The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

NOT ALL THAT GREAT--If you lived out in West Valley, you would have found a good deal of your holiday weekend cloudy and drizzly and not quite what we hoped for or expected. While some were enjoying drier conditions and temps in the 60s, my thermometer was reading about 10 degrees cooler, so it was definitely jacket time here on Friday and Saturday. Luckily, it cleared up a little bit more on Monday, and temperatures were mild, so the whole weekend wasn't totally nasty but certainly not the best either. Considering the flooding and tornadoes in Texas and Oklahoma however, this was not bad at all.

This week, the forecasters say the temperatures are going way up and so whatever you do, leave your critters at home and not in your car as it gets blazing hot in a vehicle in a matter of minutes even with the windows cracked. So, if you truly love your pets, keep them safe, watered and in the shade at home. If you're traveling with small children, make sure they are shaded as the tiny ones have to face the back window and they could be exposed to some strong sun rays if you don't have protective shade screens in the proper places. It should go without saying, but I will: never leave a child unattended in a car, especially on a sunny day!

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from May 28-June 3 are Wes McClain, Benjamin McClain, Justin Rainey, Serene Snow Carroll, Gale Luthi, Gary Emery, Chad Marsyla, Jill Havens, Jeannie Paulsen, Sharon Hart, Mason Kennedy Pittman, Derrick Bardsley, Terry Vik, Nathan Linquist, Robyn Longtain, Tim Rushing, Stephanie Prestegard, Barb Bain, Arnie Good, Lisa Sechler and Brian Good. Here's hoping all your birthdays are super special!

Happy Anniversary wishes this week go out to Robert and Karla Kyle and BJ and Sharon Stout Servis. Enjoy your anniversary celebrations!

NEW ADDITION--Sherry Stewart became a great grandma once again, as Beau Jerrod Silflow was born May 7 and joins a brother and sister at home. His parents are Felicia and Tim, and she is the daughter of Mary Jo Brown, daughter of Sherry. Congratulations to the happy parents and all the grandparents as well and once again, we've got another May birthday to add to our list!

BREAKFAST AT CHURCH--This Saturday morning, the United Methodist Church here in Skamokawa is serving up breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m., so try out their pancakes, eggs, sausage and biscuits and sausage gravy for $8 and if you've got someone under six, it's just $4. Part of the proceeds will go to the Wahkiakum Dollars For Scholars program and the rest goes to continue the church's good works. So, come on down and fill up early so you'll have lots of fuel to walk around the fairgrounds later on as you check out the great line up of cars and it's just a quick walk across the Skamokawa Creek footbridge!

CAR SHOW: THIS IS IT--If you didn't know by now that there was a terrific car show going on this Saturday at the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds and adjoining park here in Skamokawa, well you would have to be one of the very few, as there have been numerous notices in the paper, this column, posters everywhere up and down the coast, on social media and more, so we hope to see you down there this Saturday, May 30 for the Tenth Annual Rods and Reels Rod Run! This is a Wahkiakum Dollars for Scholars fund raiser and all monies raised go towards scholarships for our WA-KI-HI Seniors. The weatherman says it's going to be nice this weekend and we sure hope he's right as they've been pretty doggone lucky in all the years that this show has been taking place, so we'll hope for another wonderful day to walk through all the cars and check them out, have some lunch, buy some raffle tickets and enjoy the day with your friends and family while helping to support our seniors! Good luck to all those that enter cars. May you receive a trophy or award, or win a fabulous raffle prize! Remember, there is no cost to spectators to look around but you can buy a ticket for their lunch or buy some raffle tickets. Good luck to all!

DUCK INN--It's going to be a busy day and night in Skamokawa, as not only is there the big breakfast going on at the church, and a car show at the fairgrounds but this is also the third anniversary of the "new" Duck Inn, which we have all certainly enjoyed these past few years. Kudos to Logan Britt for supporting so many of our great causes around here, including the car show. We hope you'll come and celebrate this third year of business with special prizes, food and the "King Brothers" band this Saturday evening!

LIONS CLUB--You only have a few days left to buy those fresh berries that the Lions Club is selling, as June 2 is the last day to order, with pick up dates on June 6. Call Carol McClain at 795-3337 or 849-4003 right away to get your order in on time! Monies earned go towards many of the Lions Club's programs which benefit those who are in need of help with their eye care, glasses and more.

