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

RAINS RETURN--After a fairly decent weekend, it seems we are in for quite a soaking by the time you read this, along with some strong winds, so I hope you have the boots and umbrellas handy as Fall is defintely here, like in falling raindrops! I'm still shaking my head over the fact that we're already three weeks into October, a mere two months away from Christmas, oh my!

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from Oct. 23-29 are Valle M. Ledtke, Nathaniel Norris, Nick Vavoudis, Don Wages, Christie Davis, Victoria Wallin and Joel Havens. Happy Anniversary wishes go out to Greg and Lori Parke, Mr. and Mrs. Ty Norris, Mr. and Mrs. Greg Bain, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Gorley and Wayne and Karen Bell. Here's wishing all of you a wonderful time on your special days!

REMINDER--If you don't see your name on the above birthday or anniversary list and you'd like me to include it, please just give me a call. If I'm not home, leave a message. There are a lot of folks I don't know, or who are new to the area, and even some folks who wish to be off the list, so either way, give me a jingle and I'll add you, subtract you or make note of your name change, which often happens and of which I'm unaware!

NICE WIN--Happy to see our Mules football team beat Winlock last Friday as that always makes their Homecoming night a bit more special. You'll be able to see them play at home this Friday night as they face off against Mossyrock. Go Mules!

The Lady Mules will be away for their next two volleyball matches, as they play Morton/White Pass today and Onalaska on Monday. Here's to great outcomes for our great volleyball team players as well!

The Mule cross country team has a league meeting in Mossyrock today, Thursday, Oct. 23rd.

HOME AT LAST--I am happy to report that my sister-in-law, Peggy (Mrs. Ralph) Pedersen is home again after three surgeries and a lengthy stay in the Vancouver health care system. Needless to say, we are thrilled that she got to return home to her own bed and surroundings, and of course her hubby is thrilled to have her back as well. Thanks to all those who kept the couple in their thoughts and prayers as it's been a long haul with many hurdles along the way for the both of them! You're all great!

HARVEST SALE--Coming right up is the Harvest Arts and Crafts sale at the Skamokawa United Methodist Church this Saturday, so with the holidays right around the corner, why not check that out for some unique gifts for your loved ones, or even yourself! They will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and would love to have you stop by.

REDMEN HALL--Speaking of some new things for the holidays, the Friends of Skamokawa have a variety of items at their gift shop too, like Smoke on the Water t-shirts and hats, as well as some items by Don Nisbett, like post cards, coasters and painted wine glasses. How about picking up some 12th Man placemats, as those would make a unique gift for your football fan. As always, they have a nice selection of books and of course, there are many local authors featured there, as well as local artisans.

The hall not only went under an extensive amount of work earlier this year to secure its foundation, but it's also had a lot of work done underneath it to help prevent damage by bugs and sealed up cracks, etc. Old buildings are a lot of work but their historic value is worth the effort, so your support is truly invaluable.

TSUGA GALLERY--On Friday, Oct. 24th, the Tsuga Gallery in Cathlamet will be having their Fall celebration, and one of the items they will have for sale there will actually help benefit the Redmen Hall. Members of the gallery have painted little birdhouses and proceeds will go to help maintain the hall.

MUSEUM--The month is coming to an end, so this is a reminder that this will be your last chance to check out the Wahkiakum County Historical Society's museum in Cathlamet. The WCHS will close for the winter as of Sunday at 4 p.m., until May. However, if you do have a group that would like to check out the museum for a special occasion, you can contact Kari Kandoll and she may be able to work in a tour for you, but prior arrangements will need to be made. Contact her at 360- 849-4353. To help keep the heat on in the place and preserve all those fine historical items, your donations would be most welcome. If we all sent in just $5-$10, it would certainly make a difference, so maybe this could be a nice Christmas gift to them from you, or maybe in someone else's memory. Send donations to P.O. Box 541, Cathlamet, WA 98612.

HALLOWEEN DOINGS--We'll be seeing ghosts and ghouls all over our area soon, as Halloween is fast approaching and there will be fun things for kids to do that day. Start out at 4 p.m. on Oct. 31, at the Bank of the Pacific for their annual Neewollah Daze doings, where they will be handing out treats and having a costume contest while serving some punch and cookies.

Down this way, the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds will be hosting their first Haunted House and Carnival so we hope you'll come down Thursday and Friday (Oct. 30 and 31) as the carnival is only happening one day while the Haunted House is open both days. This should be great fun. Look for signs around town to see how you can reduce your cost to get in!

GREAT MUSIC--For the adult trick or treaters, the Duck Inn will be the place to be on Halloween night as The King Brothers will entertain with their great, full band sound and terrific music selection, complete with an awesome saxophone player, so head there for their third annual Halloween party. Remember, if you've got a great costume, you may come away with one of the new flat screen TV giveaways, or other prizes, so put your best costume on and come out and party with Kings!

COMING TO AN END--You've only got two more Fridays before the Island Farmers Market on West Birnie Slough is over, so keep that in mind, as the days are flying by. Head over that way for fresh goodies, a pizza and some Punkin' Chunkin'!

GETTING PREPARED--With October coming to an end, it's time to think about getting prepared for the winter storms that often bring power outages, downed phone lines and flooding, so if you haven't gotten your emergency items together, now would be a good time to put those lists together. It's also a good time to make a "grab and go" back pack of survival items, just in case. We never think it will happen to us, and we hope it doesn't, but it's better to error on the side of caution than to be stuck with no supplies during an emergency situation. If you're looking for a good Christmas gift, maybe putting together and giving a "survival pack" might make a real useful one.

OUT OF THE PAST--This week in 1943, it was a beautiful week right up until the very last day when it poured down rain. The Everests had a letter from their son, George, who had been reassigned to a Navy yard oil ship and he was happy about that. On Oct. 27, Ralph Everest turned 57, and daughter Marian fixed dinner for him with a gift of hankerchiefs, socks and a wallet. The Everest's nephew, Bob Shane, turned 17 the following day. On Oct. 29, Elizabeth Goodfellow turned 20. Leon Healy was out hunting; Bert Witham got a nice one. Elsie Everest went to the movies that week: "Higher and Higher" and "Lucky Cowboy" were playing.

In 1949, it was another lovely week with only one misty day in the middle of it. Making the news that week was the fact that two drug firms released anti-allergy medicines that week which were called "antihistaminics" without a doctor's prescription. Howard Groesbeck, who was the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph agency manager in Cathlamet until 1942, was hospitalized in Seattle at the Virgina Mason facility there. In 1964, the week was mostly wet with only a couple of very nice days. Mrs. C.I. Wood retired from the post office after over 23½ years, after her husband, who was postmaster then, needed a post office clerk and persuaded her to take the job after no one else would apply. Taking her place would be Miss Mary Lang who had held the position of substitute clerk for the past 15 years. After a required test was taken, Mrs. Albert Kehrli was then appointed to Miss Lang's position. The Mules football team was in high spirits as they beat Illwaco 48 to nothing and then beat Naselle 21 to 7 to bring home the KM trophy. Grandma Elsie attended the Home Ec. club meeting at Mrs. Koth's house and they all had a wonderful time with a "natural & wonderful" hostess. With Grandpa Ralph Everest's birthday coming up, the mailbox was full of good wishes from family back in Minnesota as well as local friends and family members. A hundred dollar bill from daughter, Carol and son-in-law, Krist, made his day! Meanwhile, the Ralph Pedersens were preparing to go to Alaska that following week to live and the family was busy helping them as there was a lot of work to do in order to get ready for that! All this according to Grandma Elsie Everest's diaries.