We have a story this week about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredge vessel Essayons, written by a reporter at our nearby sister publication The Astorian.

It’s available online at: www.chinookobserver.com/news/local/dredge-maintains-vital-columbia-navigation-channel/article_2b5b5726-651a-11ee-b258-333a862c5e3c.html

The Essayons, along with various hired vessels, performs the never-ending chore of removing sediment that constantly encroaches on the mouth of the Columbia River and its navigation channel. Before the 20th century, the river’s bar where it crashes into the oncoming ocean was a nearly impassible maze of sand banks. It was brought under control by jetty construction and routine dredging.

Three decades ago, Wayne O’Neil — my predecessor as boss at the Observer — arranged for us to spend much of a day on the Essayons. It was an experience I vividly remember. The ship is a remarkable and complex machine, operated by a talented, dedicated and friendly crew.

Wayne told me his cherished memory of traveling as a child on a steamer up to Portland with his dad, Jimmy O’Neil, who moved the Observer from Chinook to Long Beach in the 1930s. I often park my car in Long Beach’s Lone Fir Cemetery as the starting point for long walks in the quiet surrounding countryside, and pause at Wayne’s grave in gratitude for his encouragement and many courtesies when I was a novice editor.

The tradition of dedicated community service that Wayne so exemplified continues today, with the Observer taking 37 honors at last Saturday’s annual state press convention. This is our second largest haul, nearly equaling the record 38 we won in 2016.

Details are available at: www.chinookobserver.com/news/local/observer-honored-in-statewide-journalism-contest/article_4ce51a10-65e9-11ee-a9f7-13101bfb8220.html.

As a side note, I will lead the state press association in 2024-25. I look forward to rallying the cause of press freedom and independent government oversight in what is certain to be a challenging time in our nation’s political life.

Thank you for supporting the Chinook Observer. Any success we have is entirely owing to our readers, advertisers and communities. Your encouragement means far more than any award.