PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago

August 15, 2011

It was never Wyatt Withers' sole inspiration for going in the Navy, but once he had decided to join it certainly helped having a grandfather who had served in the same branch many decades ago. Choosing to be "seasick over digging a fox hole," longtime local farmer Jack McCaw went to amphibian training school in preparation of the Allied invasion of Japan when the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He became part of Gen. Douglas MacArthur's occupation force in Japan and spent eight months there after that country's surrender. Withers' mission will be much different. He always wanted to become a chemical engineer, but figured as a nuclear engineer in the Navy, he'd get his way paid through training and college.

It has been 43 years since 17-year-old Julie Stonecipher, a farmer's daughter from Waitsburg, won the Washington State American Junior Miss competition and was runner-up at the national American Junior Miss competition. The Touchet Valley held parades in her honor, signs bearing her name sat at the entrances to Waitsburg and she even received a key to the city of Walla Walla. After many years away from the largest and oldest national scholarship program for high school girls, Julie Stonecipher, now Julie Yokel, is sitting in the judge's seat and helping out behind the scenes to inspire young women to set goals and overcome their obstacles.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

August 29, 1996

[Photo Caption] Aerial applicator Val Woodworth was uninjured in a Thursday accident in which his Ag Cat spray plane flipped in soft ground after veering off the runway while landing at Cropland Air Service's Whiskey Creek airstrip. Woodworth exited the cockpit quickly as flames engulfed the aircraft's midsection. Ambulance and fire personnel responded to the 11:55 call for assistance. Woodworth said gusting winds, which had made previous landings increasingly difficult, turned the airplane beyond the limits of his control, resulting in the accident.

Fifty Years Ago

August 26, 1971

Perhaps the most successful "live-in" held in Walla Walla County occurred peacefully and without untoward incident five miles southwest of here. They played guitars and sang, gave lessons to the younger generation in ballads, folk songs and the Irish jig, and reminisced until dawn. There were no famous rock and roll stars, but the festival was well attended. The site of the live-in was the Collins farm southwest of here when the seven children, fourteen grandchildren and three sons-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Collins gathered August 13 to 15. It was the first family reunion that all seven children of the couple were able to attend.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

August 30, 1946

Hot lunches will be served as usual this year in the high school lunchroom for all grade and high school students under the sponsor-ship of the Parent-Teacher Association. Mrs. Hillis and Mrs. Buroker will continue to be in charge of the kitchen.

Mrs. Bill Wardrip and Mrs. Verna Nifong gave a bridal shower for Mrs. Mays Smith at the C. A. Smith home last Thursday.

Touchet Valley Flying Service has been promised delivery this week of a new two – place side – by – side Aeronca Chief.

One-Hundred Years Ago

August 26, 1921

Three auto loads of Waitsburg farmers, having completed the harvesting of their wheat crops, are off this week for a several week's tour of Yellowstone Park. Included in the party are Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Roberts and Henry, Mr. and Mrs. Art Dixon, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Clark, Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Bateman, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Hollowell and Mr. and Mrs. Archie Morrison.

Johnnie Danielson gave a party Tuesday, Aug. 22, it being his 9th birthday. A number of his friends enjoyed the afternoon eating cake, ice cream and watermelon. All declared they had a good time.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

August 28, 1896

Side bacon will be sold for 7 cents at Neace-Hanger Co., for a few days.

Main Street presents quite a different appearance since the electric appearance since the electric light poles have been erected and wired.

Conover and Roberts have finished threshing in this part of the country and will go to Palouse tomorrow. They had a good run- 27 days and made an average of 954 sacks per day.

Frank Vining, Charley Preston, John Gaugh, and Ira Chew spent a few days in the mountains above Dayton this week.