PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago

April 14, 2011

Give Bart Baxter and Tiffany Laposi a few months to work on the Whetstone Pub building and you’ll be able to dine with James Dean. By summer, he may well be giving you his cool gaze from the wall of the couple’s 1950s style restaurant that will be called “Betty’s Diner.”

[Photo caption] Motocross racers put on a show during the annual Bash at Ski Bluewood Sunday, marking the resort’s last day of the skiing season that was the first for its new owners.

Inserted in this week’s edition of the Times, you will find something new and special. It’s a tabloid newspaper that looks a bit like the Blue Mountain News. The cover shows Dayton’s Stationmaster statue and the clock on Waitsburg’s Main Street with rolling spring wheat fields behind them. This, we are proud to announce, is our first Touchet River Valley Visitor’s Guide, a collaborative venture with the Blue Mountain News. It is supported by members of the Touchet Valley Tourism Alliance.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

April 6, 1995

When images of the Waitsburg Junior Livestock Show come to mind, most people probably think of cows, pigs and sheep. But there’s another side to the show that doesn’t moo, oink or baa.

The city of College Place is celebrating its 50th anniversary and wants some of its best friends to join the celebration. The city is inviting businesses and individuals to sponsor a float, help advertise or participate in the planning of the celebration by calling 529-1200.

“This is asinine,” said Lew Jacky, the chairman of the Walla Walla County Board of Commissioners. Jacky was reacting to a state Department of Ecology rule that is forcing a developer to put 49 separate water wells in a 49-lot home development, even though there is one deep well already on the property that could provide water for all.

Fifty Years Ago

April 9, 1970

[Photo caption] King Witt, President of the Days of Real Sport, Inc., places the crown upon Queen Judy Harper at the Queen’s Dance held in Waitsburg last Saturday night. The competition for the spot was keen, as these three girls had gathered more votes than any court in DRS history. A special board of judges spent extra time Saturday evening making final tabulations, and the competition was extremely close. Judy will reign over festivities on the weekend of May 23-24. Princesses on the court are Jeannie Pearson, left and Joe Ellen Watson, right.

A bigger and better than ever Junior Livestock Show will begin in Waitsburg on Friday, April 10 with judging competition at 10 a.m.

Where all think alike, no one thinks very much.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

April 13, 1945

Leslie Taylor of Cottonwood, Idaho has been selected as the new superintendent of schools.

James Archer won second place in the state speaking contest in Ellensburg March 31 which was sponsored by the Future Farmers of America.

Mr. and Mrs. Orville Fullerton were guests at the birthday dinner of their grandson, Billie Kendall April 6, at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oakley Kendall, who were also celebrating their wedding anniversary.

Mrs. J. V. Glover has just received her appointment as a regular carrier on Route 1, Waitsburg, the date being effective March 16.

One Hundred Years Ago

April 16, 1920

Twelve large trucks are now in use hauling rock from the crushers in surfacing the Inland Empire Highway to Central Ferry.

At the annual meeting of the Waitsburg Floricultural Society Saturday afternoon, Mrs. Rose Lloyd was elected President; Mrs Tena Loundagin, Vice President; Mrs. Ida Butler, Secretary-Treasurer.

Henry Roberts entertained about twenty-five of his friends at a party at his home about a mile and half east of town Friday evening. Many games were played during the evening and dainty refreshments were served.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

April 19, 1895

For the first time in the history of this country “aggs” were this week sold in this city for five cents per dozen. If anybody has a right to kick, it’s a hen, for there is no money in her business with eggs at that price.

Just step into Macomber & McCann’s and buy a “Solomon Gundy.” No house is complete without a Solomon Gundy. (Editor’s Note: What was a Solomon Gundy?)

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