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

TOILETRY DRIVE. Something new has come up that folks can help out with and that’s a toiletry drive for the students at Wahkiakum High School. Some kids are unable to get the necessities that we all need to keep us clean and comfortable, so we are asking the community to help them out if possible. You can take things up to the high school; you can also bring needed items to the Skamokawa Grange Hall on Thursdays throughout the month of March and they’ll see to it that they get up to the school. Some of the requested items are feminine care products, deodorant, toothpaste and tooth brushes. If there are other toiletries you can think of and would like to donate, please feel free to donate those as well but the ones listed were highest on their request list. I’m sure our wonderful community will step up and help with this good cause. And thank you for all of you who have already donated.

HALL OPENING. The Friends of Skamokawa will be opening up the historic Redmen Hall-Central School building on March 2. You can check out their new books and gifts and of course, enjoy the historical photos and magnificent views from the hall. They will hold their annual membership meeting the following day on March 3 at 2 p.m. They plan to be open Saturdays and Sundays so if you’re in the area, please stop by and check them out.

SPECIAL DAYS. This week, Lauren Good, Mary McLaughlin, Emery Tomlinson, Todd Thomason, Austyn Getman, Amanda Zacher, Tina Robinson, Ava Johnson, Elliot Johnson, Vicki Allenback, Ursula Jorgensen, Shelley Olsen, Bruce Hanson, Wyatt J. Parker, Jessica Thomas, Dagmar Adams and 67'ers: Shari Gorman Parker, Truchet Madden Miller and Kathy Bond Peek are celebrating birthdays. May you all have wonderful birthday celebrations. My apologies for leaving out Naomi Kuljis, Mac Johnson, and Logan Blain from my birthday list last week. I was looking at the wrong calendar! I hope you had wonderful birthdays this past Tuesday. Celebrating anniversaries this week are Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Wirkkala, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Hanson, Mr. and Mrs. Doug Peek, J. D. & Michelle Sailing, and Brandon Bennett & Kyla Meacham. Enjoy!

PREPARED? The Wahkiakum County Department of Emergency Management would like to remind you that disasters can happen at any time of the year. Whether it is rain, snow, or maybe floods or earthquakes, or even a fire, one should always be ready to be self-sustaining for a while. The Department of Emergency Management suggests that you put together a “Two Weeks Ready” kit. Washington State has the second highest risk for earthquakes, so it just never hurts to be prepared. You can go to their website and check it all out, or call 360-795-7876 for our local emergency management agency and they'll help you out with the list.

A SPRING SEED EXCHANGE. On March 2nd you can meet up at the River Street Meeting room located at 45 River St. in Cathlamet, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and pick up free vegetable seeds. If you're new to gardening, you'll be able to get tips on how to plan your garden among other things. The Wahkiakum County Extension agency and master gardeners hope to see you there.

BUNNIES AND HAWGS. Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce’s The Hook the Hawg fishing derby will take place March 21-23. Contact the Chamber for more information, or visit their site at wahkiakum.us/hawg/.

Easter happenings will start up soon. Bingo at the fairgrounds is on March 29. An Easter carnival and hunt at the Wahkiakum Fair at 10 a.m., as well as the Lions Club’s Easter egg hunt directly afterward will also held at the fairgrounds at 11 a.m. Mark that date on your calendar so you can bring the kids to Skamokawa and have a fun time at the fairgrounds!

SENIORS GATHER ON THE ISLAND. The Cathlamet Senior Friendship Group formed by Nancy Nelson got a very nice write-up in last week’s Eagle. They have been very happy to see more and more folks show up at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church for their gatherings. They have a great Facebook page—I hope you're able to check it out, get yourself on their list, and head over to Our Saviour’s on Puget Island Wednesdays. They have created a huge list of things that are of interest to the group, so there will be mini-groups amongst the “just-want-to-meet-up” folks. Those who have special interests can partake in their personal preferences, so if you have Wednesdays off, head over to the big white church building along SR 409 on Puget Island from 12—3 p.m.. Enter at the back.

BREKKIE & GAB. Don't forget to show up for the Community Breakfast here at the Skamokawa Grange Hall every Thursday from 10 am-12 p.m. Everyone enjoys a bit of food!

FOOD WITH FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. Well, it was a wonderful dinner out with friends at our local eatery on Valentine's Day. We had a double celebration since it was also Connie Shrums' birthday. John and Mary Gustafson had hosted a Super Bowl party a couple days prior to that and we surprised her with an early birthday cake there since we knew we'd be enjoying some red velvet cake at the Duck, so hey, we all got to enjoy a double birthday celebration!

The Crab Feed over on Puget Island this last Saturday, put on by the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce, was definitely a big hit. Lots of folks and lots of food—I saw nothing but smiling faces in all the photos. Our county plays host to multiple crab and oyster feeds and so there's every reason to get your fill when you attend events like this.