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

News from Naselle:

Congratulations to the Comet football team on their big win last Friday against South Bend. Keep up the momentum.

Sports calendar for this week: Thursday-volleyball at North Beach at 5:45 p.m., middle school football at South Bend at 6 p.m .; Friday-football at Willapa Valley at 7 p.m .; Saturday-junior varsity volleyball tournament at South Bend; Monday-middle school volleyball at Ocosta at 5:45 p.m., Tuesday-volleyball with Ocosta at 5:45 p.m .; Wednesday-middle school volleyball with North Beach in Naselle at 5:45 p.m. Go Comets!

Other news from the Westend:

If you have a little extra time tomorrow (Friday) at 1 p.m., you are invited to attend the hearing being held in Cowlitz Superior Court in Kelso, regarding the dumping of septic sludge on a Grays River farm in the floodplain. Wahkiakum County adopted an ordinance restricting the use of certain designations of biosolids in our county and was sued by Department of Ecology. This hearing is being held to hear the oral arguments from both sides. It would be nice to see several supporters at that location on Friday to let our county commissioners know that we support their ordinance and them for looking out for the health and safety of their constituents and their properties.

Don’t forget the Lamplit Covered Bridge Dinner this coming Saturday evening in conjunction with the Columbia River Country Days weekend celebration. Tickets are available at the Bank of the Pacific (Naselle and Cathlamet branches) and the WSU Extension Office. It's $35 regular admission and $25 for Grand Americans (72 and older). Park your car at Johnson Park and a shuttle will take you to the Covered Bridge, starting at 3:45 p.m.

This fourth annual celebration is a fund raiser for Friends of Extension and Wahkiakum County 4-H.

I would like to apologize to the Rosburg Community Club for putting an incorrect date for their regular monthly meetings. They meet on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Rosburg Hall. Think about joining them and become a part of a wonderful organization that does so much in our local community.

Wahkiakum PUD commissioners will hold a rate and budget hearing here on the west end, on October 5 at the Rosburg Hall at 6 p.m. If you have comments or questions, this is your chance to get answers. Hearings will also be held at their regular meeting on October 4.

The Johnson Park website has been updated. Check them out at http://www.johnsonpark.org.

I just received notice that Norm Bolton has given his resignation to the Johnson Park Advisory Board as one of the original members. He will certainly be missed. Norm has been with the Rosburg School/Johnson Park project since the beginning when the Community Computer Center was opened at least eight years ago, with sponsorship from the Grays River Grange and Wahkiakum West Telephone Company. I would like to extend a huge thank you to him for all of his leadership, volunteer time, computer expertise, accounting, and the many, many hours that he has spent working with everyone on this community project. Thank you so much for all you have done. Your sense of community is inspiring.

Another board member has also tendered her resignation. Susan Burkhalter has shifted gears to become “Mommy” to two handsome little boys. She certainly will be missed by the board for her many contributions, but we all wish her well with this new undertaking, and we hope to see more of her as the boys begin using the library and other areas here at Johnson Park. Enjoy your retirement from the board, Susan, and congratulations to the whole family on the additions of Gus and Bowen.

As The Eagle goes to press the Johnson Park Advisory Board will be meeting to nominate two new board members.

The second annual All Hallows’ and Harvest Evening will take place at the creepy old Rosburg School (now known as the Grays River Valley Center) at Johnson Park, on October 29 with trick or treats (actually, no tricks – only treats) beginning at 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Enter at the spooky west entrance.

From the north entrance you can enjoy a harvest festival of fall decorations, food, games (from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.) and a movie at about 7 p.m. Admission is free, but there will be extra goodies for sale.

Help is needed to make this another successful event. Please contact me at 465-2960 or Penny Gregory at 465-2775 or you can sign up at the Grays River Valley Library. There will be a meeting in the next two weeks to get details finalized. Volunteers are a necessity to get this project on track and we still need you. Please come and enjoy our celebration, and lend a hand while you’re here. Call now.

Imagine driving up the hill to the old Rosburg School, now called Johnson Park, and seeing dozens of kids playing in the ball field, and walking out from under the tall trees laughing in delight. It could have been a day many years ago, but no. It was last Saturday, and the class of 2001 from Naselle-Grays River Valley High School, were celebrating their 10 year class reunion with their friends and families. It was a wonderful sight, seeing kids on the grounds with their parents, just enjoying the day and each other. It appeared to be a very special day for everyone. This was one of the last classes to attend the old Rosburg School for their middle school years, I’m told.

It’s hard to believe that the Rosburg Store was reopened a year ago by the Bolton Family. It just seems like they have been there much longer. Congratulations on your one year anniversary, and for keeping it the community hub for just about everything including gossip, deliveries, faxes and just plain good company. Leslie, Norm, Joyce, Cassie and Kathy, and others, it’s so good to have you there. Oh, and by the way, has everyone had a chance to welcome back to the fold, Joanne Bay? It’s wonderful to see a familiar face returning to the store, and doing a great job. Welcome back, Joanne.

I spoke with Leslie earlier this week and she would like to thank the entire community for making this a successful year for the store. Without the community support it would have been very difficult to keep it going. The store has returned to its winter hours which are: Monday through Saturday – 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Senior lunches are served at the Rosburg Hall three days a week. The Wednesday Senior Lunch Bunch meets at that location and enjoys a nutritious meal prepared by Pat Potter and her volunteers. On the fourth Wednesday of each month they will meet and dine at the Valley Bible Church.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, senior meals are also served and that program is sponsored by CAP. This building is a wonderful venue for everyone to meet and visit with friends and neighbors while enjoying a great meal. Check them out.

Birthdays being celebrated this coming week include Jordan Varila, Melissa Ashe, Pat Penttila, Dawn Thompson, Ian Leaf, Lois Wakefield, Thelma Miller, Shane Smith, Craig Reitz, Morgan Reitz, Travis Boggs, Roland Thompson, Gayle Gacke, Joanne Chapman, Randy Saari, Sherry Fleming, Kody Hamp, Diane Bennett, Kristin Tolbert, Brian Elliott, Kyle Mullins, Cathy Ehrlund, Mason Bryant, Miranda Kent, John Scharsenberg, Naomi Galbraith, Jason Wirkkala, Wayne Howell, John Alves, Lynette Mullins and Beth Dunham. Happy Birthday to each of you.

Happy Anniversary wishes to the following couples this week: David and Debbie Bighill, Alan and Brenda See, and Leonard and Betty Vaughn. Wishing you many more.