Grange News

There’s good news and bad news regarding cleaning up the lot next to the Grange Hall. First off, Grays River Grange would like to give a big thank you to Stan Sorenson and Robinson Brothers Construction for donating time and equipment for clearing the lot. That property was a drain on community morale and the Grange appreciates all of the positive comments about its new condition. But here’s the bad news; as it turned out, it took nine containers to remove the rubble. Stan operated the excavator and he estimates that the debris in the houses themselves filled up three containers! The bill for the containers is $10,000. We have collected, so far, $4,500. So if you were considering contributing to The Big Cleanup, the Grange can certainly use your donations to offset the $5,500 cost of the additional containers. Many $10 and $20 donations added up so don’t think a contribution is too small.

OK, we’re going to blow our own horn a little. Our Grange maintains Meserve Park, Ahlberg Park and the Grays River Cemetery at zero costs to taxpayers. We’re happy to do this and usually are humming along financially, however, this cleanup project is turning into a big deal. Part of that piece of property will serve as a needed parking lot for the Grange but there’s going to be a large park area for the community that’s a positive impression for travelers on SR 4.

Have you ever wondered where all those people come from that pass through our little neck of the woods? At our last meeting we looked at the Covered Bridge visitors sign in pages for May through August 2011. Over 300 people signed in who were from Tuscaloosa, Ala .; Surrey, B.C; Cary, N.C .; Victoria, B.C .; Fort Wayne, Ind .; Calgary, Alberta; South Dakota; San Francisco, Calif .; Australia; Texas; Germany; Idaho; Gotham, New York (Batman perhaps?); Savannah, Ga .; Centennial, Colo .; Cumberland, Wis .; Green River, Wyo .; Dillon, Mont .; Charleston, Ind .; Carson City, Nev .; Sunnyside, Calif .; Washington, D.C .; Bogota, Colombia; England; Ijssel, Nederland; and Alaska. Well you get the picture - lots of travelers and that is just some of those that took the time to sign in. There were also many visitors from local areas as well. Many camped and commented on the beauty of the area and an appreciation for Ahlberg Park and the Covered Bridge. The most interesting signature, for me, was "Wheels + Porkchop Patty + Goose = Hick Angels." The Grange needs to express appreciation to Brandon Novoselic and those other volunteers who helped him maintain the park this summer for the visitors to enjoy.

Need to contact the Grange, call 465-2268 and leave a message or email grange@wwest.net. Don’t forget to visit the Grange website http://graysriver.grange.wahkiakum.info or send an email to the address listed if you have an event or news you would like posted on the Grange website.

Grays River Grange meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Dinner begins at 7 p.m. with the meeting at 7:30 p.m. Email grange@wwest.net or visit graysriver.grange.wahkiakum.info.