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STILL PRETTY DRY--This past week saw temperatures back up in the high 80s, so it was pretty doggone toasty for September but things cooled down over the weekend; just mid 70s here, so that was quite nice. We had some brief drops of rain on Sunday and then a foggy, damp start to this work week so we got a snitch of moisture. Any of that is welcomed by my poor dried up lawn and thirsty plants! It looks like we are going to stay dry this week with those cooler but yet very nice temperatures, so we’ll see if that holds as they mentioned the p...
First, we in the Grays River/Rosburg area want to send Nora Lee Sorenson our sincere condolences on the recent death of her partner, Marshall Myers. Our prayers are with you and the family. Now, from Noreen Fitts: Come meet Katherine Parker, missionary who has served in Nepal. All are welcome to hear her story and share lunch at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 2, at Gray's River United Methodist Church, "The little church on the hill," at 3624 SR 4. With the holidays coming, the area is getting...
According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fires during the winter months, and as the temperature drops outside, homeowners may begin using their wood fireplaces. Last year in Washington State, 757 fire incidents were caused by heating, which includes fireplaces and chimneys. Total losses were estimated at over eight million dollars. The State Fire Marshal’s Office recommends that residents follow certain safety tips to help keep your home fire safe this coming winter. Keep anyt...
Local VFW posts will soon hold three essay competitions: the Voice of Democracy for grade 9-12; the Patriots Pen for grades 6-8; and the Youth Essay for grades 3-5. Students are invited to write essays based on given patriotic themes; the essays are evaluated by the local post. Last year, first, second, and third place winners of the essay competition were recognized with certificates and a total of $1,725 in cash awards from Wahkiakum Post 5297. Established in 1947, the Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with...
CLOUDY START--It’s a cloudy Sunday morning here in West Valley, which is certainly a big change from the day before when we woke up to bright sunshine and it wound up being a pretty day with temps in the mid-80’s. It’s a little more comfortable to do yardwork when one isn’t in the direct sunshine, so before the rains come, I hope you were able to take advantage of the dry and cooler temps so you didn’t get burned to a crisp! Forecasters are saying we’ll have a pretty mild week, so I guess I’ll have no excuses not to do some outdoor things prior...
Dear Readers: Let's start with the memory of September 11, 2001. Recruits into the service today may not have been born yet or may have been babies when it happened twenty-two years ago. How quickly history fades. Let us not forget those who climbed hundreds of stairs and headed into the fires and devastation. Let us always pause to pray for their families and those who lost so much. Let us remember our own first responders here in our rural area because they are all volunteers leaving their...
The Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington will host two meetings to plan services for the next several years. The meetings will be held in October; all interested members of the public are invited to attend. The first hour-long meeting will be held at the Wahkiakum County Courthouse at 64 Main Street, Cathlamet, on Tuesday, October 10, at 11:30 a.m. The meeting will take place in the Commissioner’s Meeting Room on the third floor. The second meeting will be held in the cafeteria at Johnson Park Community Center at 30 R...
An award-winning composer-pianist will perform in Cathlamet as part of a long-planned reboot of a beloved Cathlamet landmark. Massachusetts-based Dan Kennedy will perform at the historic Pioneer Center, with its iconic white tower, as part of a tour that will take him to Oregon and California. This is Kennedy’s first ever visit to Cathlamet. Kennedy and Pioneer Community Association President Suzanne Holmes have been in discussion for over four-and-a-half years to make the appearance a reality. Despite initial delays due to building r...
Ocean Beach Hospital and Medical Clinics (OBHMC) willl host a Community Health & Wellness Fair, aimed at fostering wellness, education, and community engagement. “The Community Health & Wellness Fair supports the well-being of the community we proudly serve,” said Scot Attridge, CEO. “The free event offers a diverse range of activities, services, and information for individuals so that they may take steps toward improving their health and learn about what’s available in the community to support their wellness.” Community Health & Wellness...
OLYMPIA – People over the age of 65 face the greatest risk of dying in a fire, according to a recent report published by the U.S. Fire Administration. As people age, they may become unable to react quickly in emergency situations, or may take medication that slows their ability to make rapid decisions. Last year in Washington State, 63 percent of the people that died in fires were age 50 or older. The State Fire Marshal’s Office encourages the following safety tips: · Have working smoke alarms in the home, and test them monthly. · For the h...
A familiar sight on Birnie Slough: a great blue heron waiting intently for a fish to snatch. Photo by Ian Brandon...
The Washington State Department of Health and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife issued a cautionary notice last week for the public to avoid contact with wild birds and other wild animals, especially sick or dead wild animals or their young. Since early July, an outbreak of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, has been impacting wild birds and several seals near Port Townsend. WDFW staff are monitoring and responding to the situation and have removed more than 1,700 dead Caspian terns and gulls from Rat Island and adjacent shores...
Travelers along both directions of State Route 401, also knowns as the Lewis and Clark Trail Highway, between Naselle and Megler, in Pacific County, will need to plan ahead and add extra time for travel. Starting Monday, Sept. 11, Washington State Department of Transportation’s contractor, Rognlin’s Inc., will fully close SR 401 near Knappton and begin the work to fully restore access along this stretch of highway and stabilize the adjacent slope. What to expect From 7 a.m., Monday, Sept. 11, and continuing for up to five weeks: An aro...
