PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago

October 28, 2010

Former resident Jason J. Lujan, 30, will return to his home in the 100 block of Murphy Street, Waitsburg, after being released from police custody on Nov. 14. Lujan is a registered, level III sex offender currently under Department of Corrections supervision.

To better serve its readers and advertisers in Columbia County, The Times has opened an office half a block from Main Street behind Manila Bay Cafe next to the courthouse in Dayton.

The Waitsburg Historical Society has received a grant for $2,000 from the Blue Mountain Community Foundation to do work on the Wilson-Phillips house recently donated to the society.

[Photo caption] Waitsburg-based wine columnist Paul Gregutt lifts a glass to the release of his completely updated guide to Washington wines.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

November 2, 1995

Nearly 20 headstones at the City Cemetery in Waitsburg were overturned last weekend, officials reported. The city responded that the gates to the road into the cemetery, off East 8th Street, would be closed on weekends and on weekdays from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. The pedestrian gates will remain open at all times.

Walla Walla resident Rene Erm has passed the Washington State Bar Exam, the State Bar Association has announced. Passing the exam is required to practice law in the state. The Bar reports that of 816 candidates who took the extensive test in July, 79.4% passed.

Former Touchet resident, Larry Gene Troester, 35, passed away on Oct. 25, 1995 at his home in Pittsburg, Kan. He apparently died as a result of an asthma attack.

Fifty Years Ago

November 12, 1970

Ernest Mikkelsen of Waitsburg has been elected as a director of the National REA from Washington state, it was announced at the 31st annual meeting of the Columbia County REA held in Dayton last week. Mikkelsen has been on the Columbia County board since 1941. He has served as president of the cooperative since 1949.

[Headline] Local wheat hits $1.51 per bushel

Waitsburg city council passed two ordinances last week raising the garbage collection fees from $1.25 to $1.50.

Word from Spokane Tuesday revealed that Lewis Patton came through his open heart surgery with his heart functioning normally, and will be kept in intensive care for approximately three days.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

November 16, 1945

George Clibon has purchased the James property on Main Street, formerly occupied by Leila's Cafe and will open a plumbing shop there. He is also building a new home on Coppei Avenue across from the Standard Station.

The City Fire department has been remodeled this week, enlarging the door of the truck quarters to accommodate the rural fire truck as well as the city truck.

The Red Cross Sewing Center will be closed for the present. Groups who sew are asked to get their materials from Walla Walla as the need for finished products is still great.

One Hundred Years Ago

November 19, 1920

Rock St. Jacque who for the past 12 years or so, has had the racetrack leased, has sold his interests at the track including hay, etc. to a group of Waitsburg horse enthusiasts composed of a number of farmers and businessmen.

Little Ernestine Rice and Eddie Petrick were given a party last Saturday by their mothers. The following young people were present: Tennys Teeters, Catherine Williams, Maxine McConnell, Helen McDaniel, Hazel Milligan, Erma Shuham, Lola Woodworth, Jean Leonard, Lola Petrick, Donovan James, Adrian Tate, John Lloyd, Elwood Brown, and Fred Rice.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

November 22, 1895

There are almost too many pig pens in this city for the atmosphere to be of the most balmy nature. Perhaps you've noticed it.

The Presbyterian Dime Social at the palatial home of Hon. and Mrs. W.G. Preston on Thursday evening of last week was an exceptionally pleasant affair.

Miss Jennie Loundagin, one of the loveliest girls in this community, goes to Walla Walla tomorrow to enter Whitman College. The best wishes of her many friends go with her.

Mrs. D. Ferguson was in the city from Dayton a few days ago, rustling for the Peoples Press. That is the kind of wife for an editor to have.