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

NICE WEEKEND--Easter weekend was certainly a nice one for all those traveling or enjoying the Easter egg hunts, although we did start Saturday morning in West Valley with a layer of thick, white frost and temps in the upper 20s. Thankfully, the sun was shining and it was soon much warmer and I think everyone's spirits perked right up as the day went along. I know the lawn mowers were kept busy. As this work week began, it was still warm, albeit cloudy, but while it was dry, we were scurrying around trying to get as much done outside as possible.

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from April 12-18 are Andrew Emlen, Kael McKinley, Bryan Ledtke, Janine Helms, Dan Keilwitz, Brock Cothren, Shiloh Hoven, Ray Prestegard, Stephanie Olsen, Mike Brown, Leota Souvenir, Jack Burdick, Mike Heriford, Lori Smith, and Carolyn Pedersen. Here's wishing all you birthday folks a wonderful day! Belated birthday wishes to Sylvia Blix Link who celebrated her special "double six" birthday last Tuesday. Happy Anniversary wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Mike Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Greg Parker, Mr. and Mrs. Tim Parker, Mr. and Mrs. Mickey Paulsen and Mr. and Mrs. Jim Robinson. Enjoy!

THIS SATURDAY--The Mule Train, All School Reunion meeting will be held at 10 a.m. this Saturday at the Chamber of Commerce in Cathlamet. Please try to send a class rep for this very important meeting as we try to get things in order for this first all school reunion.

REDMEN HALL--Also happening this Saturday, is the showcasing of a new exhibit at Redmen Hall, entitled "Legacy of the Columbia River Fishery" and it begins at 1 p.m. We hope you'll come to view this exciting, historical and pictorial display, with artwork by local Keith Hoofnagle and text by local historian Irene Martin. These panels show and tell about our fisheries along the mighty Columbia. The hall's regular hours are noon-4 p.m., Thursday through Sunday.

VENDORS STILL NEEDED--I hope if you have a cause to promote, or a craft to sell, that you will consider being a vendor at the July 28 Vista Vendor's Market. Please contact me or stop by the Skamokawa Vista Park office for a vendor's registration form. Return it to me as soon as possible and we'll get you on our list. This is a fund raising event for the Skamokawa Grangers with just a $10 set-up fee. Come and sell tickets for your group's upcoming raffle or sell your crafts. We'd love to have you there! The deadline is April 30.

ACTS STILL NEEDED--Do you like to perform? Do you have a pet that can do something special? Can you juggle? If you or your favorite pet have a special kind of act, call Sunrise Fletcher at 795-8770 to be included in our upcoming Smoky Water Follies performances, June 29 to July 1. With a special family-friendly Friday-only-ticket for just $20, it's a real deal!

BINGO ROUNDUP--My first bingo experience was fun last Friday night at the multi-purpose room, as it was full of players trying to win hams or turkeys and door prizes, as well as the big raffle item, a flat screen TV, offered up by the Wahkiakum Fair Board. In the kitchen area, Becky Ledtke was cashier, as Janet Bryan and I served up lots of tasty treats to the eager bingo players. Martha Backman and her crew did a great job setting up the Bingo game and while Martha said she's retiring from the job, we're hoping to offer her a little more help so maybe she'll hang in there and take charge again. Good job, Martha! A surprise item, a gorgeous "fish bench," went to highest bidder, Jason Rainey. Way to go Jason! Kelsey Briscoe was the lucky winner of the flat screen TV. Congrats to her and all the winners that night. It was indeed a fun evening.

EASTER WEEKEND--Ralph and Peggy Pedersen had a houseful this weekend, as Tim, Mark (Rhonda) Frank (Carolyn) Pedersen and Kay (Pedersen) and Bill Chamberlain all stopped by to wish Ralph a happy birthday as well as happy Easter and also a happy 57th anniversary to the couple. Peggy said she was glad the menu was a bit different from when they were first married, as they stayed at Grandpa and Grandma Everest's cabin at the beach and thanks to a box of groceries given to them, they had Franco-American spaghetti and lemon pudding to celebrate with!

The Pedersens also received great news last weekend, as their grandson, Adam Pedersen and wife Samantha are expecting their first child this fall. They will be great grandparents once again, while their son, Mark will be a grandpa for the first time, so everyone is very excited about the new Pedersen joining the family.

MORE ADDITIONS--Lori and Greg Parke will be grandparents this fall as well. They'll be anxiously looking forward to their son Chris' first child. Kelly Heiner Recupero says her grandson is due at the very beginning of next month to daughter Kristina and everyone is happily awaiting that big day as well.

CONTEST TIME--I always think of our Grange contests as trial runs for our county fair, as we enter the same type of things: photos, sewing, baked goods, other crafts, etc., and the Grange contests are open to everyone so it's a great time to show off your talents and bring home some blue ribbons. If get a special award, your item could go on to the bigger contests and earn you some money, so it's worth a try! Anyone interested can drop things off between 6 and 7 p.m. on April 17 at the Skamokawa Grange Hall. Chuck and Sheran Parker will take them to Long Beach the next day to be judged. You can check out all the rules and regulations by going on line and looking under Washington State Grange. Look under "Members" and click on the "Family Living" tab that drops down and you'll find the forms and requirements needed.

CAMP TIME--If you have a child between nine and 14 and live in the Skamokawa area, your child could go to Camp Morehead Jr. Grange Camp for half the original cost of $140. The Skamokawa Grangers are willing to sponsor two children for half of the expense, or $70 each. The camp is at Ocean Park and runs from July 8-13. This is open to any child in that age bracket who lives in the Skamokawa area. Neither they, nor their parents have to be grangers. The camp features crafts, swimming, sports and evening recreation and games etc. Contact Chuck and Sheran Parker for more information. You can also go online to Washington State Grange and click the Jr. Grange Camp link or type in http://www.wa-grange.org/JuniorGrangeCamps.html.

INTERVIEW--Former resident and WA-KI-HI alumni, Stoney Anketell, was interviewed by FOX radio in regard to the Fort Peck buffalo, so we trust that his time on the air went well and maybe a few were able to hear him. Stoney's dad was a well known English teacher and tennis instructor back in the 60s and I had the pleasure of going with Stoney and his dad to Portland on Saturday mornings, where we took ice skating lessons at the Lloyd Center along with my little brother, Marshall Pedersen and another of their friends, Jeff Hedlund. Ah, those were the days!

CONDOLENCES--We'd like to offer Judy Wood Garrison and her family our sincerest condolences as she lost her brother, Jimmy recently. May he rest in peace. I'd also like to send our sincere sympathies to the family of Judy Bright, whose Celebration of Life service will be held in the multi-purpose room at the JA Wendt Elemetary school on Saturday at 2 p.m.

BIG NEWS--I was pleased to hear the news that the Hotel Cathlamet would be reopening soon and that it will be a hotel, which I think the Cathlamet area sorely needs. New owners are Wayne and Kay Cochran and their daughter, Stephanie and husband, Kevin Prestegard. Good luck to the Cochrans and the Prestegards in their latest endeavor!