Pioneer Portraits

Ten Years Ago

February 11, 2010

Waitsburg city council members Jeff Broom and Kathleen Powers said this week they won’t seek another one-year term in this spring’s elections. The development, which opens two seats on the five-member body, may prompt several new candidates to sign up for the ballot.

Laurie Richardson joked that it came down to a simple choice. She and her husband Les were either going to invest in wind and solar power or be doomed to eat cat food for the rest of their retirement days. The situation appeared that grim to them when the price of gas and electricity seemed on an unstoppable upward march two years ago.

[Photo caption] Jim German and Claire Johnston seem surrounded by one of Johnston’s sculptures that will be part of their show at Willow’s Loft Gallery on 2 East Rose St. in Walla Walla Feb. 11-March 29.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

February 2, 1995

Waitsburg is trying to get a state grant of as much as $400,000 to rebuild East 8th Street from Coppei Avenue to the city limits. East 8th Street is a main route for people driving and walking to sporting events at the high school and Little League fields.

Just like Dayton, Ohio was once known for making America’s automobile tires, Dayton, Wash. organizers hope the All Wheels Weekend puts Dayton on the map as “Car Capital of southeastern Washington.”

Katie and Jessie Buehler and Jesse Archer took part in the 23rd annual Elk’s Basketball Hoop Shoot last Saturday at Sherwood Center. They are seventh graders at Prescott.

A symposium on sheep conducted by the University of Idaho and Washington State University will be held Saturday, Feb. 4 at the UI Livestock Pavillion.

Fifty Years Ago

February 5, 1970

[Photo caption] PeeWee is back in all of its ragged, dribbling, hustling glory. A couple of players go for a loose ball during the halftime game here Saturday. Pictured are David Smith (shirts) and Gregory Zuger (skins).

Waitsburg School District Special Levy request will be $13,060 less than the present levy, $156,675 to $143,615. The reduction will be equivalent to 2.026 mills of this year’s taxes.

Albert Allen of Waitsburg is a modest young man who returned from action in Viet Nam with four bronze stars and a group of citations which point with pride to the action which he saw there—but he doesn’t like to talk much about it.

Mr. and Mrs. James A. Stonecipher announce the engagement of their daughter, Julie Ann, to Timothy K. Ford, son of Col. and Mrs. Louis W. Ford of Bellevue.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Bodman have returned home after vacationing in Hawaii.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

February 9, 1945

Plans for the waste fat salvage campaign were completed at a grade school meeting Monday night. The drive for this essential material will be waged in the form of a contest between all of the elementary school grades.

Orin Walker has been installed as Worshipful Master of Waitsburg Lodge No. 16, F. & A. M.

Homer Reed, president of Commercial Club, announced the standing committees at the regular meeting Tuesday night.

The viner crew for the Bozeman Canning Co. this year is composed of Byron Gusse, foreman; Pat Estes, Ernest Beeson, Charles Blevins, Ray Jones and Adolf Weber.

One Hundred Years Ago

February 13, 1920

E.W. Truitt, owner of the Lyons Ferry across the Snake River, writes us that he is building a larger and better boat for the use of the public and that the ferry will not be available for about three weeks yet.

Smith Hoops has entirely recovered from his attack of smallpox and the home has been released from quarantine.

The student body of Waitsburg High School has just recently released a neat “yell book” containing the songs and yells of the local school. Eston Mock and Oliver Hobbs are given as “yell birds” and the staff is composed of Ernest Mikkelsen, Celestia Loundagin and Vivian Michelsen.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

February 8, 1895

While J. H. Cox was away from home at work and Mrs. Cox was at church last Monday evening, about 50 friends, headed by Mrs. T. H. Jessup, marched down, broke the door open, marched in and took possession. They built a fire, boiled some water, melted some sugar and when the rightful owners and occupants of the house returned they found the sweetest crowd ever beheld, and each one “stuck” on his job or somebody else.

Frank McCown has 20 head of thoroughbred Poland-China pigs, sows and boars for sale cheap. There are no better hogs anywhere. Call on or address: Frank McCown, Waitsburg.

T.M. McKinney is now city clerk, R. H. Ormsbee having resigned. The city has no regular attorney, but will employ one from time to time as it needs it.