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Gov. Jay Inslee last Tuesday (May 4) announced a two-week pause on movement in the Healthy Washington: Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan. Under the pause, every county will remain in its current phase. At the end of two weeks, each county will be re-evaluated.

The decision was made in consultation with the Department of Health, and reflects current data suggesting Washington's fourth wave has hit a plateau. Case counts and hospitalizations remain high, but the plateau suggests continued adherence to public health guidance and vaccinations could help the state turn the corner.

"We are at the intersection of progress and failure, and we cannot veer from the path of progress," Inslee said Tuesday. "Our economy is beginning to show early signs of growth thanks to some of our great legislative victories and we know vaccines are the ticket to further reopening  --  if we adhere to public health until enough people are vaccinated."

For the past several weeks, epidemiologists have been following the state's fourth COVID-19 wave, which now appears to be leveling out. The fourth wave has been less severe and case counts and mortalities have not been tied in rates of increase as they have in the past.

The Winlock Parks Board is hosting a park spring cleaning community event at Winolequa park. The event will take place on Saturday, May 22, and is an open house from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This is open to anyone in the community who wants to volunteer some of their time to help beautify and prepare the Winolequa Park for Egg Day and other summer gatherings.

Bring whatever project tools you have or just yourself and your own two hands. It's a great chance to meet the members of the park board. Refreshments will be available. In the past, this has been a fun event and I don't expect anything different this year.

Every year the Winolequa Garden Club offers plants for sale, this year is no exception. The difference will be they have added a craft corner and will be open for a month. This year the event will be held on Mill Street in Winlock again, 1119 NW Mill, one block west of Shakertown.

This year is a tad bit different. They will be open for over a month, from May 14 to June 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They operate on the honor system, meaning you either pay a donation or leave the amount if the item is priced. They will have a section for priced items, otherwise everything is by donation only.

Winolequa Garden Club has been giving scholarships to local students for years. The money the club raises helps give students the opportunity to apply for the scholarship if they plan on going to horticulture, nursing or other professions. Please contact the garden club for more information.

Raymond HS standout basketball student-athlete Kyra Gardner scored her 1,000th point during the season opening 86-15 victory over Ocosta last Tuesday night (May 4) at Seagull gym. Gardner scored 38 points on the night.

Dr. Kenneth Olson DVM has decided to retire from his veterinary business after 35 years of local service. Olson was the owner/operator of Willapa Veterinary Service at 230 Ocean Avenue in Raymond. The new veterinarians and owners of the business are Dr. Eric and Dr. Kathleen Sutten.

After 37 years overall, Olson believes it is the right juncture in his life to leave what he's loved so much, and enjoy retirement.