations and backfill money to cover the state share of expenses beyond normal operations. County commissioners have requested increased support, even state...
• Major transportation funding goes undone • Funnels billions to public health, childcare By Washington State Journal As the end of the mostly virtual legislative session drew near April 25, Washington state lawmakers passed a hefty $59 billion budget that will funnel millions into childcare, public health, rental assistance and addressing the economic impact of a yearlong global pandemic. The budget includes a controversial capital gains tax which would collect 7% on the exchange of capital assets such as stocks above $250,000. Democrats pla...
In a special meeting on Tuesday, the Wahkiakum School District Board of Directors quickly moved through four matters, approving the resignation of middle school science teacher Jen Barry, a one year leave of absence for elementary school teacher Lisa Sauer, and two overnight trips for students, one to Cispus for eighth grade transition to high school, and the second allowing the trapshooting team to attend competition. Details regarding the trapshooting competition had not been formalized at...
Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law an automatic right for tenants to have an attorney, though it came with a catch — Inslee sent back two parts of the bill regarding landlord rental assistance. In a memo after the April 22 bill signing, Inslee said the measure lacked guidance for how landlords could qualify for the rental assistance. “It creates an entitlement for landlords to receive rent assistance without a sufficient framework to prioritize resources to those landlords who have the greatest need,” Inslee wrote in the release. The amend...
A tax credit for working families in Washington passed the Senate in a bipartisan vote April 11, with lawmakers on both sides saying the exemption for low-income earners was a long time coming. “Expanding and fully funding the Working Families Tax Credit will make a difference for hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians who may face an unexpected cost – an auto repair, a sick child, a loss of hours at a job – that can lead to a downward economic spiral,” Sen. David Frockt, D-Seattle, said in a statement. The Working Families Tax Credit would f...
Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, meetings and events usually listed here have been canceled or changed to online participation until further notice. The Eagle was advised of the following events: Online Recovery Meeting, Lower Columbia River Refuge Recovery. Mondays 6:30 p.m. Zoom ID 960 8413 9102. Community Center, Mon. 9-12 & 1-5. Tues-Thurs. 9-1. Friday by appointment. Cathlamet Library T-F 2-5 p.m. Covid restrictions enforced....
The Naselle-Grays River Valley School District Board of Directors held its monthly meeting on April 20. In personnel matters, the board acknowledged the resignations of Rachel Suomela, registrar, Robert Eaton, head football coach, Kathryn Green, middle school track coach, and Scott Smith, assistant track coach. Both Green and Smith tendered their resignations to accept new positions within the coaching ranks. In other matters of business, the board adopted four policies: Sexual Health Education, Equivalency Credit Opportunities, Student...
With the arrival of the spring equinox comes the return of birds; and an osprey couple has returned to a nest on the Puget Island bridge. Photo courtesy of Sarah Lawrence....
Department of Natural Resources along with Pacific, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania, Klickitat and County Officials are extending an Emergency Burn Ban in Wahkiakum County, WA. Due to lack of precipitation and dry conditions prompted a coordinated burn ban for SW Washington. Effective 12:01 A.M., Friday April 23, 2021, officials from Wahkiakum County are enacting a ban on all outdoor burning until weather conditions improve. All land clearing, residential and silvicultural burning is banned until 12:01 A.M., Tuesday April 27,...
On Monday, Wahkiakum Health and Human Services (WHHS) Director Chris Bischoff reported six new cases of covid-19 among Wahkiakum County residents. Bischoff said the patients were associated with the Naselle/Grays River Valley School District, and all were in quarantine. "The risk of contracting covid-19 in Washington is very high," Bischoff said in the announcement. "Highly effective vaccines are available for anyone 16 and over; the sooner everyone is vaccinated the sooner we get back to normal." This brings Wahkiakum to a cumulative total of...
By Rick Nelson The Wahkiakum School District board of directors discussed the need for an information technology (IT) strategy plan and what Superintendent Brent Freeman called funding inequities when they met Tuesday evening. The district needs to plan how it will develop and maintain its IT program which could be valued roughly at $750,000 and has equipment that needs to be replaced roughly every five years, Freeman said. "That scares me; that's a lot of money," Freeman said. "It concerns me that we have such a big requirement on a small...
Wahkiakum County's number of cases inched up by two cases to 108 this week as cases mounted in nearby counties. In a Monday morning briefing, Chris Bischoff, director of Wahkiakum County Health and Human Services, said one of the new cases was actually a Castle Rock resident, but the state Department of Health is attributing it to Wahkiakum County because of a mistaken address. "We can't get it corrected," Bischoff said. Four of the 108 cases are considered potentially active. Cowlitz County's...
On Monday, the Cathlamet Town Council passed a motion to enter into contract with ARC Architects to perform on call work in 2021 for a variety of projects. “I’m very supportive of this. We have a number of projects that this is vitaly necessary for such as the Chinook Heritage sign. We need these services on the ground,” Council Member David Olson explained. Town Clerk-Treasure Sarah Clark discussed the status of the Town’s Waterfront Park grant. “We have received preliminary approval from the Recreation & Conservation Office (RCO) for the wate...
