Kalama Police

Snow is expected late tonight through Wednesday across southwest Washington and northwest Oregon. Snow showers will be geographically dependent, and areas that receive more showers will see higher snow amounts. * WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations up to one inch, except up to two inches at the West Hills and Chehalem Mountains. * WHERE...Central and Southern Willamette Valley, Portland Metro Lowlands, Greater Vancouver Metro, Lower Columbia River and Cowlitz River Valleys, and Portland West Hills and Chehalem Mountain. * WHEN...From midnight tonight to noon PST Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. The Kalama Public Works Department will be fighting the storm with sanding and plow trucks. The crew will be focused on heavy traffic roads (arterials) during the storm as crews are limited on snow removal equipment and personnel. The roads they will be focusing on are Elm Street, Taylor Rd, Spencer Creek Rd, China Garden Rd, Military Rd, Cloverdale Rd, Meeker Drive, Old Pacific Hwy, Kalama River Road (To City limits), North 1st Street, East and West Frontage Rds and Oak Street to the industrial area. Local neighborhood streets and subdivision streets will be plowed and sanded after the main arterials listed above have been cleared. Plowing and sanding will begin at 5 am Wednesday, 2/5/25. Traction devices are advised for travel during this event, so please do not drive unless absolutely necessary! Stay Safe!

Please give yourself a little extra time and drive cautiously this morning. Roads are icy and slick. We are getting sporadic reports of spin outs and overturned vehicles on I-5. Public Works crews have sanded our roads and are continuing to monitor conditions.

**UPDATE- This handsome boy has been reunited with his family... thank you to Ms. Amanda Farrar for taking such good care of him until his owners could be located, and thanks to all of you for the shares! We love happy endings!** Help us get this little guy home! Located in the Stone Forest subdivision on 1/24/25 at 10pm. No collar, no chip... an older male chihuahua mix. If you have any information as to his owners, please have them contact the Kalama Police Department through dispatch at 360-577-3098 or at chief@kalamapolice.com -- thank you, and please share!

City offices will be closed on Monday, January 20th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

January 10th marks the anniversary of the untimely passing of a terrific human being, friend, and outstanding leader. We reflect today on the 8 year anniversary of Chief Randall Gibson’s passing. His dedication, service, and sacrifice in the line of duty was his “last full measure of devotion” for our community. Today we remember and celebrate the life lived and legacy left by such an honorable man. To Chief Gibson’s friends and family we continue to extend our thoughts and prayers for peace and comfort. To our community— help us honor him by stopping and helping someone today, in however small a way, as Chief Gibson proudly did every day. #KalamaProud #heroesliveforever #neverforgotten

Hey Kalama!! We're riding that Holiday Spirit Wave and wanted to get the word out early.... we are already looking ahead to Shop with a Cop 2025 and looking to ring in the New Year with a SPLASH! Join us New Year's Day for a Kalama Community Polar Plunge with all proceeds benefiting Shop with a Cop 2025. You've seen what we can accomplish TOGETHER! Maybe a Polar Plunge is on your bucket list-- maybe you're just the adventurous type..... either way, come on down to the river and participate in a little community fellowship for a GREAT CAUSE!! We hope to see you there 🥶 Donations are appreciated ($100 = a child we can shop with) but not required. For more information, email chief@kalamapolice.com.

The City of Kalama offices and the Kalama Public Library will be closed on the following holidays: - December 24th (Tuesday) - December 25th (Wednesday) - January 1st (Wednesday) Garbage service for the holiday weeks are as follows: -December 24th, (Tuesday) normal collection schedule -December 25th, (Wednesday) collection delayed 1 day (pickup on Thursday) -December 31st, (Tuesday) normal collection schedule -January 1st, (Wednesday) collection delayed 1 day (pickup on Thursday) For a complete schedule of Waste Control's holidays, visit: https://www.wastecontrolrecycling.com/pickup-schedule

There are no words to convey how much holiday spirit and the sense of gratitude that our hearts are overflowing with. We were honored to be the hands and feet of the generosity and compassion the Kalama community has for its children. On Sunday, 12/15/24, Kalama Police officers and Cowlitz County Fire District 5 personnel held the 2024 Shop with a Cop event at the Woodland Walmart (a special thank you Walmart). Together, Kalama provided a Christmas gift buying and giving opportunity for nearly 100 under privileged children from the Kalama community. Children received a $100 shopping trip to buy gifts for themselves and their family members. First responders and DOZENS of local volunteers from Kalama donated their time to assist these children with their shopping experience. The smiles and the joy on the childrens' faces speak for themselves. There are too many people to thank individually, but every shopping helper, gift wrapper, photographer, and donor was a World Changer in the eyes of these children--- from the bottom our hearts.... thank you! Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and may God Bless You all!

A big shout out to the Kalama community for all of the generous donations we've received during the community gift wrap drive! We're looking forward to this weekend's Shop with a Cop event! Thank you, Kalama! #communityspirit #KalamaProud

***UPDATE— Fur Baby has been reunited with her family 🐶❤️ ***PLEASE SHARE*** This sweet girl was found at the bottom of Kilkelly Rd. today and is currently keeping our Kalama Public Works crew company. If she is yours or you know the owners, please contact the Kalama Police Department at 360-673-2165 or at chief@kalamapolice.com ASAP. Please share-- thanks in advance!

