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

News from Naselle:

Sports calendar for the Naselle Comet teams this coming week: The Naselle Comet football team beat Lyle/Wishram 68-38 last weekend to advance to the state Class 1B football semifinals. They'll face Almira-Coulee-Hartline (ACH) next Saturday, 1 p.m., at the Apple Bowl in Wenatchee. The Comets led 18-8 after one quarter, 26-14 at halftime, and outscored their opponents 42-24 in the second half.

ACH showed offensive power in their weekend game, defeating Crescent 100-16.

Sports next week include, Tuesday, high school girls basketball at MWP at 5:45 p.m., and middle school girls basketball at North Beach at 5:45 p.m .; Wednesday, middle school girls basketball at Raymond at 5:45 p.m. Go Comets!

At this time of the year, with Thanksgiving coming this week and Christmas not far behind, remember that our little community has some great shopping opportunities. If you don’t find gifts for your family and friends at one of the many bazaars being held, then think about gift cards from our local businesses. How about a massage from the Naselle Massage Clinic, a delicious lunch at one of our restaurants, a gift card to the local coffee stand or even a gift card at the grocery store. A great way to support local businesses.

Westend news:

The annual Crab and Oyster Feed sponsored by the American Legion Deep River Post #111 will be held January 26, 2019. Pre-sale tickets are available now, and the sooner you buy them, the better as only 200 tickets will be sold. Admission is $28 per person with crab, oysters, baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw and garlic bread on the dinner menu.

After a delicious meal, buy a few more raffle tickets for a chance at some great prizes including a gun and finish off the evening listening to the live band and getting out there on the dance floor with your favorite partner. If you wish to attend the dance only, the price is $5.

To purchase tickets please contact Dale Rose at 465-2234, Ken Elliot at 465-2274 or Nick Nikkila at 465-2595.

Proceeds from this event support our veterans, youth and local charities.

Happy Birthday to Doug Tetz, Chase Hodson, Colleen Smith, Bob Caetano, Darrell Fields, Dane Benedict, Kristi Leeland and Carlson Engelson. Wishing each of you a perfect day.

Happy Anniversary to Andrew and Karen Hodson, Chuck and Roxanne Hendrickson, Steve and Audrey Ullakko and Russell and Sirkka Wirkkala. Here’s to many more celebrations together.

With Thanksgiving (my favorite family holiday) this week, I want to wish readers and Eagle staff an amazing celebration with family and friends, as I celebrate with four of my kids and eight of my grandkids in California.

Finally, to the readers, this will be my final column and I want to say thank you for the many years of readership and support for the weekly article. Some changes are coming to my life, not bad ones, and having deadlines will not give me the flexibility to move forward with some of my new goals. I will still be around enjoying my little piece of Heaven in Grays River, just with a few less restrictions on my time.

I don’t remember exactly when I started writing Down River Dispatches, but I do know that through the last nine years it has saved my sanity, giving me goals and reasons to write about fun things going on around me. Rick Nelson has been a most patient, understanding and supportive boss, especially following my husband’s stroke and his subsequent death. I can’t thank him enough.

My favorite predecessor, Marilyn Gudmundsen, gave me some advice when I first started writing the column. She said, “Put a little bit of yourself in each article; it tends to give the readers a better view of you as a real person.” I tried to do that, even though some folks might say that my opinions sometimes might not have set well with all the readers, and I apologize for that. Again, I want to say thank you so much to Rick Nelson, The Eagle staff and to all the faithful readers, for this wonderful opportunity. It has been a fulfilling ride.

Editor's note: We at The Eagle are sad that Trudy is retiring from writing the Down River Dispatches. She has been really faithful, punctual and informative, and Westend residents as well as The Eagle have benefited from that. She has provided a valuable service to the community.

Trudy, thanks for all you've done, Happy Thanksgiving, and best wishes for the future.