PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago

April 14, 2011

Bart Baxter and Tiffany Laposi are opening a 50s Diner in Waitsburg, give them a few months to work on the Whetstone Pub.

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 in Waitsburg’s Main Street with rolling spring wheat fields behind them. This, we are proud to announce, is our first Touchet River Valley Visitors Guide.

Prescott singer/songwriter Sue Matley (better known as Cimarron Sue) will be performing next week at Waitsburg’s Weller Public Library in honor of Cowboy Poetry Week.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

April 18, 1996

School maintenance manager Ken Colby has told school officials that the roof on the gym “developed a pretty severe leak” this past winter and needs to be replaced.

Jane Lembcke has been clerk of the board for the Columbia County Commissions since 1988—so long she could probably do the commissioners job herself. And, she wants to. Lembcke, 50, of Dayton has announced her candidacy for the District 2 Commissioner’s seat now held by George Touchette, who is not seeking re-election. Lembcke is a Democrat. If elected she would be the commission’s first female member.

Waitsburg High School senior Eric Wyatt, who helped lead the Cardinals to the State B Tournament this year, has been named to the Associated Press All-State Basketball team. Forward Wyatt was named to the Class B second team.

George Gagnon, The Times photographer got more than a car wash recently when he pulled his rig into R&R Auto Repair in Waitsburg for the Rainbow Girls car wash; he also got a photo of Heather Stephenson.

Fifty Years Ago

April 29, 1971

The Waitsburg School District announces the retirement of Norman Wood who has driven the Lost Springs bus route for the past two years. Mr. Wood has been employed by the Waitsburg Schools since 1954 as a custodian and bus driver.

Jack McCaw was elected to serve as president of Waitsburg Lions Club for the 1971 year. Serving with McCaw will be: Tom Baker, first vice president; Stan Pierson, third vice president; Lee Mantz, Jr., secretary; Sid Conner, treasurer; Joe McCown, Jr., Lion Tamer; Gene Davis, Tail Twister; Ted Penner, director number one; and Jim Wood, director number two.

Jesse L. Brown, 75, died at a local hospital Sunday. He was born in April 24, 1896, in Louisiana and married Anna Mae Davis there in 1921. They came to Walla Walla 30 years ago. Jesse was a veteran of World War I.

Bill Bloor, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Bloor, has attained a 4.00 GPA at the University of Washington for the winter quarter.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

May 10, 1946

Construction of the Dixie labor camp in preparation for the approaching pea harvesting season got underway late last week.

Mrs. Robert Butler was honored at a breakfast and shower Sunday morning at the Marcus Whitman hotel by Miss Barbara Sweazy.

Mrs. Ray Switzer and Mrs. Denzil Mock delegates from Occidental Lodge No. 1 AOVW are leaving Wednesday for Seattle Grand Lodge. Delbert and Denzil Mock accompanied them.

New members elected to DeNova Club Thursday were Mrs. Joe McCown, Mrs. Don Thomas and Mrs. Howard Davis.

One Hundred Years Ago

May 13, 1921

Ranger Kendall of Dayton reports snow very deep in the higher elevations. Six miles north of Godman it is ten feet deep and in places deeper.

Officers of the state federation of Women’s Clubs were entertained by the Progressive Club at the home of Mrs. W. B. Shaffer on Saturday afternoon.

C. E. Marks, who has been out sheep shearing for some time, returned Saturday for a short visit, leaving again Tuesday. He says they will be shearing until July if all things go as planned. He says sheep shearing has the scissor billing job cheated quite a bit.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

May 15, 1896

A couple of old-fashioned four horse prairie schooners passed southward through our streets one day this week. The trend of travel is changing its direction.

H. C. Wade and Arthur Roberts were in Walla Walla last Saturday in the interest of the Fireman Picnic to be given in the Mullinix grove next Wednesday.

A. W. Philips left on Wednesday for Xenia, Ohio to attend the general assembly of the United Presbyterian Church. He goes as a delegate from the Spokane presbytery which includes all of Eastern Washington and will be absent six weeks.