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

MISERABLE--With temperatures in the triple digits around the area last week, it was just way too hot for some of us! It was great to see some clouds show up beginning on Sunday and they say we may have some cooler temperatures due this whole week, so that's fine by me.

Can you believe that officers in Eugene, OR responded to three cases of children being left in cars within a one hour window, and it was at a time when it was reading over 100 degrees outside, which would climb to about 120 in 15 minutes in a car? Please take a look around the parking area where you shop and make sure there is not a child or pet left in a vehicle!

BICYCLISTS--The Cascade Bicycle Club was in Skamokawa last Sunday, when the group took part in their second year tour called "Roll on Columbia," which is part of a bigger event, called RAW, or "Ride Around Washington." The group began their ride in Ilwaco and made Skamokawa Vista Park their first stop before continuing on their journey on Monday and stopping that evening in Vancouver.

THIS SATURDAY--Okay Class of 1968, this is your last notice: WA-KI-HI classmates from the year 1968 will gather at the upper covered area by the yurts at Skamokawa Vista Park this Saturday, Aug. 8, at 1 p.m. This is a potluck affair, so bring your favorite dish and prepare to enjoy some great food with your alumni that day, along with some great stories of the past and things happening in the present. Contact Dennis Emery with any questions: 957-5063.

AUGUST 22; BUSY!--Not only is that the last day of our Wahkiakum County Fair, but it is also a day in which the "Hoby Cats" will be here at Skamokawa Vista Park, and they are always fun to see and watch as they race around various buoys.

Also that day, the Skamokawa school, all class reunion will be held at the upper level covered area, and it is a potluck gathering happening at 1 p.m. Contact Gary Emery about this reunion at 795-0884.

In Cathlamet that same weekend, there will be street closures at various times as the Longboarders will be in town (Aug. 21 - 23) and so if you want to visit the fair, attend a reunion, see the Hoby Cats and watch the Longboarders, you're going to be zipping from here to there and you'll be having a very, very busy day!

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from Aug. 6-12 are Brian McClain, Jenny Benfit, Treasure Collupy, Marsha Helms, Jeremy Bennet, Rick Bryan, Susan Brown, Mike Backman, Lisa Watkins, Marjorie Williams, David Zacher, Tim Crouse, Heidi Eaton, Butch Free, Keil Parker, Tenneal Harris, Bob Hendrickson, Jeff Nicol, Jason Blain, Sally Palmer and Paydn Freeman. Here's wishing all of you a very Happy Birthday this week!

Those celebrating anniversaries this coming week are Gene and Karen Healy, Larry and Deb Holland, Rick and MaryAnn Nelson, Steve and Janna Doumit, MacKenzie and Kristen Allen and Doug and Sunny Manary. Here's a toast for all good things to come true as you celebrate your anniversaries.

PHONE CALL--I was happy to get a phone call from Rowena Knopski Ehrlund last week, as she had some information about our WA-KI-HI logo. She told me that her mother and others, had always kidded Jack Linquist about the "Mule" logo, as he was the one who came up with the idea to have a Mule as the school's mascot. It was believed that he and others painted the original Mule sign that hung in the old gym and that it had been brought over to the new high school in the mid-60's. We can't swear this to be true, but if anyone can confirm this or disprove it, please give me a call! We're still looking for the author of the Alma Mater; anyone know?

ALL SCHOOL REUNION--Speaking of the Mules, we hope you're spreading the word about the 100th year anniversary of the school to be held on Aug. 13, 2016. Susan McClain Kuhn is spearheading this event, but could use your help with it, so if you have ideas, or addresses of your classmates that might have moved or had not gotten contacted the last time we held a reunion, please let Susan know by emailing her at sjmcq1@yahoo.com.

CELEBRATED--Speaking of birthdays and anniversaries, I have to tell you, I really had a great time on my birthday and my anniversary this year. I got a ton of birthday wishes from friends and family via email, Facebook postings, phone calls and cards, as well as Happy Anniversary wishes, so I was feeling very blessed on my special days! To top it all off, I got to enjoy it by doing something I had never done before, and that was to just take a "me" day, and kick back and do much of nothing for awhile, which included not cooking, so hey, that was great. Bill and I also did a first, as we went to Astoria and saw the Astor Street Opera Company's production of "Shanghied in Astoria." It was great fun! Beings this show is in its 31st season, it seemed like it was high time to see what I have advertised from time to time and I have to say, it's well worth seeing. Beings Bill and I were celebrating special occasions, they also treated us "special" by dousing us with a whole lot of popcorn, much to the delight of the entire theater; what a hoot! We met people from all over the place while we were there, so that was great fun too, as it's always an opportune time to share our area's events with others that might be interested in coming over our way to enjoy our wonderful park or the fair, etc.

