Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Sorted by date Results 3082 - 3106 of 9889
Wahkiakum County on Friday received word from the state Department of Health that the county can move to a Phase 3 opening status. Some guideline details remain to be worked out, sad Chris Bischoff, county Director of Health and Human Services. Following is the text from John Wiesman, state secretary of health: June 5, 2020 Chris Bischoff, Director Wahkiakum Health and Human Services 64 Main Street Cathlamet, Washington 989612 Dear Director Bischoff: I am in receipt of the Wahkiakum County’s COVID-19 application requesting approval to fully i...
As of Tuesday night, 110 people in Wahkiakum County had been tested for covid-19, and the number to test positive remained at four according to the Washington Department of Health. Pacific County held steady at nine, while the number of positive cases had gone up to 74 in Cowlitz County. Across the river, there were 45 positive cases in Clatsop County and 16 in Columbia County. As for a potential bump because of any Memorial Day festivities or gatherings, Bischoff estimates that Tuesday or...
Town of Cathlamet officials have backed away from a Monday evening announcement that the town swimming pool wouldn't open for the 2020 season. Instead, the council is seeking public opinion about opening the pool or keeping it closed for the summer, and the council will vote on the issue at their June 15 meeting. On Monday night, Mayor Dale Jacobson announced that the pool wouldn't open this season. He said he had discussed the issue with Clerk/Treasurer Sarah Clark, and given the uncertainty and requirements of dealing with the covid-19...
Members of the Cathlamet Town Council acted on an update of the town's comprehensive plan and debated change order procedures and how to allocate CARES Act funds when they met Monday. The council voted 3-2 to extend their contract with the Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Council of Governments (COG) for plan development by $4,500 for a total of $13,500. COG Executive Director Bill Fashing said the initial contract envisioned a quick, uncomplicated update, but there had been lots of input from council members,...
The Wahkiakum PUD Board of Commissioners met briefly on Tuesday to listen to reports. General Manager Dave Tramblie said that the tree trimming contractor and the pole testing bids were on hold until the current health issue was resolved. The PUD line crew is replacing outdated conductors on East Valley Road. They completed one 1,200 foot section a couple weeks ago, and are planning to do another 1,200 feet. There is another project planned at the Rosburg Community Hall where they will remove...
In last week's edition, we mixed up two organizations, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. On the front page photo, VFW Post 5297 cancelled their Memorial Day Ceremony, placed the flags on the graves, and played taps on Memorial Day. On page 4, Skamokawa, second paragraph, the error was repeated. Again, it was VFW Post 5297 that dealt with Greenwood Cemetery. American Legion Post 111 dealt with decorating most of the cemeteries on the Westend....
From the Washington State Governor's Office Gov. Jay Inslee announced last Friday the expansion of "Safe Start — Washington’s Phased Reopening Plan." The expansion came as the current Stay Home, Stay Healthy order ended midnight Sunday. The expansion moves Washington through the phased reopening on a county-by-county basis. With this new approach, counties will have more flexibility to demonstrate they can safely allow additional economic activity based on targeted metrics. The plan also lists new directives, including a mandate that bus...
Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday approved a budget for spending a large portion of their federal CARES Act funding to address issues arising from the covid-19 pandemic. Commissioners had planned to approve a formal request to the state Department of Health asking that the county be moved to Phase 3 restrictions for covid-19, However, DOH application timing led the board to adjourn the meeting to Wednesday morning (as The Eagle went to press) for approval and later submission to DOH. The county received $250,000 in CARES Act funds, and...
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....
Remains discovered by boaters on May 22, washed up along the shore of the Columbia River about a mile east of Nassa Point, have been identified as James V. Ponto, 49, of Portland. The remains were recovered by the Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s Department and the Coroner’s Office. Because of the state of the remains, they were transported to the Washington State Forensic Anthropologist for scientific examination, and were identified through dental records. Ponto’s abandoned automobile was found near a beach on Sauvie Island on December 2, 2019....
Memorial Day at Greenwood Cemetery. Flags marked the graves of veterans. Despite the cancellation of the annual memorial day program by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5297, Esther Roche appeared on behalf of the post and played Taps. Photos by Rick Nelson....
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...
