When the COVID-19 lockdown happened last year, it threw a monkey wrench in Mission Creek Christian School's plans for their annual missionary trip to Peru. After a series of rescheduling and cancellations, the school finally went on their trip ... to Honduras.

"We did not go to our usual destination in Iquitos, Peru this year and we didn't do an international mission in 2020 due to COVID-19," Mission Creek Christion School Principal Mary Nell said. "We have missed an international mission only one other year since 2006. The border was closed in Peru at the time we could go so we went to Honduras instead."

On May 3, 2021 the school made its way to Honduras. They partnered with Pan American Health Services whose goal is to rehabilitate starving children.

After obtaining translators, the team started visiting local communities. The group witnessed families living in extreme poverty that is not commonly seen in the United States.

Pacific County Health and Human Services Department Director Katie Lindstrom took time out of her busy schedule to provide insight about a handful of questions from the Herald about COVID-19 vaccinations.

Herald: Are you satisfied with the number of people that have been vaccinated in north and south Pacific County?

Lindstrom: We are happy that half of 'all' residents have received the vaccine (57 percent of those over age 16). I would love to see that number increase. The goal would be for at least 70 percent of residents to be vaccinated if possible.

It is almost cattle sorting time at the Pacific County Fairgrounds in Menlo. This is the 6th annual cattle sorting practice and riders from all over Washington attend this event. If cows and horsemanship are your thing, then this is the event to come to. It is fun and open to the public for participation or spectating.

MENLO - This year's Pacific County Fair will probably be a little more low-key than in past years, largely because of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Pacific County Fair Manager Bill Monohon updated the Herald with the latest developments about the 2021 fair.

For anyone who missed the fun, the Tokeland 4th of July parade was held on Saturday, July 3rd.

The parade was organized by the Tokeland-North Cove Chamber of Commerce and welcomed around 1,200 onlookers. Bob Merrill was declared Grand Marshal and has chaired the parade efforts for over a decade.

There were only 40 officially registered participants, but about 150 people took part in the parade. Many long-time Tokeland residents said this year's parade was the biggest one yet.

MENLO - The 125th edition of the Pacific County Fair runs from August 26 through August 28 with gates open from 10 am to 9 pm at the fairgrounds in Menlo.

This year's fair is the 100th in the town of Menlo.

General admission prices are Adult (Daily 18 and over) $7; Senior Citizen (60 and over) $5; Students (1st-12th grades) $5; Preschoolers, Free; Nursing Home Residents, Free; Free Senior Citizen and Veterans Day at Fair is Friday August 25th; Free Kids Day at the fair (12 and under is Saturday, August 28th.

On a bright and sunny afternoon, the Joint Pacific County Housing Authority held a historic groundbreaking ceremony. On Thursday, June 24, 2021, at noon a small crowd gathered in the park beside the Raymond Fire Station on Third St. for the long-awaited groundbreaking of the Willapa Center.

The center is designed to be a 3-story affordable housing complex, Early Childhood Education Assistance Program site, and non-profit offices located in downtown Raymond.

This project is intended to take the place of the Willapa Hotel, which was lost in a fire on November 5, 1998. The new center will sit on the same site as the hotel did.

A new program designed to help students that have fallen behind in their educational progress has been implemented by Raymond School District.

Directing the program is Raymond HS Principal Dave Vetter in the new position as Raymond School District Secondary Intervention Teacher (SIT).

Vetter has been with the Raymond School District for 18 years. He started as a kindergarten teacher, spent four years teaching fourth graders, four years as the junior high English teacher, and the past nine years as the junior/senior high principal.

SOUTH BEND - Thomas Anders Shotwell is currently being held in Pacific County Jail on a murder in the first degree charge, and with no bail for the killing of his identical twin brother, Raymond Shotwell, 26, according to Pacific County Prosecuting Attorney Benjamin Haslam. After being released from the hospital, Shotwell was arraigned last week and has two attorneys. An autopsy was also performed on the victim by the Cowlitz County Medical Examiner's Office. A motive for the shooting was still unclear at press time. No bail was set because of the violent nature of the shooting.

"Arraignment was set to July 16th at the defense's request," Haslam told the Herald last Friday. "The only new development with the court case is that Mr. Needham has indicated John Henry Browne will also be representing Mr. Shotwell.

On Saturday, July 3, 2021, the Tokeland North Cove Chamber of Commerce welcomes you to their annual parade and to celebrate this great nation.

This old-fashioned parade began in 1979 with a few friends patriotically strolling down the street. For over 40 years, this historic parade has honored this great country's birthday and Tokeland would like to have you join in.