Last weekend for Redmen Hall sale

GORGEOUS--Wow, has this past week been great or what? The days were full of sunshine and the temperatures were up in the mid-60's and even got to 70 one day, so it has been wonderful, except for the fact that it made us start our spring chores a little sooner than I was hoping. No time to relax when there's things to do, like yard work! By the time you read this we are supposed to be back to some rainy days, so maybe I'll get to kick back and read that book I'd planned on reading during the "dreary winter days," which we just haven't had many of! Sadly, those friends and relatives of ours back East have been dealing with storm after storm, with brutal conditions which have been crippling businesses and causing major accidents and airport closures. We certainly hope they are getting some relief by now!

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from March 12-18 are Rick Kuljis, Azery Gribskov, Gretchen Mahitka, Lucy Bosch, Colin Stewart, Brandi Arness, Jason Nettles, Kim Nettles, Al Harris, Breanna Olsen, Mariah Souvenir, Mary Thomas, Pat Kehrli, Randy Hoven, Carol Wegdahl, Kelly Zink, Gaylene Johnson and Gene Healy. May all your birthday celebrations be full of fun and surprises.

Those celebrating anniversaries this week are Bill and Shelley Olsen, Ray and Terri Slape and celebrating 20 years together this coming week are Dan and Jenny Cochran, so here's to all of you on your special days!

CORRECTION--In all the excitement of having a new grand-daughter, grandpa Mark Pedersen gave me the wrong weight for the latest addition to the Adam and Samantha Pedersen family, so I wanted to make sure her little newspaper clipping for her baby book had the correct info in it. It seems Miss MacKenzie J. Pedersen, who was born Feb. 18, weighed in at nine pounds, seven ounces; a whole pound more than previously announced. It seems we are going to get to see the baby in a few months, as her folks are going to be bringing her out here from Virginia, so all the grandmas and gramdpas (and aunties) can make over her, so we're looking forward to that!

LADY MULES--We can't say enough good things about the girls who played on this year's basketball team and represented WA-KI-HI in Spokane last week during state playoffs. The Mules stubborness combined with their skills and tenacity led them to the finals after their come from behind, overtime win over LaConner Friday night, who had dominated the court in the first half of the game. But then those stubborn Mules kicked it in high gear and I think they stunned the crowd when they tied up the game to put them into overtime and wound up with the win! On Saturday night, the gals fought hard but came up just a little short when they played the unbeaten Okanogan team, but considering we were the ones to get that place, when all others failed, well, I think we were all very proud of them. Congratulations for taking Second in the State 2B basketball tournament. Way to go Lady Mules!

THIS IS IT--This is the Saturday to be over at the Norse Hall for the Wahkiakum Chamber's Crab and Oyster Feed. With three different seatings, there is sure to be a time that fits your schedule, with the afternoon seating being the "family friendly" one. Don't forget to bring your oyster shucking tools and crab cracking tools as well as any special condiments that you enjoy, like tabasco sauce, garlic butter, etc. Having an extra cover for your top is nice, so many ladies like to bring an apron to protect themselves. At any rate, it's bound to be a fun evening, enjoy!

SONS of NORWAY BINGO IS ON--While the Norse Hall Bingo is usually on the second Saturday of March, I had said it was cancelled due to the crab feed going on then, but I should have said "rescheduled" as it will be held the following Saturday, March 21. So all you Bingo lovers will still be able to have a fun evening out and possibly get in on one of those cash prizes at the Sons of Norway's Bingo night next Saturday, with doors open at 5:30 and games beginning at 6. Good luck!

SATURDAY AFTERNOON--If you happen to be going by Duffy's Tavern in Grays River next Saturday afternoon, then stop by and take in the music of Layton Elliott and the Bloody Pirates, which begins at 1 p.m. You can get an early start on your St. Patrick's Day celebrations by going down that way and checking them out!

REDMEN HALL--The Antique Sale is still on at Redmen Hall in Skamokawa, but this will be the last four days of it, so stop by from noon to four this Thursday through Sunday and check out the glassware, furniture, paintings and more before it's all packed up and taken away. There are also many items in the gift shop and lots of books on the shelves, so we hope you'll think about the upcoming holidays, like Easter, or Mother's Day or Father's Day and pick up something unique for those occasions.

SAY GOOD-BYE--I have really enjoyed getting to know our current postal worker, Lisa Mooers, who was helping LouAnne Hedges and has since relieved her, but now it is also her time to say good-bye to our Skamokawa Post Office as her time there has come to an end. We hope you'll come by Friday morning and tell Lisa "good-bye" and we wish her well as she goes back to her regular business and duties at home. Once trained, we'll be saying "welcome to the Skamokawa Post Office" to Brian McClain and we wish him the very best in this new job of his.

PRAYERS ASKED--One of our favorite ladies in Skamokawa, also known as the "flower lady," Betty Koziel, could sure use our prayers, as it seems she had to make a trip to the hospital the other day. Needless to say, we all wish her the best and hope she is feeling better real soon.

