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

MIXED BAG--This week started out a bit damp here in West Valley and some other places, but later on in the day it got real nice.

By now, you should have been enjoying a lot more sun, but we also know what that means: stupid people doing stupid things. Heads up people, do not leave your children or your animals in your vehicle! It's amazing that anyone would allow a child to be alone in a rig anyway, but on hot days, it's deadly and totally unforgivable. Animals are best left at home on these warm days. So if you truly love them please keep them safe and alive. Leave the pets at home.

THIS IS IT!--The time for hot rods and cool cars to over-run Skamokawa has come, so head this way on Saturday, June 4 for a fun day at the Wahkiakum Dollar For Scholars Rod Run! With tempeatures due to be in the upper 80's and maybe even low 90's, be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen and have an extra bottle of it on hand, as it's going to be a long, toasty day.

Why not have breakfast at the Skamokawa United Methodist Church (7-10 a.m.) and then enjoy lunch at the fairgrounds? If you're still in the area at supper time, then it's time to head to the Duck Inn! A "no cooking" day sounds great to me!

In the mean time, buy some tickets and come away with a fantastic prize, as there are always great gifts for the car show participants and also for those who buy tickets for the wonderful prize tables and various gifts as well, so head to Skamokawa this Saturday. It's going to be a fantastic day with great cars, great food and great weather!

CONGRATS--On Saturday evening, the Naselle High School will hold their graduation ceremonies, so we want to send a hearty "congratulations" to all those graduating that evening.

Wahkiakum High School Seniors aren't having thier graduation ceremonies until June 10, so we hope the car show rakes in lots of cash once again to give away to deserving seniors at their graduation ceremony!

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from June 2-8 are Becca Keilwitz, Roger Davis, Jill Havens, Robyn Longtain, Derrick Bardsley, Tori Wegdahl, Blain Fritzie, Nicole West, Lamar Blix, Gwyn Heriford, Shannon Cochran, Scott Ahrndt and Brian Good. Enjoy those special days!

Happy Anniversary wishes go out to Merle and Joanne Brockway, Mr. and Mrs. Kelly Melton, Mr. and Mrs. Al Bergseng and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kyle. Here's to many more happy memories made on your special days!

SORRY TO HEAR--We were all shocked to hear the news that Mike Rose passed away recently. The family is planning a celebration of life gathering in July. We send our deepest sympathies to the entire Rose family.

Also, sorry to hear of the passing of Bill Schwarze on May 20. Our sympathies to his wife, Marie and his children, Erin, Eric and Steven and the rest of the family.

Services will be held this Saturday at noon in the multi-purpose room at the JAW Elementary at noon for Cleave Hedman, who passed away earlier this year. Our sympathies to the entire family.

GET WELL--We're sending some get well wishes to Sherry Stewart who took a tumble and has injured her back. We hope she'll have some surgery to fix everything and get to feeling better real soon!

We're also continuing to say our prayers for Larry Hendrickson who is still recovering from a fall he took a couple weeks ago. May his health continue to improve every day!

Also, please keep Robin Robbins in your thoughts and prayers as his chemo and radiation are over but his battle continues and he's been quite sick lately, so we hope he feels good enough to have some surgery and his health returns to him.

FOS--Don't forget to come down to Redmen Hall this Sunday where Kerrie McNally will hold a concert in the River Life Interpretive Center at 2 p.m. The cost is just $5. Kerrie will be singing her own songs, have her new CD for sale and will be accompanied by Layton Elliott.

PIGYS/END OF THE MONTH--I hope all you Puget Islanders will be ready for the onslaught of people headed that way June 24-26, when the annual Puget Island Garage and Yard Sale takes place. For more information on this event, you can contact Sandie York at 360-430-0951. It should be a fun time, but for all of you who are parking along the road, make sure you stay clear of the mail boxes as you wouldn't want to interfere with the delivery of someone's mail.

B.E.D.--Once the big sale gets over with on Puget Island, it's time to think about Bald Eagle Days! Some of the activities start on Friday, the 15th, but the big day with the parade and all the booths, and the big fireworks display, all happen on Saturday, July 16, so don't miss it! Spread the word, tell your family and friends and head to Main Street in Cathlamet for a wonderful, old fashioned good time with a big fireworks display at the Elochoman Marina in the evening!

67'ERS GATHER--After all the hoopla is over from the Bald Eagle Day parade and such, all members of the Class of 1967 will meet at the home of Dale Jacobson, which is located near the marina. We will have a potluck gathering at 1:30 p.m., so we hope to see all of you there. It's Sharon McKie's birthday that day and she's going to be here from Florida. With other 67'ers celebrating their birthdays that month, it's even more reason to celebrate! Of course, all WA-KI-HI "kids" can stop by and say hi as well!

