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

News from Naselle:

As the school year winds down, the activities are still ongoing. This week’s sports calendar for the Naselle Comet teams is as follows: Thursday, high school track in Naselle at 3:30 p.m .; Saturday, high school track at the Centralia Frosh Invite, high school baseball at Pope John Paul II at 1 p.m .; Monday, middle school track sub-league at South Bend at 3:30 p.m.

I’m not sure how many folks enjoy seeing old historical cemeteries, but I come from a long line of people who do. My Mom liked nothing better than to drive to an out of the way place and walk through an old cemetery looking at the stones and surmising what their lives were like. She passed that curiosity on to her offspring, and I am amazed at the local history that can be found in our tiny, locally cared for resting places of the original inhabitants in our community.

This past week I made a point of visiting several of our nearby cemeteries and I see the care taken at nearly all the graves to keep them looking nice. However, once in a while you see a stone that has not been cleaned or had much tending to in a long time. Well, I’m here to tell you that there is a quiet, caring angel here on earth that is taking care of some of those weathered and untidy stones in the Deep River Cemetery. I know that all the cemeteries are annually cleaned just before Memorial Day, but Thelma Miller didn’t wait for a holiday, and she concentrated on the stones that hadn’t had much maintenance in a long time. Thank you, Thelma, for being the kind and caring person we all know you are.

By the way, if you haven’t been through the Seal River Cemetery lately, you may want to check out the gorgeous rhododendron tree planted there. It is a giant and has the most beautiful flowers that look like cotton candy from a distance.

Westend news:

The 32nd annual Great White Tail Run sponsored by Wahkiakum 4-H will be held on May 14 in the Julia Butler Hansen National Refuge located in Skamokawa. Start time is at 10 a.m. The event includes 10K, 5K and 2-mile courses with recognition for overall male and female winner in each distance and ribbons for the top three finishers in each age division.

Entrants are encouraged to pre-register. Run day registration and pre registration packet pickup begins at 8:30 am at Skamokawa Vista Park. Add $1 to your registration fee if you wish to compete with your dog. Official dog rules: Socialized dogs only. Dogs should be at least six months old with current vaccinations. Dogs must be on leash at all times and stay on designated course. Female dogs in season are not permitted.

Entry forms with full information can be found locally or requested by emailing carol.ervest@gmail.com. For further information call 360-465-2275 or 360-795-3278.

The 14th Annual Spring Tea and Luncheon sponsored by the Grays River United Methodist Church’s Friendship Circle will be held on May 15 starting at 11:30 a.m. An $8 suggested donation per person, and under 12 years $5.00. For more information please call 465-2740 or 484-7749.

Enjoy scones, fresh fruit, sandwiches and savories, veggies and dip, tea and punch and an extra special dessert plate. Bring a friend, dress up or come casual, wear a fancy hat or not, for a fun afternoon.

This week’s Free Friday Night Movie is for the whole family, especially the kids. Part one of the animated, two movie series takes you to Dracula's lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free to be the monsters they are without humans to bother them. On one special weekend, Dracula has invited some of the world's most famous monsters--Frankenstein and his bride, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, a family of werewolves, and a few more--to celebrate his daughter Mavis's 118th birthday. For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem, but his world could come crashing down when one ordinary guy stumbles on the hotel and takes a shine to Mavis.

The show starts at 7 p.m. and concessions are available. The second part to this week’s movie will play on the first Friday of June.

Happy Birthday to Joe Barnes, Berniece Helton, Carol Haven, Marilee Wirkkala, Parker Kilponen, Renee Colombo, Carol Harley, Ike Howerton and Bryon Parrino. Here’s to a perfectly wonderful special day.

Happy Anniversary to Cary and Melany Bloom, Nate and Holly Engelson, Mike and Diane Matthews, Randy and Vicki Wirkkala and Bert and Carol Haven, Here’s to many more celebrations together.

This Sunday is Mother’s Day. Whether your Mom is near or faraway, remember that she is the one who brought you into this world, nurtured you and gave you the opportunity to become the person you have become. Without Moms, where would any of us be? At the same time, Mom is a “word” and can be used for someone who has come into your life after birth and gave you the guidance and care that you might not have had from a birth mother. I know that I have been called “Mom” not only by my six children that I gave birth to, but several more who sort of just came into my life and I have loved them like my own. So, if you have a person that fits the bill, a step-mom, a grandmother, an aunt, a special family friend and even in some cases where a Dad takes the role of Mom, please remember them on this special day.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms out there. Special thoughts for my Mom who passed away in 2006 but she never ceases to amaze me for the love she gave me, and also to all my daughters (even though I may not be your birth mother)—continue to be the wonderful Mothers you have all become.

One more thing—-don’t text Happy Mother’s Day to your Mom, or post it on FaceBook—-pick up the phone and let her hear your voice, or better yet—-visit her in person.