Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
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During the monthly Clatskanie Chamber of Commerce meeting last Thursday, Workforce Economist Shaun Barrick, representing the State of Oregon Employment Department, gave a presentation regarding labor market information and economic updates and indicators specific to Clatskanie. “Most of my time is spent doing data requests,” said Barrick. “A business owner, chamber group, government official, anybody who has a question, (if) they need some data, they give me a call and I can help them out.” Discussing themes like the decline in unemployment, po...
High School wrestling is off the mats and onto the offseason for Washington schools, and this year, both Naselle and Wahkiakum had athletes representing them at the state championships in Tacoma. The Mat Classic XXXVI Boys & Girls Wrestling Championships played out at the Tacoma Dome on Feb. 21-22, and both programs saw wrestlers win matches and score points for their schools. Wahkiakum Three Mules wrestled at the Tacoma Dome on different ends of the age spectrum. For Senior Marlon Aparicio,...
Few flowers are as nostalgic and charming as ornamental sweet peas, Lathyrus odoratus. Their delicate petals, ruffled blooms, and intoxicating fragrance evoke memories of cottage gardens, grandmother’s bouquets, and trellises dripping with color. Whether grown for cut flowers or to add vertical interest to the garden, sweet peas are a must-have for any gardener who loves beauty and scent. Their vegetable counterparts are as delicious as the flower varieties are beautiful, but be cautious not to confuse the two uses. Sweet peas have been c...
Recently, I interviewed Sheriff John Mason of Wahkiakum county for our fifth installment of Reader’s Fave, a casual talk with someone who shares their favorite book. As we chatted, John shared that as a young boy he enjoyed watching an animated T.V. series which was an adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s book, The Hobbit. However, at the time, he didn’t have any idea about the book upon which the series was built. During these younger years, John also liked going to movies and watching various fantas...
Cathlamet City Council meetings have been available via Zoom and, until recently, on YouTube following the proceedings. During the March 3 session, Mayor David Olson, Cathlamet City Councilmembers and the public discussed the possibility of bringing the sessions back up on YouTube. Citing a prepared address to begin the topic, Mayor Olson said, "The recording and archiving of video recordings at Town Council has never been an official Town's means of communication to which citizens are entitled... No other governing body of Wahkiakum County mai...
WILD AND MISERABLE. After I turned in my column last week, the storm that we were expecting definitely showed up and boy did it ever pack a wallop. For many, there was plenty of wind and rain, but you didn't get the brunt of it like most of us did that were west of Cathlamet, as a major power line lead came down and kept a good chunk of us without power for twelve hours. This is one of those times when you get to test out just how prepared you are for a situation like this. We have been warned repeatedly to "be ready" but are we really? Being...
Sewing is a useful skill that somehow seems to be unknown by kids today. For that reason, high-school teacher Amanda Tomkins, in the winter of 2024, started her own sewing class for the students at Clatskanie Middle High School (CMHS). Mrs. Tompkins said she put up a notice for donations regarding the sewing expenses, which got her more than she could handle. A sewing machine is about $150 dollars, and she recieved about $2,000 in donations. She hasn’t had to pay for supplies out of her own pocket, all thanks to the considerate community of C...
On Saturday, Feb. 15, Clatskanie High School junior Joey Sizemore scored career point 1,000 in a girls basketball game against Faith Bible in Hillsboro. Hitting 1,000 career points, Joey said, is “a milestone that not many people reach.” In fact, only two other female Tigers, Shelby Blodgett and Olivia Sprague, are on record for achieving this mark; both graduated in 2021. How does one reach this career milestone? Scoring that many points in basketball involves lots of training and pra...
During last month's City Council meeting, Clatskanie City Manager Greg Hinkelman gave a lengthy report, citing several items. The first of these was an update on the recruitment of a Public Works Director. Hinkelman noted they had "two bites" and that recruitment will close on March 8. Hinkelman then mentioned that he and Councilmember Russel Finney-Leggroan went to the legislature and “rattled the cages of the House and Senate" regarding grant money. According to Hinkelman, he and Finney-Leggroan focused on representatives working on c...
The long-term impacts of recent staff cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are still unknown, but fishery managers on the West Coast called the situation troubling. On Thursday, NOAA laid off more than 800 workers as the Trump administration continues its push to reduce the federal workforce. West Coast lawmakers have warned that the cuts — and the potential for more layoffs in the future — could endanger lives and threaten maritime commerce and the fishing industry. NOAA manages federal tribal, commercial and rec...
Friends of Skamokawa Organization is celebrating 40 years in 2025. A special thanks goes out to all community members throughout the years who have made this all possible. Our mission is "to promote, support and enhance the Skamokawa Historic District through the interpretation of its natural and human history." Over the years volunteers, grants, membership, the Road Scholar Program, and public support have kept this mission alive. We are here to share local history with pictorial displays and reflections of a rivertown. Thank you for your patr...
