Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
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CLOUDY BUT DRY. As this week begins, it’s a bit cloudy, but at least it’s not raining... not yet, that is. However, by the end of this week, the chances of rain showers are looking to increase. While we may not like to see that happening so late in June, I’m thankful it will help deter the chances of wildfires here. Many areas are currently reeling from these fast-spreading wildfires. I really won’t complain about the rain, as it adds to our water systems and waters my plants, so I don’t have to. SPECIAL DAYS. Those celebrating birthdays...
Before moving to the area, I would often visit and make several trips to see family while attending the Finnish American Folk Festival (FAFF) in late July. When we finally decided to relocate here, one of the things I looked forward to the most was getting involved in the festival. Now, four years later, I have completed a festival in 2022 as the chair of the Tori (the marketplace). In January 2023, I also took on the role of treasurer. Since 1982, the festival has been held every other year...
Once again, folks, there's a lot going on courtesy of Mother Nature, so we'll dive right into it this week. I'm writing this on Father's Day, so a Happy Father's Day - albeit belated by the time this article publishes - goes out to all the dads out there, including my very own, Captain Michael E. Johnson (U.S. Army, Vietnam 1965-66). Trump administration pulls out of PNW salmon restoration agreement Given the significance of salmon to the people, the culture, the history, and the wallets of...
Located on Hwy 30, Rainier’s Oregon Indoor Organics has unique plant treasures residents and passers by may not be aware of behind its door. The business originally started on Rainier's A Street in 2009, selling hydroponic equipment catering to the emerging cannabis market and individual growers. The owner, Steve Knebel, grew up around plants. "My grandfather had Herman seed and floral in Portland when I was little so it was kind of in my blood," said Knebel. "I did commercial floor covering f...
During last week's Rainier Chamber of Commerce meeting, WorkSource Oregon (WSO) Area Manager Angeline Chan-Pepper explained to attendees how the organization provides employer services. An equal-opportunity agency, WSO, according to its website, is "a one-stop resource for businesses." Specifying WSO is "not an employment agency," Chan-pepper said, "If you post a job with us, it reaches a huge audience. We will do that for you without any cost...Instead of trying to pay some money to Indeed [or] LinkedIn, we can help you post the job." As part...
In March 2020, the school system of Oregon was forever changed. The spread of Covid-19 was a historic event that forced the shutdown of entire school districts and made conservative teachers switch up their teaching techniques to fit Covid-19 restrictions. All classes were moved from in-person at school to online, which damaged the mental health of both the students and teachers. During the height of the pandemic, teachers suffered from unprecedented levels of burnout and health concerns during the unusual pandemic times. Nearly 93 percent of...
In Clatskanie, the homeless population is on the rise, affecting both adults and children. The increase is straining local sources within Oregon and Clatskanie's limited resources available for both adults and kids, as it becomes an escalating concern. Officials and a concerned group of individuals look to address the problem. Clatskanie, with a population of 1,800, is experiencing a surge in homelessness, following the statewide trend. According to data from the Oregon Department of Education, nearly four percent of K-12 students in Oregon wer...
nie Middle/High School. While it hasn’t seemed to be a large problem in the past, it recently has become a big issue at Clatskanie School District. Not only does litter slowly hurt the environment around the school, the school has gotten complaints about students littering off school grounds during lunch and after school. Many students go off campus to local establishments during lunch and, as a result, leave a trail of litter behind them. Also, those students who remain on campus for lunch eat outside, and some fail to take care of their garba...
The Cathlamet Library’s summer reading and adventures program will run from June 26 through July 31. This weekly event takes place every Thursday from 1 - 2 p.m. at Erickson Park (581 Columbia St.) and presents summer adventures and reading challenges for kids of all ages. This is a family-friendly activity for the summer months and a great way to get the kids out of the house and enjoy some hands-on library activities. For more info on the summer reading and adventures program, call the Cathlamet Library at 360-795-3254. The library is l...
Hundreds of flatbed loads of honey bees are trucked into Washington every spring, enabling the production of apples, cherries, pears and berries in the state. The pollinators are estimated to add at least $18 billion in value to crops throughout the U.S., yet the past year has been catastrophic. "We are in the middle of a colony collapse disorder like we haven't seen since the early 1990s," said local beekeeper Dawn Beck, who has a master beekeeper certificate from the University of Montana and...
It’s no secret that college or, for that matter, any post-high school education, is expensive for some. I use the term “expensive” because for some, this next step in the learning process is pricey to the point of being cost-prohibitive. What happens then? The individual in question - and I’ve known many over the past 40 years - doesn’t continue down the road to learning and then wonders, “What if?” Last Friday, I had the opportunity to sit with a group of people whose mission, in large part, is to erase this so-called “What if” and replaci...
Garlic mustard is a weed class A that is native to Europe, Asia and Northern Africa. It is not known to be toxic. This plant is on the Washington State quarantine list. Garlic mustard is a noxious weed because its vegetative growth starts early in the spring, outcompeting native and beneficial species that are still dormant. Its ability to reproduce high quantities of seed from a single plant can make it difficult to eradicate once it is well established. Seeds can survive several years in the...
