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Earlier this year we brought you a story about young Ryker Halpin and his battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or ALL (ALL), a cancer that is characterized by the overproduction of cancerous, immature white blood cells known as lymphoblasts.

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe will be "Honoring the Spirit of All Cowlitz People" at the 15th annual Pow Wow this Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. at Toledo High School.

Featuring traditional song and dance, as well as grand processions at 1 and 7 p.m., this event is free and includes vendors, fundraisers, food concessions and a free dinner served at 5 p.m. As in years past, Veterans of all military service, whether Native or not, will be recognized and honored just after the grand entries with a handmade gift to each.

Around 20 community members were present for a special presentation from Washington State Poet Laureate Elizabeth Austen and author Terry Martin at the Toledo Community Library on Saturday night.

The first public event since the library opened on Aug. 13, Austen shared how it is her imperative as an appointed spokesperson of area poets to act as their representative and share their work and their spirit with communities all across the state.

I'm here to tell you that the Sweet Swing! Concert on Sunday was well worth the price of admission! Those gals can really belt out the swing-time tunes made famous by the Andrews Sisters. The show was very patriotic and put a tear in the eye on more than one occasion. There was a WWII veteran, a "Rosie the Riveter" and many veterans representing all branches of the military in the audience. It was definitely a special afternoon!

This Saturday is this month's Town Potluck in Community Hall at 5 p.m. It's a great time for fun, food and fellowship. There are always a fantastic variety of dishes to share and choose from. The Social Club holds its monthly meeting following the meal and then some stay to play cards afterward.

The Cat's Meow SNAP! has linked with NW Spay and Neuter Center, Tacoma (www.nwspayneuter.org) offering low-cost services for cats, dogs and rabbits. PU/drop at Lewis County Fairgrounds. Updates: www.catsmeowsnap.org

On Tuesday, Toledo High School Coffee House 7-9 p.m. Performers and applauders welcome. Visit http://indians.toledo.k12.wa.us/ or call (360) 864-2391.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the National Day of Service last weekend. A lot of elbow grease was put into removing a lot of brush and weeks from McMurphy Park and the facility looks a lot better. If you missed out this year, officials hope volunteers can be available next September for similar projects.

The Vader Lions Club is on the lookout for new members to help bolster their community outreach efforts. Becoming active once again this September, those interested in joining may call Lois Wilson at (360) 295-3002.

As many of you know, I have been on medical leave for a couple of months. I was transferred to Seattle from a local hospital; that is where we were told I would not survive. What they didn't realize was that I come from a place where people still say their prayers and send positive thoughts. I honestly believe it's because of the prayers and thoughts I survived, thank you! I thought I would share a few things I learned (with a little humor) that most of us forget at times of serious illness.

The Castle Rock City Council has opted to pursue a state loan for repairs to their drinking water plant in a move likely to increase utility rates but also likely to avoid potential failures of the system.

Discussed during the council's Sept. 8 meeting, Public Works Director Dave Vorse told officials one of the two filters at the city's water plant has been shut off since May after a metal tank housing it began to leak, leaving the other filter to service plant on its own, which has since been operating at 50-percent capacity.

The Winlock City County has tabled a request for a plat extension filed by Chehalis developer Phil Smith amid concerns Smith has not met expectations regarding requests for timetables, nor resolved an outstanding nuisance complaint.

Smith, who purchased Grand Prairie Mountain View Estates, a subdivision on SR 505 east of town, in February of last year approached the council during their Sept. 8 meeting asking for an extension of the plat attached to the project, which had originally been issued in 2005 and was renewed by the council in 2013. Under the current plat, Smith has until Sept. 26 of this year to receive an extension or finish the project and Smith told the council, while efforts have been under way to complete the 200-home neighborhood, progress remains slow given lingering economic challenges.

Chehalis real estate developer Phil Smith may be unlikely to receive a plat extension from the Winlock City Council in light of a still-unresolved nuisance complaint regarding his planned subdivision, Grand Prairie Mountain View Estates.

The property in question, located east of Downtown Winlock, was purchased by Smith in February of last year after previous developers had attempted since 2005 to build as many as 200 homes on the five-acre parcel, only to have their creditor, Venture Bank, foreclose on them in 2009.

Host North Beach shut out South Bend 54-0 Friday night at Oyehut. The Hyaks amassed 305 yards with their lethal running attack. Cameron Keller accounted for 183 yards on just 10 carries.

South Bend opened the volleyball season with a 3-game defeat at the hands of usually highly-regarded Wahiakum last Thursday at Cathlamet. The Mules won the match 25-15, 25-21, 25-17. Over the weekend, the Tribe took second place at a tournament at Mossyrock.

Toledo 20 Pe Ell/Willapa Valley 14

Toledo jumped out to a 20-0 lead and then held on for a solid victory over a combined, physical Pe Ell/Willapa Valley team in Central 2B football action.

A breakdown of local high school games for the week of Sept. 17, 2014.

Authorities have identified a man who drowned at Mayfield Lake earlier this month as 51-year-old Terrence E. Murphy, of Winlock, after retrieving his body yesterday afternoon.

A release from the Lewis County Sheriff's Office stated Murphy's remains had been found by divers at around 1:20 p.m. Sept. 16 after he had gone cliff diving with a friend on Sept. 2 and failed to resurface.

Authorities are seeking help solving a theft taking place near Winlock last month.

On Aug. 8 sometime between 6 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., an unknown number of suspects entered the yard of a residence on the 200 block of Winterroad Rd., South of Winlock, and stole a Husky tool bag, a Husky air compressor, a Stihl M2250 chainsaw, a red pressure washer, a red plastic gas can, a blue cooler and Nike sunglasses. The estimated loss is around $1,000.

Cowlitz County Fire District 6 has officially appointed a new interim chief as the search continues for a full-time chief after the resignation of former chief Eric Koreis in May.

Deputy Chief Bill LeMonds was promoted to the temporary position during the regular meeting of District 6 commissioners on Sept. 8 and is expected to serve until the end of November, replacing previous interim chief Kurt Stich, who has returned to work full time for Cowlitz County Fire District 2 in the Kelso and Longview areas.

Local EMS and Fire calls between Sept. 8 and 14

SOUTH BEND - A Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce exercise, the first of its kind in the nation, was conducted Friday, September 5^th through Saturday September 6^th, as part of the Pacific County Communications Center response to the Rod Run to the End of the World.