Pioneer Portraits - June 8, 2017

Ten Years Ago

June 14, 2007

Last year a local team, Cole Construction, finished with some hardware, and they will return to the diamond at the 2007 Lions Club Softball Bash to take another shot at the championship. They will be among the approximately 20 softball teams from around the region that will compete in the 23rd Annual Waitsburg Lions Softball Bash this weekend.

On June 6, the Waitsburg Elementary Fourth Grade placed a Persian Witchhazel tree in the center court yard in memory of their deceased classmate, Rodrigo Espana. At a time later this summer, a public ceremony dedicating the tree and a memorial plaque will be held. The tree will be visible from the library and both hallways of the Elementary School, said Mrs. Pam Conover, Fourth Grade teacher.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

June 11, 1992

For approximately half his life, Don Thomas has been a member of the Waitsburg Junior Livestock Show board. Last month, he retired as president of the board, a title he has held for over 30 years.

Waitsburg’s Woody Epp has his eyes on mules these days. He is trying to drum up support to upgrade the mule races during the Days of Real Sport, noting that this year’s mule riders were given a t-shirt for racing. “They went out there and risk life and limb for a t-shirt,” Epp said. One rider fell off his mule in the Sunday races. He was uninjured.

She knows most of the people who walk into her courtroom. And it’s not easy fining a neighbor $50 for a barking dog. “It’s tough sometimes,” Ann McCambridge, Waitsburg’s Municipal Judge, said in her courtroom the other day. “But it’s my job. I have to do it.” McCambridge, 40, is among a short-list of lay jurists found only in smaller cities in rural Washington. State law empowers cities of less than 5,000 people to hire municipal judges who generally don’t have any more legal training than the people who appear before them.

Fifty Years Ago

June 8, 1967

What was a field of waving wheat on the Elsy Conover ranch was matted and furrowed by a few minutes of cloudburst on Thursday, June 1. Over 1 inch of rain fell on the area in less than half an hour. Water came cascading off the steep hills with floodlike force.

Mr. and Mrs. Orlie Katsel were guests of honor as over 60 friends and relatives gathered in State Park Sunday for a potluck dinner on the occasion of their 55th anniversary. Orlie confided that after a full day’s activities that included a special get-together at their church in the evening – he didn’t get his cows milked until 10:30 that night.

Mickey Leid was awarded $100 by Green Giant for suggesting the use of plastic bags on the lap paste pots. This is the largest cash award that has been given the Waitsburg plant under the company’s suggestion system. Cecil Coverdale of Dayton received on $25 award and one $10 award. Dexter Rogers received a $10 award.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

June 12, 1942

The ole swimmin’ pool in Preston Park is open and ready for the season. Boys and girls have been clamoring for the opening ever since the snow left this winter. Miss Frances Bateman has been employed as life guard.

Saturday, June 6 at 11 p.m. in the morning at the Methodist parsonage in Lewiston, Idaho, Miss Rose Gentry, daughter of Mr. Tom Gentry of Lewiston, became the bride of Mr. Fred D. Harris, son of Mr. and Mrs. Will Harris of this city.

Master Dickie Land who had his tonsils removed last week in St. Mary Hospital in Walla Walla has returned home.

One Hundred Years Ago

June 15, 1917

Miss Alta Campbell of Spokane and William H. Wallace of this city were quietly married in Spokane on Monday of this week, June 11th.

C.A. Hales, the well-known sheepman, of this city, who is home a few days from Pasco, advises us that his son Alfred, together with two young men employed at the sheep camp, were bitten by one of the sheep dogs a few days ago.

Mr. and Mrs. A. Hansen and baby Alvin spent Sunday at the Casebolt home on the Coppei. Emory Bruce with a crew of men is fencing his mountain farm this week.

Ninety-five percent of the employees of the Preston-Shaffer Milling Co. have purchased Liberty Loan bonds. A fine showing.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

June 17, 1892

Hon. and Mrs. D. J. Storms entertained a large party on Thursday of last week. None are more royal entertainers than friend Storms and wife.

Born in Spring Valley, June 14, 1892, to Mr. and Mrs. Severe Kennedy the usual feminine baby, being the seventh of same sex in succession.

Our brave boys in blue will leave on the 20th for American Lake to go into camp for a period of ten days. So long brave lads, and may your outing be pleasant and profitable.

We have received the announcement of the graduation of the California normal school. In the list of graduates appears the name of our Miss Addie Denney.