Bald Eagle Day plans startingto come together

The Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce board met for 30 minutes on June 30 to continue planning for the coming Bald Eagle Days celebration.

The Chamber went through a list of information they said should be included in the new Bald Eagle Days poster.

Past President Sandi Benbrook-Rieder introduced the first order of business, which was to decide on the use of two Eagle logos the Chamber had designed. The board picked the more elaborately detailed of the two eagles as the poster’s banner.

Chamber Coordinator Ashley Eckert was asked to report on the status of bands for the Bald Eagle Days celebration. Eckert said the African band she had originally contacted to play in the celebration had withdrawn because several of its members had visa problems.

“As an alternative,” Eckert said, “ there is another African band I’ve been in contact with and I’ve left a message with them and I’m waiting to hear back from them.”

The chamber discussed who should be the “dunkee” in this year’s dunk tank event. Cathlamet mayor Richard Swart and Sheriff Dan Bardsley were mentioned as this year’s wet bodies. Ms. Benbrook-Reider then suggested Chamber member Richard Erickson volunteer for the dunk tank. Erickson replied with a chuckle: “I'm busy that day but I’m sure I could draw a lot of people.”

Ray Badger gave a report on the antique car procession during the Bald Eagle parade, and possible children’s entertainment. The members discussed getting permission to use the bank’s parking lot on Main Street to set up a large inflatable amusement park-style toy for the kids to play on. It was also decided the chamber would put together a “dollar-in-the-hay-stack” hunt and let kids race to find the bills.

It was reported that Historical Society volunteers also plan to offer Root Beer floats and miniature train rides. The rides will run from 1 to 5 pm on Saturday, the 18th.

The sidewalk art competition prizes will be provided by the museum and free miniature train rides will be offered to every child that enters the competition. Winners of the art contest also get a root beer float. This year parents will able to ride the miniature train with their toddlers.

Chamber member Ray Badger suggested the board also consider using the Chamber’s Trolley to transport seniors from the Columbia View Care Center to the Bald Eagle Days celebration. The Chamber agreed and Erickson said he would ask Craig Carlson to drive the trolley.

Eckert reported 14 new vendors had signed up since the Chamber’s last meeting and she was continuing to call prospective vendors. Erickson reported that all requirements are in place for the beer garden and the Saturday barbecue.

Ekert said she would contact the pharmacy and make sure the Chamber still had permission to place the Bald Eagle Day’s podium in front of the pharmacy’s parking lot.

In other business, the Chamber Board also decided candy will no longer be tossed from floats and cars during the parade. “It’s just too dangerous for children and they don’t watch what’s going on and one of them might get hurt,” said Mrs. Benbrook-Rieder.

In addition Benbrook-Rieder told members that the Chamber would forego printing tee shirts this year due to the poor economic climate. The Chamber meets again on July 14 for the last time before the celebration.