POST OFFICE--If you happen to stop by the Skamokawa Post Office next week, don't be startled by the new, unfamiliar face behind the counter, as no, we have not switched postal employees again! Instead, postal regulations require the "real" new/former employee, Lisa Mooers, to take some days off to do "post office business" before becoming our permanent post office person. So, a quick "howdy" to whoever winds up filling in for a few days and here's to seeing Lisa back at work very soon!

SAD TIMES--As our family says goodbye to one of our relatives on the Pedersen side of our family this Saturday at the Norse Hall, we just learned that another cousin has passed away on my Mom's side of the family ( Walkers-Everest). Sadly, Sandra McDonald lost her battle with cancer last Friday, May 22 in Montana. She leaves behind two daughters, Kate and Michelle and three grandchildren, Alex, Morgan and Theo as well as her Mother, Susan Shane Edminster and a multitude of other family members. May she rest in peace. No services were known at this time.

GOOD THOUGHTS--We want to offer our positve thoughts and prayers to Pam Elliott who will be undergoing some surgery soon, so we wish her all the best. May all go well and may she enjoy a full recovery. Our best wishes for quick healing also go out to a WA-KI-HI graduate, Laurie Miller who is dealing with a leg injury. We also want to give a shout out to Sunny Manary, a former Eagle employee, who has felt under the weather lately. It was great to hear that Janelle Gilligan is continuing to do well after double knee surgery.

LOOKING GOOD-- Prom night was last weekend here at Wahkiakum High School and the pictures that have been posted on Facebook of all these school kids have been amazing as they certainly show how they have grown up! It's hard to believe these "little kids" were just running around in scruffy jeans and tennis shoes but were now sporting suits and ties and formals and heels, and looking fantastic! From the looks of it, they all had a great time.

GRADUATING SOON--The Class of 2015 will soon be taking the stage as they leave their high school days behind them and venture out into the world. In case you didn't know, the WA-KI-HI ceremonies will be held on June 12 this year, while Naselle's grads have their ceremony the week before. As always, a hearty congratulations are being sent their way and may they continue their education.

FLAG DAY--June 14 is Flag Day so the ole red, white and blue symbol of our nation should be seen plainly throughout our county and our country. In case you didn't know, Flag Day is always on June 14, as it is the day that having a flag to represent our nation was adopted by the Second Continental Congress back in 1777. While we may not always be in agreement with our government and its officials, there is never a time that being disrepectful to our nation's flag should be tolerated. One of the great things about America: If you don't want to honor her flag, you are free to move elsewhere and honor another.

DAD'S DAY--In the midst of these crazy, busy days, we hope you won't forget Dad, who celebrates his special day on June 21 this year. Dads love handmade cards and things by the little ones and the older ones can step up and do some of Dad's chores, or make a booklet of "things I'll do for Dad" etc. Whatever you do will be deeply appreciated of course, so I hope to hear from some Dads that had a lot of special moments on their special day!

ALSO COMING UP IN JUNE--There will be some shopping to do at the end of June, as not only is the Skamokawa Grange #425 going to hold its Vendors' event on June 27, but the Annual Puget Island Garage and Yard Sale event will be taking place June 26-28, so that's always a lot of fun. The Norse Hall will be the place to be during that time as well as the Sons of Norway will serve up the Tri-Tip steak sandwich along with having a sale in the lower level of the hall. You can shop all day by checking out the sales at all these places, and while you're in the Skamokawa area, you can also check out Redmen Hall that day, as their Gift/Book Shop has some wonderful handmade items and terrific books by local authors.

BEFORE YOU KNOW IT--If you'd like to take part in our Wahkiakum County Fair, now is the time to start making some plans on what you'd like to enter, as with the time flying by, it will be here in no time. So, whether you'd like to enter photos, clothes, quilts, baked goods, etc., now would probably be a good time to make your lists and make plans to see that those items will be done by fair time. Our fair is Aug. 20--22 this year.

SKAMOKAWA REUNION--During fair time, all the kids who went to school at the Skamokawa school, will be gathering at the upper level covered area at Skamokawa Vista Park on Saturday, Aug. 22, so pass that word along to all your classmates. It's going to be the usual potluck gathering and will take place at 1 p.m., that day. For more information you can contact Gary Emery at 795-0884.