Story Photos
 Matt Dale ladles gravy for Candy Fleming at the River Casino in Kelso on Thursday afternoon. Next to Dale, his sisters, Jessica and Sara Dale, serve guests. Greg Ebersole / The Daily News
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Kelso casino puts on Thanksgiving spread
Thursday, November 27, 2008 11:45 PM PST
By Erik Olson
Printable version
E-mail this articleOn a typical Thanksgiving, Longview retiree Wayne Wong would be at home with his wife, enjoying his turkey and stuffing.
But this year is different. Wong’s father-in-law recently passed away, and his wife is in Southern California to be with her grieving mother.
So instead of hanging out at home by himself, Wong packed his plate full of stuffing, cranberry sauce and green beans at the River Casino’s annual free Thanksgiving Day dinner.
“Either that, or it’s go to Sizzler,” Wong said.
Nearly 80 people had come through the doors at the midpoint of the Kelso casino’s three-hour meal. The kitchen at the casino, formerly known as the Wild Grizzly, prepared enough food for 300 people.
“It was slammed in here,” said owner Dan Dale, who bought the casino and reopened it this summer.
Some people, like Wong, were retired and ate their free meal alone, while others brought family members. For some, the holiday dinner was a chance to reunite with loved ones.
Lonnie and Candy Fleming are married but separated, but they remain close. Lonnie, a 66-year-old retired woodworker, lives in Rainier, but he came down to Kelso to pick up Candy and take her to the casino for Thanksgiving.
“It helps out a lot. It’s family-oriented,” Candy, a 58-year-old living on disability, said of the meal.
It’s the fourth year the casino’s employees have hosted the meal, which includes donations from nine local businesses, said Christine Pennington, River Casino controller.
Some employees bring their families to help serve and cook the food, she said. In all, about 25 people volunteered Thursday.
“They really just want to help out the community,” she said. “They’re just so pleased to help.”
Those who enjoyed the meal were appreciative.
“They’re God-fearing people. I almost cried,” said Richard Farvour, a 57-year-old disabled Vietnam veteran from Kelso.
mom of four wrote on Nov 27, 2008 11:50 PM:
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