Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
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By Rick Nelson With news about the new coronavirus 2019-nCOV that originated in China turning into a worldwide pandemic, Wahkiakum County health officers addressed the issue at the Tuesday meeting of the Wahkiakum County Board of Commissioners. The virus started in animals and transferred itself to humans in Wuhan, China. It has since spread around the globe, infecting people with a pneumonia like illness. The risk to people in the lower Columbia region is low, said Wahkiakum County Health Officer Dr. Steven Krager. Health organizations and...
Wahkiakum County PUD Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday morning to listen to reports, and to discuss the Western Wahkiakum Water System and the General Manager’s compensation. The PUD has had to make some adjustments due to the slide on KM. One employee, who lives on the Westend, has been given a PUD truck for the duration, and is spending his days working over there. Logging companies have made it possible for the PUD to travel back and forth, and while General Manager Tramblie was grateful...
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will hold a workshop on hatchery reform, as well as consider land acquisitions and forest restoration projects in connection with its meeting Feb. 6-8. The commission’s work will kick off on Thursday at 8 a.m. with a workshop on the key findings of a recently completed report about hatchery reform. That report, “A review of hatchery reform science in Washington State,” can be found online at https://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/02121. The report examines scientific information on actions available to ha...
By Cameron Sheppard, WNPA News Service OLYMPIA (Jan. 30)--People will be asked to use a lot less gasoline and to convert to alternative clean fuels in the next 15 years if a proposal before the Legislature becomes law. After lengthy debate Jan. 30, Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1110 passed 54-44 in the House despite bipartisan opposition. Five Democratic lawmakers voted no. If it becomes law, the measure would direct the Department of Ecology to adopt a clean fuels program with the goal of limiting greenhouse gas emissions per unit of...
Wahkiakum County commissioners had a short but busy meeting Tuesday, covering lots of ground. Some of the topics addressed were: County staff are trying to arrange a meeting with the US Army Corps of Engineers dredging program staff to discuss projects on Puget Island and Grays Bay. Commissioner Dan Cothren said Corps staff haven't responded to the request for the meeting to discuss beach nourishment on Puget Island and a proposal to unplug the mouths of Grays and Deep river to reduce flooding in the Westend. Cothren added that Island beach no...
By Leona Vaughn, WNPA News Service OLYMPIA (Jan. 29)--A measure designed to protect the health, safety, and overall well-being of domestic workers in Washington state has been sponsored by Democratic senators at the request of Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson. If passed, SB 6247 would guarantee that domestic workers be paid at least minimum wage, which is $13.50 per hour according to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. Workers must also receive meal and rest breaks, and overtime pay, if applicable. The...
By Leona Vaughn, WNPA News Service OLYMPIA (Jan. 31)--The death penalty would no longer be a sentencing option in Washington state if lawmakers enact a bill passed by the Senate on Jan. 31. Senate Bill 5339 has bipartisan support to eliminate the death penalty — a punishment the Supreme Court ruled as unconstituional in 2018. Gov. Jay Inslee also put a moratorium on it in 2014. Instead of a death sentence, “all persons convicted of aggravated first degree murder must be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of release or par...
THURSDAY Cathlamet Fire Department, 7 p.m. Senior Citizen Luncheon, Hope Center, 3rd & Maple, Cathlamet, Noon. Senior Citizen Luncheon, Rosburg Hall, Noon. CathlameTones, Hotel Cathlamet, 6 p.m. Skamokawa Fire Department, 7 p.m. Grays River Fire Department, work night, 7:30 p.m. Puget Island Fire Department, drill night, 7 p.m. District No. 4 Fire Department, 7 p.m. Wahkiakum Fire District 2 Commissioners, Skamokawa Fire Hall, 7 p.m. Food Addicts Meeting, Hope Center, 3rd & Maple, Cathlamet, 6-7 p.m. Westside Play & Learn Group, Valley Bible...
By Cameron Sheppard, WNPA News Service OLYMPIA (Jan. 29)--Washington state legislators are organizing bipartisan support for the timber industry amid the realization that forestry draws carbon from the atmosphere and could help the state meet its carbon reduction goals. House Bill 2528 and companion Senate Bill 6355 intend to support the growth of forestry and promote the production and use of timber products in the state. Trees use carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as part of the photosynthesis and growth process. Some studies suggest that...
Single lane passage coming soon No public logging road detour Health department adapting Wednesday meeting cancelled WSDOT using past & present knowledge CATHLAMET (Jan. 28) -- Washington Department of Transportation engineers hope to have a single lane of traffic open soon around the slide blocking SR 4 on KM Mountain. "Soon" is probably next week but possibly as early as late this week. District Construction Engineer Christopher Tams said Tuesday he has hired a contractor to begin removing trees and other debris that have blocked the highway...
The Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon is offering free spay/neuter program for cats in the Wahkiakum County area during February. The coalition website (http://www.feralcats.com/) says services are no-cost for feral, stray, and barn cats (donations requested) and low-cost for pet cats, including vaccines. "We serve Oregon and SW Washington," the website says . One may telephone to coalition at 503-797-2606....
SR 4, west of Cathlamet remains closed because of a landslide near the eastern foot of KM Mountain. Washington State Department of Transportation Regional Communications Director Tamara Greenwell announced this progress report Friday afternoon: "While landslide cleanup work along State Route 4, about 9 miles west of Cathlamet, is underway, the highway will remain closed. Full cleanup and stabilization of the slide is likely to take months, but our primary goal is to open at least one lane of...
