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Duck the Safety Dog & Students of the Month

Oct 16, 2025 12:00 PM

Duck the Safety Dog with Gunnar Guttormsen & Mary Beth Tack

Kelso School District

August 26, 2025

As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment, we are introducing a Safety Dog Pilot program at Kelso/Loowit High School in the 2025-26 school year. Duck, a trained and certified detection dog, will work alongside school staff to help deter and identify dangerous items while remaining friendly, non-intrusive, and respectful.

Duck is a 2-year-old Labrador Retriever working with Charon K9. Trained and certified through the International Police Canine Association (IPCA), Duck specializes in detecting narcotics, firearms, and contraband, helping to maintain safe, drug-free school environments.

Duck brings both skill and personality to the job. While he’s focused and methodical when working, off-duty he’s a goofball who loves having his hind end scratched and will kick his back legs like a bull when playing tug-of-war. He’s also known for jumping up for behind-the-ear scratches and happily bouncing through tall grass just for the joy of it.

Darin Gardner, KHS Football Coach

Oct 23, 2025 12:00 PM

Kelso High School Football Program

Barbara Berry

Oct 30, 2025 12:00 PM

Family History Center

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Today at Kelso Rotary 10/9/2025

Today at Kelso Rotary

It was another great day at Kelso Rotary! We were excited to welcome our newest member, Karen Rogers, to the club. Karen is the mother of fellow Rotarian Jori Scruggs-Brown, and we know she will be an excellent addition to our Rotary family.

Our guest speaker was Lois Smith, CEO of United Way of Cowlitz & Wahkiakum Counties. Lois shared the incredible progress United Way has made over the past year — from the growing success of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which continues to inspire young readers, to the United Way Day of Caring, the largest single day of volunteerism in our community. This year’s Day of Caring brought together more than 400 volunteers to complete projects across the region — an amazing show of community spirit and teamwork!

Lois also shared details about United Way’s upcoming fundraiser, Power of the Purse, happening on Thursday, October 16th. Tickets are available through Monday, October 13th, so don’t wait to grab yours and support this wonderful cause!

Behind the Badge – Getting to Know Our Fellow Rotarians

The program for Kelso Rotary’s Thursday, October 2nd meeting featured a new concept called Behind the Badge — an opportunity for members to share what they do outside of Rotary. It turned out to be an engaging and inspiring look into the lives of our fellow Rotarians!

Jeanne Devitt shared that she learned more about several members: not only does Karen Thelin sell Mary Kay, but she also helps families with budgeting and hosts a small group through her church. Jeanne also discovered that Debbie Gardner, in addition to handling property taxes, manages an impressive $45 million portfolio. And Lisa Diaz keeps busy managing Red Canoe’s construction loans and handling various IT functions.

Keenan Harvey said he enjoyed finding out that Sharon Kuroda has a deep love for learning about people and other cultures, while Bill Dennis’s favorite vacation destinations are Bryce Canyon and Moab. Bill was equally intrigued to hear more about Sharon’s recent pilgrimage to the Minidoka Internment Camp.

Emily Davis was amazed at all the incredible experiences and adventures that her fellow Rotarians have had around the world.

LaDonna Stacey learned that John Byers has traveled extensively over the years — with Colorado being his favorite destination for skiing. She also appreciated discovering Sharon Kuroda’s shared passion for history and culture.

Ron Colbert revealed that he is a licensed Civil Engineer in California, Oregon, and Washington, and has worked on some truly impressive projects throughout his career.

After the meeting, Karen Thelin mentioned that her son had recently bought a home and was dealing with a plumbing nightmare. Without hesitation, Keenan Harvey stepped in to help with some of the repairs.

And that’s what Rotary is all about — service above self, and helping others wherever we can.

Kelso Rotary Hosts Dr. Steve Meharg

Kelso Rotary Hosts Dr. Steve Meharg for Insightful Talk on Brain Health and Memory Loss

The Kelso Rotary Club was honored to welcome Dr. Steve Meharg as our guest speaker this week, delivering a timely and informative presentation on brain health and memory loss. As concerns about cognitive decline continue to grow in our aging population, Dr. Meharg offered valuable insights into how we can better understand, prevent, and manage memory-related conditions.

Drawing from his professional expertise, Dr. Meharg discussed the importance of early detection when it comes to memory loss and related disorders such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. He emphasized that while memory loss can be a natural part of aging, there are clear warning signs that shouldn’t be ignored.

More importantly, Dr. Meharg shared practical strategies for maintaining brain health throughout life. These included regular physical activity, a balanced diet, mental stimulation, social engagement, and managing risk factors like high blood pressure and diabetes. He also touched on emerging research into how sleep quality, stress management, and even mindfulness practices can contribute to long-term cognitive health.

“Your brain is like any other part of your body — it needs regular care and attention,” Dr. Meharg explained. “The earlier we start making healthy choices, the better chance we have of protecting our memory and mental clarity well into later life.”

Members of the Kelso Rotary were engaged and appreciative of the presentation, asking thoughtful questions and sharing personal experiences. The talk served as a reminder of the importance of lifelong learning and proactive health management.

We extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Meharg for taking the time to speak with our club and for shedding light on a topic that touches so many lives