The Vader May Day committee did an awesome job as several hundred enjoyed their May Day festivities. This year the weather was cooperative for the parade but shortly thereafter it rained.

The Mayor of the City of Winlock Brandon Svenson, Chairman of the Lewis County Republican Party has been asked to resign over the bullying of a Republican candidate. The Washington State Young Republicans removed Mayor Svenson in March for bullying, name calling and working against the organization.

On Monday, May 2, the Mayor and Chairman got into a heated discussion, eventually throwing a piece of paper at Sheriff Candidate Tracy Murphy. There are specific rules that must be followed, Chairman Svenson refused, even after several discussions by the Republican Party Executive Board. Tracy Murphy's alliance to the Republican Party has been called into question by Svenson, but in a document from the state party states he voted Republican in 2020. Candidate Murphy is indeed a Republican.

The first official parade of the year in Lewis County begins this Saturday. Vader May Day is back again this year and there are several fun activities planned. It's always a treat that Vader is the first parade of the season, because they always make it look seamless. We know it's not an easy task but Vader Lions Club and the volunteers do a wonderful job!

There are a lot of activities throughout the day, from a free breakfast to a cakewalk. It's all part of the fun.

To start your morning off right, Vader Assembly of God is offering a complimentary pancake breakfast. Pastor Tracy Durham and the group will be ready at 8:00 a.m. and will continue until 10:00 a.m. when the Parade Lineup begins. There is also the judging of the parade entries at 10:00 a.m. so be lined up to count! There is also a Silent Auction starting at 10:00 a.m. and running until 2:00 p.m. Don't forget to purchase your tickets.

The Toledo and Winlock Senior Centers are up and running at full speed. Since they opened, Tess and Nicole have been busy creating new classes and scheduling fun for everyone.

From Tess at the Toledo Senior Center:

We are back open and ready to hit the ground running. We look forward to seeing you back. Come in and join us.

Our pancake breakfast is back also. We hold it on the second Saturday each month. The cost is $7 for all you can-eat-pancakes, breakfast meat and eggs. Or you can get biscuits and gravy with eggs (not all you can eat). This is a fundraiser for our center.

Many of us who have attended the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds know that they have an issue with their old and decrepit water system. Pipes are breaking, and repairs arre not enough, they need something more. They need a replacement of all their pipes.

Commissioner Dr. Lindsey Pollock is looking into improving the infrastructure throughout the county. She understands the need for water banks, she knows the water systems or lines need to be updated, especially those over 100 years old.

"Lewis County Commissioners continue to work on how they will distribute American Rescue Plan Act funds," Pollock said. "At the May 20 meeting, the BOCC allocated $1 million towards replacement of the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds water system. ...

On Friday evening at 4:00 p.m. Toledo High School had its ribbon cutting ceremony. The event was for the community and it was wonderful to see so many people coming to the opening. The pride Toledo has is impressive, they have always been proud of their schools, sports and programs.

This Friday started off with Superintendent Chris Rust, giving the introductory speech. He stated in a separate quote, "We are excited to dedicate this new school for the Toledo community. Thanks to a $10 million grant and State Construction Assistance Program funding, the community is able to realize the dream of having a new school for a total local commitment of $7 million. We expect to deliver a savings to the community of nearly $2 million. We are grateful to the taxpayers for the trust that they placed in us as stewards of public funds and we look forward to the new Toledo High School continuing to be the hub of community events."

This has been an interesting year for weather, we have had our fair share of snow and also power outages. During all of this, we need to remember who is out there putting the lines back together when the power goes down, the employees at the PUD.

This is the weekend where many of our communities have Easter egg Hunts for the kids. Whether you live in Winlock, Toledo or Vader, they are here to light up your April 16 Saturday morning. This is a fun event on a Saturday morning just to watch.

Winlock Mens Club has been putting on the Winlock Easter Egg Hunt for years, 57 to be eggs-act. About a dozen men get together every year to plan what is a fun-filled event for everyone to share in.

In January, owner John Burton of All About Accounting merged with Mountain View CPA's. John had purchased All About Accounting a while ago, but the merger added other team members. When it comes to having your Income Tax Returned, it's always wise to have someone very knowledgeable doing your return. Now, there is a team of Mountain View CPAs to help the community.