A few things: a new ship in town, a tsunami warning (whew!), and Ilwaco’s Crabpot Christmas

A few things: a new ship in town, a tsunami warning (whew!), and Ilwaco’s Crabpot Christmas

Today, a medley of things to talk about: a new, locally built military vessel on the Columbia; that scary tsunami warning yesterday and what it reminds us to consider.

And, Ilwaco’s Crabpot Christmas Tree lighting is coming around again, happening this Saturday at the Port.

A look at who’s on the river today, and the need for “rain pants” on the coast

Remembering the Great Coastal Gale of 2007

Seventeen years ago this month, a series of storms later called the “Great Coastal Gale of 2007,” hit PNW coastal communities hard, causing serious flooding inland too. Here on the coast, residents were reeling, left without power and cell service for days.

We’ll share some recollections today about that storm, and what it showed us about ourselves.

Tragedy in Alaska, as a fishing boat is lost

Tragedy in Alaska, as a fishing boat is lost

The Alaska commercial fishing community is grieving today with the loss of the 50-foot fishing boat, the Wind Walker, out of Sitka, which capsized in stormy seas a little after midnight early Monday morning southwest of Juneau.

Despite an extensive search with many Coast Guard and civilian resources, neither the boat nor her crew have not been found.

Incidents like this reverberate through our fishing communities throughout the region, especially as our own local Lower Columbia crabbing fleet prepares to go to sea in the worst weather of the year, as the season opens in the next few weeks.

Send your best to these grieving families, and to all our fishermen… may they have a successful, safe and profitable season. And your sincere gratitude for a good catch.