Many class reunions will take place in August

THE END--Tomorrow marks the end of yet another month, which just seems impossible! I hope you enjoyed last weekend, which was a little cooler; just fine with me! Supposedly we'll be back to warmer temperatures by the time you read this, so here's hoping you've been dealing with the heat. I heard we could be in for another long stretch of very hot temperatures, so brace yourself for another heat wave!

Sadly, more children and more animals have been left in hot cars in other nearby towns and deaths have resulted, which I just find totally inexusable, so as this summer weather continues, be vigilant in watching for this sort of reckless behavior. And remember, no matter how much "Fido" begs to go with you, he does not have the ability to figure out ahead of time that he's going to die a miserable death if he is allowed to go with you and is left in your vehicle, so be a responsible pet owner and leave him at home where he'll live to greet you another day!

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from July 30-Aug. 5 are Sheran Parker, Ebby Blouin, Marsha Helms, Treasure Collupy, Kamie Helms, Jai Stewart, Austin Smith, Fred Hoven, John L. McClain, Betty Huber, Jennifer Norris, Heather Kehrli, David Eaton, David Black, Robert Fritze, Tabitha Anderson, Steve Havens, Maureen Zacher-Bockius, Danny Eaton, Monte Robinson, Jacob Nelson, Jenny Blain Cochran, Jenny Pedersen and 67'ers Nancy Jacobson Brady, Larry L. , Martin Ostervold, Marnee Ostervold Davis and Judy Bergman. Here's to wonderful birthday celebrations for all of you!

Happy Anniversary wishes this week go to Rick and Theresa Kuljis, Don and Kitty Speranza and Jeff and Mary Baldwin. Enjoy your special days!

GREAT TIME--Peggy Pedersen enjoyed her 80th birthday with coast to coast phone calls from friends and family members, as well as having her sons, Tim (Margie) and Mark (Rhonda) and some in-laws, Bill and Kay Chamberlain at the house for the day. The boys made sure there was plenty to eat, with Mark cooking up his famous ribs, which his mother requested for her birthday dinner, and we all agreed, they were just the best we've ever had! All the other dishes were top notch as well, and the special, multi-layered birthday cake was a super treat to top off the already stuffed family members!

COMING RIGHT UP--Don't forget that this coming Tuesday is "National Night Out Against Crime" day. This is an event that is celebrated across the United States and it is hoped you'll gather with your "block" of neighbors. This year you are encouraged to invite your neighbors over for a BBQ or potluck gathering, or ice cream social and focus on what you can do as a neighborhood to combat crime in your area. If you let the sheriff's office know about your party/gathering, they will stop by with tips to help prevent burglaries or thefts at your home or neighborhood. It's a good idea for all of us to be watchful about what's going on in our surrounding area and report any suspicious activity. Contact Beau Renfro, who is the Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Emergency Management Co-ordinator at 795-3242 for more information. If you're on the west end, call: 465-2202.

Also, on Aug. 5, the Sons of Norway will hold their monthly meeting at 7 p.m., at the Norse Hall on Puget Island.They are always on the first Wednesday of the month. Anyone can attend and anyone can become a member if they so choose. Don't forget to check out their Bingo games on the second Saturday of the month.

REDMEN HALL SCHEDULE CHANGE--Contrary to what was in my column last week, it has come to my attention that the Second Sunday Concert Series will not be happening as I had stated, as the space is needed for the upcoming ceramic and weaving exhibit. I'm sorry for any confusion there. However, come on down and check out the works of Bob and Jenny Kizziar who will have their exhibit beginning on August 8. Stop by and check out their wonderful ceramic and woven creations!

There is currently a smaller, free standing version of "Legacy of the Columbia River Fisheries" which was an award winning exhibit by local author, Irene Martin and artist/illustrator Keith Hoofnagle, so with our background in fishing around here, this is a great piece of work to check out. Anyone who has pictures of their family's fishing boats and such, is being asked to contribute to this exhibit, so if you'd like to have your photos and history included, please bring them to Redmen Hall and have them added to the big display being put together for a future exhibit.

If you're into birds, there is currently a nice display of them at the hall which are being provided by the Willapa Hills Audubon Society with larger birds planning to be added in the fall.

With the time flying by, it won't be long and the wonderful, fun, and much anticipated FOS Wine Tasting and Auction will take place. On September 12 the Friends of Skamokawa will once again auction off some wonderful items at both their live and silent auctions, accompanied by some tasty wine samplings. To compliment the wines, there will be some delicious cheeses from our very own local cheese makers from the Skamokawa Farmstead Creamery. Annie Heineck will be the caterer from that business this year and we are looking forward to the creations she has to offer. If you have an item that you'd like to donate to this event, please contact Redmen Hall or stop by and drop it off, Thursday through Sunday. This is a major fund raising event for the group, so your generosity is deeply appreciated and is tax deductible. Need more information or have more questions? Call 795-3007.

