The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Wahkiakum County Sheriff Mark Howie has honored two deputies for two recent life saving performances. The officers are Detective Mike Balch and Deputy Sheriff Paul Carlson.

"These guys don’t get recognized very often and don’t expect to, but I think it’s important for our community to know some of the things they do when they impact lives in such a positive way," Howie said.

In the afternoon of November 24, 2012, Carlson responded to a report of heavy smoke billowing out of a multi-family complex in Cathlamet, the commendation award says. "You arrived on scene and gained entry to a residence of an elderly disabled woman who was unaware of the engulfing smoke in her residence or the fire in the adjacent apartment. With your quick assessment and resulting actions you moved her to safety and away from imminent danger preserving her life in the process."

Balch was honored for, as the award says, his quick response to a call for assistance on December 13, 2012. He used the Automatic External Defibrillator, performed CPR, and rendered assistance to someone in dire need. "Your prompt actions demonstrated your exemplary service to our community and your ability to react in a manner that saved a life," the award says.