PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago

July 22, 2004

New Waitsburg Superintendent Carol Clarke's first board meeting didn't provide much of a honeymoon as she and school district directors grappled with a difficult issue surrounding a 6-7 grade split. Dr. Clarke and new board member Ross Hamann were also sworn in at the meeting, attended by a number of parents of middle school-bound students.

A once-familiar fixture of Waitsburg's Main Street has returned. The Odako Club bench once again graces the sidewalk in front of Weller Public Library. The refurbished bench was presented to Librarian Jan Cronkhite by Odako Club President Jeanne Miller and Immediate Past President Betty Branson.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 20, 1989

The final meeting of the Waitsburg Centennial Committee was held this week, and the planning group ended up with a surplus of $2.77. The group felt this should be handed over to Lola Mae Boyd who did so much work writing thankyou notes to people who participated. The committee has 23 buttons left over, and these were given to Sandy Conover and Sarah Payne for distribution overseas on their upcoming trip to Japan.

Four local lads were on their way to the Little League play-offs in Yakima as members of the Touchet Valley Little League All-Stars: Brandon Banks and Jim Pearson, members of the Merchants team, and Robert Hinchliffe and Josh Maners, members of the Lions team.

Amber McCaw, daughter of Guy and Lynn McCaw of Waitsburg, was named "Outstanding Offensive Player" at the Northwest Basketball Camp in Medical Lake in late June.

Fifty Years Ago

July 17, 1964

The Waitsburg School district announces the resignation of Percy Gentry as grade school janitor. He has been with the school system for 14 years as a steady man, keeping the building warm for the children and cleaning up after them. His job has been appreciated by many.

Ten Waitsburg sportsmen spent three days last week near Twin Buttes in the Blue Mountains putting out salt blocks for game animals. Frank Bramlett was in charge of all arrangements, and was accompanied on the trek by Fred Martinson, Mel Sharp, Red Mohney, and Ben Little of the Washington State Game Commission; Willis Mohney of Spokane, Charles V. Zuger, Pete Hermanns, George Dorsey, and Cecil Danielson of Waitsburg. Fred Zuger helped transport the party in and out, and Kenny Smith lent the support of some of his horses.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

July 21, 1939

Ralph Singer has accepted the position as a miller and millwright in the Preston-Shaffer Milling Co. here and will move his family here from Athena, Ore. the first of the week.

Mary Elizabeth Walker, one of Southeastern Washington's fair farmerettes, and a Waitsburg girl, will carry Walla Walla colors into statewide competition for the title of "Miss Washington" at Seattle during the Golden Jubilee Potlatch celebration July 25 to 30 inclusive.

One HundredYears Ago

July 24, 1914

Both Henry and Will Vollmer are doing good work with their combine harvesters, having been in the field for several days now.

Mrs. A. M. McCoy and children arrived home Wednesday from Buffalo, N.Y. where Mrs. McCoy has been spending a couple of months with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Hayes.

Bert Wright took ill while juggling sacks for Otis Denney and left for town Monday.

Mrs. Blanche Artz and son Francis spent the weekend in Walla Walla. Mrs. Artz' father, who resides in Pendleton, met her there.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 19, 1889

This evening the following Waitsburgers will go to the mountains to remain over Sunday and enjoy the breeze and refreshing ozone, and catch fish: Messrs. Charley Holt, Albert Dickinson, Bert Bosworth, Misses Etta McAlester, Maggie Preston and Anna Ingrahm.

The two hotel team collided at the depot yesterday and came near running away and smashing the carriages, breaking one man's arm, another's leg and three ribs for a lady.

Mrs. J. L. Dumas will not accompany her husband to New York, but will remain and teach in our public school. This item is for the benefit of a large number who are grieving about her going away.

J. H. James now has water works of his own. By means of a wheel in the Touchet, he is enabled to supply any part of his lots with water.