COOLER--As Labor Day begins, it’s cloudy and cool and according to the forecast, looks to last all week so those toasty, hot days that we had last week aren’t likely to reappear. As we all know, we can get a change in our forecast in a hot second. We weren’t supposed to have any rain on Sunday, but we did. We really needed the rain, so when we got some, many of us weren’t too upset, but others, with big plans and outdoor venues were a lot less thrilled to see it arrive. That’s Washington weather for you! SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrati...
Fall has snuck in the front door seeming to follow prior seasons earlier this year. We had an early spring, an early summer and now an early fall. If winter is early, too, the big storms may well be on Thanksgiving, usually a high tide period when storms are more likely to happen. Recently, Vince Gill presented his new song on the Grand Old Opry, "The Whole World." I hope you will look for it on YouTube. Here are lyrics to the chorus: "Feels like the whole world has a broken heart, We surely...
The WHS Class of 1962 met in Castle Rock for their 61st year class reunion last month. Pictured left to right in the back row: Gary Garrison, David Fudge, Vernon (Jake) Dodge. Front row: Linda Gilbertsen Brock, Janice Peek Freeman, Juanita Chase Irving, Diane O'Brien Sigler and Rebecca Neilson Doxtater. Joel Watters also attended but was not in the group picture. Photos courtesy of Janice Freeman....
Wahkiakum Animal Advocate Group's Wendy Edwards (left) receives fleece pet blankets tied by children at the Cathlamet Public Library's Summer Reading Program "All Together Now - Community Connections" activity event earlier this summer, from Librarian Carol Blix (right). Courtesy photo - JoAnn Dutcher....
WordFest resumes for its fall season on Tuesday, September 12, 6:00-8:00 p.m., at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 1428 22nd Avenue in Longview. Cathlamet poet and writer Dayle Olson kicks off the season’s offerings, reading her recently published short story, “The Mourners,” as well as a number of her poems about life on the Lower Columbia River. Handmade pocket zines featuring her poetry and drawings will be available for purchase. Olson is active with The Writer’s Guild of Astoria and co-hosts a monthly radio program, River Writers, on KMUN 9...
The Friends of Skamokawa will host a presentation and book signing by author Erich R. Ebel on his book “Exploring Maritime Washington” on Saturday, September 30 from 2-3 p.m. Books will be available for purchase and refreshments available. All proceeds help to maintain the property and provide programs and services for the community through the FOS/River Life Interpretive Center. Contact Lori Cagle, office manager, with any questions, Tuesday or Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Friends of Skamokawa Interpretive Center, (360) 795-3007 or...
For its 47th consecutive year, the Stella Historical Society will hold its annual Remnants Of The Past. September 9 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., a variety of activities will take place. In addition to the usual fascinating displays, Matt Moore will demonstrate blacksmithing skills and Ted Gruber will be on-site to discuss old post offices of Cowlitz County. These activities and many more will take place at the museum complex 10 miles west of Longview at 8530 Ocean Beach Highway. A short drive up Germany Creek Road will take you to Stella...
COOLING DOWN--As I begin this column on Sunday morning, it is cloudy, cool and calm and we’re not worried about getting unbearably hot, so that’s okay with me, as those 90 to 100 degree temperatures were too much for me. The forecasters say we may get some rain, so we’ll see how that plays out. Fires are destroying acres of timberland, which is a tragedy for all of us, animals included. As always, be mindful of the fire restrictions that are currently in place in our area. SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays Aug. 31-Sept. 6 are Nanea...
Join Lewis and Clark National Historical Park on Saturday and Sunday, Labor Day weekend, to celebrate the park residents that gobble up mosquitos and see with their ears! Special guests Rhys Thomas and David Lichtenstein will present a 30-minute comedy circus for all ages, sharing bat science through juggling, lasso work, puppetry, and more. On September 2 and 3, Mad About Bats will have an 11 a.m. performance at Fort Clatsop and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows at Netul Landing. At 7:30 p.m. join ecologist Dr. Tara Chestnut and Michael Hansen at Netul...
Tomorrow means September has arrived. This means summer is waning, fall is coming, school starts, morning showers are back and hopefully rain is coming for our fields, flowers and rivers. The first day of school is so exciting, can you remember how it felt to put on new clothes and see your old friends, then meet new ones? Life should be like that every day, don't you agree? There are several important gatherings in September. September 13 at 5:30, the Grays River Flood Control District will...
Next Thursday, September 7, Joe Baker will hold a meeting to gauge interest in a community performance of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol during the holidays. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m., and will be held in what was the Cathlamet Community Center, the meeting room below the Cathlamet Library. Depending on turnout, auditions for several speaking roles and a choir will begin that night. All interested Wahkiakum County residents, regardless of age and experience are invited. Baker is also looking for a sound person to provide sound e...
SEATTLE – (August 21, 2023) – Massive wildfires continue to burn throughout Washington today, causing very unhealthy and even hazardous air quality in much of the state. The American Lung Association in Washington offers tips to protect health from the serious hazards that smoke poses to people living and working in surrounding areas. Exposure to wildfire smoke can cause serious health problems for anyone including asthma attacks, heart attacks and premature death. Most vulnerable to smoke exposure are children and teens, pregnant people, old...