January
Ethan Scott Loghry was the first baby born in Clallam County for 2021. Flooding at Rialto Beach had left the parking lot in a mess. The first COVID-19 vaccine clinic staged at the Peninsula College parking lot and school gym was held. In that first round to those eligible, 510 vaccines were given out. An EMS Levy was coming up. Forks High School sports program was looking to move to 2B for the fall season. Forks Elks donated $5,000 to the Forks Food Bank. Spartan Cross Country was resuming.
February
February saw the retirement of Forks District Court II Judge Erik Rohrer and the appointment of Judge Bruce Hanify. A slide at Lake Crescent had reduced traffic to one lane; Highway 112 also remained closed. There were hopeful rumors that the Lake Pleasant Grocery would be reopening as the Beaver Grocery Store. Spartan football was practicing for a spring football season. Forks Chamber gave out their annual Best of Awards, but not in person; David Hurn was volunteer of the year, Homeslice Take n Bake was the business of the year, Rod Fleck was citizen of the year. Inez Halverson Community Service awards went to Eugene Fraker and Feeding 5000 and the CDK Sewing Group. Forks Community Hospital and Quillayute Valley School District both won Cornerstone Awards. Forks NOAA weather observer Jerry King won an award for his many years of service. Sully’s Drive-In turned 63 years old. Spartan Football won in overtime. Vaccine clinics continued.
March
Spartan Cross Country held a meet at the ONRC. The House passed the Wild Olympics Bill. NOLS began indoor browsing for library customers, curbside service continued. Spartan football held a springtime Homecoming. The ODT trail had gotten funding to repair a slide. The county was moved to Phase 3. Spartan volleyball won their season opener over Ranier. Coast Guard Station Quillayute River rescued three people off of La Push. The area had seen a tornado warning issued.
April
Plans were in the works for news sidewalks by the Forks Post office and Blackberry Avenue. The Upper Hoh Road project was underway; engineered log jams were planned. The gazebo at Kalaloch Lodge fell victim to a slide. The Hoh Tribe Food Bank saw great improvements during COVID. Spartan basketball season started with a win. The new Forks Timber Museum Pavillion was seeing displays being added. Jason Earls had graduated from the Basic Law Enforcement Academy. The Forks Elks had held a drive-through Easter breakfast. Spartan Girls basketball opened with a pair of wins. The FPD’s speed wagon was a victim of hit and run …the offending vehicle was found not far away. More vaccine clinics. Volunteers cleaned local beaches and local guides held a river clean-up. Spartan soccer had beaten Elma 4-0. Martin Dillon and Jon Preston were forging items for the Tillicum Park Flag area.
May
The Beaver Ball Field was “forked” with plastic Forks. Spartan players and coaches were celebrating winning seasons in multiple sports. First Federal started the giving for the annual Quillayute Valley Scholarship auction with a $1,000 check, the auction was virtual again. Natalie Lausche had been named FHS class of 2021 Valedictorian and Savannah Meyer was to be the Salutatorian. The Forks Timber Museum reopened after a year of COVID shutdown with a ribbon-cutting. Spartan wrestling was underway. Memorial Day was recognized. Izaak Manuel joined the FPD. Candidates were filing for the upcoming elections. Upper Hoh Road road work continued. The Clallam County Fair was canceled again but the Forks Old Fashioned 4th of July was in the planning. Spartans were wrestling and playing basketball.
June
QVSD teacher Patty Vaughn had announced her retirement after 46 years of teaching. Central check-in was a thing for anyone visiting any of Forks Community Hospitals’ facilities. We were advised we were in a drought. The Forks American Legion held an essay contest. Forks schools offered a “normal” plan for the 2021-2022 school year. Local service clubs were struggling with staying afloat due to COVID restrictions. A draft schedule was out for the 4th celebration. Keira Johnson had scored 33 points in a basketball game. QVSD held an outdoor grad ceremony. Forks Dollar Plus store was closing. USCG station Quillayute river saw commander Michael Carola retire. Cheri Tinker director for NORVHN received Senator Patty Murray’s Golden Tennis Shoe Award. West End Thunder Drag racing was back. On June 28 it was 110 degrees.
July
The 4th of July celebration happened but it was too dry for fireworks. Veteran Sam McElravy was honored on the Forks float. Joey Sorenson designed the 4th button. FHS got a news sign created by inmates at Olympic Corrections Center. It was T-ball Time. The first Pride in the Park event took place. It was really hot! The community mourned the death of Pete Haubrick “the voice of Spartan Sports.” Dilley and Soloman were named Lions Club citizens of the year. La Push reopened to the outside world and Quileute Days was happening. A cut in fiberoptic lines cut Forks off from the rest of the world …for about a day. After a 200 day closure, Hwy 112 was open again. Cherish Danae gave a free concert at the RAC. After mask freedom on the 4th masks were making a comeback. The 30th annual Fred Orr Tournament was held.
August
The city of Forks was asking customers to practice voluntary water conservation measures. An all-female group of firefighters were called out to a car fire on the La Push Rd. Youth league soccer was happening. Beaver volunteer firefighter Jamie Loushin traveled to Bellingham to pick up hundreds of teddy bears for local first responders to use in emergencies involving children. The west end was enjoying some British Columbia smoke. Hot Thunder Nite at the Forks Airport featured burnouts. Lots of roadwork and lots of visitors tried locals’ patience. Regular fall football was happening, Forks was now in 2B league. Hobucket house was being built.
September
The 35th Annual Coed Softball Tournament was held. The Cowen Heritage Farm was holding its annual Potato Dig. FHS volleyball and football seasons were underway. The local DSHS office was closing. The FTF Festival was happening. Char painted her house in Seahawks colors. The way timber was managed on State Trust Lands was going before the State Supreme Court. Veterans remembered September 11th. The Mobil station was now Circle K. Former Forks Mayor Bryon Monohon was named the new Director at the Forks Timber Museum. The future of the Hungry Bear Cafe was uncertain as it was closed. It was a community in mourning after an “A” Road accident left three youth deceased and three others injured. The end of September saw almost six inches of needed rain.
October
Clark Browning was named the Pioneer Logger Award winner for Hickory Shirt Heritage Days 2021. The 5-0 Spartans were headed for a Homecoming win. The Soroptimists were planning another online Festival of Trees auction. Lots of Halloween activities took place. A new Sasquatch store opened on Mainstreet. Hazard tree removal was taking place on Lake Crescent. QVSD held an Indigenous Peoples Day Assembly. Spartan girl’s soccer was on a winning streak. The Beaver Grocery store was open for business and celebrated with a Forks Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting ceremony.
November
The Spartans and Red Devils football teams were heading for State playoffs. Veterans Day was observed at the Tillicum Park flag pole and at the Forks Transit Center. Heavy rains caused flooding and damage to several areas on the West End. Some residents had to be rescued. Residents of the West End and visitors found themselves stuck and those trying to return home had to be creative as almost all access was cut off to the area.
December
Team Rubicon came to the area to assist those dealing with flood damage. The USFS was also dealing with flood damage and closed back roads. The Twinkle Light Holiday Parade took place and the Soroptimists held the Festival of trees auction on Facebook; six trees and over thirty wreaths were up for bid, raising about $20,000 for the organization. Winter sports got underway and a large number of QVSD students made the Term 1 Honor Roll. Census data resulted in redistricting changes as 1,204 Port Angeles area residents were moved into District 3. Representative Derek Kilmer visited the slide area at Hwy 112. The year ended with 136.41 inches of rain and some snow and cold weather.