GET READY--June has begun, and you really need to be gearing up and cranking out those projects that you plan on entering into this year's Wahkiakum County Fair, as it will be here before you know it! Fair days are Aug. 18-20. You'll need to get a fair book to find out when your fair entries are due. Be sure to be there when your designated item is to be entered as judging only takes place on certain days, and you don't want to miss out on a blue ribbon by failing to enter on time! We'll all be anxious to see the great displays that the youth of the area enter, and of course, we'll be anxious to see how those new restrooms turned out as well.

NOT HAPPEN-ING?--I have not heard of anyone else being able to take the reins of the previously planned all school 100 year commerative gathering on August 13, so if nothing has been nailed down by now, my guess is that it's not going to happen. If anybody has picked this up, please give me a call!

PLANTINGS?--Did you receive plants for Mother's Day or Memorial Day or you just plan on buying a bunch of plants now that the great weather is here? Before you plant, remember, depending on what kind of plants you're buying, some of them grow very large. Placing them towards the bottom of a driveway where they will eventually block your view, is not a great idea and neither is planting them close to your house. This seems to be a real common mistake as you'll soon find roots working their way under your cement footings or the foilage making your siding turn moldy, and don't forget to stay clear of that septic or drain field, so think carefully before you plant those new plants. And speaking of plants, don't forget to check out those great hanging baskets and other plants over on Steamboat Slough at Skamokawa Gardens; they are gorgeous!

CRK--I was at Columbia River Kayaking this past week picking up their generous donation to the car show and there was quite a crowd just returning from one of their many tours. If you love to be on the water, you ought to stop by and have this group of experienced kayakers take you out on the river and show you our gorgeous inlets in this area. I also got to spot the newest member of the team, as Asia Robbins was with Kyleen, Andrew and Levi the other day, and she seemed to fit right in!

THE KINGS ARE COMING--On Friday, June 17, the "King Brothers" will be at the Duck Inn, so we hope you'll come and join us for a great night of music! This should be a great time to celebrate another year of the Duck Inn being here, which has certainly been a blessing for our area, so come on down and try a new iced, smoothie type drink from their new machine and by then, the new menus should be out, so we'll see what new treats await us. For me, it's hard to beat their Seafood basket or their super French Dip, but hey, I'm willing to try something new!

MEETINGS--The Skamokawa Grange #425 meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, so June 7 and 21 will be the days to head to 18 Fairgrounds Road for their 7 p.m. meetings. Friday evenings the Cub Scouts meet there at 6:30 p.m.

The Sons of Norway want to remind you that they meet on the first Wednesdays of the month at the Norse Hall on Puget Island and they hold Bingo on the second Saturday of each month. Come and join them; all are welcome!

LOTS OF COMPANY--This last weekend the Ralph Pedersen home seemed to have a revolving door in it as company was coming in one door and leaving out the other all weekend long, so they were definitely not lonely over this holiday. Newlyweds, Tim and Margie Pedersen stopped by with granddaughter, Madison and of course, there's nothing like cute, little kids to brighten the day! Pastor Curtis had stopped by and was just going out the door when Frank and Carolyn Pedersen came by, so they had a good, long visit. The following day more people were planning on coming by and of course, I made a quick stop as well, but I was sorry to hear I'd missed visiting with the rest of the gang earlier on, but one just can't be everywhere at once!

GREAT 50TH--While heavy showers were falling here in Skamokawa and on my way to Longview last Sunday, I was happy to see dry pavement in Longview, as daughter, Lisa Sechler celebrated her 50th birthday at the home of her brother, Brian Good. Two dozen people showed up to enjoy the burgers and hot dogs, with all the fixings, and then dove into two of Lisa's favorite cakes that her brother Pete brought down from Seattle: a chocolate one from Costco and then a carrot cake that his wife, Katie (Nollan) made. So, not only did the birthday girl and her guests have a good time, but they all got plenty full as well!

We also did a combined "Happy Birthday in May" tribute, as many of Lisa's family members had birthdays during the month, including brothers Pete and Brandon, and nephew, Austin, and a batch of cousins too; 16 in all I think we said. Brother Brian's birthday was right around the corner in June, but his Grandpa Arnie Good, who also attended with his wife, Betty, had turned 85, just the day before, so it was just one big celebration on a truly wonderful day.

For me it was a great day to see four of the five "kids" there, as well as my "Good" grandsons, Austin and Bryce and my #2 "daughter," Ursula Jorgensen with her granddaughter, Parker who just turned one. It was great to see Kari (Good) Claussen who came down from Lacey, and one of her sons and a granddaughter too, so it was quite the gang that got together.