Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Skamokawa News
WET ENOUGHT?--I'm thinking that most of us got our fill of rain last weekend, as rivers and creeks rose and some of us were facing water over our roads or driveways under water, so it's one of those times which, if we only have a car, we find ourselves house-bound for a short period of time. There were even some areas that a truck didn't matter, you just weren't going through that deep of water. Luckily, it doesn't usually last that long, although high tides did hinder that a bit this time. At any rate, we were inconvenienced but high and dry here on the hill but I wouldn't mind if it dried up a bit for the big holiday! I am hoping that threats of snow don't materialize as I'm just not the "snow driver" so here's to some decent driving conditions for all of us over the next few days.
SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from Dec. 24 to the end of the year are Duncan Cruickshank, Kyle Gribskov, Coral Linquist, Kohl Bergseng, Michele Smith, Lee Tischer, Nancy McCoy, Tony Danker, Charlene Montgomery, Greg Bain, Toby Bell, Jim Blain and my brother, Frank Pedersen.
Those celebrating anniversaries this coming week are Mr. and Mrs. Pat Thacker, Mr. and Mrs. Orville Lindsey, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Jungers, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Roseberry, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hoven, Mr. and Mrs. Danny Eaton and Mr. and Mrs. Mark Helms. Belated anniversary wishes go out to Roger and Joann Reed who celebrated their special day last Friday. Sorry about that guys!
NICE TIME--It was a time of thanks last Sunday at the Duck Inn where owner, Logan Britt, treated his loyal customers to an array of tasty foods and music in appreciation for their continued patronage. The group enjoyed the chicken wings, meat balls, veggies, pinwheels, meats and cheeses and more, while watching the Seahawks beat the Cardinals before the the brave karaoke singers got up and had fun singing their favorite tunes. Throughout the evening, there were door prizes handed out and we seemed to be just one number away several times, but oh well, that's the way it goes sometimes! While Logan thanked us for our business, we must thank him for providing us with a great place to eat and hang out, as well as for all his generous donations to the various charities in the area, so he continues to be a welcome addition to our community and is deeply appreciated.
SAD TIME--Our community has certainly been hit hard lately with the loss of several folks, some of whom I have known for years and years. Others I had not known long but certainly had made an impression upon the county, like Roland Armstrong. Everyone called him Rolly, I think because it rhymed with Jolly, which he surely was. He was such a terrific guy and a great loss to our community. His services have been set for next month, Jan 17, at 1 p.m., at the Wahkiakum High School.
There are two long time Puget Islanders and friends, who passed away a day apart and whom I've know all my life: Tillie (Louise) Kehrli and Jerry (Geraldine) Quigley. I put their real names in parentheses as everyone I knew called them Tillie and Jerry. I was a "down the road" neighbor from Mrs. Quigley (because that's what kids called adults back then) on North Welcome Slough as I was growing up and her daughters were close to many of the kids ages at that time, so we knew them pretty well. We got a chuckle out of Jerry one Halloween as she had forgotten to buy any candy. What? Who could do that? We told her it was ok and we wouldn't even "trick" her, but then she told us to just wait a second and she came back and gave the Blix girls and the Pedersen kids, each a nickel. Boy, were we happy! Now that might not seem like such a big deal in today's world, but back then, a nickle would buy a Three Musketeer bar that was bigger than the ones today that you pay almost a dollar for, so that was a great deal! Another time I was walking back towards my house along the dike road and she hollered and told me that my Mother had already honked the horn on our car three times, so I'd better be hurrying on home. Ah, those were the days, with simpler ways and great neighbors.
Then there was Tillie.What a great laugh she had and what a sweet lady. I can remember many times going with my Mother over to see Tillie, when she was at Goldie Kehrli's house and along with Mae Ostervold, have themselves a terrific gabfest. These were animated women who had stories to tell, fixed some awesome snacks and kept the coffee pot perkin'. I think it must have been a rule that the coffee pot was on all day at the Islanders' homes as I rarely went anywhere that there wasn't a cup readily available. And goodies, always goodies. At any rate, these ladies were part of a great generation of ladies, and Islanders and good people. They will be sorely missed. My condolences to all of their family members as they deal with their losses, but thankfully we all have those wonderful memories to hold near and dear to our hearts forever.
ONE DAY LEFT--If you are one of those people who wait until the last minute to buy something, well, you've got today and only today, to get a gift certificate or a used kayak from Columbia River Kayaking for those of your friends or family who would love a kayaking tour or maybe a deal on a used kayak. You must call today to get those discount prices and gift certificates, so don't delay. Call 360-747-1044 right away!
EXTENSION--For those of you who use the Skamokawa Post Office, you may notice that part time helper, Lisa Mooers is still with us, which is different news than what we'd first heard was going to happen. One thing you may not have realized about Lisa is that she was just doing this as a part time job to help fill in for LouAnn once in awhile, but then wound up doing it a lot more often when LouAnn was hospitalized and then while LouAnn was recovering from health problems. Fast forward a bit and then we wound up having our post office changing a whole lot, which included a half day opening instead of a full day and hiring a full time, part time employee. Now, this is a different thing than what Lisa was doing, and requires taking a test and all, even though she's been doing everything under the current system, so it seems weird that she'd have to take a test for it. However, the big thing is, she already has a business and the part time, fill in work at the post office was all that she really wanted, and not the full time, part time position, hence, the reason she didn't apply. After all, being a wife and mother and having a business and working a lot of part time work is usually more than plenty for one person! When she does finally put in her last day, we will miss her.