We also heard that Kari Bonds, grand-daughter of Larry and Penny Bonds, was in a terrible car accident last weekend, along with several others and we want to send our prayers and best wishes for a speedy recovery to her and the rest of the people that were involved. The accident closed down the Northbound lanes of I-5 for several hours according to the news.

I've also heard from many folks who have had "the worst cold in 20 years" so we hope all of you are feeling better and that includes a fellow 67'er, Greg Lloyd and his wife, Cindy. Here's to feeling better real soon you two!

HOSANNA MUSICALE--The United Methodist Church in Skamokawa is once again hosting their annual Hosanna Musicale and this year it will be held on March 29. As usual, there will be a free will offering taken which will then be donated to the St. James Family Center. Everyone is invited to come down that Sunday at 2 p.m., and enjoy the musical talents of many of your friends and neighbors who have volunteered to perform for you that day. If you'd like to perform, you can contact Randi Curtis at 795-0628 and see if they still have a spot open for you.

FIRST RACE--Former WA-KI-HI graduate, Pete Sechler recently joined a bicycle racing team in Seattle (Apex Racing Team) and took part in his first race last Saturday out of Sequim. It was a four lap race with each leg of it being 12 miles. He was pretty happy that he was at the front of the pack but a bad kick off on the third leg meant that he fell back a bit, and had he not gotten stuck behind some slower riders, well he could have been in the top five. But given the fact that the top 15 were all within three seconds of each other, I'd say finishing 16th out of 75 guys wasn't too shabby! It's hard to believe there can be that many people crossing the finish line in such a short amount of time. At any rate, beings it was his first race and his goal was just to finish, I figure he did pretty doggone good, but then, I'm his mother and so of course, I'd think that!

PROUD MOM--Linda (Larry) Spieth was pleased to see the cover of the baseball season opening program for Linfield College this week, as featured on the front was her daughter, McKenna, so that was pretty neat. McKenna is the granddaughter of Donna (Healy) and Glenn Palmer of Longview.

NEW FERRY--I got to take a ride on the new ferry earlier this week and it is certainly a nice vessel with lots of room and a nice seating area for those who walk on or ride their bikes or just want to get out of their cars and look at the water and surroundings, and still be enclosed. The wind can be a little nippy on the water. However there is one thing not quite ready for passengers, which I feel you should be forewarned about, and that's the fact that in spite of a new facility and new door promoting it, there is not yet a bathroom available on it. So, make sure you take advantage of the facilities on either landing, before you make a crossing, or that could cause some distress for the little ones who "gotta go!"

THIS FRIDAY--To all of you 67'ers, just a reminder that we will get together this Friday, March 13, at 1 p.m., at Applebee's in Longview. We hope to see you there. Give me or Elaine a shout out if you're going to be able to make it so we can get a big enough table to seat all of us. Looking forward to a big gabfest for sure!

OUT OF THE PAST--This week back in 1945, the weather was miserable at first, with cold and rain and wind. By the 14th, the worst storm of the year hit and it included a lot of snow and hail along with the wind, and the hills around Cathlamet were covered with more snow than there had been all winter long. Grandma Elsie went and bought grandson, Gene Healy a new sweater for his birthday, which was March 16. By then, the weather had cleared up a bit and wasn't too bad. Grandma went to the show, "Between Two Worlds" which she thought was "fair." Then she baked rolls in the afternoon and enjoyed the first fresh rhubarb of the season, which was very good. A letter from son, George Everest, reported that he and Ralph Rodahl had shared dinner aboard his ship, so that was good for the two Cathlamet boys to be able to get together. On St. Patrick's Day, it was cold again with more snow on the hills and a terrible night of wind and nastiness which sent a ship aground at Coos Bay. Florence West had contacted the Everests to see if they'd like to take a trip to Wheeler with her and Jim, so they did. They drove by way of Astoria/Seaside and it was the first time the Everests had been on the "Roosevelt Highway." On March 18, they got word that George Boylan had passed away in the Veterans' Hospital in Portland.

In 1950, the first two days were cold but clear but then it got wet and windy and the last day of the week ended with hail coming down as well. Sadly, John Foster passed away on March 16 at just 57 years of age. He left behind his widow, Esther, a daughter, Patricia Kluge of Astoria, four brothers and two sisters. Gene Healy turned 13 that same day and Barbara Walker turned 11. On St. Patrick's Day, "The Spar" opened up on Cathlamet's Main Street.

In 1955, it was cold and the week began with snow falling and hail as well and it was pretty cold all week long. The smelt were in the Cowlitz River. Grandma Elsie attended a Variety Show with Flora Tonkin on the last day of this week.

In 1960, the week was mostly nice with only a couple of wet days. While the sun was out here, the Midwest, East and South were experiencing terrible weather. Sound familiar? The Dorcas club members met at Dowlings for their meeting that week. Present were Mrs. Dowling, Johnson, Jaspers, Bradley, Tholo, Shelton, Payne, Linsdale, Benson, Worthington and Everest as well as Rev. Eberhardt. They all had a very nice time. All this according to Grandma Elsie Everest's diaries.