Skamokawa News

SUNNY START. As this week begins, we have more sunshine on the way, although my one weather app suggests a sprinkle might arrive mid-week. However, at this point, it’s hard to know if that will come true or not. As it is, the sunshine and the wind have made for some good haymaking weather, and I hear the tractors running full speed ahead around our area!

SPECIAL DAYS. Those celebrating birthdays this coming week from July 10 through 17 are David Shrum, Mallory Bosch, Melissa Robbins, David West, Sharon McKie, Sunny Manary, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Jessie Caliman, Kurtis Bergseng, Jeff Smith, Pam Anson, Samantha McClain, Mitchell Kochis, Tracy Popham, Mitchel Kochis, Anthony Mikolajcyk, Jayla Grasseth, Jerzie Wallin, Brynn McClain, Barbara Booth, Jim Mallot, Nick Boehler, Cody Rockhill, Tracy Elliott, Marietta Montgomery, Angel Weather, Brysen Coleman, Jared Loranger, Robert Davis, Jackson Hannah, Denise Parker, Mary An Nelson, Rick Ruzek, Jerry Ledtke, Marsha Cleveland, Cindi DeNoyer, Mike Clark, Keri Moonen, Chris Carillo, Lucas Olson, Geri Florek, Janelle Seaberg, Jamie Kincaid, Liz Brown, Lonney Kubacki, Nicholas Rodriquez, Jensen Finkas, Bryce Good, Blake Sechler and Kyle Sechler. Celebrating anniversaries this week are Lance and Shannon Britt, Natalie Emery and Roger Wise, Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Prestegard, Mike and Julie Iverson, and John and Mary Gustafson. May all of you have wonderful celebrations on your special days!

FLEA MARKET. Don’t forget to head this way to the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds on July 12, as it’s the second Saturday of the month, and that means it’s Flea Market time. There are tons of great deals, so be sure to stop by from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to check out the vendors and the T-building, too. Lots of shopping and deals to be found!

SCARY MOMENTS. The fire near the Nassa Point area, which forced level 3 evacuation orders, was certainly a wake-up call as to how quickly one can be catapulted from a nice, calm day into total chaos. Thanks to the quick work of multiple agencies, this fire was brought under control, and residents were able to return to their homes. However, the fire wasn’t totally out, so the highway remained closed as the work to put it out continued. As I am writing this, the highway remained closed during the day and open at night, so in the meantime, folks were detoured over Beaver Creek and down to Mill Creek. If you haven’t been over it, it can be a bit of an adventure. With traffic backed up forever to get onto the Elochoman Valley Road, it’s best to stay home or use the ferry. Then again, with so many people coming from the beach area after the long weekend, lines were long and the ferry ran non-stop… whew! At any rate, it’s nice to have the alternative route over Beaver Creek. Still, it might be wise to learn all about what to expect by traveling that roadway when you don’t have to, like a leisurely, “check it out” kind of drive prior to having to use it, as it’s not exactly a wide-open freeway up there. Another alternate route to figure out when you don’t really need it, is the one from German Creek Road by Stella and the “up and over” roads to Longview.

SO SAD/HELP NEEDED. This Sunday, another fire call was made here on East Valley Road, and with the current situation at Nassa Point, plus another callout to a fire in this dry, windy weather, it’s been a tough time. We were glad to hear the woman who lived there was okay, but it was heartbreaking to learn that she not only lost her trailer but also her dog, and you can imagine how terribly sad and devastated she must be. Autumn Rose Howell Vey is asking for help for her friend, and if you can, please reach out to her on Facebook. I also hope some local agencies can provide shelter and support during this difficult time; this is what I believe emergency services are for. You can only imagine how you’d feel if your home and belongings were taken from you, along with your beloved pet, so I hope by the time you read this, some folks have already stepped up to help... and if possible, maybe you can too.

MORE FIRE. Well, as if we hadn’t had enough fire calls, there was another one later on Sunday evening on Nelson Road, which is west of Cathlamet. Once again, we thank our fire departments and others for their tireless efforts. A shed may have been lost, but not their residence, and other buildings were okay, so that was a huge plus.

BALD EAGLE DAYS ARE COMING. Next Saturday, July 19, there will be the fun Bald Eagle Day parade, followed by lots of food, vendors, and a big fireworks show at the end. I hope that all of you with pets will take all the precautions available to you to keep your dogs from getting out and running away after hearing fireworks. There are “thunder shirts” available, as well as medications that you can give to them. You can also keep them with you or place them in a small room with loud music playing to help them feel cozy and safe. It just might help. We always had Black Labs, and we used them for hunting so they were never afraid of the big loud noises as they were used to guns going off, but these days, there’s lots of other dogs around who aren’t used to all the racket so we hope they’ll be able to get through another noisy time in our county. In the long run, it might be worth your while to acclimate your animals to loud sounds so that they aren’t quite as afraid.

CLASS REUNION. The WA-KI-HI Class of 1975 will be holding their 50th Class Reunion this year on Aug. 2, at 4 p.m., at the Duck Inn here in Skamokawa. Debbie Almer-Melton and Connie Wirkkala Fauver are in charge of this event and would like to remind you to let them know if you’re attending so they can give the Duck Inn a head count. This is a “no-host” event, so you will be responsible for your own food and drink expenses. This is listed on Facebook under “The Mule Train All School/Decade Alumni Reunion” group, so you can check in with there or contact Debbie or Connie directly.

TIME STILL FLYING BY. Yes, indeed, a third of this month is already over, and the Wahkiakum County Fair is coming up soon. I hope you’re sewing, canning, painting, taking photos, and so on, so that you can enter these items into the fair. This is a great time for kids to earn some extra money, as all those blue ribbons can turn into more spending money. Once the fair book is out, you’ll be able to see all the rules and plan how many entries you can submit. It’s a wonderful family activity, especially since we have so many talented cookie makers, bread bakers, garden growers, and more in our area. The possibilities are practically endless. Mark Aug. 21 through 23 on your calendars and get those thinking caps on. Let’s see all those entries, kids... and grown-ups too. Let’s fill up those buildings once again!