In case you weren't aware of Lisa's true passion, she has been a desktop graphic designer and her business, Lisa K. S. Mooers Laser Designs, is what she enjoys and excells at, so if you ever need some help with graphic applications, then she's the one to call at 795-3577. If you want to contact her via email then you can do that too at: Ldesigns@centurytel.net.
SONS OF NORWAY--The Norse Hall was brimming with good food and good company when members of the Sons of Norway lodge gathered together to do what Norskies do best, talk and eat, last Wednesday evening. There was no gift exchange, just a sharing of good food and great conversations. A box full of food that the group had collected was going to be given to the local food banks just in time for the holidays. President Jan Silvestri reminded everyone that the lodge meets on the first Wednesday of each month, so the next meeting would be on Jan.7, at 7 p.m., and then there would be a chili feed/bingo night the second Saturday in January, which would make it Jan. 10, so mark those dates on your calendar.
IT'S HERE--Yes indeed, it's Christmas Eve today, which is why we had early deadlines, as Christmas is tomorrow, can you believe it?! I seem to be in awe every year as the time has flown by once again and we're all hustling and bustling around making that last batch of cookies or fudge, or wrapping that last present, or maybe even shopping for that last present, and I'm sure this year will be no different for many of us. Whatever you do or wherever you go, I certainly want to wish all those that are reading this right now, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
NEXT WEEK--If you like good music, head to the Duck Inn for their New Year's celebration next Wednesday night, which is always great fun. While the band that played last year was not available, there is another one that plays that same kind of music so you'll enjoy them just as much and love that big band sound with all the songs you know. Call for your dinner and bar reservations today: 795-6055.
OUT OF THE PAST--This week back in 1944, it started out cold and icy but then warmed up and rained. "Ralphie and Frankie" Pedersen spoke pieces in the church program and of course, their Grandma Elsie thought they both did a real nice job. Their Dad Krist sang in the choir. While Carol Everest Pedersen worked on the telephone board, husband Krist took her Mother, Elsie to Longview, where she lunched with Avis Walker and Mrs. Tomas. Ralph Everest was feeling under the weather and did not join the group. Krist Pedersen took the Donnigan girls to Seattle, along with a friend of theirs and then he bought a new boat motor and checked in on the Shanes, who were all doing just fine. Mr. Houchen hit Captain Ingram with his car, but luckily he was not hurt seriously. He was sore however. By Dec. 29, there was snow across the river on the Oregon hillside. It was a happy, happy day for the two little Pedersen boys, when the Olsons, their neighbors, bought Frank a trike and Ralph a bike, which arrived on Frank's birthday, so they were certainly enjoying the post Christmas surprise which arrived on Frank's 6th birthday. On Dec. 31, the Ralph Everests celebrated 31 years of marriage. The whole town seemed to be getting ready for the New Year's dance. Daughter, Carol and husband, Krist, stopped by to deliver an anniversary gift and then they headed up to the Hannigans' for a snack before going to the dance. Bernett Johnson McNally had a baby girl that day.
Grandma ended her diary with a clip from a newspaper. It was war time, and while folks here may have been complaining about the lack of butter and the scarcity of cigarettes, one only had to think of England. Of the entire population of 47 million, only 9 million who were children or the elderly over 60, were not engaged in some phase of the war's inter-action, by compulsory war mobilization orders. One of every three homes was destroyed by bombs. Casualities were high and yet in spite of the bombs and the blackouts, they were able to build over 100,000 airplanes, four million machine guns, over 700 warships, doubled the grain yield, and wound up paying half the war costs by taxes and revenues. So, while some folks in America were feeling a tadbit sorry for themselves due to the lack of a few goods, one only had to look at the sacrifices made by the Brits, who with their undaunting courage, were fighting a mighty battle where one man in 39 was either killed, wounded or captured, so there was little comparison to the hardships felt at that time. Once this article came out, it was quite a sober awakening for those here for sure.
In 1964, Christmas Day arrived warm and wet. A raft full of logs was pushing against the Puget Island bridge. Flooding was still a big issue and the bridge was closed to all those non-residents. Grandma didn't start Christmas day real well as her kitchen heater went out, but luckily, just a couple of days later, Art Wright showed up at the house and put in a new one. On Dec. 27, Grandma received a call from son, George and his wife Ruby in California, and hearing from them was a terrific Christmas present for her, as with all the massive flooding going on down there, no one had been able to contact them for several days and the family had been worried sick. Many phone lines had been destroyed in the flood so they had just gotten service back and once the roads were passable, George would be headed to Eureka to work for PG & E as many power lines were going to be needing repair. By Dec. 27 until the end of the year, it was snowing and snowing hard off and on as temperatures began to drop. Unfortunately, for those who'd already suffered great losses during the flood, the snow just added to their misery. As the Everests celebrated their 51 years of marriage, they looked upon a beautiful white world, and Grandma worked, cleaned house and went and cooked a pot roast dinner after baking five loaves of bread. And so the year came to an end. All this according to my Grandma Elsie Everest's diaries.
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