DAMPNESS--We began this past weekend with just a slight bit of wetness falling, and while it wasn't much, it was most welcome. We managed to dry out again on Sunday but then we got some more rain drops on Monday, which really soaked things pretty good. Forecasters say we have more coming our way this week, so I'm sure those with drying up springs and parched lawns will be quite happy, although it will take some getting used to after all the lovely days we've enjoyed. Now if we could only get some decent rainfall amounts over those areas that are being scorched by the wild fires that are ravaging our western states, that would be awesome!

THINKING OF THEM--Former county resident, Frank Corbin, along with his wife, Beth, are feeling a bit concerned about their family members who are in Camp Lejeune, right now, which is in the path of one of the big category four hurricanes headed into the East Coast this week, so we'll be sure to keep Rachel and Levi in our thoughts. As of this writing, it looks like North Carolina, which has not had a major hurricane since 1996, will be in the direct path of Hurricane Florence.Forecasters are also showing that there is possibly more trouble lurking, with Hurricane Issac forming and coming right behind it. We can only hope and pray that these horrible storms veer off and weaken as they get closer, but we'll be thinking of all those in the storm's path as it comes ashore. Here's hoping everyone took the advance warning seriously and are prepared.

There was also Hurricane Olivia, which I heard was down-graded to a tropical storm headed towards Hawaii, but it had weakened a lot, so hopefully by the time you read this, they will be back to enjoying their sunny days along the beaches. Until then, we'll be thinking of family and friends there, including our former residents, John, Sharon and Sara Buennagel who moved there a couple of years ago.

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from Sept. 13-19 are Conner Parker, Adam Fletcher, Frank Bosch, Jay Mace, George Bates, Wade Cothren, Renee Robert, Sarah Phelps, Dick Snyder, Lori Bergseng, Penny Paulsen, Gerry Brennan, Paige Nielson, Jim Spitzer, Korina Hoven, Linda Roseberry, Mandy Giesler, Jason Montgomery, Trey Jackson, Suzy Ekstrom, Roger Reed, Merle Brockway, Susan Peterson Shook, Naomi Pedersen and Adam Pedersen.

Those celebrating anniversaries this week are Quin and Christeena Bassi, Ray and Judy Danielsen, Dan and Carla Keilwitz, Mike and Samantha Wright, Eric and Sandy Bergseng and Adam and Samantha Pedersen. May all your birthday and anniversary celebrations be extra special this coming week!

FRIDAY MOVIE--The free movie at the Community Center Sept. 14, will be an adult/youth movie that is rated PG and is a documentary. As always, there will be free popcorn and the movie will begin at 7 p.m. If you're new to the area, the Community Center is located at 101 Main Street in Cathlamet and not only are the movie and popcorn free, but you are free to bring in your own snacks or call ahead and have pizza delivered there by Sharon's Pizza. As always, all children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

MULE TIME--On Thursday, Sept. 13 (today), the Lady Mules will host Morton/White Pass with volleyball games beginning at 5 p.m. Tomorrow night, under the Friday Night Lights of the Mules football field at Wahkiakum High School, the mighty Mules boys football team will host Onalaska beginning at 6 p.m. On Sept. 18, the Cross Country team will be at Morton/White Pass HS. Here's hoping for a good outcome for all of our Mule teams and safe travels to all those that are traveling to and from these games!

RECOVERING--It has been brought to my attention that Beau Carlson, a sophomore on the Mules football team,was quite seriously injured in the football game against Adna this past Friday night. He is the son of Brad and Leihanna Carlson, and as of this writing, was in a Seattle hospital recovering from his injuries. We want him, and his family, to know that he has the entire community wishing him the speediest of recoveries and we are keeping him in our thoughts. We hope he'll be coming home real soon.

AT THE GRANGE--This Friday night, from 6-9 p.m., you can enjoy an evening of "Folk, Jazz and Blues," so head to the Skamokawa Grange Hall, located at 18 Fairgrounds Road, for a hand clapping, toe tapping kind of night! "Hank and Lloyd" will open up the show with Pete and Beth Semar Sheets, and then at 7 p.m., Bobcat Jazz from Longview will perform, and rounding out the evening, Natalie Bouloudis from London UK and Luke Novak, along with some friends, will perform at 8 p.m. There is a $5 admission fee, but students get in free so it's a great deal.

