Over the next few weeks this column will highlight the contact Columbia Basin Herald Editor Ned Thomas had with the White House and President John F. Kennedy in the early 1960s. Today we continue with Thomas' own account.

A special pen

The editor was honored, and a little overwhelmed, when Rep. Catherine May presented him with the pen with which President Kennedy signed the final Columbia Basin repayment contract. She did it yesterday, April 15, 1963, during a luncheon meeting in Moses Lake.

Just to put it in perspective, and to keep the record straight, here's the full text of her remarks:

"I have looked forward to this moment for a long time.

"As congressional representative of the people who live and hopefully prosper on the Columbia Basin Project, I know that Jan. 28, 1963 is an important date for all to remember, for it was on that day that at the White House, in Washington D. C., the President of the United States gave his approval to the last of three amendatory repayment contracts for the Columbia Basin Project.

"The action marked final agreement between the Department of the Interior and the three Columbia Basin irrigation districts in a dispute that had extended over a decade.

"But even more important than that is the fact that, although not all problems have been solved in every detail, a long step was taken on Jan. 28 toward insuring the future prosperous economy of the entire Columbia Basin area."

From Jeni Roberts:

The Harvest Against Hunger, serving throughout Washington State, has been asked to conduct a round table meeting with local farmers to get a wider view of the farmers perspective on hunger and food insecurity. I am conducting the one in our area on Thursday, March 14th from 6 to 8 p.m. and serving dinner.

Here is what the flyer stated: "Grant County Grower Round Table. A local gathering of growers to discuss how community members and hunger relief organizations can better support agricultural vitality and partner with farmers to feed Grant County and its surrounding communities.

"Conversation topics include partnerships of organizations and farmers; agriculture and community involvement and food, community and perspectives on hunger.

"March 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Moses Lake Food Bank, located at 1075 W. Marina Drive in Moses Lake. Dinner will be provided, but attendees are asked to RSVP to Jeni at 509-750-4566."

Wilson Creek area history

The Rev. David H. Crawford compiled and published a history of families in and surrounding Wilson Creek titled, "Family Memories of Wilson Creek Area." The book was printed in 1978, which was the 75th anniversary of the town. David's son, John Crawford, has given permission for those memories to be a part of this column.

Today we continue the story of The Lindblad family by Frank Lindblad:

In 1901 the Lindblad family, with the courage of the early pioneers, journeyed on an immigrant train to Wilson Creek where they homesteaded a half -section of land five miles north of the city.

A rough frame building was constructed for the family living quarters for the first winter until a more substantial home could be built.

The day coach of the train was their home for the entire trip west and the older children remembered the journey and used to speak of the many adventures along the way.

Charles wrote, "The trip across Montana along the Milk River was made during daylight hours so we all feasted our eyes on the scenery. We admired some brave and reckless cowboys at work.

"We reached Wilson Creek Oct. 19 and father went to the Big Bend Land Co. office and got wagons to haul us to the house two miles from the place where we later had our home built. With our luggage they also hauled a barrel of water.

"I remember next day wanting a drink and the water was all gone so started crying. It seemed like that was the straw that broke the camel's back and that we had come to the end of the world. Later brother Ed took a pail and walked to a neighbor's place a mile or so away to get water. That evening the neighbor, Mr. Bollen, came driving a wagon which carried a barrel of water. He seemed like the world's kindest man to us after that good deed.

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 continue the story of Wilson Creek by Cris Mordhorst, recorded Feb. 10, 1976:

My sister's name was Bertha and she was quite a chatterbox. She was just talking like everything, but when Jim Popple got hard of hearing he couldn't hear what she said. He bought a funnel?shaped hose that they had for a hearing aid at that time.

He plugged one part in his ear and he handed her the funnel and said he'd like to hear what she was saying, so just to talk in there. She looked at that thing and held it quite a while, and he said, "Just talk in there."

She said, "Yes, but I don't know what to say." So, that's the position I am in. I am real anxious to hear what I am going to say.

They were telling me about the talk over here at Kiwanis Club about the man who never went to hurch, although he knew there was a "Supreme Being" and that God had made heaven and earth. He had made a lot of money and he got to thinking he should have done something about his Christian life while he was making all this money.

Anyway, then he heard the minister was going to build a church, so he thought if he would contribute a bit toward the church. Then this minister could stand in for him between him and God and he would still get to Heaven.

He had a talk with the minister and said, "Say, I know I haven't been going to church and I feel I should have been. But now I have made some money and I could help you out on the church. If I was to give quite a sizeable donation, then do you think you could talk to God and He'd listen to you more than me and perhaps you could get it fixed up so that I would go to Heaven?"

The minister said, "I don't really know. Give me a little time to think it over."

So, a couple of days went by and this man was quite anxious. He went to see the minister saying, "Have you taken this proposition up with God yet?"

He said, "Yes I did and I think we have a good chance alright."

So he said, "Well, do you want the check now?"

The minister said, "No, you just wait and I'll have another talk with Him tonight and I'll see you tomorrow."

So the next day he saw the minister and he said, "Say, did you have a talk with God last night?"

He said, "Yes, I did."

The man said, "What was the answer?"

The minister said, "Well, I'll tell you, it was both good and bad."

So the man said, "Tell me the good part first, will you?"

The minister said, "Well, He said there was no question about it. You can go to Heaven. You give me this donation you are talking about and we'll see you get to Heaven alright."

So the man said, "Well, that's just wonderful. That's just wonderful! What's the bad part?" The minister said, "Well they want you next Wednesday."