The school levy is up for vote and I thought it would be wise to have it explained by Shannon Criss, the Superintendent of the Winlock School District. The Winlock community has been very supportive of its schools and has consistently passed school Maintenance and Operations levies. Most of the District’s income comes from the State, but the State does not fund 100% of what is needed for basic education. When patrons pass an M & O levy the state provides additional money in the form of Local Effort Assistance Dollars. For Winlock, that is about $488,000.00 each year. We receive this money ONLY if the levy passes.” Please continue to support the schools.
Since we are talking about schools, we are finishing up the “get to know ya” series on Criss. Here are the answers to the tough questions:
TC: What is your greatest fear?
SC: My personal greatest fear is growing “old”. I want to be active and involved so that I can enjoy my grandchildren. Then there is that big fear of outliving my children. The thought of them not living full lives is a fear. But I don’t dwell in fear – life is a journey not a destination and I feel all things happen for a reason.
TC: What is one thing the people in Winlock may not know about you?
SC: I loved teaching science and applied to be the first teacher in space but obviously I didn’t get that. Instead I did get to spend two weeks with NASA at Stanford. My mission was to fly aboard the Kuiper taking astronomical pictures of some of the planets. I got to eat lunch with Washington astronaut Bonnie Dunbar and came home with a “real” NASA “astronaut worn” pre-flight suit.
Activities:
Winlock Timberland Regional Library Presents: Family Story Time Friday from 10:30-11:35 a.m., then “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Trail” by Cheryl Strayed from 12:30- 1:30 p.m. Then, on Saturday at 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Valentine-making studio all ages.
The Methodist Church has a bible study Tuesday 10 – 11:30 a.m. and Wednesday 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend.
Don’t forget first Friday features the Potato Bar at the Senior Center. Come and enjoy!!
Finally, Clean Up the Coop is here. Join everyone on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the event plaza. Please help clean up Winlock!!
Prayers needed: LaVern Kearns is struggling with shingles and Cindi Hepner’s mother has passed away, please include all of them in your prayers. Bruce and Sylvia Swanson’s son is in need of prayers as well, he is in St. Pete’s.
So, our neighbors have a German shepherd we adore. He is very smart, quite the watchdog. He watches our house so well anyone who gets near he will make him self-known. He watches the door constantly, he has it down for us, if we want to leave we must hand him a bone, no bone, no leave…Ever get the idea that the animals around here rule and we are just here to take care of them?