SYMPATHIES--If you've ever driven out the valley roads in Skamokawa, you may have seen a sign that said, "Maki Road" posted just off of Middle Valley Road. This was named after the Maki family that lived there years ago, and just recently, that namesake, Leroy Maki, passed away. He was a Wahkiakum High School alumni, Class of 1945, and it was his daughter, Carol Beber, who shared that sad news with Susan McClain Kuhns, and we certainly want to send our condolences to her along with Leroy's entire family.

GREAT TIME--Once again, for the 28th time, the Friends of Skamokawa held a wonderful Wine Tasting and Auction event, which took place this past Saturday evening at the Skamokawa Grange Hall. There was a nice array of wines to sample and the variety of foods from the various businesses and B&B's around the area, made for a delightful array of samplings for our taste buds. Then there were the tables of silent auction items, which were being watched over by all those active bidders who wanted to make sure that their bid was the last bid, and yes, I was one of those people as well! I was lucky enough to come away with several nice items and appreciate all of those who were nice enough to donate something, as was the FOS. Of course, my favorite part is when a couple of folks get into a friendly bidding war and there were several of those, so that's always fun, as you just never know who's going to win out in the end with that very last bid! The higher the bids went, the more the FOS won too, as the monies raised that evening go towards keeping up the historic landmark, the Redmen Hall/Central School, located on the highway in Skamokawa at milepost 29, so kudos to all who came out and supported their effort!

AT THE MUSEUM--A big shout out goes to my classmate, Pam Below Lazor, for stepping up and volunteering to take a docent shift at our Wahkiakum County Museum this past weekend! As I figured, Pam was a perfect fit for the job and she enjoyed visiting with those who were stopping by for the first time, and who thought we had a wonderful museum and planned on spreading the word to their other friends, which is just what we need. When guests aren't there, it's a good opportunity to check out all the items in the museum, browse through all the pictures and of course, there are a ton of files there, so it's a good time to catch up on one's own family history as well.

I was able to take the shift the following day and enjoyed talking to some guests from Alberta Canada and also some members of the Mooers family, so it's fun to meet new people and show others around the museum that have some roots in our local history, and maybe even some of their family photos and information.

If you'd like to help out at the museum, call WCHS curator, Kari Kandoll at 360-849-4353. I'm sure she'd be happy to show you the ropes and sign you up. If you can't help by volunteering some time, you can make a donation and mail it to Wahkiakum Co. Historical Society, 65 River Street, Cathlamet, WA 98612. Thanks!

OUT OF THE PAST--This week back in 1943, the week began and ended with some really lovely weather. Towards the end of the week, Ralph Everest went with Leon and Marian (Everest) Healy to Puget Island to spend the night and woke up early the following morning to do some hunting. It seems Grandpa Ralph went out at 6 a.m., and got his deer and was back by 7 a.m., so that was a quick and easy hunt for him. By the week's end, 140 deer had been taken off of Puget Island. Later on, the Everests headed to the show, "Stand by For Action," which was a Navy picture that they thought was real good.

In 1948, the week began with really hot weather, followed by a cool down and some rain before turning nice again. It was a proud time for the R. L. Goodfellow family, as Mr. Goodfellow was passing out cigars after his first grandchild, a boy, was born on Sept. 14 in Seattle, to John Warren and Elizabeth (Goodfellow) Sears. The baby boy's other grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. John Sears of Seattle, and he also had three great grandparents, which were Mrs. L.L. Goodfellow of Castle Rock, Mrs. A. W. Simmons of Walla Walla and Mrs. Mary Melander of Seattle. The baby boy had not yet been named at the time of his birth announcement, but his Grandma, Mrs.Goodfellow, was pretty sure it would include the name John in it! Many of us remember Mrs. Goodfellow as one of the grade school teachers, and Mr. Goodfellow operated the Pharmacy in Cathlamet for many years. Cathlamet had enjoyed their "Cathlamet Pioneer Picnic Day" recently that year, and one person, N. E. Haslem, wrote a nice poem about the event, which was thoroughly enjoyed, and how Cathlamet should be very proud of its park and holding this gathering that brought people to it from near and far to meet up once again. Mary Lang wrote a nice letter from Switzerland to the Everests, and expressed to them that she was having a wonderful time over there. She was also asking to extend her vacation, as people there wanted her to stay longer, so her job at the telephone office was going to have a fill-in operator just a little longer. All this according to my Grandma Elsie Everest's diaries.