Congratulations Mules and Lady Mules

COOLING OFF--The fireplaces are being stoked and the heaters are getting turned up, as we are definitely feeling some Fall temperatures in the air around here but then, I guess that's to be expected, as it is mid-November after all. While we may be back to some rain as this Tuesday morning arrives, at least we are not dealing with any serious weather conditions such as they've had in the Phillipines where thousands of lives are feared lost and towns were totally obliterated. We offer up our prayers on their behalf as they struggle with the devastion there.

SPECIAL DAYS--It seems that last week my eyes drifted down on the ole calendar and I had some folks having birthdays a little earlier than they should have been but at least I gave their families a little forewarning! Anyway, those who are truly celebrating birthdays from Nov. 14-20 are Rory Heywood, Barry Brown, Larry Holland, Zachary Stewart, Ashley Helms, Pat Ohrberg, Roberta Trotter, Hap Anderson, Heidi Souvenir, Dean Seaberg, Samantha Havens, Gunnar Blix, Katie Watson, Kylian Cochran, Luann Davison and Erik Pedersen.

Those celebrating anniversaries this week are Roy and Cathy LaBerge and Carl and Ruth Linquist. Here's to happy celebrations for one and all!

MULES ROCK--Last week's football game against Naselle was pretty awesome and winning the KM Trophy was the icing on the cake. Congratulations Mules! This was possibly the last game involving the trophy as Naselle will be in a different league next year, so we will no longer be playing them. However, I am super happy for this team and this group of Senior players, beings they were able to bring this trophy home in grand style this past week, 60-14, so that was really terrific. Good job Mules!

Coming up this Friday night at the Stewart Field in Aberdeen, will be our mighty Mules taking on Raymond in round one of district play-offs. Here's to our mighty Mule train: May they charge full steam ahead and roll on over those Raymond Seagulls! A word of warning if you look up directions to this field on the internet, be wary, as I found two different routes, but only one was correct. The address is 819 Willard St. Aberdeen 98520. That should help bring up the correct one.

LADY MULES--Congratulations to the Lady Mules, whose volleyball skills were showcased last weekend as they clinched the Southwest 2B District crown when they beat M/WP last Saturday in Raymond. The team will be headed to Yakima to play in the State tournament there and we wish them a continuation of the same great spirit and plays that made them district champs. Go Lady Mules!

THANKSGIVING--Ah, the days of turkey and pumpkin pie are upon us, and I bet we are all looking forward to that on Nov. 28. Beings that falls on a Thursday, there will be an early deadline that week for news, so if you'd like me to mention something, I really need to know about it by Sunday, Nov. 24 as I'll be turning my news in early on Nov. 25, with the paper coming out on Wednesday. Here's a little trivia about Thanksgiving: Do you know which President inacted Thanksgiving and what year it was? I'll let you think about it a minute. Read on!

TURKEY BINGO--As far as I know, there will be "turkey bingo" held at the JA Wendt grade school multi-purpose room on the evening of Nov. 22 so watch for more posters about that around town. With their monthly meeting held after I have to have my news turned in, I can't give you more information than that, but sources tell me that it is definitely going to happen, so bring some bucks and we hope you have some good luck!

SONS OF NORWAY--Mark Dec. 1 down on your calendar and head over to Puget Island where the Sons of Norway lodge members will hold their annual Christmas party at the Norse Hall. I'll give you more details in the next couple weeks, but it's sure to be a fun time for the kids!

HOLIDAY BASKET--In exactly a month's time, the Skamokawa Grange will be the place to be to enjoy a free spaghetti dinner and find out who won the huge holiday gift basket that is being given away that night. This basket includes a couple of gift certificates so you can get your fresh ham or turkey, or other fresh items from either our local Cathlamet Market Fresh store or Fred Meyer, which will go along with the basket goodies which includes all the fixings you need for your holiday dinner. There's also an Elite two compartment buffet server, a blender, a "blue" bag with candies, blanket, picture from and more in it, along with a bag of games for the kids, and a nice drill and light set for Dad and a gift for Mom too. There is also a bottle of wine and glasses to toast the holidays with, and some sparklng water for the kids, and other assorted items for your kitchen and your tree, so there's a huge amount of stuff being given away in this holiday basket and bags prize. Tickets may be purchased at the Skamokawa General Store, six for $5 or $1 each. The night of the dinner, the winner will be drawn and other gift items will be given away as well, so come on down between 6 and 8 and enjoy the holiday gathering, which includes gifts for the kids, to be given away at 6:45 and the basket about 7:30. Hope to see you there, where the Skamokawa Grangers and the Skamokawa Fire Department will be joining ranks and serving you dinner!

KAYAKING--The season of instruction and tours has come to an end for Columbia River Kayaking but they are already planning for next season, so if you'd like to plan a custom paddling experience for your or your group, you should call now and get that set up. Call 360-747-1044 to set up your unique experience with knowledgeable guides. The group is working on their Road Scholar programs for 2014 and they'll have a dozen regular RS programs and then two advanced ones, so you can check out their website and get the info you need about that. There's also a new addition to CRK and that's the selling of kayak equipment, so now you have CRKE, LLC, which will feature a much loved kayak, called an NDK, which is short for Nigel Dennis Kayaks. If you're interested in buying one of the various models, contact the number above and they'll set you up. You can also get gift certificates from CRK.

THANKSGIVING ANSWER--So, did you guess the right President? Well, you did if you answered Abraham Lincoln, who set up our Thanksgiving holiday back in 1863. Thanks Abe; we love this holiday where we gather with friends and family, eat lots of good food, have terrific conversations amongst our guests and we don't have to hassle with the buying of presents; it's great!

OUT OF THE PAST--Back in 1958 this week, it began cold with heavy frost and there was snow on the hills, which fell on Nov. 14; the first of the season. For the next three days it stayed cold and frosty and then the four days were wet and nasty. On Nov. 18 the Wahkiakum Historical Society held a meeting and elected R. G Hughes as president; Mrs. T.L. McDonnell as vice president; Ed Rice as secretary and T. C McDonnell as treasurer. Directors were George Doumit, Ben Peterson, H. Shannon, Henry Mooers, Dewitt Barr and Gus Svenson. New curator, Elsie Everest, gave her first report to the group and reported on classifying items and what record keeping she had begun. The past years progress on what had been happening at the new museum was given by George Doumit, who was also the building chairman. According to R. G Hughes, the new electric heating system had been donated by Mrs. Harold Bradley and Henry Mooers donated cash. The WCHS gave the Library permission to lay a tile floor on the section that the Library will hold after T. Downey explained the library's plan for their work there. Grandma had been sewing aprons and took them up for the sale that was going to be put on by Pocahontas group. Gertie Healy and Elsie Everest headed to Goodfellows' for their 32nd anniversary and remodeled store. Grandma won a cup and saucer at a drawing they held there. Leon Healy and a man he worked with in Alaska both got an elk this week and shared their bounty with the Everests and others. At grange that week Ralph Everest was still named as Gatekeeper and Elsie was one of the graces: Flora. It was a time of much political and national news, with so much going on that Grandma Elsie could hardly keep up with all the advancements in technology and outer space exploration. All this according to my Grandma Elsie Everest's 1958 diary.