The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Ten Years Ago

January 13, 2005

A plaque commemorating Waitsburg High School’s Kison Court will be dedicated in ceremonies during halftime of the Waitsburg-DeSales boys basketball game Friday, January 21. The local gymnasium was formally named Kison Court when it was renovated during the high school overhaul a few years ago, in honor of the late Ernest J. and Dorothy N. Kison, long-time score board and clock officials for Waitsburg High School.

Darleen Dozier of Waitsburg earned the title of overall barrel racing champion during the 43rd season of the Valley Girls Barrel Racing Association in the Walla Walla valley. Kelli Currin of Dayton merited reserve overall champion.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

January 11, 1990

Waitsburg City Council discussed railroad lease, the swimming pool, the city’s insurance pool and flood control problems at the first meeting of a new year and new decade on January 3.

A powerful windstorm knocked out power supplies to Waitsburg, Prescott, Dayton, Pomeroy and parts of Walla Walla for more than 12 hours early Monday morning.

Jennifer Hofer, daughter of Jim Hofer and the late Pam Hofer, was installed as Worthy Advisor of Waitsburg Assembly No. 68, in ceremonies held Sunday afternoon , Jan. 7, in the Masonic Hall.

Rev. Richard (Rick) Oates has been called by the First Presbyterian Church of Waitsburg to serve as Pastor. He will be installed on 4:00 p.m. ceremonies in the church sanctuary here Sunday, January 14.

Fifty Years Ago

January 8, 1965

Bill Thompson, Waitsburg TV Cable, and Cliff Griffin of the National Bank of Commerce were elected as new directors on the Board of the Commercial Club.

A temperature range of 66 degrees occurred at the Bill Bloor cooperative weather station here during December. The highest was 54 degrees December 1 and the lowest 12 below zero December 17.

Waitsburg Schools announced this week that the High School Gym will be open each Sunday afternoon from 2-5 p.m. for adult recreation. Adults of the community are urged to take advantage of this opportunity.

Sixty Years Ago

January 7, 1955

Harold R. Blackwell was elected president and Roy Reed vice president of Commercial Club Tuesday evening.

A fire started in the work shop of the Don Thomas farm about 4:30 p.m. December 3, when some wheat sacks fell from the rafters onto the electric lights causing them to ignite. The fire did little damage and was brought under control by the time the fire department arrived.

Susan Bickelhaupt was confined to the house during the holidays with the measles.

The Huntsville Farm Bureau held a pot luck supper Friday night followed by a program and social evening to watch the old year out and welcome the beginning of the New Year.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

January 12, 1940

Ronnie Milligan, 4-year old son of Lester Milligan, caused considerable excitement about town last Friday afternoon when he wandered away from the house on West Third. He was found on the hillside on the southside of town near the Charlie Vannice place.

The Sorotus Club, under the supervision of Mrs. Weller, will be ready to open their new rental library Wednesday, Jan. 17th at the Weller Library. The rental fee will be 10¢ a week.

Dr. Oliver H. Mansfield, young dentist of Milton, Ore., may locate here for the practice of his profession.

Mrs. Wm. Wardrip was very pleasantly surprised Tuesday evening, it being her birthday anniversary.

Charles Sayers has taken over the acreage tract on the Touchet belonging to his mother-in-law, Mrs. Mary Denny Gwinn, and located about 2 ½ miles west of town and has moved his dairy there.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

January 10, 1890

The weather has been extremely cold in Colfax and other points north of us, the telegraph reports being that a temperature 20 degrees below zero had been experienced in several portions of the Palouse country.

Married at the justice office in Dayton, December 24, 1889, W. F. Evans and Miss Maude Hartsock, W. H, Kuhen officiating.

Miss Anna Jessup arrived home from the East on Tuesday. She looks well, having gained twenty pounds during her absence of six months. She reports stormy weather in the Rocky Mountains.

Ice is ripe and is being harvested. The yield is good and the quality is pronounced splendid.

Surprise parties have been the order of the night this week. On Tuesday night a whole mob called unexpectedly on Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Davies, and the same evening a party full of sociability and fun called on Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Morrow. Pleasant times are reported from each place.