The K-Town Chronicles

12/12/2021

The K on the hill earlier today.

01/11/2021

Here are some photos from Tonight's Second Annual Drive Thru Halloween Event at Tam O'Shanter Park. This excellent endeavor was brought to you by KLOG/KUKN/The Wave, Arrr Pirates, local businesses, clubs, and some great volunteers. We are a community. We are committed. We Are Kelso.

23/08/2021

Where have you gone, Kelso K?
The big K used to greet people heading north on I-5 at Exit 39.
Now you can't see it.
Should we clear out the trees to make it visible again?
Or should we put a big K up on a pedestal at The Kelso Rotary Skateboard Park?
Share your comments here and let me know what you think.
You'll be glad you did.

08/03/2021

The headline says it all.
The 1971 Cowlitz Little League All-stars became the first area Little League team to win a state title by defeating Queen Anne of Seattle in a game for the ages.
It's been almost 50 years, and feat has been accomplished again since then, but that 1971 team was the first, and that's pretty darn special.
It was a helluva ride, not just for those who played or coached,on that Cowlitz team, but also for family, friends, an all the fans who either witnessed it in person, on KLOG AM 1490, or both in some cases.
The Cowlitz All-Stars made the summer of 1971 a summer to remember and made local history at the same time.
They really were that good.
Click the link below to see The Daily News Sports page from August 9, 1971:
https://www.newspapers.com/image/575673720/

08/03/2021

On August 6, 1971, the Cowlitz Little League all-star team punched their ticket to the state title game with a 4-1 win over South Kitsap. Queen Anne of Seattle stood in the way of their quest to become the first local team to win a state championship.
Things were really heating up around the local area that summer, nearly 50 years ago.
Click the link below to see the Daily News sports page from August 7, 1971:
https://www.newspapers.com/image/575672838/

08/03/2021

The kids from Cowlitz Little League moved on to the 1971 state tournament with a hard-earned win over a tough team from Centralia. This was the first real competition Cowlitz had faced, and they passed the test by notching a 3-1 win that showed they were ready to take on the best the state had to offer.
Click the link below to see Daily News sports page from August 3, 1971:
https://www.newspapers.com/image/575669990/

08/03/2021

As July 1971 came to a close, The Cowlitz All-Stars took the district title and continued their onslaught of the competition by pounding (more like crushing or vaporizing) the North Clark All-Stars out of Vancouver.
The beating was so bad, the manager of the opposing team threw in the towel after 4 and a half innings.
The Cowlitz Team was creating quite a buzz, and would begin August 1971 with a new challenge as they moved on to a bi-district game against a tough team from Centralia.
Click the link below to see The Daily News sports page from August 2, 1971:
https://www.newspapers.com/image/575669539/

08/03/2021

The Cowlitz All-Stars kicked off the district tournament with an 8-1 victory over the Columbia All-Stars from Vancouver. They headed into the district title game against North Clark with a ton of confidence that would prove to be justified.
Click the link below to see Daily News sports page from July 31, 1971:
https://www.newspapers.com/image/575626142/

08/03/2021

After their big win over the Kalama/Rose Valley All-Stars, Cowlitz continued their onslaught against local competition with a 17-2 annihilation of the Central Little League stars. There was no doubt that the Cowlitz team was good, and confidence was high as they headed into district competition.
Click the link below to see The Daily News sports page from July 27, 1971:
https://www.newspapers.com/image/575625596/

08/03/2021

On July 23rd, 1971, The Cowlitz All-Stars took on the Kalama/Rose Valley All-Stars to open their run for glory. It wasn't even close. Cowlitz flexed their muscles at the plate, on the basepaths, in the field, and on the mound.
Click the link below to see The Daily News sports page from July 24, 1971:
https://www.newspapers.com/image/575625465/?

07/03/2021

50 years ago this summer, The Cowlitz Little League All-Stars embarked on a journey that would take them further than any local Little League All-Star Team had gone before.
The folks at The K-Town Chronicles are proud to bring you a series of photographs and articles telling you the story of that magical summer, 50 years ago.
Click the link below to see The Daily News sports page from July 24, 1971:
https://www.newspapers.com/image/575625465/

15/01/2021

Here's one from way back.

05/01/2021

I love this photo of The Kelso Train Station, sent in by an anonymous contributor.
Thank you.

03/01/2021

Here is one of my last photos of 2020.

23/12/2020

Here is photo from The 1996 Kelso flood.

19/12/2020

Kelso, Skateboarding Capital of The World?
Did you know:
The first wooden skatepark in the United States was built in Kelso in 1966?
(Note- According to Wikipedia, the first US skatepark, made of concrete, opened in 1965. But it's still pretty cool.)

Here's a short article from HistoryLink.org:
Nation's First Skateboard Park
On April 1, 1966, Kelso unveiled the nation's first skateboard park, an undertaking so novel that it was written up in Popular Science magazine. The 600-foot plywood track was built on stilts over a cushion of sand in West Kelso at the corner of West Main Street and West Side Highway. Users were charged 50 cents an hour during the day, which went up to 75 cents an hour at night. The track was designed and built by Vern Salsbury (1933-2000), a longshoreman and Longview resident who enjoyed home-remodeling projects.

Unfortunately for Salisbury, the track was not a big money-maker and was torn down two years later. "The problem was it was wide open and you could only use it on good days in summertime ... So I think that was one of the problems that defeated it for him, was he couldn't get year-round use out of it" ("Kelso Was a Skatepark Pioneer ...")

04/12/2020

Here is a team photo from the 1970 Cowlitz Little League All-Stars.

04/12/2020

Here is one I found while looking through old Daily News issues on Newspapers.com. From 1970, it's the Kelso Americans Babe Ruth All-Team. Good stuff.

03/12/2020

Here is an article from August of 1970.
This was a Little League battle for the ages, and even though the Cowlitz All-Stars lost this game in shocking fashion, many observers claim the 1970 all-stars were the top local Little League team of all time. The debate continues 50 years later.
Click the link below to see The Daily News sports page from August 3, 1970.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/577350882

28/11/2020

Here's another one from Turkey Day 1972, a great game and the end of an era.

26/11/2020

The late, great Jim Wallace.

26/11/2020

Ah, the memories. Here's one from the final Turkey Day Game back in 1972.

25/11/2020

Here's a clip from The Daily News on this day in 1975. That's how it was, 45 years ago today.

18/11/2020

We are Kelso, and we are featured in this episode of UFO Hunters.
Check it out. You'll be glad you did.
https://youtu.be/l4F7RTW0zfQ

Six "doughnut-shaped aircraft" were seen off the coast of Maury Island, WA a week before the reported UFO crash in Roswell, NM. Harold Dahl and his son witne...

16/11/2020

How good was Kelso in fall of 1976. Ask anybody from the class of 77. They know.

14/11/2020

One last blast from the past on this Super Saturday. This state track and field roundup from the Daily News on May 29, 1978 includes my good friend, former Kelso resident, and state champ, Al Taylor.

14/11/2020

Here is one more blast from the past. This one is from The Daily News on May 22, 1978.

14/11/2020

Here is another blast from the past featuring some notable K-Town Athletes and Facebook Friends.

14/11/2020

Here is a K-Town Blast From The Past.
It's an article from The Daily News, May 19, 1978.

14/11/2020

On this day in 1972, tickets for the final Turkey Day game went on sale.