Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
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After being out of town for a week, we returned to a vibrant spring landscape. Areas we hadn't mowed yet had grass growing two feet tall, blackberry bushes were thriving, and the trees had fully leafed out. We spent Sunday afternoon on the mower and tractor cleaning up our property. While I was writing my column today, temperatures soared into the 80s. If the weather continues like this, we may be in for a long, hot summer. On Sunday, we attended the chicken dinner fundraiser at Rosburg Hall...
My grandpa, Edwin Wirkkala, was one of the most important men in my life. A few years before his death, since I was living in Colorado, I committed to visiting him at least every six months. Thankfully, with the support of my husband, a job that allowed me to travel, and sufficient financial resources, I was able to keep that promise. The last time I saw him in person was in Feb. 2020. I had planned to visit again in March with my brother, sister-in-law, and sister, but due to the pandemic, we...
The Wahkiakum Mules baseball team had a tough loss last Tuesday against Naselle, giving up seven runs over the first three innings and only coming up with two over the following four. Israel Velke had the lone RBI of the game for the Mules, and Zane Propst and Preston West scored the team's only two runs. Aiden Scott and Parker Leitz three three innings apiece for the Mules, striking out a combined four batters and allowing only two earned runs. The Mules rebounded Friday, April 25, against Oakv...
The Wahkiakum High School girls softball team got off to a decent start last tuesday, April 22 against Naselle, but the home-team Comets were able to thwart every offensive showing their Mule opponent had to offer. Scoring once in the second inning and three more in the third, Naselle tied the score at 4-4 entering the fourth inning. After the Mules scored in the top of the fourth, the Comets scored with a run of their own in the bottom of the fifth. When the Mules scored two in the top of the sixth, the Comets put up three to take the lead...
Following its opening two mercy-rule wins of the season, the Naselle varsity baseball team had to swallow down three straight, low-scoring losses, culminating in a 6-5 loss on April 9 against Knappa. Since then, the Comets have reeled off seven straight victories, including two mercy-rule victories against visiting Ocosta in a double header on Thursday, April 24, and another against Oakville on Monday, April 28. The Comets were led by right-handed pitcher Leith Chadwick, who allowed just one ear...
Following its 10-9 walk-off win against Wahkiakum on April 22, the Naselle Comets softball team took a tough 12-5 at Ilwaco last Thursday, April 24. The Comets were led by Avrey Ford, who knocked in two runs while collecting two hits and scoring a run. Maddie Dielman, Jessie Smith, Brooklyn Leggett, and Brooke Davis each had two hits, and Dielman, Smith, Leggett, and Jaylee Bonk scored a run each for the Comets in the losing effort. From the mound, Ford took the loss for the Comets, striking...
During a recent visit to the Appelo Archives Center, Anita Raistakka lent me the book Recollections of Deep River by Mildred Evans McLean. Throughout her life, Mildred shared numerous stories with her friends and family about the school year of 1913-1914, when she taught in the Salmon Creek District near Deep River. Encouraged by her grandchildren, she decided to write this book about her experiences. Coming from the wide-open plains of Nebraska, Mildred found the Finnish logging community in so...
The Finnish American Folk Festival is sponsoring a Paint Party with Abbie Smith Mumley on Saturday, May 3 beginning at 2:00 p.m. at the Naselle Community Center, 14 Parpala Road, Naselle, The cost is $40 which includes supplies, materials and refreshments. Please contact Barb Swanson at bibs40@hotmail.com to sign up....
Featuring students grades 6-12, the Naselle Drama Club presents "The Drowsy Chaperone Jr." for its spring production. Directed by Karli Nelson, the production begins in the apartment of an unnamed character known as the "Man in Chair." He invites the audience to listen to his favorite Broadway record, "The Drowsy Chaperone." As the record plays, Man in Chair takes his guests on a journey back to the 1920s to witness the musical come to life. We are introduced to the wealthy widow, Mrs. Tottendal...
As of today, we're 10 days into the 2025 spring turkey season here in Washington. I don't have much from the field except for a handful of birds taken during the Youth Turkey Season, which was offered statewide to hunters ages 15 and younger from April 1 to 7. During our 18 years in Iowa, Julie and I 'sponsored' (per se) many young turkey hunters. To me, it was the most enjoyable part of the season. These kids asked questions, sometimes a lot of questions, but it reminded me of the basics of Mot...
It was a relatively tame time in the schedule for Wahkiakum's baseball and softball last week. After the teams played against Oakville on April 14, each squad had just one more game. Both squads took on Ocosta, a conference foe, on Apr. 14, but the games had very different results. Both teams played on home turf and, while baseball took home a nail-biting victory, the softball team took a tough defeat by a wider margin. Baseball hangs on It was a razor-thin margin that decided the contest...
FRIDAY- 4/25 River City Strippers Quilting group, 9a.m. - 3 p.m. , 400 Columbia St., Cathlamet. Cathlamet Public Library, 2 - 5 p.m., 115 Columbia St., Cathlamet. Johnson Park Public Library, 5 - 9 p.m., 30 Rosburg School Rd. AA Meeting Hope Center, 6:30 p.m., 320 S. 3rd St., Cathlamet. SATURDAY- 4/26 Redmen Hall noon - 4 p.m., 1394 WA-4, Skamokawa. Cathlamet Public Library, 2 - 5 p.m., 115 Columbia St., Cathlamet. Music Night with Mel & Leah and Friends 4 p.m., 125 Columbia St., Cathlamet. SUNDAY- 4/27 Redmen Hall noon - 4 p.m., 1394 WA-4,...
