New exhibit at Redmen Hall opens Friday

SOGGY & BREEZY--At the end of last Saturday, we were sitting here looking at two inches of rain on our weather meter, so it was definitely a wet one. While some areas got hit with some strong winds, we here in West Valley had some gusts but nothing as bad as what we first feared, or close to other storms.

We woke up to a very wet Sunday, and actually, a little more wind than we thought we'd have. Plus, after looking at the rain gauge, it was a bit shocking to see that we'd already had two inches of rain by noon, so while we thought Saturday was rainy, we were already at that same two inch mark in half the time! So, all in all, it was a wet and windy weekend and a good time to stay inside by the fire, if you had one.

Thankfully we got a sunny break on Monday, but with more wind and rain headed our way, it seems it's not time to put away the boots and umbrellas just yet! Of course, that beats the snow they were getting back east, so we'll count our blessings I guess.

PREPARED?--If you did lose power where you were, I hope you had been all set for such a thing and didn't experience any severe hardships. While we often bemoan the fact that we've all gotten set for a big storm and then it didn't show up, I always figure it's better to have gotten prepared and not have to be, than to be totally unprepared and wish we had been! Let's just hope our Spring weather improves and we don't have to deal with any severe weather alerts for a while.

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from April 12-18 are Logan Britt, Andrew Emlen, Kael McKinley, Brent Mahitka, Bryan Ledtke, Dan Keilwitz, Brock Cothren, Gage Horman, Savannah Burdick, Stephanie Olsen, Margaret Strueby, Sean Miller, Janine Helms, Leota Souvenir, Phil Doumit, Tawyna Paine, Mike Brown, Reggie Bonny, Misty Shook and Carolyn (Mrs. Frank) Pedersen.

My apologies to Buzz Moore, who got left out of my column due to a cut and paste error by me, so a very "Happy Belated Birthday" to him! I was glad that his daughter, Debra Takko gave me a call and let me know it wasn't in there, but that he did have a very nice birthday to celebrate his 87th year and also a get-together on Easter with family members.

Those celebrating anniversaries this week are Mr. and Mrs. Greg Parker, Mr. and Mrs. Tim Parker, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Robinson and Steve and Dawn Macchione. May your special days be truly memorable this year!

CELEBRATIONS--I was a tadbit under the weather this past weekend, so unfortunately, I missed a couple of great celebrations on Saturday. One was the birthday celebration for Jean Kenner at the Norse Hall, as family and friends gathered to help her celebrate turning 90 years old! With two gorgeous cakes, one white and one chocolate, there was surely a tasty treat for all those that attended. A family photo was taken, which turned out real nice, and that featured the birthday girl, Jean, Leroy Wika, Linda DeBriae and Vivian Olsen.

Also, later that evening, Sharyl Iblings and her family and friends gathered at the Duck Inn to help her celebrate her retirement as a postal carrier, as she ended her 28 year career at the end of March. Again, sorry to have missed it but I'm sure they all had a great time.

NEW EXHIBIT--This Friday, April 13, is the beginning of a new exhibit in the River Life Interpretive Center, located on the second floor of the Redmen Hall/Central School in downtown Skamokawa, directly across from the Skamokawa Resort. It is called the "Creative Wood Design Exhibit" and it will run until April 29. An artists' reception will take place the following day at 1 p.m., with refreshments being served. The Hall is open Thursday through Sunday, noon to four.

FRIDAY MOVIE--The free movie and free popcorn night at the Community Center in Cathlamet, will take place on Friday, April 13 at 7 p.m. This week it will be an "Adult/Youth" documentary. Contact the center, located at 101 Main Street for further information. Remember, you can order pizza ahead to deliver to the center or bring in your own snacks.

THIS SATURDAY--The big Flea Market will be held at the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds. There will be tables of things to buy from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., so there's lots of time to shop. You never know what treasures you will find, so come and check it out, and then maybe you could go up to Redmen Hall to see their new exhibit, or head over to Vista Park first, where you can get a fresh espresso at the Ship Channel Coffee trailer, which is now open on weekends, but only from 8 a.m. to Noon through the end of the this month.

SATURDAY PM--For a good time, why not head to the Norse Hall Saturday evening where you could not only have a lot of fun playing bingo and visiting with your friends and neighbors, but you could win some cash prizes too! The doors open at 5:30 and games begin at 6 p.m.

COMING UP--For all of you who are interested in logging and its history in our area, as well as what is going on today, be sure to head to Appelo Archives Center in Naselle for the Annual Logger's Reunion, taking place on April 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. At noon guest speaker, Allan Wirkkala, will speak about inventor, Oscar Wirkkala, and there will be a new book available to purchase concerning the Deep River Logging and Deep River Timber History. There will also be a lunch available to purchase, but they will provide the cake and coffee.

