Winds cause power outage in valley

WILD WEATHER--We started off this week with quite a storm as the rains came pounding down and hit my front windows in a fury and the winds just roared down the valley and sent the trees in a frenzied dance. While most seemed to have escaped any problems, those of us living in West Valley found ourselves in the dark about midnight Sunday. Our new overhead power lines were no match for a big tree which came across the road, into the lines and through our fence. Ah…such is life in the country. But all was well after about five hours of quiet. We got our power back on and woke to sunshine and actually quite balmy weather. What a change from the night before!

As much as this made us hunker down for a bit, we are not even close to experiencing things as bad as the poor country of Haiti, after they have undergone the massive destruction from the recent earthquake there. Once again, these things remind us of how important it is to be self sustaining. It’s pretty obvious that in a major event, no one is going to get help to you right away as roads, airports and other means of transportation may be impaired and of course, communications may be lost as well. It’s hard to be ready for anything as tragic as what happened in Haiti but it reminds us that we must expect the unexpected and do the best we can.

Our hearts go out to the thousands of people affected by this recent tragedy as they continue to deal with this massive clean up and recovery effort. It’s been quite a few years ago now, but when Bill went to Mexico to help the people there dying from water related diseases, his group, American Water Works Association, was teamed up with Northwest Medical Teams. They have since changed their name to Medical Teams International, as people joined their group from all over the world. It is still the same, fine organization that we found gives the most money to the needy, rather than to staff, as they have very few paid employees. Currently, less than three percent of monies donated go for overhead. That is awesome in this day and age! If you’d like to help the people in Haiti, make sure you send money to a reputable organization. You can catch the link to MTI at: http://www.medicalteams.org and donate on-line, or you can call them to donate at: 1-800-959-4325 or send a check to Medical Teams International at P.O. Box 10 in Portland, OR 97207, or go to any US Bank and donate to the Haiti relief fund by mentioning MTI.

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from January 21-27 are Jolene Wright, Sharon Buennagel, Sharon Schmitz, Laura Bennett, Kaylyn Kattarri, Todd Davis, Linda Seaberg, Elizabeth Frink, Margie Moore, Sherry Ostling, Francis Boldt, Susie Cooper, Deanna Simpkins and Cindi Pedersen.

THIS IS IT--Don’t forget to come and listen to the music and help support the WHS band with its musical extravaganza this Saturday at the Skamokawa Grange Hall. The evening of entertainment by a multitude of local talented musicians and singers begins at 7 p.m. We hope you’ll support their efforts to raise money so they can travel to the state BB championships in Spokane this year. Admission by donation is being requested and all those involved appreciate your support. We applaud this group for coming up with such a wonderful way to earn money and give us a chance to hear some great music as well. If you have any questions, you can give me a call and I’ll try to answer them for you, or contact Erin Turner, who is spearheading this effort.

HOME AGAIN--We will continue to keep Joann Reed in our thoughts and prayers after health issues sent her to the hospital for 11 days. She is home now and we hope she continues to feel better each and every day. Take care Joann and behave yourself!

BUGS--I have been fighting a cold and finally feel like I can get out and about again. If you aren’t feeling well, please remember to avoid going to the nursing home or any other place which would compromise someone else's health. I’m sure they’d appreciate it!

PLEASE RETURN--The bicycle leaning against the wall didn’t look like much, but to the owner, it was his only way to get to and from work. Somebody stole this person's bike in the middle of the night and left him without any way to travel. Shame on you! I am hoping that if the person who took the bike reads this, you will return the bike and let this young man, who didn’t have a whole lot to begin with, have his means of transportation back. If anyone has information about who took this bike, call the sheriff's office. If anyone out there has a bicycle to donate and help this guy out, give me a call. I’m sure he’d appreciate it.

STILL DOING GREAT--The seventh grade girls at Whitman in Seattle, put in another win over the 8th grade team after coming from way behind at half time, and winning by two. Granddaughter Tessa Sechler is still chalking up wins and playing a lot of basketball these days. She plays for her school during the week and for her Dad on Sundays. She is on a team called the Hoopaholics. They will play in Portland over the Presidents’ Day holiday so we’re hoping to get down there and watch her play a bit. We wish her the best of luck as she heads into these tournament games!

OUT OF THE PAST--During this same week in 1945, it was clear and cold and just “lovely” all week long. Grandma Elsie Everest was taking long walks and had gone out by Fosters’ and back. Later that evening, she went to the show “Shine on Harvest Moon,” which she thought was quite good. Cecil and Eva Hauchin stopped by the Everests’ home that week and they found their conversations about Cecil’s trips to England and the South Pacific very interesting. On January 24, the Marvin Blixs welcomed a baby girl into their family. Leon and Marian Healy moved into their own home out on the highway and had been busy all week painting cupboards and moving in stoves and things. Grandma Elsie got a ride to Puget Island with Mr. Johnson so that she could deliver a telegram to the Neilsons. George Everest turned 30 years old that week.

In 1965 there were only a couple of decent days and the rest were much like they are here this year… wet and windy and miserable. On January 24, Britain's Sir Winston Churchill died at the age of 90. His wife, Lady Clementine, had been with him 57 years and was the love of his life. It was said that “she made a great man, greater.” On January 25, Ralph Marshall Everest Jr. turned 39. Both President L.B. Johnson and his wife were in the hospital after the inauguration day with very bad colds. A letter from Peggy and Ralph Pedersen of Alaska told of young son Mark having strep throat. Charlie Gill, 64, of Cathlamet passed away that week leaving his wife, Ellen at home. His uncle Harry lived in Skamokawa ( I can see that same house from my current residence.) His mother, who was 90, was still alive, and he had two sisters and a brother who lived away from the area. He had worked for many years for the county. All this according to Grandma Elsie Everest’s diaries.