Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
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The Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday that it is postponing the Bald Eagle Day festival to July, 2021, because of complications and concerns from the covid-19 pandemic. Chamber members are trying to brainstorm some activities to keep the festival spirit alive this year. The Chamber will sponsor a Bald Eagle Days photo contest during the week of July 13-17 to mark the occasion. "We are then going to have a contest for best pictures that represent what Bald Eagle Day means to this community," said Stephanie Moonen, Chamber...
By Rick Nelson Wahkiakum County could move to the less restrictive Phase 3 covid-19 opening, if county officials get their way. On Tuesday morning, Chris Bischoff, director of Wahkiakum County Health and Human Services (H&HS) told the board of commissioners he would present the request for a variance from state mandated restrictions later that day to the state secretary of Health. "All our neighbors are in Phase 2 now," he said. "We have been good; we've had no new cases for two weeks. "But the state hasn't prepared the guideline for Phase 3,...
As of Tuesday night the number of people to test positive for covid-19 in Wahkiakum remained at four, with 101 tested. Cowlitz County had 73 positive cases, Pacific County had nine. Across the river, Columbia County had 16 cases, and the number of positive cases in Clatsop County had risen to 45. “It started really with the fish packing plant, but they are having more cases that are unrelated,” Director of Health and Human Services Chris Bischoff said of Clatsop County on Friday. “So they are h...
The school year is beginning to wind down for the teachers, students, and parents of Wahkiakum School District, who have experienced a rather unusual period of remote learning brought on by a pandemic. It has been eye opening for parents, and a learning experience for all involved at J.A. Wendt Elementary and John C. Thomas Middle Schools. One thing is certain. These teachers care for and miss their students, and some of them have been working longer hours, and harder, to make sure students are...
Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, all county buildings are closed to the public and 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. Wahkiakum Conservation District, teleconference meeting, Mon., June 1, 4 p.m. Contact Darin Houpt at 360-355-3514....
A 37-foot Tolleycraft boat with two people on board ran ashore along the Columbia River in the Altoona area sometime in the early morning hours on Sunday. A deputy sheriff and medics from the Grays River Fire Department responded. The pair were cleared medically and transported to the Rosburg Store. The U.S. Coast Guard has taken over the investigation. Photos courtesy of Darrell Trotter....
Wahkiakum County Port 1 Commissioners met last Thursday to discuss the annual boat show, a possible multifunctional building, a grant application, and water at County Line Park. According to Port Manager Jackie Lea, Wooden Boat Show organizers Julius Dalzell and Allen Bennett were looking for guidance from commissioners about whether to move forward with this year's event. After some discussion, commissioners decided to take a wait and see approach. Dalzell and Bennett had also approached the...
After a lot of discussion on Monday, the Wahkiakum County Fair Board voted to move in a new direction this summer with a virtual county fair, because of all the uncertainty surrounding covid-19 and when it will be safe for people to gather again. What that will look like is anybody’s guess, but with the fair board determined to move forward, we will all get a chance to find out. “Whatever happens, we’re going to have some kind of fair,” one person said. “It’s just not going to be what we’re...
Skamokawa Vista Park will open to camping beginning May 28, Jeff Smith, manager for Port District 2, announced Tuesday. The park has been closed to camping as part of the social distancing closures mandated by Gov. Jay Inslee to slow the spread of the covid-19 virus. The park reopened to daytime use last week. On Tuesday, Smith reported to the Port 2 board of commissioners that staff have been able to make grounds keeping progress and improvements to restrooms while the park was closed to the public. Camping will be limited as park staff await...
As of Tuesday night, the number of positive cases for covid-19 in Wahkiakum County remained at four, with 88 people having been tested, according to the Washington Department of Health. In Pacific County, the number of positive cases was nine, with one death reported. To the east in Cowlitz County, 69 people have tested positive for the virus. Across the river in Oregon, there were 38 positive cases in Clatsop County and 16 in Columbia County. On Friday, Director of Health and Human Services...
The Wahkiakum School District Board of Directors met Tuesday night to approve several items, listen to presentations from the technology director and the business manager, and get updates about graduation, the food program, and the conversation about the coming school year. With the Washington State legislature facing a possible $7 billion deficit, Superintendent Brent Freeman said, the talk about Wahkiakum receiving a $13-15 million bump to help renovate the high school was unlikely. “I d...
The Cathlamet Town Council covered lots of ground when they met Monday, with topics ranging from CARES Act funding and swimming pool to maintenance of town parks. The town will receive $25,000 in CARES Act funds which can be used in a variety of ways to respond to the covid-19 pandemic. Council members said they were unclear of specifics governing their use. "I haven't looked at the fine print, but in most instances, the council has some discretion," said town attorney Fred Johnson, adding he would be happy analyze the specifics for the...
As Washington state responds to the covid-19 pandemic, the Washington Legislature will have to address a huge revenue shortfall in a special session later this year, Sen. Dean Takko, D-Dist. 19, told local officials at a Tuesday roundtable meeting. Because of the covid-19 pandemic, "Everything is up in the air," Takko said. "The process for opening up society and the economy is confusing, Takko said. "I'm hearing about it. I've been told some natural resource activities will open up in a few days. "In the big picture, the budget is way out of...
