Last chance to get Mother's Day gifts

 NICE--Once again we had half of a nice weekend, as Saturday saw some sun but there were also rain showers here and there. However, sunshine prevailed all day Sunday. I’m sure it was lawn mowing time for most, as the threat of rain was looming for Monday. We did indeed have some showers and breezy conditions return as the work week began. It felt great to have the windows open and feel some warmth from that sunshine for a change, so we’ll be asking for more of that in the days ahead, please.

 SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays this coming week are Rosie Hicks, Stephanie Moonen, Rosalie Webb, Michella Miller, Lori Parke, Tami Bosch, Evan Quigley, Christopher Mendez, Stan Thacker, Josh Phelps, Pat Thacker, Kay Cochran, Erval Cooper, Jennifer Hanigan, Ashley Jorgensen and Mercedes Pedersen. Celebrating their anniversaries are John and Sharon Buennagel and Gary and Sandie York.

 GREAT SHOWING--Valle Ledtke is a junior at Western Washington University and a sprinter on the track team. Valle’s parents, Jerry and Becky Ledtke, and brother Bryan traveled to St. Martin’s University in Lacey last Saturday, where they got to see Valle win the women's 400 meter event with a time of 58.17 seconds, a new personal best for her as well as a new track record. In the women’s 200 meter dash, she placed 6th out of 25 competitors in 26.61 seconds. Valle’s accomplishments have qualified her to run at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships in Monmouth, Ore., so needless to say, her family is very proud of their “Valle Girl”!

 A BUSY WEEK--Sunday was May Day, so who got treated to the traditional surprise of a knock on the door and a bouquet of flowers at their feet? Sharon Buennagel got to experience that special treat, so I’m happy to hear that somebody is keeping the old traditions alive and well!

 Today is Cinco De Mayo. There’s nothing like a Mexican feast to celebrate this holiday and since Mexican food is a favorite of mine, I’ll have no trouble celebrating it at all. Bring on the spicy salsa!

 The big holiday for all the ladies is Sunday, which is Mother’s Day. You’ve got a couple more days to get something. With the new Sassy Chocolates and Sinful Sweets store open in Cathlamet, you ought to stop by and see their wonderful basket they've put together just for the occasion: Fudge, chocolate covered strawberries and truffles combined with lip and bath goodies. Order today. Their phone number is 795-3110. Don’t forget flowers for Mom as you can get a wonderful flowering basket at Skamokawa Gardens or if you prefer cut flowers, one of the newer shops in Cathlamet, Tis the Season, is now your flower shop.

 BUSY MONTH--The Skamokawa Grange will be the site of the State Grange contests on May 14, so gather those items you’ve created and bring them to the grange hall that morning by 10 a.m. Also, the Great While Tail Run is taking place around the refuge, leaving from Vista park on May 21. This a fund raiser for our 4-H youth. Don’t forget the golfing events in Cathlamet that weekend as well.

 BOOK AND RUMMAGE SALE--Head to the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds this Saturday, May 7, for a used book and rummage sale held by the Wahkiakum Fair Board. The T-building will be open from 10 to 4 for your buying pleasure with lots of great stuff to be had for a bargain price. Please help support the fair.

 CAR SHOW--Just a month away is the sixth annual Dollars for Scholars event: The Rods and Reels Rod Run June 4th! There will be music, raffles and lots of trophies awarded, so a big chance for those who enter to walk away with a nice one. The deadline is fast approaching as May 20 is the cut-off date for your $25 pre-entry fee. This gives you a t-shirt, a meal ticket for the great salmon and chicken BBQ and a goodie bag with dash plaque given to those who vote. After May 20, you can register your car for $25, but you don’t get the t-shirt or goodie bag, so be sure to pre-register for the best deal. Day of the show, you can register from 8 to 11:30 a.m. in the Skamokawa Grange Hall. If you’re in high school and want to enter, you get free entry. If you don’t have a car or truck to show off, come to Skamokawa and check out the grange/park/fairgrounds area. Spectators are welcome for free so there’s no reason not to come. Buy some raffle tickets for those great gift tables, which helps support the kids. You can buy a meal ticket for $8 and enjoy lunch and if your child is under 10, it’s only $5. There will be a fish pond for the kids, so bring a cooler and some ice, and you can keep his or her catch on ice to enjoy eating later! Contact Lee Tischer online at tisch@cni.net or call 360-430-4377.

 THE FOLLIES--Don’t forget, the last weekend in June is time to see “The Follies” which is a three day musical extravaganza with a mulititude of talented folks who sing, dance, and make you laugh; it’s great fun! The price is still just $10, so mark June 24-26 on your calendar and plan on spending either Friday or Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon with us; we’ll make you smile, we promise!

 FREE SHOW--While we didn’t get the crowd we hoped for last Saturday at the Skamokawa Grange hall, we appreciate those who did show up to support our effort. 4-H leader Lisa Frink presented a couple of great short movies made by the 4-H kids. My favorite was the one on “volunteerism” and what would happen if we didn’t have anybody step up to be a volunteer. What about our county fair? Without volunteers, there would be no fair to teach our children about the responsibility of taking care of an animal, or of keeping good records, of helping others, working as a team, etc. Many, many people from ticket takers, to those who set up and clean or serve you food, are all hard working volunteers who have made it possible for our fair to be in existence for over 100 years. Whether you’re helping any of a dozen groups or organizations, or any of the other million jobs that need to be done by citizens like yourself, our hats go off to you, the volunteer. Thank you for your time, your energy and your sacrifice.

 GRANGERS MEET--Members from both Grays River and Skamokawa met at the Skamokawa Grange last Monday evening to discuss the future of the Grange food booth at the Wahkiakum County Fair in August. We are in need of many volunteers in order to put up this restaurant for just a few days, and with some folks having to bow out this year, we have some big shoes to fill. Donna Moody is no longer chairing this event and we’re hoping some really great organizer will step up to the job. If you’re up to helping the grange out, we’d sure like to hear from you! Discussions are currently underway as to whether to cut the amount of hours we are open, to cutting the menu so that we can still have the booth but not have to put in so many hours working it. I know we’ve had some wonderful folks volunteer in the past, so we hope you’ll be willing to fill in a spot or two once again. Please call me at 795-3425 if you can help.

BIG WORLD NEWS--The news of the death of Osama Bin Laden, who was credited with master-minding the attacks on the US on 9/11, was met with an array of mixed emotions: joy, relief and even fear. The celebrations in the streets came after a manhunt that had lasted almost ten years and a fear that we would never bring him to justice, but now, there is a huge sense of relief for many and a sense of pride in a job well done by our military forces.