The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Ten Years Ago

Sept. 14, 2006

Anyone fortunate enough to have known Roberta Stonecipher Broom Adams – and there were many – can imagine her take on being named Pioneer of the Year at the 34th Annual Pioneer Fall Festival, which will take place this coming Sunday in Waitsburg. She’d laugh and exclaim “Really?! Me?! Ya shouldn’t have!” Roberta was one of Waitsburg’s citizens known for the many firsts in her life. She was the first female Student Body President At Waitsburg High School, and the first Queen of the Days of Real Sport. And fittingly, she will be the first Pioneer of the Year to be honored posthumously by the Waitsburg Historical Society.

A cold front and rain forecast for today and Friday is expected to aid some 1,000 fire fighters and personnel working on the Columbia Complex fire, which topped 107,250 acres as of press time Tuesday and has expended $25 million in cost.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

Sept. 12, 1991

Charles Walsh of Prescott has been designated “Pioneer of the Year” for 1991 by the Waitsburg Historical Society. He will join Orin Walker, Naomi Patton, James and Metha Stonecipehr, Margaret and Miles Collingwood, and Century Farms, all honored in past years.

Waitsburg Lions held the first meeting of the fall season Tuesday with some instructions about catching yellow jackets from Berger Chase and his sidekick J.W. “Buffalo Bill” Thompson. . . Bob Abbey and his committee cleaned up the cookshack recently, and it was spiffy until someone moved the lawn mower through the back door. . . Ken Cole thought that the Lions should have a project to assure a public restroom near Preston Park for summertime use. President Glen said it will be discussed with city council members.

Fifty Years Ago

Sept. 8, 1966

Superintendent Gerald Maib reported to The Times Tuesday noon giving the school enrollment at that time. Grade school and Preston Hall (7th and 8th grades), showed a count of 299. High school had an enrollment of 152, making a total on the first day of 451 students.

It takes a good number of fine helpers to put on a Salmon Bake to feed over 400 people. But Ernest Mikkelsen has built up, over the years, a competent and willing group of experts in doing everything “just right.”

The members of the Waitsburg FFA Chapter exhibited at the S.E. Washington Fair over the weekend. Rick Ferguson and Joe Gagnon exhibited this year. Rich showed five pigs and received second in herdsmanship. Joe showed 4 lambs and was awarded two blues and two reds on his exhibit. The FFA Judging team was present and placed eighth. Team members were Rick Ferguson, Larry Conover, and Joe Gagnon. Rick placed thirteenth individual out of 200 contestants.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

Sept. 12, 1941

With 44 young people – boys and girls – enrolled in the local school band, Director C. S. Malone, reports the largest organization in a number of years.

Modern novels may not reflect life, but most of them contain a lot of raw material.

Miss Jean Patricia Flaherty and Paul E. Hofer were the principals in a beautiful wedding ceremony at 2 o’clock Sunday at the White Temple Baptist Church.

Margaret Nelson, six-year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Nelson was taken over to Seattle to the Orthopedic Hospital on Monday to receive treatments for a hip trouble. She has been confined to her bed for several weeks and was unable to start school.

Mrs. E. H. Henley entertained at a miscellaneous shower Wednesday afternoon honoring Mrs. William Clubertson (Violet Quigg) a recent bride.

One Hundred Years Ago

Sept. 15, 1916

Miss Rose Slater is teaching school on Jasper4 Mountain and has twelve pupils enrolled.

The W.C.T.U. held a meeting and basket social at the Philips residence on Preston Ave. Friday afternoon. During the regular meeting four new members were received. About 24 ladies, including guests were in attendance.

Mrs. Robert Ellis of Walla Walla has returned to her home after a visit with her sisters, Mrs. I. E. Bloor and Mrs. Jessie Lott.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

Sept. 18, 1891

Mrs. Lizzie Minnick from Floris, Iwoa arrived this week and is visiting her sister Mrs. A. Minnick of Spring Valley.

The regular annual fair of the Walla Walla Valley Consolidated Agricultural Society will commence on Monday, Sept. 28 and continue through the week ending October 3.

A fine race program has been prepared and a splendid exhibit of the products of the Valley is expected.

Brick work on the new school house is completed, and a large force of carpenters is hurrying the wood work along as rapidly as possible.

Washington Seminary, at Huntsville, opened last Monday morning, with fifteen students. That’s not bad considering.