The Enterprise - White Salmon, Washington

Service station closes doors

Lyle News for Jan. 10

Photo by Mildred Lykens

REACHING OUT — Students from Lyle Schools offered a free taco dinner and game night at the high school cafeteria, in an attempt to bridge the gap and bring a more cohesive environment for all residents in Lyle. Pictured here: students and adults made an assembly line of creating a taco plate.

January 08, 2013

If you've driven by the service station lately you will see that the shelves are bare. It has been an icon in Lyle that the long time resident, Jim Curl used to own and operate for many years; when Lyle was a more thriving community sporting three busy stations. Besides this Richfield, across the street there were the Shell (now Milestone Nursery) to the east and the Chevron (now the Azure Standard/Elk Jerky shop) to the west. It is a sad day each time a business closes its door for the last time.

Although we do have a new restaurant in the area, located at the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport in Dallesport; open Wednesday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. It's called the "Concourse A Cafe." It is now serving breakfast and lunch. Give them your support.

The 2nd Annual "Eagle Outing" fundraiser was held on New Year's Day, at the Memaloose Winery tasting room on Highway 14, by the Klickitat Bridge.

Annual board elections will be held at the next OLESS (Old Lyle Elementary School Supporters) meeting and all present are allowed to vote. Meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17, at the Lyle Activity Center, corner of 3rd and Klickitat streets. All community residents are not only welcome but urged to attend. Minutes of previous meetings are available at http://www.lyleactivitycenter.com/meeting-minutes.html

There are still some photos of children visiting Santa hanging in a baggie on the bulletin board of the post office. If you recognize any that you can deliver to their prospective homes, please do so before they are thrown away. It would be a shame to lose this piece of memorabilia. If you want your child's photo, please contact Mildred E. Lykens at 365-0060 and make arrangements.

Friday, Dec. 29, found residents answering the call for the free taco dinner and game night at the high school cafeteria. Students and adults made an assembly line production of creating a taco plate according to each hungry receiver's request. Games of chess, checkers, cards and more were placed around on tables and were brought into play by various challengers while some families gathered around to cheer on their favorite opponent. The students are reaching out to the general public in an attempt to bridge the gap and bring a more cohesive environment for all.

With the New Year here, resolutions are in order...why not try starting here in your own community? There are quite a few worthwhile organizations that could use your talents that you may not even think of as such, but others would.

Here's a few I can think of: The Lyle Community Council is the liaison between the residents and the county commissioners on various issues. The schools are always looking for visiting speakers on various subjects that may fall under your expertise, the school board is there to listen if you have a complaint or a compliment or just to share your two cents worth. The Lion's Club concentrates on scholarships, hearing aids, eye glasses, Christmas baskets for families financially impaired, to name a few. The fire department has different branches; that of the EMTs and the actual fire fighters which are all solely volunteers and invaluable in the time of need. The OLESS is a relatively new organization that is oriented toward the betterment and enrichment of the community. The Twin Bridges Museum is in pursuit of Lyle's history both in photographs and everyday life's tools of the past generations for the preservation and knowledge for future generations. There are churches to choose from as well as Scouts and 4-H Clubs...So, help improve the community by being a volunteer, or just fill a seat at one of their meetings.

Someone came to my house this morning while I was still sleeping and when I awoke I found that my porch to the gate had been cleaned of snow. I cannot thank them personally so I wish to do it publicly...It is anonymous actions like this that make me so proud to be a member of this great community. From my examination from my back door, (and following the education I get from all the detective shows on television), the evidence the visitor left behind was a smaller size boot print, which I deducted was either a man with smaller than average feet...a teenager...or a lady. All I know is that they may have small feet, but they certainly have a big heart. So I'm using this method of extending my gratitude; I always knew Lyle was a great place to live and this morning solidified that knowledge.