Events offer opportunities for fun, volunteering
Thanks to all of you who responded to the last column about the horrible road conditions in rural areas of Spokane County. From the responses, it’s evident that a lot of rural residents feel ignored by the county and local media. Thanks to The Spokesman-Review for giving us a “voice.”
After the last column of complaints, let’s talk about some good things going on out here this time.
Litter roundup
The 15th annual litter roundup takes place through April 30. Pam Denton has organized this event every year and now has a helper, Donna McGowan. The goal is to clean up litter on the loop from Newport Highway at Miller’s One Stop down Elk-to-Highway Road through downtown Elk, continuing on Elk-Chattaroy to Five Corners, then on Chattaroy Road back to Newport Highway.
The state Department of Ecology provides the bags, picks up in areas that aren’t covered by volunteers and collects all the bags on the loop.
Groups that have volunteered so far are the Elk Hill Riders, Boy Scout Troop No. 240 and the Country Church of the Open Bible youth group. If you or your group would like to help, call Andrea at the Elk Sentinel at (509) 292-8250 for Elk To Highway Road and northern Elk-Chattaroy Road, or call Pam Denton at (509) 292-8381 for the southern section of Elk-Chattaroy Road and Chattaroy Road.
If you want to use the free pickup service, take the bags to one of the roads on the loop.
Redneck Olympics
On Saturday at 4 p.m. the Elk Community Park will host the fourth annual Redneck Olympics at the Elk Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. This is a fundraiser for Elk Pioneer Days in June.
Competitions include the Redneck Ring Toss, the Hillbilly Hare Hurl, the Beer Can BB Shoot and the Podunk Putt-Putt. Prizes are awarded for three places in each event, the overall triathlon winner and the best-dressed redneck. There also will be a macho nacho bar, 50/50 raffle and some random redneck music.
Easter egg hunt
On April 11 the Elk VFW Post and auxiliaries plan an Easter egg hunt for children up to age 12. There will be eggs, prizes and candy. The starting horn blows at 11 a.m.
Final horse races
The VFW Post will hold the last two horse races of the season on April 9 and 23 at 5 p.m. Dinners are available.
The post members sponsor the food bank every Tuesday from 8 to 11 a.m. and the post breakfast every Sunday from 8 to 11 a.m. at the post.
For information on VFW membership, call (509) 292-8252 or (509) 292-8250. Regular meetings for the post and its auxiliaries are held on the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.
Economical fun
Camden Grange on Elk-Camden Road hopes to bring some economical fun to the community by offering instruction and guidance in various interests from local residents. The first community workshop in May will include gardening, oil painting and bread making. To share an activity, work on a committee or learn more, call (509) 292-2492.
Breakfast a success
Inland Grange No. 780 had a successful SCOPE breakfast last month and may offer it monthly. Give them some feedback.
The Inland Grange, on the corner of Nelson and Conklin roads in Elk, has a free clothes bank from 9 a.m. to noon every Monday. It also plans to have swap meets this spring and summer.
The SCOPE meetings will be April 11 from 8 to 9 a.m. and April 22 from 7 to 8 p.m.
The regular Grange meeting is April 13. For information, call Joe at (509) 292-2604 or Kenny at (509) 292-1717.