Seagulls and eagles come to Grays River

It certainly looks like spring is on its way. Trees are budding out, the daffodils are already blooming in my yard, the frogs are singing, and I have even seen a hummingbird this morning, in this gorgeous sunshine. Even though there was a light coat of frost on the ground earlier, it has warmed up to the point we have doors and windows open. It’s wonderful.

News from Naselle:

Two teams from Naselle-Grays River Valley high school competed in an ESD 113 regional knowledge bowl meet in Olympia on February 5. In all, 16 teams from 11 different 1B and 2B schools participated in this meet. The Naselle team “NR” finished sixth overall and one spot away from qualifying for state competition. NR was comprised of Calen Thompson, Cody Cooley, Alana Darcher, Emily Green, Samantha Bauer, and Nathan Reitz. NR was in eighth place overall after one written round and four oral rounds which qualified them for a semifinal round against teams from Adna and PeEll. NR placed second in this round that advanced them to an additional semifinal round against Mossyrock and Morton for a chance to go to state. Naselle placed third in this round, two points behind Mossyrock, good for sixth place overall, and one place away from qualifying for state competition. Naselle team “ICRF" consisting of Kyle Mullins, Keely McGuire, Tara Joyce, Rochelle Benford, and Silas Goforth—tied a Napavine team for 12th overall at the end of the four oral rounds.

Students will be out of school on Monday for Presidents' Day, and will be released early, at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday for Teacher Professional Development.

Naselle Timberland Library presents Page Turners Book Discussion from 10 a.m. to noon on February 13, for adults. Join in a discussion of “City of Thieves” by David Benioff. This program begins before normal library hours and the library will open early only for this event. For more information call (360) 484-3877.

The Naselle Timberland Library will be closed Monday for the Presidents' Day holiday. The regular library schedule will resume on Tuesday.

The American Legion Auxiliary, Deep River Post 111 will hold its 52nd Annual Valentine Smorgasbord on Sunday in the Naselle High School Commons. The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. and run until 2 p.m. All proceeds will benefit veterans' needs, local scholarships and charity. Bring the family and enjoy all you can eat salads, main dishes, home made pies and cakes, prepared and served by the Auxiliary members and other volunteers. Adults: $10, Pre-teens: $6 and under 6: $2.

Other news from the Westend:

If you would like to see a wondrous sight, take a drive to Grays River and see the flocks of seagulls in the fields and on the gravel bars as well as up to 30 eagles either sitting in the trees or diving for fish in the river. It is an incredible picture. Be sure you find a spot to pull off the road and take a few minutes to really see this unusual sight. Apparently the smelt are in, and the birds are making the most of it.

A very special young lady, Cassie Bolton, of Rosburg deserves a huge thank you for really putting her heart and soul into helping out with the Johnson Park project. She recently volunteered to be the secretary for the Johnson Park Advisory Board meetings and is doing an awesome job.

Now, as part of her senior project she is doing a fundraiser to raise money for remodeling and decorating the Johnson Park kitchen and cafeteria. She is collecting gently used items for a garage sale as well as baked items (on the day of the sale) for a bake sale. If you have items to donate you can call Cassie at 465-2148 or 360 783-1198. Her e-mail address is: c_bolton91@hotmail.com.

You can also bring items to the Rosburg School on Tuesday and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and drop them off at the Community Computer Center. Thank you, Cassie, for your efforts in bringing our Community Center at Johnson Park a little closer to reality.

Don’t forget to buy your tickets for the Deep River Post 111 Annual Crab Feed at the Rosburg Hall in Rosburg. There are only 225 tickets available and they are going fast. The event will take place on March 6 from 6 p.m. to midnight. Happy hour begins at 6 p.m .; dinner is served at 7 p.m .; drawings for raffle prizes begin at 8:30 p.m. and dancing from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Admission is $25 for crab, oysters, baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw and garlic bread. It’s the best crab feed around. Don’t miss out. For more info and for tickets call Dale Rose 465-2234 or Dan Anderson 465-2615. Other Legion members have tickets as well.

The Wednesday Senior Lunch Bunch that meets at Rosburg Hall will celebrate Valentine’s Day on the 17th with Pat’s special beef stew, biscuits and dessert. It’s nice to celebrate such a happy day twice.

The Rosburg Senior Community lunches sponsored by CAP and also served at the Rosburg Hall include the following menus this week: Thursday (today) – chicken primavera, buttered fettuccini, romaine salad, garlic bread and lemon bars; Tuesday, the 16th – Swiss steak, buttered noodles, peas and carrots and peach berry cobbler; Thursday, the 18th – roast beef with gravy, steamed potatoes, carrots and mushrooms and pumpkin bars.

Birthdays being celebrated this week include: Emily Strong, Wes Raistakka and Leo Saari on the 11th; Amy Hunt, Phyllis Sotka (still basking in the sunshine down in southern California), and Stanley Rangila on the 12th; Doug Wise, Mary Saari and Mathew Beaulaurier on the 13th; Grace T. Miller, Greg Queener, Maria Wirkkala and Maggie Ann Smith on the 14th; Joel Wirkkala, Frieda Footh, Lori Hurst, Sherill Hartline and Steve Ragnoni on the 15th; Carol Ross, Connie Mercer, Larry Helton and Wayne Erickson on the 16th; Junea Brannon, Hilary Erickson, Jill Ragnoni, Kayse Rogers, Jason Mennen and Nicholas Phipps on the 17th. Happy Birthday to all of you.

Happy Anniversary to some special couples this week: William and Pat Potter on the 15th and Jon and Frieda Footh on the 16th. Wishing you many more. I apologize to Ted and Sally Swanson for getting their anniversary date wrong in last week’s Eagle. As wonderful a couple as you are, it might be a nice thing to celebrate twice each year.

Wishing all the readers a wonderful Valentine’s Day. My husband and I will be traveling to Oregon for the long weekend, to visit with three of our kids, two grandchildren and the new great-grandson.