The City of Kalama offices and Kalama Public Library will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday on November 28th and 29th. Kalama PD will be operating 24/7 per usual. Garbage notice: Kalama residents-- please note garbage service will be on the regular schedule. Put your cart out the night before your regular garbage day.

🚨 SCAM ALERT 🚨 We want to inform our community about an ongoing issue involving scam artists posing as representatives from Medicare or credit unions. These scammers are calling individuals and requesting personal information such as Social Security numbers, banking details, and other sensitive data. Protect yourself by following these tips: 1. Do not share personal information over the phone unless you are certain of the caller’s identity. 2. Be cautious of unknown numbers or unsolicited calls, even if the caller ID appears legitimate. 3. Remember, Medicare and financial institutions will never call to ask for personal information like your Social Security number or account details. 4. If you suspect a scam, hang up immediately and report the call to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your local authorities. Stay safe, and please share this information to help protect others in our community! #ScamAlert #StayVigilant #ProtectYourInfo

🎁✨ **Community Gift Wrap Drive** 🎄❤️ Hello Kalama! Shop with a Cop 2024 is just around the corner and we’re excited to spread joy to children in need! We’re reaching out to our amazing community for support in the form of a gift wrap drive. 🌟 **What We Need:** - Holiday Gift Wrap (any size!) - Holiday Bows and Ribbons - Holiday Gift Bags We all have some lying around, LOL. Even gently used gift bags and partial rolls of gift wrap would be a tremendous blessing. Our kids often like to have their gifts for loved ones wrapped, or even their own gifts wrapped so they have something to open on Christmas morning. Our amazing volunteers wrap these gifts for the kids free of charge! Your generous donations will help us bring smiles to many little faces this holiday season. Let’s come together to make this a magical time for our kids! 🗓 **Donation Drop-Off:** Nov 18th to December 13th, 9am-5pm 📍 **Location:** Kalama Police Department and Kalama City Hall Feel free to spread the word and tag your friends! Thank you for your kindness and support! Together, we can make a real difference! 💖🎅🏼 #holidaygiftwrap #SpreadTheJoy2024 #communityspirit #KalamaProud

The Kalama Police Department has welcomed 2 new officers, who were sworn in to office during last night's City Council meeting. Welcome Officer Derek Moore and Officer Tyler Bailey!

Kalama's City offices and the Public Library will be closed on Monday, November 11th, 2024 in observance of Veteran's Day. Thank you to all who have served!

🌟 Thank You, Kalama Community! 🌟 We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in last Friday's "Chief's Caribbean Dinner." Your generosity and support helped us raise an incredible $10,097 for the 2024 "Shop with a Cop" program! Because of you, we’ll be able to sponsor many local children this holiday season, ensuring they receive gifts and joy during Christmas. The department accepts donations all year long, so it's not too late to contribute if you wish to do so. Each $100 raised means another child will have a brighter holiday. We couldn’t have done this without the amazing spirit of our community. Thank you for coming together to make a difference in the lives of our kids. We look forward to seeing you at future events! Warm regards, The Kalama Police Department

Help Us Avoid Spreading Panic Over Hoaxes We’re aware of new and evolving “threats” circulating on social media platforms and continue to work closely with school officials to fully investigate the reports. Extra safety precautions have been put in place through enhanced on-campus presence and visibility, along with proactive communication. At this time, Kalama Police continue to deem these threats as not credible. The most recent threats were made against schools NOT located in the state of Washington and have simply been re-shared and reposted locally. Even if threats posted online are not deemed credible, they can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for students, families, and staff. Your student(s) may have seen rumors circulating online or heard about them while at school. If you talk to your student about these threats, please encourage them not to repost information on their social media accounts. Communication between you and your student about your social media expectations can help your student stay safe, kind, and responsible online. If you or your student have any concerns about safety, please share them immediately with school officials and law enforcement. Our number one priority is the safety of your children. Thank you for your continued partnership to keep our students safe! #KalamaStrong

The Kalama City offices & Library will be closed on Monday, September 2nd, 2024 in observance of Labor Day. We acknowledge our hard working, dedicated City employees--including our police department, public works crew, city hall admin team, and public library staff. Each member plays an important role! Thank you for all you do!

As the new school year begins, let’s ensure our students stay safe by following these essential safety tips: Pedestrian Safety • Crosswalks: Always use designated crosswalks and obey crossing guards. • Visibility: Wear bright clothing and make eye contact with drivers before crossing. • Sidewalks: Walk on sidewalks where available; if not, walk facing traffic. Bicycle Safety • Helmets: Always wear a properly fitted helmet. • Bike Lanes: Use bike lanes when available, and follow traffic signals. • Visibility: Equip your bike with lights and reflective gear, especially in low-light conditions. School Bus Safety • Bus Stops: Arrive early at the bus stop and wait in a safe location away from the road. • Boarding/Exiting: Wait for the bus to stop completely before getting on or off, and cross the street in front of the bus only when the driver signals it’s safe. • Behavior: Stay seated, keep noise to a minimum, and follow the driver’s instructions. Distracted Driving • Focus: Keep your eyes on the road and avoid distractions such as texting or eating. • Speed: Slow down in school zones and be prepared for sudden stops. • Awareness: Watch for children walking, biking, or getting on and off school buses. Let’s all do our part to create a safe environment for our students as they head back to school. Stay alert, stay safe!

The Kalama City Offices will be closed for the morning on Monday, August 26th, 2024 from 9am-1pm for an all-staff training session. Offices will re-open at 1pm to serve the public.