This play runs through Sept. 12, Thursdays through Saturdays at 7 in the evening, with two Sunday matinees at 2 p.m., on Aug. 16 and Sept. 6. The ASOC box office at 129 West Bond Street opens one hour prior to the show and the doors open a half hour prior to the show, located right around the corner from the ticket window on Flavel Street. Call 503-325-6104 to reserve your seats, and beings that number is not always manned, allow for plenty of time to get a call back.

FRIDAY MARKET--The Puget Island Farmers Market is going great guns with lots of great looking produce to purchase, so we hope you're able to go to 59 West Birnie Slough Road between 3 and 6 p.m., on Fridays to get those fresh veggies, listen to some music and also check out all the other vendors that are there.

REDMEN HALL--This is the weekend that the new exhibit by Bob and Jenny Kizziar is starting at Redmen Hall, so the Friends of Skamokawa want to invite you to come up and check out all the ceramic ware and woven items that these two have set up. The hall will be open from noon to four, but the artists will be on hand for you to meet and greet on Saturday from 1 to 3, so here's hoping you can come up to Redmen Hall and view these talented folks' work. Need more info? Call 795-3007.

FEELING LEFT OUT--I was happy to see Cathlamet listed at number 13 of 20 on the "Most beautiful, Charming Small Towns in Washington" at "Onlyinyourstate.com" recently but I have to say, I'm thinking the person cruising through our area missed a bet by leaving out Skamokawa. I know that Bald Eagle Day is a huge draw in Cathlamet, and it is truly special, as is the marina, museum, the "Eagle" and the river, and many other great attributes, but I must brag just a little bit about the fact we have some great things going for us here in Skamokawa as well.

First of all, we have a jewel of a park in Skamokawa Vista Park, with its fantastic setting along the mighty Columbia River, with many upgraded features recently, like new hook-ups along the waterfront area, an historic gillnetter, disc golf, horseshoe pits and the Ship Channel Coffee trailer, to name a few, and with people wanting to book a spot a year in advance, this little gem is a happening place to go! Multiple familes and many classmates have made this a destination spot to hold those reunions, as it's close by a store and another great spot that we have; our Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds.

If those folks doing the survey of small towns would have come by at the end of May or the first part of June, they may have witnessed 100s of gorgeous cars at the fairgrounds, as that's when the Wahkiakum Dollars for Scholars group holds their annual Car show, or Rod Run. It's fantastic and draws people from near and far who just love that setting and many wind up staying in one of our local lodging establishments. Last year, the Mini-Coopers took over the Skamokawa Resort and upon learning of the condos and hotel rooms, and other B & B's, which are all unqiue in their own way, said they'd be spreading the word about our area and they'd be sure to come back, so that was great to hear!

The fairgrounds also holds monthly swap meets and for horse lovers, a three part Silver Buckle Series during the summer months, and many families like to camp in the park next to the fairgrounds, and also many weddings and other gatherings have happened there. Of course, the big event of the year for the county is the annual Wahkiakum County Fair held there in August. Many folks like to hold their reunions during that time, so whether it is class reunions or family reunions, it's a good time to do it as "fair time" is a wonderful time to meet up with friends old and new.

Our unique Inns and Bed and Breakfast spots are often overlooked as most are not located right in "downtown" Skamokawa, so it's possible for those who don't look Skamokawa up on a website to be totally unaware that such places exist. This is when "word of mouth" is important, as some folks just aren't computer savvy and only hear about these terrific spots because they were told about them, so if you see a tourist looking around or you're chatting with someone new to the neighborhood, be sure to let them know that not only do we have several awesome places to stay like the "Twin Gables B & B " just steps away from Vista Park and the Skamokawa store; the "Inn at Lucky Mud" with specialty rooms overlooking a pond and sporting a wonderful disc golf course; "Inn at Crippen Creek Farm," where their hosts and fabulous cooks grow/harvest a lot of what they serve; as well as the Inn at Skamokawa Landing overlooking the Columbia River and of course, our wonderful Skamokawa Resort and Hotel.

A few other places that you might want to suggest to others to visit would be our historic Redmen Hall, which was formerly a school but never a church; our newest business, the "Skamokawa Farmstead Creamery," where you can play with the "kids" and buy some yummy cheeses or caramel sauce or you could contact "Gribskov Glassblowing" and see if Kyle is up for some visitors while he makes a new creation, or stop by Danny Silverman's colorful "Skamokawa Gardens Nursery" after lunch at the "Duck Inn," which serves up some wonderful meals. While you're enjoying the food and the view, why not call up Columbia River Kayaking and book a tour, so you can enjoy that view up close and personal right on the water in a kayak; a terrific idea for those who truly want to experience the mighty Columbia with some awesome, expert guides!

Many of these places are hidden gems in our valleys around Skamokawa, so while you may not think much is going on in our village along the river, you'd be pleasantly surprised to find these wonderful businesses here and there and interspersed with a huge amount of talented musicians, authors and artisans to boot. We (or at least me) feel we should have made the list. Oh well, maybe next time!