Enjoy lots of events at Bald Eagle Days

MIXED BAG--Well, this past week we've had some great sunny days, with nice warm temperatures, but we've also had some cloudy, windy days along with showers that fell on Sunday morning. Not what hay makers were wanting to see for sure! The super warm day on Monday gave the hay makers some hope to get things done, but a cloudy Tuesday morning was making them uneasy once again.

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from July 19-25 are Rick Benfit, Bev Moonen, Al McClain, Stuart Bosch, Randy Montgomery, Lesley Horman, Suzet Parker, Brian O'Conner, John Buennagel, Les Burns, Kim, Ashley and Kelsey Hedges, Mandi Knowles, McKenna Longtain, Julie Pedersen, Molly Jorgensen, Art Pedersen and Peggy Pedersen. Happy Birthday to one and all!

Belated birthday wishes to Sharrel Mooers who got left off of last week's list; sorry about that. Unfortuantely for Sharrel, she wound up having to take her mother to the hospital that day so she didn't have the best of birthdays on Friday the 13th, so we hope the rest of the week has gone better for her.

Happy Anniversary wishes go out to Andrew Emlen and Audrey Petterson, Rick and Janet Bryan, Gerald and Clara Olson, Steve and Lori Finkas, Mark and Patti Phillips and belated wishes to John and Mary Gustafson who celebrated their special day this past Sunday!

BALD EAGLE TIME--The three-day celebration begins on Friday afternoon with a sidewalk art contest and the Farmers' Market on Puget Island, complete with music and rides from the Marina on the trolley over to the island at 3, 4 and 5 p.m.

That evening, the Tsuga Gallery is going to be featuring some live music at their place in town as they celebrate their one year anniversary of being open, so we hope you'll stop by there at 7 p.m. and enjoy the music and some light refreshments, as well as check out all the artists' work there.

Now on Saturday, the festivities kick off with a fun run at 9 a.m., with registration beginning a half hour prior to that. For those of you who aren't into that sort of thing, you'll be sitting near me, as we wait for the annual parade. There will be lots of vendors on Main Street and as usual, the street will be closed for a good deal of the day, so you'll have to go behind town to get to Puget Island or to park. There will be live music, a fun area for the kids, a dunk tank and more. Down at the museum, there will be train rides for the kids and root beer floats available. By evening time, the beer garden opens at 6 p.m. and the music will begin at 7 p.m. I'm sure the town will be packed while they enjoy all the various activities and await the big fireworks show that occurs around 10 p.m.

On Sunday, the Wooden Boat Show will be taking place with more food and vendors beginning at 9 a.m. Don't say there's nothing to do in our county; there's plenty!

IT'S BINGO TIME--The Norse Hall is calling out numbers this Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m., as they begin their first of many bingo games. For those of you who may be new to the area, the Norse Hall is operated by the Sons of Norway and is located on Puget Island, along SR 409, after crossing the Birnie Slough bridge and is the big white building on the right.

FOLLOWING WEEKEND--Our Skamokawa Vista Park will be the site of a fund raiser for the Skamokawa Grange Hall, when the Vista Vendors' Market takes place on July 28 from 10 to 3 p.m. This is being put on by the Skamokawa Grange #425 this year, after the vendors that were there last year for the anniversary of the park, said they would like to come back and do this again.

Thanks to a generous donation, one boy and one girl will have a chance to win a nice big kite to enjoy at the beach, as that will be a giveaway prize by the Skamokawa Grange, so we hope all the kids will come and sign in and show up for the free drawing at 2 p.m. We currently have 25 vendors taking part; you can buy your fair passes there, enjoy a great lunch, take home some dessert and buy a few items to stick away for those special occasions. So, come down between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. next Saturday and check it out.

REUNION--You'd have to be living under a rock to have not heard about the Mule Train All School Reunion by now, but just in case you've missed it, it's coming up on us real fast as hundreds of former Cathlamet/WA-KI-HI students are expected to be up at the grade and middle schools on August 4. Susan McClain Kuhn has been doing a fantastic job of getting this all organized and so we applaud all her efforts, as this is a huge job to tackle. You can contact her at sjmcq1@yahoo.com for more info or to get onto her list of those attending.

