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June 12, 2008
Elma man’s story for family becomes a book |
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Rex Valentine of Elma takes a story he made up for his children and grandkids to new heights, teaching other youngsters a
valuable lesson, as well.
Tommi Halvorsen Gatlin
Vidette Reporter
Five years ago, lifelong East Grays Harbor resident Rex Valentine became the published author of “The Rutabaga Patch,” a collection of poetry that records true stories from his life, almost all of which has been spent on farms.
Now, Valentine, 73, who’s lived on his current farm for 32 years and has also worked in real estate for 48 years, is the author of a new book.
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Rex Valentine of Elma shows some of the examples of his sketches that he sent to the illustrator of his new children’s book, “Tiddlywinks, The Little Horse with THREE EARS,” and the book cover inset. Valentine’s first book, “The Rutabaga Patch,” was published in 2003. (Photo by Tommi Halvorsen Gatlin)
But his latest work isn’t poetry. This time, Valentine has used the power of the pen … rather, the computer … to produce a children’s book for youngsters from about 5 to 11. But their parents and other adults might want to check it out, too.
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| New family restaurant opens its doors in McCleary |
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By Tommi Halvorsen Gatlin
Vidette Reporter
Can business and God go together? Diana Hasbrouck and Dawnell Swint, the mother/daughter team who opened the Rain Country Restaurant in McCleary last month, are convinced they can — and did in their case.
“We totally know that it was God who brought us this far,” Hasbrouck said. “I could go on with story after story of how it was a miracle how we came here and how He opened up doors that we never dreamed would be opened.”
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Diana Hasbrouck, left, and Dawnell Swint stand ready to serve their customers. (Photo by Tommi Halvorsen Gatlin)
Hasbrouck, 54, and Swint, 31, who had worked at the Rusty Tractor restaurant in Elma for years, decided last December it was time to launch out on their own, though neither had ever owned a business before.
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| Rochester boy hauls in biggest fish |
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Lake Sylvia fishing derby grand prize was a Nintendo Wii
By Jerrad Kellogg
Vidette Reporter
Last Friday night, the sleeping habits of a number of the area’s children could have been compared with those of December 24. At 2:30 a.m., the kids were up and ready to go, Montesano’s Pat Koonrad said.
“I spoke to one gentleman from Elma who brought his kids to the lake to camp and fish, who said that it was like Christmas Eve – the kids didn’t sleep, because they were so excited,” Derby Official Norm Cole said.
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April, Aiden and Ben Root of Rochester, display the three-year-old’s winning fish of 8-pounds, 4-ounces. (Photo by Jerrad Kellogg)
And it isn’t that far of a leap from opening presents on Christmas Day to the 11th Annual Montesano Moose Lodge’s Fishing Derby on Saturday, June 7, at Lake Sylvia– since this year you may have woken up to a Nintendo Wii if you were lucky. The Derby’s Grand Prize – the video game console, an extra controller and handful of games was awarded to Rochester 3-year-old, Aiden Root, who was fishing off a campsite on the south side of the lake. The 8-pound, 4-ounce Derby winner was hauled in with a simple worm and bobber set up. Young Aiden hooked the fish and his dad, Ben, helped him reel it in. The Derby’s second biggest fish was caught by Tres Brogan, 12, of Montesano.
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Other
Headlines
So far, so good on Wildcat Creek Aquifer
The Grays Harbor County commissioners are one step closer to lifting the moratorium on development in the McCleary area that they imposed nearly 16 months ago while the condition of the Wildcat Creek Aquifer was evaluated. The good news is that the aquifer is not exhibiting signs of degradation. The bad news is … well, there really isn’t any bad news. But the next steps will take a concerted effort by the county, the City of McCleary and all property owners and users in the area to protect the aquifer into the future, county officials said. “As if the topic’s not sensitive enough we have deadlines to meet as well,” Lee Napier, a staff coordinator for the county said.
Montesano Council picks Hutchings for vacancy
As a project manager for a national insurance company who has just been promoted to a risk management role, the newest member of the Montesano City Council probably isn’t much of a gambler. In fact, Christian Hutchings, 35, won appointment Monday to the vacancy created by Vini Samuel’s resignation by first covering his bets, so to speak. He’s been a regular attendee at council meetings for nearly two years, ever since December of 2006 when he escaped from Los Angeles with his wife and their two children. He was the new face in a crowd of those familiar with each other.
Beerbower’s seat to be hotly contested
Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama may be done duking it out on the national scene but here on Grays Harbor the battle has just been joined. When filing for office ended last Friday, June 6, six Democrats and a Republican had filed for election to succeed County Commissioner Bob Beerbower of Elma. Beerbower has opted not to seek a fourth term. The door is wide open, but there’s a seven-person crush at the threshold
County funding will help complete turbine building
The county commissioners approved $250,000 in funding Monday to help the Grays Harbor Public Development Authority bring a tank manufacturer to the Satsop Development Park. The money comes from what’s called the “Point O-Nine Fund,” a fund dedicated to infrastructure improvements that can be linked to job creation and economic development. Money for the fund is generated from .09 cents of the sales tax. The PDA is remodeling the former turbine building for the Brown-Minneapolis Tank Co., which wants to relocate from its Olympia location.
Other Sports
Spring Sports Awards announced
Recently Monte High School announced the last set of Athletic Awards for the school year. At recent banquets, Elma High School announced the last set of Athletic Awards for the school year.
Aberdeen Parks & Rec. Slowpitch Report
First Division: Brew Crew 24, Chico’s Bail bonds 7
Ryan Vessey had five hits, including a homerun and a triple; Travis Jelovich had four hits, including two doubles, while Corey Martinson had four hits, including a triple for Brew Crew. Bryan Mattsons had three hits, including a homerun, while Garrett Folkers had a homerun for Chico’s.
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