It was a time for celebration recently as Oakdale’s Gladys Lemmons Senior Center was the site for a 99th birthday party for Bertha Riggs. There was a performance by a group of 26 ukulele players, the singing of ‘Happy Birthday’ and plenty of family and friends on hand to mark the day. Bertha, who said she “never felt so good in all my life” attends exercise classes three times a week at the center, including a day of hula dancing. Here, Oakdale Mayor Cherilyn Bairos presents Bertha with a special certificate of recognition with family members and Mayor Pro Tem Christopher Smith looking on. They also had well over 99 handmade cards – many made by local elementary school students – to present to the birthday girl along with cake and plenty of well wishes.

Photo By Madison Allen