PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago

February 10, 2011

Dayton farmers now have more options for their agronomy needs. The Walla Walla Farmers Co-Op has opened an office at 509 Cameron Street, right next door to Columbia County Transportation, on Port of Columbia property.

Lee Ann Literal has been a racehorse owner and trainer for almost a quarter of a century. The stables on her 500-acre ranch on Smith Hollow Road are a living testament to that long "track" record.

Members of the Waitsburg Ministerial Association met at the new food bank space in the America West Bank branch on Preston Avenue. The food bank will be open there on Saturdays 9-11 a.m. The grand opening for the space will be March 12, 1-3 p.m.

Head football coach Jeff Bartlow is now also WP's head track and field coach.

Waitsburg film director Karen Stanton Gregutt and the subject of her documentary, glass artist Ginny Ruffner, at a talk show in Palm Springs.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

February 15, 1996

FLOOD OF CENTURY! Disaster on the delta.

Waitsburg was originally called "Delta" for good reason. And, in recent days, residents learned the hard way the meaning of living in a flood plain between two unpredictable bodies of water. Flooding in two main waves-Wednesday, Feb. 7 and Friday, Feb. 9-was the worst this century, according to people who witnessed the last great flood in Waitsburg in 1964.

Silt boasting rights go to Phil Monfort of Waitsburg, whose business section building on the east side of Main Street had a foot of sediment left on the floor after the flood, besting the four inches of ooze Ye Towne Hall and the 1 ½ inches of muck on the floor of The Times.

[Headline] Too bad Waitsburg's 15 minutes of fame had to be wet and dirty

Fifty Years Ago

February 25, 1971

Waitsburg Lions Club voted last Tuesday to subscribe $100 toward the City Christmas Lighting Fund.

The Pomeroy Pirates, league-leaders through much of the current season, downed the Colfax Bulldogs in a playoff game at Lewiston, Idaho, last Tuesday.

Waitsburg Youth Center will hold an auction in the Community Building on Saturday, February 27 at 1.30 p.m. Marvin Huffman has volunteered his services as auctioneer.

Office manager to new employee: "You should have been here at 9 o'clock."

New man: "Why, what happened?"

Seventy-Five Years Ago

March 1, 1946

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Eaton (Phyllis Danielson) and son have moved to Forest Grove, Ore., from where Mr. Eaton will commute to school in Portland.

W.E. Watt has purchased the McCoy house on Coppei and plans to remodel it into apartments.

Sorotus Club celebrated Founder's Day at a potluck dinner at the home of Mrs. Donald Harris Tuesday afternoon.

Mrs. Berger Chase was hostess to DeNova Club Feb. 21, with Mrs. Melvin Combs assisting. Mrs. Clinton Donley presided at the business meeting.

Mr. and Mrs. Dolph Egelston received a telephone call from their nephew, Raymond Powell, in Rome, Saturday evening.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

March 6, 1896

Sol Hardman harvested his rice crop this week. The yield was not good, and the quality was poor.

The bluebird is hailed as a harbinger of Spring. It is also a reminder that a flood-purifier is needed to prepare the system for the debilitating water to come. Listen, and you will hear the birds sing, Take Ayers Sarsaparilla in March, April, May.

Tom Kinder left on Tuesday for Idaho with a crew of sheep shearers. They expect to be gone about four months.

Married at the residence of D. H. Harris, Menaken, Robert E Hawks, of Huntsville, and Miss Jennie Fisher of Prescott. Rev. Lee A. Johnson tied the knot and tied it well.