Because of the start of a water main replacement construction project, Columbia Street will be closed approximately from Jacobson Road to SR 4 starting next Tuesday. A contractor working for the Town of Cathlamet will replace a water main that runs partway down the street and cuts off across timbered area and a creek. The line is old and subject to leaks and difficult to access. The new line will continue along the street and branch off eastward along SR 4. Wahkiakum County has also planned to widen Columbia Street in that vicinity; the water...
The Wahkiakum PUD Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday morning to listen to reports, discuss feedback from the community about their recent public hearing on a proposed financial consolidation, and authorize a contract with a new consultant for their broadband project. Town of Cathlamet Council Member David Olson asked the PUD to help the town’s efforts in obtaining a grant to install a Level 3 Electric Vehicle charging station locally by determining how much it would cost to bring power to t...
Candidates finished filing for 2020 elections last Friday with Wahkiakum County set for two races for positions on the county board of commissioners. As of Friday, filings included: County Commissioner #1, Mike Backman, incumbent, Independent, and Lee Tischer, Independent. Backman is running for his third term, and Tischer is a present member of the board of commissioners of Wahkiakum Port District 2 and a former member of the Wahkiakum School District board of directors. County Commissioner #2, Dan L. Cothren, incumbent, Independent; Tim Lawry...
Submitted by Supt. Lisa Nelson The Naselle/Grays River Valley School District Board of Directors met virtually for its monthly meeting on May 19 at 6:30 p.m. This was the second virtual meeting of the board by virtue of Governor Inslee’s mandate regarding open public meetings. After approval of the consent agenda, the board acknowledged the resignations of Steve Doyle, K-12 Principal and Qin Xia, Mandarin teacher. The board approved the contracts for summer school teachers at the Naselle Youth Camp School (NYCS), as well as the hire of G...
There will be no public Memorial Day Ceremony at Greenwood Cemetery on May 25. The event, hosted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Wahkiakum Post #5297, which pays tribute to those men and women that made the ultimate sacrifice for this great country, will not take place out of concerns for public safety due to the coronavirus. The Post will decorate the graves of veterans so friends and relatives may decide to visit in private. The poppy distribution event which normally takes place during the Memorial Weekend is postponed until after the...
In last week's edition, we printed a photo of a small bird tentatively identified as a Tree Sparrow. In an email, one reader wondered if the bird were a Violet Green Swallow. On Friday, we found the following note from a different reader taped to the front door of The Eagle's office: "Photo is not a Tree Sparrow, it's a Tree Swallow. I already have three pairs nesting . . . " Thank you, readers....
On May 18, Pacific County Deputy Health Officer, Dr. Steven Krager and Grays Harbor County Health Officer, Dr. John Bausher issued a joint letter to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) indicating their support for a resumption of the recreational razor clam season on May 21, 26, and 28. Dr. Krager also issued, as part of his phased order, a specific order that allowed the season to resume with agreement from WDFW. On May 19, a decision was made at the state level that “razor clam digs bring thousands of people to travel to t...
As Wahkiakum County moves into a Phase 2 opening from covid-19 restrictions, the county's two port districts are taking different steps in allowing camping at their facilities. Port District 2 is allowing day use only at Skamokawa Vista Park, with a possibility of allowing overnight camping later this month. Port District 1 has started allowing camping at the Elochoman Slough Marina but had ribboned off County Line Park for day use only going into last weekend. Lee Tischer, a member of the Port...
Local church leaders have been embracing new technologies to bring messages of comfort to parishioners who are longing for communion with their church family while staying home to protect them during a pandemic. Ken Cummings, pastor at River of Life Assembly of God in Cathlamet, is enjoying the challenge, learning how to use Facebook Live, Zoom, and more to keep his church members engaged and together, even if it is from home, in front of their computers. “We’re all getting a crash course in...
As of Tuesday night, four people had tested positive for covid-19 in Wahkiakum County, according to the Washington State Department of Health website. Sixty-five people have been tested. Pacific County had nine positive cases and one death reported. Cowlitz County has 66 reported cases. Across the river, Clatsop County reported 33 cases, while Columbia County was at 15. On Monday, Chris Bischoff, the Director of Wahkiakum Health and Human Services, said he had recently spoken with the Secretary...
Wahkiakum County officials discussed Tuesday their next moves to deal with covid-19 virus, issues ranging from the fate of the county fair to installation of sneeze screens in courthouse offices. Even with news that the state Department of Health has approved the county moving to a Phase 2 re-opening, the officials are wary of a continuing threat of the pandemic. "It seems like we will go to Phase 3 faster than any other place in the state," said county Health & Human Services Director Chris Bischoff, "if we can keep our cases under control and...
Candidates have begun filing for 2020 elections; the regular filing period ends tomorrow (Friday). Wahkiakum County positions on the ballot include County Commissioner #1, County Commissioner #2, Wahkiakum PUD Commissioner #1, and all Precinct Committee Officer (PCO) positions for both the Democratic and Republican parties. Also on the ballot are District 19 senator and representatives, US House of Representatives, Pacific/Wahkiakum Superior Court, and state Supreme Court. As of Tuesday, filings included: County Commissioner #1, Mike Backman,...
