Skamokawa News

WARM ENOUGH? I’m one of those people who loves a nice day, but when it goes from pleasant to miserable because it’s so hot, well, then I’m not really a fan of that, as I have to hide in the house in the AC, so it might as well be raining! Anyway, I’m sure all the heat lovers, who think the more sun the better, are really enjoying this week of mid-80s and more. Let’s hope we don’t wind up with water restrictions, as many water source levels are dropping, which is not a good thing for any of us. On the brighter side, it appears that we may have a bit of a cool-down before this weekend’s activities, and quite frankly, that would be a blessing, as it makes it much more comfortable for all those in the parade and those standing by.

SPECIAL DAYS. Those celebrating birthdays this coming week from July 17 to 24 are Luke Schmitz, Rick Benfit, Bev Moonen, Stuart Bosch, Randy Montgomery, Frank Webb, Elysse Brewster, Pam Elliott, Lucas Olson, Mike Clark, Cindi Kay DeNoyer, Marsha Cleveland, Cameron Havens, Ayla Simoneau, Darlene Hoven, Eric Ferguson, Blaise Johnson, Elisa Hagey, Ella Doiron, Larry Hendrickson, Lisa Hannah, Raedyn Grasseth, Michelle Sailing, Theresa Libby, Steve L. Doumit, Skip Nortrup, Jacob Johnson, John Buennagel, Clover Rostad, Ruth Doumit, Tera Stankey, Joel Gaillard, Tanner Bergseng, Ashley Hedges, McKenna Longtain, Bonnie Howarth, Jerry DeBriase Jr., D. J. Walcott, Robbie Seibert, Julie Pedersen, Chirstopher Robinson, Ken Anshutz, Halle Grasseth, Waylon Blouin, Rowan Matney, Julie Pedersen, Molly Jorgensen, Big Art Pedersen, Jensen Finkas, Kalei Meyers, and Nicholas Rodriquez. Those celebrating anniversaries this week are Mike and Julie Iverson, Matt and Cindy Gagner, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Rutledge, DJ and Jen Wolcott, Mark and Patti Phillips, Rick and Janet Bryan, Bryan and Felicitie Rismoen, and Andrew Emlen and Audrey Petterson. Belated birthday wishes to Susan Zabel of Jabber Shack, whose birthday was Monday.

NEW BIRTHDAY ADDITION. I am happy to announce the arrival of Blake and Michaela Sechler’s first child, a baby girl they named Sawyer Anne Sechler, who arrived on the evening of July 2, 2025. This little miss means that Blake’s parents, Pete and Katie Sechler, finally got to become grandparents, and of course, they are “tickled pink”! The arrival of this baby girl also means that I now have my very first great-granddaughter, so she’s even more special, and I can hardly wait to head up to Mountlake Terrace to meet her. I’m going to wait a bit so the new parents can get settled in, as we all know how hectic those first few weeks can be and how exhausting they can also be! Anyway, everyone in the family is overjoyed, and we are all super happy for Blake and Michaela. We send our heartiest “Congratulations” to them on becoming parents to such a darling daughter.

BALD EAGLE DAYS. We all know what weekend this is, as it’s always held on the third weekend in July, marking the 44th “Bald Eagle Days.” It’s a two-day event, but most of the action is on Saturday, July 19. Given that this has many events planned for the occasion, I hope you’ve taken your vitamins and are ready to put in a full day participating in all of those activities! Whether you’re taking part in the Terry Bonny Walk/Run, or the parade or are a vendor or maybe one of the musical acts or just a person enjoying all of those, you’ll be wanting to stay hydrated and fueled up, which you’ll be able to do with all those vendors and businesses around. The streets of Cathlamet are always lined with local folks selling a variety of items, from food to clothes and raffle tickets, and more. I hope you’ve visited the bank and obtained some small-denomination bills, so vendors aren’t trying to break a $50 or a $100 bill for a $5 purchase. Besides the parade at noon, don’t forget that there’s going to be a ‘water fight’ between fire departments, which is always fun. There will also be great music and more down at the marina, as well as the big fireworks display at dark. It’s going to be a super day! At any rate, this is a great time to support local folks and have a good time doing it, so whether you’re a bystander or a participant, I do hope you have a wonderful time enjoying this yearly event.....as far as I know, it’s still the only one of its kind!

BIG THANK-YOU. To all of those members of the Cathlamet Woman’s Club, we offer our sincere thanks for going out along our highway and picking up trash. I find it appalling that others are so rude, inconsiderate, and just downright lazy that they throw trash out of their windows and destroy the beauty of our area. Why can’t people just keep their papers, bottles and cans in their own vehicles and deposit them properly when they get home or find a trash receptacle? At any rate, these wonderful ladies spent a day picking up all this trash when they could have been enjoying a day with their friends and family, so I want to sincerely thank them for their service to our community in trying to keep our county beautiful.

PLAN FOR DELAYS. There will be road delays from Cathlamet to Longview from July 23, so please be patient and plan accordingly. They are usually able to get folks through these construction areas in a fairly short time but it really depends on when you get there and exactly what they are doing at the time, so if you are an impatient person, well, you will either need to pack a bit more of it during this time or delay going or find an alternate route.

PRAYERS NEEDED. Many of you may know “Big Art” Pedersen, who happens to be my cousin, and unfortunately, he is in the hospital right now and could use some prayers. Doctors are currently unsure of how to proceed with his health issues, so it would be wonderful if we could all think positive thoughts, say a few prayers, and send him some good vibes. Things might have changed between the time I write this and when it gets published, but your good thoughts would be appreciated regardless.

MAKE A PLAN FOR THE FAIR. I hope you’re planning on attending this year’s Wahkiakum County Fair, which is always held on the third Thursday through Saturday in August. Please spread the word and invite all your friends and family to attend. Better yet, get them all to enter something into it as well. Remember, those ribbons can earn you money, and for the younger ones in your family, it’s always fun to be rewarded with some cash for their entries. Whether it’s for art, crafts, plants, baking, animals, or other activities, there are plenty of choices. Just remember, different items have different entry dates, and animals are extra early, so be sure to check that Fair Book when it comes out so you don’t miss your entry day/time.

SHARE FAMILY NEWS. If you’ve traveled to someplace new or had company from afar or have had an addition to your family, why not share that with me so we can let your other family and friends know what’s “new with you”?! I hear from folks all over, and they really enjoy hearing about other residents or classmates and what they’ve been up to or what they’re doing now. Did you have a family reunion or a class reunion? Please let me know how it went and share your stories. More personal news makes writing and reading this column a whole lot more interesting, I think!