Ward Keller has a presence about him when he walks into a room. He is a big man – a former Mount Si and University of Washington football standout – who always has something to do. His recent project was organizing a collection of his father’s (Harold) photographs. Ward and a group of local residents spent nearly five years putting the book together, collecting names and identifying people in each photograph. It was a monumental project but is a great resource for the history of Snoqualmie Valley from the 1940s into the 1960s.

The effort also shows a son’s love for a father as it demonstrates how proud Ward is of his father’s photographic work.

The book will be available here at the Valley Record offices this week.

On a different subject, I was glad to see that Snoqualmie’s police contract has finally been settled. I think it is important for the Snoqualmie City Council and staff to be fiscally prudent when looking at all city departments. I also think it’s important that the city continue to value its independent police department both in terms of knowledge and staff. Few police departments have as dedicated a staff with local knowledge as Snoqualmie.

And on a final note, the long search is finally over. Our daughter and former Beanie Baby columnist, Lynnae, will be heading to the Palouse next year to attend Washington State University. The last months have been, well, interesting, to say the least. For those parents who have been through the college grind with their children, you understand the sarcasm in that comment. We made the tour of Eastern Washington University, University of Idaho and WSU last week and were impressed with all three. But in the end, WSU was her top choice and luckily, she had the grades and experiences to get admitted.

So with two in college next year, look for us wherever macaroni and cheese is on sale.