PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago

March 14, 2013

A group of teachers in the Prescott School District has created a scholarship fund in honor of former athletic director Jack Smiley, with the first recipient expected to be a 2013 graduate. The initiators of the Jack Smiley Memorial Scholarship, the Prescott Education Association teachers’ union, hope the popular sports figure’s reputation and his aspirations for young student-athletes will inspire Prescott alumni and residents of the Touchet Valley to help support it with donations. “It’s a way to remember Jack and benefit students at the school,” said Jeff Foertsch, a social studies teacher and Waitsburg-Prescott middle school coach, who spearheaded the scholarship’s creation. “We wanted to keep his name alive.”

Twenty-Five Years Ago

March 19, 1998

Long-time Waitsburg resident Walter Harris was the recipient of the Commercial Club Community Service Award, presented at the club’s annual banquet last Tuesday evening. “I really enjoyed the time serving the public of Waitsburg. Thank you,” Harris said in accepting the award. Harris, 79, has been a diligent worker in numerous capacities in Waitsburg for quite a few years. Some of his community involvement include the senior citizen’s organization Fifty Five Plus, American Cancer Society and Heart Association fund-raising drives, serving as an elder at First Presbyterian Church of Waitsburg, the Campfire program, Meals on Wheels and commodity distributions. Friends can always count on Walt to help with a ride here or there.

Fifty Years Ago

March 15, 1973

[Photo Caption] Five generations lined up for this portrait Sunday at the Lowell Burres place west of Waitsburg. Holding her great-great-granddaughter, Rachael Ann Hinchliffe, on her lap is Mrs. Nora Woodard, who recently celebrated her 89th birthday. Seated on the couch are Mrs. Lowell Burres (far right), daughter of Mrs. Woodard; Mrs. Wayne (Joan) Hinchliffe (second from right); and George Hinchliffe, Mrs. Woodard’s great grandson, is seated on the left of the picture.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

March 19, 1948

Miss Verla Jeremiah left Tuesday for six months of study and advanced nursing at the University hospitals of Cleveland, Ohio.

The Maybac Corp. headed by E. C. Bachtold and W. E. LaMay which purchased Hamilton’s Electric last June, are officially changing the name to Maybac, Inc.

Kathryn Reed, 5-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Homer Reed, was struck by a truck while crossing the highway on her tricycle.

One Hundred Years Ago

March 23, 1923

Miss Charlotte Kingman has returned from Drum Station, where she has resigned her position as teacher in the school there.

C. A. Sprague, editor of the Ritzville Journal-Times with Mrs. Sprague, spent Sunday in this city visiting Dr. R. E. Butler, uncle of Mrs. Sprague, and other relatives.

The Willing Workers of the Methodist Church met at the home of Mrs. Gus Vollmer Wednesday afternoon of last week. There were over 50 ladies present. The following ladies acting as hostesses served a delicious lunch: Mrs. Henry Vollmer, Misses Zelma and Minnie Vollmer, Mrs. Will and John Hawks.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

March 18, 1898

Manuel Sweazy is now an American citizen, having renounced his allegiance to Portugal last week.

A. L. Stories’ milk wagon team became frightened at something Tuesday evening and took quite a spin, scattering milk cans along the way. Fortunately no damage was done the team or milk-wagon.

Joseph Denny has applied for a patent on a gang plow attachment.