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

Rick Nelson’s death in June left big questions as to the future of The Eagle. Today we can provide some answers.

The Nelson family continues to own and operate the paper. Rick’s son Jacob and his husband, Brandon J. Simmons, are taking on management of The Eagle. Jacob grew up working in the paper, and while he’s been in the technology industry for many years—currently working for Microsoft Research—he’s continued to help in ways behind the scenes throughout that time. Brandon is taking on a number of day-to-day operational roles; his background as a writer and producer in Seattle’s theater industry will serve him well here.

Rick and his father, Bob Nelson, who died in 2006, ran this paper beginning in 1963. We will continue that legacy. We’ve heard from so many of our readers how important The Eagle is to them. We’ve heard how its focus on local news keeps the community informed about what matters, and how it connects people. The Eagle has always striven to share a broad set of voices from the community; we will continue this practice, while seeking ways to deepen and expand these connections.

While our main focus will be on continuing to print the paper just as it has been, we also want to explore more ways to inform and connect the community. We’ve heard from many of you that you want to help. For now, subscribing and advertising is the best way. As we work towards building a sustainable future for the paper, we will let you know how you can help more.

Thank you for your support and encouragement. We look forward to sharing more with you in the near future.