Pioneer Portraits - February 19, 2015

Ten Years Ago

February 24, 2005

In order to recognize Port of Walla Walla Commissioner Ken Jantz’s 24 years of service as port commissioner, a road in the Burbank Industrial Park Phase II Project will be named in his honor. Jantz Boulevard will serve as a main access point for students attending Columbia School District which is also filling, considering Commissioner Jantz’s longstanding interest in public education. He served 16 years on the Waitsburg School Board.

Debbie Hunter, daughter of Ellsworth “Elzy” and Sherrill Conover of Waitsburg, ws recently featured in the Seattle Post-Intelligence in a special “Teacher of the Game” section. Hunter, a 1970 graduate of Waitsburg High School has been coaching gymnastics at Thomas Jefferson High school in Federal Way, Washington for 29 years.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

February 22, 1990

R. E. “Tiny” Jorgensen of Waitsburg has been elected as president of the State Board of Education. He will hold that position for one year, with the possibility of being elected for a second year term.

Waitsburg Schools were closed for President’s day Monday, then the holiday was inadvertently extended as the grade school boiler unit was seriously damaged by a 2:00 a.m. Monday fire. School was closed on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, with the future of the heating system up for grabs as of presstime this week.

Waitsburg School Board heard details of a proposed grant application by staff to get funds for the Century 21 project. Orval Hagerman presented the facts to the board at the February 14 meeting. He said one of the main motivations for the grant is the desire to serve the young people in the Waitsburg district who could be classed as coming from disruptive family situations.

Fifty Years Ago

February 18, 1965

Sixty-five Lions, their wives and guests enjoyed a Wives’ night banquet on Wednesday, February 10. The group enjoyed singing by a mens’ quartet made up of Lions Jack McCaw, Lee Mantz, Jr., Bob Patton, and Bob Sickles. Randy and Stan Pearson played several numbers of piano, accordion and guitar, and a trio made up of Susan Hawks, Jim Tuttle, and Jim Steward sand, accompanied by Sherrie Donnelly.

The Title of this little item might be “Democracy in Action.” The Scouts of the local troop were asked to vote for one representative from each patrol to represent the troop for a day at the Walla Walla Courthouse. Since this was an honor greatly to be desired (‘sides that, you get out of school for the whole day!), the story came back to me that each Scout received one vote each!

Seventy-Five Years Ago

February 23, 1940

Plans have been completed and everything is in readiness for the celebration of the seventieth anniversary of the Waitsburg Lodge No. 16, Free and Accepted Masons, next Monday, Feb. 26th.

A number of people are remodeling their homes while wiring for electricity. Among them are Mr. and Mrs. Mount Shaffer, Mr. and Mrs. Miles Collingwood, and Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Neace. Mrs. Josie Giles and Wayne have repapered and painted.

Attorney Winton Arnold, of Ketchikan, Alaska, has been visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Arnold of Prescott this week. We acknowledge a friendly call Tuesday afternoon. Winton is down to “the States” on a short business trip.

Chas. Herring, a graduate of Waitsburg High School, has been selected to handle a regular announcing shift at KWSC, the educational radio station of the state college, although only a freshman this year.

One Hundred Years Ago

February 19, 1915

The Palm Club conducted by J. L. Miller in the K of P building, was broken into early Saturday morning. A sum of about $50 was obtained from the safe and cash register and a quantity of merchandise, consisting of mostly the choicest pipes.

John Stimmel who is farming a large acreage near Valley Grove, was in the city this week visiting his father D. B. Stimmel, who has been seriously ill. John says his grain looks alright at this time and he thinks there will have to be very little reseeding in his immediate neighborhood.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

February 21, 1890

We are glad to note that the Valentine trade in this city this year amounted to almost nothing. IT is almost time the contemptible custom of sending valentines were discontinued altogether.

From Lewis Cox we learn that there are very few sheep in Eastern Washington. That owing to obnoxious legislation nearly all the sheep have been sold and driven from the country.

Plenty of fresh beef in town now in consequence of engine No. 6 coming in contact and trying to avoid John Kents bunch of cattle.

The name of Loundagin House has been changed to “The Royal.” Since obtaining possession of that excellent hotel, C.N. Babcock has made many valuable changes in the arrangements thereof, and it is now one of the best appointed hotels in the county. Its dining room is especially fine.