Good idea to change smoke alarm batteries

BIT DRIPPY--After a very nice sunny start this past Saturday, the rain front moved in by about two that afternoon and then we got a soaking that evening; at least West Valley did! Waking up to more gloomy, wet weather on Sunday morning, after losing an hour of sleep, was all the more reason to cozy up by the fire and either read a book or watch a little NASCAR in the afternoon. Whatever you did, I hope you’ve prepared yourself for a damp week as there are raindrops in the forecast for every day; although, that doesn’t mean rain all day, so if we get some breaks, here’s hoping you’ll take advantage of them!

CHECK YOUR ALARMS--Whenever we set our clocks forward or backward, the fire departments in our area always suggest that we use these times to check the batteries in our smoke alarms so that they will work properly. It’s a good time to use their “Change the Clock, Check your Battery” method of making sure your family is protected with a working smoke alarm in your house in case of a fire.

HAPPY GREEN DAY!--If you’re in our area, you’re getting this paper on Thursday, which is Saint Patrick’s Day, so here’s to all those who will be celebrating their Irish heritage; woo-hoo! Of course, we always say that everybody is a little bit Irish on St. Paddy’s Day, so we hope you have a fun and safe time celebrating this holiday.

Usually all the local eateries and watering holes make sure there’s a traditional Irish meal and a green beverage of some kind, so I hope you can get out and support a local business and help them celebrate a happy St. Paddy’s Day too! Here’s wishing you the luck of the Irish and a hearty “Top o’ the Morning” to you and yours this March 17!

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from March 17-23 are Connie Bassi, Laurie Miller, Mariah Souvenir, Mark Fladebo, Pat Kehrli, Lanie Hannah, Carol Wegdahl, Randy Hoven, Lance Souvenir, Danette Bardsley, Ana Marsyla, Josh Curtis, Cathy LaBerge, Katie Turgeon, Angie Nettles, Jimmy Montgomery, Taya Deal, Shelby Deaton, Gaylene Johnson, Sig Hjaltalin, Sandy Quigley, Larry Firkus and Mathew Kyle.

Those celebrating anniversaries this coming week are Kevin and Janelle Gilligan, Bill and Shelley Olsen, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Vincent, Mr. and Mrs. Tyson Clark, Mr. and Mrs. Brett Deaton, Mr. and Mrs. Aron Havens, Mr. and Mrs. John Hannah and Layton and Pam Elliott. May you all enjoy your special days this week!

THIS SATURDAY--If you’ve already gotten your tickets to see and hear author Karl Marlantes at the Naselle Community Center, don’t forget that this event will take place this Saturday, March 19. You could zip over to the Appelo Archives Center in the next two days and get a ticket for $15 if you haven’t gotten one yet, but they will still be available at the door for $20. In case you didn’t know, Mr. Marlantes has written a very successful book, “Deep River.” If you’d like to hear some history about the area, here’s your chance to hear some first hand at 2 p.m. that day.

SALMON DERBY--It won’t be long and the “Hook the Hawg” event will take place at the Elochoman Slough Marina. You’ll need to get registered for that event, which takes place March 24-26, so don’t delay in getting that done. You can stop by the marina or contact the Wah. Chamber if you’re interested in taking part. If you’re an online type of person, you can check that all out and get registered that way too. Here’s wishing everyone a lot of luck and a fun time fishing!

BOOK LOVERS--If you love books, then you’ll be more than ready to head to the Cathlamet Library on April 15 and 16 and check out their book sale. More on that to come, but I just wanted to give you a heads up so you can mark that on your calendars now.

EASTER EGG HUNT--Also on April 16, the Lions Club will hold their annual Easter Egg Hunt the day before Easter as usual, but it will be at the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds.Please have your kids there by 11 a.m., sharp as when those kids take off, they can clean out those eggs in a hurry! Be sure your little egg hunter gets in on all the action. There’s always been different sections for different ages and I expect that to be the same this year, but I’ll have more details later.

CALENDAR CORRECTION--If you’ve got a WCC events calendar, please make a note on it that bingo nights at the Norse Hall, put on by the Sons of Norway lodge members, is not on the first Saturday of the month, but on the second Saturday of each month. I believe the change in times may not have reached the Chamber in time for printing it up correctly, so please adjust it and tell all your friends about the change as well. Anyway, the next scheduled bingo games will be held April 9, with doors open at 5:30; games at 6.

FOS/HALL--Don’t forget, the River Life Interpretive Center – Central School/Redmen Hall, is now open on the latter days of the week and also weekends, so be sure to check out their Gift and Book Shop on the lower level and the display boards in the RLIC on the second level. Hopefully we’ll get some nice days so one can really enjoy the view from there. If you can tackle a few more stairs, you can go up to the bell tower and get an even better look! Call the hall at 360-795-3007 for further information.

SAD NEWS--We were so sorry to hear the news of the passing of Mr. Terry Bonny earlier this week (Sunday) and want to extend our most heartfelt condolences to his wife, Reggie and his children and the rest of his family.

It was a “couple” years ago that as a Freshman at Wahkiakum High School, we got to see a young teacher join the ranks of the staff there, and he was certainly a welcomed addition. That year I had him as a teacher in Psychology class and he made that a pretty interesting class. It was the first time I’d heard of having a painless birth via hypnosis! He did so many things for the school, from being a good teacher, to getting a track at the school and being a good coach and role model and was truly one of the good guys at WA-KI-HI. Again, our sincerest sympathies to all his family and friends who lost this special person this week.

OUT OF THE PAST--This week back in 1942, the week began with rain and it wasn’t very nice the next day either but then the sun came out for a couple of days before the first day of Spring arrived; a decent day but cold. However, the next couple of days brought cold and moisture and on March 23, it not only got cold and blew like crazy but it also snowed!

The one nasty day meant it was the perfect day to head to the movies, so the Everests headed there to see “Sergeant York” with Gary Cooper. They agreed that it was a very good show.

As part of the war measure, people were getting “registered.” Children of Krist and Carol Pedersen, Ralph and Frank and cousin, Donna Healy, daughter of Leon and Marian (Everest) Healy, all got their “Identification discs” that week.

In 1952, the week began nice but on March 19, it got cold and some snow showed up but luckily it didn’t last long and it was nice until the last day when some wetter weather arrived. Cpl. Ervin Tonkins of Cathlamet was among 25 Wash. State combat veterans to arrive from Korea that week on the transport Gen. W.F. Hase. There was a big smelt run in the Cowlitz River and the boys were making good money! Unfortunately when Grandma Elsie went with the guys, the smelt had moved out in the middle of the channel so dipping from the bank that day only yielded one smelt!

All this according to my Grandma Elsie Everest's diary.