Skamokawa News

GORGEOUS SUNDAY. As I begin this column, it's a really nice sunny Sunday afternoon and it's just the perfect fall day after a very, very foggy beginning. However, it appears from the upcoming forecast that it's going to be extremely wet for most of the week, so if they happen to be wrong and we catch a break, I hope you'll be able to take advantage of it. The rain is great for fire danger and for keeping our water systems flowing nicely, but it can be fairly miserable if you're trying to have some sort of gathering in which the rain truly puts a damper on the whole thing. Here's hoping there won't be any heavy rains. fingers crossed!

SPECIAL DAYS. Those celebrating birthdays this coming week from Oct. 17 — 23 are: Heidi Heywood, Kathy McClain, Michelle Collupy, Louis Stornetta, Maddie McClain, Joel Havens, Piper McClain, Justin Garrison, Davey Hoven, Alyssa Robert, Emily Elliott, Elizabeth Dahlen, Craig Nielson, Zachary Robinson, Mary Heagy, Curtis Everman, Kevin Gilligan, Jacob Grasseth, Victoria Wallin, Kristi Knowles Langston, Myrna Fudge Brown, Bill Boylan, Hunter Baldwin, Jennifer Kyle and Debbie Chamberlain. Those with anniversaries this coming week are: R.J. and Angel Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Barth, Mr. and Mrs. Vern Freeman, Mr. and Mrs. Graig Sand and Matt and Lori Kyle! May all of your special days bring you joy and special memories.

COMMUNITY BREAKFAST. I do hope you haven't forgotten about the Skamokawa Grange Hall on Thursday mornings from 10 a.m - noon, as that's when Season Long and her crew serve up a free community breakfast. They gladly take donations to help pay the rent and defray costs, but if you aren't able to do that, don't let that stop you from attending, bringing your own mug ,and sharing a cup of coffee and a bite to eat with others. It's a good place to meet up with your new neighbors as well as the ones you've met before. With the holidays coming along, you can always bring a shoebox and some things to put in it for their "Shoeboxes of Joy" event that takes place in December. It's never too early to start these projects and start donating towards them. It's nice to have things done early.

SENIORS GATHER. Every Wednesday, beginning at noon the Cathlamet Senior Friendship Group meets in the lower level of the Our Saviors Lutheran Church along SR 409 on Puget Island and so if you'd like to meet up with them, feel free to join up with that group. They share a lunch and then some just visit and others have divided up into groups that play cards or make cards, or work on puzzles, etc. If you'd like to meet some folks in the area and join others that like the same interests as yourself, that’s the place to do it. Many seem to enjoy the outdoors and have separate activities on different days so you can find out all about those folks too but the main thing is to get out of the house, talk with your neighbors, and have fun.

TWO MORE WEEKENDS. Just a quick reminder that the Museum in Cathlamet will only be open for two more weekends before their winter closure, so I hope you'll stop by and check it out. They are open from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Russ Durrah will be there hosting this weekend and he knows lots of folks and can help you look for your family info/records or talk with you about how things were in the logging world "back when" and well, he knows lots of local families and has lots of information to share, so come on down and chat. I'll be there to gab as well so stop on by the museum at 65 River Street!

HALLOWEEN REMINDER. There will be two days of Halloween doings down here at the Wahkiakum Coounty Fairgrounds in Skamokawa for the kids to enjoy. Saturday, Oct. 6, 4-7 p.m. there will be a Halloween Carnival, then on Sunday, Oct. 27, beginning at 4 p.m. you'll be able to come on down with the kids for the "Trunk or Treat" event. This a fun and very safe place to bring your kids.

FOS ONLINE AUCTION. Don't forget to check out the online Holiday auction/fundraiser that will take place November 1 — 10, which benefits the Hall/River Life Interpretive Center and keeps this historic building looking so great. If you'd like to donate something to this event, for the auction, I think there's still time if you call and bring it up to the hall ASAP, but call 360-795-3007 to make sure. They are open from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. You can always make a cash donation which would certainly be appreciated and can mail that to: Friends of Skamokawa, P.O. Box 67, Skamokawa, WA 98647. Don't forget that the Gift Shop and Book Store has some wonderful Christmas gifts.

SAYING GOOD-BYE. The family of Maurice "Maury" Mooers will be holding a graveside service at the cemetery here in Skamokawa on Ingalls Road on Oct. 26 at 11 a.m. At his request, in lieu of a big costly service and flowers and such, he preferred that one might make a donation to the Skamokawa Fire Dept: P. O. Box 145, Skamokawa, WA 98647. Once again, we send our condolences to all of Maury's friends and family.

SHOP WITH A COP. I mentioned this auction/fundraising event last week but I wanted to remind everybody that this event is extremely important in order to help our officers give deserving children a wonderful Christmas. Once again, it will take place at the Duck Inn on Nov. 9 and they need your support to make this happen. Please contact Tracey McCallum at 253-350-1582 no later than Nov. 5, if you'd like to donate an item for the silent auction. This is always a fun time and all the money raised by your donations of gift certificates, creative baskets, and more will make this a wildly successful once again. Please donate.

WEST OF KM. On November 16, you are invited to attend the Appelo Archives annual Harvest Auction and Champagne Dinner that will be held at the Rosburg Hall, which is located at 28 Rosburg Hall Rd., just off of SR 4. If you buy a ticket ahead of time, it will be $27 and $30 at the door. This will get you hors d’oeuvres, dinner of smoked brisket, dessert and a glass of champagne. You can purchase tickets online or call: 360-484-7101 or stop by the Archives Cafe at 1056 SR 4 in Naselle.

REQUESTS DENIED. This is just a quick reminder that if you are requesting to join the Mules Alumni page on Facebook and you did not go to school here in Wahkiakum County, then you are not an alumni. According to Susan McClain Kuhn, your request to join this group will be denied. So, just because you live here now, please don't ask to join this group, as this makes a whole lot of work for Susan as she's the one trying to keep up with this page and all the recent requests. Thank you!

NAMES PLEASE. Speaking of the school, if you happen to be one of those folks who work on the "LaMele" which is the schools' annual yearbook . I do hope you'll be including the names of all the people who are featured in team photos, etc. I was sorely disappointed to get one and not find their names listed under the gorgeous photos that were shown. Trust me, our memories fade and even the younger folks will have a tough time remembering their fellow students' names and we parents and grandparents are really in the dark as to who these students are. I do truly hope that the "no names" trend has ended and these kids/students/sport stars are recognized for all to see.

LONG HAUL CLEAN UP. The absolute devastation that has been caused by the recent hurricanes Helene and Milton in the Carolinas, and Florida has been heart wrenching to see. With Milton "wobbling" at the last moment, the direct hit on Tampa was avoided, which surely saved many lives. The massive storm surge and flooding that would have resulted, did not happen either. Actually, the water pulled out of the bay there so while it was certainly no picnic it could have been worse. That is little comfort to those that did get hammered by this storm but it almost seemed like the tornadoes that were formed inside the hurricane did a whole lot more damage than we had even imagined. We were happy to hear that our fellow classmate, Sharon McKie survived these storms and is doing alright, whew! I am still waiting to hear from others who were in Florida and had experienced major power outages. I do hope and pray for their safety. We also hope all those affected by these terrible events get the help they need as soon as possible. With so much widespread damage, it's almost impossible to fathom the extent of the damage. To all those who made it their mission to go and help, bless you all, you're awesome!