Before I get started this week, I'd just like to once again thank the folks who have come up and said how much they enjoy the new column. Not that my 'journalistic ego' needs stroking, but it is nice to know that (1) people are reading the pieces and (2) for some of them, it's apparently dredging up some fond memories from back in the day. A time when things were simpler; not necessarily easier, but simpler. Before Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Al Gore's Internet, and the time, as Merle Haggard...
I recently interviewed Ken Johnson of Wahkiakum West for our fourth installment of Reader's Fave. This casual chat allows a community member to talk about their favorite book and share what they like about it. Ken shared that, as a boy, he'd read books such as the Hardy Boys series. However, he had never read a long novel, preferring works that immerse the reader in the book and its mood. Ken remembers that it must have been around eighth grade in Ohio when his older brother introduced him to...
Last fall, The Eagle released "Emergency Preparedness in Wahkiakum County," a four-part series of articles written by local resident Shirley Rheault and DEM (Department of Emergency Management) Coordinator Austin Smith. From preparing a last-minute evacuation list to being "two weeks ready," these articles provided tips for individuals and families in the event of a major emergency. At the request of District 2 County Commissioner Dan Cothren, Rheault and Smith made a presentation during the...
Bills dealing with cow burps, the state flag, and changes to police traffic stop standards are among the first to land in the legislative graveyard this year in Olympia. This session, lawmakers in the state House and Senate have introduced nearly 1,800 bills. To stay alive, much of that legislation needed to get voted out of policy committees by Friday. Next week, more bills will join the cemetery as a Feb. 28 deadline arrives for legislation to pass out of fiscal and transportation committees in the chamber where it originated. From there, bil...
The Wahkiakum County PUD Commissioners met on Tuesday, Feb. 25, for their regularly scheduled meeting. Jamie Samms was appointed to the Johnson Park Board unanimously. The Fairgrounds Horse Arena Footing Project had a change to be made to the contract; the soil depth in the horse arena did not meet the minimum requirements. An additional $9,960 plus tax was added to the contract for the additional soil, which will be covered by the initial grant. Public Work Director Chuck Beyer presented the commissioners with quotes on rock and asphalt...
Today is Thursday, Feb. 27, the 58th day of 2025. There are 307 days left in the year. Today in history: On Feb. 27, 1933, Germany’s parliament building, the Reichstag, was gutted by fire; Chancellor Adolf Hitler, blaming communists, used the fire to justify suspending civil liberties. Also on this date: In 1942, the Battle of the Java Sea began during World War II; Imperial Japanese naval forces scored a decisive victory over the Allies. In 1951, the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, limiting a president to two terms in office, was r...
Recently, I interviewed Stephanie Leitz of Puget Island for our third installment of Reader's Fave. This is a casual talk with someone who shares their favorite book. Right at the start, Stephanie said, "Picking a favorite book is really difficult for me as I love whatever I am reading." This quickly became apparent. However, Stephanie did share that her recent favorite book was "The Women" by Kristin Hannah, a book about the women nurses serving during the Vietnam war. Incidentally, this book...
This Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2, Little Island Creamery (448 E. Little Island Rd.) will be hosting the "Big River" Book Festival. Promoted as "a celebration and showcase of authors of the Pacific Coast," this free event will feature over 30 authors, a youth writing contest, workshops and demonstrations, refreshments and concessions, and keynote addresses. Doors open at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by a keynote address by Portland Poet Emmet Wheatfall at noon. A youth open mic will take place from 2 - 4 p.m. Writers ages 18 and under are...
I am excited to be sharing a series of articles over the coming months that will highlight public servants and the wide range of services available in Wahkiakum County. I will start with the Department of Health and Human Services, as they play a crucial role in our community by offering a comprehensive set of services. By showcasing their work, I hope to increase awareness and appreciation for the important contributions they make to our county. Every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the office at Johnson Park opens its doors to the public,...
Following interviews of the three finalists, the Naselle-Grays River Valley School District (NGRVSD) Board of Directors selected Josh Brooks by a majority vote to be the next NGRVSD superintendent. Brooks has been the Principal at Morton Elementary School for the past 21 years. He is scheduled to begin his new position as the NGRVSD superintendent on July 1 ,2025. The other two finalists were Mark Westley and Ralph Watkins. Westley was employed as a math teacher at Centralia Middle School for over two decades and, in addition to serving on the...
Earlier this month, the Wahkiakum County Eagle welcomed author Kirk McKnight on as the newspaper's editor. McKnight has spent the last three years working as staff writer, associate editor and, ultimately, editor for The Wickenburg Sun, a weekly newspaper in southwest Arizona. "It's definitely a climate shift for my family and me," said McKnight. "Back in Arizona, when you see a puddle, you immediately assume something's leaking. The amount of rain I've seen since moving here, I told my family back in Las Vegas I wondered if the Columbia River...
On the west end of Wahkiakum County, the Johnson Park Community Center (JPCC) has become a beacon of community spirit where volunteers are rolling up their sleeves to preserve and improve this vital gathering space. Originally built as the Rosburg School in 1937 on land donated by the Johnson family in 1935, the site served generations of students before being transformed into a community center in the late 1980s. Since then, it has remained a focal point for local activities, offering various programs that bring people together. Recent...
