Naselle students do well at knowledge bowl

Spring will surely be here in the not too distant future. The frogs are singing every night now, a sure sign. It seems like they are a little early this year. The daffodil plants are poking their stalks above the ground and eagles are perched in the trees along the Grays River waiting for an easy meal.

News from Naselle:

Naselle-Grays River Valley sports calendar for the coming week: Thursday-first round playoffs for district tournament, girls basketball, to be announced. Call the school for more information; Friday-middle school boys basketball in Naselle with Ocosta at 5:45 p.m .; Saturday, the 11th-district tournament, to be announced. Let’s go Comets!

The Comet Booster Club will meet for their regular monthly meeting on February 14 at 5:30 p.m.

Students will be released early on February 15 at 12:30 p.m. for a teacher in-service.

On February 3, the Naselle knowledge bowl team Tri-Force team members Chandler Chapman, Cramer Smith, Levi Wasmundt, Beau Santjer, Trevin Leeland, and JP Cooley competed at the Southwest Washington Regional Knowledge Bowl competition at the ESD 113 office in Tumwater. Tri-Force participated in a written round and four oral rounds against 17 other teams from Adna, Northwest Christian-Lacey, Harrison Prep of Tacoma, Ocosta, White Pass, Winlock, Morton, Wishkah, Napavine, Mossyrock, South Bend, Pe Ell, North Beach, Willapa Valley, and Lake Quinault. At the end of the day, the Naselle team placed fifth in their division, 11th overall, and second among 1B classification teams, finishing only one point behind Pe Ell in the 1B division. This is the second year in a row that a Naselle team has qualified for the state tournament. Tri Force will compete in the state tournament which will be held at Shadle Park High School in Spokane on March 17.

These students are to be commended for their efforts, their study habits, their dedication to learning about many different things, and working hard on their own to represent their school in a manner that makes us all proud of the Naselle-Grays River Valley School District.

Naselle had teams place second in state in both 2004 and 2005 and fourth overall in 2006. Our son Carl was a member of the Knowledge Bowl teams in both 2004 and 2005. It is truly a unique experience for these students.

Our local American Legion Auxiliary, Deep River Post will host their annual Valentine Smorgasbord this coming Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Naselle High School. Don’t miss out on a wonderful meal prepared and served by the ladies of the Auxiliary including main dishes and salads as well as home made desserts. Adults: $10, pre-teens: $6 and under 6, $2. Take your favorite Valentine and enjoy the wonderful fare.

Other news from the Westend:

The Valentine Diamond Dinner will be cooked and served beginning at 6 p.m. this Saturday in the Skamokawa Grange Hall. Get your tickets now, before they are all gone. Only $25 per person and you can enjoy a delicious steak, barbecued to perfection with all the trimmings, a glass of wine and a chance to win a diamond necklace. Proceeds from this event will benefit our Wahkiakum County Fair. Hope to see you there.

Johnson Park/Grays River Valley Center has been designated as a Red Cross disaster shelter. Now we are looking for a few good, dependable folks to be trained on methods that will enable us to run smoothly in the event of a disaster. Red Cross trainers will be on site on February 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is a free class. All you need to bring is a sack lunch and your commitment to your community in the event that this site will be needed. Please call Penny Gregory at 465-2775 or Cindy Lahti at 465-2880 for more information or to sign up. Snacks and beverages will be provided.

Tickets for the annual American Legion Deep River Post #111 Crab and Oyster feed are on sale now. The event will take place on March 3rd at the Rosburg Hall. The evening begins with happy hour at 6 p.m. with dinner being served at 7 p.m., raffle drawings throughout the evening for some great prizes, and a dance following dinner until midnight. For more information, or to purchase tickets please contact Dale Rose or a Legion member. Tickets are priced at $28 and there are only 225 available. Proceeds from this dinner will benefit local vets and local charities.

Anyone wishing to become a Grays River Valley Library volunteer, please join Randy and Mona Collver in the Grays River Valley Library on February 15 at 12:30 p.m. Learn how to get a book ready to be shelved in your library, put plastic protection covers on books, how to check books in and out, shelve books, and all the general workings of a small community library.

Remember, library cards are free and the library and computer center are open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Wednesday Senior Lunch Bunch that meets at Rosburg Hall will enjoy Cook’s Choice and dessert on the 15th and you can bring your own special dish to share for a pot luck on the 22nd.

Rosburg Senior Community Lunches sponsored by CAP are served at the same location on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This week’s menus include: Thursday, the 9th-sweet and sour pork, brown rice, stir fry vegetables and apple crisp; Tuesday, the 14th-meatloaf, peas and carrots, orange jell-o and date bars; Thursday, the 16th-baked ham, scalloped potatoes, cheese and cauliflower, sliced peaches and chocolate mousse.

Happy Birthday to the following celebrants this week: Kelsi Jo Baker, Lars Peterson, Derrill Corbin, Emily Strong, Wes Raistakka, Leo Saari, Amy Hunt, Phyllis Sotka, Stanley Rangila, Doug Wise, Mary Saari, Marlee Blain, Matthew Beaulaurier, Grace T. Miller, Greg Queener, Maria Wirkkala, Maggie Ann Smith, Lori Hunt, Joel Wirkkala, Frieda Footh, Sherrill Hartline and Steve Ragnoni. Have a wonderful day.

Happy Anniversary to William and Pat Potter of Grays River. Wishing you many more celebrations together.