COMMUNITY NEWS

December 2002
Christmas Decoration Winners:
First Prize:   Jim & Joan Titus
Breakfast for Two at The Columbia Gorge Hotel in Hood River
Second Prize:   Oren Johnson
1 Year's Subscription to The Klickitat County Monitor
Third Prize:  Mildred Lykens
Gift Certificate from Milestone Nursery in Lyle
Fourth Prize:   Dean & Pam Oldenburg
Custom 8 X 10 Professional Portrait by Mildred Lykens
Honorable Mentions:
Coy & Joyce Sauls
Norm & Tracy White
Brad Rahpey & Kalee Vaughn
Kiley Hopper & Mike Konruff



Week Ending December 15, 2002:
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in our little Community. The Council will be judging the decorations this week and the winners will be announced next week in The Klickitat County Monitor.  We have some wonderful prizes this year. They include: “The World Famous Farm” breakfast for 2 at the Columbia Gorge Hotel in Hood River, gift certificates from Milestone Nursery, the Country Store, Bottoms Up and 3 from the Lyle Hotel, and a years subscription to the Klickitat County Monitor. Thank you Mildred for gathering these great gifts. 

The Lyle Community Action Council will hold a December meeting December 30th at 7 P.M.  This meeting is to accept the grant proposals that will be presented to the EDA Board in January. Also, due to the resignation of one of the council members two positions are now open. The decision has been made by the council to place Pam Essley and Mildred Lykens in these positions. Mildred and Pam tied in the election in November for the open position and the run off was to be held in January. Circumstances being what they are now, the council will appoint these two candidates to the two positions. Both positions will expire in November 2003. 

We wish you and yours the best of Holiday Wishes. Joy and Barbara are going to take a couple weeks off and will resume the column in January. We thank everyone for their support of this column and contributions of information for the article. Keep them coming PLEASE!

Just a reminder:
Pioneer Days are Back:  Memorial Day Weekend, 2003
Lyle web site:  http://community.gorge.net/lyle/

Two churches in Lyle welcome visitors:
   Lyle United Methodist Church -- Worship Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and Bible Study on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m.
  Lyle Full Gospel Church -- Sunday School at 9:30 a.m., followed by Worship service on Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

Lyle Community Action Council meets the 4th Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Lyle Lions Community Center.  (Note:  December's meeting is delayed until the 30th because of the holidays.)  Please post the meetings on your new 2003 calendars and come share in the future decisions that affect your community.

Lyle web site:  http://community.gorge.net/lyle/

Lyle History (continued): Originally published in The Enterprise, July 6, 1967, as recounted by Jesse A. Jewell:
Railroad Arrives
Early in 1902 the Columbia River & Northern Railroad Company was organized, (called the CR&N). It purchased the “DP&A” a steamboat line. Their first move was to build a dock at Lyle for handling railroad freight. The next move was to build the railroad from Lyle to Goldendale-the first on this side of the Columbia.  It was built to serve the prairie: take up machinery, supplies, and passengers; bring out cattle, sheep, hogs and wheat; this was one of the first wheat-producing sections of this whole area.  Once the produce reached the Columbia, everything was handled by riverboat to markets far and wide. At one time there were about 100 picturesque paddle wheelers serving the new frontiers from Astoria to Lewiston, Idaho. Before the turn of the century, canals and locks at the Bridge of The Gods, and (later) Celilo Falls, made it much simpler to navigate the whole distance.

People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.


Week Ending December 8, 2002:
Lyle Community Action Council held elections for three council positions at their last meeting, Monday November 25th.  Barbara Sexton and Joy Collins were re-elected.  There was a tie for the open position between Mildred Lykens and Pam Essley.  There will be a run-off vote at the January 27th 2003 regular council meeting.  There was also an overwhelming vote to keep trying for a community slogan.  Put on your thinking caps and come up with new ideas that describe this unique town of Lyle. 

The Full Gospel Church of Lyle will hold their children’s Christmas program, Sunday, December 15th at 10:30 a.m.  All are invited to come and share in celebrating Christ’s birth. 

Just a Reminder:

The Christmas Light contest judging and Christmas Caroling, will be December 16th.  We extend an invitation to all that would like to join the Council in caroling.

There will be no regular meeting of the Lyle Community Action Council in December.  January 27, 2003 will be the next regular meeting.

Pioneer Days are back: Memorial Day weekend, 2003.

Lyle Web Site: http://community.gorge.net/lyle/

There are two churches that welcome visitors, the Lyle United Methodist Church and the Lyle Full Gospel Church. 

Lyle History (continued): Originally published in The Enterprise, July 6, 1967, as recounted by Jesse A. Jewell:
Paddle-Wheel Transportation
The grand old paddle-wheelers served this area well, plying the Columbia, carrying all manner of necessities the length of this great thoroughfare, making it possible to easily settle up this virgin, untamed region of scenic beauty and pleasant climate. 

Right at first, rapids and falls sectioned off the river. Anyone taking the boat to Vancouver had to ride his cayuse on board the stern-wheeler to Cascade Locks, ride down below the rapids, and get on another boat for the rest of the distance.  It was the same if one was going beyond The Dalles; he had to portage around Celilo Falls to catch another boat on up the river. 

Many took this means of travel because it was the only avenue before roads took the place of trails.  The settlers who had to shop for supplies took to the river; somewhere along its shores he found them.   

If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle.  If the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle.  If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.


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Submit your news to:
Joy Collins: 365-5102 - ojoy@gorge.net
Barbara Sexton: 365-5374 - madison@gorge.net