Pickford
By Audrey Hutchison 484-7825

The Parrish family, (back, from left) Paula Thompson, Ashley Thompson, Stanley Parish; (front) big brother Keldin, and newborn baby Gaige.

Pickford can claim the birth of a leap year baby boy.

Gaige Parrish, of Pickford, was born on Leap Year Day February 29, 2008, to Ashley Thompson and Stanley Parrish, at War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie.

Gaige's grandmother, Paula Thompson, smiles proudly while telling that he will be 80 before he has his 20th birthday. Gaige weighed 7.09 pounds and measured 19 inches long at birth.

The Thompson family members are longtime residents of Pickford. Mrs. Thompson works at the Hessel Casino.

Six days after Gaige was born, another grandchild came into the family. Mrs. Thompson's other daughter, Dawn, had a baby girl. Heather Marie Etcher was born to Dawn Thompson and Donald Etcher, weighing 6.6 pounds and measuring 19.5 inches long. Her big sister, Katie, is two years old.

Pickford Quilters want to point out that Evelyn Slater, one of the most active quilters in the group, was somehow accidentally overlooked in the recent report in this column.

Big sister Katie Etcher proudly announces that her favorite food is eggs. Her family welcomed newborn Heather Marie Etcher in March.

They are looking forward to having Mrs. Slater rejoin them soon, following her recent rehabilitation period.

Wilfred and LuElla Libby pointed out that the members of the Pickford Lions Club put extra care into hosting a benefit spaghetti dinner for them February 25, and the community was very supportive.

Proceeds of the dinner went toward hospital expenses for Mr. Libby.