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

Welcome to what really appears to be Spring. I have finally seen my first trilliums and a few of the other small wildflowers beginning to bloom. The hummingbirds are back, as are lots of the other spring arriving birds. The sunshine for the past couple of days makes it definitely feel like spring.

News from Naselle:

Sports calendar for the Comets this week include Thursday-home track meet in Naselle at 3:30 p.m .; baseball and fastpitch at Wishkah at 4 p.m .; Monday-fastpitch with Warrenton in Naselle at 4 p.m.

Students will be on Spring Break next week from April 2 to April 6. Enjoy your vacation and classes will resume on April 9. Have a safe week.

Mark your calendars for the next showing of Alice in Wonderland to be performed on April 27 at 7 p.m., April 28 at 7 p.m. and a matinee on April 29 at 3 p.m. Students and workers have been preparing for this event for several weeks already and as most of you know, their shows are always wonderful and fun for the whole family. Make plans in advance to attend and support this great group.

Also on April 28, you can take advantage of all things spring at the Naselle Lutheran Church’s annual lunch and craft sale. For a $7 donation you can enjoy lunch, check out the crafts for sale as well as other goodies. The church is located at 308 Knappton Road in Naselle.

Other news from the Westend:

The Grays River Valley Center at Johnson Park is once again getting some much needed repairs and replacement done to the exterior north and west walls of the gymnasium. Quite a job, especially now that the rain has started up again. Thank you to Wahkiakum County for doing this much needed maintenance, and sprucing up the old school building.

I haven’t heard whether there are spaces left for the fish preservation workshop so this is just a reminder to those of you who might be interested. The class is limited to eight, and will be held in the newly approved kitchen of the Grays River Valley Center at Johnson Park, on April 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Following the workshop, you can have the pressure gauge checked on your home canner from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. There is no charge for either the workshop or the gauge check.

The class will be taught through the WSU Master Preservation Program and is funded through a grant by Wahkiakum Marine Resource Committee.

For more information or to sign up for the workshop, please call Carol at 360-465-2275 or the WSU Extension office at 360-795-3278.

The Grays River United Methodist Church will hold a special brunch/breakfast at their Easter service on April 8, beginning at 9 a.m. then followed by worship at 10 a.m. Everyone is welcome.

A note from the Wahkiakum Fair Foundation reports that they are starting off their fund raising efforts this year for the Wahkiakum County Fair with a Mother’s Day raffle. By purchasing raffle tickets from foundation members Patty Dursteler, Daria Lacy, Lore Twiet, Kay Walters or Martha and Cheryl Backman, you will be included in a drawing for a dinner at Parker's Steakhouse in Longview and flowers from 'Tis The Season in Cathlamet.

Due to budget cuts the fair is in need of our help to guarantee that we will have one each year. Many folks have stepped up to the plate and kept us going for the last couple of years and they are to be commended for all their efforts, not to mention the fairgoers themselves. Let’s all continue to support our local, family friendly fair. Buy some raffle tickets.

If you would like more information about the Wahkiakum Fair Foundation please plan to attend one of their monthly meetings held on the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Skamokawa Resort Meeting Room next to the Skamokawa Store.

When you drive along our highways and byways, do you notice the unsightly mess along the side of the roads? Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone took pride in our roads and didn’t throw trash out for someone else to pick up? Leslie at the Rosburg Store is interested in sponsoring a volunteer barbecue for anyone who would like to help with this problem. If you have a suggestion for a date to do this, please call Leslie at the Rosburg Store.

I’m sorry to announce that the Constitution seminar Making of America that had been scheduled for April 28 at the Grays River Valley Center at Johnson Park, has been cancelled for now. Unfortunately, the low response rate to attend the seminar was such that we were not able to cover the expenses to bring the speakers to the area. If you have already registered and paid for the event, you will receive a full refund. The seminar may be offered again if there is enough interest. Should you wish to participate, please contact Margaret Hyland or myself.

The Wednesday Senior Lunch Bunch that meets at Rosburg Hall will enjoy home made taco soup with all the trimmings and dessert on April 4. On April 11 the menu will include goulash, salad, veggies and dessert. Come join this wonderful group and support their efforts to remain self sufficient. If you are interested in giving a donation to keep this venue going, please contact Pat Potter.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, senior lunches are also served at the above location and are sponsored by CAP. The menu for Thursday (today) is chicken spinach lasagna, Sicilian blend, Caesar salad, garlic bread and apple crisp. Good wholesome meals three days a week for our seniors at the Rosburg Hall is quite an advantage to our small community. Also a great way to get out, enjoy good food and friends and to meet new ones.

Welcome home to Poul Toftemark of Rosburg (of pig roast fame). Poul has recently returned from a visit with his lovely wife, Zenaida and their adoptive son, Elmer in the Philippines. Poul says there are lots of hoops to jump through in both countries in order to adopt, but it will be worth it in the long run. It’s a time consuming, exhaustive and expensive undertaking. My hat is off to the Toftemarks and the many other wonderful families in our community who have chosen to give a child the love, nurturing and hope that adoption brings.

Welcome home also to Georgene Scott of Rosburg. She has returned from a visit to Mexico and then on to Florida where she had some time with her family while recuperating. It’s good to have you home, Georgene and I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better.

Happy Birthday wishes go out this week to Nikki Footh, Chris Wilson, Whitney Caetano, Denise Blanchard, Josh Weston, Rob Crozier, Trudy Nelson, Cynthia Clark, Merlin Durrah, Julie Larson, Candy Johnson, Cheyenne Engelson, Trina Mennen, Christi Wirkkala, Brian Peters, Chris Magnuson, Amy Olson, Arlene Nelson, Taylor Wasmundt, Jenni Isaak, Jessica Pearson, David White, Todd Calvert, Karli Nelson, Nathan Forbes, Nicholas Stewart, Napolian Stewart, Ron Legler, Collin Rose, Kyle Strange, Jackie Stanley and Cary Bloom.

Happy Anniversary to Larry and Marilyn Sherk as well as Dean and Junea Brannon. Also a belated Happy Anniversary to our Satterlund Road neighbors, Bruce and Teri Satterlund.