Finding fire and water; season events start

I hope everyone fared well with the wicked weather we were hit with last weekend. I came home from a wonderful weekend in Oregon with family to water over my driveway and ducks swimming in Lake Fred (normally pasture). And mud.

My friend, PJ Katims and I left on Friday and drove through the Eagle Creek fire area to go to Redmond and Bend, Ore. The devastation along the highway is phenomenal. In places the metal guard rails beside the road were melted, with some of the burned trees still standing, but black and looking like skeletons. Thank God for all the firefighters and volunteers who risked their lives putting it out and protecting the people and properties. I can only imagine what it had to be like for them.

News from Naselle:

Sports calendar for the Naselle Comet teams this week: today (Thursday), high school volleyball at Three Rivers Christian at 4:30 p.m .; Friday, high school football at Woodland High School with Sunnyside Christian at 5 p.m .; Saturday, cross country District Meet at Onalaska at 10 a.m. Go Comets!

There will be a Veteran’s Day Assembly at 12:30 p.m. on November 9 in the Naselle High School gym.

Westend news:

This is the weekend for the always amazing Holiday Bazaar/Bake sale and chicken luncheon sponsored by the Rosburg Community Club, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday in the Rosburg Hall.

Time to start your early Christmas shopping, have a delicious, home cooked lunch, pick up some yummy baked goods, and never even have to leave the building. Shop with local vendors for hand made items and support our local economy.

The next blood drive is less than two weeks away, being held on November 9 from noon to 6 p.m. in the Valley Bible Church. Have you made your appointment yet? Remember, you may be saving someone’s life by giving a pint of blood. In the future, it may be you or someone you care about in need of a blood transfusion. For an appointment, call Susan Burkhalter at 465-2264 or go online at http://www.redcrossblood.org using support code:ValleyBibleChurch. April Zimmerman will be providing her famous sliders as a snack.

The annual Veteran’s Day Pancake Breakfast sponsored by the American Legion Deep River Post #111 will be held in a new location this year. It will take place in the Rosburg Hall on November 11, 8-11:30 a.m. Tickets for adults and teens are $6 and kids 3 to 12 will be $4.

The menu includes your choice of ham or sausage with eggs, coffee, orange juice, milk and all you can eat pancakes.

Raffle tickets can be purchased from Legion members at the breakfast for the big raffle at the upcoming Crab and Oyster Feed which will be held on January 27, 2018. Proceeds from the breakfast will benefit local veterans, the community and youth groups. For more information please contact Dale Rose.

Our local West End Food Pantry is gearing up for Thanksgiving baskets, and they need our help. There is a growing need in our own community to help provide nutrition for low income families with children, disabled and elderly folks. By donating only $20, you can provide a turkey dinner with all the trimmings on their table as well as a few leftovers.

Some of the items our pantry needs include canned or instant potatoes, canned gravy or packets, canned ham, canned yams, canned fruit, stuffing mix, biscuit or muffin mix, canned pumpkin pie mix, and ready made pie crusts. Frozen items, such as turkeys, whole chickens, and Cornish game hens can be donated but please keep them frozen until delivery. Currently, they are well stocked with cranberry sauce, canned corn and peas.

The pantry is open Thursdays 1-5 p.m. Tax deductible cash donations may be sent to: West End Food Pantry, PO Box 55, Rosburg, WA 98643.

The West End Food Pantry will be doing something new this year for pantry kids. A “Secret Santa Workshop” will be held for kids to "shop" for a special gift for their caregivers. Volunteers will be available to help them wrap and tag each gift they choose.

Please consider donating new items that kids would like to give as gifts. Some suggestions would be flashlights, necklaces, coffee or tea mugs, hats or gloves, etc. Keep in mind, they will be shopping for both male and female caregivers. Also needed are Christmas wrap, tape and tags. "Shopping" will be completely free for the children. Deadline for gift donations is December 15, and the Secret Santa Workshop will be held on December 16 during normal pantry hours, and kids must be present to do their own shopping.

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Chad Andring, Jeff Eaton and Joel Forbes. Here’s to a perfect day for each of you.

Heaven claimed another “Angel” when my dear friend, Virginia Wendelin passed away on October 11. She was a delightful lady who was devoted to her family. She often spoke of her pride in her daughter, Bonnie Linquist, and her love for her grandchildren, Mindy and Jeff, and her great-grandchildren. My most sincere condolences to her family.

I recall a story she told me as we traveled to Longview a few years ago, to visit Bonnie in the hospital following her hip surgery. Driving along the Columbia, she saw a salmon jump. She said that prior to her husband, Ernie’s death they witnessed two salmon jump way above the water together and it reminded her that someday she and Ernie would be together again.

She was a very special friend to me and I’m sure to many others. She will be missed by all who knew her. Rest in peace, sweet friend and God bless you.