Westside Stories

I am writing my column this week from Littleton Colorado. I’m spending the week visiting my family and enjoying time with my 9-month-old grandson. The temperatures here are frigid, with highs in the 30’s and lows in the teens. There is a layer of snow and ice on the ground.

If you haven’t flown in and out of PDX recently, be prepared for some changes. The terminal is now a wide-open space and getting to your gate can be a long walk, depending on what airline you are flying with. A Southwest representative told me it could be almost a year before they have better access completed. If you are flying soon, plan to give yourself some extra time.

Emergency Preparedness

Considering the recent devastating fires in California, I’ve been thinking a lot about what we would do if we were in a situation where we had just minutes to flee our home. I’ve heard several times it was the perfect storm that brought about such massive destruction. I think most of us think something like that will never happen to us, but you just never know. There are several different ways the perfect storm could hit in our little neck of the woods. I am not a doomsdayer, but I think it’s always helpful to think ahead and be prepared in case something was to happen. Even if you have a plan, have you reviewed it or thought about it recently?

I did some research and found some helpful information online. The three P's of disaster preparedness are plan, prepare, and practice.

Plan: Create an evacuation route plan and consider what to do if your family isn't together. Have a meeting spot in case communication is cut off. Make a list of items you will need if you evacuate so you don’t have to make panicked decisions. Have a plan for pets.

Prepare: Build a kit with supplies that will last for a few days. Items to include would be fresh water, non-perishable food, a first aid kit, medications, a flashlight, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra batteries, cell phone chargers and family and emergency contact information. Take pictures or video throughout your home and property as a record for insurance. Store those in the cloud or in a safe deposit box.

Practice: Know and practice your plans to evacuate.

Hopefully none of us will need to put these plans to the test, but it’s always better to be prepared if and when the time comes.

Exciting news from Appelo Archives Center

Appelo Archives has recently named Angela Metcalf as their new Director. I’m hoping to sit down with her in the next few weeks to hear about her goals and plans.

The Archives has also received a $15,000 grant from the Templin Foundation to install two heat pumps in the café and lower museum area. If you’ve been in the Archives during the winter months, it can get a bit chilly. These new systems will be a welcome addition to staff and visitors to ward off the chill.

Updates on Burning Questions

Last week I posed some burning questions. Someone’s ears must have been “burning” because the abandoned RV on Salme Hill was gone before my column even went to print.

I’m working on finding out more details on the cell tower project on KM Mountain, like when the project will be completed and what cell companies will be leasing space from it. Stay tuned for more information.

I haven’t received any information on the status of the Rosburg Store, but I did receive a kind email from Bonnie LaDoe whose grandparents lived on Altoona Pillar Rock Road. She sent me a bit of the history of the Rosburg Store and some photos from 1939 and 1955. Maybe I’ll do some research on the store and do a write-up in my column on its history sometime in the future.

Westside Happenings

January 2025

26 – Finnish American Folk Festival annual board meeting, 4 p.m.

TBD – Bingo at Naselle Community Center – due to a conflict, Bingo is being rescheduled.

To include an event on the calendar or to give feedback, please contact me at writerlisayeager@outlook.com. You can also follow me on Facebook @ Writer Lisa Yeager.