On June 14, the Cathlamet Woman's Club recognized its 2024 Citizen of the Year, Wahkiakum Shoeboxes of Joy/Season Long with Crystal Baker accepting the award at the beautiful Julia Butler Hanson rose garden. Thank you to those who chose to attend the annual event on Flag Day and Julia Butler Hanson's birthday. Mayor David Olson read the Julia Butler Hansen Day Proclamation and Frank Corbin Resolution honoring Julia Butler Hansen. The song "America the Beautiful" was performed beautifully by...
At the conclusion of the Monday, June 2 session of Town Council, council members moved to approve and then signed an operating agreement with PUD (Public Utilities District) at the end of a rather contentious meeting that had begun over four and a half hours prior. Council’s motion to approve cited changes to paragraph 1.1 of the operating agreement, which, according to the meeting packet, reads, “This agreement is effective June 2, 2025 (“Effective Date”) through June 1, 2026 (“Term”). The PUD’s operation of the Town System under this ag...
I recently interviewed Carol Ervest for our 18th installment of Reader's Fave, a casual interview with someone who shares their favorite book. Carol lives in Deep River and is known throughout our county for her volunteer work and support in various endeavors. Carol shared the book "Deep River" by author Karl Marlantes, a historical saga about immigrants who leave Finland in the 1900s to get away from Russian authorities and come to the Pacific Northwest. When asked why she was drawn to this...
Today is Thursday, June 12, the 163rd day of 2025. There are 202 days left in the year. In 2016, a gunman opened fire at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, leaving 49 people dead and 53 wounded. Today in history: In 1939, the Baseball Hall of Fame was dedicated in Cooperstown, New York. In 1942, Anne Frank, a German-born Jewish girl living in Amsterdam, received a diary for her 13th birthday, less than a month before she and her family went into hiding from the Nazis. In 1963, civil rights leader Medgar Evers, 37, was shot and killed...
The Wahkiakum County Commissioners convened on Tuesday, June 10, for their regular meeting, where they approved a proclamation declaring June 21 as “Wahkiakum Ferry Day” in honor of the upcoming 100-year celebration of the Wahkiakum Ferry. Public Works Director Chuck Beyer presented the commissioners with a Certificate of Good Practice from the County Road Administration Board (CRAB). This certificate affirms that the County has met all legal standards and ensures the ongoing distribution of Wahkiakum County’s state gas tax allotments. Beyer...
Hello from your Sheriff! The Johnson Park Sheriff's Field Office has been open on Thursdays for a few weeks now with positive reception from our community. I have received many tips regarding traffic safety concerns and suspicious activity, which I have forwarded to the Deputies for increased patrols. Emergency Management Coordinator Austin Smith has also been able to answer questions regarding emergency response and preparedness during his time at the field office. I have enjoyed seeing all of...
We are very proud to have Ester Slovikova as our April Student of the Month. Ester is an exchange student from Slovakia. When she returns home she will have two more years of school before she graduates as they have 14 years of school in Slovakia. Ester is 17, and speaks four languages. She enjoys sports, skiing, and cheer. After high school she hopes to go into biology, medicine & biochemistry focusing on research. Pam Hongel is her exchange student MOM....
Saturday, June 14 is Flag Day, a day set aside to honor this vibrant symbol of our nation's history, ideals and the sacrifices made to protect them. For veterans and for the men and women of the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), Flag Day is not merely a holiday; it is a deeply personal and enduring reminder of our commitment, our losses and the true meaning of America. The story of Flag Day begins with a resolution passed by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777, declaring that "the flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and...
SUPER NICE. As last week ended and this one began, it was super nice outside and plenty warm. I’m not a heat lover, but for those who are, it looks like you’ll enjoy several days of sunny weather. By the time you read this, the hottest days should be behind us, and that won’t hurt my feelings any. The heat meant watering those plants a little extra this week, so I hope you didn’t forget, as it’s frustrating to buy a bunch of new plants or have a bunch of garden starts come up, only to have them all dry up, and you have to start over. Here’s to...
Wahkiakum County Fire District 3 serves the West End of the county, operating stations in Grays River on N. Hull Creek Road, Rosburg on Raistakka Road, and a small station on Salmon Creek Road. Their coverage area extends from KM Hill in the east to the Pacific County line in the west, including the portions of Salmon Creek that fall within Wahkiakum County. The department consists of approximately 25 volunteers, with eight to ten of them regularly responding to calls and attending training...
Has it really been a week? Time goes fast, it's said, when one's having fun; and, if by "fun," that means trenching the yard, construction projects, mowing, more mowing, and having to have Julie's black Ford trailered back to the Elochoman from Bunker Hill due to a mechanical malfunction, well then I've been full up with 'fun.' Thank you, Randy Coleman for the lift and the assistance. Porcupines in June? I know. Anyone having anything to do with trees, i.e. loggers, tree farmers, and the like,...
I have participated in disaster planning events and the role of gardens in an emergency. Clatskanie and Wahkiakum County have had a lot of practice between the 1996 and 2007 floods, the 2008 Christmas eve snowstorm, and various serious wind events. The earthquake is yet to come but could be very damaging. An active gardening community can’t be expected to provide food for all but can be a significant resource for the kinds of foods such as vegetables and fruit that won’t be shipped into an area in the initial recovery process. The fol...