GRAYS RIVER (Jan. 27) -- Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has indicated to those who travel State Route 4 near West Fork Creek on the east side of KM Mountain should plan ahead for a prolonged closure. Last Thursday, a good sized portion of an adjacent hillside slid carrying rocks, mud and trees onto the roadway at mile point 25.5. On Friday, WSDOT personnel at the site said the hillside is actively moving and too unstable and saturated from heavy rainfall to safely clear an...
Any possible criticism about the school bond that may have surfaced at the Wahkiakum School District Board of Directors meeting last Wednesday was drowned out by the show of support from the crowd in attendance. Here are the comments from the public: Two people had words of caution about cutting corners. Tim Emerson, who had taken a tour of the high school the day before, said he had worked in the construction industry, remodeling schools. He spoke of his experience at another school district...
By Leona Vaughn, WNPA News Service OLYMPIA (Jan. 24) -- Gun magazines that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition would be outlawed under a proposed law moving through the state Senate. Supporters cite safety concerns, while opponents argue the measure, which cleared the Senate Committee on Law and Justice on Thursday, Jan. 23, would place new restrictions on Washington residents’ right to bear arms. SB 6077, sponsored by 14 Democratic senators, would make it illegal to possess what the bill would define as a high-capacity magazine in most i...
THURSDAY Community Center, Cathlamet, 9 a.m.-Noon. TOPS, Community Center, Cathlamet, 6-7:15 p.m. Sandra Sews, Community Center, Cathlamet, 10:30-Noon. Walking Group, Community Center, Cathlamet, 9 a.m. Book Club, Community Center, Cathlamet, 11 a.m. AA Meeting, The Hope Center, 3rd & Maple, Cathlamet, 7 p.m. Senior Citizen Luncheon, The Hope Center, 3rd & Maple, Cathlamet, Noon. Senior Citizen Luncheon, Rosburg Hall, Noon. Senior Fitness & Balance Class, Hope Center, 3rd & Maple,12:45-1:45 p.m. CathlameTones, Hotel Cathlamet, 6 p.m. Grays...
By Cameron Sheppard, WNPA News Service OLYMPIA (Jan. 24) -- Washington state lawmakers will consider a gradual transition from the state’s current gasoline tax to a system that would charge drivers fees based on how many miles they travel. This comes amid rising concerns over the amount of revenue available to fund transportation and the maintenance of roads and highways due to increasing fuel-efficiency among vehicles, as well as concerns that owners of older and less fuel-efficient vehicles are carrying a larger tax burden. The House T...
By Cameron Sheppard, WNPA News Service OLYMPIA (Jan. 23) -- Legislation requested by the governor's office and supported by Democratic senators aims to ban flavored nicotine vaping products and impose sweeping regulations on the vaping industry. If passed, Senate Bill 6254 would limit the nicotine concentration of vape products, ban certain flavoring chemicals and require vape manufacturers, distributors and retailers to obtain licenses from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board. The bill would also give the board authority to inspect...
Here's the Monday update from the Washington State Department of Transportation about efforts to clear the slide blocking SR 4 on KM Mountain: • On Saturday, high wind and rain delayed tree removal. • Crews did not work on Sunday. • On Monday, crews began removing the final four trees and getting the disposal site prepared to haul debris. • Crews plan to begin debris removal as early as Tuesday, though the area could get another 2-3 inches of rain in the next couple of days. This work is weather dependent, and these are not ideal conditi...
My apologies. So many details to try to get right in last week's story about the Wahkiakum School District's 22-year $28.75 million bond to renovate the high school that I completely forgot a really important one, the one that will affect voters in the district. The district is estimating that if the bond passes, the tax increase would be about $3.37 per $1,000 of assessed property value. According to Wahkiakum County Assessor Bill Coons, the median home in Wahkiakum County is $250,000. That...
SR 4 will be closed for an undetermined time because of a landslide blocking the highway near the eastern base of KM Mountain. The slide occurred late Thursday afternoon, dumping debris over a stretch of pavement at approximately milepost 25. Because of the amount of material on the highway, SR 4 will remain closed until Washington State Department of Transportation Geo-Technical engineers can examine the hillside and determine what work needs to be done to reopen the highway. Geo-techs came to...
Washington Department of Transportation engineers hope to have a single lane of traffic open soon around the slide blocking SR 4 on KM Mountain. "Soon" is probably next week but possibly as early as late this week. District Construction Engineer Christopher Tams said Tuesday he has hired a contractor to begin removing trees and other debris that have blocked the highway since last Thursday afternoon. Crews would mobilize Tuesday and Wednesday at each side of the slide and begin working toward each other, he said. The rate of progress will...
By Diana Zimmerman The Broadband Committee met Monday for an update from the Wahkiakum PUD on the project to provide broadband for the east side of Wahkiakum County. PUD General Manager David Tramblie said that the PUD had determined GPS coordinates for poles in the county east of KM and sent that information to Noanet, who has been working on a broadband feasibility study for them, paid by a grant from the Community Economic Revitalization Board. Noanet is currently focused on mapping out the i...
By Rick Nelson The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is considering lowering speed limits on SR 4 through Rosburg and Grays River. The department is also considering modifications to the speed limits on SR 409 as it comes off the Puget Island bridge. The county board of commissioners on Tuesday heard a request to send an email to WSDOT agreeing to support lowering the speed limit to 45 mile per hour through Grays River and also establish a no passing zone there. After much discussion, the board agreed to delay a vote on the...
"My dad would say, 'There is always a job that needs doing. Be the one who gets it done,'" Suzanne Holmes said. "He was always encouraging us to start. 'You don't know where it's going to take you. You can't see the finish or you don't think you're going to finish first. Start.'" Holmes is a busy volunteer in Wahkiakum County. Her activities over the years have been so many and so varied that they are unlikely to all be listed here, but it's that drive, and her work with a local summer lunch...
