PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago

January 13, 2011

[Photo caption] Jeff Jenkins, a Columbia County Sheriff’s deputy, displays drug paraphernalia at Dayton schools last week.

After Claudia Nysoe and her husband, Dain, moved back to Dayton two years ago, she told him the position of Chamber of Commerce director seemed like the most interesting job in town. So when Lisa Ronnberg announced in December that she would leave the chamber to join the Columbia County’s Public Works department, Nysoe applied for it, and late last week, she got it.

When faced with the question, “what is my patriotic role as a U.S. citizen?” the first obligation that popped into the head of the Waitsburg middle schooler was the duty to vote and participate in her country’s democracy, which she’ll be able to do when she turns 18 in about four years. It should be noted that Baker became the second winner in a row from the Waitsburg School District. Last year, Emma Philbrook, who was in 6th grade at the time, won the same award for her essay encouraging her readers to honor American troops overseas.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

January 18, 1996

For the first time, 520 wheat farmers in Walla Walla County will have to repay money they received in government subsidies last year. A total of about $3.7 million must be repaid by July 1 in Walla Walla county alone. A total of $4.2 million in subsidies was given, but not all of it has to be repaid.

Writing and speaking are not the only ways to communicate, as students in the Preston Hall language arts class will demonstrate on Wednesday, Jan. 24, using sign language to “sing” a song.

Mike Mayberry, transportation manager of Skagit Gardens, a nursery in Mount Vernon, Wash., recently received the statewide Young Member of the Year award from the Washington State Nursery and Landscape Association.

Dawn Blair and Travis Martin were married Nov. 18, 1995, at a small family gathering in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, at the Colonial Wedding House.

Fifty Years Ago

January 28, 1971

The utility bills, i.e., water, sewage, and garbage, which will be mailed out on February 1st of this year, will show an increase in rates since the Ordinance recently passed by the City Council became effective as of January 1. The sewer charges will now be $1.75, an increase of 25 cents, and the garbage pickup charges have been raised to $1.50 from $1.25. Water rates remain the same.

Waitsburg City Council went on record at its last meeting in opposition to the proposed closing of Lewis and Clark Trail State Park. For budget purposes, the State of Washington has proposed to have it open only on weekends.

Miss Terry Leslie, physical education instructor in the local school system, suffered torn knee ligaments in a ski accident this past weekend.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

February 1, 1946

Ernest Mikkelsen was named president of the Racing Association at a reorganization meeting held Tuesday evening at the Commercial Club room.

To raise money for room games and indoor activities, the students of the first grade at Central School are presenting a demonstration of folk-dancing and music by a rhythm band on February 6.

Mr. and Mrs. Earl Brunson of Cove, Ore. are the parents of a daughter born January 25. She is the 24th great-grandchild of Mrs. Lida Conover.

One Hundred Years Ago

February 11, 1921

A masquerade dancing party was given at the Mr. Zuger country home on Wednesday evening of last week. Those who were there report a good old country dance with plenty of good things to eat.

Thursday evening Hays McCoy was host to a number of his young friends, the occasion being his tenth birthday as it was also two of his guests, Dorothea Kanz and Carol Ramseur. Those present were Carol Ramseur, Dorothea Kanz, James Tucker, Clyde Wiseman, Rita Ogden, Thelma Tucker, Gwendolyn Ramseur, Bernadine Wiseman, Kerneiw Williams, Hubert Harris, Velma Starr, Chester Stonecipher, Bobby McCoy, and Harvey Stonecipher.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

February 7, 1896

The Oregonian says that the Portland Flour Mills has secured half a million bushels of wheat at 65 cents.

A large number of his friends tendered J.H Marrow a farewell reception in the way of a surprise party on Saturday evening.

There has been just a ripple of excitement in the Burg this week on account of the school board’s action in expelling four pupils from the public school. The pupils were expelled because of insubordination and defiance, and the board expresses determination to have discipline in the school at all hazards.