NASELLE – The “Dollars for Scholars Scholarship Barbecue and Fishing Derby” in 2003 produced a donation of $5,000 for scholarship support of students in the Naselle-Grays River Valley School District.

Ron Nanney, chairman of the fishing derby, presented a check for that amount to the Naselle Education Foundation which disburses scholarships to graduating seniors of Naselle High School. Education Foundation president Ernie Wirkkala accepted the donation from Nanney at the Education Foundation meeting held Wednesday, April 28 at the Hunter’s Inn meeting room.

Nanney said, “The Dollars for Scholars Derby and Barbecue had a net profit of $12,500 from last year’s event with $5,000 going to scholarships for Naselle students. When the derby started three years ago, we never dreamed that it would have this much success in such a short period of time.”

He explained that the fourth annual Dollars for Scholars Scholarship Barbecue and Fishing Derby will be held June 5 at the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds in Skamokawa. Members of the group working on the derby have already secured $11,000 in donated support. He said this amount is well ahead of the total collected at this point a year ago.

One of the derby supporters, Bud Mickelsen of Bud’s Rods and Reels of Cathlamet, commented later, “I feel that we could reach $20,000 this year that we will be able to donate in scholarships to the two schools. Interest has grown to such a large extent that people are signing up from places out of the immediate area – Idaho, the Portland area and the Seattle area.”

Nanney emphasized all fishermen and those who enjoy a good barbecue will have a chance to go fishing, win some prizes, or just enjoy a barbecue while contributing to the education of the students of the Naselle-Grays River Valley and Wahkiakum High Schools.

Derby prizes will be awarded by random drawing of all legal fish entered. Only one fish is allowed per participant. Participants may enter their choice of one legal size sturgeon, adult salmon or steelhead caught during legal fishing hours on Derby Day.

Entry fees for the derby, a T-shirt, and the barbecue are $35 for adults, $15 for children 16 and under, for those who pre-register by May 28. For those who choose to enjoy the barbecue only, tickets are available at $8 for adults, $5 for children 16 and under. Additional T-shirts are available at $15 each.

Registration forms are available at The Bank of the Pacific, Naselle Hardware and the Rosburg Store. Completed registration forms along with a check made out to Wahkiakum Dollars for Scholars, P.O. Box 498, Cathlamet, WA 98612 should be mailed to that address or dropped off at The Bank of the Pacific (Naselle and Cathlamet branches), Cathlamet Chevron, or the Rosburg Store.

The Dollars for Scholars program has many gold or silver sponsors including local sponsors Wahkiakum West, Naselle Hardware, The Bank of the Pacific, and Naselle Rock and Asphalt Co.

The group discussion of the fishing derby brought out the fact volunteers are still needed in various capacities before, during, and after the derby. NHS school counselor Justin Laine informed the group a crew of NHS students will be available to help with the derby effort.

In other Education Foundation business, treasurer Dave Batt reported an additional $2,250 scholarship at $750 per year provided by The Bank of the Pacific will be available to NHS students starting this year. He also reported Western Real Estate Services – through owner Lori Fanoni and sales associates Mike Swanson and Annie Strange – is donating $100 for each completed real estate transaction closed through Pacific County Title in 2004.

Fanoni said, “We are pleased to be able to contribute in this way to the scholarship program for the students of Naselle High School.”

Batt explained, “Donations, like that from Western Real Estate Services, will go into our general fund which will help to replenish the funds that pay the smaller scholarships. The smaller scholarships are not funded well enough to be self-sustaining over a period of years.”

The Naselle Education Foundation will meet on May 11 to determine this year’s NHS scholarship winners.