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

News from Naselle:

The first day of the new 2015/2016 school year will commence on Monday, the 31st.

The Naselle-Grays River Valley School District is looking for citizens to fill two positions on the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee and three positions on the Facilities Committee. If you are interested, please contact Superintendent Lisa Nelson at lnelson@naselleschools.org or call the District office at 360-484-7121 ext. 3. Both committees meet once a month for about an hour and a half.

Are you interested in lending a hand, making suggestions, or volunteering to be a part of this next FinnFest? The Finnish American Folk Festival Committee will meet on Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Naselle Lutheran Church to plan for the 2016 festival. If you have suggestions for a theme, please contact Mike Swanson.

The festival will be held July 29-31, 2016, at the Naselle schools.

The Appelo Archives’ Annual Swap Meet will be held September 4 and 5, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For table space reservations please contact Appelo Center at 360-484-7103 or via email info@appeloarchives.org.

Westend news:

The Grays River Grange Weekly Farm Market is open every Tuesday, 2-6 p.m. in the Grays River Grange #124 building on SR 4 in Grays River. Get your local produce at reasonable prices.

Get your advance tickets now for the prime rib dinner in the Grays River Valley Center at Johnson Park to be held September 12. Tickets are $20 each, and dinner will be served in the cafeteria from 5-7 p.m. Only 50 tickets are available. The menu will include prime rib, cooked by our in-house chef, Steve Ramsay, along with baked potato, salad and dessert. For more information or for tickets, call me at 465-2960.

Proceeds from the event will be used for monthly operating expenses for the building and the center.

The Free Friday Night Movie this week at Johnson Park is a double feature, two classic black and white films. The show starts at 7 p.m. and concessions are available.

The Rosburg Wednesday Senior Lunch Bunch meets every week in the Rosburg Hall for Pat Potter’s home cooked meal, served with the help of her volunteer crew.

On Thursdays, a senior meal is also served at that location and is sponsored by CAP. Both lunches are served at noon.

Happy Birthday to Jon Gudmundsen, Joyce Kilponen, Norman Anderson, Dan White, Josie Eastham, Mona Givens, Wendy Anderson, Emma Kragerod, Pat Rose, Michal Corbin, Calen Thompson, River Andring, Thomas Gradt, Kim Gray, Laura Seifert, Liike Gardner, Curt Reitz, Desmyn Wirkkala, Hannah Haataia, Larissa Genn, Duane Kent, Lisa Colombo, Shellie Wirkkala, Macey Weston, Joyce Bolton, Ryan Erickson and Alex Bennett. Wishing all of you a very special day.

Happy Anniversary to Bob and Thelma Miller, Lonnie and Kim Eaton, Jack and Marge Smith, Kayse and Marie Rogers, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Carlson, Joe and Jeannine Helvey and Tim and Denise Lewis. Here’s to many more celebrations together.

This past weekend was delightful at our house. We had our daughter and two grand daughters here from California, our daughter and son-in-law from Oregon, our niece from Missouri, and two grandsons with their Mom from Kelso, all here for a beautiful evening around the fire pit roasting hot dogs and making s’mores. We also had the pleasure of drinking a few beers from Smith Rock Brewing Company of Redmond, Oregon (owned and brewed by our kids). I love family time.

All is quiet now, after three trips to PDX in four days. Too quiet to suit me, as I love the laughter and stories when everyone gets together.

Last Friday was horribly smoky throughout the area, and we can be happy that we are not in the same danger at the moment as the folks in the middle of all the fires in the northwest. I spoke with my cousin, Tom Hammonds on Monday evening and he has just returned from fighting the fires in the Spokane area. The fire fighters deserve our heartfelt thanks for what they are doing. I would like to commend each and every one of them for putting their lives on the line for others, working the long hours, and being away from their families in service to others. Thank you.

With the forecast for some rain this coming weekend, let’s hope it will give the folks in the burning areas some relief as well.