LIONS CLUB--Lions Club member Carol McClain would like to remind you that the LC screening bus will be at the Wahkiakum County Fair on August 20, where you will be able to have several health related concerns checked out. So on Seniors' Day at the fair, you'll be able to have yourself checked out at their big bus. Carol said they are also looking for volunteers to get people signed in so if you've got some time to spare, give her a call at 795-3337.

REUNIONS--Don't forget, the Class of 1968 will meet at the upper covered area at Skamokawa Vista Park next Saturday, August 8 at 1 p.m. Then everybody who went to the Skamokawa school will meet a couple of weeks later on August 22 in the same place and at the same time. The Class of 1967 will meet at 1 p.m., on Saturday as well, inside the fairgrounds in front of the big food booth formerly run by the grangers, and where most of the picnic tables are set up. We'll pick out our favorite foods and just gather to enjoy our lunches and gab some more! A camp out is scheduled for the third week in September at Skamokawa Vista Park and a "fireside chat" and potluck dinner will be held on September 26, so we've got some fun times coming up with our classmates.

We hope you'll spread the word about the big 100 year anniversary of WA-KI-HI next year, on August 13, 2016. The more that know, the more we hope can schedule a visit out here. Remember, there are rooms and condos at the Skamokawa Resort, camp sites at Skamokawa Vista Park, as well as several B & B's around Skamokawa, like Twin Gables B & B, the Inn at Crippen Creek Farm, the Inn at Lucky Mud and the Inn at Skamokawa Landing, so reserve your spot as soon as you can as I'm sure those rooms will go quickly. The Hotel in Cathlamet is a great spot to stay as well, and they have wonderful cabins down at the Elochoman Marina, but don't wait until the last minute to reserve one!

ALMA MATER--It's week three of searching for someone who might know about the author of our WA-KI-HI alma mater words and music. Anybody out there know someone who's a little older and might know? Sure would like to find out who wrote it!

OUT OF THE PAST--This week back in 1960, the area equalled a dry spell record that had been set back in 1941, and the danger in the woods was at an all time high as the humidity dropped. Many logging operations went on voluntary shutdowns prior to a mandatory shutdown later on. At the time, a wild fire at the edge of the Toutle River on Tower Road was started by campers, and a second fire was along the Northern Pacific Railway near Castle Rock. Officials said they would not hesitate prosecuting anyone not heeding the fire restrictions. A very light rain fell on August 1 but that was the only cool day that week.

Frank Pedersen, who was serving in the U.S. Navy, was on the destroyer, the USS Barton, which was operating in the North Atlantic at the time. The destroyer was engaged in naval exercises and anti-submarine warfare training. The ship was headed to Halifax, Nova Scotia and to New York City prior to going back to its home port at Norfolk,VA. Frank was the second son of Puget Islanders, Krist and Carol (Everest) Pedersen.

Grandpa Ralph Everest headed to Skamokawa to work on the fairgrounds buildings, while Grandma Everest and Mayme Johnson went to visit Elva M. who had fallen and broken three ribs. Later on, Grandma Everest baked bread and gave a loaf to Jimmy Rodahl and daughter Marian. The Elochoman Grange held a cake walk to raise money for Janet Kerstetter who was their queen candidate for the fair that year.

Ruby Everest with daughter Pat, and Kathy Kaulk, spent the afternoon at the Everests telling them about their trip down to California. They traveled an inland route to San Francisco on the way down, and then enjoyed the coastal route on the way back.

Stopping by the Everests with some tasty food items was Mrs. Tarabochia, who brought some nice fresh sturgeon and a couple pints of pickles.

Derrill Trimble wrote a letter to the editor thanking the people of the Cathlamet area for their generous donations of used clothing which he was distributing to those in need while he was in Korea. His mother, Mrs. R. L. Trimble had asked the people in the area to send things, at her son's request and was thrilled with the response. He told of the staggering amount of poverty that these people were experiencing and was happy to be able to receive these items so he could pass them out.

There was a huge turnout on the lawn of Lynn Haven, the home of the Rev. R. H Sawyer on Puget Island for his 94th birthday that week. The spacious lawn, surrounded by a wide variety of roses, shrubs, trees and other flowers, made for an ideal place to serve refreshments. The Wahcoma Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star added to the beauty of the lawn by presenting him with large baskets filled white gladiolas and white lilies. His daughter, Jessie Lynne Sawyer was there and a call from his son, Harold of Milwaukee, Wis. was most welcome, so with a multitude of friends and family, he had a wonderful birthday celebration.

The Ralph Bunns took the Ralph Everests for a ride to see the Kerstetters' new house, where they all enjoyed a nice visit before heading to Skamokawa to check out the fairgrounds, where many improvements had been made.

All this according to Grandma Elsie Everest's diary.