Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Sorted by date Results 2557 - 2581 of 2595
To The Eagle: Thank you, Leon and Linda Gollersrud for encouraging the local people to speak up on Steve McClain's behalf. I guess we're all waiting for an explanation from the commissioners for their reasoning in firing him. I guess that is not going to happen. As previous business owners, we were very much aware of the extra revenue Steve helped to bring to our community. We also remember when he was first employed at the park, there was nothing there. Steve has helped to make Vista Park a fun and thriving place where people love to come. He...
To The Eagle: Like many other users of Vista Park, my family and I were very disappointed to hear of Steve McClain's termination. I grew up in Skamokawa, my dad Burtell Anderson and Jim Oatfield were on the school board when the first dredgings of sand were piled on the beach. At that time, a group of volunteers cut brush and used a Cat donated by Grays River Logging to expand the usable property of the Skamokawa Grade School. Later after the school had closed, we, like many others, started camping at the new park. Steve's mom was in charge at...
To The Eagle: On March 3, at 6 p.m., at the Knappa High School gym, we had an opportunity to applaud Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality for doing the right thing regarding, we hope, the imminent demise of Northern Star's preposterous LNG project. Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality continues to refuse to bow to Northern Star's demands. ('Bradwood dealt triple permit blow' The Daily Astorian, February 23). For this courageous act, we are extremely grateful. Would that other public agencies, assigned to protect our...
To The Eagle: I too was deeply saddened by the arbitrary dismissal of Port District 2 manager Steve McClain. My family has enjoyed his friendship for more than 10 years. I don't care who you are, if you were engaged in conversation with Steve, the discussion invariably made its way to his vision for the Vista Park. So infectious was his love and enthusiasm for his life's work, I found myself asking how I could get involved. We started by relocating the horseshoe pits and last year added a second set to aid in tournament play. About five years a...
To The Eagle: In last week's paper, Richard Erickson was reported as stating that people who buy waterfront property across from the Wauna paper mill do not mind the mill's noise, lights and smell. This is false. Q.U.I.E.T. (Quell Unlawful Illegal Emissions Today) sent an anti-noise petition with 18 property owner's signatures to the mill in 2008. Prior to that, other property owners complained about the bright lights. Most of the sentiment is apathetic; you know, its worthless to fight it. What I hear, when I have conversations with most...
To The Eagle: I've attended a couple of town and county LNG-related meetings wherein the Sheriff's Office indicated it may double its force to provide security for LNG tankers in the Columbia River. Now that I found out a little bit about it, I don't get it. Why would we (the county) go into a new line of business even if it didn't cost us anything? The Coast Guard was on record in their water suitability study that they could accommodate LNG tanker traffic. Even though they might not want to, they are qualified to do all of the security work a...
To The Eagle: In last week's paper, Richard Erickson was reported as stating that people who buy waterfront property across from the Wauna paper mill do not mind the mill's noise, lights and smell. This is false. Q.U.I.E.T. (Quell Unlawful Illegal Emissions Today) sent an anti-noise petition with 18 property owner's signatures to the mill in 2008. Prior to that, other property owners complained about the bright lights. Most of the sentiment is apathetic; you know, its worthless to fight it. What I hear, when I have conversations with most...
To The Eagle: I recently heard some sad news; the manager of the Port of Wahkiakum had been terminated. I am writing this letter to express how much of an asset Steve McClain is to your community. We at Pro-Tech Industries have been camping at Skamokawa Vista for approximately 20 years. Each year we bring 100-200 people to the area. As our group grew, Steve would ask us to support his efforts to improve the park. We started out by repairing the canopies that had wind damage and buying a new canvas top, as there was another group that had been...
To The Eagle: I was shocked and saddened to hear the news that Steve McClain had been “let go” as Port Manager 2 this past week. Steve has dedicated 29 years of his life to Skamokawa Vista Park starting in 1981 with only 15 campsites. During those 29 years, he has written numerous grants to help develop the park into about 55 overnight camping sites and a new boat launch on Puget Island at Svensen Park. Steve has developed personal relationships with campers to the point of campers donating time and labor to put up the yurts, volunteering to...
To The Eagle: On behalf of the student body, staff and board of directors of the Wahkiakum School District, I would like to extend our gratitude to our voters for passing our 4-year replacement maintenance and operations levy. Your vote of confidence and the investment of your hard earned dollars are not taken lightly. We at your schools will remain committed to providing the highest quality of education possible, where kids have a safe and caring environment in which to learn. Special gratitude goes to the JA Wendt Elementary PTO, the...
To The Eagle: On behalf of all the Naselle-Grays River Valley School District students and staff, I express our appreciation for your support in the Maintenance & Operation Levy. These are challenging times we live in. It is refreshing to see a community support the education of the young people with an excellent voter turnout and an overwhelming “yes” vote. Daily I witness parent and community volunteers come into our schools to work with students one-on-one and in small groups. With this kind of support, it is easy to see why Naselle Sch...
To The Eagle: Last week's Eagle brought to mind an old favorite T-shirt epigram, "I am their leader. Which way did they go?" A front page article has Congressman Baird indicating that federal economic stimulus money helped with jobs when in fact the hemorrhaging never slowed and the fed lied outrageously about it. This is the congressman who voiced some reasonable views on both the Iraq war and health care that were contrary to the party line extant in the Kingdom of Obama, so he has chosen to quit and put in a year of lame duck...
