PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago November 6, 2001

While many enjoyed the beautiful Sunday afternoon raking leaves, the community is looking for a missing Waitsburg business owner. Ted R. Brooks, owner of the Waitsburg Motel and the trailer court on West Second Street has been missing since Oct. 24.

Gary Thomas of Waitsburg was recognized by the Walla Walla Fair for 30 years of volunteer service at the Fair's Appreciation Dinner. He has been a betting-booth volunteer all those years.

Jim LaTour, sheriff of Columbia county for 20 years, announced he will be retiring at the end of the year. LaTour started in June 1980, as a dispatcher and reserve officer with the Dayton Police Department.

In a story done by the Times in 1994, long-time Huntsville resident Dick Ferguson recounted some details of the battle in the English Channel, where German submarines surprised and almost demolished what was to be the D-Day landing forces-earning him the first of two Purple Heart medals in 1944. Concerning the D-Day Landing matter, he had the terse remark: "A lot of guys drowned that day."

Dick got his second Purple Heart medal for the Battle of the Bulge around Christmas time. On this matter, he said he "just as soon not talk about it hellip;" Regarding this affair, "A lot of the boys just plain froze to death in that one," he said.

According to the article by Vance Orchard, "Landing at Starbuck was one of the best things Ferguson ever did, as it was here he met his wife-to-be, Gladys Crabb. They have two children: Huntsville resident, Rick and Gwynneth Neace, of Hillsboro, Ore.

Twenty-Five Years Ago November 13, 1986

Waitsburg Lions on Tuesday heard a talk from Marne Lytle on her planned summer trip to New Zealand and Australia as a member of a basketball team representing Waitsburg and the United States.

Administrators, coaches and board representatives from Prescott and Waitsburg met last Monday to go over the results of two community polls taken in regards to the future of the sports co-op programs between the two schools.

Rev. Les Hyder of the First Presbyterian Church of Waitsburg has accepted a full-time position as chaplain in the U.S. Air Force.

Fifty Years Ago November 10, 1961

Lynn Mantz was crowned Homecoming Queen by Jerry Harshman, W-Club president at the dance Friday evening. Members of her court were Nancee Clodius, Carole Harris and Freda Kay Harris.

The American Legion is again sponsoring their pre- Thanksgiving Turkey Shoot at the Legion Hall on Saturday night. Jim Hansen is general chairman. The Auxiliary will serve a buffet luncheon upstairs.

It has been pointed out that landowners along the Touchet River must make a decision as to whether or not they want irrigation water from the Touchet River because sufficient land is available to make the project successful.

Seventy-Five Years Ago November 13, 1936

The Talbott service station, just east of the Preston Avenue bridge, was broken into Tuesday night of last week and 80 candy bars and some cartons of gun and cigarettes stolen.

Colton, the team from the Palouse sector, failed to show anything against the Waitsburg string here Friday and was trounced sadly, 33-19.

There was an unusually fine attendance at the weekly dinner of the Commercial Club Tuesday evening. At the conclusion of the dinner, Miss Beth Lloyd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Lloyd, who is rapidly becoming an accomplished violinist, gave a violin number accompanied by Miss Frances Samuels.

One Hundred Years Ago November 10, 1911

Miss Ina Harkins and Mr. John Clodius were quietly married at Walla Walla Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The ceremony took place at the courthouse. Justice T.M. McKinney officiating.

Lee Joines, Ed and Earl; Butler and R.C. Steele went to Lake Washington Saturday on a duck hunting expedition. They got some birds alright and everything went lovely until the auto broke down and they had to return by train.

A Halloween party was given at the Huntsville School Tuesday evening. Baskets made out of pumpkins were sold which brought $46 for the benefit of the school.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago November 5, 1886

The Huntsville flouring mill of Richardson & Hunt started up on the 20th of October and is now running day and night.

T.J. Hollowell was in the city yesterday. He was so excited over the election news that he tried to drive home without untying his horses from the hitching post.

M.H. Keiser and wife and Mrs. Roxie Keiser returned home from Portland last Sunday morning.

Geo. Metzgar of Dayton was in the city on Wednesday as "best man" at the Kingman-Hicks wedding.

Last Monday morning the ground was frozen too hard to plow on the foothills. Simon Critchfield says the thermometer registered 5 degrees below freezing at his place 7 miles from Waitsburg.

A daughter was born in Centerville, Ore., Oct. 23, to the wife of Herman Sattler.

In last week's Pioneer write-up, we reported in the Twenty- Five Years Ago, that "Waitsburg high varsity volleyball teams are undefeated in both season and league play with a league record of 13-0 and a season record of 15-0. hellip; The girls are coached by Margie Fanciullo and Laura Young." The coaches were Dinah Lindsey and Karen Huwe. Our apologies for the mistake and thanks for pointing out the error.