Castle Rock cleans up

The community of Castle Rock offers an annual “Clean-Up” day, which takes place regardless of rain or shine. This year, the sunshine decided to grace the many hands who came out to help take action and make their town even more beautiful. Flowers and shrubs, fresh potting soil, new signs and great attitudes prevailed this past Saturday in late April. Take a journey to quaint Castle Rock and see the new changes! Photography by Melody Kranz of Storytelling Photography.

LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLERS PIN ‘EM DOWN AT STATE TOURNAMENT

Photos by Kevin Sawyer

Local wrestlers from around the area make us all proud with their hard work, effort and determination on the mat.Congratulations to all the wrestlers for a fantastic season!

CASTLE ROCK HS

Kelso HS

Save the Castle Rock Library!

The City of Castle Rock does not fund the Castle Rock Library, and there is an imperative vote (levy)coming in FEBRUARY 2012 for all Castle Rock residents to consider.
The library budget is paid for by donations and a special tax levy for residents who live within the city limits.
In order to keep the library doors open, a home for many looking for quiet solitude, educational materials and study resources, the proposed tax percentage is the same it has been for the past ten years.
This election in February will be the deciding factor on whether or not the library remains open in the 2013 year – or closes its doors forever, forcing residents to travel to farther locations for library resources.
For 2012, donations and fund raisers have kept the library alive and kicking, although functioning at a smaller and limited capacity.
Unfortunately, state law requires that all library books and materials are sent to the State Repository should the levy fail to pass.
Really, the levy is such a small percentage – and has a great impact for the local residents of Castle Rock. Library Resources are still a thing of “today”, even amidst the growing world of internet resources. There are loads upon loads of novels, great fictional reading, intriguing biographies, world culture studies and the list goes on and on.
To those who live within the Castle Rock city limits, as a printed publication ourselves, we would encourage you to consider the benefits that the library offers to any size community – and vote YES in February 2012.

Sunnyside Grange News & CR Fair

Sunnyside Grange members elected their officers for the coming two years. They are Reax Ogden-Master, Larry Ogden-Overseer, Yvonne Knuth-Lecturer, Steward-Gene Frymire, Asst. Steward-Alonzo Ogden, Lady Asst. Stewarad-Julia Ogden, Chaplain-Janet Kolk, Treasurer-Phyllis Ogden, Secretary-Joan Frymire, Gate Keeper-Barandon Kolk, Ceres-Phyllis Ogden, Pomona-Jenna Bridges, Flora-Bridget Ogden, Ex. Comm. Ed Soowers, Larry Ogden, Jim Johnston, Chr.FLD-Joan Frymire.
Sunnyside Grange will be having their Christmas party on Dec 10/ Potluck at 6:30 pm and program at 7:30 pm. We are asking our members to bring canned good for the food bank at this time. For part of the program, the high school choir under Clarance Knutsen will sing carols and we will join in also. The public is invited to attend.
Other Grange news is that we are taking pop tabs, soaps and other personal items to the Ronald McDonald House and this last month had a rest stop.
The Grange will be hosting the Cowitz Pomona on Dec. 17 with potluck at 6:30 pm and program to follow. Installation of officers for all Granges in the county will be installed.

Castle Rock Fair News
The fair is looking for a theme for next. year. Since it is leap year, we are hoping to get some great ideas. Send your ideas to Fair, Box 655, Castle Rock, WA 98611 or call 274-4116 and leave your idea and name.
The fair also was part of a team that hosted the WA State Fair convention in Yakima. In the contest division the scrapbook took first and sweepstakes, T-shirt and artistic poster took first and third for the informational poster.

1889: Do you know who this man is?

It’s a mystery – can you solve it?
This beautiful portrait is in the collection of the Castle Rock Exhibit Hall. But the man is unidentified. Can you help identify him?
The portrait was found on the second floor of the old Castle Rock Bank building (now a physical therapy office), at the corner of Front Avenue and Cowlitz Street in Castle Rock.
The portrait is signed “W. M. Short, 1889.” This is likely the artist’s signature and date of creation. The portrait may be of a doctor or relative of a doctor, but we don’t know that for sure.
If you have any ideas on who this gentleman might be, please call Karen Johnson at the Exhibit Hall (360-274-6603). We appreciate your help and look forward to announcing his name – and the person who helped us name him in the upcoming issue of the Valley Bugler newspaper!
You may also call the paper at (360)414-1246 if you would like to leave an anonymous message with the information about the man in the photo. All information shared is confidential.

A ribbon untied at Riverfront Trail the result of dedication and pride in Castle Rock

In speeches given by many council members and elected officials, praises went to the drive and the spirit of Castle Rock volunteers who, through the thousands of hours of work and various activities, have given the city of Castle Rock its newest look. With seven grants over seven years, and the phenomenal amount of volunteerism, we now have the Riverfront Trail (supplied with doggie bags and receptacles), the boat launch, bike skills park, and nearby community garden, which is available now for plot sign-ups and community input.
Commi

ssioner Misner said that “Castle Rock doesn’t have problems; we have challenges that are being met.”
Public works director Dave Vorse was noted for his tireless work in keeping the construction and businesses flowing as smoothly as possible, and always being at the ready to help with the many challenges that continue to crop up during the town’s development. Director Kaleen Cottingham was there from the WA State Recreation and Conservation Office and commented on being able to locate the trail immediately upon her arrival.
“It’s the first thing you see when you exit the freeway!”
The trail received $1 million in grants, while the boat launch was considerably more – and when the funding ran out near the end, Cowlitz County supplied the rest in order to finish the job. They have more plans in the works, too, envisioning a trail that runs from one end of the county to the other. Chamber of Commerce President Mike Vorse, with a little help from Mayor Paul Helenberg, drove the golden spike where the final part of the trail was completed, connecting the two parts of the community. He also took pride in the volunteers, saying “Everyone gets together when we need something done, and gets it done.”
Mayor Helenberg cited numerous activities of late that not only brought tourism to the city, but also family members together. Among them are “I Topped the Rock,” which brought in over 400 people, with proceeds going to the community upgrades; the Cowlitz Valley Runners’ 5K event, which brought in over 350 people; the Growlers Gulch Racing group building the bike park; Mountain Mania; quilting events; trail cleanup; and another new program that invites a high school student representative to the council meetings in the spirit of fostering youth civic involvement.
“We don’t just attract quality people,” Mayor Helenberg says. “We raise them.”
The Riverfront Trail winds through Castle Rock from the west end and continues into a dip through the old river bottom before going up the hill and to the bridge over the interstate.
Gwen Boss and her great granddaughter Grace were there for the festivities, also happy for the improvement in walk-ability.
Water was provided for event goers by Red Canoe Credit Union, and Fibre Credit Union was there with assorted goodies. Carol and Blaine Kennington showed their support, providing trail mix courtesy of Cowlitz Dental, and also taking home the volunteer recognition award for participating in the trail clean up.
A new award this year called “The Rock” (which is an actual piece of rock) was given to Myron and Mary Nelson. Myron organized a “Bridge the Generations” program with the Castle Rock High School. He was asked by the 2010 graduation class to give their commencement address and in April was named Volunteer of the Year by Governor Gregoire. They pulled the ribbon, opening the trail.