PROUD GRANDMA--Marissa Apperson is sporting a new award, as she took home a trophy in the "Lone Star Gunslingers" competition recently. Marissa was seen by many of us for many years, at the old Duck Inn, as she was always there helping her Grandma Judy Smith. We all said she was a better waitress than most twice her age! At any rate, Marissa has grown up to be quite the young lady, with a love of animals, and winning lots of ribbons and trophies showing cows she raised at various fairs, as she was involved in the 4-H community and served in the royal court, and was a spokesperson for her group. Since graduating, she headed to Texas to attend college and is doing well there. It is no surprise that she is excelling in this latest competition and I'm sure her Grandma Judy and her parents, Michael and Myrna are very proud of this young lady.

SAD NEWS--One of our former classmates from the Class of 1967, Sharon McKie, told us of the sudden passing of her husband, Ray Fitzgerald this past Saturday, and we certainly feel for her. The couple had been married for 22 years and lived in Naples, Florida. We send her and the entire family our sincerest sympathies and offer them our condolences on their sudden loss.

Also, I just received word from Karen Everman Davis, that a 1958 WA-KI-HI classmate, Judy Wendt DeTeresa, had passed away on March 13, after a long illness. She and her family had lived in the Los Angeles area for many years. Her parents were Julius A. and Dorothy Wendt, and it was her Dad that the current Elementary School is named after, and many of us had Mrs. Wendt for our first grade teacher. Our condolences to the Wendt/DeTeresa families.

TICK TOCK--Have you noticed the time flying by faster and faster? Well, maybe you haven't but I sure have, as the middle of April will be upon us this very weekend and it seems like only yesterday that it was Valentine's Day! At any rate, before you know it, it will be Mother's Day, then Memorial Day weekend and then, it's the one and only, and the very last, "Rods and Reels Rod Run" put on by the Wahkiakum Dollars for Scholars group. This happens on June 2, and it is certainly bittersweet, as this has been a really wonderful event for our county, and for the lucky WA-KI-HI Seniors who receive scholarships through this program, so it will be sad to see it end.

I hope you'll all turn out for this car show, BBQ, trout pond, music and prize filled day! Share the date with all your friends and let's give this event a terrific send off! A huge thank-you to the Tischer family for being the leaders in this endeavor for many years, as well as all those who donated to it and those that helped, from parking attendants to burger flippers. It has been a massive undertaking and it takes lots of hands, and lots of work and a whole bunch of loyal sponsors to make this such a big draw, as those prize tables have been awesome, so kudos to one and all! See you June 2.

OUT OF THE PAST--During this week back in 1948, the weather would take turns being nice and then very, very wet and nasty. Even though she wasn't feeling so good, Elsie and Ralph Everest went for their usual walk across the bridge in the rain. While Myrtel Braaten was the Wah. Co. Treasurer, she was going to get some new help, as Florence West started working in the Treasurer's office that week. It was a busy time at the Krist Pedersen household, as it was time to get ready to head to Alaska, and on April 13, it was time to head to Seattle and K.P. headed to Cordova. It was a big day that week for the Wahcoma Chapter No. 226 of the Order of Eastern Star, as they held their Installation of Officers ceremony. There were two people who performed piano solos, and they were Terry Hayes and Shirley Coates. A vocal solo was performed by Shirley Olsen. At the time, the installing officers were Worthy Matron Mary Johnson; Worthy Patron Walter Irving; Assoc. Matron Ora Coates; Assoc. Patron Melvin Coates; Marshall Helga Head; Secretary Ina Snyder; Conductress Jane Goodfellow; Assoc. Conductress Clara Thorsen; Chaplin Minnie Houchen and Sentinel William Althauser. Ann Synder was installed as the new Worthy Matron. Later on that week, a big district meeting was held at the Cathlamet City Hall for the Order of Pocahontas. Mrs. Ruth Hanigan of Cathlamet was the district president. Then the group of 45 went over to the Norse Hall where the Sons of Norway Social Club provided a noon luncheon. Katie Lund and Elsie Everest decorated the city hall for the occasion, and Mrs. Everest also gave the Address of Welcome and Veva Elliott of Skamokawa gave the response.

This week back in 1958, the week began with a very warm, just beautiful day, which had everybody out doing their yardwork and planting flowers. However, overnight, the temperatures dropped and it was cold and wet the following day, and it seemed this pattern of nice, then wet, prevailed for the entire week. The Dowlings, who owned the Dowling Funeral Home, called Ralph Everest at 1:30 in the morning, and asked him to head to Pillar Rock, where he was supposed to pick up the body of a Mrs. Fox who passed away. Unfortunately, the vehicle he was using stopped short of his destination and it took some doing to get ahold of someone to come and take care of the problem. Fortunately, John Hendrickson and another man came to the rescue but this whole venture wound up taking six hours. George and Ruby Everest were in town, and daughter Patty and friend went around town selling Campfire Girl candy, and they did very well. Later on, George and Dad, Ralph, headed to Steamboat Slough to the Fudge farm to help out with some things there. All this according to my Grandma Elsie Everest's diaries.