There are several classes who have yet to respond and beings it happens to be the class of 1972's 40th reunion year, we had hoped they would get in touch. Please pass the word around that classes 83, 87, 88 and 89 have yet to check in as well as classes 91, 93, 95, 97, 98 and 99. Only one person from 2000 is coming and none of the classes from 2001 to present are signing up. As we've said, you don't have to be signed in to show up but it would have been nice to have an accurate account for the food buyers. At any rate, please spread the word and come to the Middle School and Grade School on August 4 from 12 to 5 p.m. (or ?) for a great time and then head to the Norse Hall that evening to enjoy some music being provided by Wayne Gross and continue visiting with your friends and classmates; it will be great!

Prior to the reunion, we'll be having a meeting on July 30 at the middle school, time yet to be announced, but check out the Facebook page or my column next week for the scheduled meeting time.

TICKET TAKERS--Before you know it, the Wahkiakum County Fair will be taking place and as always, they can use some volunteers. If you can't help with painting or any of that sort of work, maybe you would be willing to sit in a ticket booth for a couple hours and take some tickets. Many of the past ticket taker lists were old and have needed to be updated, so the list isn't too long. If no one has called you and you'd like to help, please call the fairground. If you haven't been called, it's not that you're not needed, but they just don't know you'd love to help! This years fair is August 16, 17 and 18, so it's less than a month away. Call 795-3480 and leave a message if no one answers. They'll get back to you shortly!

GREAT TIME--MacKenzie Stevens recently attended the Grange Youth Camp at Camp Moorehead in Ocean Park and thoroughly enjoyed the week she spent there. The Skamokawa Grange was happy to sponsor her and thrilled to find out that she had such a great time this year, that she's even volunteered to be a helper there next year. We were happy to hear she had such a wonderful time. Next year we will be sponsoring someone again and if you've got a child who may not have been old enough or had the time this year, then maybe you'll keep it in mind for next year.

SPECIAL CELEBRATION--David and Connie Shrum, along with nephew Nathan, celebrated David's birthday recently with a trip across the river on the ferry and dinner with several friends. Cake and ice cream was served up later on at the home of John and Mary Gustafson with Bill and Kay Chamberlain sharing in the goodies.

REDMEN HALL--Don't forget the new exhibit that is currently up at the hall, as Mitzi Christensen, Alan Brunk, Nancy Knowles and Ramona Lauzon are involved with this exhibit entitled Art from a Northwest Life. With our gorgeous area to mimic, their artwork reflects their vision of the Pacific Northwest, so we hope you'll come and see their work up at Redmen Hall, Thursday to Sunday from noon to 4.

NEXT MONTH--Get ready for the 29th Annual National Night Out on August 7. This one is put on by the National Association of Town and Watch and is cosponsored by the Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Office, as well as the Volunteers in Police Serviceat the Sheriff's Office Substation at the Grays River Valley Center in Johnson Park. We hope you'll come by and enjoy a bite to eat and take part from 6 to 8 p.m.

MADE IT--The father and son team of Pete and Kyle Sechler made the bicycle ride from Seattle to Portland during this past Saturday's annual event. It was also Kyle's 21st birthday so it will definitely be a one to remember.

BACK IN PLACE--I got a chance to chat with Sandra (Peterson) Davis recently at the new Duck Inn and she was pleased to see her dad's picture hanging back in the lounge. As the former owner, Skamokawa Pete was a true fixture of the place and so it's great to see him back at the Duck with that big smile on his face, where his presence will always be felt and his memory will live on.

HOSPITAL TRIPS--Betty Huber didn't have the best anniversary this year as she wound up in the hospital just prior to it, and so we hope by the time this paper gets delivered that she will be home and feeling better. Sharrel Mooer's mom Nadine is being sent some get well wishes as well as she recuperates from pneumonia. We also want to send some of those same wishes to Cora Irving who has also made a trip to the hospital, so here's to everyone feeling better real soon!

CONDOLENCES--Sadly, our area has lost another great guy, family man, former log truck driver and friend to many, as Mickey Paulsen left this ole world to meet the Lord this past Monday. He and wife Jeanne have been together over 52 years and she and their entire family have our sincerest sympathies for their loss of a beloved husband, father, and grandfather. May he rest in peace.