A request to create a new position at a new pay rate has spurred county officials to begin a new analysis of their salary schedule. The position, said Auditor Nicci Bergseng, is called Auditor Recording/Election Coordinator and would be paid at step 8 on the county salary schedule. Commissioners were ready to vote on a motion to approve the request, but after other department heads raised concerns, they amended their motion to say they would vote on the issue at their April 27 meeting. Bergseng had explained that the employee in the position...
On Tuesday, the Wahkiakum County PUD Board of Commissioners held their bi-monthly meeting. General Manager Dave Tramblie gave an update about engineering for the Deep River water project. Tramblie concluded that by performing the engineering in house, there could be a cost saving. However, the commissioners discussed the possibility of seeking grant funding for the entirety of the project. Nothing was decided. The commissioners discussed the general manager search which they stated will end on April 24. A salary range was also deliberated, but...
Last week's print edition incorrectly states that the county health department would hold a vaccination clinic on Friday. The clinic was actually held on Saturday; 120 shots were given....
A tax credit for working families in Washington passed the Senate in a bipartisan vote April 11, with lawmakers on both sides saying the exemption for low-income earners was a long time coming. “Expanding and fully funding the Working Families Tax Credit will make a difference for hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians who may face an unexpected cost – an auto repair, a sick child, a loss of hours at a job – that can lead to a downward economic spiral,” Sen. David Frockt, D-Seattle, said in a statement. The Working Families Tax Credit would f...
Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, meetings and events usually listed here have been canceled or changed to online participation until further notice. The Eagle was advised of the following events: Online Recovery Meeting, Lower Columbia River Refuge Recovery. Mondays 6:30 p.m. Zoom ID 960 8413 9102. Community Center, Mon. 9-12 & 1-5. Tues-Thurs. 9-1. Friday by appointment. Cathlamet Library T-F 2-5 p.m. Covid restrictions enforced. Great Rivers BHO Board, Mon., 4/26, virtual meeting at https://cihealthservices.com/operatingboard/, 6...
On April 15, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced that a one-lane bypass has opened on SR 401 where a slide closed the highway near the Megler-Astoria bridge. The WSDOT’s contractor, Big River Excavating, finished construction of a temporary single-lane bypass road, restoring travel along SR 401. The highway was closed February 23, after several days of heavy rainfall deteriorated the roadway to the point of becoming a safety hazard. “We appreciate the public’s patience in detouring around the closure while our c...
On Monday, Wahkiakum Health and Human Services (WHHS) Director Chris Bischoff reported six new cases of covid-19 among Wahkiakum County residents. Bischoff said the patients were associated with the Naselle/Grays River Valley School District, and all were in quarantine. "The risk of contracting covid-19 in Washington is very high," Bischoff said in the announcement. "Highly effective vaccines are available for anyone 16 and over; the sooner everyone is vaccinated the sooner we get back to normal." This brings Wahkiakum to a cumulative total of...
The Wahkiakum County Port District 1 Board of Commissioners met briefly last Thursday to go over a variety of issues affecting the Elochoman Slough Marina. The port will officially join a consortium that is developing a public wifi area in Cathlamet and at the marina after commissioners adopted a resolution which authorized the manager to sign an interlocal agreement with the other parties involved, including the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Cathlamet, and Wahkiakum PUD. The...
Late Thursday afternoon, the Washington State Department of Transportation announced that a one-lane bypass has opened on SR 401 where a slide closed the highway near the Megler-Astoria bridge. Here is the WSDOT announcement: Extended drive times via a detour route will soon be a thing of the past for travelers who use State Route 401, also known and Lewis and Clark Trail Highway, between Naselle and Megler, in Pacific county. On Thursday, April 15, the Washington State Department of Transportation’s contractor, Big River Excavating, f...
Wahkiakum County Health Department will hold covid-19 vaccination clinics in Cathlamet this Tuesday and Wednesday mornings starting at 9 a.m. Any Washington resident age 18 or above is eligible to receive their first dose of the Moderna vaccine at the clinic. Department staff are also seeking volunteers to assist at the clinics. To register or volunteer, people should call the department at 360-849-4041....
Wahkiakum County commissions on Tuesday made good of their intention announced last week to adopt a resolution opposing infringement of rights guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The resolution came at the request of Commissioner Dan Cothren who feels state and federal agencies are starting to infringe on people's right to bear firearms. The resolution cites the commissioners' oath of office to uphold the state and federal constitutions, and that there have been no exceptions to the 2nd Amendment. The resol...
Editor’s note: The print edition incorrectly states that the county health department will hold a vaccination clinic on Friday. The clinic will actually be on Saturday, April 17. We most sincerely regret the error. By Rick Nelson Wahkiakum County's covid-19 virus caseload increased by two this past week and now totals 106 effective Tuesday; on Thursday another case was added to boost the total to 107. Chris Bischoff, director of Wahkiakum County Health and Human Services, said Monday that the two individuals were in quarantine. Neighboring C...
