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

SUN!--As this week began, the area saw some sunshine, that was the good part. The bad part was that it was below freezing a couple of nights in our area and other parts of the state. Some even saw snow!

It was great to see the sun shining, and I know folks were busy mowing their lawns and washing their cars, but the temperatures sure could have been warmer. With some areas back east expecting over a foot of snow this week and over 200 tornadoes tearing through the south and killing dozens of people last weekend, I guess we shouldn't complain too much about this cool weather.

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from April 21-27 are Rochelle Stensland, Mike Snow, Sunrise Fletcher, Kent Martin, Marie Allen, Susan Kuhn, Ora Eaton, Onya Whittle, Devyn Lindsey, Debbie McClain, Kelly McClain, Max Scudder, Shawn Woods, Jason Wallin, Steven Doumit, Cleave Hedman, Eric Bergseng, Seth Doumit, Delaney Doumit, Gwen Ronninghaug, Lynn Fancher, Sue Edminster and 67'er Greg Lloyd.

Celebrating their anniversaries this coming week are Mr. and Mrs. Kent Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Paulsen and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Blain. May you all have memorable special days this coming week.

THIS FRIDAY--Tomorrow (Friday) the Wahkiakum Fair Board will host their annual Easter Bingo in the multi-purpose room at JA Wendt Elementery School in Cathlamet, with all the action starting at 6 p.m.

THIS SATURDAY--It's time for the big Easter Egg Hunt at Skamokawa Vista Park this Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. There are three age groups: up to three years old, from four to seven and from eight to 11 and each of those groups have two prize eggs hidden in their section. The Easter Bunny will cheer them on, and it will be fun to see who finds the most eggs and the prize eggs. This is an annual event put on by the Wahkiakum Lions Club, with refreshments as well, so kudos to them for putting on this annual event. See you Saturday!

BRAG NIGHT--We've got a lot of great kids in our area and those that have been nominated for excellence in volunteerism and good works will be honored at a gathering on April 27 at the Skamokawa Grange Hall in the official "Brag Night 2011 Distinguished Youth Award" by the Wahkiakum Community Network. For more information on this event, contact Lia Sealund or Tammy Peterson at 795-0828.

FOLLOWING SATURDAY--It's swash-buckling action combined with great comedy when The Princess Bride is shown at the Skamokawa Grange Hall on April 30 beginning at 7 p.m. There'll be free popcorn and other refreshments available with a donation, so bring the kids and enjoy a night out with your family and friends and neighbors and take advantage of this popular community event put on by the Skamokawa Grangers and the Wahkiakum Extension Office.

TEA--Earlier that day, from noon to 2:30 p.m., it will be Tea Time at St. James Family Center with tickets costing $12. Enjoy the goodies in the transformed gym with a tea garden setting, and a raffle for five very different and wonderful baskets. All proceeds will be used to benefit the center. You'll also be able to buy plants that day from noon to 3 p.m. Reservations are encouraged. Call 795-8612 to do that or if you just need to get more information.

NICE CELEBRATION--Brothers Tim and Mark (Rhonda) Pedersen, all of Vancouver, were back in their home town of Cathlamet last weekend to celebrate their dad's birthday, as Ralph Pedersen turned 75, and their folks' anniversary was the day after that, so it was a dual celebration. To have a truly no fuss, no muss doings, the group headed to Sharon's Pizza shop and let her do the cooking and cleaning for their meal and then had goodies at home afterwards. As Grandma Elsie so often said, "and a good time was had by all."

GRANGE CONTESTS--Once again the Skamokawa Grange Hall will be the site of the state grange contests and anyone can submit an item for judging, which will be May 14. There is more on this elsewhere in this paper, as head CWA leader, Donna Moody, will be in charge of this event. You are urged to submit things you make, much like anything you would submit to the fair, and for more information, you can check out the grange contest online by going to the Washington State Grange site and clicking on the program handbook for this year's contest rules.

IN JUNE--I hope you're planning on attending the next Car Show and Sturgeon Derby. It's a real fun day with music, great food and fantastic cars. High school kids get to enter their cars for free, so if you've got a rig you want to show off, then bring it on down. Registration is from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Pre-registration deadline is May 20. Contact Lee Tischer for more information at: 360-430-4377 or via email at: tisch@cni.net.

LOOKING GOOD--As I drove by the Skamokawa Town Center, the painters were busy touching up the outside, a new outside deck was looking very inviting . I can hardly wait to see it all stocked up and ready to go! The newly enlarged parking lot provides some much needed parking for those staying in the rooms/condos.

VISTA MARKET--I was pleased to see the list compiled by Kayrene Gilbertsen, which included about 30 folks who have signed up to be vendors/info booth people at the upcoming 30th anniversary celebration at Skamokawa Vista Park on July 30. You'll be able to buy hot dogs and burgers from the FFA kids and wash them down with root beer floats from the booth by the museum group--yum! If you're still hungry, you can buy a goodie from the fair princesses' bake sale table or for later on, grab a pie from Kathleen Morgain's booth for dessert at home! If you want some fresh bread and some jams and jellies to go with it, then Don and Kitty Speranza and Carol Carver will be filling those needs. Booths featuring beautiful wood art, along with T-shirts, antiques, jewelry, soaps and home-made cards, etc., will all be there. There will be trail tours, trolley tours and antique cars to view, as well as some other demonstrations, so come down to Skamokawa Vista Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., July 30!

OUT OF THE PAST-- This same week 50 years ago, there was snow in the hills and on the valley floors as well, so it was not a warm Spring then either. When it did warm up, it was rainy at first but then they got a couple of days of clearing and warmer temperatures. Grandma Elsie was off to the M. Doumits' for a big 75th birthday party for Ellen Foster that was held there. The delicious cake and good time was shared by many. It was off to the Dorcas Club meeting at Mrs. White's for Grandma Everest, where a big crowd showed up and once again, everyone had a great time. The school musical was that week, which was "really good" and Grandma thought that grandson David Pedersen did great in the quartet and quintet that he was in. He sang bass. Carol and Krist Pedersen celebrated 26 years of marriage that year on April 21; they were busy getting everything packed and ready to head to Alaska, which he did on April 26. A couple of days earlier the Ralph Pedersens made their way to Seattle where they put Ralph's new boat up to be shipped to Alaska. Don and Peggy (Pedersen) Peterson (Krist's sister) welcomed a new baby boy into the family on April 22; they named him Joel. April 24th was the birthday of Grandma's sister, Jean Shane who was born in 1904. Grandpa Ralph Everest was spending quite a bit of time up at the Congregational Church as he was doing a lot of inside painting. All this according to Grandma Elsie Everest's 1961 diary.