Fall means time for Country Days festival

END OF ANOTHER MONTH--Well, as you can see, we're in the countdown of yet another month with a new one beginning on Monday; seems impossible but yet, October is on its way. Can you feel the nip in the air? Well, we'd better be enjoying Fall as the next thing you know, it'll be Winter, so hustle with those chores and get yourself ready for some short days and long nights!

SPECIAL DAYS--Celebrating their birthdays from September 27 through October 3 are Sue Kuller, Matthew Keilwitz, Stewart Moonen, Ginger Schmitz, Stevan Morgain, Marie West, Linda Wright, Julia Ann Wright, Don Witham, Blake Anderson, Cheryl Backman, Tony Silva, Brandon Brown, Sara Jester, Becky Phelps, Mary B. Cothren, Brian Elliott, Marissa Apperson, Becky Keithley, Kevin Weaver, Ron Leingang, Robert Blain, Jesse Ellison and Karen Healy.

Happy Anniversary wishes this week go out to Tom and Tami Bosch, Chip and Kathy Perkins, Quin and Connie Bassi, Sunrise and Jessica Fletcher, Mr. and Mrs.Erik Grasseth, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Bardsley and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Phillips. Here's wishing all those celebrating special days this week a wonderful time.

NOT FAR OFF NOW--The wonderful dinner at the Covered Bridge is coming up next weekend. Before the dinner though, there are activities beginning on Friday afternoon. First up will be the Slow Moving Parade with tractors and other slow moving equipment that will lead a parade from the Elochoman Marina to the Two Islands Farm Market on Puget Island. You can contact Rob Stockhouse if you'd like to get in on that at 560-3785. Once you get over to the market, it's going to be one fun time with the Punkin' Chunkin' machine, which will give you an opportunity to shoot pumpkins or corn across the Stockhouses' Farm! While you're there, you can take in a barbecue and some roasted corn, as well as enjoy a homemade pie, which is being sold to benefit the Wahkiakum 4-H organization. Now at 5 p.m., you'll be able to take in a garden tour and cooking demonstration at the Wahkiakum Community Garden up by Erickson Park in Cathlamet with Carrie Backman leading the way on that. Later on at the garden, Lisa Frink is in charge of the Movie in the Park section of this busy day with movies being shown that are made by the 4-H Media Club and that begins at 7:30 p.m. and is also free of charge, so have a full afternoon and evening of fun on October 5 as the Columbia River Country Days begins next Friday!

Don't forget that before the dinner on Saturday, there will be 4-H Open House from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the fairgrounds. Members of 4-H will be giving demonstrations, show their animals and show off their other projects as well. There will be snacks provided free of charge, with Lore Twiet in charge of this busy part of the day. If you'd like to help her out, call 431-5247. The big dinner starts at 4:30 p.m. in Grays River and let's hope for decent weather!

GAME TIMES--The JC Thomas Middle School will be hosting Winlock on the football field tonight (Thursday) at 6 p.m. Go Warriors! They have a bye on October 4, so no game that Thursday. Tomorrow night, (Friday), the Mules varsity team plays here at home against Onalaska with the JV's playing them on October 1 in Onalaska.

Cross country runners will be at home on Tuesday, hosting Illwaco, Mossyrock, "Ony" and MWP. That same night, both the varsity and junior varsity payers will be away in Winlock but the varsity and JV teams are home tonight (Thursday) against Mossyrock. Go Mules and Lady Mules!

As you can see by these schedules, there are many things going on at the same time, so it's really impossible for fans to be everywhere and with parents with several children, they truly have a dilemma with costs of travelling, really making things difficult. However, never doubt that you don't have your Mule fans behind you. We just can't be everywhere, nor can we afford to be!

A of G--The River of Life Assembly of God Church ladies will be heading to Pasco on October 5 and 6 as they take part of the Women's Retreat at the Faith Assembly there. You need to sign up right away if you plan on going as the cut off date is September 30. The cost is $65 for adults and $35 for seniors but does not include any lodging or meals. Lodging runs from $20 to $30 and meals will vary in price. Have a great time, ladies!

HUNTING SEASON--As many know by now, it's hunting season and from the racks I've seen in the back of pickups lately, the bow hunters did pretty well. We hope that all hunters will check out our local eateries and watering holes and find those special deals that most people have during hunting season. If nothing else, stop by our wonderful local store and stock up on all those supplies, complete with meals-to-go items and help support our store!

MORE REUNION IDEAS--Well, more ideas keep coming in regarding the big Centennial Mule Train All School Reunion to be held on August 13, 2016. One of them would be to possibly advertise in the upcoming annuals, which I think is a great idea. Also, the Wahkiakum Booster Club is revving up anew, with leaders Penny Paulsen, Tina Merz and Wendy Blix) and so we could take part in that and get our news out through there too, so should be join the club? Some ideas anyway! Bob Neilsen said he is hoping for more and bigger write-ups in the papers and beings this will be the 100th year, I am hoping we'll get some more coverage as well, but a thought was that we need a media committee as well as the set up/clean up committee, the sign committee, the gifts committee, the photography committee and so forth and of course, we're taking suggestions. You can contact me, or mail Susan your ideas at P.O.Box 440 in Cathlamet, or email her at sjmcq1@yahoo.com or go to Facebook and post your suggestions on the Mule Train All School reunion page and you can get ahold of Susan that way too.

FREE DROP OFF--If you happen to have any old prescription drugs or any other over the counter, out of date drugs, you can get rid of them safely by taking them to the Cathlamet Pharmacy from 10 to 2 this Saturday. If you are on the Westend, you can take them to Johnson Park (old Rosburg School) during those same hours and you'll be cleaning out your medicine cabinet and keeping those meds from polluting our lands or water. It's a good deal; hope you take advantage of it!

THANKS--It was nice to get a voice mail that made me smile the other day, and that's when LouAnn (Ken) Pederson gave me a call and told me that they really enjoy reading my column and to keep up the good work. That was nice to hear! As usual, if there's something you want to hear about, let me know, or if there's something you'd like to share, give me a call.

COMING UP--Don't forget that the Friends of Skamokawa will be having their annual Holiday Bazaar at the first of December and the Skamokawa Grange will be having their annual Christmas dinner on December 8, so mark those on your calendar today. I know you think it's a ways off but believe, it will be here before we know it!!