T he C olumbia P ress
June 8, 2018
7
Great Columbia Crossing will stop bridge traffic
Registration is now open
for the 2018 Great Columbia
Crossing, one of the region’s
most popular events in which
runners are allowed to cross
the Astoria-Megler Bridge on
foot.
This year’s run is Oct. 14 and
several changes are in store.
Runners and walkers can do
something they’ve never been
able to do before: focus on per-
formance without being con-
fined to one lane and without
the distraction of passing cars.
The Great Columbia Cross-
ing 10K run/walk is the only
opportunity each year to cross
the longest continuous truss
bridge in North America by
foot. The bridge will be closed
to vehicles from 8:30 to 11
a.m. this year for
the first time and
racers will get to
use both lanes.
The run includes a
200-foot incline of-
fering scenic views
of the river.
It’s an official USA
Track & Field Cer-
tified Event and
Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce
registration clos- Runners in the 2011 Crossing make their
es when capacity way into Astoria.
reaches 3,500 rac-
ers. All participants are timed the finish line and $5 in “clam
bucks,” which are redeemable
via electronic chip.
Registration is $40 and at local merchants.
The
Astoria-Warrenton
should be made online at
greatcolumbiacrossing.com. Chamber of Commerce hosts
It includes free parking with the event, which is sponsored
shuttle service to the start of by Columbia Memorial Hospi-
the event, water and snacks at tal’s Cardiology Clinic.
This Week in Aboriginal History
by Carl A. Ellis
Washington state negotiates treaty on its own
June 8, 1871: Kiowa Chief
Satanta admits to Gen. Wil-
liam T. Sherman that he and
two other Indians led the
Warren Wagon Train raid on
the Butterfield Trail.
Sherman has the three ar-
rested. One of them, Satank,
manages to free himself from
his handcuffs while being
transported to Fort Richard-
son.
Satank attacks a guard with
a knife and grabs the rifle of
another. He is shot and killed
by the remaining soldiers.
His body is thrown in a ditch
and the group continues to
Texas.
June 9, 1870: Ely S. Park-
er, a Seneca attorney and the
first native American com-
missioner of Indian Affairs,
invites Red Cloud and several
other Sioux to come to Wash-
ington.
Red Cloud tells President
Ulysses S. Grant that the
Sioux don’t want a reserva-
tion on the Missouri River
and questions why some of
the promises made to them
weren’t included in their
treaty. They have a cordial
meeting, but Grant knows the
promised items are grounds
for future contention. He
suggests the Indians be read
the treaty in its entirety
soon.
June 10, 1872: The Sauk
and Fox reserves in Kansas
are clarified by Congressional
Act (17 stat. 391).
June 11, 1752: In a confer-
ence with British authorities,
Iroquois leader Tanacharison
names Chief Shingas “king”
of the Delaware Indians hop-
ing to subjugate the tribe.
June 12, 1855: Washing-
ton state’s Gov. Isaac Stevens
bypasses federal protocol at
the Walla Walla Council by
securing a treaty locally, al-
lowing larger portions of land
to go to the largest and most
powerful tribes in the region,
the Yakamas and the Nez
Perce.
June 13, 1715: The South
Carolina militia battles with
coastal Indians as part of
the Yamassee War, a con-
flict between British settlers
and various tribes. The fight
on Goose Creek results in 40
fatalities for the coastal Indi-
ans, who withdraw their sup-
port for the war.
June 14, 1671: France claims
most of America.
Ellis is an author and his-
torian working on a book
about American Indians.
Learn more about American
Indian history at facebook.
com/snippetsintime.
Senior Moments
with Emma Edwards
Ain’t what you used to be?
Age is commonly referred
to in many different terms.
Writing a column directed
specifically toward seniors is
challenging, to be sure.
You’d think that since I am
one, it would be simple Si-
mon. But it’s not so.
Recently, I read that many
in the post-World War II Baby
Boomer Generation (those
born between 1946 and 1964)
are aging into their senior
years in growing numbers.
My six children were born
from 1952 to 1960, so that
means I’m addressing their
needs, too.
Do I advise them on taking
care of their elders – me! -- or
do I even know how to write
for them.
We’ve heard that advance-
ments in medicine and tech-
nology in many countries
have given us life expectan-
cies well into our 80s. I have
many friends in their 90s who
are still a joy to be around.
This being a column about
senior citizens, I’m sure you
will understand. I don’t mind
hearing a man who is getting
older being referred to as an
“old codger” or “a chip off the
old block.” But I don’t like
“old man.”
There really aren’t many
sayings for women. “Elderly”
woman? “Aging” female? Are
we women too touchy?
Senior lunch menu
Monday, June 11: Chicken and apples, brown rice, mixed veg-
etables, pasta salad, chocolate cake.
Thursday, June 14: Tuna casserole, green beans, marinated
tomatoes, berry trifle.
The Warrenton senior lunch program is at noon (doors
open at 10:30 a.m.) Mondays and Thursdays at Warrenton
Community Center, 170 SW Third St. Suggested donation is
$5 for ages 55 and older; $7 for those younger. For more
information, call 503-861-3502.
In my case, I don’t like it if
someone talks about my gray
hair as “gray.” I think I have
“silver” hair, while others may
call it “white.” White is fine,
but gray seems too drab to
me. You know, “The old gray
mare, she ain’t what she used
to be.” (Guess I ain’t either,
but no one has to tell me!)
You’ll notice that in traffic
reports of fender-benders,
a woman over 70 who is re-
sponsible is often referred to
as “an elderly woman,” while
a man may be called “an older
gentleman.” Dictionaries use
words such as obsolete, stale,
time-worn, faded, decayed,
effete, declining, crumbling
and decrepit. I’d never heard
the word “effete” before. I
learned that effete could de-
scribe a cow who is no lon-
ger fertile. Wow! A person?
Sounds like a good cheese or
a tasty wine to me.
I vote to eliminate descrip-
tions such as time-worn,
declining, antiquated and
decrepit. Let’s simply say
“wiser” or “more clever,” but
do not call me “cute” or a
“sweet little old lady.”
I remember an artist who
sought out aging folk with
wrinkles as he thought the
wrinkles brought out the es-
sence of age, somewhat like
the circles on a tree trunk.
I’m happy with my age and
don’t mind those multiple
wrinkles.
John Wayne was known to
say, “Courage is being scared
to death but saddling up
anyway.” I think that’s good
medicine for any age of our
lives.
So, what if “you ain’t what
you used to be many long
years ago”? Saddle up and
carry on.