Pioneer Portraits - February 23, 2017

Ten Years Ago

March 1, 2007

John Gertsch, a 5-11 junior guard for the Cardinals, was honored for being named to the Blue Mountain League All Conference Second Team. Gertsch, the third leading scorer in the league, received the seventh highest vote, said Coach Chris Pearson. Shawny Ingle of the Lady Cardinals received votes in the All Conference meeting, said Coach Lynnsey Bailey, and was an “honorable mention” on the All Conference list.

The Waitsburg City Council will hear from representatives of the Paloma Valley Land Retirement Plan Trust and its proposal for 50 acres northeast of Waitsburg at the March 7 meeting.

Caption: The community breakfast served by members of the Waitsburg High school FFA was enjoyed by numerous members of the community including these three local FFA supporters, Jamie Kibler, Fred Gritman and Glen Smith. Chapter members prepared, cooked and served omelets and flapjacks for community members last Wednesday morning, February 21 to mark FFA Week.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

February 27, 1992

Seventy-plus Waitsburg firemen, their spouses and invited guests gathered in the Legion Banquet rooms Saturday night for the annual crab feed. Jake Lon, fire chief, reported on the year’s activities. The department responded to 14 grain fires, three structure fires, one brush fire and three vehicle fires.

Members of the Odako Cub enjoyed a Valentine party and gift exchange on Feb. 13 at the home of Jean Miller. Ruth Peterson served a scrumptious dessert befitting the day.

A new stop sign for the corner of First and Main is coming. City officials last week said the paint on the current sign is so chipped that the marker could been called “as a non-stop-sign.” The new sign will be put up soon.

The city will lease for probably $1 the bunkhouse at the old cannery to Jack Cyr, of Waitsburg, who will use it to store recycled materials, such as newspapers and cans. In exchange, Cyr would insure the building for liability. For years, Cyr has picked up recyclables in the area.

Fifty Years Ago

February 23, 1967

Nellie Ray, owner of Ray’s Chapel of the Flowers in Waitsburg, told the Times this week that even tho the ambulance service has been turned over to Gene Duckworth, that the local mortuary is still in operation.

Steelhead fishing in the Tucannon and Touchet Rivers has improved greatly with the receding of the high and muddy waters of two weeks ago. A number of fisherman that fish the Touchet are taking 11 to 12 inch German Brown trout and a few of the females have been found bearing eggs.

Sincere appreciation and thanks are extended to the children, adults and organizations who contributed to the exhibits at the PTA hobby show last Wednesday night. Bill Peterson, PTA president and Glynn Davis, chairman of the affair, both expressed their gratification for the fine exhibits and interest shown. The hobbies were many and varied. It is hoped that the show would become an annual project for the community.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

February 27, 1942

Burton Earl Hillis, 52, died in the Walla Walla General Hospital late Sunday night of injuries sustained in an accident at Sixth and Elm Streets in Walla Walla the morning of Friday, Feb. 13th.

Announcement was made to The Times Wednesday that the National Red Cross is attempting to establish a canteen Corps everywhere, that there may be a need for one, including Waitsburg, during the present emergency.

Under the supervision of Mr. Watt, the grade school is busy collecting stamps to forward to England for the extraction of the dye.

Waitsburg received 1000 of the 2700 Chinese pheasants planted last fall and bird wintered in good shape.

One Hundred Years Ago

March 1, 1917

Almost six inches of snow fell in this part of the valley Saturday and broke the record of depth of snow so far this winter.

Waitsburg Lodge No. 16 F.A. M. observed its forty-seventh anniversary Monday night of this week, Feb. 26.

Arthur Park, the carpenter, is reflooring the bedrooms, the halls and closets of the E. H. Leonard home at the corner of Orchard and Fifth streets with oak flooring.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

March 4, 1892

The ladies of the M. E. Church will give a New England dinner in Armory Hall on Friday, Mar. 4, beginning at 6 o’clock p.m.

The First National Bank of Waitsburg received their first shipment of new bills this week. The amount is $11,240, all in five dollar bills.

Fred Cox is across the river this week looking after farming and stock interests.

Most of the big boys have quite the school room to engage in farm work and other labors. This is right: The muscle and general health should be looked after as well as the brain.