To The Eagle: In 1912 some simple language amended our State’s constitution and created the initiative process. Ninety-eight years later, the process has rendered our state almost ungovernable by shifting power to a narrow spectrum of people whose aim is not to govern, but to strangle government altogether. Initiatives are a big business in Washington. Since 2002, nearly $7.2 million has been paid to companies whose only business is gathering signatures to put measures on the ballot – and these measures always promise lower taxes. Som...
To The Eagle: February is Teen Dating and Violence Awareness Prevention month. Dating violence is personal and so is preventing it. Each one of us can make a difference by talking about abuse and bringing it out of the shadows. Is one of your friends in an unhealthy relationship? Have you talked to your teen about dating violence? Do you know someone who might be abusive? Have a heart-to-heart. Don't be afraid to tell a friend that you are concerned for them and want to help. Acknowledge and validate their feelings about their relationship....
I would never use the term "lame duck" to describe Representative Brian Baird. In the 16 years he has served this area and this district in Congress Baird has done so much to get federal agencies to pay attention to local concerns and so much to get the Washington establishment to pay attention to constituent concerns that the words "duck" and "lame" don't apply. However, that term is used to describe an elected official who is nearing the end of his term and apparently has limited effectiveness, and he is starting to resemble parts of that...
To The Eagle: Boy, oh boy, are we ever in the big time now! Just think of it - our very own commissioners and sheriff negotiating behind closed doors on a matter of national security. Heady stuff, but it gets a little complicated for some of us simple country folk to sort out. Here's a stab at it: Kristin Lee writes a letter warning us that all these secret security negotiations may not be a perfectly wonderful idea; in fact, could be a financial and environmental disaster. Then the sheriff and commissioners come out of their secret session...
To The Eagle: Did you know that 1.5 million teens experience abuse in their relationships each year? That equals roughly one in three teens becoming victim to verbal, emotional, physical and sexual abuse. In fact, females between 16 and 24 experience the highest rates of relationship violence. Teen relationships are just as important and complex as those of adults. They are not just "puppy love" or "kids being kids." Abuse in teen relationships is not just unhealthy; it can be scary and very dangerous. Research shows that it has a major impact...
To The Eagle: I wish to disagree respectfully with Richard Erickson’s assertion that all of us who have to work for a living and are raising children here hope for the LNG plant to be built. Somehow left out of the discussion are the jobs which will be negatively impacted by an LNG plant at Bradwood. I happen to have one. I have earned a living as a kayak guide out of Skamokawa since 1998. I’m currently part owner of Columbia River Kayaking, along with six other local guides. My job may be modest compared to a potential security position wit...
To The Eagle: Judging by his letter to The Eagle last week, Richard Erickson would have us believe that anyone opposed to NorthernStar’s planned Bradwood Landing LNG facility is the enemy of all economic development in Wahkiakum County. Don’t fall for the false dichotomy. In fact, such a facility would suppress property values, hinder tourism and crimp the steady flow of well-heeled retirees into the area– negative impacts that, in my view, far outweigh the job creation proponents of the LNG project forecast should it move forward. Mr. Erick...
To The Eagle: Time do fly when you're havin' fun. It's just shy of one decade since we had a rousing good knock down, drag-out community debate over the fate of the then-shabby Julius Wendt school building. The school board wanted to tear down and rebuild for over seven million dollars and some of us skinflints wanted to just repair it for about forty bucks. After many gallons of printers ink on these pages, more than a few high temp school board meetings, and three trips to the ballot box, moderation prevailed and we got the nifty remodel job...
To The Eagle: Four years ago, our state legislators recognized the need to help rural counties combat the scourge of methamphetamine and other illegal drugs. Our state legislators provided vital funding to Wahkiakum County which enables us to dedicate specific personnel to combat illegal drug activity in our community. Unless we act now, that funding will end! Over the past four years, as a direct result of this funding, our county and our 12 rural county partners have conducted over 2,358 criminal investigations. In addition, our counties...
To The Eagle: One hundred and twenty five Washington State Law Enforcement Officers died in the line of duty in 2009. That number is the best number that Washington State has seen since 1959. So although these are senseless tragic deaths, I am proud that as a State we are safer and our communities are safer than ever before. I am proud to serve you and this community, but my heart goes out to our local heroes who every day risk their lives to make our homes and community safe. These are the men and women who leave their place of business,...
To The Eagle: It is beyond disturbing to me that others have such an "I got mine" attitude in this county. I have only written one letter to the editor in the six years that I have lived, worked and run a business in the Cathlamet area. But the letter from Kristin Lee last week was just too frustrating for me to ignore. When someone that has their own agenda then accuses business leaders of "secret and private meetings" without justification, I have to question their motives. Are Kristin Lee's motives to make sure that development and jobs do...
To The Eagle: I wish to say farewell to the taxpayers of Wahkiakum County. Being a tax appraiser is not a thankful job anywhere but when the taxpayers are as wonderful as those in this county, it has been doable. These past few years with the economy being so poor, has made this position even less desirable for myself as well as the taxpayers. I really can't blame the taxpayers a bit for any ill feelings, however it has taken its toll on me too and I am looking forward to being retired. Kay Cochran is a person I am thankful for and indebted to...
To The Eagle: It is beyond disturbing to me and others that the ongoing meetings, both secret and private, between NorthernStar, Fred Johnson, David Goodroe, Sheriff Bardsley, the county commissioners and others have been taking place. Fred Johnson has already signed a non-disclosure agreement with them; David Goodroe wants to turn our Elochoman Marina into a base for NorthernStar's armed vessels; Sheriff Bardsley has been negotiating a contract and to quote Lisa Marsyla at a meeting September 15, she had met with William Garrett of...
