Downriver Dispatches

First, we in the Grays River/Rosburg area want to send Nora Lee Sorenson our sincere condolences on the recent death of her partner, Marshall Myers. Our prayers are with you and the family.

Now, from Noreen Fitts: Come meet Katherine Parker, missionary who has served in Nepal. All are welcome to hear her story and share lunch at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 2, at Gray's River United Methodist Church, "The little church on the hill," at 3624 SR 4.

With the holidays coming, the area is getting busier all the time.

Sounds like the Halloween Celebration that Holly Engleson is planning will be on October 28, the Saturday before the holiday. She needs volunteers and I hope some older kids will sign up. (Adults would enjoy it, too.)

The American Legion has several activities coming up at Rosburg Hall. I know of Bingo on October 14; their annual bazaar and chicken lunch will be on October 28.

The Appelo Archives Center is will host an auction at Rosburg Hall in November, but I don't have much information on that yet. Speaking of the Archives Center, they have quite a group of folks who gather in the mornings on Tuesday and Thursday at the café. I am usually there for lunch myself and I always meet interesting folks coming to get either coffee or lunch. It's a busy place and certainly worth visiting if you have company coming from out of the area. Everyone enjoys seeing all the logging equipment downstairs and the museum upstairs, as well as the bookstore, so there is something for everyone. Oh, and food, too.

Now open and running full speed, the Naselle GRV School District is bursting at the seams with sports practices and games. Our winning volleyball team is so exciting to watch. The boys football team is busy traveling and winning. We have not only excellent, but committed coaches who are busy spending a huge amount of time with students. Time with the kids is not just weekly, it's almost daily. They show commitment, resilience, and investment in our kids. Let's be sure to thank them for coaching our young ones. All ages of students are involved in sports--from soccer to cross country, from football to volleyball. The basketball programs will be up and running in the coming months, so please attend home or nearby away games. We have an at-home high school football game vs. Winlock on Friday 7 p.m. On Saturday morning, the cross-country teams will be at the three course challenge at Camp Rilea, with Middle School boys at 9:30 a.m., Middle School girls at 9:40 a.m., then High School boys at 11:15 a.m., and High School girls at 11:20 a.m.

I met with the Johnson Park Board last week, helping them with information on setting up a non-profit organization. While Wahkiakum county owns the Johnson Park property, the Commissioners have the responsibility of approving expenses and activities for the building. The county has invested thousands of dollars for improving the building.

Not too many years ago, the property was essentially abandoned, but the county commissioners decided to help renovate it.

In 1936, Earl Johnson's grandparents, John and Helen, gave the County 18 acres, including the Rosburg School building, to Wahkiakum County for use as a school or park. Several years ago, the county decided to absorb the cost of renovating the historic building, and set up an advisory board to help develop activities in the building.

The county manages and holds any funds raised from the public. This can become difficult for the board to track and make decisions with, since the county "owns" their funds. By setting themselves up as a non-profit, the Friends of Johnson Park, the board would hold and manage any money they raise and they would decide how to spend it. The board would be in partnership with the county, just as the Friends of the Fair are. The Friends of Johnson Park's non-profit fund would be private, which is a benefit to both parties. (The county's financial staff has plenty to do without handling funds for every group that serves the county.) Instead of being an advisory board, as they are now, they would be a governing board which brings more responsibility, but also more freedom. The board would have to file an income tax report, which they don't have to do when the county handles their funds, and they will have to set up an agreement with the county as to who will pay for utility bills, or at least what percentage each will pay. All of this was discussed at length, and I promised I would assist them in applying for non-profit status if needed. They now need to decide and vote.

Photo of the week: Diane Sears, janitor at Johnson Park, pressure washing the parking areas.

Calendar of Events:

Mondays/Wednesdays: Balance Class at Naselle Community Center 2-3.

Tuesdays: Naselle Lutheran Church sponsors morning quilters and knitters in afternoons.

Second Tuesday: Johnson Park Board meeting at 10 a.m.

Second Tuesday: American Legion at 6 at Rosburg Hall.

Third Tuesday: Naselle Grays River School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. in school library.

Wednesdays: AA meeting at the Grays River Grange at noon.

Second Wednesday of the month: Grays River Flood Control District meets at Fire Hall across from Duffy's at 5:30 p.m. Also available by Zoom.

Thursdays: CAP Senior Lunches are located at Rosburg Hall at noon on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays.

September 19: Naselle GRV School Board meeting at 6:30 p.m. in school library.

September 25: Red Cross Blood Drive at Johnson Park.

October 2: Katherine Parker, missionary will

speak at 11 a.m.

October 14: Bingo at Rosburg Hall.

October 28: Christmas Bazaar at Rosburg Hall.

Words for the week: Fall colors.