PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago February 20, 2003 Washington senators voted 49-0 to help Waitsburg keep its spe- cial city status, which can be an economic benefit for the town, but at the same time permit terms for elected officials to be set greater than the present one-year terms. Sen. Mike Hewitt, R-16th District was a prime sponsor of Senate Bill 5244 which passed Tuesday. Because Waitsburg is an unclassified city, the town charter requires annual elections of city officials. City officials asked Hewitt to help change state law so that the City could, at its option, adopt longer election cycles. "It doesn't change anything but it just opens the door," commented Mayor Randy Halley. "It's entirely up to Waits- burg. There's no obligation to do anything."

Twenty-Five Years Ago February 18, 1988 In the January-February issue of Washington Magazine, JoAnn Gagnon was featured in a section of profiles of several residents who are doing interesting things. In an article written by Nadine Gerkey of Prescott, JoAnn was cited as one of "Washington's younger noteworthy quilters." Nadine's article notes that JoAnn "follows in the footsteps of Dayton's Margaret Carney and Lo Leighty, the former forced by failing eyesight to quit her art after stitching about 200 quilts." JoAnn has completed less than 10 quilts, and has passed her interest in quilting on to a son Justin, 7, who has already made a patchwork quilt, and to daughter, Corrie, 4, who is cutting out designs for future work. Seven years ago, JoAnn said, she was given a quilt top that her great-grandmother started for her daughter when JoAnn was four, and that got her started. She has a couple of machine-stitched quilts for her children, and the prize-winning entry in the Columbia County Fair. Presently she is working on her most ambitious creation, a Lone Star quilt, which she plans to finish for this year's Fair in Dayton. JoAnn says that the family does not have television, and that she spends her leisure time quilting.

Fifty Years Ago February 22, 1963 Guests from the Walla Walla and Dayton Chambers of Com- merce joined the Waitsburg Commercial Club members and their wives and guests at the annual inauguration banquet when Harvey Estes, president-elect accepted the gavel from Wm. Peterson. Estes who has lived here most of his life observed that many transac- tions and business activities are developing in Waitsburg and the Touchet Valley, and that the Commercial Club would have a great deal of responsibility in carrying out their duties to the community in the coming years. He accepted this responsibility for the year 1963 with the hope that he could make a favorable report next year. Entertainment was supplied by Lani Williams, Whitman College student from Honolulu who played the autoharp and sand Hawai- ian folk songs. She was preceded in her entertainment by Stan and Randy Pearson who played the accordion and piano. Guests were introduced including Mr. and Mrs. Lee Cordiner of Walla Walla, Mr. and Mrs. Herb Becker and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Hoon of Dayton. Larry Broom was master of ceremonies and introduced the officers and guest speaker, Donald McCall, head of the police science de- partment of Washington State University. Mr. McCall pointed out that police work is a human relations problem in which one must appraise people for what they are and why they act as they do. He related that in past years only criminals came in contact with the police, but with the advent of automobiles, almost everyone finds themselves confronted with the police at some time in their life. He also showed the freedom enjoyed in America in comparison to some European countries where every movement of the individual is traced by the police. He used as an example: "If a Waitsburg family wished to move to Dayton, it would be necessary to get a permit from the police and get a validated permission in writing and present it to the police in Dayton upon their arrival before they could live there." Americans are free to come and go in this country and in many foreign lands with very little restriction by the police as long as they do not endanger the lives or morals of their fellow citizens. He urged more young people to consider police science as a career.

Seventy-Five Years Ago February 25, 1938 Mrs. Harry McCaw who lives between here and Prescott took delivery of a new Studebaker automobile Friday morning which she was awarded as the result of successfully finishing the statement, "I like Ivory soap because . . ." Kenneth Gohlman received $50 for selling her the soap. A pretty wedding was solemnized on Saturday evening, Febru- ary 19 in the parsonage of the First Presbyterian Church of Walla Walla with the Rev. Geo. H. Scofield officiating when Miss Naomi Florea became the bride of Mr. Edwin L. Peck. Fire, shortly after 4 o'clock Thursday afternoon, partially de- stroyed a workshop on the W. E. McKinney farm outside the city limits. The Commercial Club gave its annual banquet and entertain- ment on Tuesday, Feb. 22, Washington's Birthday. The party was held in the main lodge hall of the Knights of Pythias building. Over 100 people were present. At the plate of each lady was a corsage as a favor from the club.

One Hundred Years Ago February 21, 1912 What looks fine after the long siege of snow. Prospects for bumper crops were never better at this time of year. Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Eaton arrived home Sunday evening from a visit of several weeks at Los Angeles, Calif. Mr. Eaton reports a splendid trip and says the Waitsburg colony is preparing to start home soon. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Neace will be here shortly after March 1. The free band concert at Pastime Theatre Sunday afternoon was a pronounced success, the theatre being crowded and the pro- gram good. The men's chorus again assisted with several selections which were well appreciated. Miss Cordelia Bailey of Dayton spent Saturday and Sunday in theis city the guest of her brother, D. P. Baile and uncle, George Samuels, and families.

One-Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago February 24, 1888 Our townsman Lewis Cox on Wednesday received a telegram from Secretary N. H. Owings stating that House Bill No. 113 passed both houses and is therefore a law of the Territory. As we understand it this law makes it illegal to herd sheep on any lands belonging to as filed upon by individuals after having received notice from own- ers or filers not to do so. The law does not make it a misdemeanor to herd on government lands. It is evidently class legislation of the worst kind. Miss Minnie Wright spent most of the week in this city visiting her sister, Eddie. Abe While returned last Tuesday from Illinois. While there he purchased ten young thoroughbred imported Percheron horses which are now on the way to this city and will arrive in a few days. Their weight ranges from 1600 to 2000 pounds and Mr. White says that they are the finest he ever saw. Lovers of fine stock should not fail to see them.