Spring has definitely arrived in Grays River Valley. The days are getting longer, and the sun is higher in the sky. I can feel the winter blues fading away, replaced by glorious sunshine and the sweet smell of freshly cut grass. Flowers and trees are blossoming, and wildlife is returning to the lower pastures. Recently, we've enjoyed some clear evenings filled with the chorus of frogs. The early misty mornings have revealed elk grazing in our lower field. I am looking forward to soaking up some...
Following the rainout of its April 8 game at St. Paul, the Clatskanie girls softball team returned home Saturday, April 12 to take on Warrenton. Scoring a run in the bottom of both the third and sixth innings, the girls were able to hold off the Warriors 2-1. Clatskanie was led at the plate by Senior Karielle Carlson and sophomore Olivia George, who had an RBI each. In fact, Carlson and George scored Clatskanie's only two runs, accounting for practically all of the team's offense. Juniors Kenned...
Spring break is in the rearview mirror, and now the attention of Wahkiakum's baseball and softball programs turns back to the strike zone. Both teams have taken wins in games after the hiatus, starting the second half of their seasons on a bright note. Mules' three-game winning streak The good times continue to roll for the Mules baseball team, which hasn't tasted defeat since losing to Naselle on March 25. Wahkiakum is 3-0 since that point, with the two most recent W's coming against...
I am continually impressed by the generosity of our community. I have recently learned about several projects and contributions taking place behind the scenes that deserve recognition. First is the Lenten project at Naselle Lutheran Church. For the second consecutive year, a group of women from the church has been providing food for the Westend Food Pantry at Johnson Park. Held on Tuesdays, the Lenten gatherings feature lunch and Bible study, as well as the assembly of dry soup mixes. These...
Donald Herman Raistakka, was born June 29, 1934 in Astoria, Oregon and passed away January 30, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. He was the son of Herman and Hilia (Kaukua-Olson) Raistakka. Donald attended Grays River Elementary School and graduated from Naselle Grays River Valley High School. During high school, he had his first job in the dairy industry. At age 15 he worked at the Lower Columbia Dairymen's Association plant at Grays River. Many refer to this as the Creamery. Following high school grad...
Julie and I took grandsons Tristan (14) and Wyatt (10) to the Radar Lakes on Friday just to get away for a bit. The weather was gorgeous. State Route 4 was virtually empty. The 69-cent rack at Johnson's One Stop in Naselle had recently been restocked. Can you say "Old Fashioned Glazed Donuts?" The lakes were devoid of humans, and the trout were incredibly cooperative. Finish this with hot dogs roasted over a fire, not one but two salamander sightings, and nary a single full frontal dunking, all...
Wahkiakum is off to a flying start this baseball season, and the Mules are proving to be a tough out as they caught W's in four of their first five games. With conference play underway, the Mules will look to continue their form as they vie for the state playoffs. The lone blemish during the first five games for the Mules came against Naselle on Tuesday, March 25, but Head Coach Matt Mogush came away from the 12-2 defeat largely content with his squad's effort against a formidable Comets team....
Due to weather conditions, last week's track meet for Wahkiakum High School was moved from Naselle to Randle. For women's track, Mayleonna Casey took first in the 800M with a time of 2:45.46 and took first in the 1600M with a time of 6:06.07. Clara Hogue was second behind Casey in the 800M with a time of 2:56.87. Sam Dela Cruz took fourth in the Women's 100M with her personal-record time of 14.17 to round out the girls' individual competition. In team competition, the quartet of Casey, Hogue, Dela Cruz and Anna Vik took second in the Women's...
Wahkiakum Youth Mentoring Program This week, as part of my ongoing series on the Department of Health and Human Services, I am highlighting the Youth Mentoring Program. The program's mission is to strengthen the connections that young people have with our local community by providing opportunities for adult support and community involvement, and its goal is to help develop healthy-minded, confident, and skilled young leaders. I recently met with program coordinators Terrie Howell and Diana Zimmerman, who shared their enthusiasm for the program...
BIG STORM? We received numerous warnings last week about a major storm approaching. As time went by, more updates came in saying it was going to hit us pretty hard. However, not much happened except for some loud thunder and lightning, but nothing too awful. Hooray! I scrambled around getting everything nailed down and put away, but that’s ok as it’s much better to be prepared for the worst and have nothing happen than to be caught unprepared and now all your things are scattered far and wide. Always err on the side of caution, and you wil...
In the past three seasons, no school in Washington's 1B Class has had more success on the baseball field than Naselle High School. The Comets were back-to-back champions in '22 and '23 and, after a third-place finish last season, Head Coach Randy Lindstrom and his team have their sights set on the finals this year. Last season, the Comets' streak of state titles came to an end in the semifinals at the hands of Almira Coulee Hartline. The loss was Naselle's first in the state tournament since...
