Silverbow Honey donates product to veterans, airmen

Each month the 92 Air Refueling Squadron at Fairchild Air Force Base holds a Hail and Farewell ceremony. My wife, Garnet, and I attend whenever we are able, about nine out of 12 months.

This event is designed to welcome incoming airmen and say goodbye to the ones moving on to other assignments, leaving the Air Force or retiring.

The gathering is open to wives/husbands and children of the airmen. A smattering of food is served, usually chips and dips. Garnet and I have a bag of Dollar Store toys and the kids get their choice of one toy at each event.

On the way home after a Hail and Farewell gathering, Garnet said, "Too bad we don't have a little item to give everyone coming and going to remind them of Moses Lake."

This was a great idea, but what would fill the bill? One day we were driving down Wheeler Road toward Five Corners when Garnet looked to the right and pointed.

"That's it," she said. "A container of Silverbow honey; the label will say Moses Lake, Washington, plus the honey will be used by the veteran or airman."

I stopped at the company recently and they were open to the idea. Office Manager Angela Rataezyk and I worked on the wording for a sticker to be attached to the honey container. It will say: "From the hive to you Veterans/Airmen. Thanks for your service. We are proud of you. Enjoy this honey, compliments of Silverbow Honey, Moses Lake, WA."

At the last Hail and Farewell event, I handed out a Silverbow bear to each person leaving and each one arriving. One airmen was transferring from one squadron to this one. She had spent time in Moses Lake when the Air Force was here in 2011.

"I bought one of these bears when I was in Moses Lake and have been buying this honey since," she said.

So now we have Silverbow Honey given to the airmen arriving and departing the 92 Air Refueling Squadron.

Is there anyone else in the Columbia Basin with a product to donate to the airmen arriving and departing? This could be a pen, note pad or other small item, a food item or not.

Silverbow has taken the lead in this endeavor. Who will be next? Give me a call at 762-5158 or e-mail at dclay@atnet.net.

E-mail from Cheryl

Facts from the past gleaned from the Moses Lake Herald, Columbia Basin Herald and The Neppel Record by Cheryl (Driggs) Elkins:

From the Columbia Basin Herald on April 21, 1950:

Work on curbs begins next week

With laying of sidewalks well along throughout the city, installation of curbs and gutters will begin on Broadway next week, according to Fred Harris, superintendent for George V. Nolte, Inc., contractors on the work.

Harris urged motorists to observe the no parking signs hen they appear in work areas. "This will make our work a lot faster and the job we do a lot bette," he said, "in addition to getting the improvements in sooner."

Herald to publish day earlier now

Beginning next week, the Herald will be published on Thursday instead of Friday. The move is being made to get papers in the hands of subscribers earlier and to help advertisers promote weekend sales events.

Deadline for news and advertising copy will be a full day earlier. Extra early copy will be appreciated for next week's large issure.

Second Artists' Market of the season tomorrow

The first Artists' Market, held last month, was a great success. So let's do it again. Tomorrow from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Again the place will be 4843 Orchard Drive NE.

Directions: Travel north on Stratford Road. Turn right on Kinder Road, just north of Grocery Outlet. Follow Kinder Road to the bend to the left. After completing the bend, you will be on Orchard Drive. Follow Orchard Drive until the end and you will be at the Artists' Market.

This series of shaded booths will be filled with fabric art, garden art, vintage furniture, jewelry hand woven baskets and more. Oh, and pottery too.

A big pat on the back of these artists for taking the initiative to offer their art in this manner to the public. Last month the event was similar to a street fair and I expect the same this month. See you there.

Grant County history

The Grant County Historical Society has compiled several volumes of Grant County history. The books are available for purchase at the Historical Society Museum gift shop in Ephrata.

I bought the series in 2009 and secured permission to relay some of the history through this column. Memories of Grant County, compiled from taped interviews by the Grant County Historical Society.

Today we conclude the story of Wilson Creek by Cris Mordhorst, recorded Feb. 10, 1976:

My name is Cris Mordhorst of Wilson Creek. My father's name was Detlef Mordhorst. He came from Germany when he was 20 years old to skip from the military service in Germany. He told his stepmother he'd like to come to America and he paid the way for another brother and they took out for America.

My mother's name was Anna Heich. They were married in Clinton, Iowa and then came west to Montana and finally to Wilson Creek where my mother passed away the first winter we came.

I got married to a Hirschel girl, Clara Hirschel, one of those who came on the immigrant train. We were married on New Year's Eve in 1924.