Westside Stories

Lisa Yeager | Oct 31, 20240

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Westend writer Lisa Yeager and her husband Mark.

Welcome to my new column, Westside Stories. I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I am Lisa Yeager. My husband Mark and I moved to Grays River in June of 2021 after purchasing the old Schmand dairy farm on North Hull Creek Road. We spent our first 2 years clearing years of overgrowth, metal, concrete, and loads of other debris left behind. Our original plan was to develop and build an RV Park, however, due to several setbacks, that venture is permanently on the back burner.

On nicer days, you will more than likely find me on our John Deere tractor doing various projects around our property. Our little white Maltese dog, Luna, can be found by my side in her pet seat strapped to the tractor. It's one of her favorite places to be. On rainy days, more often than not, I will have my nose in my Kindle reading a book.

Prior to moving to the Pacific Northwest, Colorado was my home for over 40 years. I met Mark there, we raised our son, and I had a 25-year career in finance and administration. These days, I am focused on a new career path of becoming a writer. I have several projects in mind, including a memoir of my early life, a book about our Journey to Grays River, and I have several ideas for works of fiction based in Southwest Washington. I am currently taking a memoir writing class at Clatsop Community College and I hope to take more classes in the future.

Even though I didn't grow up here, my family roots run deep. Both my parents, Ron & Dianne Forberg, grew up in the Grays River Valley and graduated from Naselle High School in the early 1960's. My paternal grandfather, Walter Forberg, was the founding pastor of Valley Bible Chapel in the 1950's. My maternal grandfather, Edwin Wirkkala, was a well-known member of the community until his passing in 2020. Many members of my family are laid to rest at Seal River Cemetery in Rosburg, including both sets of my great, great grandparents (Abraham & Anna Wirkkala and Carl & Amanda Hanson), my great grandparents (J. Alexander & Hilma Wirkkala), grandparents (Edwin & Mary Wirkkala), and several great aunts and uncles.

I am on the board of the Finnish American Folk Festival, serving as Treasurer for the last two years. Being a part of the festival and celebrating my Finnish heritage is something I really enjoy. I recently sent in my DNA test to Ancestry.com and I'm looking forward to those results.

I am excited and privileged to be writing for The Wahkiakum County Eagle. My hope is to share personal musings, human interest stories, happenings of the Westend, tech tips and spam alerts, and anything else that I think would be of interest. On top of writing this column, I will be covering various public meetings and events in the Westend and Naselle.

Please feel free to contact me at WriterLisaYeager@Outlook.com.

Westend Happenings

October

31st Trunk or Treat at WSP in Naselle 3 - 6 p.m.

31st Halloween Bash @ Naselle Community Center 5-8 p.m.

November

2nd Rosburg Hall Holiday Bazaar 10a.m.‑2 p.m.

8th Johnson Park Harvest Dinner 6 p.m.

9th American Legion Veteran's Breakfast

@ Rosburg Hall 8-11:30 a.m.

9th Naselle Lutheran Church Christmas

Bazaar 10 a.m.-2p.m.